ebookland Chapter 161: One Arrow and Two Birds Failed
Chapter 161: One Arrow and Two Birds Failed
The imperial physician frowned when he saw Tang Xirou's symptoms.
Tang Xijing couldn't help but become more worried: "Doctor, what kind of poison is this? Can it be cured?"
Doctor Liu first took Tang Xirou's pulse and then looked at her face.
Tang Xirou's entire face was covered with blisters, some of which were even scratched by her and bled. The timid people didn't even dare to take a second look.
"Madam Shi Ji, are you feeling unwell?"
Tang Xirou covered her face with her hands. She didn't need to look in the mirror to know that she was ugly at the moment, even scary.
She shook her head. "I don't feel uncomfortable anywhere, but my face is very itchy."
The imperial physician frowned, "Madam Shi Ji, you can't use your hands to grab it anymore."
Tang Xijing grabbed Tang Xirou's hands and said, "Listen to the doctor's words."
"It's so itchy, I can't help it..."
Zhan Jingchen had a gloomy face. He had never taken the concubines' competition for favor seriously into consideration, as it had nothing to do with him.
But now the one in trouble is the little girl’s sister…
"She must be cured!"
At this moment, Zhan Jingxuan also received the news and hurried over.
"Rou'er! Rou'er, how are you?"
Zhan Jingxuan's face was full of heartache and self-blame.
When Tang Xirou heard his voice, she was so scared that she quickly turned her face away.
"Your Majesty, please don't look at me."
Zhan Jingxuan hugged her and said, "Don't be afraid. Believe me. I will find a way to cure you."
"Doctor Liu, no matter what method you use, you must heal her face!"
Imperial Doctor Liu was a little embarrassed. "Your Majesty, this poison can be cured, but there are too many and too severe scars on Madam Shi Ji's face. I'm afraid it's impossible to completely cure her..."
Some of the blisters had even been scratched by her and bled. Even after the poison was removed, there would still be some marks on her face.
Tang Xirou shuddered. If the scars on her face were not healed, they would always be with her...
Then, her tears slowly rolled down.
Zhan Jingxuan was so distressed, "Don't be afraid, Rou'er. I will find a way to cure you even if I have to search the whole world."
"Doctor Liu! Check everything that Madam Shiji has eaten and touched."
Caiwei quickly pointed out to Doctor Chen what Tang Xirou had eaten.
Doctor Liu checked them one by one, suddenly stopped at a stack of cakes, then took out a silver needle and inserted it.
After a moment, he pulled out the silver needle, half of which had turned black.
Everyone: "!!!"
The ministers and their wives who had eaten the same pastries all vomited.
"It's over! I've also eaten this kind of pastry! I hope I won't be disfigured!"
"Don't be afraid, madam. Your face is fine. There is nothing wrong with it."
"No, no, Imperial Doctor Liu, please come and take a look at me too!"
Tang Xirou listened to their words and felt even more desperate. How could she, who was already disfigured, be worthy of such a good man?
Zhan Jingxuan turned his head and shouted, "Shut up!"
The concubine was frightened by the shouting and shut her mouth in grievance. The emperor was so fierce! She was also too afraid of being disfigured!
Zhan Jingchen was calmer: "Doctor Liu, please take a look at the cakes on other people's plates."
Doctor Liu nodded quickly and went to check. After a thorough check, he found no problems except for Madam Shi Ji's pastries.
Zhan Jingxuan's face darkened, "Fuxi, investigate for me!" Daring to commit crimes right under his nose, he was really arrogant!
"Empress Zhao! Is this what you promised me?"
The Imperial Concubine was half responsible for the Mid-Autumn Banquet, so if anything went wrong, she couldn't escape the blame.
Concubine Zhao was so frightened that she immediately knelt down and cried bitterly.
"Your Majesty! I am innocent!"
Zhan Jingxuan said sullenly, "You arranged the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Didn't you have someone carefully check the food you sent to the banquet?!"
Concubine Zhao looked sad and aggrieved, "Your Majesty, I am not in charge of food..."
After she said this, Zhan Jingxuan frowned even more tightly. In the harem, besides the imperial concubine, there was the empress dowager, and the annual palace banquet was also held with the assistance of the empress dowager.
Since the Imperial Concubine said that she was not responsible for this aspect, the only one left was the Empress Dowager.
Zhan Jingchen reminded coldly: "My Lady Concubine, think it over before you speak."
Concubine Zhao shuddered. In front of Prince Chen, she felt as if all her secrets had been seen through.
She lowered her head quickly: "Your Majesty, I am indeed not in charge of this area..."
Zhan Jingxuan took a deep breath: "Check it for me!"
Doctor Chen also gave Tang Xirou an antidote, "This medicine can temporarily relieve the itching pain, Madam."
Xiaoli then stood up and pointed at a palace maid and said, "I saw that she was the one who brought this plate of cakes to Madam Shiji's table!"
The palace maid was so frightened that her legs went weak and she fell to her knees with a thud.
"It's unfair! I brought it from the kitchen, I didn't do anything! The cakes on the ladies' tables were all brought by me."
Zhan Jingxuan looked at the kneeling palace maid and asked, "Did anyone else hold this plate of cakes?"
The maid shook her head, tears streaming down her face in fear, "No, it was always carried by this servant."
Zhan Jingchen gave an order: "Take the person away!"
The maidservant was still shouting as she was dragged away: "I am innocent! Even if I had a hundred guts, I would not dare to murder Madam Shi Ji!"
Zhan Jingchen raised his hand and said, "Control all the cooks who make cakes in the kitchen. Remember everyone who has been to the kitchen today! Remember those who pass by as well."
He didn't believe it could be the Queen Mother, as she was too disdainful to argue with these youngsters.
Zhan Jingxuan also pursed his lips tightly. Although he knew that his mother did not like Rou'er very much, she would definitely not poison Rou'er, not to mention that Rou'er was the eldest sister of the emperor's sister-in-law.
Even for the sake of the Emperor's sister-in-law, the Queen Mother would not do anything to Rou'er! The biggest suspect now is Concubine Zhao.
"My Lady, since you arranged half of the palace banquet, you can't escape blame if something goes wrong. I give you three days to find out the result."
Concubine Zhao couldn't believe it, "Your Majesty!"
Is he really in love with Tang Xirou? Does he trust the Queen Mother so much?
He had originally thought of killing two birds with one stone, not only destroying Tang Xirou, but also causing the Emperor and the Queen Mother and their son to become estranged.
The Queen Mother is the biggest obstacle for her to become the Queen. As long as the Emperor and the Queen Mother become alienated, she will be one step closer to ascending the throne of Queen.
However, he didn't expect that he didn't see any of the results he wanted to see, but instead got himself involved.
Zhan Jingxuan glanced at her and said, "I will investigate the Queen Mother myself. Just investigate the people in your hands. If I find out personally..."
The imperial concubine shook her shoulders in fear, "I obey your order."
After saying this, Zhan Jingxuan carried Tang Xirou away, and Doctor Liu hurriedly followed.
Xiaoli felt helpless and blamed herself. She looked around but couldn't find her young lady.
The young lady sent me to take good care of Madam Shi Ji, but I...