The fragrant roasted meat at night was extremely delicious for some, but tasted like nothing to others.
Each was contemplating the words of the Wise Prince.
The next day, their negotiations continued. A letter arrived from the inner city’s royal mansion, an urgent missive personally written by Wang Zhaodi.
It stated that their mother-in-law was critically ill, her condition advancing rapidly, urging them to return immediately, lest they miss seeing her one last time.
After putting down the letter, Fan Zehao’s mind buzzed. His trembling hand clutched the paper, his eyes vacant, and he mumbled, "How can this be? Mother was always so healthy, how could she fall ill so suddenly!"
Seeing his dazed state, Zhao Jiaqi set down the wool she was holding and walked over. She casually picked up the trembling paper from his hand. It was then that her eyes nearly bulged out, and her face changed instantly.
"Someone, pack some clothes simply, prepare dry rations, and travel light back to the inner city!"
While he was still in a daze, Zhao Jiaqi had already instructed the servants to prepare. Seeing him still acting foolishly, she nudged him, "Uncle Qi is in the inner city. His medical skills are so superb; our mother will be fine!"
Fan Zehao’s vacant eyes stared blankly at his wife. He couldn't believe his mother was ill. When they left, she was so robust. How could she be on the verge of death after only two months?
In his subconscious, his mother was incredibly healthy, ate well, and never even caught a minor cold. How could she suddenly be so unwell?
Half an hour later, several horses galloped out of the military camp, quickly disappearing onto a country road.
On the road, Zhao Jiaqi rode with Fan Zehao. He wrapped his wife in his large cloak, his heart filled with anxiety. Apart from time for sleeping and eating, they were almost constantly on the move.
In just a few days, Zhao Jiaqi’s smiling face visibly faded. Fortunately, she was well protected and didn't catch a cold. Five days later, they finally reached the inner city.
The Royal Mansion.
The estate was eerily silent. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they felt an oppressive weight, pressing down on their chests, making it hard to breathe.
Butler Wang was directing the servants as they tore white cloth, his face etched with sorrow. Even the servants looked dejected.
Seeing the white cloth piled up by the small flower pond, Fan Zehao’s legs went weak, and he nearly fell to the ground. Fortunately, Zhao Jiaqi’s quick hands supported him.
Hearing the commotion, Butler Wang turned and saw that the Prince and Princess had returned. It was as if a child had found their mother; he burst into tears!
He rushed towards Fan Zehao and knelt on the ground with a thud. "Your Highness, Your Highness, this servant is incompetent. I failed to take good care of the Old Madam!"
Fan Zehao’s face was pale, and he was speechless. Zhao Jiaqi quickly asked, "How is Mother now? Is Qi Xuan here?"
Butler Wang repeatedly said, "The Old Madam is beyond help. She is barely holding on, waiting for His Highness. Doctor Qi is attending to her in the Old Madam's courtyard."
Hearing this, Zhao Jiaqi breathed a slight sigh of relief. She had almost thought her mother-in-law had passed away. How could the butler be so dramatic?
The couple dared not delay even a moment and rushed into Songhe Garden less than a second later. They saw several small stoves in the courtyard, boiling medicine, with Qi Xuan instructing the maids on the side.
Fan Zehao, without time for pleasantries with Qi Xuan, strode into the room. He saw his mother’s emaciated face, her eyes tightly shut, her graying hair. She lay on the bed like a lifeless body, and his heart felt as if it were being carved by a knife.
He murmured, "Mother," over and over, his voice filled with sorrow. Even Zhao Jiaqi, hearing this from outside, almost burst into tears.
She blinked a few times, forcing back her tears, and walked with Qi Xuan to a secluded spot, listening quietly to him.
"Qiqi, your mother-in-law's illness is very strange. From her pulse, and my observations of the changes in her face and body joints over the past few days, she appears to have been poisoned!"
The previously grieving Zhao Jiaqi was stunned by Qi Xuan’s words.
She couldn't figure it out and asked, "Does Uncle Qi know what kind of poison it is?"
Qi Xuan stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, giving an uncertain answer. "This poison is very rare. I have never encountered it before. I have consulted many books these past few days and found a symptom that matches your mother-in-law's poisoning, but I cannot be certain."
Zhao Jiaqi said nothing, eagerly awaiting his next words.
Qi Xuan took a deep breath and said, "It's called Soul Devouring Sickness. The victim feels no pain, as if they are asleep. On the first day of poisoning, they feel tired. On the third day, they fall into a deep sleep and cannot be roused. At the same time, their body emits a faint scent of orchid, not very noticeable. By the seventh day, this fragrance becomes stronger. The longer the poisoning continues, the worse it gets. If the victim does not eat or drink during these days, they will not live past seven days at most."
Seven days. It was like a tightening curse that echoed in Zhao Jiaqi’s mind.
She trembled and asked him with a choked voice, "Uncle Qi, is my mother almost...?"
Qi Xuan quickly waved his hand. "It's not that grim yet. I am using the finest ginseng soup to keep the Old Madam breathing. However, if she doesn't eat for a long time, her body won't be able to withstand it. So, for now, we can only try our best."
Besides this, there was no other good solution. Qi Xuan understood this, and Zhao Jiaqi knew it too.
Seeing her regain some rationality, Qi Xuan continued, "I will use medicine to inhibit the spread of the poison in the Old Madam's body. During this time, you must find the antidote as quickly as possible. The longer you delay, the less optimistic the situation will be!"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded fiercely. "What are the components of the antidote? Write them down, and I will have someone find them!"
Qi Xuan took out a folded piece of paper from his怀 and handed it to her. "Each of the medicines listed here is very precious and rare. The first thirteen are precious and rare, and can be found with money. However, the last ingredient is a national treasure of the Snow Kingdom. The Snow Emperor cherishes this treasure very much and keeps it by his side. Princess, you will need to think of a way!"
No matter how precious something was, it was not worth more than a life. This was Zhao Jiaqi's thought.
However, for others, it might be different, as the poisoned person was not their close kin.
Snow Kingdom!
It seemed she had to make a trip to the Snow Kingdom herself.
As Zhao Jiaqi turned to leave, Qi Xuan called out to her. "The Old Madam could be poisoned so unknowingly. This person is clearly no ordinary individual. Before the poisoner is caught, I have concealed the truth from everyone in the mansion. I told the butler that the Old Madam was beyond help and to prepare for her funeral. Do you understand my intention, Princess?"
"I understand. Thank you, Uncle Qi!" Zhao Jiaqi tilted her head, exhaled a turbid breath, and calmed her emotions. "I will leave soon. I entrust my mother to your care. Continue with the subsequent arrangements as planned. Regarding the spy matter, let me think about it!"
She couldn't be sure at the moment whether the spy had been lurking in the mansion from the beginning or had been swayed later.
Everything was still unknown, and the news had come too suddenly. Her mind was like a tangled ball of thread, spinning around and around without any clear direction.