68. Rescue and Poisoning

Xie Wenling walked out of the banquet, the autumn wind brushing his face, finally dispelling some of his drunkenness.

He rubbed his temples.

But for some reason, although the intoxication subsided, I was still dizzy and even started to have a headache.

The aroma of wine wafted in the wind, and he instinctively moved a little further away.

As he walked, he suddenly remembered Jin Lanyue.

In a way, she was practically his benefactor; I heard she was also going to the palace to play today…

As I was pondering this, I faintly heard splashing sounds in the distance, mixed with intermittent cries for help.

Xie Wenling paused, his gaze suddenly sharpening.

That's... towards the pond!

He flashed and arrived at the pond almost instantly.

A small figure was struggling in the water, about to sink—

"Jin Lanyue!" Xie Wenling's pupils shrank, and he jumped into the water without hesitation.

His clothes were soaked by the icy pool water. He scooped the little dumpling into his arms and quickly swam back to shore.

"Wake up!" He gently patted the little dumpling's wet face, his voice unusually tinged with panic.

The little dumpling suddenly spat out a mouthful of water and coughed violently.

She struggled to open her eyes, and through her blurry vision, she saw Xie Wenling's face, so close to hers, filled with worry.

"Thank you... Brother..." she called weakly, her small hands clutching his sleeve tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Someone... someone pushed Yue'er..."

"who?"

Before the little dumpling could speak, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar—

"Oh my god! What's going on?"

"Quickly summon the imperial physician!"

Consort Xian arrived in haste with a group of palace servants, and upon seeing the scene, she turned pale.

The little princess, the little prince, and the second brother also squeezed out from the crowd. When they saw the little dumpling who was soaking wet, they all turned pale with fright.

"Little Moon!" The little princess rushed over, her voice trembling with tears, "How did you fall into the water?"

-

banquet.

Wei Xiuming turned slightly to look at Qu Zijin who was approaching: "Does my arrangement seem appropriate, my dear minister?"

"Does Your Majesty intend to... give him an important position?" Qu Zijin asked uncertainly.

"I do indeed have this intention." Wei Xiuming's gaze swept over the assembled officials in the hall, who were clinking glasses. "However... I am more interested in seeing how he will respond at this critical juncture."

Qu Zijin frowned slightly: "Your Majesty means..."

“If he handles it well, he should naturally be given an important position,” Wei Xiuming chuckled. “If not… well, then I wish him good luck.”

Before he could finish speaking, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

A young eunuch rushed in, falling to his knees with a thud: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Princess Fukang has fallen into the water!"

"What?!" Wei Xiuming suddenly stood up, and the wine cup on the table was overturned by his wide sleeve, spilling the fine wine onto the hem of his dragon robe.

"Where did he fall into the water? Has he been rescued?" Wei Xiuming shouted as he strode out.

"In...in the lotus pond behind Consort Xian's palace..." Before the little eunuch could finish speaking, the emperor's figure had already shot off like an arrow.

-

The palace of the Virtuous Consort was brightly lit by candlelight.

The little dumpling was wrapped in a brocade quilt and curled up on the soft couch, her wet hair still dripping water.

The Consort Xian was personally wiping her with a handkerchief, her second brother was standing in front of her, and the little princess and the little prince were on either side of her.

"Are you still cold?" Her second brother touched her cold little face with heartache. "The Empress Dowager said that the imperial physician will be here soon."

The little dumpling shook its head, its eyes red-rimmed: "Yue'er, Yue'er is alright..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly started coughing violently, her face turning pale.

[Beep]

[Host is about to become ill.]

[Cause of illness: Falling into water and catching a chill]

[Symptoms: Cold]

[One basic healing talisman has been automatically applied. Please rest assured, host.]

[Currently, there is 1 basic healing charm remaining.]

As soon as the system auntie finished speaking, the little dumpling immediately felt much lighter.

"Brother Xie..." So she began to look behind the screen, "Where is Brother Xie?"

Xie Wenling emerged from behind the screen.

He changed into plain-colored casual clothes, his hair still dripping with water, clearly indicating that he had just taken a quick shower.

Seeing the little one reaching out his tiny hands for a hug, he was about to step forward—

"Teacher!" Qu Zijin's voice came from outside the hall.

Before anyone could react, he had already snatched the little dumpling into his arms.

Xie Wenling paused, then silently took a half-step back.

After strenuous exercise, he felt even more uncomfortable.

Her already pale skin was now almost transparent, and her rosy lips had lost their color.

“Grand Tutor…” The little dumpling paused for a moment, then buried her face in Qu Zijin’s shoulder, her body still trembling slightly.

Wei Xiuming and Qu Zijin entered the hall at the same time, but Wei Xiuming was not as fast as Qu Zijin. Seeing this, Wei Xiuming raised an eyebrow and said, "Grand Tutor Qu is quick."

His tone carried a hint of unspoken bitterness.

"Your Majesty," Xie Wenling stepped forward and bowed.

Wei Xiuming waved his hand to interrupt him and walked straight to the bedside: "Princess Fukang, who pushed you?"

He had heard some things from his servants on the way here.

The little dumpling raised its wet eyes, its voice soft but clear: "It's...it's Chun Tao...it's a palace maid..."

She remembered that the system aunt had told her that the palace maid's name was Chuntao.

"Chuntao?" Wei Xiuming narrowed his eyes. "Which palace is she from?"

Consort Xian's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, it is Chun Tao, the head maid of Consort Qi's palace."

The hall fell eerily quiet instantly.

All eyes involuntarily turned to the young prince standing in the corner.

The young prince's face turned pale, and his small body swayed slightly, but he straightened his back and stepped forward: "Father, I think... we should stick to the facts and not worry about Mother's feelings."

Wei Xiuming gave his youngest son a deep look, and was about to speak—

"Cough..." Xie Wenling suddenly coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood onto his handkerchief before he could react, and he fell forward uncontrollably.

"Thank you, brother!" The little dumpling cried out in fright.

"Thank you, sir!"

"Quickly summon the imperial physician!"

The hall immediately descended into chaos.

Qu Zijin swiftly stepped forward to support Xie Wenling.

The imperial physician, who had rushed in, was met with this chaotic scene. He hurriedly stepped forward, placed his fingers on the patient's wrist, and his expression changed drastically: "It's poison."

Although it was expected, everyone was still apprehensive.

Poisoning has appeared in the palace, and people have been poisoned—that's a serious matter!

Wei Xiuming flew into a rage: "Seal off the palace gates! No one is allowed to leave! Conduct a thorough investigation into all the food and drink served at the banquet!"

The imperial physician carefully examined Xie's pulse again, then broke out in a cold sweat: "Your Majesty, Lord Xie has been poisoned with the 'Heartbreak Powder.' This poison takes effect slowly, but Lord Xie had already drunk a lot of wine and then jumped into the cold water to save someone, which accelerated the onset of the poison..."

"Is there a solution?" Wei Xiuming asked sternly.

"Bloodletting with acupuncture is necessary immediately, followed by..."

"Go now!" Wei Xiuming ordered immediately. "Investigate! Find out exactly how this poison was administered!"