Proud Feather

Chapter 20 Majesty
"The imperial physician! The imperial physician!"

"What happened? Is the princess in danger?"

"Where's the medicine? Is it ready?"

The Nanming Palace was in chaos and disorder until nightfall, when news came that Chu Ling was safe, and things became somewhat peaceful.

The palace servants and eunuchs breathed a sigh of relief, feeling lucky to have escaped. If something really happened to the princess, and the emperor got angry, their lives would be worthless, and they would probably have no chance of survival.

"Your Majesty, you haven't eaten or drunk anything since this morning. Now that the princess has confirmed that everything is fine, you should go back and eat something!" Concubine Tian Shu advised in a low voice.

The emperor then realized that his stomach was empty, and coupled with the tension he had been feeling all afternoon, he felt weak all over.

As for Concubine Tian Shu, her makeup had long been removed, and her face was pale and she looked equally exhausted.

"Okay," the emperor patted her hand, "Go back and rest, my dear. You are very tired."

As he said this, he called Sun Shouquan: "Return to the palace."

"Yes!" Sun Shouquan bowed to Concubine Tian Shu and ordered, "Return to the palace!"

Concubine Tian Shu opened her mouth, but no words came out. His Majesty hadn't asked her to go back with him. Wasn't that a little unusual? But they were already a middle-aged couple. Even if they were favored, they didn't need to be together all the time. Did that seem normal?
"Your Majesty?" The palace maid looked at her in confusion.

Concubine Tian Shu smiled and said, "Let's go."

Maybe she was overthinking it...

The emperor returned to Funing Palace, had a quick meal, and then dismissed all the outsiders.

"Call Xue Wang over." He ordered Sun Shouquan.

"Yes."

Not long after, a middle-aged man in casual clothes and with an ordinary appearance appeared quietly in Funing Palace.

"Your Majesty, I, Xue Wang, pay my respects to you."

This is Xue Wang, the head of the Imperial City Bureau, the emperor's eyes and ears, a man walking in the shadows, known to many but rarely seen.

"Have you found out? Why did the princess go to Dahuai Temple for no reason?"

Xue Wang bowed his head and reported, "Your Majesty, I've found out. The princess went to the Dahuai Temple for the first time at the invitation of Miss Tian Er. The monk had been staying in the temple for several months and was quite famous..."

After the emperor heard the whole story, a shadow fell over his brows: "The Tian family..."

After a moment, he asked again: "What about the rumor?"

Xue Wang paused. "...Old Madam Tian and several ladies she was close to met up at the Dahuai Temple to burn incense. They happened to see the princess leaving the monk's residence, and some rumors spread, gradually spreading outside. Fortunately, it was still short-lived, so the rumors didn't spread widely."

It’s the Tian family again.

The emperor was silent for a long time, then asked, "Have you checked the monk's background?"

"I checked. The Dahuai Temple said he had a certificate of ordination from the Fanyin Temple in the Western Regions. It's said he traveled extensively with his master since he was young, is well-versed in Buddhism, and is skilled in using incense to heal illnesses."

"Hasn't he made his own move yet?"

Xue Wang leaned forward and said, "I don't know if Your Majesty still needs him. He hasn't been severely punished yet."

The emperor's expression was indifferent and cold: "As long as we can find out his background and the mastermind behind it, even if he dies, it's fine!"

Xue Wang accepted the order: "Yes."

"Also, the palace and the Duke of Anguo's mansion. Every place the princess has been to must be investigated. Not a single clue can be missed."

"I understand."

"Go!"

"My minister retire."

Just as Xue Wang left, Sun Shouquan came in again and reported, "Your Majesty, the envoy from the manor wants to see you. He said he has something important to report." The emperor's face changed slightly. "What is he doing here? Has A Ling's condition changed?"

Sun Shouquan hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. I've asked, and the princess is in stable condition and is not in danger."

The emperor breathed a sigh of relief: "Let him in!"

"Yes."

Soon, the envoy from the manor came in and said, "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"Envoy of the Manor," the emperor said, perking up. "It's already this hour. Why are you here instead of guarding the Nanming Palace?"

The envoy from the manor reported, "Your Majesty, this is a matter concerning the poison the princess has been poisoned with. I dare not delay."

"Oh?" The emperor frowned. "What's wrong with the poison? Hasn't it been cured?"

"Yes, the princess has been cured," the farm attendant replied. "I made some discoveries during the detoxification process and dared not conceal them from Your Majesty, so I came to report."

"how to say?"

The manor official leaned forward and said, "I tested the poison on a chicken and discovered that it behaved very similarly to the poison extracted from the Crown Prince's remains. After sniffing and comparing the colors, they are practically identical. I dare not act on my own initiative, so I have come to report this."

The emperor sat up suddenly, his expression changed drastically: "Are you sure?"

The envoy of the manor was actually also nervous, but he did not dare to hide it. After thinking for a long time, he finally came to report: "I am 80% sure."

Eighty percent! That's confirmed!
The emperor took a deep breath, and after a long pause, he said, "Investigate! I'll ask Xue Wang to hand over the medicinal herbs found in the temple to you. You and I will carefully examine them!"
-
After the emperor left, Nanming Palace gradually quieted down. Zheng Qiu drove out all the outsiders and personally guarded Chu Ling's bed.

When she heard the news, she was completely panicked and immediately remembered that the prince had been poisoned.

How could it be such a coincidence that not long after the Crown Prince died of poisoning, the Princess was also poisoned. Where did the poison come from? Was it in the Dahuai Temple, or in the palace? She didn't dare take the slightest risk, preferring to endure the hardship of guarding the place herself rather than let anyone near.

"Qiuniang." Princess Lu Chan walked in. "How is A Ling?"

"Crown Princess." Zheng Qiu stood up and saluted. "The imperial physician said that the princess's pulse is stable, the poison has been resolved, and she may wake up at any time."

Lu Chan felt relieved: "That's good."

"Aunt Zheng." A palace servant's voice sounded outside, "Lord Xue is here and has something to ask you."

Xue Wang, Zheng Qiu knew immediately that he was here to inquire about the palace's affairs. It's really hard to let someone else answer this question, but the princess...

"I'll guard it for you." Lu Chan understood her concerns and ordered the palace servants around her, "All of you get out."

Zheng Qiu expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, Princess. I will be back soon."

Everyone had left, leaving Lu Chan alone in the inner room. She walked to the bedside and looked carefully at Chu Ling. Seeing that her face looked normal and her breathing was steady, just like she was asleep, she nodded first, then sighed.

Originally thought that after the prince's poisoning was exposed, the real murderer would not dare to do anything again for a short period of time, and the palace would be peaceful for a while, but unexpectedly, A Ling fell victim again in such a short time.

Is the poison she was poisoned with related to the prince? Is it just a coincidence, or...

Just as I was thinking about it, the fingers under my eyelids suddenly moved.

Lu Chan was surprised and was about to call out when her hand was grabbed.

Chu Ling opened his eyes and made a hushing gesture.

Lu Chan was stunned for a moment, and taking advantage of the bed curtains to bend down and ask softly, "A Ling, what are you doing..."

"I'm fine." Chu Ling replied in the same light voice, her eyes clear. "I poisoned her myself."

Lu Chan was shocked: "You..."

"Sister-in-law, do me a favor." Chu Ling glanced outside and said quickly, "When the imperial physician says I'm poisoned by the same poison as my brother, go to father and cry as much as you can."

　In the new year, I wish everyone all the best.

　　(End of this chapter)