Chapter 54 He has recovered
The group rushed back to the general's mansion.
The mansion was in complete chaos. Madam Ye sat by the bedside, tears streaming down her face.
Several imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau had already arrived and were urgently trying to save the unconscious General Ye.
Upon seeing Lou Jin and the others enter, the head of the academy immediately stepped forward to report: "Your Highness, the old general's pulse is disordered, his blood and qi are flowing in reverse, and he is experiencing spasms. This is a sign of poisoning!"
"However, this poison is quite strange, unlike the poisons commonly found in the Central Plains. We cannot determine the source of the poison for the time being. We can only use gold needles and mild medicines to protect the heart meridian and delay the spread of the poison."
"Poisoned?!" The Ye brothers' eyes widened in shock.
At this critical moment, my father was poisoned.
Anar looked at Ye Qing's reaction and felt more and more familiar with him.
She stepped forward and said in broken Mandarin, "Let me see."
Ye Xunqin asked Anar to go and take a look. Anar knew about pharmacology, so it seemed that she should know something.
She walked to the bedside, carefully examined Ye Qing's complexion and pupils, then leaned closer to smell the lingering scent on his lips, and even used a silver hairpin to examine the traces of blood he had vomited.
After a moment, Anar raised her head, her expression grave, and said with certainty, "This is not a deadly poison. It is 'Miasma Hibiscus,' the pollen of a poisonous vine from the mountains of our southwest."
"Inhaling or ingesting small amounts will not kill you immediately, but it will make you weak, your muscles will slowly atrophy, you will vomit blood, fall into a coma, and your mental state will deteriorate, just like... just like a tree that is slowly drained of its strength."
Her words made everyone's hearts sink.
Ye Xunjin immediately ordered: "Investigate! Bring out everything Father has eaten or touched in the past two days and examine it!"
The servants immediately sprang into action, moving over the teacups, bowls, chopsticks, and even the writing brushes and inkstones that General Ye had used.
Anar and the royal physicians examined her carefully, but they all shook their heads.
Finally, my gaze fell upon a plate of exquisite milk cakes that my aunt Liu's family had sent over the day before.
The plate of milk cake was originally intended for Madam Ye, but after taking a bite, she found it too sweet and placed the rest on the table in the small hall.
General Ye returned from the training ground yesterday, feeling extremely hungry and thirsty. Seeing some pastries on the table, he casually ate the remaining pieces.
At the time, Mrs. Ye even jokingly scolded him for being greedy like a child.
At this moment, only some crumbs remained in the dish.
Anar probed the debris with a silver needle, but the needle did not turn black as quickly as usual; instead, it turned a slightly ominous dark blue.
She picked up a few crumbs and smelled them, then nodded affirmatively: "It's it. The scent is very faint, mixed with the aroma of milk and sugar, making it hard to detect. But it definitely smells like 'Hibiscus mutabilis'."
Madam Ye was struck dumb, her face turning deathly pale. She took a step back in disbelief, almost fainting. "How could this be... Why... Why did she..."
Ye Xunjin quickly helped his mother up, his face ashen.
As a nephew, it was inconvenient for him to directly inquire about his aunt's family, as it might alert them and could also offend his mother.
He took a deep breath, turned to Lou Jin, clasped his hands and bowed, his voice heavy with pleading: "Your Highness! This matter... I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you."
Lou Jin immediately understood his meaning and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, I understand."
He turned and whispered, "Hanshan, you personally lead a team to secretly investigate the Liu residence, especially the person who delivered the pastries yesterday, and whether there have been any unusual contacts at the Liu residence recently. Remember, secrecy is paramount."
"Yes!" Han Shan accepted the order and his figure disappeared silently outside the door.
After arranging these things, Lou Jin's gaze returned to General Ye, whose face was ashen on the bed, his heart churning with turmoil.
Whether the Liu family was being used or the Liu family itself had problems, investigating the root cause of this poison seems less urgent at this moment.
Most importantly, Ye Qing was the military genius of the Great Sheng Dynasty, and the Northwest was his home turf. Yet he fell at this critical moment.
Lou Jin's thoughts raced.
Ye Xunjin and Ye Xunqin were both good generals, brave and skilled, but their seniority and prestige were not enough to intimidate the entire army, and they could not serve as commanders to rush to the aid of the Northwest.
The forces in the southwest are complex and restless, and the troops stationed in the south cannot be easily mobilized. The other generals in the court are either incompetent, have their own agendas, or are too far away to help in the immediate crisis...
No one is in charge!
This realization made Lou Jin feel an unprecedented sense of urgency and heaviness.
The situation in the Northwest was constantly changing. Every moment of delay made the hope of my brother's survival increasingly slim, the lost cities increasingly difficult to recover, and the borders of the Great Sheng Kingdom increasingly dangerous.
He couldn't wait any longer.
He had previously planned to proceed gradually, secretly lay out plans, and expose all the masterminds behind the scenes.
But now, General Ye's poisoning has shattered all his hopes and delays.
"Xunyang, I need to use the study."
Lou Jin knew he had to write to the Imperial Advisor as soon as possible, asking him to cooperate.
The Imperial Advisor Xuan Yunzi received Lou Jin's secret letter and immediately understood its meaning.
Two days later, the Imperial Advisor went to the palace to report to the Emperor that he had "accidentally" identified a poisonous herb called "Red Flame Grass" among a batch of newly arrived tributes from the southern border.
This herb is extremely potent; it can kill an ordinary person upon contact. However, he boldly proposed using a small amount of it in medicine, suggesting that it could counteract poison with poison and resolve the chronic cold-related illness in King Jin's body.
Although this method was risky, given that Prince Jin was critically ill, the Emperor, after consulting with several physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau, decided to give it a try, even if it seemed like a last resort.
Several hours later, to everyone's surprise, after taking the medicine, King Jin vomited a few mouthfuls of black blood and miraculously recovered from his illness. His pulse became steady and strong. The Third Prince, who had been bedridden for three years, had truly recovered!
The news shocked the entire court.
The emperor was overjoyed and could hardly believe it. He personally led the imperial physician and a group of important officials to Prince Jin's residence.
When the imperial physician carefully examined Lou Jin's pulse, he confirmed that all of Lou Jin's chronic illnesses had been cured. Apart from being somewhat weak and needing recuperation, he was no different from an ordinary person.
"Good! Good! Good!" The emperor exclaimed three times, his excitement overflowing. He immediately issued an edict to reward everyone in the Prince Jin's mansion, especially the "indispensable" Imperial Preceptor Xuan Yunzi.
After the initial joy, the emperor looked at his son, whose complexion was rosy, and was filled with emotion: "Jin'er, your recovery is truly thanks to the blessings of our ancestors! Come with me to the palace, and I will personally tell your grandmother this wonderful news!"
Lou Jin naturally agreed.
Upon hearing that he was going to deliver good news to the Empress Dowager, Ye Xunyang instinctively stopped in his tracks. The Empress Dowager was unaware of his existence, and if she did, she would certainly object, so it was not appropriate for him to appear before the old woman at this moment.
Lou Jin knew what Ye Xunyang was thinking. He turned back to look at him, his gaze complex yet reassuring, and whispered, "Wait for me."
Ye Xunyang nodded and silently stepped aside, watching the emperor's entourage escort Lou Jin away, feeling an indescribable bitterness in his heart.
Inside the Cining Palace, the fragrance of medicine mingled with that of sandalwood.
Upon hearing that Lou Jin had recovered, the Empress Dowager was so moved that she was helped to sit up by her nanny. Holding Lou Jin's hand, tears streamed down her face: "My Jin'er... you're finally... finally healed!"
For the past three years, she has watched her most beloved grandson suffer from illness, and her heart has been torn apart.
"I've caused Grandmother so much worry; it's all my fault," Lou Jin said gently, kneeling before the bed.
After the Empress Dowager calmed down, Lou Jin carefully spoke: "Grandmother, my recovery this time is not only due to the Imperial Preceptor's skillful treatment, but also to the contributions of another person."
"Oh? Who is it?" the Empress Dowager asked, wiping away her tears.
"It is my grandson's wife, Ye Xunyang." Lou Jin raised his head, his gaze frank. "If she hadn't married into the royal family and taken care of my grandson day and night to dispel the evil spirits and recuperate, I'm afraid my grandson wouldn't have survived until the Imperial Advisor found the antidote."
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager's excitement and joy gradually faded. She remained silent for a moment, her cloudy but still sharp eyes looking at Lou Jin, and slowly said, "Your recovery is better than anything else. I have also heard that the Ye family boy has indeed treated you with care."
The Empress Dowager was not deaf or blind; she had known about Lou Jin's marriage to bring good fortune for a long time. She thought the Emperor was just desperate and had believed the words of that wicked imperial advisor. Who knew that Lou Jin would actually recover?
But this first male queen in history was truly...
Lou Jin was overjoyed, thinking that the Empress Dowager had accepted it.
But then, the Empress Dowager changed her tone, her voice carrying an unquestionable authority.
“But, Jin’er, you are a prince of my Great Sheng Dynasty, and the continuation of your bloodline is of utmost importance. Now that you have recovered, he can sit on the throne as the princess. But you must take a concubine to produce offspring for the royal family.”
Lou Jin's face drained of color instantly. He never expected that the first request his grandmother would make after his recovery would be this!
He instinctively wanted to refuse: "Grandmother, your grandson and Xunyang..."
"Jin'er," the emperor spoke up from the side, interrupting Lou Jin.
He felt guilty towards the Ye family because of General Ye's poisoning. Seeing the Empress Dowager's resolute attitude, and with Lou Jin just recovered and the war in the Northwest imminent, it was not advisable to clash with the Empress Dowager at this time.
The emperor's tone softened, yet carried the decisiveness of an emperor: "Your grandmother was only looking out for your own good, for the sake of the nation. This matter can be discussed later. The most urgent matter is that now that you have recovered, the situation in the Northwest is perilous, and Minister Ye is seriously ill. As for who should lead the army, what do you think..."
Lou Jin instantly understood his father's intention.
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart caused by the Empress Dowager's request, knowing that this was not the time to dwell on matters of the heart.
He took a deep breath, knelt down, and spoke with a firm voice.
"Father, Grandmother, the Northwest is the gateway to the nation. My elder brother's fate is unknown, and the soldiers and civilians are suffering terribly! Now that I have recovered, I wish to share your burdens and help my brother! I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to personally go to the Northwest and lead the expedition!"
The Empress Dowager looked at Lou Jin, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but ultimately did not press him further.
The emperor breathed a sigh of relief, looking at his son who had volunteered for the battle, his heart filled with a mixture of joy and expectation.
"Granted!" the emperor said in a deep voice. "I hereby appoint you as the General Who Conquers the West, in charge of all military and political affairs in the Northwest. Be prepared to mobilize the troops and depart at the appointed time!"
"Your subject obeys the decree!" Lou Jin kowtowed, his eyes burning with the flames of battle, but deep in his heart, a shadow fell over him because of the Empress Dowager's request.
He rose and took his leave. Outside the Cining Palace gates, Ye Xunyang waited anxiously. Seeing Lou Jin emerge, he immediately went to greet him, his eyes questioning.
Lou Jin looked into his worried eyes, a thousand words stuck in his chest, but in the end he could only say, "Father has granted me permission to go on the expedition to the Northwest."
"Really? That's wonderful! Your Highness, I'll go too." Ye Xunyang was extremely excited. Since returning to the capital with his father and mother, he had never been to the frontier battlefield again.
Lou Jin saw how excited he was and couldn't bear to dampen his spirits, but there were some things he had to say.
"Xunyang, you need to stay in the capital. The matter of your father's poisoning has not yet been fully investigated, and the investigation in the southwest and Lou Yi's influence are still lingering in the capital. You need to keep an eye on things for me."
Ye Xunyang's smile vanished instantly, but he was not an unreasonable person and naturally understood how important Lou Jin's words were.
"Can I manage on my own?"
Lou Jin touched Ye Xunyang's hand. "I'll leave Shanlan and most of the secret guards to you. If there's any news, I'll let you know directly."
"How can that be, Your Highness? Although you are skilled in martial arts, you must bring Shanlan with you. She can still help you to some extent."
Ye Xunyang couldn't help but feel worried when he heard that he had left most of his secret guards in the capital.
"It's alright, I'll take Wushan with me. I'll contact you immediately if anything happens. If you're unsure about anything, you can discuss it with your second brother or write to me."
Lou Jin knew his worries and comforted him.
“I will write you a letter every twenty days to let you know I am safe.”
Lou Jin pulled Ye Xunyang's hand and drew him into his arms. Ye Xunyang felt a little embarrassed, after all, they were in the palace with so many people around.
Lou Jin looked at the person in his arms and said each word with deep respect.
"Xunyang, you must guard the capital, not only for me, but also for the people of Dasheng."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
