Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 81 Superior Cinnabar
"This...this subject also does not know..."

Since ancient times, being a royal physician has been a dangerous profession, especially when you are serving the most powerful people in the land. Your future and life are always at risk. Just like now, the royal physicians are trembling with fear, afraid that His Majesty's next word will be to drag them all away and execute them.

However, those who reach the top of this industry always have extraordinary abilities, such as the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy, who now provides a more detailed explanation.

"I just inquired with the physician in the Third Prince's residence, and he said that His Highness had suddenly experienced nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea since this morning. All these symptoms indicate that His Highness indeed died from an overdose of cinnabar. The Rejuvenation Pill that His Majesty had the Imperial Hospital research some time ago contained a large amount of cinnabar, and the physician in the residence also admitted that His Highness had a habit of taking the Rejuvenation Pill. Therefore, I boldly speculate that His Highness's cause of death was related to the long-term use of the Rejuvenation Pill. All elixirs contain some form of toxicity, and His Highness's body must have been ravaged day and night by these toxic substances. Coupled with excessive fear, this led to his sudden..."

Emperor Jingtai remained silent for a long time before turning away amidst the horrified gaze of the head of the Imperial Medical Academy.

The imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing they had escaped unscathed. The head of the Imperial Hospital, in particular, an elderly man in his sixties, was struggling and swayed slightly, but was fortunately supported by a younger physician nearby to prevent him from collapsing.

When the head physician realized it was Xie Mingchen who had helped him up, he forced a smile. Sigh, being a royal physician wasn't easy, but things had been relatively peaceful these past few years. But from now on, the world was about to descend into chaos…

"Your Excellency, ordinary elixirs don't contain this much cinnabar, nor is it this pure. The cinnabar in this Rejuvenation Elixir is even better than the cinnabar used in our Imperial Medical Academy..."

The academy director sighed.

"The best cinnabar in the world comes from Qianzhou. However, since ten years ago, the largest cinnabar mine in Qianzhou collapsed. Since then, the amount of cinnabar produced in Qianzhou has been decreasing. Now, the cinnabar used is produced in southern Hunan, which is of a lower quality."

Hearing this, Xie Mingchen's eyes flickered slightly, and he kept this matter in mind. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the cold, stiff corpse of the Third Prince. Before this, he had indeed considered the fate of the person behind the Worry-Free Cave, but he never expected that His Majesty's own son would be involved.

What was even more unexpected was that even though His Majesty had already spared the Third Prince, the Third Prince still died suddenly. As an outsider, Xie Mingchen didn't say anything, but he was still somewhat happy. However, the supreme authority of the royal family made most people choose to keep quiet.

However, a troublesome matter has arisen. Lord Ying has become involved in the siege of Wuyou Cave. Judging from Consort Yu's expression just now, she completely hates Lord Ying. Although this matter cannot be blamed on Lord Ying at all, who can blame him when he is the one who uncovered the truth?

For some people, hatred arises from nowhere.

I need to find a time to tell Yingda about this.

Thinking this, Xie Mingchen's eyes swept over the Third Prince. He paused when he noticed a small red mark on the Third Prince's chest. With so many people around, he couldn't very well reach out and investigate, so he simply made a mental note of it.

In truth, when news of the Third Prince's sudden death spread, the entire capital was in an uproar. For so many years, His Majesty's favor towards his four princes had been evident to all. The Third Prince's sudden death, though he had made some mistakes, rendered those mistakes meaningless with his passing. Who knew if His Majesty would recall the deep father-son bond he had shared with the Third Prince over the years, and then take his anger out on others?

As for this outsider, needless to say, Ying Jiuque's name is the most prominent.

This is also why Chunyu Shuang specifically went to find Ying Jiuque.

"Why don't you go and avoid the area for a while?"

Jiu Que sat in the shade, watching the bustling scene in the distance. Hearing Chunyu Shuang's words, he was slightly lost in thought.

"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king. I am but a lowly sixth-rank official, and I still have duties to perform. How can I leave so easily? Chunyu, without His Majesty's permission, I cannot leave." How could Chunyu Shuang not know this? But she still held onto a sliver of hope, and now her face was filled with worry, troubled by her rare friend.

Ying Jiuque wasn't so worried. She turned her wrist, and the teacup swayed on the table, the tea inside forming a small vortex, with the tea leaves bobbing up and down in it, creating a unique rhythm.

The situation in the capital is so tense, it could explode at any moment. She won't be the one to stick her neck out now, but who knows who will...

"Where is that rebellious daughter? Let her out! I'm her biological father! Who are you? Do you know who I am? Get out of my way!"

Looking up at the vast crowd outside, Jiu Que sighed, but a slight smile played on his lips.

"Look, the first one to stick its neck out has arrived."

Actually, Jiu Que was also puzzled. How exactly did Lin Wei become the Vice Minister of Rites? Could it really be because of his mother's influence, as some people were saying? Tsk tsk tsk, he only became a high-ranking official because of his wife's merits, and then after she died, his concubines and mistresses came into the limelight. And then there were his younger siblings who weren't much younger than him—they were such a nuisance.

If Lin Wei truly had any sense, he wouldn't have been the first to step forward when everyone else was still silent. Wasn't that just giving others ammunition against him? It was utterly foolish.

Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Jiu Que stretched and slowly walked out.

When Lin Wei saw the lazy Ying Jiuque, his already intense hatred reached its peak.

"You unfilial daughter! Why are you only showing up now?! You're deliberately ignoring me, aren't you! I should have strangled you back then to avoid making me angry!"

"?"

Before Jiu Que could utter a word, the workers couldn't contain themselves any longer. This was especially true of the elderly, the weak, and the disabled soldiers rescued from Wuyou Cave. Born into poverty, like roadside weeds, they were uncared for. It was rare for someone to see their suffering. Lord Ying not only rescued them from that wretched place but also gave them the ability to support themselves and a place to live. Many ordinary people toil their entire lives just for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
Lord Ying is a great official, but this old man, who is neither fish nor fowl, comes over and starts yelling and shouting. Now he's even saying he wants to strangle Lord Ying. Where did this madman come from?

"You old man! What nonsense are you spouting? Our Lord Ying is alive and well, how is that disobedience?!"

"Exactly! Old people are cunning, why don't you just die?"

An old man?!
Lin Wei was so angry he almost lost his temper. He had been handsome since childhood, and when he was young, most of the young ladies from prominent families in the capital wanted to marry him. Even now, he was still considered a handsome middle-aged man. But now he was being called an old man?! Was he really that old?

Already furious, Lin Wei couldn't hold back any longer. Coupled with the disdainful looks from those around him and the ambiguous smile on Ying Jiuque's face, he was completely overwhelmed.

"You rebellious daughter! You killed the Third Prince and still dare to try and get away with it?!"

(End of this chapter)