Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 73: Chapter 73 You’ve Gone Too Far
 

Noble Lady Hui fell to the ground, and the foul smell from her body grew stronger.

It turned out that it wasn’t only her face that had pustules; there were even more on her body. These pustules seemed to have appeared suddenly, and when she fell, the pustules broke open, the smell of pus mingling with her sticky body fragrance to form a revolting scent.

All the concubines present showed shocked expressions and stepped back in fright, covering their noses and mouths.

The Empress exclaimed in alarm, “What, what’s going on? Imperial Physician Xu! Imperial Physician Xu, quickly attend to Noble Lady Hui!”

Imperial Physician Xu had not yet managed to approach when Noble Lady Hui, trying to grasp the Emperor’s dragon robe, was fiercely kicked by him right in the chest, causing her to wail in pain.

The Emperor clutched his chest, his face pale and dreadful.

The Second Prince had already sensed that something was wrong.

Murong Jiu gently pushed Jun Yuyan, who nodded subtly at her and quickly led Noble Consort Qi toward the Emperor.

As he reached out to support the Emperor, the Emperor suddenly bent over and vomited violently, spewing out a lot of dark yellow substance.

“Your Majesty!”

“Father!”

The Second Prince and the Fifth Princess hurried forward, but the Emperor vomited so much that they couldn’t step closer, so they stood their ground.

Jun Yuyan’s robe was also splattered with the filth. Unable to pull out a handkerchief in time, he used his sleeve to wipe the corners of the Emperor’s mouth.

Noble Consort Qi was also splashed. Having a handkerchief in hand, which was already dirty, she simply stepped forward, crying while shouting for the Imperial Physician to come quickly.

After the Emperor had finished vomiting, he seemed much more alert. He looked at Jun Yuyan and Noble Consort Qi, who were covered with filth and did not mind it, and then at the Second Prince, the Fifth Princess, the Empress, and others, who were shouting but not moving an inch, clearly showing who was good and who was bad.

Jun Yuyan helped the Emperor to a clean spot on the side and called for the Imperial Physician. Imperial Physician Xu was the quickest to act.

At this moment, the Second Prince, the Empress, and their group crowded around, their faces full of concern.

However, the Emperor, with a sharp gaze, asked Imperial Physician Xu, “Have I been poisoned?”

Imperial Physician Xu replied, “Your Majesty, you have merely drunk too much and injured your stomach. To my observation, there are no symptoms of poisoning.”

Imperial Physician Chen disagreed, “Your Majesty, the color of the filth you vomited is too dark, it is not simply a result of drinking. Allow me to examine.”

The Empress frowned and said, “Inside the Imperial Palace, how dare anyone be so bold to poison Your Majesty? Imperial Physician Chen, we must not speak rashly!”

“How can we not!” Noble Consort Qi loudly countered.

“The bewitching fragrance on Noble Lady Hui is a type of slow poison that is harmful to Your Majesty’s health!”

Noble Lady Hui, lying on the ground, cried out, “I did not, Your Majesty, I am the one who has been poisoned! Someone poisoned me to ruin my appearance! It must be Noble Consort Qi! Your Majesty, please arrest her!”

Murong Jiu, holding back strong nausea, stepped forward and said to the Emperor:

“Father, what Mother Consort said is true; the bewitching fragrance on Noble Lady Hui comes from the Western Regions and can gradually make one addicted and excite the spirit. When one cannot smell it, they become lethargic and weak. It’s like a slow poison, continuously eroding the body, not only damaging the liver and kidneys but also harming the brain.”

The faces of the Empress and the Second Prince turned sharply somber.

Noble Lady Hui angrily retorted, “You, you are talking nonsense! My family is from Jiangnan, how would I have the Western Regions’ bewitching fragrance! Your Majesty, do not listen to Princess Consort Ling’s instigation!”

“Some people will do anything to gain favour. Noble Lady Hui can’t produce any Western Regions bewitching fragrance, but who knows who is behind her.”

Murong Jiu stopped at this point; there was no need to speak too plainly. If she said too much, the Emperor might not believe her.

She had not originally planned to use such an extreme method to expose Noble Lady Hui, because it was difficult to produce evidence that the Empress was behind it, but today they were relentless, determined to put her in a dire situation.

Moreover, Noble Lady Hui increased the dosage, and if this continued, it was likely that the Emperor would be dead within half a month.

The Emperor’s face was extremely gloomy, as he kicked Imperial Physician Xu away and called for Imperial Physician Chen to come forth.

At this moment, the Empress suddenly shouted sternly, “Noble Lady Hui, confess truthfully, what is the matter with the exotic fragrance on your body? If you are innocent, His Majesty will clear your name, but if you intend to harm His Majesty, I will make you regret being born into this world!”

Noble Lady Hui looked innocent, “Your Majesty the Empress, I really know nothing. The fragrance on my body is natural! How come it became Western Regions Enchanted Incense in the words of Princess Consort Ling and Noble Consort Qi?”

“Father, your son has already investigated clearly—the fragrance on Noble Lady Hui’s body appeared after she entered the palace. I have found witnesses, her wet nurse and former personal maid, who can be summoned to the palace to confront her face to face.”

Jun Yuyan said loudly.

The Emperor said, “Bring the people into the palace immediately!”

At this moment, having just finished taking the Emperor’s pulse, Imperial Physician Chen spoke tremblingly, “Your Majesty, your spleen, stomach, liver, and kidneys are all severely damaged. Imperial Physician Xu has been deceiving and not reporting, harboring ill intentions!”

Lately, the Emperor’s routine medical examination had always been conducted by Imperial Physician Xu alone.

The Imperial Medical Office had attendance records, as well as records of His Majesty’s health.

Imperial Physician Xu naturally denied it, “Imperial Physician Chen, do not slander me. His Majesty’s body was clearly very well before; it is only today’s excessive drinking that made his pulse appear slightly weak!

He refused to admit it, hoping that the Empress would help him, so he might have a chance to save his life today.

The Emperor did not speak, allowing palace maids and eunuchs to step forward and clean up the filth.

When the wind blew, the smell of vomit gradually dispersed, but the scent mixed with the putrid smell on Noble Lady Hui’s body lingered, nearly making those present feel nauseous.

But since the Emperor said nothing and took no position, no one dared to leave; everyone endured the discomfort.

Noble Lady Hui lay on the ground, not daring to get up, as she felt extremely itchy.

“My dear, come over here and check on me.”

The Emperor suddenly waved to Murong Jiu.

The Empress clenched her handkerchief tightly, her expression turning slightly cold.

The Emperor’s address to Murong Jiu indicated he was closer to Jun Yuyan.

The Second Prince immediately spoke, “Ah Jiu’s medicine is good; she will surely be able to tell if Imperial Physician Xu is lying. Ah Jiu, be sure to take a good pulse for Father. Make no mistakes. However, be mindful of your own body and don’t disturb the fetus.”

He was signaling to Murong Jiu to think clearly about whom she should really help.

It was Jun Haoze, the father of the child in her womb, who cared the most about her health.

Jun Yuyan was just an outsider.

“Thank you for your concern, Second Brother, but taking a pulse won’t disturb the fetus.” Jun Yuyan responded on behalf of Murong Jiu.

Murong Jiu did not speak and went up to take the Emperor’s pulse.

The Second Prince thought that as long as Murong Jiu had him in her heart, she would not defy him again.

Little did he know, this wretched woman immediately said, “Father, Imperial Physician Chen is right, your body has suffered considerable damage and will need a long time to recover. This is not due to today’s drinking.”

The Second Prince’s expression turned immensely gloomy.

Murong Jiu, you have taken your cat-and-mouse game too far!