The Dali Temple handles cases based on evidence, but disposing of someone discreetly is a different matter. Those in the royal family have plenty of underhanded methods.
The next day, after attending the morning court, Situ Yan diverted his path to the Imperial Hospital.
Guided by a young eunuch, he found Ji Jin in a small room, playing with insects. Before Ji Jin was a small wooden box containing a pair of black ladybugs, no bigger than fingernails.
He was about to feed them.
Situ Yan glanced at them and immediately averted his gaze, disdainfully saying, "It's one thing to play with bugs at your age, but if you're going to play, at least choose something prettier."
"What do you know? These are Gu worms I've raised for three months. According to records, their wings can be used as medicine to treat headaches."
"Putting aside whether the record is true, just look at their size. How many wings would you need to harvest to make a single dose?"
"I'm thinking of expanding the breeding, aren't I? What are you here for? Let me say this first, don't ask me to make house calls for minor ailments. I'm busy." He tossed a piece of shredded meat dusted with medicinal powder into the box. The two Gu worms immediately swarmed over it, drawn by the scent, and bit out jagged gaps in the meat.
"Wow, those little things have sharp teeth." Situ Yan leaned close to Ji Jin's ear and whispered, "No need for a house call. Just prepare a medicine for me."
"What kind of medicine?"
"Preferably something that can paralyze someone, rendering them unable to move or speak."
"That's easy. A packet of arsenic will do the job. If you think arsenic is too common, I can get you some Hemlock poison."
"The person cannot die."
Ji Jin turned to look at him. "Who has such a deep grudge against you?"
Situ Yan paused for a moment before confessing, "Pingning Marquis."
"Are you crazy? Your wife is pregnant. Your son-in-law trying to poison her father? This doesn't sound like a relationship you want to keep."
"If it weren't for my wife, I wouldn't care if he lived or died. But if he dies, my wife will have to observe mourning. If I had known he was such a brute, I would never have let my wife acknowledge him as family."
Ji Jin carefully put the pair of Gu worms away. "Let me get this straight, your words are all over the place, and I really don't understand."
"Simply put, that old scoundrel Zeng Guangyi never had good intentions. He recognized Fu'er into his family only to use her blood for medicine."
"Human blood as medicine? To treat what?" Ji Jin's interest was immediately piqued.
Situ Yan: ...
How could he have forgotten that Ji Jin's biggest ambition wasn't to cure illnesses and save lives, but to research various difficult and rare diseases? Back then, he had desperately wanted to join the Imperial Hospital precisely to study ancient medical texts and prescriptions.
He roughly explained the whole story to him.
Half an hour later, Ji Jin exclaimed in amazement, "There's such a potent poison in the world? It's a shame to just let him be incapacitated like this. Give him to me."
"What do you want to do?"
"Extend his life! Throughout history, how many people have sought immortality? If this prescription is used well, it might just help someone live a few more years."
Situ Yan said sternly, "Using the heart's blood of one's own flesh and blood for medicine is against human ethics."
"The prescription can be improved. Come, let's discuss the details."
Situ Yan couldn't understand the world of the medical eccentric. He said solemnly, "You can research it, but if you use human blood for medicine, I will be the first to uphold justice, even against my own kin."
"Don't worry, I just find this poison remarkably similar to my mother-son Gu. That's all."
Ji Jin ignored his new Gu worms and immediately took out a pill, handing it to Situ Yan. "This medicine can make someone lose mobility but will not affect any functions of their head. However, its effect is not long-lasting; it will naturally wear off in half a month. Remember to come back for more before it expires."
Situ Yan was displeased. "Can't you give me a whole bottle at once?"
"Brother, do you think this medicine is easy to refine? This is my only stock."
"Fine." As long as he had the medicine, Situ Yan was about to leave with the vial, but Ji Jin grabbed him. "I've been thinking, you're always too heavy-handed. You should take me with you."
"Why would I take you? your martial arts aren't good. He plans to sneak into Pingning Marquis's residence and do this quietly."
Ji Jin said, "If you don't agree, I won't prepare medicine for you anymore."
Situ Yan: ....... "Alright, alright, whatever you say."
Finally escaping his friend, Situ Yan hurried out of the palace. Before he could reach the palace gate, Emperor Changwu summoned him for questioning. "Seventh Prince, are you ill? Why have you been to the Imperial Hospital for two consecutive days?"
Doesn't my father have too many informants?
Situ Yan was helpless. He couldn't exactly say he and his childhood friend were planning to harm the Emperor's father-in-law. He could only say, "Your Majesty worries too much. It's not a big deal, really. My wife is pregnant, and I was asking Ji Jin about matters of ensuring a smooth pregnancy."
Emperor Changwu was taken aback. "Your wife is pregnant? Why didn't you tell me such important news?"
"Isn't it said that revealing it to outsiders before three months is not conducive to the pregnancy? I thought it would be best to inform you after the three-month mark."
Emperor Changwu was angry. "In your eyes, am I an outsider?"
"Please calm your anger, Father. I didn't mean that. It's just that if you knew, you would bestow rewards, right? When the imperial consorts see you giving rewards, they'd want to give them too, wouldn't they? What's the difference between that and announcing it to the world?"
"Couldn't you have quietly told me so I could be happy?" He was worried about this brat's offspring, and he was actually hiding the news.
Situ Yan thought to himself, Your Majesty has grandchildren and great-grandchildren all around, who would care about his children. However, he didn't voice this thought. Instead, he earnestly admitted his mistake. "It was my oversight, Your Majesty. Please rest assured, the next time something like this happens, I will report it to you first."
"Hmph, that's more like it."
Situ Yan: ...
He felt like old people were like children, needing to be appeased. Sigh, appeasing his wife, then appeasing his father. He truly had a difficult life.
After being appeased for a while, Emperor Changwu's mood improved. Seeing his son full of vigor, he thought seriously for a few seconds. "Seventh Prince, your wife cannot serve you now that she is pregnant. It's time to add a few more women to your household. Shall I choose some for you?"
"Father?" Situ Yan's face immediately fell. "My wife is still taking medicine to stabilize her pregnancy today. If I bring two women home at this time, am I trying to say she's not carrying safely enough? You can't cause trouble for your son at this time."
"What a coward! Which family is like this? If you can't serve yourself, you don't let others in? Wouldn't that drive you mad with desire?"
"Look at what you're saying. It's only ten months, what's the big deal?"
He had endured for three years back then, and the taste of that... Situ Yan's heart trembled. No, he had to ask Ji Jin later about how long into pregnancy one could have intercourse.
Emperor Changwu was almost angered by him again. He looked like a respectable person, but he was a henpecked husband, completely controlled by a merchant's daughter. With this kind of demeanor, how could he win over officials in the future?
Emperor Changwu was worried sick about his future, but Situ Yan completely missed the point. After a brief chat, he strode out of the palace with light steps. The medicine had been obtained; all that was left was to administer it to Pingning Marquis.