The Sickly Regent Prince Who Was Abandoned as a Substitute Bride

Dongfang Zheng's heart tightened; he had never seen Liu Qiqi like this before. He quickly reached out and touched her forehead, discovering that her temperature was alarmingly high. His expression turned serious, realizing that Liu Qiqi might be ill.

"Qiqi, don't be afraid, I'll call a doctor to take a look at you right away." Dongfang Zheng said, preparing to turn around and go out to summon a doctor. However, Liu Qiqi grabbed his hand, her strength was surprisingly great, and Dongfang Zheng couldn't break free for a moment.

"Don't go..." Liu Qiqi's voice held a hint of pleading, "I need you..."

Just as Dongfang was about to turn around, Liu Qiqi suddenly rushed forward and kissed him fiercely. At that moment, Dongfang felt a strange heat wash over him.

The room was dimly lit, with clothes scattered on the floor, while moonlight shone on two figures tightly intertwined.

Dongfang was busy, and this busyness lasted all night, even causing him to miss the morning court session...

the next morning……

"Ah!...My face! Someone help me, someone help me!" A sharp scream came from the room of the Oriental Pearl Tower.

In an instant, the entire room descended into chaos, with a group of maids scrambling about, some fetching a doctor...

"Auntie, where is my auntie? How can I face anyone like this..." Overnight, Dongfang Mingzhu's face developed festering sores and pus.

She didn't dare look in the mirror, but paced back and forth in the room, stamping her feet and muttering to herself, "How could this happen? What's going on..." Her brows were furrowed, and her eyes were filled with confusion and unease. Suddenly, like an enraged lion, she grabbed a vase and smashed it to the ground, making a crisp shattering sound.

"Wan Yao, how come I was sleeping on the floor last night? Where is my aunt...?" Dongfang Mingzhu really couldn't understand why she woke up on the floor.

"Second Miss, you were already lying on the ground when I came in. Don't worry, the maid has already gone to fetch Aunt Liu." Wan Yao gently comforted Dongfang Mingzhu while trying to calm her down.

However, Oriental Pearl seemed completely unable to calm down. She continued to pace back and forth in the room, her anxiety growing stronger.

Not long after, Liu Qiqi was carried out of Dongfang Zheng's room. Her eyes were closed, and her face was as pale as paper; she was clearly still unconscious.

"Damn it!" At the same time, Dongfang Zheng, having missed the morning court session, was furious in his room. His face was contorted with rage, and his eyes blazed with fury. He knew something had happened last night, but he didn't know the specifics. He had noticed something amiss in the middle of the night, discovering that someone had drugged his room, and Liu Qiqi's condition was clearly abnormal; she had definitely been drugged as well.

There was nothing he could do; Dongfang Zheng had worked hard all night and had even missed the morning court session.

"Go quickly and find Wang Li. Tell him to go to the palace and ask His Majesty for leave on my behalf... Say that my mother is seriously ill, very ill..." Dongfang Zheng instructed the servant outside the door, his face pale and weak.

"It's terrible! My lord! Something terrible has happened..." Suddenly, a figure came running over in a panic, crying and shouting as he ran.

Dongfang Zhengqi was furious and shouted, "I'm perfectly fine! What's wrong with me? You fool, what kind of behavior is this, panicking like this!"

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Wang Sheng, a servant from the manor. He suddenly knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, and sobbed, "My lord, my father... my father is dead..."

"What?" Dongfang Zheng suddenly stood up, feeling his legs go weak and almost falling. He quickly grabbed the table and sat down. He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and said to Wang Sheng, "I understand. You can go back now. I'll give you a day off. Take good care of your father."

"Waaaaah, it's the Marquis..." Wang Sheng retreated.

Dongfang Zheng glanced into the shadows, and a guard stepped forward, kneeling on one knee. "My lord..."

"Hmm, did you find out that the man in black you chased last night killed someone?" Dongfang asked with a serious expression.

"Reporting to the Marquis, I followed him all the way, but the man in black was extremely cunning and did not let me discover that he made any murderous moves," the guard replied, bowing his head.

"Understood, you may leave..." Dongfang Zheng waved his hand, signaling the guards to retreat.

The guards left quietly, as if relieved of a great burden...

“Deputy Steward Zhou…” Dongfang Zheng turned to look at the door and shouted loudly.

"My lord, this old servant is here..." Upon hearing the voice, Deputy Steward Zhou hurriedly entered the room and answered respectfully.

"Go to the palace and tell them that my mother is seriously ill, so I didn't attend the morning court session." Dongfang Zheng said, rubbing his throbbing temples.

"Yes, Your Highness, this old servant will make the arrangements immediately." After accepting the order, Deputy Steward Zhou turned and left, hurriedly heading out to hitch up the carriage and head to the palace.

Meanwhile, a commotion broke out in another courtyard.

"Second Miss, something terrible has happened! Aunt Liu has been carried into Zhuchun Garden!" A maidservant ran up in a panic and reported to the Second Miss.

"What? How could my aunt be injured? Take me to see her quickly!" Upon hearing this news, the second young lady turned pale and hurriedly followed her maid to Zhuchun Garden.

"This!" The maid's face flushed instantly. "Yes...yes..."

"Slap..." Dongfang Mingzhu slapped him across the face. "What is it? Speak quickly..."

"Last night, Aunt Liu and the Marquis were at it until dawn, and she fainted..." the maid said, covering her face and crying.

"Get out, get out!" Wanyao beckoned the maid to leave.

Wan Yao helped Dongfang Mingzhu up and comforted her, "Second Miss, don't worry, perhaps your aunt is just tired."

"I'll go see Auntie and get the veil..." Dongfang Mingzhu was a little annoyed with Liu Qiqi. She had clearly promised to ask the divine physician Dan to examine her face, but instead, she played with her father until dawn...

At this moment, the doctor also arrived at Zhuchun Garden. After examining her, the doctor shook his head and said, "Aunt Liu's condition is caused by lingering effects of the medicine in her body and overexertion. She needs to recuperate for a period of time."

After hearing this, Dongfang Mingzhu felt a little relieved. She turned to look at Liu Qiqi, who was still unconscious, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

At the same time, Dongfang Zheng also rushed over. Looking at the weak Liu Qiqi, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

“Zhu’er, your face…” Dongfang Zheng noticed that Dongfang Mingzhu was wearing a veil.

"Father, please ask the divine physician Dan for me, my face..." Dongfang Mingzhu removed her veil.

"Zhu'er, how could this happen..." Dongfang Zheng looked at Dongfang Mingzhu's festering face and had never seen such a horrifying face before!

"Take good care of your aunt. Father will go and fetch a doctor for you," Dongfang Zheng instructed Dongfang Mingzhu before turning and leaving.