Chapter 1268: Chapter 1004: Qi Huan Yu

"You, as a member of the direct lineage, why don’t you have the antidote?" The Empress Dowager was still unwilling to give up; she thought Doctor Li was reluctant to produce the antidote.

"The family lost the elixir recipe long ago, leaving only two antidotes, both in the hands of my elders."

"Only two? Then please return and request one antidote. No matter what demands you have, I will try to satisfy them."

The Empress Dowager’s eyes brightened; there was still hope with two antidotes.

"I can’t go back because I have been disowned by the family and am no longer a member of the Divine Doctor Family." Doctor Li closed his eyes slightly; mentioning this matter, he showed a sign of loneliness.

"Then tell us your family’s address; I will send someone to plead on my behalf!" Seeing hope within reach, the Empress Dowager couldn’t let it go.

"Your Highness, Mr. Shen requests an audience outside the hall, saying there is an urgent report from the border." Pang Chu hurriedly entered the hall to report to the Empress Dowager.

He had already sealed off the news of the Emperor’s coma; it must not spread outside Chengqian Palace. If the officials of the court heard of it, spies hidden among them would undoubtedly spread the message everywhere, possibly seizing the opportunity to incite rebellion.

"An urgent report from the border? Invite Mr. Shen in!" The Empress Dowager’s face fell as she was filled with foreboding.

"Regarding the antidote, please accompany the person I dispatch. You won’t be forced to plead; just lead the way."

The Empress Dowager felt she had already lowered her stance enough; if Doctor Li still refused, then he wouldn’t blame her for being ruthless.

"Certainly!" Doctor Li was not an ungrateful person and understood the bigger picture.

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager! May the Empress Dowager be blessed with great peace and prosperity!" Shen Shikang entered the hall, his face full of seriousness.

"Brother, the Emperor..." Upon seeing her brother, the Empress Dowager could no longer hold back her tears, bursting into sobs.

"Your Highness, what is this?" Shen Shikang was somewhat surprised. He looked up and realized the Emperor was unconscious on the dragon throne behind the Empress Dowager, causing him to exclaim, "What’s wrong with the Emperor?"

He recalled the urgent report from the border; the news came from the Ministry of War and was not favorable. An immediate resolution must be devised.

"The prince was poisoned!" The Empress Dowager dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, feeling as though she had soaked in bitter wine for the remainder of her life.

"What? Poisoned? How is that possible?" Shen Shikang found it hard to believe; the Emperor’s meals and daily life were strictly controlled by eunuchs and palace maids. How could he be poisoned?

"Cough, cough!" The Emperor rubbed his temples, feeling weak all over. He struggled to open his eyes and looked at the few people speaking in the room.

"Mother!" He was still somewhat confused, unable to remember what had happened. Yet seeing the Empress Dowager, he immediately wanted to rise.

"Dundun, you’re awake!" Seeing the Emperor awake, the Empress Dowager immediately moved forward to support the Emperor’s body.

"Mother, what is this?" He was surprised to hear the Empress Dowager call him by his name. Since he became Emperor, she hadn’t called him that.

Suddenly, he recalled the events just before he fell unconscious, vaguely remembering that he seemed to have coughed up blood.

"Emperor, you were poisoned. I have suppressed your toxicity with acupuncture, but alas, my medical skills are lacking and unable to cure this poison. However, this Doctor Li is of the Divine Doctor Family..."

"Dundun, you’ve been poisoned for three months, and it’s unclear who is responsible. But it’s evident that it’s one of them. I shouldn’t have let them return to their fiefdoms; if only..."

The Empress Dowager regretted deeply when speaking of this matter. The third and fourth sons, once released, were inevitably a threat, not to mention the already rebellious eldest.

"Emperor! News from the border reports Prince Gong has taken Huadong Prefecture!" Shen Shikang, knowing the Emperor was temporarily not in mortal danger, quickly reported this matter to the Emperor.

Now Shen Shikang had subtly become the most prominent figure in the court, though without the Grand Secretary’s position, he temporarily handled cabinet affairs. Who in the court wouldn’t say the Grand Secretary’s position should be his?

Since the last time Gu Chengyu and the Emperor set up a trap for Xia Qing, many of the court’s mole had been removed. Lastly, Xia Qing had been sent to Heavenly Prison, awaiting execution after National Mourning; he was utterly beyond recovery.

Currently, it was Shen Shikang’s shining moment, with Gu Chengyu absent from the Capital, and no one in the court could surpass him.

"What? Quickly let me see!" Upon hearing this, the Emperor struggled to sit up, becoming paler than before.

"Cough, cough!" Rising too quickly, the Emperor felt his chest’s blood surge, forcing him to take deep breaths.

"Emperor! Be careful with your health; you must not be overworked, otherwise..." Director Zhang quickly came forward to advise, fearing whether they could persist until obtaining the antidote.

"No problem! Quickly let me see it!"

"Emperor, this Prince Gong is so reckless, we can’t sit idly by; we must remove him swiftly."

The Emperor’s expression grew serious; he furrowed his brows, deliberated briefly, then said: "Pang Chu, go retrieve De’an! I want to draft a new Holy Decree!"

...

"I, Qi, admire Mr. Gu’s great reputation; meeting him today is indeed my lifespan’s luck!" Qi Huan Yu clasped his fists towards Gu Chengyu, jovially exchanging pleasantries.

Gu Chengyu removed his hood and returned the gesture, "These words should have been spoken by me: General Qi is renowned far and wide. I had just arrived at the border and heard the locals’ praise and admiration for General Qi. Meeting him today should be my life’s fortune!"

Gu Chengyu smiled slightly; Qi Huan Yu was intriguing – his actions seemed carefree, a typical military general’s demeanor. Yet these pleasantries echoed the civil servants’ familiar tactics, making him a complicated and troublesome character.

Admiring his great reputation for so long? Most likely, before coming to the border, the other party had never heard of his name; admiring a ghost!

Seeing Gu Chengyu remove his hood, Qi Huan Yu’s eyes lit up, astonished to find such a handsome youth in the world. The border was harsh, survival difficult, and seldom produced such talented people.

It’s not that he hasn’t seen attractive youths; many local aristocratic households hide such individuals. But compared to those previously satisfactory ones, the present individual made them look common and vulgar.

Not to mention anything else, just the refined and delicate skin was unmatched. Yet this handsome youth didn’t appear weak at all; on the contrary, he seemed like pine and bamboo, possessing an unwavering spirit and an unspeakable sense of dignity.

"Mr. Gu, please come in; someone serve the wine!" Qi Huan Yu led Gu Chengyu into his tent, and Commander Yang, seeing Qi Huan Yu’s warm gaze, felt somewhat peculiar. Seeing Gu Chengyu indeed follow Qi Huan Yu into the tent, he reluctantly followed.

"Mr. Gu, try this wine; drinking can warm the body. It’s not like the Capital; tea isn’t popular here!"

After sitting down, Qi Huan Yu began to offer wine. The border’s liquor was quite strong.

The young gentlemen from the Capital likely couldn’t handle it; drinking a couple of cups would leave them unconscious.

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