Chapter 715: Chapter 716: Rampant

"Mr. Fan seems to be waking up!"

Eunuch Li’s sudden exclamation broke Xie Anjun’s train of thought.

Sure enough, Fan Chengzhuo’s eyelids seemed to twitch, and then he slowly opened his eyes.

"He’s really awake!" Eunuch Li was overjoyed. "Mr. Fan! You’re finally awake!"

Fan Chengzhuo’s mind was still in a fog.

He took a moment to get his bearings, not yet realizing what had happened, when he heard a voice from beside him, as clear and smooth as a flowing stream.

"Mr. Fan, you’re very weak. You shouldn’t be moved, so please rest here for now."

’That voice... that voice...’

Fan Chengzhuo instinctively turned his head and saw a beautiful, fair face come into view.

His heart suddenly leaped!

’Ye Chutang!?’

’Why is she here!?’

’Am I still dreaming!?’

Fan Chengzhuo frantically looked around, only to be shocked to find that he was still in Qiyuan Hall—

Even Eunuch Li, Zhao Zhe, Xie Anjun, and the others were still here!

Zheng Baosu, however, was overcome with joy and couldn’t wait to call out, "Uncle! Uncle, how are you?"

Fan Chengzhuo saw him, of course, and his heart was filled with a mix of joy and terror.

Joy, because Zheng Baosu was still alive. Terror, because... why was Ye Chutang here too!?

He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat felt obstructed. He gasped for air, his once-pale face rapidly turning a deep, purplish red, as if he were about to suffocate.

Ye Chutang said reassuringly, "Mr. Fan, you coughed up blood and passed out just now. His Majesty specially summoned Doctor Zhao and me to examine you. Rest assured, I’ve already treated you and expelled the poison from your body. Your life is not in immediate danger."

Hearing this, Fan Chengzhuo’s mind went completely blank with a loud BUZZ.

Ye Chutang, seemingly oblivious to his changing expression, continued, "Please lie still. I’m going to remove the remaining needles."

Fan Chengzhuo finally seemed to remember something and abruptly looked down at his arm.

His sleeve had been pushed up by someone, revealing a dark, purplish-black bloodline on his inner forearm!

Noticing Fan Chengzhuo’s gaze, Zhao Xuanping couldn’t help but ask, "Mr. Fan, this on your arm... did you have it before?"

Fan Chengzhuo’s lips moved, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

Zhao Xuanping assumed he was scared stiff—after all, anyone who suddenly collapsed while coughing up blood would be terrified upon waking up. He comforted him, "Mr. Fan, you don’t need to worry too much. Although this situation is troublesome, it’s not without a solution. Second Miss Ye has some knowledge of the Poisonous Gu Technique. She might have a way to help!"

That would have been better left unsaid. The moment he spoke, all the color drained from Fan Chengzhuo’s face, leaving him even paler than when he had lost so much blood.

"No, no..." he finally managed to speak, though his voice was muffled and indistinct. "It’s not..."

He tried desperately to explain, but to the others, it just looked like he was refusing to accept the terrible news.

Eunuch Li chimed in, "That’s right! With Second Miss Ye and the Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital here, Mr. Fan will surely be fine! As for this poisonous insect... as long as we report it to His Majesty, we’ll definitely get to the bottom of it!"

Fan Chengzhuo’s eyes shot wide open, turning faintly bloodshot as he began to thrash about.

’No, this can’t happen!’

’My condition, it absolutely cannot—’

But he was so weak and ill. What kind of trouble could he possibly stir up?

After struggling for only a few moments, he collapsed, defeated.

Ye Chutang raised her gaze slightly and said calmly, "It seems Mr. Fan is still emotionally unstable, perhaps showing symptoms of delirium. Someone please restrain him so he can calm down."

Several guards immediately came forward and held down Fan Chengzhuo’s arms and legs.

Fan Chengzhuo couldn’t move, his expression grim.

Ye Chutang turned to Eunuch Li and Zhao Xuanping and explained:

"I don’t know much about this poisonous insect myself, but to be safe, it’s best to let Mr. Fan rest and calm his mind."

Eunuch Li wiped away his sweat and nodded repeatedly. "Second Miss Ye is truly thoughtful. If he were to offend His Majesty, none of us could bear the consequences."

Ye Chutang then fed Fan Chengzhuo a pill.

Zhao Xuanping asked in a low voice, "Second Miss Ye, this medicine is..."

"It’s just an ordinary sedative to calm Mr. Fan down," Ye Chutang said. "It has no effect on the poisonous insect inside him."

Zhao Xuanping understood. Although he was a little disappointed, he knew that what Ye Chutang had already accomplished was no small feat.

His brow furrowed, unable to make sense of it.

"It was one thing for those Nanhu assassins to have been afflicted with a poisonous insect, but now even Mr. Fan... Doesn’t this mean there have been practitioners of the Poisonous Gu Technique from Nanhu in the capital all along!?"

Those people are lurking in the Capital City, and who knows what other trouble they might cause!

It’s far too dangerous!

Eunuch Li’s heart skipped a beat. He shot him a look and reminded him in a hushed voice, "Doctor Zhao, nothing has been confirmed yet. We should... we should wait until it’s been thoroughly investigated..."

Zhao Xuanping also realized his slip of the tongue. He bit back his words, finally swallowing what he was about to say.

"...You’re right, Eunuch Li."

After taking the pill Ye Chutang gave him, Fan Chengzhuo’s body gradually relaxed. A look of exhaustion appeared on his face; he looked so tired that even lifting a finger seemed like too much effort.

However, his eyes were not dazed or confused; his consciousness still seemed clear.

Just then, Emperor Muwu returned.

Everyone in the hall bowed in unison.

Emperor Muwu’s gaze swept across the room. When he saw Fan Chengzhuo’s current state, he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

"So Fan Chengzhuo has indeed woken up? But... why does he look so strange?"

Eunuch Li quickly bowed and stepped forward, recounting everything that had just happened.

Emperor Muwu’s expression remained impassive until he heard the words "Mr. Fan may have been afflicted with a poisonous insect." Only then did he look over again, his eyes filled with a cold, scrutinizing glare as sharp as a blade.

But it was only for an instant. His expression quickly returned to normal, betraying no emotion.

"I have always trusted Chutang’s medical skills."

Emperor Muwu patted the armrest of the dragon throne and shifted into a more comfortable position.

"It was fortunate I summoned you today."

"Your Majesty flatters me."

Ye Chutang curtsied, her attitude as humble as ever.

"Mr. Fan’s recovery is all thanks to the assistance of Doctor Zhao, Eunuch Li, and everyone else. I dare not take the credit. Furthermore, it was due to my own ignorance that when I saw Mr. Fan a few days ago, I failed to recognize that he was suffering from something other than an ordinary poison. If I had noticed sooner, perhaps Mr. Fan’s condition would not have deteriorated to this point."

Emperor Muwu raised a hand. "How could this be your fault? You have been extremely diligent. There is no need for you to take responsibility for this."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Fan Chengzhuo.

In his earlier struggle, Fan Chengzhuo hadn’t had a chance to pull his rolled-up sleeve back down, so with a single glance, Emperor Muwu saw the extremely conspicuous mark on his arm.

The warmth drained from Emperor Muwu’s eyes. He spoke in a slow, deep voice:

"I was not aware that the rats and vermin of the Capital City had become so brazen."

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