Jiang Xinyue sat beside the Xuanwu Emperor's bed, listening to Minister Pei of the Privy Council passionately condemn the sorcery of the Miao Borderlands, before finally revealing his true intention: "The Ministry of Punishment is responsible for interrogating the Miao people about their exact location. If they fail, they're not putting in enough effort. Since this has caused His Majesty's illness, they must be held accountable."
He had finally found an opportunity to destroy her adoptive father.
The Emperor's face was pale as he coughed up another mouthful of blood. "I entrusted this to Lord Jiang because I believe in his abilities. Now that I've been poisoned by sorcery, you should all be working together to find someone who can cure it. If anyone lets personal grudges interfere with the Ministry of Punishment's investigation, I'm warning you now - don't blame me when I execute your entire clan."
The Xuanwu Emperor was no fool, nor was he someone easily manipulated by others.
In this life-or-death situation, he was terrifyingly clear-headed, his eyes fixed on Minister Pei with an intense warning.
If Minister Pei didn't want his entire clan executed, he wouldn't dare act rashly. If the Emperor died, he would certainly ensure the Pei family's nine generations would accompany him in death.
One shouldn't underestimate an emperor's capabilities - when he went berserk, no one could escape.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
The Emperor clutched his chest, his entire body feeling as if insects were gnawing at him, but with his incredible self-control, he endured the intense pain and said: "Everyone withdraw. Imperial Consort, stay."
Minister Pei wanted to say more, but facing the Emperor's forceful gaze, the Emperor didn't look like someone about to die, so he had to reluctantly withdraw.
"Puh!"
As soon as everyone left, the Emperor coughed up another mouthful of fresh blood and collapsed onto the bed, unable to hold back any longer. His hands clenched into tight fists, his teeth nearly breaking from clenching, unable to suppress his painful groans.
Jiang Xinyue watched as what appeared to be a small worm moved under the Emperor's skin, traveling downward from his neck.
She called out urgently: "Yan the Imperial Physician! Quick, come here!"
The poison specialists from the Imperial Hospital were waiting outside the Emperor's chambers. Yan was the Imperial Consort's most trusted physician, while the Chief Physician was the Emperor's confidant.
So both entered together.
The Chief Physician's first glance was at Jiang Xinyue, since she had only called for Yan, yet he had entered as well.
This was mainly because rumors were spreading outside that the Emperor had actually been poisoned by the Imperial Consort. On the night of the banquet when the Emperor was poisoned, the Imperial Consort had disappeared with him for a long while before they reappeared together.
People were saying that the Imperial Consort had great ambitions, wanting to make the sixth prince a puppet emperor so she could rule from behind the curtain, which was why she had attempted to kill the Emperor.
He had been pushed to enter by the court officials who feared the Imperial Consort would assassinate the Emperor.
Jiang Xinyue didn't even look at him, instead pointing at the moving worm under the Emperor's skin: "Is there any way to get that worm out?"
Through his pain, the Emperor looked at his wrist where there was indeed a small raised bump moving around.
Since this sorcery was too mysterious, even the Emperor didn't dare move rashly, and could only watch the bump moving freely under his flesh.
Yan the Imperial Physician didn't dare blink: "If only we still had Consort Zhang's handkerchief that could control the sorcery worm, we could keep it in one place."
The initial symptoms of this parasitic sorcery were vomiting blood and excruciating pain throughout the body, as if being eaten alive. After four days, the victim would experience unbearable abdominal pain with severe vomiting and diarrhea, leaving them barely clinging to life.
This would continue for over ten days until the person died of exhaustion, at which point the sorcery worm would burst out of their flesh and self-destruct.
It was clear that Consort Zhang truly hated the Emperor, wanting him to suffer tremendously before dying.
"After four days, the worm will move to His Majesty's digestive system. By then, it will be almost impossible to remove it. Without an antidote, we can only watch helplessly as the Emperor is tortured to death by the parasite."
"Are you certain the handkerchief would work?"
"Does Your Highness have it?"
Jiang Xinyue shook her head: "I suspected Consort Zhang had administered the poison. Based on Concubine Ye's confession, I schemed to obtain one of her handkerchiefs and had Noble Lady Jiang analyze the scent on it. If what Yan says is true, Noble Lady Jiang and I stumbled upon something important by accident."
She then called to Xiao Xiangzi who was standing at a distance: "Go invite Noble Lady Jiang, and tell her to bring the handkerchief."
Noble Lady Jiang arrived quickly, as she hadn't gone far: "Your Highness, here's the handkerchief."
Jiang Xinyue took it and immediately gave it to Yan, who looked at the eager Chief Physician and handed it to him: "Chief Physician, I've told you that the Imperial Consort's love for His Majesty runs deep - she would never harm him. Do you believe it now?"
If she had wanted to harm the Emperor, she wouldn't have called for the physicians so promptly, nor would she have handed over this handkerchief that could ease his suffering.
She could have simply watched silently as the Emperor was tortured to death by the sorcery worm, and she would have been the biggest winner.
Three of the Emperor's four sons were under her care!
The third prince had been poisoned, was weak, and couldn't yet speak - his chances of becoming emperor were slim.
The sixth prince had the best chance, as everyone in court knew of the Emperor's obvious favoritism toward him.
Chief Physician Hu looked embarrassed as he tied the handkerchief to the Emperor's left arm. Sure enough, the sorcery worm stopped under the handkerchief, though it continued to writhe.
But pain in one spot was much more bearable than pain throughout the body.
The Xuanwu Emperor sighed in relief as his mind gradually cleared. Jiang Xinyue wrung out a hot cloth and carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck, her eyes full of concern: "Are you still in pain?"
The Emperor shook his head and managed a pale smile, then said to Chief Physician Hu: "Lord Hu, if I should unfortunately fall unconscious... *cough cough cough*... you can entrust my safety completely to the Imperial Consort. Do not doubt her sincere love for me."
A secret edict was already written on the beams of Qianqing Palace - if he died young, the sixth prince would inherit the throne, with his trusted ministers serving as regents until after the prince's marriage.
He had absolute faith in the Imperial Consort's love for him.
Chief Physician Hu's face reddened as he nodded repeatedly: "Your servant... will obey Your Majesty's wishes."
Jiang Xinyue looked the Emperor over thoroughly before feeling somewhat relieved, then said to him: "Since childhood, I've loved reading geographic records, while my father preferred rare editions of literary classics. When it comes to finding the Miao people, I might be able to do so faster than my father. Your Majesty, I humbly request to assist my father."
Her eyes showed genuine sincerity - she truly wanted to quickly find the Miao sorcerers and cure the Emperor's affliction.
The Emperor's eyes lit up with joy: "Xinyue, I place my hopes in you."
He still had so many grand ambitions to achieve; he didn't want to die.
He had originally assigned this task to Jiang Yankun because he had seen Jiang Xinyue's familiarity with geography and assumed her father had taught her.
It turned out she had learned it all on her own.
