Chapter 95: Not Him?

Tan Qingjiu turned her head, her expression tinged with confusion. The steward smiled awkwardly. “Divine Physician Tan, please forgive us. Because the prince’s身份 is special, His Majesty had already issued a special order: any medicine that Prince Duan must take orally has to be examined by the imperial physicians in the palace first, and it must then be administered by someone sent from His Majesty’s side.”

“In this way, both Prince Duan’s safety and Divine Physician Tan’s safety are guaranteed, so that no one with ulterior motives may use this to frame you.”

The corner of Tan Qingjiu’s mouth lifted. “Very well. The steward speaks wisely.”

She handed the antidote pill to him. “Then let this antidote pill remain with the steward for now. I wonder when the imperial physicians will arrive. Prince Duan’s poison is not the kind that takes effect at once, but it is spreading all the same, so it would be better to move quickly.”

“After Prince Duan fell unconscious, those beside him must have already sent word into the palace to report to His Majesty. They should be here soon.”

Tan Qingjiu gave a quiet acknowledgment, her gaze settling on Shen Yingjue. He must have heard it, mustn’t he?

Since she had to wait for the imperial physicians, she found herself with a rare moment of leisure and stood to one side, waiting.

About a quarter of an hour later, voices suddenly sounded from outside. “Your Majesty, please be at peace. Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years.”

Everyone in the room was startled. Even the steward looked surprised. “His Majesty… why has he come personally?”

He hurried out to meet him.

Tan Qingjiu remained where she was, unmoving.

Soon, she saw Emperor Shen Yanhuai of the Qingning Kingdom stride quickly through the doorway.

She immediately knelt together with the others. “This humble woman greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years.”

“Rise.”

Shen Yanhuai’s gaze first fell on Shen Yingjue lying on the bed. A complicated emotion flashed in his eyes. He pressed his lips together and was silent for a moment before lifting his eyes to Tan Qingjiu.

“Divine Physician Tan, and Imperial Physician Wang as well. How is it? Have you taken Prince Duan’s pulse?”

Tan Qingjiu and Imperial Physician Wang repeated their earlier conclusion to Shen Yanhuai.

When the subject turned to the medicine Tan Qingjiu had prepared, Shen Yanhuai glanced at the pill in the steward’s hands. “I have brought all the physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Let them all take Prince Duan’s pulse first, and then we can look at Divine Physician Tan’s medicine.”

“Yes.”

The imperial physicians filed into the room, which at once became cramped and stifling.

Shen Yanhuai then led Tan Qingjiu and Imperial Physician Wang out of the room. Once outside, he turned back to Tan Qingjiu. “Divine Physician Tan said that the poison Prince Duan was struck with must have been taken long ago?”

“Yes.” Tan Qingjiu lowered her eyes. “From his pulse, though this humble woman cannot yet determine exactly what poison Prince Duan has been given, judging by the way it has spread, he has been poisoned for at least ten years.”

“Ten years?” Shen Yanhuai turned sharply, the surprise in his eyes unmistakable.

Tan Qingjiu took in every trace of his reaction, and a flicker of doubt rose in her own heart. His response did not seem feigned. Could it be that the one who poisoned him was not Shen Yanhuai?

Then who was it?

She nodded and continued, “At least ten years. It is only that my learning is shallow, and I cannot tell what kind of poison it is. But from Prince Duan’s pulse, it is lifeless and rootless, without the steadiness of the stomach and without vitality. This is the sign of severe poisoning, of qi and essence gradually failing.”

Shen Yanhuai’s eyelid twitched. “What do you mean by that?”

“If the poison in Prince Duan’s body is not cured, I fear he will not live much longer.”

Shen Yanhuai’s eyes widened in shock. He looked genuinely panicked. “How could that be? How can this be? Do you have any way to treat it?”

Tan Qingjiu shook her head, her brow tightly furrowed. “My antidote pill can at most slow the spread of the poison for a time. It treats the symptoms, not the root cause. Once the pill loses its effect, Prince Duan will be in grave danger.”

Shen Yanhuai’s mouth was slightly open, his lips trembling faintly. He stood in silence for a long time, yet in the end said nothing.

After a while, the imperial physicians Shen Yanhuai had brought also came out.

“Imperial Physician Lin, what exactly is wrong with Prince Duan?”

The physician at the head of the group hurried to his knees. “Your Majesty, Prince Duan has been poisoned. Moreover, this poison was originally a slow-acting one, but now it has begun to invade the heart meridians. I fear he has been poisoned for a long time.”

“This poison is truly strange. Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I am unable to discern exactly what kind it is.”

This conclusion was exactly the same as Tan Qingjiu’s.

Shen Yanhuai staggered back two steps before drawing a deep breath. “Have you looked at Divine Physician Tan’s antidote pill?”

“We have. Divine Physician Tan’s medical skill is extraordinary, and the formula for that antidote pill is truly ingenious. I am deeply impressed.”

Shen Yanhui clenched his jaw. “Then is it feasible to use this antidote pill on Prince Duan?”

“It should be. However, the pill can only counter ordinary poisons. It ought to have some effect on the poison in Prince Duan’s body, but that effect may not be very obvious.”

It was the same as Tan Qingjiu had said.

Shen Yanhui was silent for a long time before finally speaking. “Give it to Prince Duan at once.”

“Yes.”

The steward hurriedly answered and rushed back inside with the medicine.

Tan Qingjiu said quickly, “I should go in and watch. My antidote pill is rather large, and since Prince Duan is unconscious, it may need to be dissolved in water before it can be administered. But if too much water is used, the medicine’s potency will weaken. I need to see to it myself.”

“Very well.”

Tan Qingjiu went into the room at once. The steward had already taken out the pill. Tan Qingjiu asked for a cup and had some water brought.

Once the pill was dissolved in the water, the steward fed the medicine to Shen Yingjue.

After the medicine had been given, Tan Qingjiu turned around and saw Shen Yanhui standing outside the door.

“Do you have a way to cure the poison?”

Tan Qingjiu gave a tragic smile. “This humble woman does not even know what poison Prince Duan has been struck with. How could I have a cure?”

Shen Yanhui’s gaze passed over her and settled on Shen Yingjue on the bed, lingering on his face for a long while.

“Divine Physician Tan, your medical skill is superb. Might I ask you to grant me a small and unreasonable request?”

Tan Qingjiu paused slightly. “Please speak, Your Majesty.”

Shen Yanhui drew a deep breath. “Could Divine Physician Tan remain in Prince Duan’s residence for a period of time and keep constant watch over Prince Duan’s condition? I fear…”

His gaze darkened. “I fear the one who poisoned him may be lurking at Prince Duan’s side.”

“And besides, Divine Physician Tan may also observe the symptoms of this poison up close.”

Tan Qingjiu lowered her eyes. “I can.”

Shen Yanhui froze, seemingly somewhat surprised that she had agreed so quickly.

Tan Qingjiu lifted her gaze. “This is a poison I have never seen in my life. I also want to see exactly what kind of poison it is.”