Chapter 230: Reaching Consensus
“Imperial Physician Su, Madam Shen passed away many years ago. I never thought there would be anyone in the palace to avenge her,” Wen Mingqian said with emotion. “That day I found poison on Qingju and knew someone intended to harm the Empress, but I couldn’t be sure why. Not until the investigation led to you…”
“The plague in the palace back then was caused by Madam Dong. She wanted to get rid of the Second Prince, who was born to Consort Shu. She secretly had people obtain personal belongings from those who had died of the plague from outside the palace.
Soon, the Second Prince contracted the plague and died. But then the plague spread throughout the palace, infecting many people. At this point, Madam Dong was so terrified that she fled the Imperial Palace and escaped to the Eastern Capital.” Su Qingzhu couldn’t help but sneer as he said this. “At that time, His Majesty was away on a southern campaign and not in the Capital City. With Madam Dong gone, the people in the palace became even more panicked, and everyone was in a state of self-preservation.
Many people who were not infected by the plague had already been driven mad by fear, and some even suggested burning all those infected with the plague to prevent its spread.
It was at that time that Consort Shen stepped forward. She was just a Noble Lady then. She came to the Imperial Hospital and said she had a fifty percent chance of stopping the plague. The people at the Imperial Hospital were all in a frenzy, and the Imperial Physicians refused to pay her any mind. I had only recently joined the Imperial Hospital then and was not yet qualified to treat the Masters and Madams, only to take the pulse and prescribe medicine for Palace Maids and Eunuchs.
I brewed the medicine using the prescription she gave me and gave it to the Palace Maids and Eunuchs who had contracted the plague. After a few days, it was indeed effective. My Master and I then added or removed medicinal herbs and adjusted the dosage, making the medicine even more potent, and the prescription was finally finalized.”
As Su Qingzhu spoke, scenes from that year flashed before his eyes.
He would forever remember Shen Fu standing inside the gate of the Imperial Hospital, dressed in an lotus root colored robe, the water chestnut flower hairpin on her head trembling softly.
When the Palace Servants who had been saved knelt before Shen Fu in unison, Su Qingzhu was certain he had seen the true form of a Bodhisattva in the mortal world.
“Within a month, the plague in the palace was finally stopped. Madam Dong returned and took all the credit, telling the Emperor that it was all her merit.” Su Qingzhu sneered. “She is the most shameless person I have ever met!”
There was no other way, who made the Empress the daughter of Dong Yannian!
He was known as the Huo Guang of Great Xia, who had deposed and enthroned emperors twice, and all the officials followed his lead.
The current Emperor’s biological mother had a very low status, and his father had passed away early. He was considered the most declining branch of the imperial family at that time.
It was Grand Tutor Dong who pushed him onto the throne, and the Emperor had no choice but to treat him with great respect.
His eldest daughter, Dong Xiangning, was to become Empress, and she even forced the Emperor’s original wife, Madam Liu, to her death.
After she entered the palace, the son born to Madam Liu also died under mysterious circumstances.
In fact, His Majesty had quite a few children, but not a single Prince had grown to adulthood. While there were natural disasters, a considerable portion of this was due to Madam Dong’s poisonous hand.
To solidify her son’s position, she repeatedly targeted the imperial heirs.
However, her son also died prematurely.
To this day, they could only adopt the children of other Princes.
“Imperial Physician Su, your courage is admirable. I imagine you’ve tried to strike at her more than once over the years, haven’t you?” Wen Mingqian asked.
“Yes! Unfortunately, I’ve never succeeded each time.” Su Qingzhu gritted his teeth. “You’ve been in the palace for some time now. Look at how she has ruined the Imperial Harem! Wrongfully accused consorts, murdered Princes, princesses driven mad… I truly wish I could tear her to pieces!”
“Imperial Physician Su, I say again, killing only Dong Xiangning is not enough. The Dong Family is deeply rooted and controls both the front court and the Imperial Harem. It’s not just the Imperial Harem that lives in fear; how has the front court fared any better? Even the common people of the realm have been poisoned by them.” Wen Mingqian’s voice was very low, but each word was clear, striking Su Qingyun’s heart. “If the Dong Family’s power is like a snake pit, then the Empress is merely one of the vipers within. Killing this one may bring temporary relief from hatred. But it will alert more snakes and endanger many innocent people.”
“Then what do you suggest we do?” Su Qingyun asked her. “With just you and me, besides using underhanded tactics, how can we openly eliminate them?”
“Lord Su, success depends on human effort,” Wen Mingqian said with conviction. “Madam Shen should not bear slander. I vowed long ago before her spirit tablet that I would clear her name.
The Imperial Harem has suffered under Madam Dong for a long time, and the realm has suffered under the Dong Family for a long time. You and I are not fighting alone. I firmly believe that no amount of power can completely eradicate loyal individuals.
As long as we can light a lamp in the darkness, there will surely be thousands upon thousands of others responding to us.”
“Madam Wen, what are your plans? What can I do?” Su Qingyun’s eyes clearly brightened, as if a long-dormant lamp had been lit.
“I have already gained Madam Dong’s trust, but it’s not enough. We are far from her obeying my every word,” Wen Mingqian said. “So we cannot be impatient for now, but don’t forget the saying that a thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant’s nest. Since I’ve already made a crack, I’m not worried about making the Dong Family fall apart.
First, we must alienate Madam Dong from Prince Zhao and others, causing the Dong Family to gradually lose their helpers. A tree that requires a full embrace cannot be destroyed in a day; we can break it down piece by piece.
Of course, many things will be beyond our expectations, but as long as we act according to the situation and persevere, there is always hope for success.”
“Madam Wen, you are a woman, yet you possess such breadth of mind and vision. It makes me, a man of beard and eyebrows, seem lacking in wisdom and ambition,” Su Qingyun sighed, feeling inferior. “It’s no wonder you and Consort Shen were like sisters; in the end, you are the same kind of person.”
“In this palace, there are a few crucial places that must have our own people,” Wen Mingqian said. “And you, in the Imperial Hospital, can help me with many things. I will definitely need to trouble you in the future.”
“Don’t mention trouble. You are willing to use me, and I am only grateful to you,” Su Qingyun said. “My greatest wish in this life is to avenge Consort Shen.”
Wen Mingqian knew that Su Qingyun was almost thirty years old now, yet he had never married.
Everyone thought he was obsessed with medical studies, but they didn’t know he had other reasons.
Perhaps he didn’t want to have too many worries, perhaps he didn’t want to implicate too many innocent people. Or perhaps his heart was already so full that it couldn’t accommodate anyone else.
Wen Mingqian did not reveal this layer of understanding.
As Su Qingzhu had said, his greatest wish in this life was to avenge Shen Fu.
This was his knot, and if this knot was not untied, he would never be able to live a normal life.
Wen Mingqian could only hope that Shen Fu, in spirit, would bless them to achieve their goals soon.
In fact, were they the only two whose fate had been altered by Shen Fu’s death?
“Imperial Physician Su, there is no need for further words between us.” Wen Mingqian heard footsteps approaching from a distance and knew that Xiao Yue had returned. “I will find you if I need you in the future.”
Happy New Year, everyone! Wishing you great luck in the Year of the Snake, and may your wishes come true!
