Huo Qilang tossed Yuwen Rang onto the couch in the Long House. He forced his eyes open and surveyed his surroundings. Once he confirmed that he was back at Prince Shao's Residence, he muttered, "The Yuwen clan fulfills its duties..." Then his head tipped back, and he passed out.
Huo Qi thought the lad was rather amusing. She rolled him onto his side and wedged a helmet behind his lower back to keep him there, lest he vomit again and choke to death.
Then she fetched a basin of clean water from the courtyard and took a few Bath Beans to wash her hands and face. As she wiped the droplets from her face, she looked toward the Main Hall. A few crows perched on the eaves as usual, and the guards at the entrance took their turns on duty in orderly succession. Nothing had changed since she left yesterday.
There was still more than half a day before her night shift began that evening. Huo Qilang could have returned to the Long House and comfortably caught up on her sleep, but a thought suddenly sprang into her mind: How did Li Yuanying sleep last night?
Once the thought arose, it was not easy to cast aside. Huo Qilang poured the water into the soakaway, sending a few sparrows fighting over food fluttering away. She returned to her room, changed back into her guard's uniform, and headed for the Main Hall.
The moment she entered, she found the room utterly silent. The eunuchs and maids were all holding their breath. Along with the familiar smell of simmering medicine, a tense, oppressive atmosphere hung in the air. Cai Fang, carrying a silver kettle, spotted Huo Qi and frantically signaled to her with her eyes.
Seeing her troubled expression, Huo Qilang was