Felix wasn't Wei Wei—if he wanted to leave the palace, the king wouldn't stop him.
So after informing the king of his decision, Felix gave Wei Wei a seemingly reluctant goodbye, instructing her to take good care of herself. Under the butler's discreet arrangement, he quietly exited the royal palace.
For the sake of secret rendezvous, nobles often had all kinds of hidden passages built into their castles—and the palace was no exception. As a result, Felix slipped away without anyone noticing.
At the same time, Wei Wei was meeting with the royal physician.
The butler had arranged for the physician to bring medicinal herbs for Wei Wei to examine. The physician, who had already been informed that the king had been poisoned, brought along all the detoxifying herbs he had in stock for her to sort through.
Most of these herbs had been dried for preservation. A knowledgeable person could identify them just by sight and smell. However, only a few were useful to her. In this era, many herbs—especially in the West—remained unknown or underutilized. The fact that she could find even a few usable ones in the royal physician's collection was already more than she expected.
The batch he brought was just a small portion of what he had. His residence housed many other varieties, and among them, some might be just what Wei Wei needed.
"Could you take my maid with you to select them? She's quite knowledgeable about herbs and knows what I need."
Wei Wei didn't simply write down a list for him because of regional differences. Many herb names were inconsistent, and several of the terms she used were from the future. Even if she gave him a list, he likely wouldn't understand it.
It would be far easier to send Kama with him. She was unfamiliar with the palace, and once dressed in new clothes, she could easily pose as his maid. She could follow him to his herbal storeroom or even accompany him outside the palace to gather herbs if necessary.
Even if someone asked who she was, the explanation was easy. The physician was old and had always been allowed to bring his servant in and out of the palace. As long as he claimed Kama was his newly hired maid, no one would question it.
The physician was deeply intrigued by the fact that Wei Wei had diagnosed the king as being poisoned rather than simply ill. He had wanted to discuss it with her—especially since she was far more approachable and willing to talk about medicine than any noblewoman he had ever met. But the king's condition came first. So after a short conversation, he left with Kama to gather herbs.
The prescription Wei Wei had written used mostly common medicinal plants. She deliberately avoided using exclusive Chinese herbs, opting instead for local substitutes she could find. Fortunately, Kama managed to locate everything they needed at the royal physician's residence. Once gathered, she brought the entire batch back for Wei Wei to begin preparation.
This was necessary. Eastern and Western methods of herb preparation differed significantly. Wei Wei had a variety of techniques, while the physician typically only used fresh or dried herbs. The differing preparation methods affected the potency, so Wei Wei had to carefully adjust the dosages.
It didn't take long. Once the herbs were properly measured and sorted, a fresh batch of decoction was put on to boil. This time, however, they no longer used the queen's former private kitchen—thanks to the butler, a different, more suitable place was arranged. Wei Wei didn't even need Kama's help and personally watched over the medicine.
Meanwhile, the physician—having realized that his herbal preparations didn't meet Wei Wei's standards and that his current stock wasn't sufficient—took Kama out of the palace to buy freshly harvested herbs.
When Wei Wei heard that he was going out to buy herbs, she was surprised. "There are herbal shops in the capital?"
She thought to herself—no wonder it's the capital. Back in Sardinson, doctors had to gather herbs themselves.
But the physician shook his head. "There are a few, but I'm heading to a chapel on the outskirts."
Although the Pradian Empire didn't have the best relationship with the Church, there were still many chapels scattered across the land. The capital had at least one in each of its three districts, and there was a particularly large one in a remote area on the outskirts.
The physician explained that many members of the clergy also served as doctors, and the chapels often functioned like hospitals. They treated patients and thus required a steady supply of medicinal herbs—something that couldn't be fulfilled by foraging alone. As a result, the remote chapel established its medicinal herb garden and hired local farmers to cultivate herbs to supply all nearby chapels.
The physician himself had clerical roots and sourced many of his herbs from there. That was where he planned to take Kama.
"They grow herbs that are easy to cultivate and highly useful. They also regularly send people to forage for wild herbs. If you're looking for fresh herbs, there's no better place."
Wei Wei was tempted to go herself, but it wasn't the right time for her to leave the palace. So she could only remind them to be careful on the road and send them on their way.
When the butler heard about the outing, he immediately assigned guards to accompany them. The physician was used to this—ever since the king's health began declining, he had always had an escort, just in case something happened or someone tried to threaten him.
So far, nothing of the sort had occurred. Presumably, the poisoner was extremely confident in their handiwork. The king's prolonged illness had likely convinced them the royal physician was useless.
Kama successfully left the palace with the physician. No one paid her any mind, which greatly relieved her already tense nerves.
Once Wei Wei confirmed they had safely left, she went to check on the king. His condition had improved significantly since the night before. After breakfast, he had enough strength to sit up on his own. Of course, he was still far from being able to walk—rehabilitation would be necessary.
Wei Wei came to discuss that very thing: she wanted him to start with massage therapy to relieve the stiffness and soreness caused by long-term bed rest.
Of course, Wei Wei wouldn't be doing it herself. During her pregnancy, her maids had learned how to massage her swollen legs and had also been trained in full-body massage techniques. She planned to have her maids teach the king's attendants, who would then perform the massages.
As the king's savior, she had the authority to make such suggestions—and the king was willing to try anything that might aid his recovery. Back when he trained regularly, he often had others massage him afterward. Though in the past, those people were either concubines or favored maids. With them all gone from the palace, trusted male attendants would now have to take their place.
If the butler weren't busy preparing medicine, he might have volunteered for the task himself.
So it wasn't long before the king was lying on the bed, letting Penny teach his servants how to massage him.
To everyone's surprise, Penny's technique was incredibly professional. Unlike the maids and mistresses of the past—whose massages often carried ulterior motives—Penny's training was focused and efficient. While she didn't know acupuncture points, she hit all the right spots. Some areas were so sore they hurt when pressed, but after the pain passed, there was a deep sense of relief.
The king almost fell asleep from the massage.
He may have dozed off because, by the time he opened his eyes again, the butler had arrived with the freshly brewed medicine.
Because the herbs provided by the royal physician weren't as potent as the ones Wei Wei processed herself, she had to increase the dosage. That made the already bitter decoction even more unbearable.
The king looked visibly ill after drinking it. His face twisted with disgust—if not for his strong willpower, he might have vomited right then and there.
Once the massage and the medicine were done, it was time for the king to rest. Wei Wei rose to take her leave, but the king stopped her.
He seemed to hesitate for a moment before finally speaking: "Dear Wei Wei, what do you think about Edward's condition?"
Edward, the Crown Prince?
Wei Wei recalled the frail young man she'd met a few times.
She thought the king wanted her to examine Edward's health. The king had always shown great favor toward that son, so the request wasn't surprising.
But she couldn't promise anything and cautiously replied, "His Highness does appear to be in poor health, but I heard it's been that way since birth. I can't guarantee I'll be able to help."
The king shook his head. "No, I'm not talking about that. Although I do want you to examine him, I'm asking whether… his condition might be the result of poisoning—just like mine."
Wei Wei was truly shocked—along with everyone else in the room. No one had expected this possibility.
But after the initial surprise passed, Wei Wei began to seriously consider it.
Edward's health issues were no secret. Anyone could tell, just from looking at him, that he was dangerously frail. That's why many believed he wouldn't live long. Despite his outstanding character and performance, many nobles and ministers didn't see him as a viable successor—not when compared to Duke Romanov.
Had he been stronger, it might have been an entirely different story.
The king continued as if unaware of everyone's reactions: "Edward was indeed weak as a child, but around the age of five or six, the royal physicians nursed him back to good health. He remained small, yes, but they all said he was perfectly fine."
That was why the king had named him crown prince. He wouldn't have done so if he thought Edward wouldn't live to adulthood.
It wasn't that the king didn't love his child—it was just that he knew a prince without a strong body couldn't undergo the rigorous education required of a monarch.
If Edward had remained sickly, the king would've let him live a carefree life as a minor prince, not trained him as a future king.
This showed that, though the king was indulgent and flamboyant in many ways, he genuinely loved his children.
He went on: "But a few years ago, his health suddenly began to deteriorate again. None of the doctors could explain why—it just got worse and worse, until he ended up like he is now. I think you've seen what he looks like… anyone who sees him assumes he doesn't have long left."
No one dared say that to the king's face, but the rumors were widespread. Even the king and Edward likely believed it to some extent.
That's why the king had arranged for Prince Andrew to marry the Aldridge girl and had begun opposing Duke Romanov publicly. He was planning. If his eldest son didn't survive, at least he would have eliminated the strongest rival, paving the way for his younger son.
As for whether Andrew was fit to be king, the monarch wasn't too concerned. The throne no longer held absolute power. Andrew might never be as wise or commanding as his father, but with proper training, he could at least maintain the kingdom. And if not, the king believed he could wait for a grandson to be born and personally raise the next generation.
He just hadn't expected to collapse so suddenly himself—nearly derailing everything.
And his mysterious decline reminded him too much of Edward's.
"I can't help but wonder now… was he poisoned, just like I was?"
As he spoke, the king's eyes darkened like storm clouds—dangerous and thunderous.
Even Wei Wei, who was rarely shaken, felt a chill.
If Edward had been harmed, this man—both father and king—would stop at nothing to find the culprit and have them executed.
Wei Wei could only respond, "I'll examine His Highness. But… is this a good time?"
Even if the crown prince wasn't a suspect, there was still a conflict of interest. Wei Wei wasn't sure if it was appropriate for her to see him just yet.
But the king trusted his son deeply. He waved a hand dismissively. "I'll ask Edward to join me for lunch later. After the meal, the butler will escort him to you."
"Understood. I'll be ready."
Since the king's illness, most of his duties had fallen to Edward and a few trusted nobles. The crown prince had been extremely busy. With the king missing for so long, he had been under immense pressure. He hadn't eaten or slept well, and everyone thought he might collapse any day. But somehow, he endured.
Last night, after seeing the king awake, Edward had his first peaceful sleep in weeks. He even looked slightly better this morning—though his pallor was still vampire-like (even if the concept didn't exist in this world yet).
He hadn't expected an invitation from the king. In the past two weeks, except for last night's surprise appearance, the king hadn't seen anyone aside from doctors and servants.
But now that he'd been invited, Edward was delighted.
On the way to the king's chambers, he asked the attending servant, "Did Father invite Andrew too?"
"I don't believe so, Your Highness."
The servant had only been instructed to fetch the crown prince.
Edward was surprised. Previously, if his father dined with him, Andrew was always present as well.
He'd forgotten that the king hadn't shared a meal with anyone in over a month.
News of the lunch invitation quickly spread. The kitchen received special orders to prepare a lavish meal for the occasion.
The chefs—who hadn't cooked anything substantial for the king in a while—were invigorated. They vowed to make the most delicious food possible.
Even the queen heard the news and went to the kitchen, where she ran into the butler.
"Did His Majesty only invite the crown prince?" she asked.
The butler immediately knew trouble had arrived. Still, he kept a calm expression and replied gently, "Yes, Your Majesty. His Majesty needs to discuss some official matters with His Highness."
That was the official excuse given by the king to downplay the significance of the private meal.
The queen didn't think much of it. Given that the king had delegated so much work to Edward recently, it was only natural that he'd want to check-in.
But that wasn't what she was truly focused on.
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Tell me honestly—is His Majesty recovering?"
That question was asked in front of everyone. The butler quickly glanced around. Sure enough, although no one looked directly at them, everyone was eavesdropping.
Feigning a sigh, the butler replied, "His condition is still the same. But the royal physician said he's been a bit more stable lately and stays awake longer than before."
The queen studied the butler's face closely. She thought she saw a hint of suppressed joy.
Her hands clenched tightly beneath her sleeves. She suspected the king wasn't just stable—he was recovering.
And that was not good news.
"I see. That's wonderful," she said, her smile forced. Then she added, "Since His Majesty is doing better and is willing to see people again, perhaps I could visit him too? I saw him yesterday—his complexion still looked poor. I recently learned a new soup recipe said to be good for convalescents. I'd like to bring it to him."
The butler knew the queen had taken up cooking months ago. She had previously cooked for the king at night to curry favor.
But in light of recent suspicions—especially Wei Wei's warning—her sudden offer now seemed suspicious.
The lunch had been planned as bait. The butler and the king had agreed that a carefully leaked rumor about the king's recovery might lure the poisoner out.
So the queen's timing was… telling.
Rather than outright refuse, the butler feigned hesitation. "His Majesty hasn't had much appetite lately. But if the soup is made by you, he might be willing to try it. Still, as you know, he hasn't wanted to see anyone. I'll need to ask him first."
"Of course. That's only proper." Seeing that she hadn't been immediately turned down, the queen smiled sweetly. "Even if he doesn't want to see me, at least let him try my soup."
Even the butler, usually wary of her, felt a twinge of sympathy at the sight of her beautiful, sorrowful face. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will convey your sentiment."
Having gotten what she wanted, the queen left with her maids. The butler personally oversaw the lunch preparations and then delivered the food to the king's chambers.
Of course, before reaching the king, the meal was taken to Wei Wei first for inspection. Once confirmed to be poison-free, half of it was set aside for her lunch, and the other half was delivered to the king's room—for the crown prince.
Though Edward had been invited to dine with his father, the king still had to eat in bed. A small table had been set up beside the bed where Edward now sat.
It didn't take long for Edward to notice that their meals were different. His father had only a bowl of white porridge.
Edward hadn't eaten much rice in his life, but he recognized it. He knew it was flavorless, like a bland flour gruel.
This wasn't something his father would've willingly eaten.
The king caught him staring and smiled wryly. "The doctors say I can't handle heavy food yet. So all I get is watery soups like this. Honestly, it's awful."
The king was a diehard carnivore. Even while bedridden, he'd insisted on meat broth. Now, even that was too greasy.
The palace had rice in storage, and once Wei Wei learned that, she insisted the king start on plain rice porridge to heal his stomach.
He'd tried to fight it, but the butler sided with Wei Wei, urging him to cooperate.
Edward looked from the king's bland meal to his own overflowing table and felt a wave of guilt.
"If I'm dining with Father, then I should eat the same." He turned to the butler. "Do you have more? Please bring me a bowl."
The king looked pleased and didn't stop the butler from fetching it.
The butler had spent the morning singing the praises of white porridge to convince the king to eat. He'd thought it would benefit Edward too, but hadn't wanted to push.
Now that Edward volunteered, the king was delighted. Still, as a father, he wasn't about to let his son starve.
"You've lost more weight lately. You should eat more to recover. So you can join me with the porridge—but eat the other dishes too."
Edward felt a lump rise in his throat but masked it with a smile. He drank the porridge and picked at the rest.
After they'd eaten and the dishes were cleared away, Edward assumed his father would ask about his recent duties. He is mentally prepared to report every detail.
But instead, the king simply wiped his mouth and said, "Go with the butler to see my doctor. Let her examine you as well."
Edward caught the "her" and assumed his father had misspoken—there were no female doctors in the capital, let alone in the palace.
But when he followed the butler down the corridor and stepped into a corner room, the truth hit him the moment he saw Wei Wei sitting there.
She was his father's doctor—and a woman.
As she began examining him with a professional focus, Edward silently swore to himself that no matter what happened, he would never let this lady know that, upon seeing her for the first time, he had briefly assumed she was the king's new mistress.