Mr. Zhou nodded and said, "I'm from Miaojiang. These symptoms are clearly evidence of witchcraft."
"Judging from the fact that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is vomiting blood, the thing is not far from him. It should be inside the palace where he lives."
In the previous dynasty, the imperial family was in turmoil due to the practice of witchcraft, and countless people were implicated. Therefore, Emperor Taizu of the Great Zhou Dynasty strictly prohibited witchcraft at the beginning of the dynasty, and anyone found guilty would be severely punished.
Emperor Xuande stood with his hands behind his back for a long moment before he said, "Puyi, you personally lead the Dragon Guards to search the Eastern Palace."
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Take Mr. Zhou with you. If there are any suspicious items, give them to Mr. Zhou to check."
Puyi was his confidant, so it was best to let him handle this matter personally, so as not to implicate the innocent and not let the traitors escape.
Puyi took the order and left with Mr. Zhou.
As for the others, they returned to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Palace servants served hot tea and snacks, and everyone returned to their seats.
Although the Emperor didn't say it explicitly, everyone knew it. If something happened to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, everyone would be suspected.
Therefore, the emperor would not let them leave the palace until the truth of this matter came to light. After all, once people left the palace, many things would be difficult to investigate.
Some people were even prepared to be searched and interrogated.
Su Qingyu had been busy all night and was already hungry. So when the hot tea, ginseng soup, and snacks were served, she didn't hesitate and started eating.
After eating two pieces of pastry, she felt even hungrier. She wanted a bowl of hot noodles, preferably with an egg and some boiled vegetables.
Emperor Xuande was accompanying the Crown Prince in the next room, so everyone in the hall was not polite and was eating snacks.
Su Qingyu frowned while eating.
After eating three pieces of snacks, his face was full of disgust.
Shen Zhixiu asked her in a low voice, "What's wrong? Is it not tasty?"
Su Qingyu looked around and saw that no one was around before she spoke: "This snack is cold and too sweet and greasy. It can only fill my stomach, but it won't satisfy my hunger. I want to eat hot noodles with a fried egg."
After saying that, I felt that I was being pretentious. It was late at night and I was in the palace. Where could I get noodles?
Besides, the Crown Prince's condition was still unknown, so they couldn't afford to indulge in a feast. Just being able to have a cup of tea and a couple of snacks was already a favor from the Emperor.
Su Qingyu quickly added, "Although it's not delicious, I'm full. How can the food in the palace be compared to what I have at home?"
At this moment, in a side room next to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Crown Prince lay in bed. The Emperor, the Consort Xian, and a group of imperial physicians were all watching over him.
The imperial physician couldn't even prescribe any medicine. The group of imperial physicians, led by Liu Yuanzheng, stood nervously by the side, not daring to breathe.
Dean Liu looked at his nose, and his nose at his heart, thinking about how to write a letter of retirement.
Of course, the prerequisite is that I can leave the palace alive today.
The virtuous concubine sat by the bed, looking anxiously at the blood oozing from the corner of the prince's lips.
She couldn't help but yell at the doctors, "You're just standing there. Can't you think of a solution? Even if it's just to alleviate the pain a little bit."
The imperial doctors knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. We deserve death."
Emperor Xuande paced back and forth on the ground, and the imperial doctors' apologies made him even more annoyed.
Su Xiangling stood behind Concubine Xian, and was often ordered by Concubine Xian to twist the handkerchief or help the prince stand up.
She served the prince carefully, fearing that the virtuous concubine would vent her anger on her again.
I wondered in my heart, was it really witchcraft? If so, who did it?
It looked like someone from the Eastern Palace did it, but there was no need for someone from the Eastern Palace to harm the prince.
If we really find out who did it, it would be a good thing. At least it can divert the anger of the Empress Consort and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Su Xiangling went through all the concubines in the Eastern Palace in her mind, but couldn't figure out who it could be.
With a creak, Hu Lu pushed the door open and walked in, holding a white jade tray in his hand.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, these are the crab meat buns and freshly cooked fish soup sent from the imperial kitchen."
The virtuous concubine waved her hand without even looking at him.
Emperor Xuande also said in a deep voice: "Take it away, I don't have the heart to eat it."
Hu Lu whispered, "Your Majesty, the search of the Eastern Palace will take forever. How can you endure it if you don't eat something?"
Emperor Xuande said casually: "You can take it and divide it among yourself. Don't worry about me."
Hu Lu understood his temper and knew that further persuasion would only make the emperor impatient, so he could only take the things and leave.
When he went out, he saw Shen Zhixiu standing guard at the door. Hu Lu was startled, "Why is Lord Shen here? The emperor didn't summon him."
Shen Zhixiu glanced at the food on his tray. "The Emperor refuses to eat? How is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? I was worried, so I came to check on him."
Hu Lu sighed, "I've tried my best to persuade you, but the Emperor is worried about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and has no appetite. So, I've asked you to bring out the food, saying it's for the people below."
Shen Zhixiu sighed, "Thank you for your hard work, eunuch. Whenever something happens in the palace, you are the one who worries the most."
"You have to take care of the emperor's health and manage the people under you, so you must be careful about your health."
Hu Lu and Shen Zhixiu had a good relationship on a daily basis. When Shen Zhixiu spoke to him, he never acted like a cabinet minister.
Even though he was the emperor's personal attendant and the chief eunuch, he knew in his heart that many of the scholars in the court looked down on him.
Take Chen Ge Lao for example, every time he spoke to him he acted like a scholar, as if he were talking to a eunuch and insulting them.
But Shen Zhixiu was always humble and kind, so Hu Lu was willing to talk to him.
Hearing Shen Zhixiu say this, Hu Lu felt warm in his heart.
"Thank you, Lord Shen, for your concern. It's late at night and the dew is heavy. Don't catch a cold."
Shen Zhixiu smiled and replied, "It's okay. I just had two snacks. Although they are a bit sweet, at least they fill my stomach."
Upon hearing this, Hu Lu hurriedly said, "Since His Majesty has said to give these crab meat buns and fish soup to the people below, why don't you let Lord Shen take them and eat them?"
Shen Zhixiu immediately refused, "That's not a good idea. My father-in-law has been busy all night. It would be embarrassing if I took it away."
Hu Lu didn't argue with him and directly ordered the eunuch beside him, "Put all these things in a new container and send it to Lord Shen."
Seeing this, Shen Zhixiu bowed and thanked him, "Thank you very much, Eunuch Hu."
Hu Lu laughed and said, "Master Shen, please don't be so polite to me. These are just trivial matters, not worth mentioning."
When Shen Zhixiu returned to the Hall of Supreme Harmony again, the young eunuch happened to bring a tray of food and placed it on his desk.
Su Qingyu was confused and wanted to ask, but the young eunuch had already bowed and left.
Shen Zhixiu sat next to Su Qingyu and said proudly.
"Hot fish soup and crab meat buns, eat quickly."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com