~ ONLY WHEN YOU LOSE SOMETHING DO YOU LEARN TO CHERISH IT ~
Mu Yunyao shook her head. “No.”
Imperial Concubine Li bit her lip hard, the last glimmer of hope fading from her eyes. “I understand. Thank you both for today. I shall send a token of my gratitude in due course.”
“Your Royal Highness, there’s no need for formalities.”
After the disheartened Imperial Concubine Li departed with her entourage, Poisonous Lady winked at Mu Yunyao: “Did you deliberately steer her toward the Northern Frontier?”
Mu Yunyao feigned confusion: “I merely examined her pulse as usual. What are you implying?”
“I’ve never heard of this ‘Scratching Beauty’s Face Poison’ before, or of flowers being poisonous while the leaves provide the antidote. Your Royal Highness, where did you find such miraculous herbs? Bring them over so I can see them and broaden my horizons?” Poisonous Lady said, reaching out to tickle Mu Yunyao.
Mu Yunyao quickly pleaded for mercy. “Alright, alright, I admit I was wrong. I’ll tell you the truth—I did indeed want to implicate Imperial Concubine Li with the Northern Frontier.”
“Why? Could it be you suspect the Li family has ties to the Northern Frontier?” Poisonous Lady pondered inwardly. Though Mu Yunyao occasionally used poisons, she never abused them. To fabricate a lie about poison like this today, and to deceive none other than the Imperial Concubine, was utterly unheard of.
“Not suspicion, but I’m certain. The Li family secretly maintains ties with the Northern Frontier royal family.”
Poisonous Lady couldn’t help but frown. “Are the Li family plotting treason?”
“That remains to be seen. The matter runs too deep. It requires time to unravel bit by bit. My earlier misdirection of Imperial Concubine Li served two purposes: first, to probe her reactions— to see if her expression changed when the Northern Frontier was mentioned. Secondly, it was to provoke her into action. For years, the Li family has supported Ling Wang in the front court, gathering court officials and building strength. Meanwhile, the Imperial Concubine Li has controlled Palace affairs in the inner quarters, managing the Emperor’s harem and even meddling with the Internal Affairs Department. If the Li family truly harbors treasonous intentions, the consequences are truly alarming.”
Poisonous Lady nodded. “Rest assured about Imperial Concubine Li. With me here, the imperial physicians won’t diagnose her symptoms before you speak. Her rash will persist indefinitely. Once she returns, she’ll certainly question the physicians. I’ll also reach out to several physicians I know, enriching their knowledge of poisons to ensure not a single flaw.”
Mu Yunyao smiled and nodded. “Good. Thank you for your efforts.”
“Between us, there’s no need for such formalities.”
After returning, Imperial Concubine Li summoned physicians to inquire about treatment. Some claimed ignorance, while others suddenly seemed enlightened, describing the “Scratching Beauty’s Face Poison” with astonishing detail—even vividly depicting the appearance of the flowers. With all hope of a happy ending gone, Imperial Concubine Li immediately dispatched a message to the Li family, pleading for their assistance in uncovering the truth.
As the birth mother of Ling Wang, Imperial Concubine Li was the sole pillar holding her own against Imperial Concubine Qi in the imperial harem. The Li family could not abandon her now. They secretly contacted the Northern Frontier, demanding an explanation. This poison was unheard of. Even the Imperial Physicians possessed limited knowledge of it. In the Dali Dynasty, it had never been mentioned before. Its sudden appearance on Imperial Concubine Li’s face immediately led the Li family to suspect the Northern Frontier.
The Li family’s atmosphere was exceptionally gloomy due to the investigation into their trade routes and the incident involving Imperial Concubine Li. In stark contrast, the Third Prince’s residence held a completely different mood. A middle-aged physician carefully removed the bandage covering Ning Jun Jin’s eyes: “Your Royal Highness, the poison has damaged your eyes. Even if your sight is restored, it will be exceptionally fragile and requires careful protection. You must avoid exertion for the next few days.”
The Third Prince clenched his fists tightly, struggling to contain his emotions. Only when the gauze was fully removed and the blinding light flooded in did he abruptly relax. He turned his head to survey his surroundings, his eyes shining with an unusual brilliance. The man who never showed his feelings was now radiant with ecstasy: “I can see! I can see!”
The middle-aged physician smiled with confidence. “Of course. I promised Your Royal Highness I would fulfill my pledge and restore your sight.”
Overwhelmed with joy, the Third Prince stammered, “Doctor Gu, I shall never forget the kindness you showed me today in treating my eyes. I will repay you generously in the future.”
“No need for repayment. I admire Your Royal Highness’s character and have heard of Your Royal Highness’s achievements in Jiangnan. It pained me to see you misunderstood, condemned to a lifetime in darkness. Restoring your sight was only the beginning. Your leg ailment is severe and will require considerable time and some hardship to treat.”
Ning Jun Jin now trusted this Divine Doctor Gu implicitly. Hearing this, he immediately nodded. “Thank you, Divine Doctor. As long as you can restore my legs to normal, I can endure any hardship.”
“Your Royal Highness is too kind. I shall retire now to prepare the herbs and see what else is needed.”
“Very well.”
Once the Divine Doctor Gu withdrew, the Third Prince could no longer contain his joy. His eyes greedily took in the surrounding scenery. Having lost it once, he now realized how precious the things he’d once taken for granted truly were. He tentatively touched his eyelids, his face contorted with ecstatic delight.
His personal guard waited quietly by his side. Only when the Third Prince had calmed somewhat did he speak: “Your Royal Highness, as you instructed, I’ve been monitoring court affairs and maintaining detailed daily records. Please review them.”
The Third Prince snapped back to attention. His brow furrowed sharply at the contents of the ledger. “Father is determined to appoint a Crown Prince before year’s end, bypassing the officials’ objections. Did Eldest Imperial Brother propose this idea?”
“Yes.”
“Hmph. Does he think he can single-handedly prop up the heavens now that I’m no longer obstructing him in court? Utterly delusional! And Yu Wang and Yue Wang, as expected, the barking dogs are the ones that bite. Those two have secretly joined forces, and from the start, they’ve subtly gained the Imperial Father’s support. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. How are our contacts progressing?”
The guard’s expression turned troubled: “Your Royal Highness, I followed your orders to contact the court officials. However, nearly all of them refused to see me. As for the remaining few...”
The Third Prince’s expression turned cold: “What about the remaining few?”
“Even those who did meet with me only offered scornful remarks. Not a single one showed any intention of aligning with us again.”
“When I was in power, they all fawned and curried favor. Now that I’ve faced misfortune for a few days, they’ve forgotten how they once groveled and begged. Should I rise again, I shall make them all...” The murderous intent in the Third Prince’s eyes nearly solidified into substance, lingering for a long moment before gradually dissipating.
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