The female physician stepped forward, first unwrapped the gauze, carefully examined the wound, and her expression turned grave.
Xunqi didn’t dare step forward. She was an outsider and knew nothing. Going forward would only cause trouble.
After a moment, the female physician turned around. “Young Mistress, you’d better have Headmaster Yuan come over.”
“She’s in Jinling.” Xunqi didn’t understand. “What’s wrong? Isn’t it just a flesh wound?”
The female physician frowned, insisting, “It’s best if she comes. Send someone on a fast horse to Jinling. Also, have the imperial physicians hold a consultation. I think it’s not simple.”
Xunqi’s heart sank.
What was ‘not simple’?
The two words ‘not simple’ made Xunqi’s whole body go weak. She immediately turned and flew out, summoning Wuqing and Wuming. “Go to the Imperial Medical Academy and bring the physician on duty. For those not on duty, go knock on their doors one by one. If they don’t come, tie them up and bring them.”
Wuqing and Wuming exchanged a glance, didn’t dare say a word, turned, and ran.
“Go to the back courtyard and invite Miss Yuan.”
Xunqi summoned every physician she could think of. After doing all this, she returned to the bedside, her heart feeling empty.
She asked the female physician again, “Is it a vital spot?”
“No.” The female physician shook her head. “The color of the blood is wrong. I’m just suspicious.”
“Poisoned?” Xunqi immediately became alert. She took a deep breath. She couldn’t panic, couldn’t be flustered. She turned and left again, calling for Wushuang. “Go to the Right Prime Minister’s residence. Tell her the Left Prime Minister is suspected of being poisoned. Ask her to come and discuss the assassin matter. I can’t get away.”
Wushuang looked at her in disbelief upon hearing this. Xunqi said helplessly, “Go. Don’t just stand there.”
“Oh, alright.” Wushuang flew off.
Ah Yuan lived nearby and arrived first. She stepped forward to take the pulse first. She exchanged a glance with the female physician and said shamefacedly, “I… I couldn’t find anything.”
“I couldn’t either. But I looked at the wound, and the color of the blood is wrong.” The female physician was also deeply ashamed. “I hope I’m overthinking it.”
The two waited for a moment. The imperial physicians arrived one by one. The Right Prime Minister also arrived quickly. As soon as she entered the residence, she saw the people of the Left Prime Minister’s residence. Fearing Xunqi would be scared, she hurried over.
The Right Prime Minister didn’t enter the bedroom. She wasn’t a physician. Going in would be useless. Xunqi pulled her aside and asked in detail, “What did you find?”
“The palace attendant who presented the incense was replaced. The original one had been at the Temporary Palace for years and suddenly died. A subordinate filled in, and that’s when the incident happened. I thoroughly investigated that person’s identity and found that person was also dead. This assassin killed the replacement attendant, then took her place and acted.”
Xunqi listened, then said, “So the assassin wasn’t from the Temporary Palace? She killed two people?”
The Right Prime Minister nodded. “That’s right. But I found that the assassin’s clothes were from a shop in the capital. The embroidery methods of the embroiderers in the capital shops are all different. I used to be an embroiderer, so I could tell at a glance. I’m now investigating the embroidery shops. I suspect this assassin was a servant of a noble family. Not a wandering assassin.”
“Wandering assassins would run away after the deed. But she killed herself on the spot, like a death warrior.”
Xunqi sneered. “Is it related to Prince Ji’s residence?”
“I was there. The assassin attacked Her Majesty first. Her Majesty dodged. Prince Ji ran. The closest person was the Crown Prince. But I think she was aiming for the Left Prime Minister.” The Right Prime Minister recalled the scene. “Her target seemed to be Her Majesty and the Left Prime Minister. She didn’t want to kill the Crown Prince. That move towards the Crown Prince was more like a diversion to restrain the Left Prime Minister.”
Because after the Left Prime Minister was her. She was close and didn’t run, but the assassin didn’t kill her.
“Now you say the Left Prime Minister is poisoned…” The Right Prime Minister’s whole body trembled. “Let me go back and have someone test the dagger. Don’t panic, don’t panic. The Left Prime Minister will be fine.”
With that, she hurried away.
Xunqi took a deep breath. Her legs went weak. She returned to the bedroom. The imperial physicians were standing together.
“Is there poison?” Xunqi suppressed her anger and asked.
The imperial physicians looked at each other. Xunqi couldn’t vent her anger. Her gaze swept around, then she spoke again. “Where’s the Medical Inspector?”
“He hasn’t arrived yet.”
Xunqi: “Go urge him.”
Then, she looked at the imperial physicians. “You can’t even tell if the Left Prime Minister is poisoned. Are you still the leading physicians of the medical world?”
The imperial physicians lowered their heads helplessly, not daring to speak.
The more guilty they looked, the more scared Xunqi became. But being scared was useless now. She could only grit her teeth and endure. She called Ah Yuan over. “Go with the steward outside. Find out which physician in the city specializes in treating poison. If there is one, bring them here quickly.”
Ah Yuan nodded repeatedly. “I’ll go right away.”
Everyone waited for a long time. It wasn’t until dawn that the Medical Inspector arrived. Xunqi hurried to greet him. “Medical Inspector.”
“Young Mistress, don’t worry. I know. I’m coming.” The Medical Inspector ran over, sweating on his forehead.
The two entered. With such a commotion, the Left Prime Minister still hadn’t woken up.
Seeing this, the Medical Inspector didn’t dare delay. The female physician unwrapped the gauze on the wound. “Look. But I can’t tell what’s wrong.”
The Medical Inspector held his breath, not daring to speak. He carefully took her pulse. But as soon as he touched it, there was indeed nothing unusual.
He panicked. In the dead of winter, large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.
The female physician’s heart sank. “You can’t find anything either?”
The Medical Inspector said, “I’m not specialized in treating poison.”
Each has their own specialty. He wasn’t good at this. But he confirmed, “It is indeed a sign of poison.”
“How do we detoxify it?” Xunqi asked.
The female physician sneered. “We don’t even know what poison it is. How can we detoxify it?”
“Doesn’t the entire Imperial Medical Academy know?” Xunqi suddenly felt they were mocking her. “You are the leading physicians of our dynasty! You don’t know either?”
The imperial physicians looked at each other. Xunqi’s heart ached until it was numb. She stared at them tightly. “Quacks, quacks.”
“Young Mistress, go to Jinling and find the Yuan family. The Yuan family specializes in detoxification.” The Medical Inspector said.
Xunqi shouted, “Jinling is a thousand miles away! Can the Left Prime Minister wait that long?”
The room was silent.
“What’s all the noise?” A cold, clear voice reached everyone’s ears. Xunqi pounced over and knelt before the couch. “Left Prime Minister?”
Yan Zhi’an opened her eyes, looking at the void, and smiled. “Your voice is too loud.”
“I know, I know. I’ll be quiet. Where do you feel uncomfortable?” Xunqi quickly admitted her mistake, looking at her face, her expression pained.
“What could be wrong with me? Everyone, go out. I want to be alone for a while.” Yan Zhi’an didn’t get up. She just asked everyone to leave.
The female physician led the imperial physicians out.
Yan Zhi’an quietly told Xunqi, “Go to the palace and invite Her Majesty over. I know it’s a great offense for a subject to invite the sovereign to her residence, but just go.”
“Why invite Her Majesty?” Xunqi was puzzled, but her eyes were glued to the Left Prime Minister, trying to glean something from her face.
But Yan Zhi’an just smiled and didn’t show a pained expression. “Naturally, it’s about the assassin matter. Hurry.”
Xunqi was puzzled. Why invite Her Majesty?
She didn’t dare delay, but she was also reluctant to leave the Left Prime Minister. She hesitated for two breaths, then called Wuqing. “I’m going to the palace. You guard her. Don’t let anyone get close.”
“Understood. Young Mistress, rest assured.” Wuqing promised.
Xunqi then flew off.
After Xunqi left, Yan Zhi’an summoned the female physician and asked, “Does this poison have a name?”
“Head of the Family, I am incompetent.” The female physician was deeply ashamed. “I’ve already sent someone to invite the Academy Head.”
“That’s too far away.” Yan Zhi’an’s smile showed a hint of weakness. “Don’t be too nervous. I think this poison won’t kill me in a short time.”
The female physician was puzzled. “How do you know?”
“Because… I can’t see anymore.” Yan Zhi’an stared at the void, a faint smile on her lips. “Don’t panic.”
“You can’t see?” The female physician completely panicked. She tried to take her pulse, her fingertips trembling with fear. Unexpectedly, the Head of the Family held her hand and pulled her close. “Don’t make a sound about this. Don’t tell the Young Mistress.”
The female physician felt the Head of the Family’s hand was cold, like ice. She was so scared she burst into tears. “Head of the Family, Head of the Family, how can we hide this?”
“If it were just blindness, I could hide it. But today, I feel my hearing is not as good as before.” Yan Zhi’an said frankly. Just now, it was so noisy, but she had only heard Xunqi’s angry shouts. “Since yesterday, I’ve felt my vision was hazy. This poison won’t kill me. But my sight and hearing are both damaged.”
If it were just blindness, she wouldn’t have invited the Female Emperor. If her five senses were damaged, she couldn’t keep Xunqi.
The female physician was slow to react. She held back her tears. “Head of the Family, it’s my incompetence. I’ll send someone to invite Headmaster Yuan.”
“No rush, no rush. Just knowing is enough.” Yan Zhi’an released her hand and smiled faintly. “Don’t panic, don’t panic.”
The female physician couldn’t hold it in and burst into tears. Yan Zhi’an remained calm.
After waiting an hour, the Female Emperor arrived in a hurry. She entered the gate, and Xunqi followed. The Female Emperor stopped and looked at her. “Go eat breakfast. I want to talk to your mother for a few words. Children shouldn’t listen.”
Xunqi wanted to argue, ‘I’m not a child’, but she held back due to Her Majesty’s authority. She bowed and retreated.
Entering the inner room, Yan Zhi’an had already gotten up. She was sitting on the daybed, draped in an outer robe, holding a hand warmer, looking completely at ease.
“Something’s happened to you?” The Female Emperor sensed something was wrong. Yan Zhi’an wouldn’t have invited her over. If there was something important, she would have come to the palace to report.
Yan Zhi’an curved her lips. “Your Majesty, take Xunqi back.”
The Female Emperor hesitated, taking a step closer, staring at her. But her face was pale, with no other signs of abnormality.
She thought for a moment, then said, “Why?”
“I can’t see anymore. I’m afraid tomorrow I won’t be able to hear either. I’m afraid I can no longer teach her.” Yan Zhi’an smiled bitterly, her lips pale. “Your Majesty, I’m going to break our agreement.”
The Female Emperor raised an eyebrow, took two more steps closer, and waved her hand in front of her eyes. She didn’t react.
“What did the imperial physicians say?” The Female Emperor raised her voice, cursing angrily, “A bunch of quacks.”
Yan Zhi’an wasn’t flustered. She held the hand warmer with one hand, her brows and eyes as before. “Speak closer.”
The Female Emperor was so angry her vision went black. “Don’t worry, I will get justice for you.”
“Your Majesty, being too hasty will only trap you in a difficult situation. Take Xunqi back to the palace…”
“Will she follow me?” The Female Emperor flicked her sleeve, her expression cold and stern. “She won’t give up on you. Yan Zhi’an, she’s staying. Don’t make a sound about this.”
“It’s you who are panicking.” Yan Zhi’an said, “Summon Xunqi in. I want to hear her voice.”
The Female Emperor was restless and annoyed. “You wait. I will get justice for you. Rest well.”
She turned and walked out. Before leaving, Yan Zhi’an urged, “Your Majesty, take her back.”
“Yan Zhi’an, do you think she’s still a child?”
