The spiritual medicine's effects were significant, but it could not resurrect the dead.
Su Xiaoqi first used the spiritual medicine to stabilize Chu Yunlang's ravaged body, then she would find a way to detoxify him.
The poison used was the Black Rose, the most vicious found in the western regions of Daliang.
It was a poisonous plant that matured in three years, bloomed in three years, and bore fruit in three years.
Its shape resembled a rose, and its venom was incredibly potent. Anyone who consumed the juice extracted from its fruit would die within a quarter of an hour.
The death was gruesome.
Upon poisoning, the entire body would first turn purple and green, then gradually blacken, and upon death, the body would be as black as charcoal.
Had they not entered earlier, Chu Yunlang would likely have been lost.
Su Xiaoqi looked at the small body on the bed.
Chu Yunlang was only ten years old, with a delicate and handsome face. Although the poison had affected his appearance, he was still adorable. What's more, looking at him gave her a strong sense of familiarity, as if she had known him intimately from birth.
Just moments ago, if someone else had been lying on this bed, even on the verge of death, she might not have been willing to give him the only half piece of spiritual medicine she possessed.
Su Xiaoqi remained silent, and no one else in the room spoke.
Shen Yun, Yu Changfeng, Chu Yunwei, and the others were worried about Chu Yunlang's condition, holding their breath as they waited, not daring to utter a word.
Chu Lege, on the other hand, wanted to speak, but he was restrained by Yu Changfeng and could not utter a sound.
He could only glare resentfully at everyone, using his eyes to vent his intense dissatisfaction.
Shen Yun waited for a moment and then asked softly, "Xiaoqi, can Second Young Master Chu still be saved?"
Su Xiaoqi glanced at Chu Lege, then at everyone else, and replied, "I have already detoxified him from the Black Rose poison, so he is not in mortal danger for the time being. However, it will be difficult for him to wake up. Furthermore, I am not sure if he will be poisoned again after we leave..."
When Su Xiaoqi first arrived, Chu Yunlang was in a dire state, nearly dying. He could barely hold on after being given the spiritual medicine. Yet, in the time it took them to discuss and prescribe medicine outside, he was poisoned again. Su Xiaoqi had reason to believe that these people would strike again once they left.
She was puzzled by the actions of Chu Yunlang's parents. Why would they so readily send a child to represent them as an envoy to Daliang? Not only that, but to entrust him with such a heavy responsibility at such a young age, and then fail to protect him rigorously, allowing him to fall into the hands of someone as malevolent as Chu Lege. It was as if they courted death.
If Chu Yunlang's mother were not Yu Jing, Su Xiaoqi would have suspected that Chu Yunlang was not the Emperor of Bei Chu's biological son.
Lost in her thoughts, Su Xiaoqi suddenly heard Yu Changfeng whisper, "Little Sister Xiaoqi, I want to take him back to the Duke's mansion."
Su Xiaoqi sighed, "Very well."
If he were poisoned again, she could not guarantee she would have spiritual medicine to save him!
Yu Changfeng quickly had Xiuzhu pack Chu Yunlang's belongings and personally came to carry him up. However, Chu Lege, now free, blocked their path.
"This is the Second Prince of my Great Chu. You failed to poison him and now you intend to abduct him in public. How audacious! I shall go to the palace and ask your Emperor if he condones such behavior!"
Well, the fox crying "stop the thief!"
Su Xiaoqi's expression turned sour. She turned to Shen Yun, "Since Lord Shen has brought the Imperial Guards, I request you investigate this matter and clear our names. Apprehend the mastermind, lest there be hidden traitors around the Second Prince of Bei Chu who next commit such acts of poisoning and framing others."
Shen Yun nodded. Since he was here, he would naturally handle the matter. Moreover, Chu Lege's intentions were detestable, daring to frame his woman. This was unbearable! He raised his hand, signaling for Officer Lu to proceed.
Officer Lu's method was simple and brutal; he waved his hand to seize them.
Seeing this, Su Xiaoqi covered her eyes. This was not right. But she also knew that these Imperial Guards, under the Emperor's indulgence, could almost walk unhindered in the capital. They were accustomed to acting as they pleased. If they disliked someone, they would arrest them first, regardless of guilt or innocence. Once thrown into the Imperial Prison and subjected to various tortures, they would be made to confess something.
However, these people before them were different. They were from Bei Chu, foreigners, representing not just themselves but the reputation of Bei Chu in the outside world. If they resorted to violence against them, without being able to provide evidence of them harming their own Second Prince, it would be tantamount to breaking ties with Bei Chu. While it might not ignite a war between the two nations, it would certainly tarnish Daliang's reputation. After all, the new Emperor had just ascended the throne and required auspicious signs, not conflict and violence.
After some thought, Su Xiaoqi intended to stop them. Shen Yun, however, had already spoken, "Do not move them for now, just surround them." He turned to Su Xiaoqi and asked, "Is there any evidence proving they administered the poison?"
Su Xiaoqi thought for a moment and replied, "The Black Rose has a characteristic: its poison is potent and its color is deep, making it difficult to conceal. Furthermore, it turns the skin black upon contact. I believe that the person who administered the poison, since they forced the poison into the Second Prince, must have some trace of the Black Rose on their fingers or body. And those marks are not easily removed; they require lard mixed with ash. With such little time, and as we were outside the whole time, we saw no outsiders entering or leaving. I propose that everyone extend their hands. A quick look will tell us who administered the poison."
Of course, Su Xiaoqi’s suggestion had a prerequisite: that person did not possess modern disposable gloves. If they did, then this matter would become more complicated.
Upon hearing of a better method, Shen Yun immediately halted the Imperial Guards' intention to directly arrest them and throw them into the Imperial Prison. He instructed them to instead check the fingers and bodies of all the Bei Chu people present for the marks Su Xiaoqi described.
Soon, all the attendants below had been checked. Only two personal maids, Xiuzhu, and Chu Lege remained unchecked. This was because they were different from the ordinary servants outside. Moreover, apart from Xiuzhu, the two maids and Chu Lege were unwilling to cooperate.
Su Xiaoqi had been observing the inspection all along. The others, with clear consciences, readily extended their hands. But the pair of maids before them did not. She narrowed her eyes, scanned them, took a deep breath, and her gaze turned sharp as she looked at the young maid in the pink dress with many braided pigtails on the left. She remembered her name was Miaomiao. When Miaomiao stopped the Imperial Guards who were about to forcibly inspect, shouting about molestation, Su Xiaoqi stepped forward. "I am a woman, I will examine her."
Shen Yun, however, stopped her. "Don't go." He looked at these Bei Chu people, finding them extremely strange and somewhat sinister. To kill a child, they could even resort to something as vicious as the Black Rose. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, and if his wife hadn't said it, he would have found it hard to believe. Therefore, in such a situation, how could he bear to put his little wife in danger?
Su Xiaoqi nodded to him, signaling that she could handle it. Shen Yun then sighed, moved aside, and allowed her to proceed.
At this moment, Chu Lege watched their interaction and suddenly seemed to understand something. He let out a cold laugh and was about to speak when he saw Su Xiaoqi raise a pair of fair hands and slowly extend them towards Miaomiao. Chu Lege's heart tightened, but he soon relaxed. It was just a servant girl, not particularly attractive. There were countless such girls in his mansion in Bei Chu.
Su Xiaoqi searched very meticulously, from her collar to her sleeves, then to her wrists… As she searched and walked, in a moment of distraction, she approached him. As she passed him, Miaomiao seemed to step on her skirt hem and accidentally stumbled. She fell directly towards Chu Lege. Su Xiaoqi could have caught her. But she suddenly let go, allowing Miaomiao to fall towards Chu Lege.
"Damn it, you lowly servant, how dare you bump into your grandfather..."
"Ah... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, young master, I'm sorry!" Miaomiao was startled. She didn't know what had happened to her knees; they suddenly went soft, and her entire body became uncontrollable.