Throwing An Ruolan aside, Qi Xutian rushed to the bed and hugged Qi Mingyue. He seemed to be unable to control the spasm of his hands and feet, desperately restrained himself by clenching his hands and curled up in Qi Xutian's arms.
At first, Qi Mingyue felt bursts of dull pain. At that time, he felt something was wrong but then the pain erupted like a pointed needle in his heart, it seemed as if it would be ripped apart as coldness spread throughout his body. He had never experienced such terrible pain and bit down on his lip to prevent himself from letting out the painful roar caged in his throat.
Qi Xutian held Qi Mingyue in his arms and restrained the monstrous murderous intent raging within. He wanted to destroy that woman with thousands of swords but reason told him that she couldn't be moved. He had never felt so restrained by someone, especially towards a harem woman who had previously been akin to a mouse he had never cared about. The unwillingness, fury, bloodthirsty madness, and anxiety bubbling within made his eyes appear tinged red. Step by step, he walked in front of An Ruolan, and with an emotionless voice, as if coming straight from the underworld, he said, "Are you looking for death?"
His voice was low, frigid and harsh, and even implied endless killing intent. An Ruolan couldn't help but take a few steps back and lean against the wall to support herself. She had never faced such a terrifying monarch. She had no doubt that if Qi Mingyue's life didn't depend on her survival, she wouldn't be alive at that moment.
But wasn't she the one in control right now? Thinking of this, she smiled. She was trembling lightly and trying to keep calm, hiding the terror in her eyes as well as her quivering voice, she said, "Don't forget, Your Majesty, if this concubine dies, Qi Mingyue can't live. This concubine just vomited blood and he's already like that. If Your Majesty did anything to me, I'm afraid he would die right in front of you. Your Majesty will regret it."
Qi Xutian's looked at her with dangerous half-lidded eyes. He did not expect An Ruolan would be this cruel, she actually laid such a poisonous hand on her own flesh and blood. Even if she wasn't a kind and delicate woman and had her own means, he never expected her to have the guts to dare to poison MingEr with gu. Not to mention the fact that she neither understood it nor had the connections to get such a thing, then how did she do it?
Qi Xutian's deep eyes grew darker as he caressed MingEr's gradually relaxing figure. Han Ziqi, since you dare to do it, you have to bear the consequences.
Qi Mingyue clenched his hands and when the pain gradually eased, he slowly released his lower lip. The smell of blood made the bloodlust in his heart ignite again. Those who walked against the water must have the consciousness of being swallowed by water. She no longer regarded him as her son, then why should he respect her as his mother? He settled his mind, opened his eyes and said in a hoarse, weak voice to Qi Xutian, "Since we can't kill her, let her live this way. One day, we will be able to get rid of the poison. I will let her know what's an alien star and what's metricide."
His remark made An Ruolan unable to resist herself from trembling. His expression was neither happy nor angry, but it made people feel cold since he said it so lightly. Both Qi Xutian and Qi Mingyue watched her calmly as she stood in front of them - two pairs of similar eyes with the same dark and deep look - it made An Ruolan begin to regret, maybe she really did a foolish thing?
Under their gaze, her body softened and she gradually fell to the ground, but her will to survive made her speak again, "You must not hurt me, as long as I am even slightly injured, I will give Qi Mingyue ten times the pain!"
That was to say, she was safe for the moment. Qi Xutian snorted coldly and transmitted a message outside to a shadow guard. A black shadow flickered and appeared inside the room. "Take her down and keep her under strict surveillance. People who conspire will receive no amnesty!"
The black shadow flashed and the shadow guard did what he was ordered to. The figure of An Ruolan vanished from the room, only the bloodstains and the overturned food box remained.
Qi Xutian wiped the blood away from Qi Mingyue's lips, tenderly caressed his face and kissed him in pity, "Does it still hurt?"
Qi Mingyue shook his head in denial. He just felt weak all over his body and came to realise that he may be seriously ill. "I'm just a little tired. Don't worry, Father, I'll take a rest."
Qi Xutian gently placed his body on the bed and covered him well. He looked at the overturned food box, frowned and called out. Another shadow guard appeared in front of him.
"What happened outside the hall?" An Ruolan could not enter the Xuantian Palace without hindrance. When he received the report from the Shadow Guard, she had arrived inside the hall. How could the outside guards not see her?
"The subordinates are trying to make a report. The guards outside the hall were found dead in the side hall. Their death was peaceful. I think they were affected by a venom. Shadow Five found the enemy's trail and pursued, but did not return."
This way, An Ruolan's intrusion was pre-planned, as for the pastries she brought... Qi Xutian picked up a piece carefully and instructed Shadow Two: "Listen to my order, being Ying Ran back quickly."
"Yes." The black figure disappeared as if no one had even been there in the first place.
Qi Xutian walked to the side of the bed, looked at MingEr's small sleeping face, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead for him. Undoubtedly, he must have suffered a lot before, otherwise, he wouldn't be this exhausted and sleep so deeply.
Thinking of the poison in his body, a sharp light flashed in Qi Xutian's eyes. He walked to the table, drank the already cool tea, and tasted its bitterness in his mouth. His hold on the cup tightened slightly and the corner of his lips curved into an almost unnoticeable cruel arc. He raised his sleeves, returned to the bed and cautiously embraced Qi Mingyue in his arms to sleep. He scanned his sleeping face and his eyes gradually softened.
There was no further sound in the silent bedchamber - a heavy yet mysterious atmosphere lingered in the room along with a subtle smell of blood. Altogether, the room held a strong sense of coldness.
Outside the window, a gentle breeze blew. There was a small amount of powder on the table where the teapot was placed and it scattered on the ground with the wind.
•×•×•×•
The next day, everyone in the palace was aware of the abnormal atmosphere. His Majesty did not bring Second Prince Qi Mingyue to morning court. Although the prince didn't speak anything in court in the past, everyone was used to seeing him and His Majesty appear together. They didn't know why he came alone today. His expression was deep and it looked like he was smiling but it inexplicably made people scared.
They didn't know who angered His Majesty. Was it the second prince? Was His Majesty tired of loving him? The ministers were curious but they knew to never say the wrong thing, otherwise, they might die. Who knew if His Majesty would rise up the next moment in anger if he heard the wrong words? It would be too late to beg for mercy.
"Is there anything important to discuss today?" Qi Xutian looked at the courtiers and asked casually.
General An standing amongst the group of ministers hesitated and finally, he took a step forward, "Your Majesty, this minister..." He opened his to speak but didn't know what to say. Once his daughter entered the harem, she was considered a royal person. He really did not know how to ask His Majesty about the crime his daughter committed and the reason why she was imprisoned in the underground palace.
"General An has something to say?" Qi Xutian asked calmly and raised his eyebrows in question.
"Dare to ask Your Majesty, this minister doesn't know where my little girl is? Did she annoy Your Majesty and Your Majesty demoted her?" General An straightened his back. He was not accustomed to talking like those literary ministers around him and asked straightforwardly while looking at the seated monarch. In the morning, he heard from Zhi Lan that Ruolan had gone to Xuantian Palace last night and all the people in Ningxi Pavilion were imprisoned early this morning. If there wasn't an accident with his daughter, how could His Majesty give such an order?
Qi Xutian chuckled, "You came to know quite quickly, yes, she really angered me. An Ruolan, as a concubine, ignored the palace's rules and broke into the Xuantian Palace at night..."
Upon hearing his words, the group officials suddenly came to a realisation. No wonder General An looked so anxious, it turned out that Consort An had offended His Majesty! The Second Prince was not seen this morning, it must be because of this matter; he was implicated because of his consort mother. Unfortunately, he wouldn't receive much favour in the future. His Majesty was strict when it came to punishment. As a concubine, even if she trespassed, it wasn't a terrible thing. Presumably, she just wanted some of His Majesty's favour.
Some generals who had a good relationship with General An planned to step forward and plead for An Ruolan, unexpectedly, they heard Qi Xutian unhurriedly continue speaking, "She trespassed into the Xuantian Palace and intended to poison and murder me. I ordered her to be imprisoned in the Underground Palace. Considering General An's face, I was already lenient."
As soon as these words came out, the people who wanted to intercede were startled, they immediately stepped back. It was the crime of attempting to murder His Majesty! This matter spelt a disaster for the entire family! General An still disturbed His Majesty so much, he did not want to live. They quickly pulled their sleeves and shook their heads secretly.
General An was also stunned, then furrowed his eyebrows and clenched his fists, it was hard for him to believe that his daughter had done such a stupid thing. It was not easy but there seemed to be no reason for His Majesty to lie to him unless Ruolan was used by others and unjustly blamed. Thus, he said out loud, "Your Majesty, my little girl is good-natured and she cares for Your Majesty. This minister thinks that she would not be so unwise. She must have been harmed by other people. This minister begs for justice, Your Majesty!"
When he thought of An Ruolan, Qi Xutian's face sank in displeasure and coldness radiated from him. The others suddenly felt chilled and dared not express anything, only General An still kept kneeling.
"General An seems to insist that she is innocent, but I want to tell you that I have seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. She plotted to misbehave and wanted to harm me. Does General An suspect that I am lying?"
The Emperor was furious and his thunderous words struck them. How could they resist the Emperor's prestige? They all knelt down on the ground hurriedly and hoped that General An would stop talking and inviting death. He might just drag all of them down with him.
General An bowed his head, he felt ashamed. Since His Majesty said so, then if Roulan really was guilty, he would be implicated. Their entire family would become her burial ground.
He felt helpless and suddenly, all of his previous conviction evaporated. When he looked up, His Majesty had already started leaving and ordered everyone to retreat. He couldn't help looking at him and sighed again, he felt uncertain.
This time, Consort An made such an enormous blunder, even the second prince fell out of favour. Most probably, General An's family would not be able to escape this disaster.
Qi Xutian left the group ministers behind in the main hall, heard that Ying Ran had rushed back overnight, and hurried over to the Xuantian Palace.
Within the palace, Qi Mingyue leaned against the headboard of the bed and looked as usual. Lazily, he flipped through the book in his hand and saw Qi Xutian hurriedly rushing in. Finding it strange, he asked, "Court dispersed?"
Qi Xutian didn't answer. Instead, he caressed his hair and said, "Ying Ran is back, she is good at the art of poisons. She should know a little about gu poison. After a while, I will make her come over and examine you, and... I really don't see you care about your own body. You should be resting, what are you doing reading a book? Even reading a book is laborious. Without me watching, you really aren't obedient."
He seized his book with one hand. Although Qi Xutian appeared calm, when examined closely, the worry in his eyes was apparent. Qi Mingyue did not say anything and left the ancient book alone.
When Ying Ran came in, she saw both His Majesty and His Highness' figures on the dragon bed.
Seeing her coming in, Qi Xutian asked her, "MingEr got poisoned. Do you have a way to remove it?"
Before, Ying Ran had only accepted the injunction that ordered her to return quickly and didn't know what was happening. Only now did she learn that His Royal Highness was poisoned with gu and couldn't help but panic. She immediately rushed over to the side of the bed and examined his eyes, inquired about the situation in detail, and then there was silence.
Seeing her contemplate, both Qi Xutian and Qi Mingyue didn't bother her and waited for her to arrive at a conclusion in silence.
Ying Ran's expression changed and she solemnly began speaking, "His Royal Highness has indeed been poisoned with gu."
Although the answer had been known for a long time, Qi Xutian and Qi Mingyue still felt disheartened. They heard her continue, "Although I am good at the art of poisons, gu poison is an unusual toxin. There is no antidote. And the kind of gu His Highness has in his body is even more troublesome."
"What do you mean? What trouble?" Qi Mingyue wanted to know what kind of gu was fed by An Ruolan.
"This gu is a mother-child gu, the connection between the mother and her child is from heart-to-heart. If the mother gu is disturbed, the child gu would riot and the host of child gu would feel heart-wrenching pain, the organs would be damaged, and the host would suffer endlessly until the mother gu becomes calm, only then would it be relieved. This gu is also called 'Lianxin'."
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