"Everything you requested, Consort, has been prepared." The lady-in-waiting’s voice was like a slick, slithering snake, carrying a chilling, icy edge.
"Very good. This time, I will ensure she never recovers!" The Empress’s lips curled into a cold, sinister smile, a glimmer of malice flashing in her eyes. "Pass the word… make sure she is utterly disgraced!"
I shivered, a sinking feeling telling me something terrible was about to happen.
"Crown Prince, these patterns… they look like Datura, but not quite." I pointed at the markings on the fabric, my brows furrowed. "I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere before, but I just can’t place it."
Lu Zhao leaned in to look as well. The scent of dragon’s musk on him enveloped me instantly, making my heart race.
"It is indeed peculiar." He reached out to touch the patterns, his fingertips accidentally grazing the back of my hand. I felt as if I’d been struck by an electric current, a momentary tingling sensation washing over me.
"Ahem..." I cleared my throat, trying to hide my unease. "Crown Prince, would you mind taking a closer look?"
Lu Zhao gave me a meaningful look, then nodded and returned to studying the fabric.
I let out a stealthy sigh, thinking to myself that this ancient Crown Prince sure knew how to flirt! If this kept up, I feared I wouldn't be able to hold my ground!
Just then, Mammy Li entered with a bowl of medicine, her face plastered with a hypocritical smile.
"Miss Su, it is time for your medicine." Her voice was sharp and thin like sandpaper; it made my ears ache.
I took the bowl. A bitter, pungent odor assaulted my nose, making me frown in disgust.
"This medicine… why is it so bitter?" I pinched my nose, pulling a face.
"Good medicine is always bitter, Miss Su. You’ll see once you drink it." Mammy Li’s smile grew even falser, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes bunching together.
I felt uneasy; I had a nagging suspicion that something wasn't right about this concoction.
"Mammy, who prescribed this?" I asked, stealing a glance at her.
"Naturally, it was the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital. You may drink it without worry, Miss Su." Mammy Li’s gaze flickered, as if she were hiding something.
My suspicions deepened. This old witch was definitely up to no good!
"Very well." I pretended not to notice, raised the bowl, and drained it.
The medicine was so bitter it made my eyes roll back; my entire tongue went numb.
"Miss Su, what a bold spirit!" Mammy Li clapped, looking delighted.
I set the bowl down, and just as I started to say something, I felt a wave of dizziness. My vision blurred.
"I..." I barely managed a single word before the room spun. I lost consciousness and collapsed onto the bed.
"Oh no! Oh no! Something has happened to Miss Su!" Eunuch Zhao’s shrill voice pierced the silent night like a knife.
In a haze, I heard someone shouting. I wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn't.
"Quick! Get the imperial physician!" Lu Zhao’s voice carried a trace of panic that made my heart tighten.
I fought to regain consciousness, but my body felt as heavy as lead, utterly paralyzed.
"Crown Prince, this… what are we to do! Miss Su’s pulse… it’s so strange!" Mammy Li’s voice held a hint of gloating; hearing it made me want to jump up and slap her.
"What exactly is going on?!" Lu Zhao’s voice was filled with rage, enough to make my eardrums throb.
"This servant doesn't know! Miss Su was perfectly fine, how could she suddenly end up like this?" Mammy Li feigned innocence—what an old drama queen!
"In this servant's opinion, Miss Su must have used some medicine improperly, leading to this consequence." Eunuch Zhao chimed in, stirring the pot, clearly eager to trample me into the dirt.
My teeth ached with fury. Those two dogs—it was definitely their doing!
"Nonsense!" Lu Zhao roared. "Do you not know how brilliant Mingyue’s medical skills are? How could she have possibly used her medicine improperly?!"
"Calm your anger, Crown Prince! This servant is merely speaking the truth." Mammy Li quickly knelt, feigning grievance.
"Speaking the truth? I think you’re just trying to take this opportunity to frame Mingyue!" Lu Zhao’s eyes were as cold as blades, making Mammy Li and Eunuch Zhao tremble.
I struggled to make a sound, desperate to tell Lu Zhao the truth, but I couldn't utter a word.
Just as I was sinking into despair, I felt a warm current surging through my body—it was the power of my Time-Space Shuttle Bead!
I endured the discomfort and focused my mind, beginning to channel my inner energy. Although my body remained weak, my consciousness was clear. I forced myself to recall the taste of the medicine I’d just drunk, analyzing the ingredients one by one.
Suddenly, it dawned on me!
There was a specific herb in that medicine: Gelsemium elegans! It causes temporary paralysis, makes the pulse erratic, and is easily misdiagnosed as poisoning. Furthermore, this herb has another characteristic...
"Crown Prince..." I used all my strength to let out a weak sound.
"Mingyue! You’re awake?!" Lu Zhao grabbed my hand in surprise, his voice trembling.
"The medicine… it contains… Gelsemium elegans..." I said intermittently, each syllable draining me of all my energy.
"Gelsemium elegans?!" Lu Zhao’s face turned deathly pale. He glared at Mammy Li and Eunuch Zhao. "You have such gall! How dare you poison the medicine?!"
"Spare us, Crown Prince! We are innocent!" Mammy Li and Eunuch Zhao were terrified out of their wits, frantically kowtowing for mercy.
"Innocent?!" Lu Zhao sneered. "Do you dare claim you didn't brew this medicine yourselves?!"
Mammy Li and Eunuch Zhao fell silent, their faces drained of color.
"Mingyue, how are you? Is there anything else that feels wrong?" Lu Zhao asked, his eyes filled with worry.
"I… I am fine..." I shook my head, struggling to sit up.
Lu Zhao carefully helped me up, then picked up a glass of water from the bedside and handed it to me. I took a sip and felt much better.
"Crown Prince, this matter… must be thoroughly investigated..." I looked at Lu Zhao, my gaze resolute.
"Rest assured, I will secure justice for you!" Lu Zhao nodded, his eyes burning with fury.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to stand.
"Mammy Li, Eunuch Zhao..." I walked over to them and looked down. "Didn't you say I used the medicine improperly? Why don't... you try the taste of this medicine yourselves?"
A cold smirk tugged at the corner of my lips; I already had a plan.
"Someone! Bring the medicine here!" I commanded, my voice quiet but filled with authority.
Mammy Li and Eunuch Zhao shook with fear, their faces as pale as paper. They kowtowed desperately, not daring to utter a word. Soon, someone brought over a bowl of the same medicine I had consumed.
I took the bowl and walked toward Mammy Li, eyeing her coldly. "Mammy Li, this is good stuff. Are you sure you won't have a taste?"
She scrambled backward, trembling so hard she could barely make a sound.
"This servant… this servant dare not..." she whispered, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s hum.
"Dare not?!" I sneered. "Weren't you the one who said this was prescribed by the physicians from the Imperial Hospital? What's the matter? Why won't you drink it now?"
She was speechless, her face turning an even uglier shade of grey. I turned and walked to Eunuch Zhao, fixing him with the same icy stare. "Eunuch Zhao, how about you? Care for a cup as well?"
He was so scared he nearly fainted, throwing himself onto the floor. "Spare me, Miss Su! This servant truly didn't know there was a problem with the medicine!" He cried and wailed, snot and tears covering his face.
Watching their pathetic display, I felt no pity. Those two curs had relied on the Empress’s power to bully others for far too long; now, it was finally their turn to face retribution.
"Since neither of you dares to drink, don't blame me for being discourteous!" I sneered, raising the bowl and stepping toward them…
I hesitated. The black liquid in the bowl shimmered, and a nauseating stench filled the air. It hit me like a physical blow, making my head spin and my body ache. What should I do now? I had to see this through to the end.
I sneered and thrust the bowl toward them. "Come on, have a taste! Experience for yourselves the meaning of 'good medicine is bitter.'" They turned white as sheets, as if staring at the King of Hell, and shook their heads frantically. The thick powder on Mammy Li’s face began to flake off, and Eunuch Zhao kowtowed so hard it sounded like pounding garlic: "Miss Su, have mercy! This servant was wrong! I will never dare do it again!"
Looking at their pathetic cowardice, I felt a sense of dark satisfaction. They say a villain is always subdued by an even greater villain! Hmph, trying to frame me? They didn't even stop to consider who they were dealing with!
Lu Zhao watched from the side, his expression so dark it seemed he could wring rain from it. He ordered them dragged away and imprisoned immediately.
Whew, those two troublemakers were dealt with for now. I rubbed my temples, still feeling dizzy—the aftereffects of the Gelsemium elegans were quite potent.
Even though I had narrowly escaped, I looked at Lu Zhao, who was watching me with deep concern. I suddenly remembered that strange piece of fabric and grabbed his sleeve: "Crown Prince, that cloth..."