Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Zhenzhen immediately invited Qin Sishan, Fengxian, and Yun Yinge to her room for a closed-door discussion. Like the imperial kitchens, the Eastern Palace also employed a large number of kitchen staff. However, the Crown Prince’s meals were meticulously prepared, and on ordinary days, they were mainly prepared by Qin Sishan and the palace attendants from the Bureau of Palace Provisions. After the Crown Prince fell ill, Qin Sishan had stipulated that all meals and medicinal soups must be prepared by herself, Zhenzhen, Fengxian, or Yingge before being served to the Crown Prince, to ensure safety. Zhenzhen promptly informed the three of them about the possibility that the mountain spring water might have been poisoned. Qin Sishan immediately decided to abandon the use of mountain spring water from then on and use only well water for all meals and drinks. Zhenzhen said, "That is indeed the right course of action. However, anyone who dares to plot against the Crown Prince is certainly no ordinary person, and it is likely that there are spies within the Eastern Palace as well. Therefore, we cannot publicly announce that we are abandoning the use of mountain spring water. Instead, we must continue to fetch water into the kitchen at the usual times each day, as we normally would, to avoid alerting the enemy and making them realize that we have discovered the water is tainted. This will give us time to investigate the poisoning."
Qin Sishan agreed wholeheartedly and instructed Fengxian and Yingge to fetch the mountain spring water as usual, as Zhenzhen had suggested, but to discard it upon entering the kitchen and use only well water.
Zhenzhen then asked Yang Zicheng to inspect the pipeline from the water source to the outlet, checking for any signs of tampering, and suggested, "This must be done discreetly. For the sections within the palace, have the palace attendants responsible for cleaning or the gardeners handle it, to avoid drawing attention. For the sections outside the palace, the Imperial City Department should take over, with plainclothes patrols inspecting the pipeline."
The inspection quickly yielded results—there were indeed signs that the pipeline on Phoenix Mountain had been tampered with. Zhenzhen further advised Yang Zicheng, "Continue to have the Imperial City Department patrols disguised as woodcutters or farmers stationed near the pipeline on Phoenix Mountain, keeping watch day and night. It now appears that the poisoner has been administering the poison multiple times in small amounts, which is why we couldn’t detect it earlier. However, the Crown Prince’s stomach and spleen are weak, and the accumulated toxins eventually caused him to fall ill. The poisoner will not give up easily and will surely return to tamper with the pipeline and remove the bamboo plugs. Therefore, the Imperial City Department must strictly monitor every section, remain well-disguised, and promptly arrest anyone attempting to poison the water."
The Imperial City Department followed Zhenzhen’s suggestion and began patrolling. Two days later, news arrived that during the night, two figures in black had been spotted digging into the pipeline on Phoenix Mountain. The patrols gave chase, but one escaped, while the other fell into a river and disappeared. After a day of searching, his body was found downstream. His face was swollen from being submerged and had been injured by rocks along the way, making it unrecognizable. However, judging by his physique, he appeared to be a palace attendant. The patrols also recovered a bamboo tube and a jar of liquid that the two had dropped. The bamboo tube resembled a firefighting pump, with a hollow bamboo branch attached to the outlet, thin enough to be inserted into the small holes used for pipeline maintenance. It was likely that they had used this pump to inject the poisoned liquid into the pipeline after removing the bamboo plugs.
The liquid was nearly colorless and smelled of mushrooms. When tested with a silver hairpin, the pin did not change color. However, when ginger and garlic were boiled with it, they quickly discolored. Zhenzhen took a small spoonful of the liquid into her mouth and confirmed it was a highly concentrated mushroom broth. Although she spat it out immediately, she soon felt dizzy and nauseous, followed by severe vomiting. Fortunately, Guo Siqi had recently been stationed at the Eastern Palace and quickly arrived with Han Suwen, providing timely treatment and detoxifying her. Several imperial physicians examined the liquid and also concluded it was made from highly toxic mushrooms. Injecting this mushroom broth into the mountain spring water pipeline would dilute it significantly by the time it reached the outlet, making it difficult to detect. However, with daily doses, the Crown Prince, with his weak stomach and spleen, had fallen victim to the poison.As soon as Zhenzhen felt slightly better, she immediately went to the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility to inform the Emperor of the situation. She suggested that His Majesty first investigate all the eunuchs in both the Northern and Southern Inner Palaces to see if anyone was missing, inspect all the kitchens in the Bureau of Palace Provisions, the imperial kitchens, and the various palace halls, and then search every corner of the palace for traces of poisonous mushrooms. The Emperor quickly ordered an investigation of the Southern Inner Palace. The result was that all eunuchs were accounted for, no one was missing, and no poisonous mushrooms were found for the time being. However, when Zhang Zhibei went to the Northern Inner Palace to convey the Emperor's intentions to the Empress Dowager, she flew into a rage and refused to allow the investigation, rebuking, "Is His Majesty suspecting that I intend to harm the Crown Prince? I will make this clear: there are no conspirators in Cifu Palace! If His Majesty does not believe me, he may as well establish an imperial prison, arrest my eunuchs one by one, and subject them to torture to find the so-called culprit!"
Thus, the Emperor could not forcibly search Cifu Palace and instead ordered the Imperial City Department to secretly continue the investigation in the Northern Inner Palace.
Over the past few days, Zhenzhen had been exhausted both mentally and physically. Seeing her condition, Qin Sishan told her to go back and get a good night's sleep, while she herself would take over the night watch for the Crown Prince. Although the mastermind behind the poisoning had not yet been identified, Zhenzhen felt somewhat relieved to see the Crown Prince gradually recovering. She returned to her room and fell into a deep, heavy sleep. The next day, she did not wake until the sky was bright. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the Crown Prince sitting by her bedside and was startled. She immediately sat up and asked, "Your Highness, why are you here?"
"I heard you tasted the poisonous mushroom soup for me?" the Crown Prince questioned.
"Just a little bit, it's nothing serious," Zhenzhen replied with a smile. "Back then, Official Liu tasted poison nearly a hundred times for the late Emperor. What I did is nothing in comparison!"
"Zhang Yunqiao must not have loved Official Liu enough if he allowed her to taste poison nearly a hundred times," the Crown Prince asserted, then sighed softly. "Even with just this one time, my heart aches terribly."
Zhenzhen waved her hand dismissively, still smiling brightly. "Don't feel bad. Think of it this way—now we are comrades who have faced life and death together. That's a good thing."
The Crown Prince's eyes grew slightly moist as he gently embraced Zhenzhen.
Leaning against his chest, Zhenzhen whispered, "You treat me so well. I am willing to do it, even if it means tasting poison a thousand times... When I discovered you had been poisoned, I hated that person to the core. I wanted nothing more than to find them and grind their bones to dust... It's a pity the Empress Dowager acted on impulse and refused to allow the search of Cifu Palace."
"This is not just an impulsive act on her part," the Crown Prince analyzed calmly. "Harming the heir apparent is equivalent to treason. If it is discovered that the poisoner is from Cifu Palace, whether she was involved or not, she cannot escape responsibility. Even if His Majesty does not pursue it, officials from the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and other departments will not let it go easily. At best, an imperial prison would be established; at worst, her position as Empress Dowager could be threatened. That is why she must prevent the investigation of Cifu Palace now, to avert disaster before it strikes."
Zhenzhen looked up at him. "I have a suspicion... Could the mastermind be Cheng Yuan? Your Highness has recently been having him watched, and he may have noticed. Relying on the Empress Dowager's protection, he might have become so bold as to attempt this."
"I think the same," the Crown Prince pondered. "But there is insufficient evidence. I had him watched to investigate your mother's whereabouts. If he were merely detaining a common woman, he would not take such a desperate risk to harm me unless your mother's identity is extraordinary, and if discovered, it would endanger his life... I will continue investigating and will eventually find your mother."
Zhenzhen hesitated. "I am a little afraid... What if something like this happens again...""No, it won't," the Crown Prince said softly, kissing her forehead with a gentle smile. "Now, under Qin Sishan's orders, all water fetched from anywhere must be tested for poison before use, and the same goes for ingredients. It won't be so easy to harm me through food or drink anymore."
After a moment of quiet embrace, Zhenzhen spoke again, "I have another presumptuous request. Though saying it might displease Your Highness..."
"Lin Hong," the Crown Prince calmly stated the reason for Zhenzhen's hesitation. "You're worried that Lin Hong might be punished by the Emperor because of my incident... Don't worry. When the Emperor visited me this morning, I already told him that Lin Hong is pure and detached from worldly affairs, with no intention to harm me. Punishing him for overseeing the water diversion project would be unreasonable. If someone picks up a knife on the road and uses it to kill, should the blacksmith who forged the knife be punished?"
Overwhelmed with emotion, Zhenzhen didn't know how to thank him. In the end, she simply held him tighter, feeling as though she never wanted to let go for the rest of her life.
Upon returning to his quarters, the Crown Prince soon summoned Yang Zicheng to inquire about Cheng Yuan's recent activities. Yang Zicheng reported, "Cheng Yuan recently sent someone to the Immortal Music Academy to request the musical score and illustrations for the Liangzhou Dance. The following day, music from the Liangzhou melody could be heard from his Shi'an Garden, as if musicians were rehearsing."
"The Liangzhou Dance?" the Crown Prince remarked. "In recent years, it seems only Consort Liu has performed it at banquets."
Yang Zicheng replied, "This dance belongs to the Dunhuang music and dance tradition and is extremely challenging. Currently, no one at the Immortal Music Academy can perform it in its entirety—only Consort Liu has done so once. During the late Emperor's reign, only Madam Ju could perform it."
Madam Ju... The name brought to the Crown Prince's mind a faint shadow from his childhood memories: a figure in red robes, holding a jade sheng, standing by the jade railings of a pond. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the beauty's sleeves to flutter as if about to take flight.
"Why did Madam Ju leave the palace back then? And where did she go?" the Crown Prince asked further.
Yang Zicheng, in his fifties and a veteran of two reigns in the palace, was well-versed in the old affairs of the inner court. He answered, "It was likely because the Empress Dowager could not tolerate her. Madam Ju requested to leave the palace to live outside, but not long after, she disappeared. Her whereabouts remain unknown to this day. During the late Emperor's lifetime, the Empress Dowager endured many humiliations. The beauties favored by the late Emperor showed her little respect, especially Madam Ju, who repeatedly confronted her openly. So after the late Emperor passed away, the Empress Dowager immediately requested that the Emperor send all the late Emperor's consorts out of the palace to become nuns. By then, Madam Ju had already disappeared. There were rumors in the palace that the Empress Dowager had ordered her capture, intending to have her killed to accompany the late Emperor in burial."
The Crown Prince inquired further about the timing of Madam Ju's departure from the palace and her disappearance. After pondering for a moment, he asked, "What was Madam Ju's full name?"
Yang Zicheng replied, "She was an orphan. In the palace, she had several foster mothers, none of whom treated her well. She was stubborn by nature and refused to take her foster mothers' surnames. Later, when the late Emperor asked her, she said she had no surname and was called Ju An."
"No surname... Ju An..." The Crown Prince contemplated this briefly, then instructed Yang Zicheng, "Send someone to find a skilled portrait artist who can draw based on descriptions. Take the artist to Pujiang and have Wu Qiuniang's neighbors and acquaintances describe her appearance and figure to the artist. Have the portrait drawn and brought back."Although Han Suwen was considered unpleasant by the imperial physicians, he was, after all, the most skilled among the younger generation of medical officials and practitioners. Therefore, the senior imperial physicians often brought him along as an assistant when treating important dignitaries. During the Crown Prince’s illness, Guo Siqi also frequently brought Han Suwen to the Eastern Palace. Now that the Crown Prince was gradually recovering, he had witnessed Han Suwen’s hard work over the days and requested The Emperor to grant him special favor by promoting Han Suwen to the Imperial Academy of Medicine. From then on, Han Suwen was qualified to conduct independent medical visits.
One day, feeling refreshed and energetic, the Crown Prince said to Han Suwen, who had been teaching him stretching exercises to relax his muscles and bones, “I can do them on my own now. From now on, Physician Han need not come every day. If needed, I will send someone to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to invite you.”
The Crown Prince also generously rewarded Han Suwen with many valuables. Although Han Suwen expressed gratitude, his expression was downcast, as if he were not pleased.
Zhenzhen escorted him out, and along the way, he repeatedly asked her, “I see you look sallow and emaciated, quite haggard. Is your spleen and stomach unwell? I’ll come tomorrow to examine you.”
Zhenzhen replied, “I’ve just been eating less and sleeping poorly these past few days. I’ll be fine after resting for a few days. There’s no need for you to come again.”
“Fatigue can also lead to many illnesses. I still must come tomorrow to examine you carefully and see where any potential ailments might lie.” Han Suwen thought for a moment and added, “One day won’t be enough. Your condition suggests the illness may already be in the intestines and stomach, nearing the bone marrow. You must have follow-up visits every couple of days.”
Zhenzhen shook her head impatiently. “I’m not sick…”
“No, you are!” Han Suwen stubbornly insisted.
Zhenzhen began to feel something was off: Was he repeatedly emphasizing her illness as an excuse to visit the Eastern Palace frequently?
She stopped and scrutinized him, frowning as she said, “Han Suwen, you’re not… in love with me, are you?”
Han Suwen immediately wore an expression of insult, disdainfully saying, “My standards for women are so high, how could I possibly like you!” Then, clasping his hands toward Zhenzhen, he added, “To be honest, I’ve always respected you as a true man. Please don’t get any ideas about me.”
Before his words had fully faded, a chorus of melodious voices could be heard outside the main gate. It was the song and dance girls residing in the Eastern Palace returning from the Immortal Music Academy, chatting and laughing in small groups as they entered.
Han Suwen immediately abandoned Zhenzhen, beaming with joy as if bathed in spring breeze, and walked toward Xiangli’er among them. As he walked, he softly called out “Miss Jiang,” his tone entirely different from the casual, straightforward way he usually spoke to Zhenzhen.
Zhenzhen suddenly understood: He liked Xiangli’er and feared that if he couldn’t visit the Eastern Palace frequently, he would lose the chance to encounter her by chance.
Zhenzhen deliberately observed Xiangli’er for a moment and had to admit that Xiangli’er was charming and lovely, skilled in singing and dancing, and considerate. Compared to her, Zhenzhen indeed seemed rough like a man.
Thus, she waited quietly for Han Suwen to finish chatting with Xiangli’er. After Xiangli’er left, Zhenzhen walked up to Han Suwen, who was still craning his neck to watch his beloved depart, and said, “Alright, brother agrees. Every now and then, I’ll report to the Imperial Academy of Medicine that brother’s noble body is unwell and request your visit for treatment.”
Han Suwen was overjoyed, smiling as he clasped his hands in gratitude. “Thank you, brother!” He then specifically instructed, “Don’t make the symptoms too severe, lest other physicians come along as well. Just say dizziness, loss of appetite, or nausea and vomiting will do.”
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