The Chen family was ruined overnight.
Their rebellion failed, implicating all nine generations of their kin. The Empress was granted death, but her body was left intact. Others were not so fortunate, facing execution by dismemberment or flaying; the mildest punishment was beheading.
The court and the country trembled, the stench of blood still lingering.
Li Man'er mused that Emperor Chenghua's decision to depose the Crown Prince might not have been entirely without reason. To have the heir apparent controlled by the Chen family was indeed a disgrace.
Perhaps angered by the Empress and the Chen family's rebellion, Emperor Chenghua's health took a turn for the worse. It began with symptoms of a common cold and occasional coughing, nothing severe.
Emperor Chenghua paid little heed, not even summoning Li Man'er to the palace to treat him. He merely had the imperial physicians prescribe some cough medicine.
The Ninth Prince had rendered meritorious service by quelling the rebels, and the Ninth Princess Consort had aided in protecting the Emperor. The couple was at the peak of their influence, and countless individuals sought to curry favor with them.
However, these were tumultuous times, and no one dared to forge alliances rashly. The Ninth Prince was occupied with military affairs and court politics, with no time for such petitioners. They, therefore, shifted their focus to Li Man'er.
The Ninth Princess Consort was a hero of the rescue; without her, the Emperor might not have lived to see the rebels suppressed.
Thus, the consorts of various noble households were mobilized, and invitations to flower viewing and garden parties rained down upon the princely mansion like snowflakes.
"Your Highness, this is truly excessive," Ziyan said, leafing through the invitations. She noticed that even invitations for a spring outing in March had arrived.
March was still some time away!
"They're likely afraid we won't accept their invitations if they wait too long, so they're planning ahead," Green Robe chuckled, collecting the invitations into a nearby box.
Li Man'er had instructed them not to act rashly at this time, regardless of who extended an invitation.
"Is this an invitation from the Huang family?" Ziyan presented a calling card, showing it to Li Man'er.
If this invitation was from Miss Huang, who was friendly with Li Man'er, it would be difficult to decline.
Li Man'er looked at it without reading and told Green Robe to put it away.
"It can't be Huang Yuhe. She's too simple-minded to think of such crafty schemes. She wouldn't resort to these tactics with me."
Ziyan then asked, "Perhaps Lord Huang is forcing her?"
"While she's simple-minded, she has a stubborn streak. Now that Madam Liu has been elevated to the status of a secondary wife and holds some sway with Huang Liyuan, no one can force her."
Ziyan understood and, along with Green Robe, collected all the invitations.
Li Man'er squinted, calculating the days. "Time passes so quickly. It's almost the end of the first lunar month."
Due to the Chen family's rebellion and the rebel incursion into the capital, the entire imperial city had become dispirited. The New Year had been marred and chaotic, with both New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival ruined. The streets seemed to carry the lingering scent of blood.
"Spring will arrive before long."
Emperor Chenghua's illness finally erupted, its onset being quite severe.
The entire court was kept in the dark. Only Li Qingshu, Eunuch Xia, and Eunuch Lin, who attended him personally, knew the truth.
Li Man'er, while visiting the palace and speaking with Li Qingshu, took Emperor Chenghua's pulse.
"Your Majesty's chronic illness had already healed. It is merely a case of internal stagnation affecting the heart and lungs, leading to low spirits and loss of appetite," Li Man'er said softly after withdrawing her hand. "Your Majesty need not worry; a few doses of medicine will suffice."
Hearing this, Emperor Chenghua felt considerably relieved. He had never imagined Li Man'er would harm him.
If she had intended to harm him, she could have done so long ago. Why wait until now? If she hadn't saved his life before, he might already be interred in the imperial mausoleum.
Emperor Chenghua, perhaps delirious from his illness, had become noticeably slow to react. He likely didn't consider that the death of an emperor also had its subtleties, and the timing of death could be manipulated. For a Xuan doctor like Li Man'er, possessing such profound knowledge, it would be exceedingly easy to bring about life or death.
Li Man'er wrote a prescription, instructed someone to fetch the medicine, exchanged a knowing glance with Li Qingshu, and then left, carrying her medical chest.
Standing before the palace gate, Eunuch Xia gave a slight nod, as if conveying something to her.
Li Man'er understood implicitly and, without pausing, returned directly to the princely mansion.
In the dead of night, the gates of the princely mansion were pounded upon. Someone said something to the gatekeepers that terrified them so much they lost a shoe in their haste.
Soon, a carriage stopped before the palace gates. After the routine inspection, it slowly proceeded towards the imperial entrance.
Li Man'er, using the darkness as cover, arrived at Emperor Chenghua's sleeping quarters. The guards here had clearly been changed; Li Man'er even spotted A Wu and A Qi.
She scanned their faces, her pace unwavering, heading straight for the inner chamber.
Emperor Chenghua was extremely weak. The side effects of Jiuxia were already manifesting. He found it difficult even to sit up, his limbs stiff, his tongue and mouth numb, and speaking was a struggle, though his consciousness remained clear.
Li Man'er bowed to him. Emperor Chenghua weakly raised an arm and, in a raspy voice, asked her, "Anning, tell me… truthfully, what is wrong with me?"
Li Man'er replied, "Your Majesty, allow Anning to take your pulse before deciding."
Emperor Chenghua still trusted her and agreed to let her approach.
After Li Man'er took his pulse, she exclaimed, "Your Majesty, does your current condition become apparent only after nightfall? It wasn't this severe before."
"Yes!" Li Qingshu quickly interjected. "He was fine before. The medicine you prescribed was very effective, and Your Majesty's health had improved considerably."
"Did Your Majesty consume anything in the evening?"
Li Qingshu pondered carefully. "Just his usual meals, prepared as you instructed, light and low in oil and salt..."
She suddenly paused, then exclaimed, "He did have a bowl of fish soup in the evening, sent by Consort Rong. However, it was tasted by someone beforehand, and there was no apparent abnormality."
"Is there any of the fish soup left?"
"Your Majesty had a poor appetite and only had two mouthfuls before he stopped eating. The remainder is likely gone."
Emperor Chenghua summoned Eunuch Xia to search for the fish soup, but after a lengthy search, Eunuch Xia reported that it had been discarded and could not be found.
"Man'er, was there something wrong with that fish soup?"
"The problem likely lies with that fish soup. It contained aconite poison, which causes numbness of the tongue and mouth, as well as limb stiffness, headaches, and dizziness."
Li Qingshu stared, "It matches perfectly."
Emperor Chenghua was enraged. "Wretch!" He vaguely suspected that Consort Rong resented him over the matter of the Seventh Prince. He immediately declared, "Guards, throw Consort Rong into the imperial prison. Interrogate her severely to get the truth!"
"Your Majesty," Li Qingshu quickly soothed him, "it has not yet been confirmed that the fish soup is the issue. Please do not agitate yourself."
Li Man'er said in a deep voice, "Search the palace! If aconite is found, it will not be too late to imprison her."
Emperor Chenghua grew increasingly angry. He was becoming somewhat disoriented and commanded, "Xia Ruhai, go to Qitai Palace and search. Do not overlook any corner."
"Yes, this servant will attend to it immediately."