Yun Xiao checked and found that the poison was not very potent, merely presenting severe symptoms. However, it was not fatal and would not cause significant harm even if left untreated for an hour or two.
Logically, the person who administered the poison should have been more ruthless. Why would they do this? Yun Xiao couldn't understand it. This kind of poison was merely a test of skill. She saw no reason to refuse, at least it was an opportunity to earn goodwill.
As Yun Xiao pondered, Song Yuan and another refined young man anxiously inquired, "Young Master Leng Yue, how is it? Can he be saved?"
Yun Xiao furrowed her brows, her expression grave, as if troubled. After a long while, she spoke.
"Detoxification is not difficult, but the medicinal catalyst is somewhat problematic."
"Tell us," Song Yuan and Lan Qinglun said simultaneously. Yun Xiao stammered, "Human blood is needed as a medicinal catalyst."
"Human blood?" Lan Qinglun and Song Yuan exchanged glances. They had never heard of such a strange detoxification method. However, for the Emperor, they accepted it. Both immediately extended their arms and said firmly, "Young Master Leng Yue, use mine."
Yun Xiao smiled faintly, a peculiar glint in her eyes. She casually pointed and said, "Very well, you shall do."
Lan Qinglun's eyes darkened. He hadn't expected the physician to point to him directly. It seemed the night's events would yield twice the result. Delighted, he extended his arm and placed it above the Emperor's mouth.
Yun Xiao, with a blank expression, took out a silver knife and made a long, deep cut on his arm. *For this damn Emperor, aren't you indispensable? Then, let's proceed.*
*Let this self-important Emperor drink human blood, and let your loyal subject show his heart. Perhaps tomorrow the Emperor will consider you a savior.*
Yun Xiao's thoughts raced. Then, impassively, she watched Lan Qinglun's complexion turn from red to pale, until he was so weak he was about to faint.
Finally, with a hint of conscience, she said, "Alright, Minister Lan, that should be enough."
If he continued to bleed, the Emperor might not be saved, but this man would collapse first. How could she disrespect the Emperor's savior? A cold smile played on Yun Xiao's lips as she took out a pill and placed it in the Emperor's mouth.
Afterward, she treated the wound on his arm, and then clapped her hands, standing up with a relaxed air. She addressed Song Yuan and the man who had bled,
"Alright, he's fine now. Take this patient away."
Song Yuan and Lan Qinglun dared not move the Emperor. He was still unconscious, and the dark pallor had not yet receded from his face. If anything were to happen, they could not bear the responsibility.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door, and within moments, Prince Shangguan Lin rushed in. The captain of the imperial guard had sent someone to inform the Prince that the Emperor was injured. Shangguan Lin, alarmed, had rushed over without delay.
*Why did my brother leave the palace without telling me? What if he encounters any danger?*
Shangguan Lin's expression was dark and displeased. As he entered the medical hall, he angrily reprimanded Song Yuan.
"Song Yuan, how dare you lead the Emperor out of the palace in secret? If anything were to happen to the Emperor, can you bear the responsibility?"
Song Yuan's face was ashen. He dared not move, lowering his head to receive the reprimand. Yun Xiao, on the other hand, felt a pang of sympathy and spoke softly.
"So, this is the Emperor. Why did His Majesty leave the palace?"
With an air of sudden realization, as if just learning that the man lying on the ground was the Emperor, Shangguan Lin suddenly remembered Yun Xiao. He turned and looked at her, "Leng Yue, will my brother be alright?"
Yun Xiao shook her head. In truth, she wished something had happened to him, but unfortunately, she could only heal him now.
"He's fine. The poison will be resolved soon. Please rest assured, Your Highness."
"That's good, Leng Yue. I will certainly reward you handsomely."
"This is my duty," Yun Xiao scoffed inwardly. If not for the circumstances, she would be too lazy to save this man, so he need not thank her, and she disdained it.
Hearing that Leng Yue had resolved the Emperor's poison, Shangguan Lin's heart was put at ease. He crouched down, supported the Emperor's body, and called out anxiously, "Brother, Brother, wake up, wake up?"
Shangguan Lin's injury was to his arm, which had already been treated and was bandaged with white cloth. One sleeve was torn, revealing his arm. That arm was strong and robust, with smooth skin. The previous dark color slowly faded, revealing its original hue.
Song Yuan and Lan Qinglun exchanged happy glances and exclaimed with joy, "This is truly wonderful, His Majesty is alright."
As soon as he spoke, Lan Qinglun fainted. The injury, coupled with the bloodletting, was too much even for a strong body. Song Yuan quickly called out, "Young Master Leng, please check on Minister Lan."
Yun Xiao went to attend to Minister Lan. Meanwhile, no one noticed that Shangguan Lin's face was filled with terror. He clenched the Emperor's hand, trembling involuntarily, his eyes fixed on his brother's smooth arm as if it held something horrifying.
Then, his lips quivered, and with difficulty, he moved his fingers to gently, as if by chance, adjust the Emperor's collar. His smooth chest was bare.
No one understood the shock and profound pain he felt, surging like waves. A chilling aura flooded his mind, like a tide washing over his body, nearly causing him to faint.
Who was this person? He was not the Crown Prince from that day, but another person who looked very similar. He had no mole of rouge on his arm.
Because of that mole, he had always teased Yao, causing them to quarrel for a long time. Just now, he thought his brother had removed it and looked carefully, only to find the original spot smooth and flawless, as if untouched.
Moreover, the Dragon Phoenix Jade was gone. This was an item passed down through generations of the Shangguan family to the Emperor and Empress. It was supposed to be on the Empress Dowager, but she had refused it. Therefore, the late Emperor had given the pair of Dragon Phoenix Jades to his elder brother, who had always worn them on his person as treasures.
Earlier, he had lightly probed, and there was nothing beneath the inner garment.
Shangguan Lin's face was a tempest of frigid light, a chilling aura enveloping him.
His eyes, dark and ferocious, locked onto the man still lying on the ground, unconscious. He truly wished he could end his life with a sword.
No wonder he and his brother had kept their distance since returning from Qingfeng Mountain and ascending the throne. It turned out there was a deeper scheme. Over the changing years, someone had substituted his brother.
But where was his real brother? And was the Empress Dowager also deceived like him? Furthermore, in many of his actions, he was indistinguishable from his brother. Who was this person?
Shangguan Lin was consumed by questions. In this short span of time, he had experienced every kind of icy torment, from heaven to hell. It was not yet time to alert this person, but what about his real brother, the Crown Prince?
Why would someone impersonate the Crown Prince and orchestrate such a shocking conspiracy? How could no one in the vast empire have seen through it?
Firstly, the Crown Prince had grown up in the deep palace. The Empress rarely allowed him to interact with others. Thus, outsiders only knew the Crown Prince as talented, refined, and handsome. Besides himself, only the Empress Dowager had truly interacted with him.
Secondly, since the Crown Prince went to Qingfeng Mountain to study at the age of thirteen, in five years, he had transformed from a naive child into a blooming young man. Who would have suspected that the true Crown Prince had been replaced?
Shangguan Lin's expression was dark and unreadable. The people in the medical hall believed he was merely worried about the Emperor, unaware of the torment he was currently enduring.