ng Qianqian, Lu Yuan, Zong Zhengxi, and his personal eunuch Xiao Dazi went together to the Supre Emperor’s bedchamber—Zhuanghe Hall.
Zhuanghe Hall was but a quiet little palace, and it was the Supre Emperor himself who had requested to live there.
After spending years worshipping Buddha in a monastery, he had grown accustod to tranquility.
The mont they stepped into the hall, ng Qianqian and Lu Yuan imdiately sensed an overwhelmingly tense atmosphere.
Eunuchs and palace maids knelt in unison under the corridor, their eyes downcast, hardly daring to breathe. Occasionally, staff from the Imperial Hospital rushed past, their expressions uniformly grim.
"Your Majesty..."
The palace attendant guarding the hall noticed Zong Zhengxi and was about to pay his respects.
Zong Zhengxi raised his hand slightly, and the palace attendant cautiously stepped aside.
Although Zong Zhengxi had only been away for two hours, upon returning to his father’s bedchamber, he discovered a significantly increased crowd around his father’s bedside.
"Imperial Sister."
Zong Zhengxi called out to Princess Wanping.
Princess Wanping didn’t seem to hear anything; she lay kneeling beside the Supre Emperor, sobbing uncontrollably.
Behind her knelt the other siblings.
But how much of their sorrow was genuine heartbreak, and how much was theatrical mourning? That remained uncertain.
ng Qianqian and Lu Yuan exchanged a glance.
Lu Yuan, though reluctant to look at Princess Wanping, had to admit her filial piety toward the Supre Emperor was sincere. If the Supre Emperor had truly been poisoned, she could initially be ruled out.
ng Qianqian’s gaze swept over the remaining princes. She didn’t recognize them and couldn’t discern anything for now.
"Your Majesty."
The Third Prince was the first to notice Zong Zhengxi and rose to salute him.
The rest followed, rising in turn.
Zong Zhengxi said, "Imperial Brothers, no need for ceremony."
The Imperial Physicians quickly bowed to him as well.
Soon, everyone noticed Lu Yuan and ng Qianqian standing behind him.
Not all of them necessarily recognized ng Qianqian, but there was no one who didn’t recognize Lu Yuan.
Everyone was utterly shocked.
Zong Zhengxi took in their reactions, steadied himself, and said, "Madam Lu is highly skilled in the Qihuang arts. I’ve personally invited her from the Governor Mansion to treat Father’s illness."
"Preposterous!"
The Second Prince stord forward, his eyes blazing with anger. His age exceeded even Consort Li’s; he was a Prince with quite a commanding presence.
Pointing at ng Qianqian, he said, "I’ve never heard of her possessing any dical skills! Even if she does, given her current status, how can we be sure whether she intends to cure Father or harm him?"
The Third Prince chid in, "Indeed, Your Majesty. Have you forgotten who sent Father away to the retreat palace for ’recuperation’ these past years?"
Except for Zong Zhengxi, the rest truly believed the Supre Emperor had been forcibly confined in the retreat palace.
The Second Prince said, "Lu Yuan hasn’t had pure intentions!"
Zong Zhengxi faltered, "Father... Father has actually been well these past years in the retreat palace."
But upon returning to the main palace, he fell ill again.
He hadn’t properly cared for his father; he was utterly incompetent!
The Second Prince chided him bitterly, "Have you forgotten how the late Crown Prince died? Wasn’t it because he summoned a wandering physician who killed him with improper treatnt?"
The Fifth Prince sneered, "Second Brother, Third Brother, stop blaming him. If the Crown Prince hadn’t died, would it even have been his turn to ascend the throne? Why would he bla Lu Yuan?"
Lu Yuan coolly remarked, "Your Majesty, I’ve only been absent from court for a month, and already these brothers of yours dare to speak to you like this?"
Zong Zhengxi’s face turned pale.
Indeed, during Lu Yuan’s regency, not one of his brothers dared to mock or disrespect him.
It was as if only Lu Yuan had the authority to chastise him; no one else could.
The Third Prince coldly added, "Lu Yuan, this isn’t your place to speak! The cris you’ve committed are unpardonable. It’s solely thanks to Father and the Pri Minister’s leniency, considering your ritorious service against Beiliang, that your life was spared!"
"Pri Minister." Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.
The little eunuch ca to report, "Your Majesty, the Pri Minister seeks an audience, and he’s brought the Divine Doctor along."
Upon seeing the Divine Doctor beside Pri Minister Xun, ng Qianqian’s expression froze.
Lady Yan?
It was actually her?
ng Qianqian didn’t doubt Lady Yan’s reputation as a Divine Doctor; after all, back when she was punished at Changchun Palace and her cold syndro flared up, leaving her on the brink of death, it was Lady Yan who had saved her.
Her surprise stemd from how Lady Yan ca to be associated with Pri Minister Xun.
Noticing Lu Yuan’s complete lack of surprise, ng Qianqian instantly understood.
Lady Yan was one of Pri Minister Xun’s people.
No wonder Wanhua Tower held such an esteed position in the Capital City.
If the murderer of her family was connected to Wanhua Tower, then didn’t that imply Pri Minister Xun might also be involved in her family’s case?
To have sealed off a case despite nurous flaws would demand unparalleled power and influence.
Honestly, her primary suspect had initially been Lu Yuan. Approaching him and using him had, in fact, been part of her investigation.
But after traveling to the border, Lu Yuan’s suspicion had been eliminated.
So was it the Supre Emperor, or was it Pri Minister Xun?
Pri Minister Xun greeted Zong Zhengxi with the utmost respect, "Your subject pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Lu Yuan never knelt before the Emperor. Compared to him, the Pri Minister was thorough in his etiquette.
Zong Zhengxi quickly said, "Pri Minister, please rise, and this Divine Doctor as well."
The Pri Minister and Lady Yan stood up one after the other.
"Pri Minister."
Lu Yuan greeted him politely with clasped hands.
Pri Minister Xun returned the gesture.
Then, the Pri Minister addressed Zong Zhengxi, "Your Majesty, upon hearing that the Supre Emperor’s condition is critical, the Imperial Physicians have done their utmost to stabilize his condition. However, after three days without rest, they are utterly exhausted. After making inquiries far and wide, I learned of Lady Yan from Wanhua Tower, whose dical skills are unsurpassed. Perhaps she could take a look at the Supre Emperor."
The speech both explained his intent and allowed the Imperial Physicians to save face.
How could anyone not appreciate such consideration?
None of the princes had any objections.
Zong Zhengxi could only acquiesce.
Lady Yan approached the bed and said to Princess Wanping, "Princess, this humble doctor needs to take the Supre Emperor’s pulse. May I trouble you to rest on a chair for a mont?"
Princess Wanping didn’t move; overwheld by grief, she appeared despondent.
Eventually, Zong Zhengxi had two palace maids forcibly escort her away. "Be gentle with Imperial Sister!"
Lady Yan checked the Supre Emperor’s pulse, examined his body, lifted his eyelids to inspect his pupils, and observed his tongue. She shook her head. "It isn’t a warm illness, nor is it poisoning. How peculiar, I’ve never encountered a condition like this before."
Pri Minister Xun furrowed his brow. "Is there any treatnt?"
Lady Yan shook her head again. "Without identifying the illness, there’s no way to administer targeted treatnt."
ng Qianqian’s eyes narrowed. She trusted Lady Yan’s dical expertise; there was no way she’d misdiagnose.
Since it wasn’t a warm illness or poisoning, then the only possibility was—
She spoke up, "May I try?"
Lady Yan smiled faintly. "You? Don’t forget, your life was saved by back then. If you’re so capable, how co you couldn’t even cure your own cold syndro?"
This remark further discouraged the princes from allowing ng Qianqian to treat the Supre Emperor.
ng Qianqian said, "Physicians cannot treat themselves."
It wasn’t that she couldn’t treat herself, but rather that she lacked the dicine—specifically, the Lingzhi needed to cure her cold syndro, which even money couldn’t buy.
Lady Yan chuckled. "How poignant—a physician unable to treat herself. Let’s hope the Governor Mansion doesn’t have ulterior motives. After all, physicians can kill with ease, much like the infamous Lady Chu."
Indeed, even the peerless Chu Grand Marshal had died at the border at the hands of the divine physician Lady Chu.
Lu Yuan quietly asked ng Qianqian, "How confident are you?"
ng Qianqian hesitated. "Less than thirty percent."
Lu Yuan said, "That’s enough."
Before ng Qianqian could grasp what "enough" ant, she saw Lu Yuan take a solemn step forward, his aura dominating the room.
"I am willing to stake my life on this matter: my wife would never harm the Supre Emperor. If the Supre Emperor lives, so do I. If he dies, then I die too."
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