Mingyue personally went to serve him, and Ji Shiyou felt extremely honored, trotting along behind her.
Yanliu's heart was in her throat.
Meanwhile, Xing Sheng, perched on the roof beam, silently departed.
A moment later, Mingyue emerged from the small kitchen, carrying an oversized bowl.
Behind her followed Ji Shiyou, holding a spoon and looking expectant.
He had seen what Mingyue was making in the pot earlier; it didn't look very appealing.
No wonder Mingyue lacked confidence, though the aroma was still pleasant.
He thought to himself that even if it tasted bad, he would pretend it was delicious and finish it all.
He had to support Mingyue and not dampen her spirits.
The two entered the main hall of Lanyue Palace, one after the other.
Yanliu and Dongnan followed to attend, while the others, without orders, stood obediently in the courtyard.
"What the Empress has made looks exceptionally delicious. I can hardly wait," Ji Shiyou said, sitting down, taking the large bowl from Mingyue, and speaking against his will.
Mingyue, fearing the medicine might not be potent enough, had chosen the largest bowl, with a diameter of about eight inches.
This single bowl contained two-thirds of the "meat stew" from the pot.
Looking at the sticky, dark, viscous substance in the bowl, Ji Shiyou lost his appetite.
"At least it smells good," Ji Shiyou told himself, resolving to keep his word.
Besides, this was Mingyue's first time cooking, and he had to show his support.
He picked up the spoon, scooped a heaping spoonful, and put it in his mouth.
"Your Majesty!"
Dongnan cried out in alarm as Ji Shiyou took a spoonful of the "meat stew," his face contorting.
The Empress's meat stew did not look appetizing at all.
Dongnan knew Ji Shiyou well; he would normally gag at the sight of such a dish.
Judging by his expression now, he was already feeling nauseous.
"It's delicious," Ji Shiyou managed to say, his voice hoarse, after swallowing and suppressing his nausea.
He felt like crying, because the stew smelled fragrant.
But the taste in his mouth was indescribable.
It was salty and bitter, sweet and sour, numbing and pungent, with a fishy, gamey odor.
It even had a gamey undertone, making it truly difficult to describe.
Despite all this, he forced himself to maintain a look of enjoyment.
"If you don't want to eat it, don't force yourself. Although the Emperor's word is his bond, and a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold, your nature is to go back on your word, and I'm used to it."
Mingyue, afraid Ji Shiyou would stop, deliberately provoked him with her words.
She was referring to when Ji Shiyou left Wuman and promised to return to marry her.
"What I say, I will certainly do."
Ji Shiyou understood her implication perfectly. He lifted the large bowl, held his breath, and swallowed the entire bowl of meat stew in one go.
"Your Majesty, quickly drink some tea to settle your stomach!"
Dongnan quickly poured a cup of hot tea and rushed to Ji Shiyou's side.
With a clang, the large bowl in Ji Shiyou's hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong? Someone, summon the imperial physician!"
Before Dongnan could get close, he saw Ji Shiyou stiffen and fall to the ground.
His eyes were tightly shut, he was vomiting uncontrollably, and he had lost consciousness.
Dongnan cried out in terror, quickly embracing Ji Shiyou and shouting for help.
The guards and eunuchs in the courtyard, hearing the commotion, hastily put down what they were holding.
Some rushed to carry him, others to fetch the imperial physician, creating chaos.
Mingyue, standing aside, watched coldly as Dongnan and the others carried Ji Shiyou to a brocade couch in the main hall.
Ji Shiyou's face was ashen, his breathing shallow, as if he were on the verge of death.
Her heart felt no anticipated satisfaction. Logically, her plan had succeeded.
Killing Ji Shiyou would have avenged her family, and she should have felt immense joy.
But her heart ached, a pain so profound she could barely breathe.
She didn't understand why. Perhaps, even if Ji Shiyou died, the deceased could not be brought back, and she would still be alone.
Perhaps, deep down, she still harbored feelings for Ji Shiyou.
Watching Ji Shiyou die by her hand, she felt a pang of regret.
She was unsure if what she had done was right or wrong.
Mingyue stood there blankly, her mind replaying scenes of her and Ji Shiyou in Wuman.
Unconsciously, tears streamed down her face, wetting her collar.
"Everyone, get out of the way! The imperial physician is here!"
Just then, a shout echoed from outside the door.
Immediately, a dark figure rushed in – it was Xing Sheng.
Having witnessed the situation, he realized he couldn't stop Ji Shiyou from drinking the meat stew.
So, he had quickly gone to the Imperial Hospital and brought back an imperial physician.
"Imperial Physician Wei, quickly examine His Majesty and see what's wrong!"
The imperial physician Xing Sheng had brought was the same one who had previously examined Consort Lian.
His surname was Wei, and he was someone Ji Shiyou trusted.
Seeing him, Dongnan quickly explained Ji Shiyou's condition and urged him to treat the Emperor.
Imperial Physician Wei had been looking up medical records in the Imperial Hospital when Xing Sheng suddenly burst in.
Without explanation, Xing Sheng had thrown him over his shoulder and run.
He was already half-dead with fear. When Dongnan pushed him towards Ji Shiyou, he still hadn't fully grasped what had happened.
"Imperial Physician Wei, His Majesty is in critical condition and needs treatment. Are you trying to be executed by a thousand cuts by being so slow?"
Seeing Imperial Physician Wei dazed and lost, Dongnan slapped him and shouted in his ear.
"Ah! Your Majesty!"
The slap jolted Imperial Physician Wei awake. He saw Ji Shiyou lying before him.
He quickly composed himself and began his work.
His medical skills were considered the best in the Imperial Hospital, so he was naturally proficient.
He immediately began emergency treatment, first clearing Ji Shiyou's mouth and nose of vomit to prevent airway obstruction and suffocation.
Then, he began to take his pulse, switching from his left hand to his right, his brows furrowed.
Mingyue watched Imperial Physician Wei's frantic efforts, wishing he had ten fingers to take the pulse, her heart filled with conflict.
She was unsure whether she hoped Imperial Physician Wei would miraculously revive Ji Shiyou, or if she wished Ji Shiyou would die to atone for his family's lives.
"Imperial Physician Wei, how is it? Why are you only taking his pulse? His Majesty is like this, why aren't you administering acupuncture or prescribing medicine?"
Seeing Imperial Physician Wei's furrowed brow and worried expression, Dongnan grew impatient.
"What did His Majesty just eat?"
Imperial Physician Wei kept shaking his head, as if pondering something he couldn't understand.
Hearing his question, Yanliu's face turned pale.
It seemed the Princess poisoning His Majesty could no longer be hidden.
Mingyue's expression remained unchanged; she had already prepared herself for the worst.
"His Majesty just drank a bowl of meat stew the Empress brewed."
Dongnan glanced at Mingyue suspiciously, speaking with some uncertainty.
He knew Mingyue hated Ji Shiyou, but he couldn't believe she would poison him.
"This is the meat stew. Imperial Physician, please examine its ingredients so you can prescribe the right antidote and detoxify His Majesty."
As everyone's thoughts raced, Xing Sheng entered, carrying a large pot.
He was aware of the situation; Ji Shiyou had been poisoned, so he had directly gone to the small kitchen.
He had taken the pot down and brought it for the imperial physician to examine.
Only by knowing the poison could they administer the correct antidote.
"Miraculous recovery, miraculous recovery! Such skill!"
Imperial Physician Wei's tightly furrowed brows relaxed. As if he had figured something out, his face lit up with surprise.