The Emperor’s sudden reaction, the strong grip on her wrist, and the urgency and expectation in his eyes gave Wanqing a sudden illusion—he was extremely anxious about his illness, especially the poison, to the point of panic.
His expectations, the trust and hope in his gaze, made her feel another illusion—who exactly did this man think she was? Did he mistake her for her mother, who was also a physician?
“Your Majesty…”
Although she was confident in treating his poison, the gu poison was not so easily resolved. Moreover, this was a case where the gu insects themselves had been poisoned, making the cure even more difficult.
The pain in her wrist made her gasp softly. “I—I was just too anxious about my condition. Did I—did I hurt you? I…”
Her soft cry snapped Leng Yingjie back to his senses. He looked at her with sudden realization and hastily explained, watching as Wanqing withdrew her hand with a slight frown. When he saw the redness on her wrist from his tight grip, he instinctively reached out again, his expression filled with concern.
But when Wanqing not only pulled her hand back but also tucked it into her sleeve, his face fell, and he looked troubled.
“It’s nothing. Your Majesty’s poison can be cured, though it will be difficult. I must prepare some corresponding herbs and materials, otherwise…”
For some reason, despite telling herself that his tension might simply stem from concern for his illness—or perhaps because she resembled his late mother so much that he saw her as a substitute—his reactions filled her not with relief but with inexplicable unease and confusion.
Even though she knew they were father and daughter, she couldn’t shake the feeling that, in his eyes, she was merely a stand-in for her mother.
Suppressing her inner turmoil, she met his gaze and explained, “Naturally, I will need certain herbs. If Second Young Miss Mu can name them, I will ensure they are found and made available for your use at any time, as long as…”
As expected, her words prompted Leng Yingjie to respond immediately. Though his expression remained calm, his eyes betrayed a desperate hope for recovery, even a plea.
“If Your Majesty can assist in gathering the herbs, it would ease my burden greatly. However, some medicinal ingredients must be procured personally. Thus, I humbly request permission to return to my residence first. Once I have prepared the necessary ingredients, I will return to the palace immediately to treat Your Majesty.”
Seeing his eagerness for an immediate cure, Wanqing felt helpless but maintained her composure, clearly stalling for time. Of course, some herbs truly required her personal attention.
“If there are specific ingredients needed, Second Young Miss Mu need only inform me. As long as I—”
Hearing her request to leave, the Emperor visibly tensed and spoke hastily.
“Your Majesty, the ingredients I seek cannot be prepared by just anyone. I must handle them myself. However, I’ve heard that the Imperial Preceptor of the capital is a master of alchemy. Has he been unable to treat Your Majesty’s condition?”
Despite her explanation, the Emperor still seemed reluctant to let her leave. Wanqing couldn’t help but wonder—was his reaction due to genuine concern for his illness, or was he truly mistaking her for her mother?
Nevertheless, she remained composed. Seeing her firm stance, he finally nodded in agreement. Then, recalling another matter, she ventured to ask:
After all, the Emperor and the Imperial Preceptor, Ye Mei, shared an unusual bond. Rumor had it that when her mother was still alive, they often dined together. It was due to the Emperor’s trust and favor that Ye Mei, despite lacking notable achievements, had been appointed Imperial Preceptor.
From her own encounter with that man, she knew his poison techniques were sinister and unpredictable. The gu poison he had used on the Liu couple at the Mu residence was proof. Someone capable of such poison should have no trouble curing the Emperor’s condition.
So why hadn’t he sought help from the very person by his side, instead turning to Liu Yufeng and herself?
“Second Young Miss Mu, though the Imperial Preceptor is skilled in medicine and poison, even he is helpless against this. Otherwise, why would I seek you out? Since you must prepare the herbs, return to your residence and do so swiftly. But tell me honestly—how soon can you prepare the antidote?”
As soon as Wanqing finished speaking, she noticed a fleeting but unmistakable glint of killing intent in the Emperor’s eyes. Before she could ponder its meaning, he sighed and pressed her for a direct answer.
“Honestly?”
His urgency puzzled her. Though his poison was stubborn, it wasn’t immediately life-threatening. Given that it had afflicted him for at least three to five years, why was he suddenly so impatient?
“These days, the pain has been unbearable. Coupled with the burdens of court affairs and the Empress Dowager’s condition, I find myself growing anxious.”
As if realizing his own agitation, the Emperor softened his tone and offered a rare, gentle explanation.
“I see. Given my abilities, preparing the antidote will take at least a month and a half, possibly up to three months. However, if the poison flares up, Your Majesty may take these pills to temporarily suppress its spread and prevent further complications. This is a unique formula I developed under my master’s guidance—one pill a day will ensure the poison remains stable until the antidote is ready.”
Though she still didn’t understand his urgency, Wanqing calmly explained and produced a vial of antidote pills from her sleeve. These were her own creation, blending medical knowledge from her past life with the formulas from her mother’s medicinal texts.
They could not only inhibit stubborn poisons but also neutralize them, effective even against gu poison and other insidious toxins.
“Very well. I accept this medicine and hope Second Young Miss Mu will spare no effort. Chen’er, assist her in any way she requires. If she encounters difficulties or needs rare herbs from the palace, you may approach me directly.”
The Emperor nodded, instructing a eunuch to take the vial. As Wanqing rose to leave, he turned to the Prince of Ning beside her.
“I will do my utmost to serve Father. However, I have a humble request. Grandmother is advanced in years. When Second Young Miss Mu and I visited her today, she mentioned longing to taste the osmanthus cakes you and Mother used to make for her. I dare to ask that you spare time to visit her more often.”
The Prince of Ning bowed respectfully. Seeing his father’s nod, he thought of his earlier conversation with Wanqing after their visit to the Empress Dowager and made his plea.
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