Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Conspiracy
216 Conspiracy
As expected, the Empress personally summoned Song Renying. After their conversation, the Empress learned the full story of what had transpired.
Song Renying confessed to his crimes due to the cruel officer’s array of tortures; any single one could have claimed his life. Therefore, he offered no resistance and openly admitted his guilt, thus avoiding being subjected to the cruel officer’s torments. As for the letter of apology, comparing Song Renying’s handwriting easily revealed its authenticity.
The Empress still had great trust in her long-serving minister and confidant. Furthermore, at that time, persuaded by Song Renying and Lord Zhang, she had even considered returning the throne to the Xiao Family. This ultimately led to Bu Huo’s execution and Song Renying’s demotion.
Song Renying’s demotion was, in fact, a measure to protect the Xiao Family’s bloodline.
「 」
Naturally, this was information that only came to light much later. At that moment, Zhao Zhitong, Qiao Muchen, and the others were watching Song Renying’s horse carriage gradually recede into the distance.
They only returned to the Capital City after it had completely vanished from sight.
For the following period, Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue focused intently on preparing for their examinations, while Zhao Zhitong continued to tend to the Princess’s health at the Princess Mansion.
As time went by, nearly a month had passed, and Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue entered the examination hall.
Both the provincial and metropolitan examinations were held in the Capital City, each lasting three days. All necessities, including eating and drinking, were confined to the examination hall.
Once they emerged from the examination hall, Zhao Zhitong would also be able to leave the Princess Mansion.
And after nearly a month of this dedicated care, the Princess’s physical condition had begun to show clear signs of improvement.
Having learned about the Princess’s daily progress from her maids, Princess Anping and the Prince Consort finally saw a genuine ray of hope.
The treatment Zhao Zhitong and Wei Zijian received at the Princess Mansion improved dramatically.
However, Dr. Zhuo, upon receiving this news, was not nearly as pleased.
He was pacing anxiously in his room, appearing quite agitated. His sycophantic underling then said, "Master, aren’t you simply worried that the Princess will recover?"
Hearing this, Zhuo An turned to him. "Continue."
The man gave a fawning smile. "In that case, Master, we just need to ensure the Princess *doesn’t* recover, and our problem is solved."
Zhuo An pondered, What method do you have in mind?
"Master, there are plenty of methods. For example..."
With that, he leaned in and whispered into Zhuo An’s ear. After a moment, Zhuo An nodded, a cold smirk on his lips. "Then I’ll entrust this matter to you."
"Yes, Master!"
「 」
Zhao Zhitong’s days at the Princess Mansion were quite leisurely. She had a great deal of freedom there, primarily writing out the next day’s menu for the kitchen to prepare for the Princess and prescribing herbal remedies to bolster the Princess’s low immunity. Concurrently, she also administered Vitamin C to her daily.
However, she was no naive fool. She knew she couldn’t let her guard down. She didn’t believe for a moment that Dr. Zhuo would let her off so easily, so she kept a close watch on Zhuo An, wary of any tricks he might try.
Yet, despite all precautions, there were always times when a loophole could be exploited.
And indeed, the one looking to stir up trouble had arrived.
One day, Zhuo An suddenly arrived at the Princess Mansion to visit Princess Anping. He stated directly that he had read about the method Zhao Zhitong was using to treat the Princess in a book, and that such a method was exceedingly dangerous.
Evidently, Princess Anping no longer trusted Zhuo An. Upon hearing this, she showed no reaction at all, merely lifting an eyelid slightly. "Oh? And what is improper about it?"
Zhuo An pressed on, "Princess, this method is incredibly perilous! Those peculiar pills she’s been giving the Princess—do you even know what they are?"
"What could they be?" Princess Anping asked, unconcerned. "Aren’t they simply pills concocted by Miss Zhao?"
Zhuo An moved closer, his voice grave. "Certainly not! Princess, have you never considered? She’s barely more than a child, still so young and with only a few years of medical study. Could she genuinely possess such skill to cure an illness that numerous physicians from the Imperial Physician Bureau could not? Doesn’t Princess Anping find it strange at all?"
This time, Princess Anping raised her head and looked at Zhuo An, her brow furrowed. "What are you implying? If she can cure the illness, it only proves the young lady’s exceptional talent."
"Hmph! Exceptional talent?" Zhuo An sneered. "Where in this world would you find so much exceptional talent? When something is this abnormal, there’s bound to be something amiss, perhaps even nefarious."
Princess Anping’s frown deepened. "Dr. Zhuo, you cannot slander the young lady simply because she can cure an illness you could not. Is your own tolerance so meager?"
Zhuo An’s expression turned somewhat unsightly as he explained, "Princess, am I truly that sort of person? My foremost concern has always been for the Princess’s well-being!"
"Those pills are not of her own making; they are a type of poison! After ingestion, they can make a person seem to experience a brief resurgence of vitality, appearing as if they’ve recovered. But in reality, this substance is extremely detrimental. Those apparent signs of improvement are all illusory! Before long, it will completely deplete the person’s vitality, leading to an agonizing death!"
Princess Anping found Zhuo An’s words somewhat difficult to believe, but she couldn’t help worrying that they might indeed be true.
Seeing Princess Anping somewhat swayed, Zhuo An added more fuel to the fire. "Princess, have you considered why that Miss Zhao insists on controlling the Princess’s diet? It’s precisely because of this pill! A vegetarian diet with fruits ensures the drug’s effects don’t manifest too quickly. If the Princess takes too many rich foods or tonics, adverse symptoms will likely appear. If you don’t believe me, Princess, you can go and see if what I’m saying is true."
Princess Anping frowned, her heart somewhat apprehensive, but she finally said, "Whether it is true or false, we shall see after a month."
Her daughter had already been declared incurable by the Imperial Physician Bureau. She was willing to take this gamble. If she won, her daughter would return to health. If she lost, she would have Zhao Zhitong accompany her daughter in death.
Seeing Princess Anping’s resolve, Zhuo An still wanted to try persuasion, but the princess issued an order to expel him. "Enough, Dr. Zhuo. This is not your Imperial Physician Bureau, and my daughter no longer requires your treatment. You should leave."
She had barely finished speaking when the Princess’s personal maidservant rushed in, crying out, "Princess, terrible news! Terrible news!"
Princess Anping grew flustered. "What is it? Has something happened to the Princess?"
The maidservant nodded emphatically. "Yes, it’s—it’s the Princess! After breakfast, she still felt hungry and wanted something else to eat. Seeing that the Princess had regained some spirit and had an appetite, I went to the kitchen and brought her a plate of meat-filled buns. But after eating them, the Princess began to vomit uncontrollably, and now... now she has fainted again!"
"What?!"
Princess Anping shot up, slamming her hand on the table in shock, her face a mask of fury and disbelief.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of triumph flashed in Zhuo An’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
He quickly said, "Princess, you see? I wasn’t lying to you just now. That supposed improvement is just a deceptive facade! You must quickly order a halt to the Princess’s medication and immediately apprehend that audacious charlatan who dared to deceive the Princess Mansion!"
Now, Princess Anping could no longer afford not to believe him. With such evidence laid out before her, she was utterly convinced that Zhao Zhitong was a fraud.
She shot a glare at Zhuo An, then, with a flick of her sleeve, hurried towards her daughter’s room.