"So, Imperial Physician Zhou, are you certain that Consort Ben has not been poisoned?" Su Jings voice was languid as she leaned against the couch, her tone as casual as if she were commenting on the weather.

  Zhou Taishan bowed and said, "Your humble servants diagnosis is indeed so, the pulse of the precious master is weak and floating, observing..."

  "Is what youre saying true?" Zong Zhengjin came in from outside and interrupted him, asking directly.

  "Concubines see the emperor," Su Jing didnt think he would come over now, wanting to get up and pay his respects, but was held back by him, "No need for too much courtesy."

  "I ask you, are you willing to stake your life on it that Zhen is truly unharmed?"

  It was clear that Imperial Physician Zhou had not expected the Emperor to arrive at this time, and he felt anxious in his heart. "Your humble servants diagnosis is indeed so; as for the fact that the pulse of the Empress is weak and floating, your humble servant dares to guess that it is..."

  "Guess? Im raising you, just to use the word guess to fool around?" Zong Zhengjin interrupted him, "Su Shunxian, go and invite the imperial physician again."

  Zhou Taisheng murmured in response, not daring to argue for himself. He hadnt finished explaining the matter to his master and was afraid that returning would be difficult too. But its still better than offending the emperor now.

  Director Zhang hastily walked in with two deputy judges, the sweat on his forehead wetting his temples, seemingly unaware of it. "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty."

  "Get up and take a look at Zhen Niang quickly."

  Zhang Taishan had only seen this person last night, and naturally knew that the emperor held him in high regard. He didnt dare to delay, so he hastily went forward to take his pulse, repeating it several times before another imperial physician took over.

  After they finished diagnosing, they whispered a few words to each other. Zhang Taiyi knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I think the symptoms of Zhen Zhu are signs of poisoning, and it is likely that she has taken Sleeping Beauty Flower."

  "Sleeping Beauty?" Su Jing and Zong Zhengjin exclaimed in unison, exchanging a glance. Su Jing couldnt help but laugh, earning a headshake from Zong Zhengjin.

  "Replying to the Emperor, Sleeping Beauty Flower is also known as White Mandrake, said to be commonly found in the southern part of Western Regions. Those who take it put it in their food and drink, causing people to become intoxicated and dizzy, then they carry their luggage and hurry away. Long-term use makes one unaware of pain, nor does it harm people, letting them die in their sleep..."

  "Then how deep is her poisoning? Is there a way to cure it?"

  "Your Majesty, the dose used by Zhen Zhu is very small and was discovered in time. Liu Taifu has a method that may be tried."

  He was also repeatedly diagnosed before daring to confirm that Zhen Niangs dosage was indeed very small. Could it be because of yesterdays incident, today she was overly sensitive and mistakenly discovered by her good luck?

  "Go and get the medicine, I want you to take care of Zhens body. If anything happens, dont blame me for being heartless." The necessary warnings must not be omitted.

  Liu Taizhen suddenly felt a chill rising from his feet and bowed his head to the ground, "Your humble servant is willing to stake his life on it."

  "By the way, check on Zui Yun Wu," said Zong Zhengjin coolly as they were about to leave the inner chamber.

  The three of them hastily complied.

  "Is Your Majesty busy?" Suddenly, the inner chamber was left with only the two of them. Su Jingyan made small talk, he should have come over after finishing his morning court session.

  Zong Zhengjin observed carefully and saw that apart from her pale face, there was no fear in her eyes. "Nothing, I wont be delayed for a moment, but isnt Feier afraid?"

  "Dont worry, didnt the imperial physician say its nothing? Besides, theres still the Emperor, you wont let anything happen to the concubine, right?" Su Jing blinked her eyes and smiled lightly.

  Zong Zhengjin felt a bit resentful, "You, you, I sometimes cant take care of everything, you must also be careful not to let others take advantage of you."

  As an emperor, reminding her of such a sentence was already the limit.

  Su Jings mouth corners rose, "How does Your Majesty know that the concubines have no defense?"

  "Really?" Zong Zhengjin raised an eyebrow, but after all, he didnt really take this sentence to heart, just thinking that she was like usual, wanting him to praise her.

  …………

  The two people in the room chatted as usual, as if nothing had happened, as if there would be no life or death difference, but outside was already chaotic.

  Zhen Fei was poisoned, and the news of her life or death being uncertain has been quietly circulating in the palace under the instigation of several people. Everyone is watching and waiting, everyone is seeking their own interests.

  For a time, the harem was unusually calm, but it was just a prelude to an impending storm.

  Drunken Cloud Villa

  Zhang Taichang and several other imperial physicians repeatedly examined every nook and cranny of the Drunken Cloud Pavilion, checking everything one by one. After an hour had passed, they were still stumped.

  "I beg Your Majestys pardon for my incompetence. I have re-examined the entire Drunken Cloud Pavilion, but found nothing out of the ordinary."

  Zong Zhengjin furrowed his brow, clearly not expecting this outcome. "What about food?"

  "We, the humble servants, first checked the food, strangely there was nothing wrong. Lady Zhen had just finished her meal and felt unwell, the leftover food was left in Xunyun Pavilion, with someone taking care of it, and no one touched it."

  Su Jing smiled and said, "Listen, Yao, isnt there still a chestnut cake?"

  Xiang hurriedly went in and took out the chestnut cake that her master had left over before. "Please, Doctor Zhang, take a look at this."

  Zhang Taishan took it over, examined it repeatedly, and finally shook his head. He carefully chose his words: "To report to the Emperor, this chestnut cake is not abnormal. I dare to guess that the young master might have accidentally come into contact with these filthy things outside?"

  "Is it outside?" Su Jing suddenly thought of something, "How long has Ben Pei been poisoned?"

  "This sleeping flower requires a certain amount to make people fall asleep, I observed that the pulse of the young master is extremely light, it should be just one or two days time."

  Su Jing thought of it, and naturally Zong Zhengjin also thought of it. "This matter should not be made public for the time being."

  The problem is not with Zuiyunwu, but his Zi Tian Temple.

  "We ask you, how is Zhens body? Is it suitable for bearing an imperial heir?"

  "Your Majesty, the Empresss body is very healthy and she can still give birth to a royal heir. However, it would be better to wait for some time, otherwise, childbirth will be more difficult than usual."

  Your Majesty, is this to give Zhen Fei an heir? Although afraid of the emperors dragon wrath, with his speculation, if not clear at this time, when that person has any accident, it will not be what he can bear as a small imperial physician. After all, how to say and to what extent is still up to him to decide.

  Zong Zhengjin nodded and waved his hand to signal him to withdraw, "I have something to attend to first, you take good care of yourself and dont leave Zuiyun Cave unless necessary."

  "Alright," Su Jing said without asking him how he planned to handle it or demanding that he give her an explanation.

  "Susuan is idle, let me investigate. If I cant find out, you, the leader of the eunuchs, wont be needed anymore," Zong Zhengjin said as he stepped out of Zuixiang Pavilion to the person closely following behind him.

  Su Shunxian didnt dare to be careless at all, "I will definitely do my best."

  "Master," said Imperial Majesty after leaving, heard Yao hurriedly walked in.

  Su Jing walked over to the window and pushed open the tightly closed window, "Let Xiaofuzi come in."

  "The slave greets his master."

  "Xiao Fu Zi, you have achieved great merit this time, speak up, what reward do you want?"

  A simple ordinary sentence, Xiaofuzi suddenly felt a chill in his heart, "I dare not take credit, it is the master who has foresight."

  Su Jing let out a soft laugh, "Dont worry, Ben Niang knows what youve done in her heart. Have someone bring her up here."

  Dai Qing was carried up by two eunuchs, looking intact on the surface but actually covered in wounds. In this palace, there were all sorts of cruel tortures that left no marks but could make people suffer to the point of wishing they were dead.

  The whole person was already soaked through, as if he had been fished out of the water and thrown to a distance of ten steps away from Su Jing.

  "Dai Qing, what are you complaining about? Youve been with Ben Niang for the longest time, when has Ben Niang ever treated you unfairly?"

  Her eyes were dull, but upon hearing the words, she gathered her strength and turned her head towards the source of the sound. "The master has never mistreated me, yet he has also never favored me. Why did Dai Man get to... why did she win the masters favor over me..."

  "What youve done yourself, how can the master still look up to you? You dont reflect on your own mistakes, instead youre jealous of me?" Daiman stepped forward a few steps and said loudly, pointing at the person on the ground.

  Su Jing didnt mind her irregularity and waved her hand, "Do you have any other last wishes?"

  The two words "last wish" also represent her way out.

  Dai Qings face turned white with an uncontrollable pallor, she crawled up and knelt down, sincerely knocking her head three times on the ground, "Please, master, do not implicate my family members, I am willing to bear the punishment alone."

  Su Jing let out a sigh, swept a glance over the room full of servants, and lightly opened her vermilion lips. Her voice was as melodious as heavenly music, yet seemed to be floating on cloud nine. "One servant cannot serve two masters. Ive said it many times before. If you want to live well, the prerequisite is that I must be doing well first, then there will be a chance for you."

  "The crime does not extend to the family, Bens wife is in a good mood today, and she has fulfilled your filial piety, it can be considered as doing a good deed. You must not follow her example, after all, not everyone has such good luck, lets drag her down and kill her."

  Two eunuchs hastily dragged the pale-faced person away, just as they were about to step out of the door. "Everyone go and watch the execution, I want you all to remember her fate, next time, anyone who deliberately disobeys will only suffer a worse punishment."

  Everyones face turned pale, and Xiao Fuzi was also frightened. He gestured to Xiao Anzi and the others, "Drag it further away, dont disturb Masters quiet."

  Zichen Hall

  "Are you sure theres nothing here either?" Zong Zhengjin furrowed his brow, sitting at the head of the table with an unpleasant expression.

  Zhang Taichang knelt down at the bottom of the stairs, "Your humble servant has indeed not found it."

  Zong Zhengjin naturally knew he was telling the truth, and after thinking for a moment, "Does the Sleepy Love Flower only take effect after being ingested?"

  "Its not entirely true, human skin contact is also the same, its just that the effect isnt as obvious."

  "Su Shunan, where did you put that wooden hibiscus yesterday?" Zong Zhengjin pointed to the windowsill and said loudly.

  In the Zichen Hall, the flowers are changed every day. Even if they are still fresh and beautiful, they will be replaced with a new pot by a special eunuch early in the morning.

  "This slave will go and find it," Su Shun replied, taking two eunuchs with him to the rear garden of the Qianqing Palace. Before long, he returned carrying a basin with some slightly wilted lotus flowers.