Following Wanqing into the palace, the Prince of Ning had already arrived first. By the Empress Dowager’s bedside, disregarding the Emperor’s presence, the Prince of Ning noticed the pensive and confused expression on Wanqing’s face as she withdrew her hand from the Empress Dowager’s wrist and asked in surprise, “Qing’er, the Empress Dowager’s illness…”
“The Empress Dowager has been poisoned with a strange toxin. It feels quite peculiar—it won’t endanger her life but will keep her in a deep slumber. It’s likely she may remain in this state indefinitely.”
Wanqing looked up in response to the Prince of Ning’s inquiry. She had discerned the Empress Dowager’s condition—the elderly woman had been poisoned by someone unknown. For Wanqing, curing the poison was not an issue. However, the thought that the Empress Dowager had been poisoned within the palace, coupled with the fact that, according to Eunuch Sun, she had been fine after accompanying the Emperor for breakfast, raised suspicions.
Filled with doubt and various conjectures, Wanqing answered the Prince of Ning while keeping a watchful eye on the Emperor from the corner of her vision. As she spoke, she noticed the Emperor’s expression darken, and though his glance at her seemed thoughtful, it carried an unmistakable undercurrent of murderous intent. With years of experience in the martial world, Wanqing sensed the danger in that fleeting look, sending a chill down her spine.
She couldn’t fathom why the Emperor would poison the Empress Dowager—his own mother. The elderly woman had no involvement in court affairs, posing no threat to him. The only “threat” might have been her frequent pleas for him to spend more time with her. Yet, as a child, fulfilling such a wish was only natural. The Emperor’s actions left Wanqing utterly bewildered.
“How could this be? Is there a cure for the Empress Dowager’s poison?” The Prince of Ning, deeply concerned for his grandmother, asked anxiously.
“Yes, Second Miss Mu, can the Empress Dowager’s poison be cured?” Following the Prince of Ning’s question, the Emperor turned to her as well.
“Ah…” Wanqing sighed softly at the Emperor’s inquiry. “I do have a method to cure the poison, but it’s somewhat complicated. Since I can’t immediately identify the toxin, Your Majesty, could you tell me what happened before the Empress Dowager was poisoned? I recall Eunuch Sun mentioning that she fell into this state after returning from breakfast with you. May I ask what you both ate during the meal?”
The Emperor’s question deepened Wanqing’s confusion. Though reluctant to believe her suspicions, she sighed and turned to them, adopting the demeanor of a physician seeking clarity. “Is the Empress Dowager’s poison related to food?”
At her words, the Emperor’s expression darkened further, his eyes shadowed with gloom as he asked, “Shouldn’t it be unrelated to food? However, certain combinations of food and poison might alter the toxin’s effects, so I need to understand the details. Your Majesty…” Wanqing met his murderous gaze with calm composure, though her displeasure grew.
Hearing her explanation, the Emperor’s expression shifted slightly. He recounted the breakfast he shared with the Empress Dowager, even mentioning the floral tea they drank.
“It seems the food had no significant impact, so the poison isn’t too troublesome. I have a way to neutralize it. But first, I must use silver needles to suppress the toxin. If we delay, it may spread to her organs, making treatment far more difficult.”
Wanqing detected nothing amiss in the Emperor’s account. Despite her suspicions, she proceeded to treat the Empress Dowager with acupuncture. After completing the procedure and instructing Eunuch Sun on her care, she prepared to leave.
Though the poison was nothing serious—a few days of treatment would suffice—she told them she needed time to prepare, without specifying how long.
Neither the Emperor nor the Prince of Ning pressed further. However, just as Wanqing was about to depart, the Emperor suddenly complained of a headache and asked her to treat him.
Suspicious, she noted that his complexion didn’t match his claimed symptoms. Yet, he insisted on keeping her back.
Though puzzled, Wanqing accompanied him to his chambers.
“Your Majesty’s headache is merely due to overexertion. Rest more and maintain a light diet—it will resolve itself. Here’s a prescription. Follow it for two days, and you’ll recover.”
After checking his pulse, she found his condition far less severe than he claimed. Still, she used acupuncture to relax him before handing him the prescription.
“I’ll take care. Second Miss Mu, are you truly unable to cure the Empress Dowager’s poison immediately?” The Emperor nodded but pressed her again as she packed her things.
“Your Majesty, are you worried I might fail to treat the Empress Dowager…?” Wanqing couldn’t resist asking boldly, sensing his urgency.
“As a son, who wouldn’t worry for their mother? Second Miss Mu, is there truly no way to cure her at once?” The Emperor sighed and repeated his question.
“Does Your Majesty truly wish for me to cure her immediately?” Wanqing smiled faintly, her tone laced with challenge.
“…Do I seem to be jesting?” His eyes turned icy at her boldness, though he forced a laugh.
“Your Majesty’s filial devotion is indeed remarkable. I can only promise to do my best. Rest assured, the Empress Dowager will recover. With me here, there will be no mishaps. Today’s treatment is done—I shall take my leave.”
The Emperor’s reactions only confirmed Wanqing’s suspicions: he didn’t want the Empress Dowager to wake, yet feigned concern. Poisoning her no longer seemed implausible. With a composed smile, she bid him farewell.
“Very well. Wait—Second Miss Mu, you’ve been busy all morning treating me and the Empress Dowager. Won’t you stay for a meal before returning?”
His expression inscrutable, the Emperor stopped her just as she was about to leave.
“Your Majesty is too kind. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t refuse, but I have another patient to attend—the heir of Prince Ji’s household has fallen ill, and I’ve already scheduled a visit…”
Caught off guard by his sudden invitation, Wanqing hesitated. Though unimpressed by the Emperor—despite his imposing demeanor, his weak pulse and frail constitution betrayed his poor health—she couldn’t outright reject him. Thinking quickly, she cited another obligation.
“The heir of Prince Ji is ill? What ails him? Is it serious?” The Emperor’s expression remained neutral, but his fists clenched subtly at his sides.
“Not well. I can only do my best. Farewell.” With a faint smile, Wanqing turned and left.
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