Chapter 74 All She Wanted Was Him
"Summon the imperial physician." Emperor Zhaoheng's face was ashen, and his voice was icy.
The order was quickly relayed.
Before long, the old imperial physician hurriedly stepped into the palace gate carrying his medicine box.
When Shui Xian saw the healed scars on the old doctor's face, she suddenly realized that they were from when she went to see Yi Guichun before, and Yi Guichun had scratched her face.
Unlike the still-fresh scratches on Feng Shunxiang's face, the old doctor's scars had long since healed, leaving only faint white scabs.
As soon as the imperial physician entered the hall, he bowed and greeted the Emperor, "Your humble servant pays respects to Consort Jin and Consort Yi."
When he saw Consort Yi being forcibly pinned to the ground by the guards, her eyes bloodshot, his heart skipped a beat, and he sighed inwardly at his bad luck.
"No need for formalities, just show her."
Emperor Zhaoheng's voice was unreadable, his gaze sweeping over the deranged Consort Yi.
The imperial physician reluctantly stepped forward.
However, at this moment, Yi Guichun was like a wild beast that had been completely enraged, and she was full of aggression towards anyone who came near her.
Just as the imperial physician reached out to take her pulse, she suddenly struggled, her sharp nails flailing wildly, uttering incoherent curses:
"Get out of my way! You quacks! You're all in cahoots with that vixen! You want to kill me! Get out!"
"Hold her down!"
Emperor Zhaoheng frowned impatiently.
The guards immediately increased their strength, pressing down firmly on Yi Guichun's arms and shoulders, fixing her firmly to the ground.
Unable to move, Yi Guichun could only futilely twist his head and let out a trapped beast-like roar.
Only then was the old doctor able to approach, carefully avoiding her scratching hands, and placing his hand on her violently throbbing wrist.
The process of taking the pulse was extremely difficult. The old doctor frowned and examined the pulse intently for a long time.
After finally finishing the pulse diagnosis, the old imperial physician breathed a sigh of relief and approached Emperor Zhaoheng, bowing as he reported:
"Your Majesty, Consort Yi is delirious and behaving erratically... This is... this is undoubtedly a relapse of her insanity."
Emperor Zhaoheng frowned even more deeply. Because of Consort Yi's early morning outburst, he didn't even have time to change his clothes or comb his hair. He was sitting on the high seat with only his outer robe on.
"A relapse? Didn't the people from the Imperial Hospital say that her previous madness was caused by medication and that it would be fine once the medication wore off? What's the reason for this relapse?"
The old imperial physician's heart tightened, and he quickly explained, "Your Majesty, in my last diagnosis, the symptoms that Consort Yi exhibited while in the Cold Palace were indeed very similar to those caused by a certain hallucinogenic drug."
"However, there was no residue of medicine left. I can only deduce from the symptoms and I am not entirely certain what the poison was."
At that moment, a weak but clear voice came from the direction of the palace entrance.
"May I take a look?"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Xiao Chuanzi had struggled to get up at some point, leaning against the door frame with difficulty, using a hardwood cane.
Narcissus asked with concern, "Why did you get up? The imperial physician said you need to rest!"
Ogawa smiled weakly at Narcissus, indicating that he was alright.
After receiving the old physician's approval, he was helped by Yinzhu to get closer to Yi Guichun for a closer look.
He observed for a while, then suddenly instructed Yinzhu to check Yi Guichun's eyelids before reporting to the Emperor:
"Consort Yi's eyes showed irregular dark circles and bruising, accompanied by intermittent pupil dilation."
Xiao Chuanzi said weakly, "This servant once read about it in the Western Regions fragments in the Imperial Medical Academy's library. The description of this symptom is extremely similar to a rare poison from the Western Regions called Jiu Luo San."
"A small dose of this poison can cause hallucinations, confusion, and mental disorder, resembling madness. However, if a large dose is taken in a short period of time, or if the user has a special constitution, its toxicity will become exceptionally stubborn, like a maggot clinging to a bone, difficult to eradicate."
"Once the user experiences a violent emotional fluctuation, especially when they are enraged or manic, it will trigger the residual poison, causing it to relapse, and each time it will be more dangerous than the last, until... it completely destroys their mind."
He paused, then looked at Yi Guichun, who was struggling on the ground. "Consort Yi's symptoms at this moment are exactly the same as those recorded in that tattered scroll."
The old doctor was dumbfounded, his heart filled with shock!
He had heard of the fragments from the Western Regions, but because the writing was difficult to understand and the records were too bizarre, he did not investigate them in depth.
I never expected that this young eunuch would have such extensive knowledge!
He suppressed the urge to immediately pull Xiao Chuanzi aside to discuss medical principles, and quickly turned to Emperor Zhaoheng, excitedly cupping his hands in greeting:
"Your Majesty! If what this eunuch says is true, and Consort Yi has been poisoned by the Poisonous Powder, then there are clues to follow!"
"Your Majesty, please allow me to return immediately and summon my colleagues in the Imperial Medical Academy who are experts in toxicology to study this poison! As long as we can determine the source of the poison and its residual mechanism, there will be a possibility of eliminating the remaining poison!"
However, Emperor Zhaoheng's expression did not soften in the slightest despite the imperial physician's confident assurances.
He looked at the woman on the ground, who was once gentle but now had a hideous face, and felt only disappointment.
The marks of abuse on Xue Mei's body were extremely vicious. Xue Mei was her personal maid, and it is said that she took poison to escape her predicament.
All of this is now the woman's own fault!
"By imperial decree, Consort Yi is hereby stripped of her title and imprisoned in the Cold Palace for her cruel treatment of palace maids, to be permanently banished..."
Emperor Zhaoheng was interrupted by an old but extremely dignified voice before he could finish speaking.
"I'd like to see who wants to lock Consort Yi in the Cold Palace!"
The Empress Dowager entered, supported by Consort Wan. She was dressed in a deep purple palace gown with phoenix patterns, her face solemn and her aura imposing.
The arrival of the Empress Dowager surprised everyone in the hall, including Emperor Zhaoheng.
Everyone quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
Even the pregnant Narcissus stood up from her seat and slightly curtsied to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager didn't even glance at the people kneeling on the ground. She first swept her gaze over the seemingly insane Consort Yi, and then her eyes fell on Emperor Zhaoheng, who was in the main seat.
"Your Majesty," the Empress Dowager began slowly, "I heard that Consort Yi has suffered a relapse of her old ailment and is being treated as a madwoman, to be imprisoned in the Cold Palace? I have come to see her."
She paused here, recalling the imperial physician's report she had overheard outside the palace.
"Since the imperial physician has said that her condition is due to residual poisoning and was triggered by stimulation, it is not her own fault."
She sighed deeply, her voice seemingly filled with pity, "Confine her to Changxin Palace and have the imperial physicians come to treat her and clear the poison every day."
The Empress Dowager's words were full of favoritism: "And the matter of that palace maid Xuemei... I have also heard about it."
"Consort Yi is now suffering from madness and is mentally unstable. She may not even remember what she has done. Who knows if her abuse of that palace maid was also due to her illness and confusion?"
The Empress Dowager earnestly advised:
“Your Majesty, you are the ruler of the country and should be more considerate. After all, Consort Yi has served you for many years, and the Yi family has also been diligent and conscientious in the court.”
"If we were to banish her to the cold palace simply because she was temporarily delirious from illness, wouldn't that dishearten the court officials and make the world think that Your Majesty is... heartless and ungrateful?"
The Empress Dowager's words were watertight, both protecting Yi Guichun and pinning the blame on madness.
Filial piety was paramount, which left Emperor Zhaoheng speechless for a moment.
Emperor Zhaoheng remained silent for a long while before speaking in a low voice: "What the Empress Dowager said... makes sense. Then let's do as the Empress Dowager wishes."
"Guards, take Consort Yi back to Changxin Palace, confine her to her quarters, and have the imperial physicians treat her properly."
Just as Yi Guichun was about to return to the cold palace, the Empress Dowager saved her with a few words.
Narcissus's eyes were slightly cool as she rapidly calculated in her mind.
Why would the Empress Dowager suddenly intervene to protect Yi Guichun? Was it because of the Yi family or for some other reason?
What value does Yi Guichun still possess that the Empress Dowager can exploit?
Just as her thoughts were racing, the Empress Dowager, who had seemed not to have seen her, suddenly turned around and said:
"As for Consort Jin..." The Empress Dowager's voice suddenly turned cold, "I find it strange. Why is it that ever since you were promoted to the rank of Consort and gained favor, the harem has been in constant turmoil and chaos?"
"Consort Jin, tell me, is this a coincidence, or... are you taking advantage of my favor and disrupting the peace of the harem?"
As expected of the Empress Dowager, she helped Yi Guichun out of trouble with just a few words, and then easily turned the tables on Shui Xian.
Narcissus dared not accept the serious charge of disrupting the harem.
She felt a chill run down her spine and was about to speak in her defense.
Emperor Zhaoheng's voice rang out even faster than hers, clearly showing his favoritism.
"Your Majesty, infighting in the harem has existed since ancient times; when has it ever truly been peaceful? What does this have to do with Consort Jin? Your Majesty's words are rather biased!"
He stared directly at the Empress Dowager, his cold eyes filled with aloofness.
He clearly remembers that when he was a child, all he saw and learned while he was around her was this endless struggle and scheming!
Narcissus's feelings for him were among the few genuine emotions he experienced in the cold harem.
She never cared about fame or fortune; she only cared about him as a person.
He would not allow anyone, including his mother, to slander her in this way!
The Empress Dowager clearly did not expect her son to contradict her so directly, especially in front of outsiders!
Looking into Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes, which resembled those of the late emperor but were now filled with icy coldness, she couldn't control the surge of anger rising within her.
"you!"
The Empress Dowager's well-maintained face instantly lost its color, and she pointed at Emperor Zhaoheng, her finger trembling slightly.
"Zheng'er! Zheng'er would never speak to me in such a tone!"
Zheng'er...that's the name of Prince Duan!
Shui Xian was shocked and subconsciously looked at Emperor Zhaoheng.
She knew the Empress Dowager was biased, but in front of everyone, the Empress Dowager actually compared Prince Duan to the current emperor just because Emperor Zhaoheng defended him?!
Emperor Zhaoheng's face, which had been gloomy, froze completely the moment he heard "Zheng'er"!
He pressed his thin lips together, his jaw taut into a cold, hard line.
"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com