The news was successfully suppressed, and a doctor was secretly called in.
Fortunately, as dawn broke, Aunt Shen's high fever subsided, and everyone was relieved.
At the same time.
Another location.
In the Qin Prince's residence, the study was still lit.
The King of Qin did not rest; he was bent over his desk, reviewing the documents.
A maidservant brought him a towel chilled in ice water on a sandalwood tray. The King of Qin saw it out of the corner of his eye, his gaze still on the documents, and reached out to take it, perfunctorily sticking it to his forehead.
The King of Qin had very white skin, but that white was neither rosy nor sickly gray; it was a white devoid of any emotion.
Even though he often practices martial arts under the scorching sun, his skin color remains unchanged.
Because of the high fever, his skin turned even paler, and under the dim yellow light, he looked like a judge in the underworld, expressionless as he examined the Book of Life and Death.
The King of Qin was not asleep, and several of his advisors were with him.
The leader was none other than Xiang Chao.
Seeing that the prince had finished reading a file, Xiang Chao hurriedly stepped forward during the break and asked softly, "Your Highness, how are you? Are you feeling unwell? Perhaps we could have the doctor prescribe some antipyretics for you?"
The King of Qin unfolded the file. "Didn't you say the fever would subside in three hours? Are you now uncertain?"
"No, no, no! I'm certain it's three hours! Absolutely three hours!" Xiang Chao's legs went weak with fright.
"Since it's three hours, it'll be over soon," the King of Qin frowned, finding the headscarf in his way, and casually tossed it aside. He raised his eyes in displeasure. "Why aren't you sleeping? Are you guarding me?"
Xiang Chao, “…Reporting to Your Highness, it is…”
"No need to guard him, go down," the King of Qin said, preparing to continue his work, but suddenly stopped. "Wait, Xiang Chao, I have a question for you. According to you, as long as the high fever subsides today, it means the Gu poisoning was successful? Will it take effect tomorrow?"
Xiang Chao replied, "Your Highness, as long as the high fever lasts for three hours, the Gu poison will take effect the moment the fever ends!"
The King of Qin raised an eyebrow, tossed down the dossier, and said with great interest, “Instantly? Heh, just in time for the Emperor to summon me and the Prince of Jin to the Imperial Study tomorrow. Whether it’s effective or not, we’ll have a conclusion tomorrow.”
Xiang Chao was incredibly excited—this was wonderful! He had followed the prince for so many years, but had never had the chance to use his skills. Now, he could finally put the prince to good use! He was certain that the prince would value and trust him in the future!
The King of Qin looked at the group and said, "Didn't I tell you to go and rest? Why aren't you leaving?"
Xiang Chao said, "Your Highness, I will stay with you until your fever subsides."
"You..." The King of Qin paused, feeling his forehead temperature instantly return to normal. He then touched his forehead and chuckled, "Such a miraculous thing exists, getting hot when it's hot and cold when it's cold. Truly, the world is full of wonders."
He then looked at the group and said, "My fever has subsided; you may leave."
Xiang Chao asked softly, "It's getting late, Your Highness, won't you rest?"
The King of Qin raised his eyes and looked out the window. "It's not that it's not early, it's already early. I'll be going to the palace soon and won't be sleeping. You may all leave."
"Yes, Your Highness." Seeing that the prince insisted, the crowd could only kneel and respectfully leave.
I left the courtyard and walked a long way.
The group slowed their pace and looked up at the increasingly bright sky.
One of them said, "Congratulations, Brother Xiang, your wish has come true! When you achieve great success, please don't forget your brother!"
Another person said the same thing.
Xiang Chao hurriedly declined modestly, but secretly he was delighted.
...
The next day.
morning.
The King of Qin, dressed in official robes, was already waiting outside the Imperial Study.
The door to the Imperial Study was tightly closed, indicating that the previous group of officials had not yet left, and the Emperor was holding a meeting with them to discuss state affairs.
At this moment, the eunuch announced that Prince Jin had arrived.
The King of Qin's expression remained unchanged, but the corners of his lips curled slightly as he turned around and took the initiative to greet him.
When the Prince of Jin met the Prince of Qin, he bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The King of Qin's expression was gentle. "It's been a few days since you returned to the capital. I should have hosted a welcome banquet for you, but I was busy with my imperial mission and didn't have the time. I hope you won't find fault with me."
Prince Jin hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you flatter me. I should be the one visiting you. I only dared not disturb you because I heard that Your Majesty is busy with official business."
As he spoke, he glanced at the faint bluish tinge under the King of Qin's eyes and asked, "Brother, did you not rest well last night?"
The King of Qin smiled and deliberately changed the subject, engaging him in conversation, "Do you want to hear the truth, or a lie?"
Prince Jin was no fool, and immediately replied, "The truth is: Your Majesty did not sleep all night?"
The King of Qin nodded, a calculating glint in his eyes, and lowered his voice, "Yes, we are handling some cases. Logically speaking, these cases are not urgent, but for some reason, His Majesty is eager for the results."
That's the truth.
But the King of Qin said this on purpose to elicit information—why was the Emperor so eager for a result when it wasn't an urgent case? It's not hard to think that this might be related to the exchange of positions between the two kings.
The King of Qin observed all of the King of Jin's expressions, and... his innermost thoughts.
If the "Heart-Reading Gu" is as Xiang Chao said, he should be able to sense what the Prince of Jin is thinking when the two are within three feet of each other.
Prince Jin's expression remained unchanged, but in his heart he thought—was the Emperor ordering Prince Qin to finish his current work in preparation for going to the Northern Gorge?
Besides reporting on his duties, he also planned to spend the New Year with the Empress Dowager during his return to Beijing, but now he felt that it was not advisable to stay in the capital for long.
The problem is, the emperor has repeatedly prevented him from reporting on his duties. If he doesn't report, how can he leave? It's a real headache.
"..." King Qin—he could see the change in Jin Wang's mindset with his own eyes, but that so-called Heart-Connecting Gu hadn't worked? He knew it was just a trick of the Gu poison, but that guy Xiang Chao insisted on making him take it.
I spent three hours with a high fever last night for nothing.
Just as the King of Qin was clenching his fists, pondering whether to throw Xiang Chao into the imperial prison for torture or to give him a quick death,
The door to the Imperial Study opened.
Immediately afterwards, several officials lined up and respectfully came out.
The officials varied in weight, height, and appearance, but they all shared a nauseatingly obsequious expression and a treacherous look in their eyes.
Everyone looked at the Prince of Jin with teasing smiles, but when they saw the Prince of Qin, they immediately suppressed their disrespectful smiles and bowed respectfully.
The King of Jin ignored him, disgusted, while the King of Qin simply nodded slightly in return.
A short while later.
After the officials left, Prince Jin walked to Prince Qin's side, his voice low but unable to conceal his anger, "Does the Emperor now favor these treacherous officials?"
The two were very close, almost touching.
The King of Jin's anger was almost palpable, but the King of Qin still didn't feel the effects of the Gu worms, and he too felt angry. "Hmm."
Just as the King of Qin was about to continue trying to extract information, a eunuch came to report, "Summon the Prince of Jin and the King of Qin to an audience."
The two quickly composed themselves and entered the imperial study.
...
evening.
As soon as the King of Qin returned to his residence, he ordered Xiang Chao to be summoned and angrily said, "Today when I met the Prince of Jin, I did not hear any of his true thoughts. You had better give me a reasonable explanation."
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