Chapter 411.4: Trouble Arising
This kind of thing, Li Hong Yuan naturally won’t refuse, letting Eunuch Mu immediately leave the palace.
“w.a.n.gye, his Majesty’s meaning is letting you and w.a.n.gfei also take a trip to Ganlu Palace.”
Li Hong Yuan maintained a cold expression and didn’t express anything. Rather, it was Jing Wan that revealed a surprised look. It was obvious, towards this matter, she was somewhat puzzled. Even if it’s wanting to let a certain son go over, it should still be Gong Qinw.a.n.g. After all, on the surface, Shu Consort Qin can be considered Gong Qinw.a.n.g’s support.
“Let’s go.” Li Hong Yuan clearly didn’t mind in the slightest, and also won’t go ponder whether or not there was some deeper meaning to this.
“This prince will also go.” When they were speaking, they didn’t deliberately lower their voice, so the people in the surrounding all heard. For Gong Qinw.a.n.g to make this kind of request, it was also within reason.
“This……….” Le Cheng Emperor’s attendant hesitated. After all, his Majesty just called for Jin Qinw.a.n.g.
“Although this prince wasn’t formally given to Shu consort mother to raise, but prior to this prince leaving the palace, this prince for the most part grew up in Ganlu Palace, so it’s not too much to say that this prince is half a foster son, right? At present, Shu consort mother’s condition is unclear. This prince wanting to go have a look, what is the problem with this? Even if imperial father knows, he would certainly approve.” His words weren’t extreme, and can be said to be sincere and true, but his expression didn’t allow for comment. It was obvious, even if this inner court attendant doesn’t approve, he will still follow over.
The inner court attendant saw that Jin Qinw.a.n.g had already directly left, simply not paying them any attention. Thus, he just quickly followed after, completely ignoring Gong Qinw.a.n.g, pretending that he didn’t hear.
Gong Qinw.a.n.g’s expression darkened. That inner court attendant was practically just openly drawing the line to push away the responsibility. If he follows over, that will just be completely acting on his own without permission. But, the words just now have already come out. If he doesn’t go, then he will certainly be viewed as hypocritically putting on an act. That’s why, even if it’s hardening his head, he can only follow after, pulling along his own w.a.n.gfei. She, as Shu Consort Qin’s niece, worrying about her paternal aunt and going to have a look, no one will feel there was anything wrong.
However, it was obvious he’d thought too much. Arriving at Ganlu Palace, Le Cheng Emperor was in the inner hall and simply didn’t appear.
The palace servants of Ganlu Palace served the tea.
Two qinw.a.n.gs and two qin-w.a.n.gfeis, all quietly sitting there, the atmosphere was too heavy. Gong w.a.n.gfei wanted to say something several times, but after opening her mouth, she couldn’t help but close it again.
All the way until Yu Zhong Qing came over to report to Le Cheng Emperor did Le Cheng Emperor finally come out of the inner hall. Between his brows, there were obvious marks of weariness, “Is there any progress?”
Yu Zhong Qing recounted his investigation in the imperial kitchen according to Jin w.a.n.gfei’s conjecture.
However, the investigation results were still disappointing. Shu Consort Qin’s food have always came from the imperial kitchen. Ganlu Palace’s little kitchen generally just handled some small desserts, and every day, Shu Consort Qin would drink a bowl of chicken soup. This has persisted for several years already. And the recipe for the soup for the most part only changed every year or so. Moreover, it was all prescription prescribed by the imperial physicians. Every single one all have a record from the Imperial Physician’s Court. The current recipe has already been in use for three to four months now and has never had any problems.
Any imperial consort that had the slightest bit of status would all have their pulse checked every so often. The higher their status, the shorter the interval. The others perhaps would have a fixed physician to take their pulse, but Shu Consort Qin didn’t have a fixed physician. Whoever was free, whoever would go, and there wasn’t a pattern either. Moreover, Shu Consort Qin’s body have always been pretty good, and didn’t have any areas out of place. Every imperial physician’s conclusion was all more or less the same. If there was already some slow-acting poison in her body, then for the most part, it wasn’t too possible for it to go undetected.
That’s why, this path was still a dead end.
This kind of outcome made Le Cheng Emperor both furious and irritable. As the emperor, that was for the most part being skeptical by nature. Unable to find the source of Shu Consort Qin’s poisoning, Le Cheng Emperor certainly will just suspect whether or not the original target of the poisoning was himself? Even if not, in the future, wasn’t it possible for them to also unknowingly poison him like this? This kind of thing, no matter who, all can’t possibly tolerate.
“Investigate, continue investigating, even if it’s having the entire imperial palace turned upside down, still need to produce some results for this emperor.”
“Yes.” Yu Zhong Qing right now, aside from this, clearly had nothing else to say.
He can only be glad that Le Cheng Emperor right now still had his rationality, and didn’t because of anger just started slaughtering. One has to know, right now, there were truly too many people trembling in fear, especially the people of the imperial kitchen. That was feeling as if the blade was already propped against their neck, and if the situation were to tilt in the slightest, the blade will just heartlessly come down.
Gong Jiu entered the palace very quickly. At this time, there really wasn’t any time to be mindful of the etiquette. After meeting with Le Cheng Emperor, he just directly entered the inner hall.
Gong Jiu’s medical skills were very good, and in reality, his skills in poison were even better. Using the silver needle to examine Shu Consort Qin, he separately applied the needle in five different areas on Shu Consort Qin’s body. After extracting the needle, he carefully looked it over, then placed it below his nose to smell. And that’s not all, he even used the tip of his tongue to lick the needle point. Including Le Cheng Emperor, everyone watching to the side were all startled and alarmed. This was poison. Doing this, was he not afraid of getting infected?
Inserting another five needles, the same steps repeated. Gong Jiu repeated this five times, “Your Majesty, there’s already an outcome.”
Le Cheng Emperor revealed a happy expression, “Really? How’s the situation, is it curable?”
“It’s possible, although a bit troublesome, but this commoner can ensure that her Highness will be in good health.”
“That’s good, that’s good.” Le Cheng Emperor’s brows smoothed out a little. Previously when the empress suddenly fell ill, him caring and feeling nervous was for the most part all because if the empress dies, the matters afterwards will be very troublesome. Towards the empress herself, he didn’t have any feelings, but Shu Consort Qin wasn’t the same. She for the most part was the opposite of the empress. He didn’t seem to like Shu Consort Qin that much, but Shu Consort Qin was a quiet and gentle woman. She was always able to make his certain negative emotions calm down. That’s why, for him, Shu Consort Qin was also a relatively special existence. Calming down inside, “Since you know what poison it is, then is it also possible to figure out how Shu Consort got poisoned?”
“Replying to your Majesty, this isn’t certain. This kind of poison is a bit special. It can be mixed into the final finished medicine to use, or it can be a half finished product, and this half finished product can be two kind, or it can be three kind. There are many variations, just the final outcome is all the same, and once it’s separated, for the most part, it’s not too possible to detect the poison.”
Upon hearing this, Le Cheng Emperor somewhat deflated, but as long as the poison can be cured, it wasn’t considered the worst outcome, “How about this, why don’t you first stabilize Shu Consort Qin’s condition, then go look into it. Perhaps there will be some unexpected outcomes.”
“Yes.” Gong Jiu didn’t use any ready-made antidote to cure, instead directly applying the needles for Shu Consort Qin, controlling the poison.
The entire process was very quick, merely just a few short breaths in time. And judging from Gong Jiu’s movements, seemingly this was enough?
“Just this?” Le Cheng Emperor was in disbelief.
“Replying to your Majesty, as long as one doesn’t touch the silver needles, it can ensure that her Highness maintain her current condition for twelve hours. Today is your Majesty’s birthday banquet. According to one’s understanding, the evening banquet has yet concluded. This commoner figured that one should first investigate the cause of her Highness’s poisoning, so as to also give the other countries’ emissaries an explanation.”
“You’re right, come with this emperor.”
Exiting the inner hall, Gong Jiu finally greeted Li Hong Yuan, this actual master. Earlier, he’d been in a rush.
Li Hong Yuan nonchalantly responded.
Le Cheng Emperor this while just realized that he seemingly had used his son’s person, yet didn’t say anything? However, thinking it over, that was his own son. As the father, using one’s own son’s people, wasn’t that only natural and expected? Thus, he instantly became bold and confident again.
Li Hong Yuan was also too lazy to look at his appearance. Speaking of which, in his past life, there wasn’t this incident. That’s why, Li Hong Yuan also didn’t know exactly what happened here. However, all things certainly will have a cause and effect. It was impossible for this matter to just soundlessly and wordlessly smooth out. Li Hong Yuan himself also won’t allow this kind of thing to happen.
Gong Jiu first went to inspect that pot of chicken soup in the imperial kitchen. This time, Le Cheng Emperor even personally went along with. Once he finds out who was acting up in this matter, he will certainly let them die without a proper burial.
That pot of chicken soup was still perfectly preserved. Ever since Shu Consort Qin met with mishap, no one had touched it. Even previously when investigating, it was also just pouring out a portion.