Chapter 411.3: Trouble Arising
The opportunity to serve before the emperor was very rare. Even for the general manager of the imperial kitchen, this was also as such. That’s why, having obtained this kind of opportunity, there was excitement, and also nervousness. If served well, there were benefits, but if not, then one might suffer punishment.
Of all people present, there wasn’t a single one a small chef like him can afford to offend. As such, naturally it was obediently taking care of his task. Although at this time, to want to curry favor was also very simple, but anyone with a bit of brain all won’t rashly stand out.
With the person serving switched out, Le Cheng Emperor tasted again, en, the flavor sure enough was pretty good.
The things his son liked to eat, Le Cheng Emperor expressed that he also liked, even eating quite happily.
Regardless of the reason it was due to, a portion of the imperial consorts as well as a certain few princes also asked for a portion. Soon after, Le Cheng Emperor waved his big hand, and all the foreign emissaries as well as court officials all received a share too. In any case, there wasn’t a single country or household that occupied two tables. At a ten person table, for a table to be able to have more than five people was already not bad.
That’s right, regardless of how many people, every table all just received one share. Each person getting a share and whatnot, heheh…………….
That’s why, when it comes to following the trend, the imperial palace truly was the most prevalent in this aspect, and also the quickest. If the person above says it’s good, then even if not good, it still has to be good.
Hotpot, this kind of thing, it was cooking and eating on the spot. As time pa.s.ses, one can even end up covered in sweat, very much refres.h.i.+ng, of course, setting aside those that disdained the heavy smell, or those that feel sweating was uncomfortable and shameful.
As such, what originally should be an evening banquet entwined with wine and drinking, towards the end, it was all just eat, eat, eat.
Le Cheng Emperor was also content, and those unpleasant matters previously seemingly all got tossed beyond the clouds. Even towards Xian Consort Wei, he all had a rather amicable expression.
Time slowly elapsed little by little. The splendid lights in addition to the harmonious atmosphere caused this palace banquet to seemingly have a bit more human warmth.
However, “Your Highness Shu Consort——–” A scream sounded, instantly shattering this harmonious atmosphere.
Everyone instantly had their line of sight gathered over, just seeing Shu Consort Qin’s deathly pale complexion, having already pa.s.sed out. And on the table in front of her, it was a pool of red.
It was obvious and easy to see that it was first vomiting blood, and afterwards, instantly pa.s.sing out. The entire process all happened very quickly.
Le Cheng Emperor abruptly stood up, quickly going forward, taking Shu Consort Qin from the palace maid’s arms. Seeing her like this, he can be said to be alarmed and astonished, and naturally both shocked and furious, “Quickly summon the imperial physician!” In case of an emergency, the imperial physicians were all on standby at all times. As such, they came very quickly.
The imperial physician hurriedly took the pulse, his heart jumping out of his body, his forehead even seeping with cold sweat, not daring to rashly come to a conclusion. After carefully looking over again, “Yo-your, your Majesty……….”
“What’s wrong, quickly speak!” At this time, how could Le Cheng Emperor allow him to stammer.
“Your Majesty, her Highness Shu Consort is showing signs of poisoning.” The imperial physician tremblingly said.
“Poisoning?” Le Cheng Emperor’s voice sharply rose. Regardless of his tone or expression, it was all exceptionally terrifying.
The people present, not a single one wasn’t dumbstruck, their heart can’t help but palpitate even faster. During the emperor’s birthday banquet, how could there be poisoning out of nowhere? No one would feel this was an accident. It was a hundred percent human caused. But, who was this daring, rus.h.i.+ng to poison at this time? And Shu Consort Qin, was she someone’s target, or just inadvertently became the unlucky scapegoat?
“What are you standing around for, quickly think of a way to cure Shu Consort.”
“Your Majesty, to want to cure, one must first figure out exactly what poison her Highness is afflicted with.” The cold sweat on his forehead increased more and more, but he didn’t dare to reach out to wipe away.
Le Cheng Emperor turned his head, glaring at the people serving by Shu Consort Qin’s side like a vengeful spirit, “What did your master eat just now?”
The person that was in charge of filling Shu Consort Qin’s plate and taste testing this whole time, similarly having come from the imperial kitchen as well, hurriedly knelt down, “Your Majesty, her Highness just now drank a few sips of the chicken soup.”
That half a bowl of chicken soup was still perfectly placed on the table. The oil on the surface had been cleanly scooped away. The chicken soup appeared relatively clear and clean. Perhaps when Shu Consort Qin initially vomited blood, it wasn’t at that distance. Judging from the position of the soup bowl, she seemingly had deliberately pushed it farther away and didn’t overturn it, or perhaps she’d already realized there was something wrong with the chicken soup.
Upon hearing this, the imperial physician hurriedly went forward to examine. However, the outcome was unexpected. The soup didn’t have any problems, and the spoon used for the soup also didn’t have any problems. Having arrived at such a conclusion, the palace maid in charge of taste testing the dishes also added, “Your Majesty, her Highness’s soup, this servant had tasted too.” Yet she was still perfectly fine, so it definitely wasn’t the chicken soup.
“These things immediately examine them all for this emperor, including those that were cleared away previously.”
“Yes.” The imperial physician immediately responded, not daring to slight in the slightest, inspecting one by one. However, reality proved that the antique soup’s soup base, as well as the things Shu Consort Qin had eaten, all didn’t have any problems. As for the dishes that were previously cleared away, aside from the last round still present, the previous one had already been taken care of.
The master’s leftover dishes, the people below would secretly divide up and eat. This was also considered a common consensus known by all. The things that these n.o.ble personages and high officials weren’t willing to eat, for those palace servants, were nonetheless something un.o.btainable. Those leftover ingredients left in the imperial kitchen, they didn’t dare to touch, but the cooked dishes weren’t the same, quickly shoving into the mouth, and afterwards, swallowing down, wiping their mouth…………
Regardless whether it was the ones that secretly ate, or the ones that ate with permission, in any case, each and every one were all fine. Until now, it was just Shu Consort Qin meeting with mishap.
Of course, this didn’t rule out the possibility that someone had already had the thing carrying the poison disposed of.
Perhaps there was some kind of poison that relied on the chicken soup to trigger, and under normal circ.u.mstances, couldn’t be detected? Someone put forward this kind of question, yet it was obvious, there weren’t any.
Unable to find the source of poison, yet also not knowing what kind of poison it was, the imperial physician was also bounded by the hands, and could only prevent the poison from invading the heart as much as possible.
Le Cheng Emperor’s complexion was as dark as the bottom of a pot, having Shu Consort Qin sent back to Ganlu Palace. Afterwards, he issued an order, the things in Qian Chen Hall all weren’t allowed to be touched, and the people in Qian Chen Hall temporarily can’t come and go either. The Great Commander of the Imperial Guards will be investigating this matter.
There were those that were frightened, and naturally there were also those that were indifferent. Just, for the most part, no one continued eating. Who knew whether or not these things had problems.
Shu Consort Qin worked for Jin Qinw.a.n.g, and her inherent temper was also very good. Many people in the palace actually all quite liked her. Standing in Jing Wan’s position, she also similarly didn’t wish for anything bad to befall Shu Consort Qin. Just, this matter nevertheless penetrated with quite a bit of oddities. If everything all didn’t have any problems, then……………..Jing Wan suddenly jolted inside, “w.a.n.gye, is it possible that her Highness Shu Consort was already poisoned, and what caused the poison to break out wasn’t purely just the chicken soup, but rather a certain medicinal ingredient in the chicken soup?”
Compared to the others, Li Hong Yuan was just like an idle person, continuing to leisurely drink wine.
That appearance, even Jing Wan all felt very much lacked a beating, “w.a.n.gye——-”
Li Hong Yuan’s line of sight landed on Jing Wan’s face, “w.a.n.gfei’s guess isn’t impossible. Ask the imperial kitchen for Shu Consort’s food intake, and we’ll know.”
Although there was this kind of guess, this matter ultimately wasn’t theirs to take charge of, thus they let Eunuch Mu inform Yu Zhong Qing.
Originally there weren’t any clues, but this kind of conjecture without a doubt provided a direction. Thus, Yu Zhong Qing led the people to the imperial kitchen.
Not long after they left, the inner court attendant by Le Cheng Emperor’s side hurriedly came over, “This one greets w.a.n.gye. w.a.n.gye, his Majesty has ordered to let you send someone to invite the manor doctor from your manor into the palace.”
The other imperial physicians, regardless whether it was the ones in the palace or outside the palace, had all already let someone go summon, but Shu Consort Qin’s current situation truly wasn’t optimistic. That was when Le Cheng Emperor thought of Gong Jiu. Since he had saved Kang Qinw.a.n.g’s heir, and had also examined the empress, then his medical skills naturally were up to standard. Although each have what they specialized in, and people with good medical skills perhaps weren’t really proficient in poison, but what if by chance it was doable? As long as there was a sliver of hope, it was best not to give up, and also best not to procrastinate. As such, Le Cheng Emperor was also resolute.