Page 139

Half an hour later, at Xiyun Pavilion

"How is she?"

"Your Highness, Lady Shen has been poisoned with a potent toxin, yet I find it odd that ordinary people would have perished on the spot, but Lady Shen did not."

Xiao Jinyan said angrily, "Why do you care about that? Shouldn’t you be treating her immediately?"

The suspicion of Imperial Doctor Wen was merely due to professional curiosity about the cause.

"I understand. Thankfully, the toxin hasn’t spread to her internal organs yet. I can prepare an antidote accordingly."

Xiao Jinyan did not relax upon hearing this, as Shen Chuwei had been poisoned with something so deadly, her life could be lost at any moment.

While Imperial Doctor Wen was preparing the medicine, Xiao Jinyan sat by the bed, staring at Shen Chuwei’s pale, grayish face, filled with worry.

The making of the medicine was quick, and soon a steaming bowl of medicinal soup was brought over.

Xiao Jinyan supported Shen Chuwei into his embrace and reached out his hand, "Give it to me."

Imperial Doctor Wen presented it with both hands.

Xiao Jinyan took the bowl and, looking at the dark medicinal soup, knew by its scent that it was exceedingly bitter. He ordered, "Chun Xi, prepare some clean water and candied fruit."

"Right away, this servant will go and prepare it," Chun Xi, who had been scared silly, finally reacted and ran off to fetch the sweet and sour candied fruit.

Xiao Jinyan lifted the bowl, blew on it to cool it down after a while, and then pinched Shen Chuwei’s jaw to feed her. Because of the experience from last time, he knew not to pinch her jaw, for she would not open her mouth, as if aware of the bitterness of the medicine she had to take.

Chun Xi, seeing this, couldn’t help but remind him, "Your Highness, please be gentle, the young mistress is afraid of the bitterness."

It was precisely because Shen Chuwei feared the bitterness that Xiao Jinyan did as he was doing, feeding her spoonfuls without a care for the medicine spilling from her lips.

After feeding her the medicine, Xiao Jinyan took clear water from Chun Xi and fed it to her, and only then did he pick up the candied fruit and feed it into her mouth to alleviate the bitterness.

All these actions were completed almost in an instant. Afterwards, he used a handkerchief to wipe away the medicinal soup that had spilled onto Shen Chuwei’s mouth and neck.

Chun Xi watched in amazement. Could this be possible?

When Shen Chuwei woke up, it was an hour later.

Chun Xi wiped away tears, "Young mistress, you’re finally awake. You scared this servant to death."

Shen Chuwei glanced around the room and, not seeing Xiao Jinyan, asked, "Where is His Highness?"

"His Highness has gone to capture the person who poisoned [you]. You wouldn’t know, young mistress, but when you were unconscious, His Highness was nearly driven mad with anxiety and was very angry." Chun Xi put special emphasis on her last sentence.

Shen Chuwei was about to say, call Xiao Jinyan over.

But then she heard Chun Xi say, "Young mistress, now that you’re awake, this servant must inform His Highness immediately."

After speaking, Chun Xi turned and ran out like a gust of wind.

"Why are you running off? At least let me finish speaking!" Shen Chuwei heaved a sigh.

Upon hearing Shen Chuwei had awoken, Xiao Jinyan quickly came to Xiyun Pavilion.

"Do you feel any better?" Xiao Jinyan asked as he briskly walked over and sat down by the bed.

No wonder Xiao Jinyan was so anxious; Shen Chuwei was the only person who had risked her life to save his.

This was the second time she had saved him.

"Your Highness, this concubine feels much better," Shen Chuwei said weakly.

Thinking about the crab, Xiao Jinyan’s eyes grew dark with rage, "It’s my fault you were hurt. Rest assured, I will find the poisoner."

After hesitating for a moment, Shen Chuwei said, "Your Highness, I knew there was something wrong with the crab."

Xiao Jinyan was stunned by her words. Shen Chuwei risked her life for him again. How could he not be moved?

"You knew? Then why did you eat it for me?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "Because I did not know the crab was poisoned, only that it was off. Plus, my body is unique. If indeed there was poison, it wouldn’t spread quickly to my organs, which means there would be time to save me. If Your Highness had eaten it, I fear it would have been too late."

Because she often drank Spiritual Spring Water, the toxins spread slowly. Added to the fact that she took pre-emptive measures, she wasn’t afraid of being poisoned.

Another reason was that only if she was poisoned could the matter be escalated, and the Emperor would take it seriously.

Xiao Jinyan was silent for a long while, visibly moved and also angry, "You’re being too reckless, how can you make light of your own health?"

Shen Chuwei was startled and decided to change the subject, "Your Highness, I remember the Palace Maid who served the dish."

At that time, she had been craving the crab so much that when the Palace Maid brought it, she was paying close attention, and saw the flick of the maid’s fingers.

Not sure if it was intentional or accidental, only her own taste test would tell.

Xiao Jinyan immediately grasped her meaning, "You know who poisoned me?"

Shen Chuwei nodded, "I can draw the Palace Maid."

Since they didn’t know the Palace Maid’s name, the only option was to draw her to track her down.

Xiao Jinyan ordered, "Prepare the writing materials."

Knowing Shen Chuwei preferred pencils to brushes, Chun Xi brought over her usual lead pencils and rice paper.

With a pencil in hand, Shen Chuwei began drawing on the rice paper.

Having learned sketching, she easily drew a likeness of the Palace Maid, so similar to the real person that even a mole at the corner of the mouth was included.

Xiao Jinyan observed the drawing, which was more accurate than any Painter’s work, making the search for the maid much easier.

"Take good care of yourself; I will capture the perpetrator," he said.

After Xiao Jinyan left, Shen Chuwei obeyed and went back to sleep.

Xiao Jinyan, with the drawing in hand, quickly found the Palace Maid within less than an incense stick’s worth of time; her name was Qiukui.

Qiukui didn’t realize she had been revealed when she was apprehended.

Kneeling on the ground, Qiukui asked tentatively, "Your Highness, what wrong has this servant committed to be captured?"

Xiao Jinyan’s voice was cold with inquiry, "Don’t you know what you’ve done?"

Qiukui replied guiltily, "This servant, this servant does not know."

Xiao Jinyan coldly commanded, "Weichi, check her hands."

"As you command, Your Highness."

Weichi stepped forward decisively. Before he even touched Qiukui, she began to struggle fiercely, but she was quickly subdued by Weichi.

Weichi grabbed her hand, focusing on her index finger. Her nail was long, and he took scissors to snip off a section of the nail and placed it on a dish.

Imperial Doctor Wen was standing by, and he picked up the dish and sniffed. Looking up at Xiao Jinyan, he reported, "Your Highness, although the nail has been cleaned, there is still a residue of powder that smells like the poison that Lady Shen ingested."

Xiao Jinyan’s gaze turned frosty, and his voice carried an irrefutable fury, "Who instructed you to do this?"

Realizing all was revealed, Qiukui confessed, "It was my own idea, no one instructed me."

"No one instructed you? You, a mere Palace Maid, dare to attempt poisoning me?" Xiao Jinyan scoffed, "I can tell you clearly, poisoning me is a crime that could implicate your entire family. Have you thought this through?"

Qiukui’s teeth clamped shut at his words, terrified. Who wouldn’t fear implicating their entire family?