Chapter 691: Unless He Isn't the Crown Prince
Afterward, Xiao Huayong visited Princess Ruyang's residence again. Shen Xihe didn't know how he persuaded them, but both the princess and Xiao Fuxing eventually agreed. The princess even personally came to the Eastern Palace to meet with Shen Xihe, entrusting her to mediate between her and Bu Shulin, as if unaware of Bu Shulin's female identity and genuinely seeking a marriage proposal.
Shen Xihe now had a legitimate reason to visit Bu Shulin, but before she could arrange a date, Xie Yunhuai returned and requested an audience with both Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong.
The once refined gentleman now appeared somewhat unkempt. His jade-like complexion had become darker than the rough men weathered by northwestern sandstorms, yet his eyes shone with exceptional clarity and spirit. His slender, slightly gaunt frame was draped in dark blue robes, resilient like emerald bamboo, with an innate humility and broad-mindedness radiating from his very bones.
"Your Highnesses, I have brought someone back from beyond the frontier to examine the Crown Prince," Xie Yunhuai announced with vibrant energy.
Shen Xihe's heart leaped with joy—Xie Yunhuai's demeanor suggested he had made progress regarding the Unique Poison in Xiao Huayong's system. She couldn't suppress her delight. "Quickly, bring him in."
The benefits of Shen Xihe seizing the Power of the Imperial Harem were now evident. She had the authority to permit anyone into the palace; otherwise, she would have needed to seek His Majesty's approval and obtain a token from whoever held the Palace authority.
A tall, burly man was brought in by Xie Yunhuai. His facial features were strikingly angular, and his skin was exceptionally dark. Though Shen Xihe had traveled to Shuannan and seen many with dark complexions, this was her first encounter with a man so deeply tanned. He spoke in a language unfamiliar to her, yet Xie Yunhuai fluently conversed with him in an equally strange tongue.
Instead of taking Xiao Huayong's pulse, the physician requested a bowl of water with coarse salt added, then asked Xiao Huayong to bleed into it.
"I borrowed Qi Langjun's ship to sail overseas but encountered a storm and drifted to a mysterious land," Xie Yunhuai summarized. "There, I met local tribespeople. Aler is a physician from their tribe. When I discussed the Unique Poison in Your Highness's system, he gave me a type of insect—eggs from this insect, when roasted, produce the very poison affecting you. Now, Aler wishes to confirm if the poison in Your Highness is indeed the same and to assess the depth of the toxicity."
Xiao Huayong stood, wiped his hands with a warm plain cloth, took a dagger sterilized with strong liquor from Tianyuan, and without flinching, sliced his palm. Holding his fist loosely over the bowl, he let blood drip into it.
His blood appeared no different from that of a healthy person at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it was noticeably thicker, dispersing slowly in the water-filled bowl.
Aler shook his head repeatedly, then pulled a leather pouch from his awkwardly worn lapel robe. He poured a drop of an unknown liquid into the bowl and gestured to Xiao Huayong that he had bled enough.
Xiao Huayong opened his hand, and Xie Yunhuai swiftly cleaned the wound, applied Hemostatic Powder, and bandaged it neatly.
Meanwhile, Aler stared intently at the bowl. The blood inside gradually changed color, shifting to a dark red shimmering with golden flecks, as if gold dust had been sprinkled atop it, floating within the crimson hue.
"How can this be?" Shen Xihe murmured, her expression grave.Xie Yunhuai began questioning Aler, whose brows were tightly furrowed as he said something to Xie Yunhuai.
Xie Yunhuai then asked something back with slight urgency.
Aler raised both hands and shook them at Xie Yunhuai, speaking words that Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong couldn't understand.
Xie Yunhuai's gaze froze momentarily before he turned to Xiao Huayong: "Aler says Your Highness has been poisoned for a long time. He will do his best."
Though steady as always, with every word and action showing no flaw, Xie Yunhuai stood before Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong - both of whom sensed this wasn't the full story.
Before Shen Xihe could open her mouth to inquire, Xiao Huayong spoke first: "Ruogu, did you receive the letter Youyou sent you?"
Xie Yunhuai quickly asked: "What instructions does the Crown Princess have?"
Clearly he hadn't received it - Xie Yunhuai's return happened to be coincidental.
"Cui Shaoqing has been poisoned. Both Zhenzhu and A Xi are at their wits' end. Senior Linghu Zheng is traveling and couldn't be found. Fortunately, Ruogu returned just in time," Xiao Huayong said. "I'm afraid you'll have to postpone your rest and go to the Cui residence first. Zhenzhu and A Xi are also at the Cui residence. They said they could only protect Cui Shaoqing for five to seven days - four days have already passed."
Indeed, it was too urgent to delay. Xie Yunhuai said: "I'll go to the Cui residence immediately."
"I'll accompany you," Xiao Huayong said. Noticing Shen Xihe stepping forward, he turned to her: "Youyou should remain in the palace in case anything happens."
Shen Xihe looked deeply at Xiao Huayong before complying with his wish: "Very well."
Xiao Huayong brought Xie Yunhuai, along with Aler who closely followed Xie Yunhuai, to the Cui residence. After exiting the palace gates, both Xie Yunhuai and Aler rode in the carriage with Xiao Huayong. Xiao Huayong asked: "Can my poison actually be cured?"
Xie Yunhuai met Xiao Huayong's calm, deep-set pupils - his eyes concealed brilliant light, gathered like silver radiance, resembling a night too profound to easily fathom. After a silent moment, he replied truthfully: "Aler says this poison doesn't kill immediately upon entering the body, but gradually corrodes it. The poison transforms as it penetrates deeper. This toxin undergoes five transformations total, corresponding to five stages of detoxification, each requiring different treatment methods at different periods."
"Your Highness's poison has already reached an incurable stage. Their tribe has researched antidotes for this poison across generations, but so far no one has found a method to break the final stage."
Meaning they were too late. If it had been earlier, detoxification wouldn't have been difficult for Aler, but now even he had no solution.
Xiao Huayong closed his eyes, his gauze-like long lashes casting shadows beneath them, trembling slightly. When he opened them moments later, his gaze was clear and unfathomably profound: "Completely hopeless? Beyond saving?"
Xie Yunhuai looked at Aler and exchanged a few words with him. Aler couldn't help glancing at Xiao Huayong, admiring his composed indifference upon hearing his impending death. He whispered something to Xie Yunhuai.
Xie Yunhuai's expression remained grave: "Someone in their clan proposed methods worth attempting. Many methods ended in failure. There are still two methods that haven't been tried..."
"How are they tested?" Xiao Huayong asked.
Xie Yunhuai hesitated before answering: "The methods are rather horrifying to hear about. One careless misstep means death without a complete corpse..."Upon hearing this, Xiao Huayong understood. It seemed the method would harm the body. As the Crown Prince, he represented the inviolable dignity of our dynasty. Even for the sake of curing illness or detoxifying, such violation could not be tolerated. His Majesty could righteously refuse. Moreover, this method was still untested—His Majesty would not agree, and attempting it secretly was also unfeasible. He would certainly require a long period of rest and treatment.
Unless he was no longer the Crown Prince.
Exhausted from training, I slept and woke up late. I’ll strive for a ten-thousand-word update tomorrow!
(End of Chapter)
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