mtl008 Chapter 669 Underestimating the Toxicity
Chapter 669 Underestimating the Toxicity
On the morning of the sixth day of October, just as the sky was turning pale, the long imperial procession slowly drove out of the garden.
The emperor was eager to return home, and only stopped briefly outside the palace to catch his breath.
The motorcade passed through the bustling streets, and the people's greetings came one after another. Through the gaps in the curtains, An Lingrong saw the people's love for the emperor.
She looked at the bright yellow carriage in front of her, and a complicated feeling flashed through her mind.
Since the emperor ascended the throne, he has rectified the administration of officials, worked hard to govern the country, and served the people diligently, which has indeed reduced the burden on the people.
He was undoubtedly a good emperor.
It’s just that the resistance from the previous dynasty was too great, and the emperor almost exhausted himself in order to accomplish his goals. Now he can only rely on those so-called elixirs to support his body.
If I present the blood letter to him at this time, will he be so angry that he will never wake up again?
Hongzhan was only nine years old, and there was precedent for leaving the mother behind to keep the son.
An Lingrong closed her eyes and tapped her knees lightly.
Before the carriage came to a stop, she made a decision.
The emperor's life had to be saved, at least he had to live until Hongzhan was fourteen years old.
As soon as An Lingrong got off the car at the palace gate, a sedan chair came to pick her up.
Bao'e took the opportunity to whisper in her ear, "My lady, the Emperor went to Zhongcui Palace to visit the Eleventh Prince half an hour ago. The Eleventh Prince's condition hasn't improved, and the Emperor was furious. Even Judge Wu was beaten with a stick."
When An Lingrong didn't see Su Peisheng and Xiao Xiazi when she set out halfway, she had a vague guess in her mind.
The emperor must have changed to a faster horse on the way back to the palace.
She nodded nonchalantly.
"You've worked hard these days. Let's talk about it when we get back."
She was worried that the children wouldn't be able to bear the tiring journey.
As An Lingrong stepped into Yongshou Palace holding Zhaohua's hand, she was suddenly stunned for a moment.
Looking around, I felt that this square palace was far less comfortable than the spacious garden with colorful trees.
At this time, Bao Ge came up with a smile.
"Master, the meal in the small kitchen is ready. Would you and the three young masters like to eat immediately?"
Hongyao reacted the fastest. He trotted to Baoge and blinked his big eyes hard.
"Aunt Baoge, Hongyao misses the meals you cook every day in the garden. Look at me, I've become so thin from hunger."
Zhao Hua looked at the starling's bulging belly, couldn't help but smile, and silently looked away.
He ate almost all the snacks from Louyue Kaiyun and Qinzhengdian, and he still lied with his eyes open.
Bao Ge usually likes to cook for the young masters. When she heard the most supportive Eighth Prince say this, she felt extremely distressed.
"Eighth Prince, I started preparing with my men this morning. We made pork tenderloin, cherry meat, chicken fillet, braised duck, stir-fried three-strand rolls, plum blossom white jade, and three-fresh buns..."
Every time Baoge named a dish, Hongyao's eyes lit up.
Without waiting for Baoque to finish speaking, he grabbed Hongzhan and ran inside.
"Sixth brother, are you hungry? Let's go eat."
An Lingrong nodded towards Baoge, signaling her to serve the meal as soon as possible.
She hadn't eaten the meal made by Bao Ge for half a year, and she was missing it.
Hongyao was going back to the prince's residence after finishing the meal, so he just let him eat as much as he wanted.
The lunch was satisfying to everyone.
An Lingrong took advantage of the three children being present and gave them instructions with a serious face.
"A few days ago, a court official mentioned the issue of appointing a crown prince. There will be no peace in the harem. You must protect yourselves."
She looked at Hongyao with a serious expression.
"Don't touch anything that comes from an unknown source or is sent by someone you don't trust."
"If you're really tempted, just... bear with it."
An Lingrong originally wanted Hongyao to watch what the emperor ate and eat the same thing.
But then I thought about it and felt that it was inappropriate, because the emperor always carries elixirs with him.
"No matter where you three go from now on, you must bring along a young eunuch who knows martial arts."
Zhen Huan has few manpower in the palace, but Prince Guo and Cui Jinxi are hiding well.
Even though she had secretly dealt with a group of people over the years, An Lingrong did not dare to take it lightly.
Seeing that their mother was serious, the three of them agreed in unison.
"I've made note of this."
An Lingrong specifically reminded Hongyao again, and only let the three children go back when Wei Lin came in from outside.
"Your Majesty, I am here to take your pulse."
"Okay, I'll have to trouble the Imperial Physician."
An Lingrong took the initiative to put the silk handkerchief on her wrist. She took advantage of Wei Lin's proximity and asked in a low voice.
"Doctor Wei, do you have any way to help the emperor recover?"
Wei Lin paused his hand on her wrist, looked around alertly, and then replied in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is surrounded by many talented people. I personally feel that the possibility of poisoning is very small. The Emperor must have been poisoned by the elixir he took."
This was something he learned indirectly from the Lord of the Court.
He was afraid that An Lingrong wouldn't believe him, so he continued to explain.
"Your Highness, it's recorded in the Inner Chapters of Baopuzi that men who learn to make elixirs and take cinnabar, sulfur, and other medicines like milkstone... don't know the ins and outs of it, and compete to learn and take these medicines, all in the hope of achieving immortality. They don't realize that the elixir and other stone medicines each have their own inherent nature, harboring profound poisons... and none of them are immortal."
"You mean the elixir is highly poisonous, but the emperor..."
An Lingrong stopped her outrageous words.
Wei Lin used his other hand to feel An Lingrong's pulse.
"Your Majesty, according to my humble investigation, there was a sorcerer in the palace about five years ago. The Emperor must have had the idea of refining elixirs since then. The death of Prince Yi was a great blow to the Emperor..."
He has no capable son, so he must not fall down.
An Lingrong thought of a possibility. The emperor had a wide range of knowledge. Maybe he knew that the elixir was poisonous and forced her to take it out of desperation?
No, the emperor not only takes the elixir to strengthen his body, but also rewards it to his favored ministers.
The emperor obviously underestimated the toxicity of the elixir.
She herself was the same. At first, she only realized that the pill was poisonous, but she didn't expect it to be so toxic.
"Wei Lin, is there any way to solve the hidden dangers of the emperor's health?"
"Your Majesty, I have some clues, but it will take time."
Su Peisheng copied the medical books and medical notes passed down from generation to generation from the Wen family, and secretly sent someone to deliver those things to him. The silver needle acupuncture in them had the effect of detoxification.
Wei Lin is still learning, so he can't say for sure whether that thing is of great use.
"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, it would be best for Your Majesty to stop taking the elixir."
An Lingrong agreed immediately.
"Leave this matter to me."
If there is really no other way, she will suck it out for the emperor herself.
The emperor must be informed of the high toxicity of the elixir to avoid wasting a lot of money on refining it.
Before Wei Lin left, An Lingrong already had an idea in her mind.