Chapter 341

"So, what do you say? If you don’t want to use Royal Physician Mu’s medicine, do you have another way to treat the princess?" The emperor asked. The physician couldn’t reply anything further and just stood there, fumbling. As a result, the emperor waved him away.

"So, Royal Physician Mu, do you think this medicine can cure the princess?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"If something goes wrong, you know it will cause a major issue, don’t you?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then can you take responsibility for your actions?"

"Certainly not, Your Majesty." Yueqian’s response wasn’t what the emperor expected. He had hoped she would simply say, "Yes, Your Majesty." Who would have thought that when asked about taking responsibility, she would not want to take responsibility for it?

"So, do you still intend to give this medicine to the princess without taking responsibility?" The emperor’s face grew stern as he asked this question.

"I am confident that this medicine will not harm the princess. As for the outcome, even the divine doctor cannot guarantee that all treatments will be perfect. Even a ten-footed creature misses, and a wise person makes a slip of the tongue.  I can only say that I am about 99 out of 100 confident in this medicine."

Yueqian explained her thoughts. But if he allowed her to treat the Princess and something went wrong, she would be held responsible. Wouldn’t it be better to not give her the medicine at all?

Those who do nothing are never in the wrong, that’s a truth for sure.

"You...," the emperor began, despite wanting to reprimand her, he understood this well. He had only asked her for reassurance. Many times, the royal physicians had been confident in their ability to treat an illness, only to fail. Still, it was a courtesy to give people hope, wasn’t it?

Yet, she had shattered all hope! How could she still be considered a good doctor?

"Then it’s up to Your Majesty whether you want me to treat her or not," Yueqian smiled. Seeing the emperor’s expression like this made her genuinely happy. Wasn’t it he who had always pressured her before? Whether it was about merits or demerits, he had almost had her beheaded a hundred times.

So how could she dare to take responsibility for the accusations he wanted to make arbitrarily?

"You’re truly cunning. Fine! Since you want me to take responsibility for my decision, I will let you treat her! If you can’t cure her, that’s one thing. But if your treatment causes the princess’s death, then you must take responsibility!"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Yueqian nodded. She walked past the emperor to the front. Since he had given her this much leeway, it was time for Yueqian to show her skills. If she continued to be difficult, not only would she miss out on any benefits, but she might also face execution.

Representative Ma and Representative Jin watched her anxiously. Initially, they wanted to stop Yueqian from interfering. However, the princess’s condition had already stopped responding. It was as if she was dying and was only one step away from the underworld. Even if Yueqian was highly skilled, how could she save someone so close to death?!

But remembering the emperor’s question to the physician who tried to intervene about whether they had any treatment method, they already knew the answer!

Yueqian walked up neither too fast nor too slow. To onlookers, each step felt heavy. She gently lifted the princess’s head, causing her to cough up a large amount of blood. Yueqian paid no mind to the blood staining her, focusing solely on administering the medicine to the princess.

"Try to swallow as much as you can, Your Highness." She knew that this poison kept the victim aware at all times. It was the poison that caused immense suffering for people. She understood that the princess could hear everything.

The princess’s lips trembled, but she tried to open her mouth to receive the last glimmer of hope in her life. Drop by drop, the medicine flowed into her mouth and was gradually absorbed by her body.

Having endured immense suffering, the sudden warmth spreading through her body made the princess feel as if she had been freed. She couldn’t tell if she was dead or still alive. Her heavy and painful body began to feel lighter, as if she no longer had a body at all. Many times she had wanted to give up and die, but was a woman like her really foolish?

When she first received the poison and was so ill she couldn’t speak, she heard people causing a commotion in the palace. They talked about a war with her as the catalyst. Because of this... the princess, who saw herself as worthless, felt she had to survive.

She wanted to live to tell her father and everyone in the Wang Region that this was a malicious plot by others. The war with the Hu Region was nothing but a scheme using them as pawns!

Her brother was a general in the Wang Region, and her father was the emperor of the Region. If they had to fight and were defeated, her entire family would surely perish!

The princess didn’t want to be an ungrateful daughter. She didn’t want to be the cause of others’ deaths. Otherwise, she would have given up on life and taken her own life as her last effort!

"Very good. You should have taken enough of the medicine now. Rest," Yueqian whispered to her. The princess opened her mouth as if to speak but remembered that she hadn’t been able to since being poisoned.

However, a sound slowly emerged from her mouth.

"Ah..." It was truly unexpected! Though she still couldn’t open her eyes, her voice had returned!

"I... cough!" Because she hadn’t spoken in so long and was severely dehydrated, the princess felt immense pain.

Yueqian touched her hand, calming her as she spoke.

"There is no need to rush, Your Highness. Wait until you are fully recovered before speaking. Everything you have experienced will be addressed. During this time, the emperor of the Hu Region will take good care of you and not let anyone disturb you again," Yueqian said. The familiar voice that had saved her life made the princess willing to calm down.

As the princess responded, everyone in the room gaped in shock!

How long had it been since the princess was unconscious? She lay motionless, sweat dripping from her, indicating her immense suffering. They had thought her vocal cords were destroyed, but it was the poison that had prevented her from speaking. In the early stages, she could only scream incoherently.

"Is it working?" The emperor asked Yueqian as she slowly descended from the bedpalace.

"Yes, Your Majesty. For now, it’s best to let the princess rest. She has endured much suffering from this poison."

"Good, good, very good," the emperor said, repeating "good" three times with a pleased laugh. However, Yueqian did not share his happiness.

"But the real challenge begins now."

"Hmm?"

"Once those responsible learn that the princess is recovering, they will undoubtedly try to ensure she doesn’t fully recover. During this time, the princess will be in great danger," Yueqian explained her thought, making the ruler of the region nod in agreement.

"I will personally ensure her safety."

"Even so, everything can be a threat in the palace: food, clothing, medicine, even perfumes or incense burners. All of these could be used to harm her. Or, more seriously, there could be an assassination attempt," Yueqian pointed out the emperor’s vulnerabilities. No matter how clever he was, it didn’t mean he could completely protect the princess.

"So, what should I do?" The emperor pondered, realizing the numerous incidents that had occurred in the palace.

Concubines had poisoned each other’s food, performed witchcraft, and even and even laced incense with poison. Recently, an incident involved an incense burner.

Previously, the emperor had never thought that his palace could harbor such hidden dangers. He used to believe that the concubines were merely playing petty games to gain his favor, so he paid no attention and let things slide. He hadn’t realized that in the current situation, where the war between Regions was at stake, the weaknesses he had ignored would become a real threat.

"I will order a thorough inspection of every palace. If anything suspicious is found, it must be reported to me immediately, and those responsible will be detained. I will overhaul all security measures. If there are any more poisonings or similar incidents, severe punishment will follow."

The emperor gritted his teeth in anger. He hadn’t expected that while he fought for the people against corrupt officials on the front lines, there would be so many dangers behind him!

"If Your Majesty wants to do this, it must be done immediately. Don’t let the villains catch wind of it. I think there are certain palaces you have neglected that are highly suspicious," Yueqian narrowed her eyes. She didn’t need to take action herself or ask her husband to take on the burden.

This was a matter for the Hu Region, so they should investigate it themselves.

The weak and pitiable prince, who had been sent as a hostage by the Wu Region, was always sick and wretched, so much so that no one wanted to get involved with him. Often, even the court ladies could bully him.

Who knew what might be hidden in his seldom-visited palace?!

The emperor wasn’t foolish. With Yueqian’s suggestion, he suspected there were indeed irregularities. He had previously asked everyone to help root out the corrupt officials, fearing they might be collaborating with other Regions to undermine Hu. But despite all efforts they put in investigation, they could not find the culprit.

Perhaps it was those he had always "neglected"—those he never imagined could be the perpetrators. Who could it be?!

"Soldiers! Conduct a thorough search of every palace, leaving no room unchecked. Even the Cold Palace must be inspected thoroughly. Don’t let even a bird escape! Bring anything suspicious to me, and summon the owners of those palaces to the main courtyard!"

The emperor issued his orders swiftly, aiming to catch the culprits off guard as Yueqian had advised. Additionally, he needed to increase the security around the princess as the poison gradually dissipated from her body.

If he failed again, there would be no point in discussing war further. He would have to accept that he was the weakest emperor among them all!

While Yueqian remained in the princess’s palace with the officials and the emperor, there was equally serious activity in the palace of the weak prince.

"Earlier, that girl said Royal Physician Mu is very skilled, didn’t she?"

"Y-Yes, Your Highness."

"So, have you checked thoroughly whether that girl went to the reception manor where Royal Physician Mu is staying?"

"I-I sent people to check, but they haven’t returned yet, Your Highness."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Well..."

Crash!!

"What do you mean!! Isn’t it true that the girl went to those royal physicians? If so, will all our plans be ruined?!! If that girl provides the cure..."

"But... the incense burner should..."

"Is that so? And if it doesn’t work, will you pay with your life!!!"

"I-I..." As they were arguing, the door to the palace suddenly opened. A guard who had been secretly posted at the door rushed in to report."Your Highness, this is bad. The emperor’s soldiers are coming to inspect this place!!"