Chapter 267: Misfortunes Come in Pairs
Su Qingyun returned to the Imperial Hospital, and it was only a little over an hour later that Chen Feng came to find him.
“Imperial Physician Su, hurry and go take a look! That dog has started too.” Chen Feng’s complexion was very grim. “Furthermore, the symptoms of those few sick people are worsening. Even though Imperial Physician Zhang has already given them acupuncture, it still can’t be stopped.”
“In that case, there’s no need for me to go and see. To be honest, once it’s ingested, it can’t be cured.” Su Qingyun shook his head. “Or perhaps I am too shallow in my learning; you can ask Imperial Physician Wu and the others again to see if there’s a better method.”
“Ah? How could this happen?!” Chen Feng’s face turned ashen.
“I am only responsible for treating illnesses; other matters are not my concern,” Su Qingyun said.
Chen Feng said no more and walked out.
He knew this matter was not trivial, so he quickly called his disciple and had him leave the palace to inform Prince Chu and Princess Consort Chu.
Princess Consort Chu rushed into the palace upon hearing the news and first paid her respects to the Empress: “Your subject’s hasty entry into the palace today, I beg the Empress’s forgiveness. It is only because I heard that several palace servants in Bai’er’s palace developed diarrhea symptoms last night, and even the imperial physicians are helpless. I feared passing the illness to him.”
“How could imperial physicians not be able to cure ordinary diarrhea?” The Empress also found it strange. “You go and see first. After I finish with my current matters, I will summon the imperial physicians to ask in detail.”
Ying Bai found it strange when his mother arrived: “Why are you here? I didn’t hear you were coming to the palace.”
“Silly child, you still don’t know what has happened!” Princess Consort Chu grabbed her son’s hand, feeling a lingering fear. “These people in your palace ate your meal and are suffering from incessant diarrhea. What if you had eaten it yourself at the time…”
“Princess Consort, I feared frightening the Heir Apparent, so I didn’t tell him the truth.” At this moment, Chen Feng walked over. “Those few people no longer have the strength to speak. Several imperial physicians have been replaced, but it’s still no use.”
“Mother, what exactly is going on?” Ying Bai pressed. “The meal last night…”
“That meal was poisoned!” Princess Consort Chu said. “Fortunately, you didn’t eat it, otherwise, you would be the one lying down now.”
“Someone poisoned my meal?!” Ying Bai was naturally frightened. “Who? Have they found out?”
“No need to investigate, who else could it be?” Princess Consort Chu sneered. “Now they can’t wait any longer and have directly targeted you. How despicable!”
“Are you saying Prince Zhao and them?” Ying Bai asked, his eyes wide. “They want to poison me?”
“Prince Zhao and the Dong Family are accustomed to being overbearing; no one has ever dared to confront them. You have stolen Ying Tong’s spotlight several times, and they have long hated you to the bone.” Princess Consort Chu’s voice trembled. “You must come with me to see Princess Duanmin. I know she genuinely cares for you. A few days ago, she spoke many heartfelt words to me at our home. Even if we report it to the Empress first, it will be useless. The Empress is in league with them; how could she possibly speak in our favor?!”
Saying this, she led her son to find Princess Duanmin and the King of Fenye.
“Why has Princess Consort come to the palace today? You didn’t say anything in advance. If I had known, I would have prepared grilled lamb for you.” Princess Duanmin said with a smile.
Unexpectedly, Princess Consort Chu pushed her son forward and said, “Quickly kneel down for the Princess and the Prince!”
“What is this? Get up quickly, child.” Princess Duanmin was very surprised and quickly tried to help Ying Bai up.
“Princess, we women have truly no other recourse, so we have come to beg you.” Princess Consort Chu said only this and then burst into tears. “This child is lucky to be alive; otherwise, he would have been harmed.”
Then, weeping and recounting, they told her everything.
“This… is this true?” Princess Duanmin asked hesitantly. “Have His Majesty and the Empress been informed?”
Princess Consort Chu shook her head. “I didn’t dare to tell the Empress directly. Princess, think about it, in this palace, who else would dare to harm Bai’er? Who could he possibly offend?”
“To say the meal was poisoned now, but without finding the person who poisoned it, your statement might not be very appropriate,” Princess Duanmin said. “In this palace, the Emperor and Empress are supreme; matters cannot be resolved without going through them.”
“I know this naturally, but I am afraid of being outnumbered. I implore the Princess for help,” Princess Consort Chu said, wiping her tears. “Otherwise, we truly have no way to survive.”
“How about this! I will invite my aunt over, and we can discuss it first.” Princess Duanmin naturally knew that this matter was of great importance and could not be taken lightly.
Prince Chu learned of this matter but could not conveniently enter the palace. He told Princess Consort Chu to go into the palace first to assess the situation before discussing further.
He himself went to find Mister Hua Ying and told him about the matter.
Mister Hua Ying listened and said, “Prince Zhao’s side has already reached a point of desperation. If Your Highness can arrange for the Heir Apparent to be betrothed to Princess Fenye, more officials will likely lean towards you. Then we can openly confront Prince Zhao and expose his misdeeds.”
“Indeed, this problem will eventually surface.” Prince Chu said. “I think it’s best to do it quickly, without waiting for Dong Yannian and the others to return.”
As they were speaking, the butler rushed in, “Your Highness, Mister Hua Ying, this is bad! The people we were hiding on the manor last night actually escaped!”
“How could you let them escape? Where are the guards?!” Prince Chu stood up abruptly in anger and questioned the butler.
“The guards… several were injured or killed…” The butler lowered his head. “It must be that Prince Zhao’s people found out they were there and took advantage of the darkness…”
“What can be done now?” Prince Chu’s face turned pale, and he sank into a chair. “Our most crucial evidence is gone…”
“Those people were hidden very secretly. Unless there was a spy who leaked the information, it’s unlikely they could be found.” Mister Hua Ying said. “Since things have come to this, it’s time to think of a countermeasure; we must not lose heart.”
“What does Mister suggest we do?” Prince Chu placed all his hope on Hua Ying. “My mind is a mess right now; I truly don’t know what to do.”
His aptitude was already average; if not for Mister Hua Ying offering him strategies and advice, where would he have the courage to confront Prince Zhao?
“We can start with the matters in the palace. Since someone tried to poison the Heir Apparent, let’s make a big deal out of it,” Hua Ying said. “Even though the people have escaped, the account books are still in our hands, which are still somewhat useful.”
By lunchtime, Princess Consort Chu finally emerged from the palace. Prince Chu quickly asked her about the situation.
“Bai’er is lucky to be alive this time. The diarrhea of those palace servants cannot be stopped no matter what; even Imperial Physician Wu has stepped in. I went to find Princess Duanmin, and Princess Duanmin then found the Grand Princess. We haven’t revealed the full truth to the Empress and the others yet. I’ve come back to discuss with you how to handle this properly. If we tell the Empress directly, she will definitely find a way to suppress it.” Princess Consort Chu’s complexion was also very grim. “Imperial Physician Su Qingyun from the Imperial Hospital was the first to discover it; he is a good person.”
