Chapter 428 Refusal to Believe, Severing Ties
Emperor Longqing secretly laughed at Prince Jing's hypocrisy.
If it weren't for Prince Jing's mockery and pressure that day, he wouldn't have temporarily imprisoned Shen Chu in the death row.
We will not allow Shen Chu to die in a sudden fire.
Thinking of Shen Chu, Emperor Longqing's feelings were somewhat complicated.
What a pity.
How could someone so talented be a woman?
"I don't know when she will be buried. If Prince Jing is interested, he can simply ask her."
King Jing shrugged and turned to leave with Shangguan Yi.
The Longqing Emperor's expression darkened slightly, and he gave instructions to Cai Chong.
"Immediately investigate who that Imperial Guard had contacted before today. Also, send someone to guard the Prince Rui's residence."
Report back to me immediately if there is any news.
Cai Chong was deeply moved. "Your Majesty truly has the heart of a loving father. If Prince Rui knew how much Your Majesty cares for him, he would surely wake up sooner."
Emperor Longqing sighed.
"Although the sixth prince... never mind, he has done a lot for me over the years. I can't just stand by and watch my son die."
"Whatever medicine you need, just get it from the Imperial Medical Academy. If the imperial physicians can't find a solution, then offer a reward from the common people for a miracle doctor."
Cai Chong bowed. "Yes, I heard that Xiao Shen... uh, Shen Chu's senior brother is the former Imperial Physician Han from the Imperial Hospital, who is now at Prince Rui's residence."
His medical skills are quite good; this servant will send someone to check on the situation immediately.
Prince Rui's Mansion.
Han Feng shook his head with a heavy expression.
"I've never seen this kind of poison before. It must be a new poison that has emerged in the martial arts world. It is made by mixing various poisonous plants and insects."
The domineering nature of this poison lies in the constant struggle between poisonous insects and poisonous plants within the body; one poisonous plant may prevail today, but tomorrow it may transform into another poisonous plant.
Therefore, its toxicity is constantly changing; once one type of poison is neutralized, another type will appear.
I am not entirely certain that I can cure this poison.
Jinbao, Sun Yan, and Du Song looked at each other in bewilderment.
Jinbao gritted his teeth, "Dr. Han, how confident are you?"
Han Feng shook his head. "I can only say I'll try my best. He has external injuries and is unconscious. We can only rely on acupuncture to expel the poison."
After his external injuries have healed, we will supplement his treatment with medicated baths. At that time, we will make a further judgment based on the level of toxins in his body.
However, this detoxification process is very long, and I'm not sure when I'll be fully recovered.
"If the poison can't be cured, does that mean His Highness won't wake up?"
"It's hard to say. He might wake up in a few days, but he'll have to endure the torment until the poison is completely neutralized."
After discussing the matter, Jinbao, Sun Yan, and Du Song bowed to Han Feng.
"I'm leaving everything in Dr. Han's hands."
Han Feng nodded, remained silent for a moment, and his voice became extremely hoarse.
"Let's administer the acupuncture first, but I can't stay here for the next two days. I need to send Ah Chu away first."
When Shen Chu was mentioned, everyone fell silent.
After a long while, Jinbao wiped away his tears with his sleeve and said in a low voice, "It's our duty. If you need our help, Dr. Han, please don't hesitate to ask."
Han Feng didn't say anything more. He first performed acupuncture on Pei Yuan, and then returned to the Ning'an Marquis's residence.
The Ning'an Marquis's residence was filled with white banners, making it look exceptionally desolate.
The mourning hall has been set up, and Ling Ce, Li Chengxuan, and Zhou Jun are all guarding outside it.
Hongxiu and Aunt Qiao stayed inside.
Everyone wore a sorrowful expression, and Hongxiu and Aunt Qiao's eyes were red and swollen from crying.
Han Feng walked in, silently grabbed a handful of paper money and threw it into the brazier.
The flickering flames cast an uncertain glow on his face. After a long silence, he asked in a low voice, "Have you inquired with the Dali Temple yet?"
Ling Ce said, "Lord Liang of the Dali Temple said that a minor official was punished by his superiors and harbored resentment. He poured wine in the death row and deliberately set it on fire."
Today happened to be the day that minor official was on duty. When the fire started, no one noticed at first, but by the time they did, it had already become a raging inferno.
Han Feng frowned, "Don't you think this fire is too strange? Why didn't you start it earlier or later?"
Just as A-Chu was locked up, a fire broke out in the death row. If I remember correctly, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and A-Chu had a grudge against each other, right?
Ling Ce was not very clear about Shen Chu's affairs in officialdom.
Li Chengxuan nodded, "The case in which Dali Temple wrongly judged Ah Jun for killing someone in a car accident was solved by Ah Chu."
Later, A-Chu solved many unsolved cases in the Dali Temple, severely embarrassing Lord Liang.
The fire was indeed very suspicious. I specifically asked Lord He to investigate as well. The servant who started the fire was imprisoned in Dali Temple and we haven't been able to see him.
However, there was indeed a strong smell of alcohol at the fire scene, indicating that alcohol had definitely been spilled.
Zhou Jun asked while sobbing.
“What’s the point of us asking these questions anymore? Ah Chu is no longer here.”
Yes, Ah Chu is gone.
Han Feng closed his eyes; he simply refused to believe it and was unwilling to accept this fact.
"But if someone really intends to harm Achu, we will never let that person go and we will make sure he is torn to pieces."
Ling Ce asked with a hint of disappointment, "Is there really no secret passage beneath the death row?"
Li Chengxuan shook his head, "I went to the Ministry of Works to specifically check the topographical map of the death row, and there really are no secret passages underground."
He went there with high hopes, but he only truly despaired when he saw the topographical map.
Everyone fell silent.
After a long while, Ling Ce asked in a low voice about Pei Yuan's condition.
When he learned that Pei Yuan did not know when he would wake up, his expression turned grave.
"What should we do about Achu?"
Han Feng stood before the coffin, staring at the "Chen Chu" inside, whose face was almost completely burned beyond recognition. His eyes reddened as he gritted his teeth and said:
"The body will be laid to rest for seven days, after which it will be buried."
"But what if Prince Rui wakes up and finds out..."
Ling Ce recalled the way Pei Yuan vomited blood before he fell into a coma. If he woke up and learned that A Chu had already been buried, he would probably go crazy.
"We don't know when he'll wake up. Does that mean Ah Chu won't be buried until he wakes up?"
Ling Ce fell silent.
Yes, we should at least let Ah Chu be laid to rest first.
A servant came to report, "Lord Luo has come to offer sacrifices."
Upon hearing Luo Heng's name, Li Chengxuan immediately gritted his teeth.
“He still has the nerve to come here? Ah Chu will never accept his worship. Tell him to get lost.”
Han Feng reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Drag the attack further away so as not to disturb Ah Chu."
Li Chengxuan nodded, but as he walked to the door, he suddenly remembered something and turned back.
He pulled out a dagger and slashed off the hem of Zhou Jun's clothes.
The main gate.
Snowflakes began to fall outside again, turning the world into a pristine white expanse.
Luo Heng, dressed in white, stood in the snow, looking extremely sorrowful.
"Chengxuan, I'm here today to pay my respects to Achu. If you want to hit me, can we do it at another time?"
He looked at Li Chengxuan hesitantly.
Li Chengxuan stood on the steps, looking down at him with a cold expression.
"I will not hit you today, so as not to disturb A-Chu."
He tore off a corner of his robe, along with the piece from Zhou Jun's robe, and threw it at Luo Heng's face.
"Luo Heng, today we sever all ties with you. From now on, we'll go our separate ways."
But you'd better stay away from me as much as possible, or I'll beat you every time I see you.
Having said that, he immediately ordered the servant to close the door and not let Luo Heng in.
Luo Heng lowered his eyes, staring expressionlessly at the two pieces of clothing that had fallen to the ground. He stood in the snow for a long time before leaving.
They came again on the second and third days.
If they can't get in, they'll stand at the door for a long time, then leave quietly.
Six days passed in the blink of an eye. The female censor, Xiao Shen, who was disguised as a man, was burned to death in the imperial prison. The news that Prince Rui was unconscious spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager brought Chen Jiaying to see Emperor Longqing and suggested that Pei Yuan be married off to bring good luck.
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