The Crown Princess Jiu Yue had been poisoned and was now on the brink of death.
As soon as the news spread, an uproar ensued. No one had expected the new year to begin with such terrible tidings!
Some claimed the palace banquet had been tampered with, others suspected foul play involving the horses, and there were even whispers that the Crown Princess had accidentally ingested poison...
The entire Ministry of Justice was scrambling to investigate, but aside from the contaminated plum blossom branches, no other clues could be found.
After a night of heavy snowfall, not a trace of poison remained on the remaining plum trees.
With the investigation at a dead end, Emperor Yan, in a fit of rage, placed everyone who had come into contact with Jiu Yue that night under house arrest—including Sima Qing.
The Eastern Palace had effectively become a second Imperial Hospital, with physicians bustling in and out of Jiu Yue’s chambers, while Sima Qing was confined to another room.
Day after day, listening to the physicians’ sighs and murmurs, Sima Qing felt as though he had been transported back half a year—to when Jiu Yue, drenched in blood, had breathed her last in his arms.
The snow continued to fall relentlessly for a full day and night.
Mei Wuchang slipped into the room and whispered, "Consort, everything is ready."
Sima Qing rose to his feet, pushed open the door, and slowly made his way to Jiu Yue’s quarters.
If these physicians could do nothing to counter the poison, he would not let her die a second time.
The once-fragrant room was now thick with the bitter scent of medicine. Sima Qing approached her bedside, his steps measured.
His gaze skimmed over her pallid lips, but he dared not linger. With gentle hands, he took the heavy cloak beside him and wrapped Jiu Yue snugly within it.
"Don’t be afraid," he murmured, unsure whether the words were meant for her or himself. "Mr. Bai is already on his way. We’ll leave tonight and meet him before dawn..."
As he spoke, he lifted her into his arms.
"Who is Mr. Bai?" A voice suddenly piped up beside him.
"A highly skilled physician—" Sima Qing froze mid-sentence, his eyes snapping down to meet a pair of clear, almond-shaped ones.
Jiu Yue tilted her head in realization. "Ah, I remember! The one who cured your poison years ago, right? Mei Wuchang told me about him."
Sima Qing was momentarily speechless.
Jiu Yue wriggled slightly, cocooned like a silkworm in the cloak. "Are you taking me to be cured? Did my father approve? Isn’t sneaking off in the middle of the night a bit... suspicious?"
Sima Qing remained silent.
"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Jiu Yue licked her parched lips and glanced toward the table. "Take me over there. I need water—I feel like I’m breathing fire."
Finally, Sima Qing stirred.
Without a word, he carried her to the table and sat her down, pouring a cup of tea—lukewarm, almost cold.
But Jiu Yue was desperate. She opened her mouth eagerly, urging him to hurry.
Sima Qing brought the cup to her lips, but his hands trembled uncontrollably...
Jiu Yue’s front teeth bore the brunt of his shaking. "..."
She looked up at Sima Qing’s dazed expression and decided to take matters into her own hands—or rather, hand. With great effort, she freed an arm and steadied his grip, gulping down the tea in loud, unceremonious swallows.
"Finally, some water..." Jiu Yue smacked her lips contentedly.
Sima Qing had been staring at her for who knew how long.
Still weak from the lingering poison, Jiu Yue’s arm dropped limply, only for Sima Qing to tuck it back into the cloak.
He laid her down on the bed once more and pulled the covers over her.
Jiu Yue looked at him wearily, about to say something when Sima Qing wiped the water stain from the corner of her lips, his voice soft.
"Don't worry," he said.
Jiu Yue let out a sigh of relief.
Sima Qing watched as she fell into a deep sleep, then reached out to check her breath... but no trace of warmth brushed against his fingers.
It was as if she had died again.
He turned his gaze to the teacup on the table—a small half-sip of tea remained at the bottom.
It wasn’t his imagination.
Jiu Yue was truly still alive.
As his thoughts finally settled, Sima Qing lowered his eyes, slowly clasping her cold hand, lost in contemplation.
The imperial physicians could only sigh in despair.
When Sima Qing opened the door, the guards stationed outside moved to block him, but he spoke first: "I must see His Majesty. I have a way to save Her Highness."
Emperor Yan had witnessed Sima Qing’s despondency over the past few days, so upon hearing this, he naturally agreed to meet.
The moment the door closed, Sima Qing spoke without preamble: "Your Majesty, have you heard of the incident years ago when I took a poisoned arrow for the late king?"
Emperor Yan immediately understood. "You’ve found that miracle doctor?"
Sima Qing nodded. "I’ve already sent someone to bring him to the capital."
Emperor Yan was overjoyed—such legendary healers were rare and unpredictable.
"Send for him at once!"
"With Your Majesty’s permission, the doctor will arrive at the Eastern Palace within a quarter of an hour," Sima Qing said. "However, I must ask that these imperial physicians be dismissed."
Emperor Yan paused, then nodded in understanding.
It was only natural for a reclusive master to have eccentricities, and guarding one’s medical secrets was hardly unreasonable.
"They will be removed," Emperor Yan said, giving him a measured look. "How confident are you in saving Zhaoning?"
Sima Qing replied flatly, "If Her Highness dies, I won’t live either."
Emperor Yan: "..."
The emperor had no response to that.
"Your confinement will be lifted. From now on, you will personally attend to Zhaoning," Emperor Yan emphasized.
But Sima Qing suddenly added, "Has Your Majesty still not found the culprit?"
Emperor Yan’s expression darkened.
Sima Qing continued, "The disappearance of Princess Muling back then was just like this—no clues whatsoever."
The emperor stiffened, his gaze sharpening as he studied Sima Qing.
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing. The thought merely crossed my mind," Sima Qing said, taking a step closer. "A poison that even the imperial physicians cannot treat is no ordinary toxin. Has Your Majesty considered why such a rare venom would appear in the palace?"
"After all, the Great Yan palace isn’t exactly frequented by wandering martial artists, is it?"
A flicker of realization passed through Emperor Yan’s mind, and he stood in silence.
When Lv Jinge received news of Zhaoning’s poisoning, he rushed back in a frenzy, only to discover that most of the men he had left to protect Consort Ning had been lost.
"You’re back," Consort Ning said. Since Zhaoning’s poisoning, her mood had been excellent—lately, she was amiable to everyone.
This was an unexpected boon.
Originally, she had only planned for Zhaoning to hide behind the plum blossom tree during the assassination attempt, waiting to be rescued. In the process, the girl would inevitably touch the branches.
So she had laced the plum blossoms with poison.
Only deliberate contact would release the toxic powder; ordinary palace maids passing by would remain unharmed.
But who could have guessed that foolish girl Zhaoning would actually bury her face in the blossoms and inhale deeply? Ha! The heavens had truly favored her!
Upon hearing the news, Consort Ning nearly grinned from ear to ear.
Leaning contentedly against Lv Jinge, she asked, "Have you finished your business outside?"
"You acted too rashly," Lv Jinge replied sternly.
"Rash?" Her smile faded. "Yes, I shouldn’t have acted. I should’ve just stood by and watched as Zhaoning won the people’s hearts, watched her trample Heng'er underfoot, watched Emperor Yan personally raise her to greatness!"
Lv Jinge gave her a complicated look, his grip on her shoulders tightening.
Consort Ning winced in pain, but then heard him ask, "Are you clear-headed now?"
"Tell me, what was the purpose of all those years you spent carefully crafting your image as the virtuous consort?"
She froze, suddenly realizing.
It was to lower the emperor’s guard.
Lv Jinge pressed, "And what are you doing now?"
Making a move against Zhaoning right under Emperor Yan’s nose… How was that any different from exposing themselves?
If the emperor grew suspicious, any future plans would be nearly impossible to execute.
A pang of unease struck her heart.
"Jinge… did I make a mistake?"
"What’s done is done." Lv Jinge wiped his face, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. "Now, we have no choice but to gamble and stake everything on this."
