Lu Qing Wan nodded to him, "Thank you for your trouble."
She then took the medicinal pillow and began to feel Emperor Jing You's pulse. As soon as she did, she was greatly surprised.
Chancellor Chi and Prime Minister Wen both leaned in nervously, forgetting the distance between monarch and subject.
When Lu Qing Wan released his hand, Prime Minister Wen hurriedly asked, "How is it? Can His Majesty's body recover?"
Barely suppressing her shock, Lu Qing Wan inwardly grumbled that any ordinary emperor would likely assume a minister was cursing them if they asked such a question.
However, this also proved that Emperor Jing You was indeed a good emperor, for his ministers to care for him so sincerely.
But she couldn't smile at the moment.
She looked at Emperor Jing You, her gaze clearly inquiring.
The latter weakly raised his eyes, "If I am unwell, Prime Minister Wen and Chancellor Chi will be entrusted with the heir. Speak freely."
Lu Qing Wan rose to her feet and knelt before Emperor Jing You's bed.
"This concubine is guilty. I beg Your Majesty's punishment!"
Her sudden action stunned everyone in the chamber.
Prime Minister Wen exclaimed, "Regent Princess, what are you doing?
Could it be that even you cannot cure His Majesty's illness?"
Prime Minister Wen was one of the few court officials who knew that Lu Qing Wan was Lin Sa, and had personally experienced her medical skills.
Seeing Lu Qing Wan's actions, his first thought was that Emperor Jing You was gravely ill, and Lu Qing Wan was powerless to save him.
Chancellor Chi and Emperor Jing You also made this guess. Emperor Jing You even tried to comfort her, "Get up, it's not your fault.
My body's condition, I know it best myself..."
"No, Your Majesty."
Lu Qing Wan stubbornly shook her head, "The previous mushroom poison and the wound festering did indeed severely damage your vitality, but it wouldn't have weakened you to this extent.
With proper recuperation, you could have lived for at least another three to five years.
But this time, the poison harming you came from Bai Xing Lin."
Everyone in the chamber had actually prepared themselves to hear Lu Qing Wan say that Emperor Jing You's lungs were poisoned and all hope was lost.
They never expected such a twist.
Prime Minister Wen exclaimed, "Regent Princess, are you certain?
You cannot speak such nonsense!"
Bai Xing Lin, wasn't that Lu Qing Wan's own territory?
If Lu Qing Wan herself had poisoned Emperor Jing You, such a rumor could directly condemn her.
Emperor Jing You also looked at her with inscrutable eyes, "Regent Princess, do you know what you are saying?"
Lu Qing Wan said sternly, "Your Majesty, this concubine can confirm that this poison can only be found at Bai Xing Lin. It is unique in the world, with no other source."
Tang Xiao, seeing someone so eager to admit to a capital offense, said anxiously, "Princess, could you be mistaken?
Doctor Meng is also from Bai Xing Lin. If this poison is a secret medicine unique to Bai Xing Lin, how could Doctor Meng not recognize it?"
"Yes, Regent Princess, could you be mistaken?"
Prime Minister Wen was also greatly shocked. If Emperor Jing You were to pass away, Feng Xi Wu would be the only one capable of managing the affairs of state.
If his Princess were now suspected of harming Emperor Jing You, and the ministers were to find out, Feng Xi Wu would be further implicated and unable to intervene in court matters.
Emperor Jing You's body was extremely weak, and with just a few words, he had to lie back down, though his gaze remained probing as he looked at Lu Qing Wan.
The latter's expression was firm. Though perplexed, she was not guilty.
"Thank you, sirs, for trying to exonerate me. I am not saying that Your Majesty was harmed by me, but this poison does indeed originate from Bai Xing Lin."
She looked steadily at Emperor Jing You, "The reason Doctor Meng didn't recognize it is because this medicine requires extremely precise dosage.
Used in moderation, it is a potent medicine for treating illnesses. A slight mistake, however, turns it into a fatal poison. Therefore, Meng Tang has not encountered this medicine before.
However, Tang Xiao should be very familiar with it. The previous Lady of Marquis Wen Chang, Madam Zhang, and yesterday's Commander of the Kyoto Garrison, Jiang Ding Kun, confessed their crimes thanks to this medicine."
Tang Xiao was astonished, "Your Majesty has been poisoned with the same substance the Princess used for confession?"
"Of course. The opponent used more than one poison on Your Majesty.
The effect of this medicine, as you know, is to make one's consciousness uncontrollable. But the poison Your Majesty has ingested is mixed with another poison.
The two combined present as Your Majesty's current state: tired, weak, and half-awake."
Lu Qing Wan took out silver needles and, under the cover of her medicine box, retrieved several herbs. "With the current dosage, within half a month, Your Majesty will become a puppet lying on his bed, controlled by others.
Whatever others make Your Majesty say, he will say. Whatever others make Your Majesty do, he will do. He will be the perfect puppet."
Emperor Jing You, pampered by his parents in his youth and possessing considerable skill in his adulthood, had lived a life of pride.
Even when the late emperor passed away and he first ascended the throne, he had never been controlled by anyone.
Hearing this, his face was filled with uncontrollable anger.
"Is there a way to cure me of this poison?"
Lu Qing Wan nodded, "It can be cured, but this poison severely damages the heart's meridian. Once detoxified, Your Majesty will have at most three months to live. During this time, even a common cold could take your life prematurely."
"And if it is not cured?"
Prime Minister Wen had watched both Emperor Jing You and Feng Xi Wu grow up. He could not bear to see Emperor Jing You perish like this.
He said with heartache, "If it is not cured, is there a way to free His Majesty from the poison's control?"
Lu Qing Wan pursed her lips, hesitating to speak.
Emperor Jing You coldly uttered a single word, "Speak."
"If this poison is not cured, and you do not wish to be controlled by others, then the only option is to seal His Majesty's five senses, causing him to fall into a long slumber."
Emperor Jing You's expression dimmed slightly upon hearing this, "What is the difference between a long slumber and being a living corpse?"
Without waiting for anyone else to speak, he said to Lu Qing Wan, "Detoxify me immediately."
In just a short moment, he had made his choice.
Lu Qing Wan was not surprised by Emperor Jing You's decision. Such a proud person, how could he possibly allow himself to become a living corpse?
However, "The poison that harmed Your Majesty came from Bai Xing Lin. Does Your Majesty not blame this concubine?"
"Yesterday Marquis Lu, today you. If I were to blame you, wouldn't I be playing right into the hands of the one behind all this?"
Emperor Jing You snorted coldly, "I know you are capable. I command you to detoxify me immediately. Afterward, return to Bai Xing Lin and investigate how that poison was leaked.
Before Xi Wu returns, I need a clear result.
Otherwise, before I pass away, I will bestow upon Xi Wu a hundred or eighty beautiful wives and concubines, to constantly spite you."
Such a childish yet powerful threat made Lu Qing Wan almost laugh and cry.
She quickly bowed in a plea for mercy, "Your Majesty, please do not frighten this concubine. I will detoxify you now and immediately investigate the truth upon my return. I will not delay."
Emperor Jing You snorted proudly, a sign of his acceptance of Lu Qing Wan's request.