Chapter 225 The Death of Prince Duan
Inside the hall.
The previous joy and clamor had long been replaced by panic.
Two tiny, bright yellow swaddled babies lay side by side on the warm couch. Inside, Qingyan and Qinghe had bluish-purple faces and dark lips. Their once rosy faces were now lifeless, their breathing was so weak that it was almost imperceptible, and their small chests rose and fell only very slightly.
A group of imperial physicians knelt before the bed, trembling with fear, their foreheads covered in cold sweat. After taking turns to examine the pulse, they all looked ashen-faced, shaking their heads and sighing.
The poison was so bizarre and cunning that they couldn't even fully identify its toxicity, let alone find an antidote.
Pei Jichuan and Ana went to the Imperial Hospital to look through ancient books, and they seemed to have some ideas.
However, prioritizing the safety of the princes, Emperor Zhaoheng summoned renowned physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy while waiting for them, solely for the sake of the twins' well-being.
Upon hearing that the imperial physicians could not cure him, Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes turned red, and the murderous aura emanating from him was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Although he said nothing, the imperial physicians trembled like leaves, not daring to even beg for mercy.
Narcissus slumped onto the footstool beside the couch, her fingertips icy cold, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.
She reached out, wanting to touch the child's cold little face, but abruptly pulled her hand back just before she could make contact.
Just when all hope seemed lost, hurried and firm footsteps sounded outside the palace.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Imperial Physician Pei and Imperial Physician Ana have arrived!"
Yinzhu's voice trembled with a hint of hope.
Pei Jichuan and Ana strode into the hall with swift steps.
The two looked solemn, but showed no sign of panic.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please allow me to save you immediately!"
Pei Jichuan spoke quickly, exchanging a glance with Ana.
Emperor Zhaoheng grasped at this as if it were a lifeline, and immediately waved away the imperial physicians blocking his way: "Quick! Tell me what you need!"
The rescue operation began immediately.
Although Pei Jichuan and Ana were not entirely confident, with Emperor Zhaoheng's permission, he opened the needle pouch and took out the longest and thinnest gold needles.
Pei Jichuan's technique was swift, precisely piercing several major acupoints on Qingyan and Qinghe's body.
At the same time, Ana took out a small jade box, and when she opened it, she found several strange Gu worms that were entirely green and almost transparent.
She used a silver needle to make an almost invisible puncture on the prince's fingertip and placed the Gu worm on it.
The worm smelled the toxin and immediately attached itself to it, its originally emerald green body gradually turning jet black at a visible speed.
Narcissus watched all of this intently, her heart pounding in her throat.
Throughout, Emperor Zhaoheng stood firmly beside Shuixian, holding her cold, trembling hand tightly in one hand, his body heat flowing between their pressed palms.
He didn't speak, but his resolute posture itself was the strongest support.
Looking at the child's still bluish-purple face, Shui Xian burst into tears, which slid down her pale cheeks and soaked her clothes.
She looked up at Emperor Zhaoheng, her eyes filled with endless pain, her voice broken and shattered.
"Your Majesty... if... if anything happens to our children..."
"nonsense!"
Emperor Zhaoheng was deeply shocked. He suddenly tightened his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. He raised his other hand and used his fingertips to forcefully wipe away the tears on her face, his actions filled with undeniable tenderness.
"With me here, the sky won't fall! Trust me, and trust Pei Jichuan and Ana!"
The emperor and empress's hands were clasped tightly, their knuckles white from the force. Their intertwined figures, supported by the candlelight, were cast onto the thin gauze curtains, creating a silhouette full of deep affection yet unable to conceal their anxiety...
......
Time slipped away slowly amidst the torment.
After an unknown amount of time, just as the emerald-green Gu worm had almost completely turned black and Pei Jichuan pulled out the last golden needle, a very faint cry, like a kitten's whimper, came from the bed.
It's Qingyan!
Immediately afterwards, Qinghe also made a faint sound.
The two little ones' bluish-purple complexions began to fade slowly. Although they were still pale and weak, the terrifying aura of death had dissipated, and their small chests began to rise and fall more noticeably.
"It's done!"
Pei Jichuan let out a long sigh of relief, his body swayed, and he almost collapsed, but was caught by the eunuch next to him in time.
He knelt down, his voice weary: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, most of the strange poison in the prince's body has been blocked by the golden needles sealing his acupoints, and the remaining toxins have been completely absorbed by Miss Ana's spirit Gu!"
"His life is no longer in danger, but his vital energy has been severely depleted. He needs to rest and recuperate carefully for at least a month to slowly recover."
Ana carefully put the blackened Gu worms back into the jade box, her face pale, clearly indicating that she had exhausted herself.
Narcissus's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and immense joy overwhelmed her tense nerves.
Her legs went weak, and she could barely stand. She was supported by Emperor Zhaoheng.
Tears welled up again, but this time, they were tears of relief at surviving a disaster.
Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes were also slightly red. He held Shuixian tightly, his gaze sweeping over the exhausted Pei Jichuan and Ana, and said in a deep voice:
"Good! Good! You have all done a great job in rescuing the prince!"
"Feng Shunxiang, convey my decree: Pei Jichuan and Ana are to be granted a thousand taels of gold! All others who assisted in the matter will also be richly rewarded!"
Later that evening.
As the child's condition stabilized, the tenderness in Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes was gradually replaced by a chilling murderous intent.
He gently placed the exhausted Narcissus on the chair, and when he turned around, he had already regained his decisive and ruthless imperial demeanor.
He immediately summoned the commander of the secret guards in secret, his voice as cold as the coldest days of winter: "Where is Xiao Yirui now? I want to see him alive or dead!"
"Your Majesty, according to the tracking, he should be hiding in a secluded villa on the outskirts of the capital."
"very good."
Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes flashed with a cold light. "Set up an ambush along all possible secret passages! Deploy the elite Imperial Guards to surround that villa. Not a single fly is allowed to escape!"
"I obey the decree!"
Narcissus forced herself to stand up, walked to Emperor Zhaoheng, and raised her pale but unusually resolute face:
"Your Majesty, I humbly request to accompany you. I want to witness with my own eyes how that wicked man who harmed my child, with a heart as venomous as a snake, will be brought to justice and beheaded!"
Emperor Zhaoheng gazed at her, seeing the unwavering hatred in her eyes. After a moment of silence, he finally reached out and helped her up, saying in a deep voice:
"Granted... I will take you to see what fate befalls those who harmed our child!"
——
On the outskirts of Beijing, a seemingly ordinary villa was surrounded by Imperial Guards armed with torches and drawn swords.
Startled birds fluttered up from the forest, circling and crying mournfully in the air, adding to the somber atmosphere.
The gate to the villa was forcibly broken open, and Emperor Zhaoheng, accompanied by Shui Xian, stepped into the courtyard under heavy guard.
In the courtyard, Xiao Yirui held a long sword, seemingly making a final stand.
His hair was disheveled, he was emaciated from syphilis, and his face showed the madness of someone at the end of their rope.
Upon seeing Emperor Zhaoheng appear with Shui Xian, he was first taken aback, then let out a hoarse and grating laugh.
"Hahaha... My royal brother is truly devoted! Even when you're dealing with your dying brother, you still bring your beloved concubine to witness the execution? Do you want her to see how you turn your own brother against your own?"
Emperor Zhaoheng's face was ashen.
"Siblings? Xiao Yirui, when you poisoned your young children, trying to kill them, did you ever think of even a shred of kinship?"
Shui Xian stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Emperor Zhao Heng. Looking at Xiao Yi Rui's crazed and twisted face, and recalling his repeated persecution of her and her children, she felt a surge of hatred in her heart.
"Prince Duan, no, Xiao Yirui... how painful is this venereal disease you have?"
Xiao Yirui's pupils suddenly contracted. When she mentioned this venereal disease, a deep hatred flashed through his heart.
"You bitch! You're the one who ruined my life!"
Xiao Yirui roared like a wounded beast, his eyes gleaming with ferocity.
He suddenly shoved a maid he was holding hostage toward the Imperial Guards, and taking advantage of the moment when everyone's attention was diverted, he used all his strength to ruthlessly and decisively throw the poisoned dagger in his hand toward Narcissus!
"Xian'er, be careful!"
Emperor Zhaoheng reacted extremely quickly. Almost the instant Xiao Yirui made his move, he had already turned to the side to protect Shui Xian behind him, and at the same time, with lightning speed, he drew a crossbow from his waist!
Aim and fire!
The movement was so swift that it left only a blur!
"call out--!"
The arrow pierced the air with a sharp, piercing sound, and struck Xiao Yirui's throat with perfect accuracy!
Xiao Yirui's forward throw came to an abrupt halt. His eyes widened in disbelief and astonishment, and a hissing sound escaped his throat as a large amount of blood mixed with froth gushed from his wound.
He pointed in the direction of the daffodils, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he could only squeeze out two indistinct syllables.
"You lowly...servant..."
Immediately, his body collapsed to the ground, twitched twice, and then fell silent.
Shui Xian was firmly protected behind Emperor Zhaoheng and remained unharmed.
She looked at Xiao Yirui's still bleeding body on the ground, slowly walked forward, looked down at his hideous face with his eyes wide open in death, and spoke in an icy voice.
"This arrow is to repay you on behalf of Qingyan and Qinghe."
Emperor Zhaoheng dropped his crossbow and walked to Shuixian's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with her.
Narcissus nestled beside Emperor Zhaoheng, feeling the warmth of his palm, yet a deep, calm clarity flickered in the depths of her eyes.
She knew that Xiao Yirui had died... but the power struggles within the palace were far from over.
"emperor......"
She spoke softly, her voice hoarse with weariness.
"Let's go back to the palace; the children are waiting for us."
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