mtl008 Chapter 386 To Be a Sickly Beauty
Chapter 386 To Be a Sickly Beauty
The Emperor summoned all the imperial physicians on duty at the Imperial Medical Academy.
Tang Bo has been temporarily detained.
Gao Peng has been imprisoned. The newly appointed head of the Imperial Medical Academy, Zhang Taiyi, is waiting in the hall with more than a dozen other imperial physicians.
The Second Prince's injuries showed that he had just been severely beaten.
However, these are matters beyond their purview.
Physician Zhang tremblingly took Zhao Xiao's pulse, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. The other physicians, after taking his pulse in turn, all showed puzzled expressions.
Murong Xiao thought to himself: What can these imperial physicians possibly see?
After being poisoned, he secretly sought out famous doctors throughout the capital, but none of them could diagnose the problem.
Even Gao Peng was initially baffled.
After everyone had finished reading, Consort Liang asked eagerly, "How was it?"
"Your Majesty," Imperial Physician Zhang said, bowing, "the Second Prince's pulse is weak and feeble, suggesting a deficiency of both qi and blood, but..."
"But what?" Consort Liang pressed.
"Your humble servant has indeed found no signs of poisoning," Physician Zhang said, forcing himself to speak, and the other physicians behind him echoed his statement.
Consort Liang abruptly took a step back: "Absurd! Xiao'er is clearly poisoned, yet not a single person in the Imperial Hospital can diagnose the poison? Someone must have orchestrated this!"
After saying that, she glared at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince's eyes flashed coldly: "Consort Liang, you overestimate me. There are over a dozen imperial physicians present; do you think I can bribe them all?"
After the imperial physicians retreated tremblingly, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
The wisps of smoke rising from the gilded incense burner lingered in the air, as if they too were intimidated by the oppressive atmosphere.
The Emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, his gaze fixed intently on Consort Liang kneeling below.
"Consort Liang, now that things have come to this, are you still going to try to deny it?"
His voice was calm and unhurried, yet it caused the temperature inside the hall to drop sharply.
Consort Liang clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
She looked up abruptly, her eyes flashing with resentment: "Your Majesty, this precisely proves that the Yuan family's methods are far more sophisticated than we imagined!"
She crawled two steps on her knees. "It was Lu Jiangnian and his wife who exposed Xiao'er's impotence. How did they know about such a private matter?"
Her voice suddenly became shrill: "Because they are the ones who poisoned her! Your Majesty, I humbly request that Lady Yuan be summoned to the palace. I wish to confront her in court!"
The crown prince stood to one side, his face expressionless, but his heart was in turmoil.
He lowered his eyes to conceal the sharpness in them, but caught a glimpse of his father's thoughtful expression out of the corner of his eye.
The Emperor stroked the jade thumb ring on his thumb. He had always been suspicious of Yuan Wanru's ability to rescue Sun Haining alone and escape unscathed. Now was the perfect opportunity to test her.
"It is hereby announced that Lady Yuan has entered the palace."
The prince lowered his eyelashes, concealing the sarcasm in his eyes.
He recalled Lu Jiangnian saying, "My wife appears gentle and refined, but in reality, she's a soft sword coated with poison."
In today's game, he can only wait and see, hoping that this soft sword can break the deadlock.
-
Ever since Aunt Shen poisoned her that day, Yuan Wanru has invited several doctors to the mansion to treat her.
Because she had given everyone tea containing detoxifying ingredients beforehand, the remaining poison was not very strong, making it quite easy for the doctors to treat them.
Now, everyone in the manor is gradually recovering their vitality.
Only Madam Lu, because she had eaten too many cherry pieces that day and was also overcome by anger, is still bedridden. Her face is ashen, she coughs from time to time, and even her voice sounds weak.
After taking her pulse, the doctor shook his head and sighed, "The old lady has suffered a serious injury this time. She needs to rest quietly for some time, otherwise..."
Yuan Wanru stood to the side, her expression indifferent, and did not respond.
She knew very well that in the original book, Old Madam Lu was one of the people who caused the original owner's death.
Ever since she transmigrated, this old woman has made things difficult for her at every turn and has never given her a kind look. The fact that she is able to refrain from poisoning her for revenge is already out of consideration for Lu Song and Lu Jiangnian.
"Your Highness, a messenger has arrived from the palace and requests that you enter immediately."
Yuan Wanru's eyes sharpened, and the corners of her lips curved into a barely perceptible smile.
—It's finally here.
Before Lu Jiangnian left the capital, the couple had an in-depth discussion about the various circumstances following Liang Fei and the others' arrest.
If the Emperor becomes suspicious, Yuan Wanru will likely face a tough battle.
"Okay, I'll change my clothes and go right away."
-
Yuan Wanru gently stroked her cheek, her fingertips pausing on the celadon powder box on the dressing table.
The bronze mirror reflected a face as smooth and lustrous as jade, with such a healthy complexion that it seemed as if one could squeeze water out of it—this would not do.
"Liu Yan, fetch that box of pearl powder."
A slight smile played on her lips, and a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes.
With her slender fingers dipping into snow-white face powder, Yuan Wanru gently rubbed it into her palm. Facing the mirror, she pressed the powder little by little onto her cheekbones and under her eyes. Her originally rosy cheeks gradually lost their color, and even her lips were covered with powder, turning them pale.
Finally, a light sweep of dark ink at the outer corner of the eye added a touch of sickly haggardness.
"Madam's craftsmanship..." Liu Yan held the copper basin, staring in astonishment.
In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, his master seemed to have become a completely different person.
Just moments ago, the Crown Prince's wife was full of energy, but now the woman in the mirror was as pale as paper, even her lips had an unnatural bluish-white tinge, making her look like a frail young lady who had been ill for a long time.
Yuan Wanru winked at herself in the mirror and coughed twice on purpose: "How is it? Does it look decent enough?"
"So alike! Absolutely so!" Liu Zhi gasped. "She looks even more sickly than the old lady!"
"That's good."
Yuan Wanru tidied up the stray hairs at her temples with satisfaction, then gently pressed her fingertips into a hidden compartment of the makeup box, taking out a jade hairpin and tucking it into her hair.
Her jade-like skin was cold and clear, which only made her pale complexion appear even more so.
She deliberately swayed as she got up, startling her two maids who rushed to help her.
"Madam, please be careful..."
Yuan Wanru waved her hand and smiled weakly, "It's alright."
Quartz gazed silently at the sky.
They're all a bunch of drama queens.
Someone outside urged them on, and Yuan Wanru, holding Liu Yan's hand, slowly walked outside.
Sunlight cast dappled shadows on her pale face, and anyone who saw her would exclaim, "What a beautiful sickly beauty!"
-
Wang Min was entertaining the palace envoy at Wangchun Hall when he saw Yuan Wanru walking slowly towards him, her face pale. His heart clenched immediately.
However, with palace servants present, she could not say anything, and could only clutch her handkerchief tightly, her eyes filled with worry.
Yuan Wanru noticed her worry, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips. She said in a light tone, "Mother, if we go to the palace at this time, I don't know if we can make it home for dinner."
"I'd like to have fish soup today, please remember to have the kitchen prepare some."
Wang Min's eyes welled up with tears.
She suppressed her surging emotions, forced back her tears, and managed a smile.
"Okay, Mom will have them make it extra strong and flavorful for you to drink when you come back."
Yuan Wanru nodded, turned around and left with the palace envoy.
Looking at her small figure, Wang Min prayed silently: May the Bodhisattva protect Wanru and make sure she returns safely.
The carriage rolled on the road, the sound of its wheels dull and slow, like a deliberately prolonged countdown to death.
Yuan Wanru slightly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain with her fingertips. In the distance, the vermilion palace gate stood majestically in the twilight, and the glazed tiles with upturned eaves reflected a cold light, like a lurking beast with its blood-red maw open, waiting for its prey to walk into its trap.
Her lips curved slightly, but there was no smile in her eyes.
Consort Liang is a person with a heart as venomous as a snake. Even when facing death, she will not show any mercy and let others go.
Taking this to the emperor's presence was nothing more than an attempt to drag her down with him before he died.
Unfortunately, she is not someone to be trifled with.
She is alive and well, and will continue to live well.
Want to plot against her?
We'll have to see if they have the ability!
Yuan Wanru's eyes darkened, and the smile on her lips grew increasingly cold.