The imperial physician was so frightened he dropped to his knees on the spot, forehead to the ground, body trembling, face pale and drenched in cold sweat. In a low voice, he said, “Replying to Her Majesty the Empress and Consort Shu— Her Highness Duan Wangfei has… been poisoned!”
Poisoned?
Consort Shu swayed, and Hu Momo quickly stepped forward to support her, whispering, “Niang Niang, you must stay strong.”
Consort Shu gripped Hu Momo ’s arm tightly, only to hear the Empress say, “Poisoned? Duan Wangfei was perfectly fine—how could she have been poisoned? Imperial physician, are you certain?”
“If Your Majesty does not trust this physician’s judgment,” Consort Shu immediately said, “then why not summon the Head of the Imperial Medical Bureau to examine her personally?” Without waiting for the Empress to speak, she turned and said to Hu Momo , “What are you standing there for? Go summon the Head Physician!”
“Yes, Niang Niang,” Hu Momo replied and left at once, not caring about the Empress’s expression. Lu Momo instinctively tried to stop her, but Hu Momo shoved her aside and ran out directly.
Outside Kunde Palace, Hu Momo quickly said to Xuecen, who had followed her out, “Go to Chongzheng Hall right now and see if you can find His Highness. Do whatever you must to get a message to him.”
Xuecen nodded quickly. “Don’t worry, Momo—I will get the message through.”
The two split up. Hu Momo headed straight for the Imperial Medical Bureau. Unfortunately, the Head Physician had been summoned to the Eastern Palace to treat the Crown Princess. Hu Momo ’s face darkened—how could her luck be so bad?
Since the Head Physician wasn’t available, she immediately requested one of the Assistant Heads to accompany her to Kunde Palace without delay. She even purposely mentioned aloud that Duan Wangfei had fainted from poisoning while pregnant at Kunde Palace, her expression one of urgency. The other medical officials in the Bureau were shocked.
Duan Wangfei is pregnant? Poisoned? At Kunde Palace?
When it came to the treacheries of the inner palace, no one understood them better than the Imperial Medical Bureau. The two assistant heads grabbed their medicine cases and hurried out without delay.
It didn’t matter how or where the poisoning happened, or who did it—if something went wrong with Duan Wangfei, the Medical Bureau would be the first to suffer the consequences.
The assistant heads didn’t want to be involved, but with the Head Physician away, they had no choice but to step up.
As the group rushed to Kunde Palace, the remaining staff in the Bureau looked at one another—no one felt like talking anymore, and the entire place fell into silence.
Meanwhile, Xuecen sought out Ding Zhao’s apprentice and pleaded with him to pass a message to Duan Wang. Eventually, she managed to meet Wangye himself and tearfully reported the news of Wangfei’s pregnancy and poisoning.
Xiao Muchen’s vision darkened. He clutched a column for support, then sprinted off toward Kunde Palace.
Kang Wang saw this and called out loudly, “Fourth Brother! Royal Father is waiting for your answer—where are you going?”
But Xiao Muchen had already vanished.
Xuecen’s eyes shifted as she choked up and cried out, “Replying to Your Highness Kang Wang! Our Wangfei was poisoned and collapsed at Kunde Palace—her life is uncertain!” Her voice grew louder, “And Wangfei is pregnant—what are we to do now?!”
Kang Wang stood dumbfounded, his legs turning to jelly. His sister-in-law was pregnant? And poisoned at Kunde Palace?
Xuecen’s outcry was loud enough that even the emperor heard it from inside the hall. He frowned and asked, “What’s all that commotion outside? Why hasn’t Duan Wang come yet?”
Ding Zhao bowed quickly, “Your Majesty, I’ll go check.”
The emperor didn’t speak, eyes still fixed on the memorial in his hands, but the crease between his brows deepened.
Soon, Ding Zhao rushed back in. “Your Majesty, Duan Wangfei collapsed from poisoning at Kunde Palace. The physicians also diagnosed her as pregnant. Duan Wang heard the news outside the hall and has already rushed over.”
“What?” The emperor looked up. “Poisoned? Pregnant? Duan Wangfei?”
Ding Zhao, still catching his breath, nodded quickly, not daring to meet the emperor’s gaze. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
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