Chapter 1330: Chapter 1166: Relapse of Poisoning

"So they also have their difficulties?" The Eldest Prince nodded in understanding.

Gu Chengyu noticed the softness in his heart and felt that he was quite similar to the Emperor in disposition. No matter how the Emperor had hidden it before, there was still some inherent goodness within.

"Indeed, there are difficulties, but who in this world is without them? If you wish to deprive others of their rights to enjoyment, you must present strength that matches it. This is the law of the jungle."

The Eldest Prince was silent, the law of the jungle?

"Alright, today’s story is over, I must return." Gu Chengyu stood up and dusted off the crane robe on his body, gesturing to the palace maid behind the Eldest Prince.

In such weather, no matter how much one wears, staying outside too long would still lead to a cold.

"Will you come again tomorrow?" the Eldest Prince stood up, his tone filled with anticipation.

"If there is nothing else, I will come again!" Gu Chengyu glanced back at the Eldest Prince, thinking, is this child also lonely?

Listening to the gradually receding footsteps, the Eldest Prince suddenly smiled. He was now certain that this person was not an eunuch. Yet, the voice clearly belonged to a youth; how could such a person exist in the palace?

Suddenly, he thought of someone. A person well-known in the Capital, a young one, could it be him?

"Mr. Zhang, why hasn’t the Emperor awakened yet?" Pang Chu saw Director Zhang putting away the needles and hurriedly inquired.

"How could it be so quick? The Emperor’s poisoning has shortened his lifespan considerably; he cannot continue to overwork himself like this." Director Zhang was utterly at a loss about this poison and felt troubled by how the Emperor neglected his own imperial body.

Pang Chu let out a deep sigh, "State affairs are complicated; how could he not exert himself? Mr. Zhang, how much longer can the Emperor...?"

Director Zhang paused as he closed the medical box, "Before leaving, Doctor Li left two precious pills, which I have already administered to the Emperor. The lifespan should be extended by one or two years at most, but this is unsure."

"It’s a pity that excessive use of those pills will lead to drug resistance until they become ineffective. Doctor Li said they were improved because he couldn’t find all the original ingredients. If we could get hold of a pre-improvement pill, the Emperor’s lifespan would increase significantly."

As Director Zhang spoke these words, his face was filled with regret. Doctor Li had not been secretive this time and had shown him the formula. Unfortunately, some of the main ingredients were unfamiliar to him. Even after flipping through rare medical books, he failed to find the origins of these herbs.

He didn’t doubt Doctor Li was deceiving him, as he understood Doctor Li’s character. If Doctor Li wanted to keep it a secret, there was no need to show the formula at all.

"Then where did he get the previous pills from?" Pang Chu quickly caught the implied meaning in Director Zhang’s words.

"It’s said that Mr. Gu provided them, purchased at great cost a few years ago. However, even after Doctor Li asked Mr. Gu, Mr. Gu said the medicine was indeed precious, and he had lost touch with the seller."

"Mr. Gu? Why didn’t you mention this earlier? I’ll go ask Mr. Gu if he might still have such pills!"

"The Empress Dowager is arriving!" A voice announced from outside the hall as the Empress Dowager rushed to the Emperor’s bedside.

"What’s happened? Why has he fainted again? Director Zhang, how is the Emperor?" The Empress Dowager hurried over upon hearing the eunuch bring the news.

She had been unwell these days, and coupled with Changsun Yage’s unstable emotions, she was busy caring for Yage, worrying about the Emperor’s health but unable to attend to everything.

Since the late Emperor’s passing, so much had happened in the palace that she was mentally and physically exhausted. The antidote had not been found, and how many days could Dundun have left? Yage was also blind, leaving the vast Dynasty with no heir apparent.

The Empress Dowager thought of the five-year-old Second Prince; if absolutely necessary, she could only persuade the Emperor to give up on Yage. Unfortunately, her age had caught up with her, and she lacked vitality; she didn’t know how many more years she would last.

If Dundun passed first, how long could she support the young Emperor? She feared she wouldn’t last until the new Emperor came to power.

"To report to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor collapsed from overwork, triggering the poison. I have applied acupuncture to him, and he should awaken shortly." After saluting the Empress Dowager, Director Zhang replied.

The Empress Dowager sat at the bedside, gazing at the Emperor, speechless for a long while.

"Empress Dowager, this servant has sent someone to ask Mr. Gu if he still holds more of those precious pills. As Mr. Zhang previously mentioned, with those pills, the Emperor’s lifespan could be extended, providing more time to find the antidote."

Pang Chu furrowed his brow deeply; the Emperor often worked on memorials till late night, something even ordinary people couldn’t bear, let alone the weak-bodied Emperor.

"What are these pills?" The Empress Dowager immediately asked excitedly upon hearing this.

Gu Chengyu was just about to report to the Emperor in the Imperial Study Room about the Eldest Prince when he was informed by an eunuch outside the Study Room that Pang Chu was seeking him.

He was somewhat puzzled, could it be that the Emperor had something to instruct?

"I greet the Empress Dowager!" As Gu Chengyu entered the inner hall, he noticed the Empress Dowager was also present, causing his expression to turn solemn.

Upon seeing the Emperor lying on the bed, he immediately understood the reason for being summoned.

"You may rise! I ask you, do you still possess those precious pills that you gave to Doctor Li years ago? Do you still have any? The Emperor’s poisoning has been diagnosed by Director Zhang, and without those pills, the Emperor might not last another year or two."

Although the Empress Dowager held some prejudice against Gu Chengyu, in this moment, the Emperor’s life was paramount, and she wouldn’t leverage her position. She, of noble birth, had been strong and resilient from being the Empress to the Empress Dowager, second only to one under the heavens.

But now, with Dundun in such a state, how could a mother bear it? The Empress Dowager turned away and used a handkerchief to wipe tears from her face.

"I have some knowledge of Qihuang Skill; perhaps I can take the Emperor’s pulse? I indeed have two pills remaining, but ultimately, treatment must match the symptoms."

"Then go ahead and examine!" The Empress Dowager nodded and stepped aside.

Director Zhang had not expected Gu Chengyu to also know medicine and looked at him with surprise, thinking to himself that Gu Chengyu surely only had superficial knowledge.

A scholar preparing for the imperial examination, where would they find time to study medicine? He spent his entire life achieving the level he had.

Gu Chengyu said nothing further, taking out a silk handkerchief and placing it over the Emperor’s wrist. After a short while, he frowned deeply.

He hadn’t anticipated the Emperor’s condition to have deteriorated to such an extent; the poison spread quickly, already infiltrating the vital organs. At this rate, the Emperor might not last half a year, and this was Gu Chengyu’s most optimistic estimation.

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