jdhmnovel Chapter 294 Slow Poisoning
Chapter 294 Slow Poisoning
Outside the Imperial Study, Liu Haifu steadily supported Su Mu as they carefully walked up the steps toward the Imperial Hospital.
Unexpectedly, when he looked up, he saw Consort De coming to the Imperial Study.
Liu Haifu's heart skipped a beat.
Because of the matter concerning Prince Yong, Consort De harbored resentment towards Su Mu and had always disliked him. Today's situation was likely to cause trouble.
Consort De spotted Su Mu from afar, her eyes instantly sharpening. She walked straight towards them, coldly saying:
"Lord Su should be in prison for killing someone, so why is he in the palace?"
Despite the pain all over his body, Su Mu struggled to stand up straight, a resolute look on his face. He bowed respectfully, his tone neither humble nor arrogant:
"Your Highness, I did not kill anyone. The so-called 'murder in the street' is just a deliberate frame-up."
Liu Haifu quickly put on a smiling face and cautiously replied:
"Your Highness, what Lord Su said is true. His Majesty is wise and insightful, and has already seen through the injustice. He has spoken out that someone has wronged Lord Su, and has even specially granted Lord Su permission to return to his residence to recuperate."
Consort De looked at Su Mu, her eyes filled with coldness, and snorted coldly: "You're quite capable."
Seeing the Consort De's hostile attitude, Liu Haifu felt secretly anxious.
He glanced at Su Mu and saw that Su Mu's face was as pale as paper, her lips were bloodless, and her body was swaying precariously.
Lord Su is covered in injuries; if he continues to be exposed to the wind like this, his injuries will surely worsen.
His eyes darted around, his face plastered with a fawning smile, and he cautiously took two steps forward.
"Your Highness, please calm down. His Majesty just instructed me to take Lord Su to the Imperial Hospital so that his injuries can be properly examined."
"This old servant dares not delay His Majesty's orders. Your Majesty, could you please grant me this favor?"
"Lord Su is injured?" Consort De's lips curled up slightly, as if she had just vented her anger. Her gaze swept over Su Mu's black official robe, which showed no signs of injury, and her eyes were full of mockery. "It seems that Lord Su is very lucky. No matter how much trouble he suffers, he can't be killed."
Liu Haifu wished he didn't have ears.
These are words he shouldn't be hearing.
Fortunately, Consort De knew that this was at the entrance of the Imperial Study, so she couldn't be too presumptuous. She waved her hand without hiding her disgust and said, "He smells of blood all over him, it's awful. Take him away quickly."
"Yes Yes Yes."
Liu Haifu hurriedly responded, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, and helped Su Mu quickly out of the palace gate of the Imperial Study.
But at that moment, an accident suddenly occurred.
Su Mu, who was struggling to walk with his help, suddenly rolled his eyes and fell to the ground without warning.
Liu Haifu had been castrated and entered the palace at a young age, so he was already thin and weak, even weaker than a scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken. He couldn't hold onto Su Mu at all, and was instead dragged forward by Su Mu.
This happened so fast that the guards beside them hadn't even had time to react before the two men collapsed heavily to the ground.
Liu Haifu's face hit the ground, and he immediately cried out "Ouch, ouch!" The guards came closer and saw a pool of blood on the ground.
He immediately panicked, "Eunuch Liu, where did you bump your head?!"
Unexpectedly, Liu Haifu straightened up, but his nose was a little swollen and two streams of blood flowed from it.
The two guards' expressions immediately changed, and they went to check on Su Mu's condition.
Liu Haifu saw stars and raised his hand to rub his eyes, but when he did, his hand was covered in blood.
Liu Haifu turned deathly pale with fright. Looking at his hands covered in blood, he murmured, "This...this isn't our blood! Lord Su...Lord Su!"
The guards quickly turned Su Mu over. They found that Su Mu's face was ashen, black blood was spilling from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were closed. He had fallen into a coma.
His clothes were already soaked in blood, and the moment he lay down on the ground, the blue brick beneath him instantly turned red...
Inside the imperial study, Emperor Wenjing frowned upon hearing the commotion and looked displeasedly toward the palace gate.
The next moment, Liu Haifu rushed in, looking flustered and panting, "Your Majesty! Something has happened to Lord Su!"
"Lord Su is vomiting black blood; it seems... it seems he has been poisoned!"
Prince Chen, who had been sitting with a gentle expression, almost stood up excitedly, but he restrained his nervousness.
Under the cover of his sleeve, he clenched his fist tightly on the armrest of the chair.
Emperor Wenjing's expression changed drastically, and he abruptly stood up. "What?"
In front of the palace gate of the Imperial Study, no one dared to move Su Mu.
Soon, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy arrived hastily, carrying their medicine kits.
They looked anxious, their foreheads covered in sweat, which they didn't bother to wipe away.
Upon seeing Emperors Wen and Jing standing nearby, he hurriedly bowed, saying, "Your humble servant..."
Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Wenjing interrupted him urgently: "Stop with the formalities, quickly treat Minister Su!"
Several imperial physicians quickly agreed and immediately surrounded Su Mu to examine and treat him.
The head physician looked solemn. He first carefully examined Su Mu's complexion and tongue coating, and then cautiously took Su Mu's pulse.
His complexion grew even more unpleasant.
Emperor Wenjing looked at the imperial physician's expression, his face cold and grim. "How is he?!"
The imperial physician hurriedly knelt down, trembling as he said, "Your Majesty, judging from Lord Su's condition, he has likely been poisoned."
"This poison is extremely rare and complex. I cannot diagnose it in a short time."
Emperor Wenjing frowned even more deeply, "Poisoning? How could Su Mu be poisoned?!"
Supported by a eunuch, Prince Chen stood weakly to one side. "When I arrived at the Ministry of Justice prison last night, the jailers had not succeeded. It wasn't poisoned last night."
The imperial physician nodded, "It was indeed not poisoned yesterday. Lord Su has been poisoned for two or three days now. This is a slow-acting poison, which has been gradually eroding Lord Su's body..."
Emperor Jing impatiently interrupted him, "No matter how rare this poison is, you must save Su Mu for me!"
The imperial physician kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We will do our utmost."
Consort De stood to the side, looking at the unconscious Su Mu, a hint of barely perceptible joy flashing in her eyes.
It's good to be poisoned; it would be best if the poison was so severe that it was incurable and the person died.
She secretly wished Su Mu would die immediately, but on her face she looked concerned and worried. "What... what exactly happened? How could Lord Su suddenly be poisoned? Lord Su is a loyal minister, he can't die like this."
Everyone present could see through Consort De's intentions. Emperor Wenjing glanced at her and said coldly, "Why aren't you staying in the palace to take care of Princess Yinyue? What are you doing here?"
Consort De quickly said, "Your Majesty, I have prepared a nourishing ginseng chicken soup. Knowing that Your Majesty works hard day and night, I came here especially to present it to you."
"I have no appetite for drinking." Emperor Wenjing gave her a cold look. "Aren't things chaotic enough already? Go back to the palace and don't make things worse here."
Consort De's heart tightened, and she dared not say anything more, so she curtsied and withdrew.
Su Mu stayed at the Imperial Hospital for treatment. After Prince Chen left the palace and got into his carriage, he instructed Mingwei, "Go to the Yun residence immediately to find Yun Shang."
The imperial physician said that Su Mu was poisoned two or three days ago, which was when he was taken to the Ministry of Justice prison.
When exactly was the poison administered, and by whom?
Was it Consort De or someone else?