The sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned.
When they finally came to their senses, they saw their Prince holding Gu Qianying, pale-faced and unconscious.
The poisoned dart was lodged an inch from her chest, and black blood seeped from the wound.
It was clear the dart was poisoned!
"Du Chun, save her! Quickly!"
Nangong Mo, usually calm and collected, was now in a panic.
Holding Gu Qianying, he exerted force with his feet…
Du Chun quickly stepped forward, pressed on his shoulder, and simultaneously moved Gu Qianying from his arms onto the bed.
"Quick, fetch my medicine chest!"
Nangong Li took on the role of a runner. In no time, he returned with an exquisite medicine chest.
Du Chun took the chest from him, opened it, and took out several silver needles, inserting them into the Tanzhong acupoint on Gu Qianying's chest to protect her heart meridian. He then took her pulse.
After examining her pulse, Du Chun casually wrote a prescription and handed it to the stewardess, instructing her to gather the herbs and prepare the medicine.
"She's been poisoned with 'Zui Linglong', a potent toxin, but it's not entirely incurable. However, I've discovered that besides 'Zui Linglong', she has also been poisoned by another toxin. I need further diagnosis to identify this poison." Du Chun said as he tidied his medicine chest.
"How long?"
Nangong Mo, sitting in his wheelchair beside the bed, his gaze sharp and his body enveloped in a palpable aura of killing intent.
"Hmm… about five days." Du Chun glanced sideways, avoiding Nangong Mo's eyes, his own flickering slightly as he spoke.
Nangong Mo looked at him, his cold eyes filled with an even deeper chill.
He spoke in a low, indifferent tone, "One day. If she doesn't wake up in one day, you… bring your head… to see me!"
Du Chun's body stiffened. He looked up at Nangong Mo in shock.
Everyone held their breath, no one daring to make a sound.
His icy tone and unwavering demeanor conveyed that Nangong Mo was not joking. He was serious.
Even the Third Prince, Nangong Li, who had been fond of clinging to Nangong Mo since childhood, could sense the tension.
"Ha, one day it is. I believe in Sister Du Ya Ya's medical skills, she'll wake up Ninth Imperial Aunt soon. Come, come, tell me what needs to be done next. I'll do it with you, Sister Du Ya Ya."
He had grown up with Du Chun. Although he was a prince and Du Chun was merely a physician, the bond between the three of them was stronger than that of blood brothers. He certainly didn't want Nangong Mo and Du Chun to fall out over this matter.
As he spoke, Nangong Li slung an arm around Du Chun's neck. Du Chun shrugged him off, saying, "Yes, this physician obeys. I will not fail you and will ensure the Ninth Princess Consort awakens within this day. If the time passes, this physician will personally sever his own head and present it to Your Highness!"
With that, Du Chun, carrying his medicine chest, snorted and stalked away.
"Sister Du Ya Ya, Sister Du Ya Ya, wait for this prince!"
The Third Prince Nangong Li chased after him.
At this moment.
Bai Qi and the others, kneeling in the courtyard to accept their punishment, watched the Third Prince eagerly follow Du Chun, all wondering why Nangong Li was so friendly with Physician Du. Nangong Li was a prince of noble status!
In fact, Du Chun could have entered the Imperial Academy of Medicine based on his skills. Besides his medical prowess, he had also excelled in the imperial examinations years ago, achieving the top rank and becoming a Zhuangyuan.
At that time, the Emperor had summoned this Zhuangyuan to the palace and offered him a position as a third-rank official concurrently with a role in the Imperial Academy of Medicine. However, to everyone's surprise, this Zhuangyuan refused the position and instead openly moved into the Ninth Prince's residence, becoming Ninth Prince Nangong Mo's personal physician.
Some people at the time commented that although Physician Du was learned and skilled in medicine, and possessed a refined demeanor, he was not particularly astute. Otherwise, why would he give up a bright future and be content to be just a physician?
Others speculated that perhaps his wife and children had been taken by the Ninth Prince's residence, and he was being coerced into serving Nangong Mo.
There were also those who suggested he might be homosexual and, infatuated with Ninth Prince Nangong Mo's beauty, had chosen to reside in the Ninth Prince's mansion and serve as his personal physician.
At the time, the public speculated all sorts of things. But regardless of external gossip, within the Ninth Prince's residence, Nangong Mo accorded Du Chun a noble status. Whatever he used, whatever he ate, Du Chun and Nangong Li also had their share.
Despite the widespread rumors, for years, no one knew that if Du Chun hadn't saved Nangong Mo and Nangong Li ten years ago, the titles of Third Prince and Ninth Prince would not exist today.
And the oath of brotherhood and blood pact they had sworn ten years ago was also unknown to anyone.
Inside the room.
Nangong Mo had everyone else expelled, sitting alone by the bed, gazing at the pale, weak, and unconscious figure lying there.
He raised his hand, tracing her brow bone downwards, his long, slender, and well-defined fingers finally resting on her nose. Her straight nose, her pale, bloodless lips, revealed the softest part of his heart without reservation.
"Girl, it's all my fault. I failed to protect you."
His voice was deep and hoarse.
No one knew how deeply saddened and enraged he was at this moment, looking at the girl who had once been the sole "white moonlight" in his world, lying so weakly.
His mind flashed back ten years.
"Big brother, will you marry me when I grow up?"
"No!"
"Oh, then will you marry me when you get old?"
"No!"
"Oh, then I understand. When I grow up and you get old, you'll marry me, and I'll marry you."
"..."
He withdrew his hand from her face and then grasped her hand.
Her slender, fair fingers rested in his palm.
He held on tightly.
The warmth of their clasped hands seeped into his heart.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, then reluctantly released her hand, sat up straight, and tenderly tucked in the corner of her quilt.
"Girl, I won't let you get hurt!"
"Guards!"
The moment the door was pushed open by the guards, Nangong Mo's expression returned to its usual coldness.
"Push me out." His voice was as cold as ice.
"Yes."
The guards dared not breathe, their footsteps as they pushed him out were also unnervingly light.
Outside.
Bai Qi and the others were kneeling on the ground for their dereliction of duty.
The guards pushed Nangong Mo to Bai Qi.
Nangong Mo looked at him coldly and ordered, "All of you, leave. Bai Qi, stay."
Instantly.
Only Bai Qi remained kneeling in the courtyard.
Nangong Mo raised his hand.
The guards attending nearby also retreated.
"Push me back to the study."
Bai Qi quickly got up and respectfully pushed Nangong Mo to the study.
In the study.
Nangong Mo asked Bai Qi to summon the steward and have him meticulously record all the guests who attended the wedding banquet today. Then, they were to be categorized according to their official ranks. Today, apart from a few princes and the Emperor himself who did not attend his wedding banquet, most of the officials in the court who had feigned loyalty to him or had pledged allegiance to other princes and the Crown Prince had come.
Nangong Mo then instructed the steward to mark down those officials who had been frequently interacting with various princes recently, and to remove those with low positions who couldn't even protect themselves after an incident. Finally, a few officials remained whose influence and background were unclear, who still held some power in court, and who had frequently met with several princes in private.
The steward respectfully handed the compiled list to Nangong Mo, who, in turn, tossed it into Bai Qi's arms.
"Deal with these individuals. Uproot them completely and cleanly!"
Today, assassins had attacked, and while the main culprit had not appeared, the accomplices, in his opinion, were among these guests. Otherwise, how could the assassins have entered so smoothly?
His Ninth Prince's residence had always been strictly guarded.
Ordinary assassins could not get in. For them to have entered so easily today was undoubtedly with the help of someone.
Bai Qi was astonished as he looked at the names of the marked ministers on the list.
These were all influential figures of considerable rank! To be targeted like this, if the Emperor found out later, wouldn't his master be in trouble?
Bai Qi was lost in thought.
Nangong Mo took out the King of Hell's token from his person. Holding it in his hand, he gently squeezed it. The token split in two, and from the hollow center, a glowing jade pendant fell out, inscribed with the words "Lord's Command".
He threw the jade pendant to Bai Qi, "Hang their heads on the city wall."
"Yes."
Bai Qi, holding the jade pendant, knelt on the ground, his back straight. Though outwardly calm, his heart was already surging with excitement.
He forced himself to keep his breathing steady as he replied.
His master had not gone on a killing spree in a long time.
He greatly missed the days of bloodlust and battle.
The order was given.
Bai Qi rose to leave.
Nangong Mo suddenly called him back, "Also eliminate those few unruly individuals under the Crown Prince!"
"Yes!"
After Bai Qi left, Nangong Mo remained alone in the study for a while.
After a long time, he summoned the steward and asked him to push him to the sleeping quarters.
Gu Qianying had not yet woken up.
Nangong Mo did not go anywhere else; he stayed by her side.
When it was time for meals, the steward brought the food in. He did not eat and asked the steward to take it away.
Nangong Mo did not leave the entire day.
It wasn't until dusk that Nangong Li pushed open the door and informed him that Du Chun needed a certain medicinal ingredient, which was not available in their mansion but only in the Imperial Academy of Medicine.
Upon hearing this, Nangong Mo broke into the palace that very night.
Meanwhile, inside and outside the main hall, several skilled guards were stationed after Nangong Mo's departure.
The guards stood outside the door, not daring to blink. Their mission was to protect the Princess Consort and not allow anyone to approach.
However, they were unaware that the woman lying on the bed, severely injured, had somehow disappeared from the room.