Meixin immediately called the palace maids outside, and the items were brought in one by one, attending to the Empress’s waking.
Mochou stood by, respectfully reporting the matters.
“Your Highness, the young man you saved yesterday, he appears to be about twelve or thirteen years old. The imperial physicians have examined him, but I fear?”
Mochou finished speaking without elaborating further.
Silence filled the sleeping chambers. Mu Qingyao waved her hand, signaling for everyone else to leave. The palace maids filed out one by one, leaving only Mu Qingyao and her two closest attendants in the chamber.
Mu Qingyao, holding Mao Xueqiu, stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the light mist outside. After a long pause, she spoke.
“Was he poisoned?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The imperial physicians say the poison is a combination of several toxins, though they cannot identify all of them. They only know cobra venom is present. Setting aside other poisons, the snake venom alone is likely incurable. The imperial physicians are currently using golden needles to lock his acupoints, slowing his blood circulation. However, even with this, if twelve hours pass, it is doubtful his life can be saved. A night has gone by, and only two or three hours remain.”
Mu Qingyao frowned. Who could harbor such deep hatred for a child, a child of only twelve or thirteen? Filled with pity, she said, “Go and see him. I wonder if he can still speak. Ask him if he has any last wishes.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Mochou bowed her head and led the way.
Mu Qingyao and Meixin followed her out of the sleeping chambers and headed towards the side halls. Along the corridors and through the courtyards, palace maids and eunuchs were busy at work. Upon seeing the Empress pass, they all bowed respectfully and cautiously.
Mu Qingyao paid them no mind, continuing to carry the snow-white, adorable, and beautiful Mao Xueqiu towards the side halls.
Within the side halls, besides the main hall, there were other rooms used for entertaining guests. In one of these elegant rooms lay a boy of twelve or thirteen years old.
The boy had slightly curly hair and a very pale complexion. With sword-like brows and dark, thick eyelashes, even weakened by the potent poison, one could vaguely sense from his features that he should have been a child as dazzling as the sun.
Though his clothes were quite dirty, they were made of fine brocade. This child was clearly from a wealthy or noble family. But who would wish him harm?
Mu Qingyao observed the young boy closely. At such a tender age, to suffer such inhuman treatment stirred a surge of pity in her heart. She gazed at him quietly.
Meixin, Mochou, and the other two palace maids seemed to be looking away, unable to bear the sight. At this moment, Mao Xueqiu, in Mu Qingyao’s arms, let out a whimper.
Before Mu Qingyao could react, it wriggled free from her grasp, leaped onto the bed, and went straight for the boy’s mouth, licking it gently.
Everyone in the room was greatly alarmed. This was their Empress’s most beloved little fox! It was licking the boy’s lips, which were tainted with a deadly poison. Oh heavens, the young maids were close to fainting.
Mu Qingyao’s expression turned cold, and she quickly ordered Meixin, “Hurry and bring Mao Xueqiu over.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Meixin responded and prepared to move forward, but before she could, the boy, who had been lying unconscious, stirred from Mao Xueqiu’s stimulation. With a gasp, he spat out a mouthful of black blood, his body stiffened, and he fell back into unconsciousness.
A foul, putrid smell filled the room, extremely unpleasant. Everyone took a step back.
Only Mao Xueqiu, in contrast to everyone else’s actions, joyfully pounced forward, lapping greedily and consuming the foul-smelling black blood the boy had coughed up, leaving not a trace.
Mu Qingyao’s face changed drastically, and she commanded in a deep voice, “Quick, pick it up!”
But the black blood had already been licked clean. In the room, the young maids looked ashen, cautiously peeking at the Empress.
They saw the Empress’s chest heaving, as if greatly stimulated. She swiftly lunged forward, scooped up the little fox, and patted its head forcefully. “Quick, Mao Xueqiu, spit it out! Spit it out! You’ll die later if you don’t!”
Mu Qingyao was so distressed she felt she might faint. This was a gift from Aunt Su! Moreover, this little fox was exceptionally intelligent and could even read her expressions. But what had happened today? Did it not know it was poisonous?
Mao Xueqiu, having been inexplicably struck, looked at its mistress with wide, luminous eyes, appearing completely bewildered. It simply tucked its head in, ignoring its mistress.
Mochou was the first to notice something unusual. She raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking at the anxious Empress. “Your Highness, why is it that after so much time, Mao Xueqiu is completely fine?”
Upon Mochou’s words, everyone else also noticed that the creature was unharmed. On the contrary, it seemed very satisfied, with an expression of enjoyment.
Hearing Mochou’s words, Mu Qingyao also sensed the abnormality. She held Mao Xueqiu’s head, shaking it left and right, up and down.
Mao Xueqiu’s eyes rolled back, unsure why its mistress was acting so strangely. It felt close to fainting, and the delicious meal it had just consumed was now being forced out.
“It’s unharmed.”
Mu Qingyao stated with certainty. Once she confirmed Mao Xueqiu was fine, her heart settled. Her reason returned, and her mind immediately became sharp.
Why was Mao Xueqiu unaffected after consuming such potent poison? Could it be immune to all poisons? If that were the case, its blood would be the world’s best antidote. Oh, this was truly wonderful! Mu Qingyao’s heart began to race, and she quickly looked at Mochou.
“Mao Xueqiu is immune to all poisons. It seems this young man is not fated to die. Go, immediately find me an embroidery needle. We will draw a few drops of blood from Mao Xueqiu and try to use it to cure him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Mochou also became cheerful. Everyone in the room smiled. “Quick, go find an embroidery needle.”
“Alright,” Mochou turned and left. In the room, Mu Qingyao was giving Mao Xueqiu a bravery lesson. “Mao Xueqiu, I’m going to draw two drops of blood from you later. You’ll have to bear with it a little. And it must be useful! That way, we can save someone.”
She had initially thought Aunt Su had merely sent her a pet, never expecting Mao Xueqiu to possess such abilities. Could it be that Mao Xueqiu had been raised on poisons by Aunt Su, making it immune?
If that were the case, how much effort must Aunt Su have put in to nurture such an intelligent and useful creature?
Only at this moment did Mu Qingyao truly feel Aunt Su’s love for her, a love as profound and intense as a mother’s love for her daughter.
“Your Highness, here it is! The embroidery needle is here.”
With the embroidery needle retrieved, Mu Qingyao held Mao Xueqiu and instructed Mochou beside her, “Pinch his mouth open.”
She expected Mao Xueqiu to resist, but to her surprise, the creature opened its beautiful, large eyes and stared motionlessly as they drew blood from its paw with the embroidery needle. It seemed Aunt Su had done this before, as the little one accepted it with great composure.