(2) Poisoned
656 Words
Calming himself, Han Feng took her pulse. His heart eased. He turned back and said grimly, "This is serious."
The other physicians, though wary of Han Feng's background, respected his skill. Hearing his words, they assumed the situation was hopeless and began quietly planning how to excuse themselves.
Consort Virtue rushed in. The sight of Murong's pale, still body made her heart drop. Tears fell as she turned furiously to the physicians. "If she dies, you'll all be punished severely!"
An older physician quickly stepped forward. "Your Highness, this is Doctor Han Feng, a skilled physician with the hands of a miracle worker. With him here, the young lady may still be saved."
Han Feng understood the old man was passing the responsibility to him. Calmly, he said, "Her condition is due to my negligence. I take full responsibility."
Consort Virtue had no choice but to order Han Feng to stay by Murong's side night and day, and ensure her recovery. She then commanded the Internal Affairs Bureau to launch a full investigation.
These cases were usually difficult to trace. Yet within two days, the guilty eunuch was caught. He confessed everything—it was Princess Rujia who had ordered him to slip something into Murong's teapot.
Rujia, kneeling and trembling, cried out, "I've been wronged! I didn't know it was poison! I only gave him some laxatives!"
At that moment, Consort Yi's face darkened—Stupid girl. If you'd kept quiet, maybe there'd have been a chance. Later, Consort Virtue stepped in to suppress the scandal, claiming it was only a laxative and Murong's fragile health couldn't handle it. Consort Yi, deeply moved, was grateful beyond words. She had long planned for Rujia to marry into the royal family. But with this incident, all hope was lost. Still, without Consort Virtue's intervention, Rujia might've been charged with harming a noble daughter of the Eight Banners—a serious crime.
Murong smiled faintly when she heard the tale. She didn't believe Rujia was capable of poisoning her. There was definitely someone else pulling the strings behind the scenes. What a clever two-birds-with-one-stone plan: eliminate Murong while dragging Rujia down with her. But what the perpetrator didn't expect was that Murong had turned the scheme to her own advantage. Only she could have controlled the dosage so precisely. And only Han Feng knew the truth.
Xiaoyu continued, "When the selection came, Consort Virtue spoke up for Rujia, so she still got appointed as a court lady. Among all of us, only a few were given concubine titles. Two were even chosen as official wives—Eighth Prince's wife and Fourteenth Prince's wife."
Murong blinked in surprise. "Wait—Eighth Prince's wife wasn't Rujia?"
"Nope," Xiaoyu said proudly. "It was her sister, Princess Yaohua, appointed directly by the Emperor. The Fourteenth Prince's wife is Mingxian. Both princes looked like they were at a funeral."
Murong quickly hushed her. "You shouldn't say such disrespectful things!"
Xiaoyu stuck out her tongue. "I know the Fourteenth Prince likes you. When you were unconscious, he came to see you every day—crying like a child. Poor man. None of them thought you'd survive."
Murong chuckled to herself. That was just a performance she and Han Feng had staged. But now, the pieces were falling into place. The one behind the plot was Mingxian of the Fucha clan—already a woman of influence. With two strong rivals removed, who else could stand in her way?
She thought for a moment. "What about Lingyun?"
"Oh, right! Lingyun was granted the title of concubine. Everyone's happy for her. She's always kind to everyone. But honestly, I can't stand how fake she acts."
Murong laughed. "Alright, Lady Xiaoyu. So you only like me, huh? And you? You weren't chosen as a concubine, were you?"
Xiaoyu gave her a playful shove. "I am an official court lady, you know. I'm serving under Consort Liang now."
- Writer
