Chapter 201 Minglan is poisoned
The people were talking about the arrest of Prince Yan.
Soon the news spread throughout Bian Jing.
Because the news was unclear, many people thought that Prince Yan was arrested because of the previous assassination attempt on the Crown Prince.
Wasn't it Prince Yong who assassinated the crown prince? How is he related to Prince Yan as well?
Could it be that the two of them were in collusion?
There were many royal families in the city of Bianjing. They were stunned at first when they heard the news, but the smarter ones quickly thought of something and were terrified.
The one who assassinated the crown prince was Prince Yong. Now Prince Yong has been dead for several months, and suddenly Prince Yan was arrested.
Could it be that the government wants to use this excuse to purge the royal family?
Although this possibility is very small, what is happening now forces them to think about it.
So many members of the royal family quickly sent people to inquire about the news.
The royal family was terrified, but the civil and military officials had no such worries.
No one even asked about this matter, and the family members were told not to talk about it.
…………
East Palace Garden
Zhao Xing and Zhang Guifen were taking a walk, and he told her how Prince Yan was preparing to poison him.
After hearing this, Zhang Guifen turned pale with fright even though she knew Zhao Xing was fine.
"You say the throne is so tempting? All of my cousins want to kill me." Zhao Xing's tone was somewhat dull.
He was not sad because Prince Yong and Prince Yan were plotting to murder him.
Instead, he suddenly thought that in the future, would his sons also scheme against each other for the throne and try to kill each other?
There may even be people who want to kill him as a father.
This kind of thing has been very common since ancient times and is not impossible.
Zhang Guifen thought Zhao Xing was upset because of this, and consoled him, "Prince Yong and Prince Yan are greedy and rebellious. It is not worth it for your husband to be upset about this."
"I am not sad about this." Zhao Xing shook his head and said, "It's just a momentary emotion."
Zhao Xing also realized at this time that he was worrying too much.
Given the restrictions that the Song Dynasty imposed on royal families, this situation would hardly happen in the future as long as he did not show favoritism towards one of his sons.
It has to be said that although the Song Dynasty had the reputation of being a weak dynasty, it was disliked by later generations.
However, some of the systems of the Song Dynasty still have their merits.
As the two were talking, a eunuch hurried over.
When Sanshui saw him, he quickly stepped forward and exchanged a few words, then hurried back.
"Your Highness, Shao Yin Sheng sent someone to the East Palace, saying that Sixth Miss Sheng was poisoned. He begged Your Highness to send the imperial physician to treat Sixth Miss Sheng." Sanshui said.
"What?" Zhao Xing grabbed Sanshui and asked anxiously, "How is he? Is he okay?"
"The person who came only said that Miss Sheng Liu was in critical condition, but the details were unknown."
Sanshui's arm was grabbed by Zhao Xing, and he felt like it was about to break, but he could only endure it.
"I'm going alone..."
Zhao Xing originally wanted to go and take a look, but suddenly realized it would be inappropriate for him to go there.
Rulan was his concubine, and Minglan had no status.
Now that Minglan has been poisoned, if he, a prince, goes there, he will inevitably attract criticism.
"Hurry, let Imperial Physician Ma go there quickly. Also go to the Imperial Hospital to find Imperial Physician Wu and let him go as well." Zhao Xing let go of Sanshui and gave the order.
The Imperial Medical Office is located in the Imperial Palace, and there is also an imperial physician stationed in the Eastern Palace.
However, Imperial Physician Wu is the most skilled in Chinese medicine among all the imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau.
"Yes!" Sanshui hurried away after hearing that.
"Your Highness, Sixth Miss Sheng is a lucky person and will be fine." Zhang Guifen saw Zhao Xing's unhappy expression and comforted him softly.
She was deeply impressed by Minglan.
She knew all the concubines that Zhao Xing had chosen before.
But last year at Jinmingchi Villa, Zhao Xing not only invited the fifth daughter of the Sheng family, but also the sixth daughter of the Sheng family.
Not only did they dine together, they also played polo together.
She had roughly guessed it at that time, but did not ask.
She was deeply impressed by Minglan. Besides her good polo playing skills, the most important thing was that Zhao Xing looked at Minglan many times during the dinner.
Zhang Guifen keenly felt that Zhao Xing cared more about the sixth girl than the two girls from the Sheng family.
And Zhao Xing’s performance just now also confirmed this.
"I'm fine." Zhao Xing took a deep breath.
He couldn't understand why Minglan was poisoned.
After all, this didn't happen in the original drama.
But now, because of his existence, many things have changed.
So who poisoned Minglan?
The first person Zhao Xing suspected was Mrs. Lin, but after thinking about it carefully, Mrs. Wang was also a possibility.
It has been decided that Minglan will marry with Rulan. If Madam Wang feels that Minglan will steal Rulan's limelight, it is not impossible for her to get rid of her.
Zhao Xing was not in the mood to think too much at this moment. Instead, he was worried about whether Minglan could be rescued.
"Your Highness, how about I go to the Sheng family and take a look?" Zhang Guifen said.
"No need. It's not appropriate for me to go there now, and it's even more inappropriate for you to go there." Zhao Xing shook his head and said, "Shulan is also a member of the Sheng family, but she is pregnant now, so it's not convenient. Yanran and Miss Sheng Liu are close friends, so I'll let her go."
…………
Sheng Family, Mu Cang Zhai
Mu Cang Zhai is the name Minglan gave to her own courtyard, which comes from a poem by Tang Dynasty poet Liu Changqing.
At dusk, the mountains are far away, the weather is cold and the white houses are poor. Chaimen hears the barking of dogs, and returns home on a snowy night.
It describes the scene of travelers returning home, implying the hardships of the journey and the warmth of returning home.
Minglan chose this name, meaning that although the road ahead is difficult, this is her warm home.
Only after closing the door and staying in this courtyard could she put down all her disguises.
At this time, Mu Cang Zhai was very quiet. The servants dared not make any sound when walking, for fear of being beaten to death by Old Lady Sheng who had lost her mind.
Minglan suddenly vomited uncontrollably and then passed out.
The maid hurriedly went to call a doctor, who, after taking the girl's pulse, said that she had been poisoned.
Although Mrs. Sheng looks serious on weekdays, few people have seen her get angry.
Upon learning that Minglan was poisoned, Mrs. Sheng was furious and beat two servants to death.
In the bedroom, Minglan was lying on the bed, and an old man with silver hair was taking her pulse.
Everyone in the Sheng family stood aside. Old Madam Sheng and Sheng Hong looked anxious and worried, but they did not dare to make a sound for fear of disturbing Imperial Physician Ma.
Liu Sanshi stood aside with an expressionless face.
Zhao Xing knew something about the attitude of the Sixth Miss of the Sheng family, so he personally accompanied the Imperial Physician Ma to the Sheng family.
After Imperial Physician Ma finished taking the patient's pulse, he let go of his hand with a serious expression.
"Imperial Physician, how is my granddaughter?" Old Lady Sheng asked hurriedly.
"Madam, Miss Sheng's condition is not optimistic. I have to give her acupuncture to induce vomiting. As for whether she can be saved, I am not sure." Imperial Physician Ma said.
"What…"
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Sheng’s eyes went dark and she fainted.
"Old lady!"
"Mother!"
Mother Fang and Sheng Hong quickly supported Old Madam Sheng.
Sheng Hong said anxiously, "Please ask the imperial physician to take a look at my mother."
"The old lady was so grief-stricken after hearing the bad news that she fell into a coma. She is not in serious condition for now, but Miss Sheng cannot be delayed any longer." Imperial Physician Ma said in embarrassment.
Although it wouldn't take much time to take Mrs. Sheng's pulse, if it was delayed too long, the chances of saving the girl from the Sheng family would be even smaller.
As an imperial physician, although he is not as good at scheming as those officials, he is not ignorant of the ways of the world.
A concubine's daughter, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hurried to bring her.
On the way, Liu Sanshi also reminded him to rescue the people, which already explains a lot.
"Sheng Shaoyin, the old lady is not in a hurry, and she fainted because she was worried about the Sixth Miss. If something happens to the Sixth Miss, even if the old lady is fine, she may not be able to bear the blow."
After Liu Sanshi finished speaking, regardless of what Sheng Hong thought, he said to Imperial Physician Ma, "Imperial Physician Ma, please treat Miss Sheng Liu as soon as possible."
To him, the life or death of Old Lady Sheng had little to do with him.
If something happened to Minglan, who knew if the Crown Prince would vent his anger on him?
Upon hearing this, Imperial Physician Ma ignored Sheng Hong and called his attendant Xiao Si to have him take out the silver needle. He then gave him a prescription and told him to prepare it.
Sheng Hong had no choice but to order someone to send Old Madam Sheng back to her room and notify someone to call a doctor.
"You stay here and watch. I'll go take care of my mother." Sheng Hong said something to Madam Wang and left in a hurry.
To him, the life or death of Old Madam Sheng is more important.
Minglan is just a concubine's daughter after all, but it is different for Old Lady Sheng. If anything happens to her, he will need to observe mourning.
He finally became an official of the fourth rank and is now only in his early forties.
At this age and at this level, he is not considered young, but he is definitely not old either.
Before retiring, it is possible to become a minister.
But if I were to observe mourning, there would be no hope.
He is just the Shao Yin of Kaifeng Prefecture. Is it possible that the government will take away his love?
…………
Xue Niang hurried into the house. Lin Xiaoniang and Molan, who were sitting at the upper seat, stood up immediately when they saw Xue Niang come in.
"How about it?"
Before Lin Xiaoniang opened her mouth, Molan asked impatiently, "Did you get any news?"
"No." Xue Niang shook her head and said, "The Mu Cang Zhai is surrounded by people from Shou An Tang and we can't get any information. But I heard that the old lady fainted, so I'm afraid the situation is not optimistic."
"That's great!" Molan was delighted when she heard that.
"Mo'er!"
Lin Xiaoniang scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Mother..." Molan looked at Lin Xiaoniang awkwardly.
"Okay, don't stay here with me. Go check around Mu Cang Zhai. If you can't get in, just wait outside. Mother knows that you and Sixth Miss have some disagreements, but you are sisters after all. Now her life or death is uncertain, so as her elder sister, remember to show some anxiety and worry." Lin Xiaoniang waved her hand.
"Yes!" Molan bowed and walked out.
Lin Xiaoniang watched her daughter's disappearing back and raised her head to signal Xue Niang.
Xue Niang understood and walked forward to close the door.
"I've always felt a little uneasy. I didn't expect the imperial physician to come so quickly." Lin Xiaoniang said with a gloomy face.
"Don't worry, little girl. The imperial physician is not a god. If the old lady could really be saved, why would she faint?" Xue Niang comforted her.
"That's true." Lin Xiaoniang took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and asked, "Is the tail clean?"
(End of this chapter)