Chapter 1338 - 1174: Jiuhe Flower
Chapter 1338: Chapter 1174: Jiuhe Flower
Then Gu Chengyu slightly exerted his inner strength, and shortly after, black poison did indeed seep from the silver needle. The Empress Dowager, upon seeing it, beamed with joy.
However, this situation lasted only for a moment before Gu Chengyu withdrew his hand. Such precise application of inner strength, this was Gu Chengyu’s first attempt.
"How is it?" the Empress Dowager asked joyfully.
Even Director Zhang looked at Gu Chengyu with anticipation, just that he clearly saw it being effective, but why did Gu Chengyu suddenly stop?
"I only extracted a portion of the new poison from the body, there’s still a part entwined with Rong Yin which I am powerless against!" Gu Chengyu shook his head, pulling out the silver needle.
"Since you have the means to extract a part, surely the rest won’t trouble you!" The Empress Dowager looked at Gu Chengyu with a peculiar gaze, suspecting he wasn’t being truthful.
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, I have tried my best, yet the remaining part cannot be dealt with by inner strength. Ruo Yin has pervaded the internal organs, blending with the Emperor’s flesh and blood. What I just did was merely extracting the part not yet penetrated. That’s all I can do."
Gu Chengyu took a step back, having extracted some leftover poison, ensuring the Emperor would wake up, though his lifespan would be greatly affected.
"How can you make a rash judgment without trying? Since your inner strength is effective in detoxification, Gu Aiqing, please visit the Emperor daily for acupuncture." The Empress Dowager clung to a sliver of hope, no matter how slim.
"Although I lack confidence in this, since the Empress Dowager trusts me, I shall attempt it diligently." Gu Chengyu pondered, and thought it would be beneficial, as visiting daily to feed the Emperor Spiritual Spring would aid his recovery.
"When will the Emperor awaken?" The Empress Dowager took a step forward, noticing the Emperor’s complexion had visibly improved, with some of the bluish tint receding.
"Within about two hours!" Gu Chengyu had just checked the Emperor’s pulse, and he should soon wake up.
"The Emperor will be extremely weak in the coming days, needing complete rest, and unable to get out of bed. Also, his diet should be bland, pausing any tonic foods temporarily, requesting Director Zhang to prescribe mild nutritional prescriptions."
Gu Chengyu wiped his hands with a handkerchief, watching as the Empress Dowager ordered clean undergarments for the Emperor. Director Zhang glanced at Gu Chengyu appreciatively; Gu Chengyu’s medical skills were not to be underestimated!
"Mr. Gu, do you know how the Emperor was poisoned?" Director Zhang hurriedly asked, recalling the cause of the Emperor’s poisoning.
"It seems to be poisoning from a Jiuhe Flower. I have seen this poison in a medical book but wasn’t sure if Director Zhang has heard of it?" Gu Chengyu considered, the symptoms matched descriptions he had read in a historical account, though he couldn’t be certain.
There are countless poisons in the world, and as someone not specializing in medicine, he couldn’t possibly recognize them all.
"Since you mentioned it, I think it does resemble. This poison I have seen in a medical text, but the description was scant, with only a few sentences." Director Zhang stroked his beard, deep in thought.
"Is there no antidote for this poison?" The Empress Dowager, knowing the two had identified the poison, hurriedly questioned.
Director Zhang directed his gaze towards Gu Chengyu, as he knew little of the poison.
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, strictly speaking, Jiuhe Flower isn’t exactly a poison. The flower is rarely seen in Dayan, typically only grows in Da Xing. Jiuhe Flower is vibrant in color and strongly fragrant, often used for decorating vases by Da Xing nobility. Yet, it’s not common in Da Xing due to its fragility and the difficulty of cultivation. Its blossoms are non-toxic; however, its roots contain slight toxicity. If used alone, it poses little harm, causing body aches an hour later, followed by several hours of immobility."
"Though, if paired with Bai He Xiang, it generates severe toxicity. The Emperor likely consumed Jiuhe Flower roots; an investigation of the Emperor’s meals is warranted. Moreover, the incense in this hall is ambergris, so was Suhe Fragrance previously used?"
Gu Chengyu circled the hall, noting that the ambergris hadn’t yet filled the room, indicating it was recently lit.
"Additionally, the roots of Jiuhe Flower whether in appearance or in taste after cooking are very similar to yam. If mistaken as yam and mixed into the Emperor’s meal, it’s hard to discern. Just by taste, it’s even tougher to distinguish. And this mild paralyzing poison can’t be tested with a silver needle, even if someone examines the poison, symptoms take over an hour to manifest."
Indeed, it’s akin to culinary incompatibilities, solely consuming the roots of Jiuhe Flower, even if mistakenly ingested, it would self-resolve after a few hours without substantial harm to the body.
"According to you, this flower is unique to Da Xing, how did its roots end up in the Imperial Palace of Dayan?" The Empress Dowager immediately considered the source of the flower; could it be Da Xing spies infiltrated the palace, poisoning the Emperor?
"That, I don’t know! These are only my conjectures, cannot be confirmed! Nonetheless, whether yam was part of the breakfast delivered from the Imperial Kitchen today will be evident upon checking. Furthermore, it’s essential to find out which eunuch was serving today regarding the incense in the hall—it shouldn’t be difficult to investigate."
"Where is Pang Chu? Bring Pang Chu here!" The Empress Dowager scanned the palace but didn’t see Pang Chu’s presence. The Emperor’s daily affairs were usually arranged by Pang Chu, and at this moment, his absence was noticeable—where had Pang Chu gone?
"Yes!" An eunuch responded promptly, retreating quickly.
"You are the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, thus it’s your responsibility to investigate this matter." The Empress Dowager turned and addressed Gu Chengyu.
"Yes! I will promptly uncover the mastermind behind this." Since Jiuhe Flower is a specialty of Da Xing, the perpetrator should have ties with Da Xing.
However, those two individuals shouldn’t be ruled out, as they are stationed at the border, acquiring Jiuhe Flower roots wouldn’t be hard.
"Servant greets the Empress Dowager!" Pang Chu hastily entered the inner hall, immediately kneeling before the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager cast a cold glance at Pang Chu, "You weren’t attending to the Emperor; where did you go?"
Listening to the Empress Dowager’s chilling tone, panic crept into Pang Chu’s heart, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, servant had an urgent nature call."
The Empress Dowager’s suspicious gaze fell on Pang Chu, "Can anyone vouch for you?"
"That? Just now, Xiao Jiangzi found me in the toilet!" Pang Chu hesitantly responded.
"Mr. Pang, may I ask, what incense was lit in the Emperor’s bedchamber today?" Gu Chengyu sensed something suspicious in Pang Chu’s demeanor; could Pang Chu be problematic? But having accompanied the Emperor for years, could Pang Chu truly be a spy?
Clearly, Pang Chu’s concern and anxiousness for the Emperor weren’t pretentious; if Pang Chu were genuinely a spy, he’d be an actor of prestige, as Gu Chengyu sensed nothing amiss.
Though one’s needs are inevitable, when paired with Pang Chu’s expression, something felt amiss.