The news soon reached the Emperor.
Madame Lan entered the Palace to chat with Imperial Concubine Mother Ling and met Miss Ling Xuan. They hit off well and Madame Lan likes Ling Xuan very much, maybe because she recently lost her only daughter and was feeling depressed. Ling Xuan likes Madame Lan as well and agreed to accompany her for some shopping. Imperial Concubine Mother Ling saw how her friend seems to recover from her depression after interacting with Ling Xuan, allowed Ling Xuan to stay in the Lan house for a few days.
The Emperor's ears perked up at those words when the eunuch reported to him. This is a new opportunity. Ever since Imperial Consort Lan died, the Lan house has withdrawn their support for the Emperor. They seemed to oppose everything he says, and it has become a headache for him. The right-prime minister did not manage to bring over the Lan house's supporters fully and it was not enough for the Emperor. If Ling Xuan gets into the Lan house good side, he would marry her in and confer her the title of an Imperial Consort. This way, things would go back as to how it was before.
The next few reports of the shadow guards following Ling Xuan made the Emperor happy. The Lan house likes Ling Xuan very much and Lord Lan decided to make Ling Xuan his goddaughter. Madame Lan bought in many fabrics and jewels for Ling Xuan and they went to Duke Fei's mansion for dinner with her family. Imperial Concubine Mother Ling requested permission to leave the palace and attended the dinner together with Duke Fei and the Eighth Prince. It would be awkward to host the dinner at Imperial Concubine Mother Ling's palace without inviting the Emperor so Duke Fei hosted. The Emperor understand their intentions and sent an expensive pale jade earring to Ling Xuan to show his favor during the dinner. To which Ling Xuan responded with a handmade handkerchief with a white rose in the middle.
Things were going well. After the Emperor's gift to Ling Xuan was received in front of Lord Lan, the Emperor regained the support of the Lan fraction slowly. The more favor the Emperor showers on Ling Xuan, the more support he regained, and the Emperor understood what they wanted. It was all good because what they wanted was what he wanted as well. He has never wanted a woman so badly, so infatuated and obsessed with a single woman. She is the ideal wife he has been looking for.
The Emperor wanted to marry her as soon as possible but Imperial Concubine Mother Ling insisted on having a grand wedding. She says this is her precious niece, how can she allow her to be wedded without the grandeur she deserves?
The Emperor agrees with her wholeheartedly, but the auspicious date of the wedding is at least 6 months away. He almost felt his heart crumble at the thought of waiting for so long, but he maintained his dignity in front of his Imperial Concubine Mother and Miss Ling Xuan and agreed to it.
The Emperor feels that with the 6 months, he should be able to give Ling Xuan the best wedding ever held in the kingdom and he invested much effort into planning the wedding himself. It was a huge honor as the Emperor himself is planning the wedding alongside with the servants. Ling Xuan's standing in the Imperial Palace grew and everyone rejoiced. The people in the capital were grateful to Ling Xuan for helping their relatives outside the capital while the people outside the capital were grateful to her for saving them and giving them the means to survive. The whole kingdom was celebrating that the Emperor was marrying in the goddess that saved so many people's lives.
However, there were a few people who were not so happy about this event. For one, Imperial Consort Su was tearing her hair out in frustration every time she hears praise for Ling Xuan or details about the wedding. When she entered the palace, there was not much celebration because she entered as the concubine and there was Empress Chen in power already. But right now, there is no Empress. This grand wedding, it was as if Ling Xuan is marrying in as the Empress. How can Imperial Consort Su allow that to happen?
But with her loyal lackey demoted to a garden servant, she will have to dirty her own hands. Imperial Consort Su believes that the Emperor will not suspect her because in his eyes, she is innocent and naïve. There is no way the kind Imperial Consort Su will poison the masses, right?
During the 6 months wait, Ling Xuan and Madame Lan held a charity event where they would get servants to cook some warm light porridge and distribute them among the people outside the capital. She also organized an auction to sell off the items she has and some treasures of the Lan house. Using that money, she would buy some new clothes for poor people as well.
Hearing that the goddess is on the move again, many people jumped onto the bandwagon as well. Using this event, the people in the capital have a way to save their relatives and friends outside the capital. The Eighth Prince and Duke Fei also chipped in and personally helped with the event, handing out porridge and organizing the crowd. The event made everyone happy and the people outside the capital returned to their homes with a full stomach.
However, people started falling ill. They have high fevers and could not leave their bed and doctors pinpointed that the porridge was the problem. Suddenly, the goddess that everyone loves and admires turned to the demon who poisoned the poor. The right-prime minister demanded that Ling Xuan should be executed while the left prime minister defended Ling Xuan and pleaded for investigation.
The Emperor was torn between those two options and could not decide. It was then when Ling Xuan stormed into the morning court and kneeled before the Emperor.
"Ling Xuan is willing to accept punishment for neglecting the quality of food but before Your Majesty punishes Ling Xuan, Ling Xuan wishes to save the people. Ling Xuan has medical skills and is confident in salvaging this situation."
The right-prime minister was about to rebuke her when the left prime minister stepped in and pleaded with the Emperor.
"This minister hopes that the Emperor will allow Ling Xuan to save the people first. Although Ling Xuan has neglected and accidentally poisoned people, her crime would be lessened if she were to be able to save them." Lord Lan reminded the Emperor that there is still a way to marry Ling Xuan with a redeemed reputation and the Emperor nodded.
"Ling Xuan, how long do you need to save them?"
Ling Xuan did not hesitate when she replied, "please give this humble girl a week. If after a week and this poison is not eradicated, Ling Xuan is willing to die by a thousand cuts."