A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

The imperial physician took the porcelain bottle from Li Longji's hand, carefully poured out the poison pills inside, and examined them closely.

After recording the appearance of the pills, crush them into powder, smell them, and see if you can analyze their ingredients.

Then take out a small amount of powder and analyze its components.

The imperial physicians had a well-defined division of labor. Some would mix powder with other herbs, while others would burn the powder to further observe its composition. Still others would dissolve poison in water to conduct various experiments and make judgments.

Anyway, it looks very professional.

These people worked until late at night. Even though Li Longji had taken the suppressant medicine made by the imperial physician, he was still extremely uncomfortable, but he insisted on staying there and waiting for the imperial physician's results.

Not only Li Longji, but many court officials were also waiting for the results from these imperial physicians.

The following morning, led by Li Bai, many ministers also arrived at the Imperial Physician's Office.

"Imperial Physician, how's the drug analysis going?"

After Li Bai entered, he asked the imperial physician.

When the imperial physician saw that it was Li Bai, he hurriedly bowed, but Li Bai stopped him before he spoke hastily.

"My lord, according to the research of many colleagues, this pill contains dozens of poisonous ingredients. We have now identified 20 of them, and there are still more than ten that have not been identified."

"At this rate, we can develop all the poisons today."

"Then the imperial physicians can prepare the antidote, and my poison can finally be cured."

"Once the antidote is developed, I will behead An Lushan immediately."

Li Longji said excitedly, as if he could already see the antidote prepared by the imperial physician.

Li Bai frowned; he wouldn't be fooled by simple numbers.

The 20 poisons identified are estimated to be among the most common.

The remaining dozen or so types are definitely rare and exotic poisons, and it may take more time to research one of them than the previous 20.

Based on the current effects of the inhibitory drugs in Li Longji's body, it is estimated that he will not be able to survive until an antidote is developed.

However, after his guidance during this period, Crown Prince Li Heng has become humble and respectful, no less so than His Majesty was in his youth.

If something were to happen to His Majesty, the Crown Prince ascending the throne might be a better option.

"To be honest, how long will it take to develop an antidote?"

Li Bai looked at the seasoned imperial physician and asked bluntly.

Li Longji was stunned when he heard Li Bai's words. What did Li Bai mean by that?

The imperial physician, however, immediately understood the meaning behind Li Bai's words, and his face turned deathly pale.

"Prime Minister Li, I had no intention of concealing anything."

Li Bai waved his hand to interrupt him. He knew perfectly well what the imperial physician was thinking.

He simply wanted to lessen his guilt, to put his words in a more palatable way, and to avoid being beheaded by the enraged Li Longji.

"Don't worry, I assure you, I will never let you lose your life because of this."

With Li Bai's assurance, the imperial physician finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"My lord, according to my deduction, it will take at least another month to fully investigate the composition of this poison."

"If we want to prepare the antidote, we will need another month."

"absurd!"

"You researched 20 types overnight, leaving only about 10. Why did it take you a whole month to figure it out?!"

"If we have the poison, why not just prepare the antidote? Why do we need to spend another month researching it?"

Upon hearing this, Li Longji realized that it would take him two more months to obtain the antidote, as the imperial physician had previously stated that the suppressant he received would only last for half a month at most.

Two months later, his body had started to decompose!

"Your Majesty, the previous 20 types were all common or rare poisons, but none of them reached the level of extremely poisonous, so they could be easily identified."

"But the remaining dozen or so are all extremely rare and deadly poisons, and the Imperial Medical Bureau has always prohibited the research of poisons, so the progress has naturally been slower."

The imperial physician explained.

Although medicine and poison are closely related, the imperial physicians were there to treat the emperor and the royal family. What were they planning to do by researching poisons?

Therefore, it was strictly forbidden for these imperial physicians to research poisons here; if discovered, they would be punished for treason.

When it comes to treating illnesses, they are all experts in their respective fields, but when it comes to detoxification, they may not be able to compare with some folk healers.

"Three days. I'm only giving you three days. If you can't figure it out in three days, I'll fire you all and find another group of people from the common people."

Li Longji found it hard to accept this. What emperor could accept that he only had a dozen days left to live?

He especially felt that he was young and could rule the empire for at least another 20 years.

Ten days, twenty years!

The difference is enormous.

The imperial physician looked at Li Bai with pleading eyes; Li Bai was now his only hope for survival.

Li Bai did not disappoint the imperial physician, nor did he swallow his words or go back on his word.

"Your Majesty, the imperial physicians are already the most renowned doctors in the land. Even if there are miraculous doctors among the common people, I'm afraid they won't be able to arrive in the capital in February. If Your Majesty kills them in three days, then there really won't be anyone to replace them."

Li Longji was speechless, his face ashen.

"If I were to die, I would let you go first."

Li Longji's cold gaze swept over each imperial physician, and finally he looked at Li Bai with a venomous look. He also had to go down and gather strength. If that day ever came, he would definitely take Li Bai with him.

Even now, he still feels that he has come to this point entirely because of Li Bai.

After Li Longji left, he began to seek out and contact generals with clean backgrounds within the Imperial Guard.

In the imperial court, he also began to come into contact with some officials from aristocratic families and those from humble backgrounds.

To his utter surprise, as soon as he made contact with these people, they immediately reported the matter to Li Bai.

Even the eunuchs and palace maids around him rushed to report his every move to Li Bai.

There are very few emperors in history who could be reduced to such a state that all the civil and military officials, the imperial guards, and the palace eunuchs and maids would betray him.

Li Longji can be considered a pioneer of his time. In his youth, he was a wise and enlightened ruler who created a prosperous era, attracting all nations to pay tribute.

In his old age, he was separated from his wife and children, and abandoned by all his relatives and friends. He personally welcomed the rebels into the palace, handing himself over to them. In the end, he couldn't even find a single person willing to be loyal to him.

The contrast between these two extremes is far more ironic than that of a ruler who was inherently incompetent.

As the sun rose in the east and set in the west, just one day before the medicine prepared by the imperial physician for Li Longji was about to expire, there were still nine ingredients in the medicine that had not yet been identified.

Not to mention an antidote, there was absolutely no hope.

Li Longji was preparing to raise the butcher's knife and have these imperial physicians and Li Bai buried with him.

Just at this critical moment, good news arrived: Prince An had entered the capital.