Chapter 94 The Princess's Untimely Death
Preparations for the Empress Dowager's funeral have begun throughout the palace, all in white. However, a different kind of tense atmosphere pervades the Honglu Guest House.
As if a ghost, Han Ying slipped away unnoticed and silently entered the courtyard where Helian Mingzhu was. The Northern Kingdom's envoy, Wuzhu, and others were anxiously waiting in the outer room, while several Great Zhou guards stood watch at the entrance to the inner room, separating the imperial physician from the outside world.
Han Ying's figure appeared quietly behind the imperial physician, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear: "His Majesty has given an order."
The imperial physician shuddered in fright, but forced himself to remain calm and continued taking the pulse.
Han Ying continued, "The princess of the Northern Kingdom succumbed to her injuries."
The imperial physician was startled and blurted out instinctively, "But the princess only has superficial injuries..." He stopped mid-sentence, met Han Ying's cold eyes, and instantly understood what was happening. His face turned deathly pale, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
“This…this…” His lips trembled.
Han Ying's voice was cold and clear, carrying an undeniable pressure: "Make sure everything goes perfectly, and be quick. His Majesty's decree has been issued."
The imperial physician's hands trembled violently. He looked at Helian Mingzhu, who was weak from blood loss and shock but still conscious, on the bed. Thinking of the consequences of disobeying the imperial order, he finally gritted his teeth, a desperate ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty understands," he replied in a hoarse voice, taking out an inconspicuous small porcelain bottle from the depths of the medicine box.
Helian Mingzhu seemed to sense the danger and struggled weakly, "What...what are you going to do..."
With a single glance from Han Ying, the guards beside her immediately stepped forward and subtly restrained her.
The imperial physician, his hands trembling, mixed the liquid from the porcelain bottle into the prepared medicine, and whispered, "Princess... may you have a safe journey."
He carried the medicine bowl and walked step by step toward the bedside.
Han Ying coldly watched this scene, like a arbiter in the dark, ensuring that the emperor's will was thoroughly executed.
Helian Mingzhu stared wide-eyed in horror at Han Ying and the imperial physician. She had thought this was just a threat to force him to commit suicide, but she never expected Yuwen Che to actually dare to take her life!
"No...you can't..." she struggled to cry for help, "Wuzhu! Help..."
Han Ying, annoyed by the slow pace of the imperial physician, stepped forward and snatched the medicine bowl, then grabbed Helian Mingzhu's chin with one hand, forcing her to open her mouth.
"Ugh...!" Helian Mingzhu struggled desperately, spilling some of the medicine.
Han Ying's eyes turned cold. He tightened his grip and without hesitation poured the remaining medicine down her throat. After making sure she swallowed it completely, he delivered a precise chop to the back of her neck.
Helian Mingzhu let out a muffled groan and collapsed, losing consciousness.
Han Ying tossed the empty bowl back to the still-shaken imperial physician, her voice completely flat: "How long will it take for this medicine to take effect?"
The imperial physician was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he answered in a trembling voice, "...within half an incense stick's time...the pulse will stop..."
Han Ying glanced coldly at Helian Mingzhu, who was now unconscious on the bed: "Clean it up, don't leave any trace."
"Yes...yes..." The imperial physician quickly responded and stepped forward to perform the final diagnosis.
As before, Han Ying silently blended into the shadows and left the room that was about to be shrouded in death.
Outside, Wuzhu vaguely heard some noises coming from inside the room and frowned, asking, "What's going on inside?"
The guards at the gate stopped him expressionlessly: "The imperial physicians are doing their best to treat him. Please wait patiently, Your Excellency."
Wuzhu paced anxiously, a vague unease creeping into his heart, unaware that death was already upon him.
The imperial physician's hands were still trembling slightly. He forced himself to remain calm, took out a clean handkerchief, and carefully wiped away the remaining medicine stains from Helian Mingzhu's lips to make sure there were no traces of being forced to drink the medicine.
After doing all this, he glanced at the guards standing behind him like statues, took a deep breath, and waited quietly.
Time passed in silence, each breath feeling exceptionally long. Cold sweat beaded on the imperial physician's forehead.
Finally, he reached out and placed his trembling fingers on Helian Mingzhu's wrist. After a moment, he withdrew his hand, nodded with difficulty to the guard, and said in a hoarse voice, "The princess... has passed away."
A guard immediately stepped forward, reached out to check Helian Mingzhu's breath, and then checked her pulse, confirming that there were no more signs of life.
He turned to his companion and said in a deep voice, "Confirmed."
The other guard understood, turned around, walked to the door, took a deep breath, and suddenly pulled open the door.
Wuzhu and the others who were anxiously waiting outside the door immediately surrounded them.
The guard stepped aside, his voice heavy and clear: "The princess... succumbed to her injuries and... is gone."
Wuzhu's expression changed drastically. He pushed aside the guards and rushed into the inner room. He saw Helian Mingzhu lying on the bed with her eyes closed and her face ashen. He rushed to the bed and his fingers trembled as he checked her breath.
"Princess!" Wuzhu let out a low, grief-stricken roar, turning abruptly around, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at the imperial physician and the guards at the door. "What happened?! It was clearly just a superficial wound! How could this be..."
The imperial physician lowered his head, avoiding the man's murderous gaze, and replied with his prepared words: "Your Excellency, please accept my condolences... The princess has lost too much blood and is determined to die; her life is beyond saving. This humble official... is powerless to save her..."
"Impossible!" Wuzhu roared, grabbing the imperial physician's collar. "It was you! It was your Great Zhou that killed the princess!"
The guards at the door immediately stepped forward, expressionlessly separating Wuzhu: "Envoy, please calm down. The princess attempted suicide. We were ordered to protect her, and the imperial physicians have done their best to treat her. Please, envoy... refrain from speaking nonsense and accept this loss with compassion."
Looking at the cold faces before him, and then at the princess lying lifeless on the bed, Wuzhu felt a chill run from his feet to the top of his head. He understood; this was a trap set by the Emperor of Great Zhou!
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