CHAPTER 524: CHAPTER 524 ANTIDOTE

In the Imperial Study.

The Emperor was reading a memorial.

After just a glance, he tossed the memorial to the ground.

The memorial was an impeachment against the Marquis Dongxiang for not attending morning court.

Su Jin had been missing for three days, so the Marquis Dongxiang hadn’t attended court for three days.

Normally, the Emperor might not empathize, but now the Eldest Prince had been assassinated, poisoned, and was missing, making the Emperor’s heart burn with anxiety, unable to focus on the memorials.

The Marquis Dongxiang not wishing to attend court was understandable.

These officials at the Imperial Censorate were standing and talking without feeling any real concern; how could the Emperor not be angry?

"There’s still no news of the Eldest Prince?!" the Emperor said angrily.

"Still... still none," Eunuch Fu replied tremblingly.

"Don’t worry, Your Majesty, the Eldest Prince will certainly be alright."

The morning had only half passed, yet the Emperor had asked several times already.

If there was still no news of the Eldest Prince, Eunuch Fu feared he would anger the Emperor with his replies and get reprimanded.

All Eunuch Fu could do was serve the Emperor tea, hoping to calm him down, and let him make a few more trips to the restroom to pass the time.

Just as Eunuch Fu brought the tea to the Emperor, a little eunuch ran in from outside.

He was in quite a hurry, gasping, "Your, Your Majesty, the Heir of Prince Zhenbei and his wife have entered the palace."

Eunuch Fu’s heart leapt with joy, "Thank heavens, they are found at last."

He looked at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the Heir of Prince Zhenbei and his wife were missing for three days, but now found; the Eldest Prince is probably soon to return to the palace too."

"The Eldest Prince isn’t about to return to the palace, he has already returned," the little eunuch said with joy written all over his face.

"... ."

The Emperor looked at the little eunuch, "The Eldest Prince has returned?"

The little eunuch nodded vigorously, "The Eldest Prince was brought back by the Heir of Prince Zhenbei and his wife."

The Emperor, "...."

Eunuch Fu, "...."

Just worrying about their safety.

Now, they all returned together?

Before the Emperor could recover from his stupor, Su Jin and Xie Jingchen had arrived at the front of the Imperial Study.

Without anyone stopping them, they walked right in.

Behind them, a eunuch carried the unconscious Eldest Prince.

The Eldest Prince was in a deep sleep, his face pale, stirring sympathy.

Judging by Su Jin and Xie Jingchen’s expressions, it was clear they were safe and sound.

The Emperor exhaled deeply and then asked, "What happened?"

"You two disappeared and then rescued the Eldest Prince?"

Su Jin reported in detail about how they fell off a cliff, were saved, and how the Eldest Prince hid in the cart bought by Li Daniu for them.

"Has the Eldest Prince’s poison been cured?" the Emperor asked.

Just as Su Jin was about to nod, Xie Jingchen grabbed her hand and said, "The Eldest Prince’s poison is treacherous; ordinary doctors can’t cure it. We dared not delay and brought him back to the palace."

"I heard from a little eunuch that yesterday even the Second Prince returned injured and severely poisoned."

"Since he and the Eldest Prince were attacked together, the poison should be the same. Please, Eunuch Fu, go to the Imperial Hospital to fetch an antidote for the Eldest Prince."

Eunuch Fu was slightly confused.

In terms of medical skill, how could the Imperial Physicians compare to the Heir’s wife?

If the Imperial Physicians could cure the poison, it would certainly be no trouble for the Heir’s wife.

But there must be a deeper meaning behind Xie Jingchen saying this, so Eunuch Fu dared not ask further questions.

"I’ll go to the Imperial Hospital to fetch the antidote," Eunuch Fu said.

At the Imperial Hospital.

The news of the Heir of Prince Zhenbei and his wife’s entry into the palace, bringing the Eldest Prince back, had spread throughout the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Hospital naturally heard about it as well.

The physicians were abuzz with conversation, saying how fortunate Su Jin and Xie Jingchen were.

Encountering two lucky people seemed to have strengthened the Eldest Prince’s fate too.

In the midst of their chatter, a eunuch entered and said, "Eunuch Fu has arrived."

Eunuch Fu was a favored confidant of the Emperor, so even noble officials and ministers had to curry favor with him, let alone these lower-ranked physicians.

Several Imperial Physicians hurried over and said, "What brings Eunuch Fu here?"

Eunuch Fu looked at one of the physicians and said, "The Eldest Prince is poisoned, the same as the Second Prince was poisoned. The Emperor sent me to fetch an antidote to cure the Eldest Prince."

The physician froze.

His feet seemed glued to the floor.

Eunuch Fu frowned, "Why haven’t you fetched the antidote yet?!"

"The Eldest Prince is waiting for the antidote to save his life!"

The physician wanted to cry.

There was no antidote.

The Second Prince was never poisoned, nor was he gravely wounded, only suffering minor injuries.

He had reported it like that to the Emperor following the Second Prince’s instructions.

Now the Emperor believed he had cured the Second Prince’s poison and wanted an antidote for the Eldest Prince; where was he supposed to find one?

Deceiving the Emperor was a crime punishable by death.

Eunuch Fu grew a bit impatient, and the physician hurriedly said, "All the antidotes were given to the Second Prince."

Eunuch Fu sneered coolly, "The Eldest Prince was poisoned just like the Second Prince, yet the Imperial Hospital gave all the antidotes to the Second Prince and did not prepare any."

"What? Did you think the Eldest Prince wouldn’t make it back to the palace alive?!"

The physician turned pale with fear.

If Eunuch Fu’s words reached the Eldest Prince’s ears, would he still have any good days left?

Eunuch Fu turned and left.

A few steps later, he turned back and said, "Quickly follow me to the Second Prince’s place to get the antidote!"

The physician hurried to keep up.

But his steps were heavy and unwilling to lift.

Eunuch Fu walked ahead, completely unaware of the physician wiping his brow.

The physician was afraid.

What if there was also no antidote with the Second Prince...

Chengde Hall.

This was the Second Prince’s bedroom.

Inside, the Second Prince lay against a large pillow, his face stormy.

The palace maids and eunuchs didn’t dare breathe loudly.

A little eunuch came in and said, "Second Prince, Eunuch Fu and Doctor Liu are here."

Immediately, the cold glint on the Second Prince’s face vanished entirely.

When Eunuch Fu came in, he was holding his chest, coughing.

"Eunuch... Eunuch Fu, why are you here?" the Second Prince asked.

"Has the Eldest Brother returned to the palace safely?"

The Second Prince looked concerned.

Eunuch Fu smiled and said, "The Eldest Prince is poisoned, just like you; the Imperial Physicians gave all the antidotes to you, so I’ve come to get a dose."

The Second Prince’s brows knitted tightly.

"Antidote... ."

"How could the Imperial Hospital give all the antidotes to me? Several hidden guards from Duke Chong’s Mansion got poisoned saving me, so I sent the antidote there."

After speaking, the Second Prince ordered, "Someone, quickly go to Duke Chong’s Mansion to retrieve the antidote."

Eunuch Fu hadn’t expected fetching an antidote for the Eldest Prince would be so troublesome.

From the Imperial Hospital to Chengde Hall, and now to Duke Chong’s Mansion.

Eunuch Fu was a clever man.

He quickly understood the deeper implication behind Xie Jingchen sending him to the Imperial Hospital for the antidote.

Eunuch Fu said nothing more, took his leave, and returned to the Imperial Study.

He returned empty-handed, and the Emperor frowned, "Where’s the antidote?"

Eunuch Fu reported truthfully.

The Eldest Prince had already woken up, and Eunuch Fu’s words darkened his face like frost.

The poison within had already been dealt with.

When the assassins struck them, they clearly targeted him, and it was the Second Prince who suggested they split up.

After separating, the Second Prince was unscathed yet carried back to the palace.

To get the antidote, they even had to go to Duke Chong’s Mansion.

This was clearly suggesting that the assassins were sent by Duke Chong’s house?!

The Second Prince feared being accused of abandoning his brother, so he staged an act of self-sacrifice, but did not expect the Heir of Prince Zhenbei to turn his plan against him.