Chapter 149 The Emperor is Poisoned
The next day.
Nanny Song knelt in the imperial study and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is feeling unwell and has lost her appetite. I have sent this old servant to ask you to come over and see her."
The emperor was already feeling a headache from being annoyed by the memorials, and he rubbed his forehead impatiently: "If you feel unwell, just call the imperial physician. What good would it do me to go?"
"Your Majesty, this is different!" Nanny Song kowtowed quickly, "The Imperial Concubine is worried sick. She's worried about the Prince and that's why she's been sick. No one else can persuade her. Only if you go will the Imperial Concubine feel at ease!"
The emperor was silent for a moment, and finally sighed: "Forget it, I'll go and take a look."
Inside Ningcui Palace.
A wisp of fragrant mist wafted out of the gilded incense burner, filled with a strange sweet aroma.
When the emperor entered the bedroom, he saw Concubine Hui lying on the bed with a pale face, her hair slightly disheveled, and she looked quite frail.
"Your Majesty..." When Concubine Hui saw him, she quickly stretched out her hand and spoke weakly.
The emperor walked over, sat down beside the bed, and held her slightly cold hand. "How is your health, Concubine? Are you still feeling unwell?"
"I'm fine," Concubine Hui said, tears welling up in her eyes as she clung to his hand tightly. "It's just that I'm worried about Prince Duan, and I can't sleep every night... Your Majesty, could you please stay with me for a little while longer? Even for a little while."
As she spoke, she gave Nanny Song a wink.
Nanny Song immediately understood and turned to Eunuch Yang, saying respectfully, "Eunuch Yang, the Emperor and the Empress haven't had a good conversation in a while. Let's go out and wait for them so as not to disturb them."
Eunuch Yang looked at the emperor and saw him nod slightly, so he bowed in response and quietly retreated with the palace servants in the hall, gently closing the door of the bedroom.
There were only two people left in the hall. Concubine Hui was so nervous that her fingertips trembled slightly, but she still pretended to be gentle.
She said softly, "Your Majesty, I dreamt last night that Prince Duan was just born. He was tiny, wrapped in a brocade quilt, white and plump. You held him in your arms, smiling from ear to ear. Do you remember?"
When the emperor heard this, the image of Prince Duan as a child emerged in his mind. He finally sighed, his tone somewhat complicated: "How could I not remember? He was quite likable back then."
The two chatted about old times for a while, and then the emperor suddenly frowned and sniffed: "Have you changed the incense in your bedroom? Why haven't I smelled this smell before?"
Concubine Hui's heart suddenly tightened, and she forced herself to remain calm and said, "Yes, the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent a new fragrance a few days ago. I thought it was good, so I've been using it ever since."
As soon as he finished speaking, the emperor felt a tightness in his chest and a dull headache.
He let go of Concubine Hui's hand and supported his forehead: "This fragrance is too strong and a bit suffocating. You are sick now, so it's better to change to something lighter and more elegant."
"I still have memorials to review, so I'll go back first."
"Your Majesty!" Noble Concubine Hui refused to let him go. She quickly reached out and grabbed his arm, pleading, "Please stay with me for a little while longer..."
Seeing the emperor rubbing his temples, his eyes becoming increasingly hazy, and even struggling to sit still, Concubine Hui quickly lowered her voice and feigned concern, "Your Majesty, are you tired? Otherwise, why don't you take a nap in my palace before leaving? This bed is spacious, and you'll be more comfortable lying down."
The emperor nodded in confusion, his voice muffled: "Well... I'm a little tired. I want to take a nap."
Concubine Hui was delighted, but she cautiously probed, "Your Majesty, do you remember? You used to love Prince Duan the most, always saying he had great potential. You even said you would make him the Crown Prince in the future."
The emperor's mind had long been clouded by the incense, and he nodded in agreement with her words: "Yes... I did say that."
"Your Majesty, don't joke!" Concubine Hui demanded, her voice trembling. "Since you said you wanted to make Prince Duan the Crown Prince, you can't go back on your word!"
"No regrets..." the emperor repeated mechanically.
Concubine Hui could no longer contain her excitement. She clutched the emperor's hand tightly and said urgently, "Then Your Majesty, please write an imperial edict right now to appoint Prince Duan as the Crown Prince, okay?"
The emperor nodded woodenly and murmured, "Okay... I will go back now and make Prince Duan the crown prince."
Seeing him being manipulated like this, Concubine Hui was so happy that tears almost fell from her eyes!
Previously, she went to Prince Duan's mansion to see her son. Seeing Prince Duan lying sick in bed with blood oozing from the wound on his arm, she felt like the sky was falling.
The emperor was already disappointed with Prince Duan. Now that he is in this state, how could he make him the crown prince?
Xie Yan has already tried to kill Prince Duan, and when he becomes the crown prince, Prince Duan will be doomed!
Just when she was at her wit's end, Bai Ruowei secretly found her and stuffed a packet of incense called "Soul-leading Incense" into her hands, saying that as long as the emperor smelled the incense, he would be led away and obey the words of the person who applied the incense. Moreover, the incense was non-toxic, and even the imperial physician would not be able to find anything unusual!
She didn't believe it at first, but Bai Ruowei said that she used this spice to confuse the people guarding her and escaped easily.
Unfortunately, even if she escapes, she will still be a fugitive. If she wants to become the Crown Princess, she can only help Prince Duan to ascend to the throne. Their interests are the same.
Bai Ruowei was very sure of what she said. She had no other choice but to try her best.
I didn’t expect...it actually worked!
Unexpectedly, the emperor had just stood up in a daze, and before he could stand firmly, a fishy and sweet taste suddenly surged in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. The bright red blood drops splashed on the bright yellow dragon robe, which was a shocking sight.
The next second, he fell straight to the ground, unconscious.
"Your Majesty——!" Concubine Hui was so frightened that her soul was about to leave her body. Her sharp scream pierced the silence in the palace.
Eunuch Yang, who was guarding outside the palace, heard the noise and immediately rushed in. He saw the emperor lying on the ground with blood at the corner of his mouth. He was so frightened that his voice changed and he crawled out, shouting, "Quick! Call the imperial physician! Quick, call the imperial physician!!"
Concubine Hui slumped on the ground, her face as pale as paper, her fingers trembling unconsciously, and she muttered to herself, "How could this happen... Bai Ruowei clearly said that this spice is non-toxic, why is the emperor vomiting blood..."
She stared at the incense burner that was still smoking, her heart filled with panic.
She just wanted the emperor to be obedient and never thought of taking his life!
The news of the emperor's poisoning quickly spread throughout the palace.
Before long, Chengming Hall was crowded with people. The Queen Mother and the Empress hurried over with the concubines. Xie Yan, Prince An, Prince Rui and other princes of the royal family were also present, all with solemn expressions.
Concubine Hui and the palace maids of Ningcui Palace had already been taken under control by the imperial guards.
Soon, the imperial physician knelt before the empress dowager, holding the examined incense burner and the medicine residue. He said in a deep and sorrowful voice, "Replying to the empress dowager and all the princes, the incense in this burner is laced with poison. The emperor fainted and vomited blood because he inhaled the poisonous smoke! If we had been a step later, I'm afraid..."
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