eurekapd Chapter 195: Peeling off the cocoon
Chapter 195: Peeling off the cocoon
At this time, Imperial Physician Qiu and Imperial Physician Zhang were also brought in, and they took the pulse of the Second Prince and the two wet nurses, Zhang and Li, in a side hall.
Shen Zhiyao didn't want to disturb the imperial physician, so she withdrew and went to the front hall to stay beside the queen.
The Queen looked solemn. If this matter was really as Shen Zhiyao speculated, then the problem would be quite serious.
After a while, two imperial doctors walked quickly to the main hall. After entering, they knelt on the ground with pale faces.
"Replying to the Queen, the pulses of the Second Prince and the two nurses are disordered, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, which is the 'sparrow pecking pulse', and they are all of the same nature... I'm afraid..."
At this point, Doctor Qiu paused, turned his head and glanced at Doctor Zhang. After the two exchanged glances, he continued, "I'm afraid they have all been poisoned by a chronic poison..."
When the queen heard this, anger gradually appeared in her phoenix eyes, and she asked, "But is it the same poison as the one that killed the wet nurse?"
"It is very likely..." the two imperial doctors responded in unison.
"Has the Second Prince been injured?" Concubine Zhuang was horrified and asked hurriedly.
"That's not the case. The poison in the Second Prince's body is weaker than those in the two grandmothers. As long as he stops accumulating it, it will gradually be discharged from his body." Imperial Doctor Qiu said.
“Although the Second Prince was affected by the poison and his breathing was slightly more rapid than the other children, fortunately it was discovered early, so it’s not a big deal and no major damage has been done,” Imperial Physician Zhang added.
Only then did Concubine Zhuang feel relieved. If anything happened to the Second Prince, she would have wanted to die!
At this moment, Concubine Zhuang looked at Shen Zhiyao with eyes full of gratitude.
"Shijin, take the egg custard and mulberry water that you just sealed to the imperial physician for examination." Shen Zhiyao reminded at the right time.
The imperial doctors had an ancient method of testing for poison, and because they were afraid of affecting the empresses, they moved to the side hall and had Chang Qi follow to check together.
"This is a serious matter, Shijin, go and invite the emperor." The queen sighed.
The imperial doctors had finished their examination and were about to report when Bo Muxi arrived.
"Have you verified it?" Bo Muxi asked with a frown when he came in.
"May the emperor be healthy and well." The queen led Shen Zhiyao and the others to pay their respects.
"Forget it. What happened to the second prince? Is there any impact?" Bo Muxi couldn't help it after all. Before the queen could answer, he asked again with a stern face.
The two imperial doctors had to repeat what they had just said before, and only then did the emperor feel relieved.
Now there are only these two children in the harem. It is a matter related to the country and family affection, so Bo Muxi naturally attaches great importance to it.
"Your Majesty, although there is nothing wrong with the Second Prince, he is just a little kid and can't talk. He can only cry after suffering such a heavy crime. Your Majesty, I am under the protection of you and the Queen, and yet there are still people who are so bold! They don't even let go of such a little kid, Your Majesty..."
Concubine Zhuang was crying with tears in her eyes, looking very pitiful.
Bo Muxi frowned again and looked at the two imperial doctors. His eyes were so fierce that they could scare someone to death on the spot!
Doctor Qiu hurriedly explained: "I just checked and found that there is a small amount of poison in Nanny Zhang's egg custard and Nanny Li's mulberry water."
Bo Muxi's expression instantly became even uglier: "Can you guess how long the thief has been poisoning?"
"Your Majesty, judging from the nurse's pulse, it has been at least... ten days..." Imperial Doctor Zhang bowed.
"Humph! That's great! My harem is actually being run wild by poison! Queen, I order you to investigate carefully. I want to see who is so bold as to dare to murder my prince!"
Bo Muxi gritted his teeth in hatred, and every word he spoke seemed to be forced out from between his teeth.
Everyone was so frightened that they fell to their knees, fearing that the disaster would affect them.
"It is all my fault for not managing the harem well. I will investigate carefully now and ask Your Majesty to punish me," said the Queen.
Bo Muxi really wanted to get angry, but the queen was also innocent. As the queen, he not only had to manage the palace, but also had to take on a lot of things beyond his duties. He couldn't be too harsh on her.
After a long silence, he suppressed his anger, pulled the queen up and said, "The person who poisoned her must be very capable. He even dared to touch my prince. How can such a big mess in the palace be your fault alone?"
The emperor and the empress only looked at each other, but they both knew what was going on in their minds, and it was probably Concubine Zhao's "masterpiece".
If it wasn't her, who else could easily succeed in this heavily guarded harem?
At this time, in the Prince Rui's Mansion, three people who often gathered together to discuss something were each thinking about their own things.
"Brother Prince, the news from the palace is not good. Do you think... this matter will be discovered..." Prince Xiang asked timidly. He was already in a state of panic.
"Investigate? Let them investigate as they please! What does it have to do with me? Did I arrange the fight in Yongfu Palace and the kitchen? I just gave a small boost... What a pity, the second prince is not dead... What a pity!" Prince Rui sighed.
"But I'm still worried that some servants can't stand the torture..." Prince Xiang looked worried.
"Torture? Then you don't have to worry. You don't have to wait until you can't hold on any longer. Just find a way to make him shut up completely..."
As Prince Rui spoke, he crushed the teacup in his hand...
"Your Highness, this is a very clever move. I agree with it."
Prime Minister Hu agreed on the surface, but in his heart he was a little more wary of Prince Rui. This guy was too cruel and always took the initiative in everything. He really had to be on guard!
Prince Rui gritted his teeth and sneered. He wished that the emperor would have no descendants. Who knows, his son might still have a chance to compete for the throne!
Of course, if the emperor really had no heir, he would not wait until that day and would take action first.
Ever since Queen Mother Zhao specifically mentioned the issue of offspring at the family dinner last year and stimulated him, he has been planning on the royal heir for a long time.
It was also from that time that the focus of his struggle quietly shifted from the previous dynasty to the harem.
Those women vying for his favor are all weapons that he can use!
The news that someone dared to murder the royal heir spread throughout the harem that day, and the queen ordered people to track down the person who poisoned the emperor overnight.
Shen Zhiyao made a timely suggestion, and should start the investigation from the chef who was responsible for stewing pig's trotters as a tonic in the kitchen and the eunuch who did odd jobs.
That night, no one in the palace could sleep well and everyone was in danger.
In Renshou Palace, Concubine Zhao covered her face. She had just cried in front of Queen Dowager Zhao.
She was indeed frightened. She didn't expect that something she had been plotting for a long time would be discovered so easily by the Queen.
In the past, when I did it to pregnant concubines, it was obviously very safe...
Concubine Zhao's purpose was very simple. It would be great if the Second Prince died. If he couldn't die, at least the Emperor could punish the Empress for negligence. Taking a step back, it would also be fine if Concubine Zhuang could be demoted.
Concubine Zhao still liked the feeling of being second only to the emperor in the harem.
"You act so arbitrarily when doing things, and you only think of confessing to me when things are difficult to resolve?" Queen Mother Zhao was really tired. She closed her eyes and sighed, "I am old, but you and the eldest prince still have a long way to go!"
"Aunt..." Concubine Zhao knelt on the ground, hugged the Queen Mother's legs and cried, "Aunt, I know I was wrong, please help me again..."
"You are so courageous. That's the prince who has already been born! You still dared to take action at that time! Haha, you are really... extremely greedy..." Queen Mother Zhao sneered.
Her ears were so accustomed to Concubine Zhao's crying and begging tactics that how could she be easily moved!
Besides, the Second Prince is her dear grandson after all. This Zhao Yuhan deserves to die!
But no matter how much Concubine Zhao deserved to die, it was not the Zhao family that deserved to die.
This is what makes the Queen Mother most angry right now. She feels like Concubine Zhao has kidnapped her entire family. She is really feeling very suffocated!