Chapter 22: The Banquet
The cool saliva slid into my throat.
The Seventh Prince's body was twitching violently.
I calmed down instantly.
His eyes rolled up due to lack of oxygen.
Regained his spirits.
The terrible "ho ho" sound in his throat also disappeared.
Instead.
It was a violent, uncontrollable cough.
“Cough… cough cough cough…”
With coughing.
His little face was blue and purple from holding it in.
At a speed visible to the naked eye.
The normal rosy complexion has returned.
He breathed in the fresh air in big gulps.
It was like a fish on the verge of death from thirst returning to the water.
Everyone around was stunned by the miraculous scene before them.
The palace maids and ladies-in-waiting who were about to rush up and grab Ling Zixia.
It was as if they were under a spell of immobilization.
Frozen in place.
Their mouths opened wide.
His face was filled with incomprehensible and extreme shock.
The queen and concubines in the warm pavilion.
They were all stunned.
They even took a few steps forward subconsciously.
Want to see more clearly.
"Yu'er!"
The Queen was the first to react.
She held up the hem of her gorgeous skirt.
He ran out of the warm pavilion quickly.
Her face was full of fear and ecstasy.
She took the still weak little boy into her arms.
"Yu'er, how do you feel? Are you feeling unwell?"
The seventh prince named Yu'er.
In the warm embrace of mother.
Finally, he cried out "Wow".
His cry was loud and powerful.
There was no longer the dying weakness that I had just felt.
This crying sound.
It's like a shot in the arm.
This made all the palace maids present feel anxious.
They all breathed a sigh of relief.
The Queen is holding her child.
I couldn't help but shed tears.
She really thought she was going to lose her son.
She comforted him for a long time.
Only then did the Seventh Prince in his arms slowly stop crying.
Then.
She slowly raised her head.
With an extremely complex gaze, full of scrutiny and exploration.
He looked at the frail girl who was still kneeling on the ground.
"Your name is Ling Zi-Xia?"
The Queen's voice was majestic and calm.
Can't tell whether he is happy or angry.
"Is she Dr. Ling's daughter?"
Ling Zixia buried her head even lower.
Her body trembled slightly because of "fear".
"To reply...to your Majesty, I am the humble woman."
Her voice was weak and mosquito-like.
Full of humility and obedience.
"What did you just feed the Seventh Prince?"
The Queen continued to ask.
This is the question everyone wants to know.
An ordinary leaf.
How could it have such miraculous effect of bringing the dead back to life?
"Replying to the Queen..."
There was a hint of crying in Ling Zixia's voice.
"I don't know what that is..."
"I just...just noticed that the Seventh Prince's symptoms are very similar to a 'dietary syndrome' recorded in my father's medical records."
"The medical records say that this symptom is so rapid that it requires immediate induction of vomiting with fresh sycamore leaves to relieve it."
"I...I am in such a hurry that I can't care about anything else..."
"If I have offended Your Highness, please punish me, Your Majesty."
Her explanation made sense.
I attribute everything to my father's medical records.
And the instinctive reaction of a guilty daughter in an emergency.
It also explains why he rescued the person.
And it has that magical effect.
It is cleverly hidden under the seemingly ordinary method of "inducing vomiting".
The Queen looked at her.
His eyes flickered.
Behind her was a female official who was wearing palace clothes and looked quite knowledgeable.
He whispered something in her ear.
It seems to confirm the authenticity of the statement that "Wutong leaves can relieve food-induced symptoms."
Queen Mother---I have heard this.
The expression on his face finally relaxed a little.
She glanced at her son in her arms who had returned to normal.
She looked again at the girl kneeling on the ground who had saved her son's life.
In her heart.
This was the first time he met this "daughter of a guilty minister" who was forced into the prime minister's residence by the emperor.
A hint of genuine curiosity arose.
"Get up."
There was a hint of warmth in the Queen's voice.
"Not only are you not at fault for what happened today, you've actually done something meritorious."
"If you hadn't acted in time, the consequences would have been disastrous."
"I will reward you well."
Ling Zixia felt as if she had been pardoned.
She quickly kowtowed to the queen.
"Thank...thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
The Queen is holding the Seventh Prince.
Surrounded by a group of palace ladies.
Walked back to the warm pavilion.
The serious-looking female official walked up to Ling Zixia.
"Miss Ling, please follow me."
Her tone was much politer than before.
Ling Zixia stood up obediently.
Follow behind her.
Walked into the warm pavilion surrounded by flowers.
Several concubines in the pavilion.
At this moment, he was looking at her with various different eyes.
Curious.
There is exploration.
There is also undisguised jealousy.
Ling Zixia looked straight ahead.
She walked to the center of the pavilion.
Facing the queen and all the concubines.
He performed another standard bow.
"Prime Minister Ling, kowtows to the Empress, kowtows to all the ladies."
"Stand up."
The Queen Mother asked her to sit on a small stool beside her.
Then she began to chat with the concubines around her.
It was as if the thrilling accident just now had never happened.
They were chatting about the newly opened cosmetics shop in the capital.
Chatting about the latest styles of jewelry tribute from the Western Regions.
They completely ignored Ling Zixia's existence.
Leave her aside.
This is the most common way of showing power in the palace.
In this silent way.
To highlight the insurmountable hierarchy between them.
Come tell her about this new guy.
Whose territory is this?
Ling Zixia sat quietly.
She lowered her eyes.
Place your hands on your knees.
Like a lifeless piece of fine porcelain.
Just then.
A beautiful woman who looked to be about thirty years old, wearing a purple palace dress, sat below the Empress.
Suddenly he smiled and spoke.
"I heard that Miss Ling's father, Divine Doctor Ling, was a famous doctor in the capital."
"His medical skills are superb, but it's a pity..."
She stopped talking halfway.
He then sighed with pretended regret.
The atmosphere around them suddenly became a little awkward.
Everyone knows why the Ling family fell.
Bringing this up at this time.
This was undoubtedly like rubbing salt into Ling Zixia's wounds.
The Queen's brows furrowed slightly.
She glanced at the woman who had spoken.
"Sister Defei."
It turns out that she is Concubine De.
I was jealous of my father's favor.
And the woman in the harem who repeatedly made things difficult for my father.
He was also involved in the "poisoning of the royal heir" case that year.
The first witness to come forward and accuse his father of poisoning.
A cold murderous intent arose in Ling Zixia's heart.
Her face still had that calm and timid look.
"I just think that a tiger father will have a dog daughter."
Concubine De seemed not to notice the Queen's expression.
She looked at Ling Zixia with a smile.
"Miss Ling's ability to save people just now really opened my eyes."
Her words sounded like a compliment.
Every word carries a thorn.
"To reward Miss Ling."
Defei clapped her hands.
A palace maid behind her immediately came up with a tray of snacks.
On the plate were several pieces of pastry cut into diamond shapes that looked crystal clear.
The cake is made of lotus seed powder and glutinous rice flour.
It is also decorated with a few red wolfberries.
Looks delicate and delicious.
"This is the 'Red Lotus Jade Dew Cake' freshly made in my small kitchen."
Defei's tone was full of enthusiasm.
"Miss Ling, try it and see if it suits your taste."
The maid was carrying a tray.
Walked in front of Ling Zixia.
She used a silver stick.
The largest piece of cake was inserted.
Respectfully handed it to Ling Zixia's mouth.
Ling Zixia raised her head.
Her eyes fell on the pastry that exuded a sweet aroma.
Her nostrils twitched slightly.
Under that sweet fragrance.
There is a very faint, almost imperceptible smell of bitter almonds.
That is "pulling the machine".
A deadly poison originating from the imperial court of the previous dynasty.
This poison is colorless and odorless.
The symptoms will not appear immediately after ingestion.
But after the poisoned person drinks the water.
It will be like a volcanic eruption.
It can instantly destroy a person's internal organs.
The poisoned person will convulse and die in extreme pain.
The cause of death is very similar to an epileptic seizure.
Defei.
You have such a cruel heart.
You want me to be in front of the Queen.
He died of poisoning on the spot.
Then.
Then tell me the cause of my death.
Blame it on a sudden "serious illness".
"Why, sister, are you afraid to eat?"
There was a hint of provocation in Defei's voice.
"Or is it that my sister doesn't trust my cooking skills?"
Everyone's eyes were focused on Ling Zixia.
They are all waiting to see.
This daughter of a guilty minister who has just shined brightly.
How will he deal with this sudden "reward" from Concubine De?
A frightened smile appeared on Ling Zixia's face.
She slowly opened her mouth.
That fatal piece of cake.
The moment before it was put into her mouth.
A violent, uncontrollable cough.
Suddenly it burst out of her throat.
“Cough… cough cough cough…”
She coughed violently.
The whole person curled up into a ball.
It was as if I was going to cough my lungs out.
The palace maid who was carrying the snacks was startled.
Subconsciously took a step back.
I couldn't hold the silver stick steadily in my hand.
That deadly "Red Lotus Jade Dew Cake".
Just like that, "pop".
Fell to the ground.
Rolled into the flowers nearby.
Disappeared.
A trace of extremely cold resentment of failed plans flashed in Defei's eyes.
The concubines around also showed surprise.
The Queen's brows were also tightly furrowed.
Just when everyone thought.
This Ling Zixia suddenly suffered from some serious illness.
She was coughing violently.
Use your fingers while doing this.
He pointed to the stone table in the warm pavilion with difficulty.
The gilded auspicious beast incense burner that was always emitting wisps of green smoke.
“This…this fragrance…”
Her voice was broken by coughing.
"This fragrance... contains... poison..."
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