Chapter 1120: Jade Corpse Poison

Che Buchi lowered the carriage curtain and continued riding alongside as escort. But after traveling for a while, he noticed that the coughing inside the carriage was becoming increasingly abnormal.

Something was wrong. Che Buchi immediately raised a hand and shouted, "Stop the carriage!"

The party halted in the middle of the street. Che Buchi swung down from his horse, strode onto the carriage shaft, and reached for the door curtain. Just as his hand touched it, a wet choking sound came from inside.

His hand froze for an instant. Then he quickly yanked the curtain aside. Blood was dripping where his hand touched the cloth, while Hao Zhen sat inside clutching his chest, blood covering his mouth and trickling from his nostrils. The sight was horrifying.

"Your Highness! What's wrong?" Che Buchi was shocked. He no longer dared hesitate and immediately climbed inside to examine him.

Hao Zhen shook his head, his breathing chaotic. "I don't know what's happening. I feel terrible. Mr. Che, save me!"

"Your Highness, don't panic!" Che Buchi comforted him while examining his condition.

He told Hao Zhen not to panic, but a moment later he himself was alarmed. Amid his shouted orders, the carriage was given free rein to race through the streets at full speed. All along the way, terrified commoners cried out and scrambled aside as the carriage barreled through, throwing the street into chaos.

Public order in the capital was governed by strict laws. Carriages and horses were forbidden from racing without restraint through the streets, and violations were severely punished.

Ordinary households did not own carriages and horses anyway. The law was aimed at nobles, powerful families, and wealthy merchants. Injuring commoners was one thing; behavior like this was of such an ugly nature and created such a terrible public impression that it could not be tolerated.

But at this moment, the carriage of Prince Ying's residence could no longer care about any of that. If people were killed or injured, compensation could be paid afterward. How could Hao Zhen's life be compared with those of ordinary commoners?

The carriage raced to Prince Ying's residence and screeched to a halt outside. Che Buchi emerged carrying Hao Zhen in both arms and shouted furiously, "Someone come!"

A number of guards and cultivators rushed out. The instant they saw Hao Zhen covered in blood, they were all badly frightened and hurried forward to receive him.

The entire residence immediately fell into chaos.

Princess Consort Shao Liuer had never expected Hao Zhen to suddenly take leave and return home. By the time she rushed over after hearing the news, her husband had already been stripped of his outer robes and seated on the floor. Four cultivators worked together around him, one each at the front, rear, left, and right, every one of them pressing a single palm against his body and clearly using spiritual power to treat him.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, what happened to you..." The sight of her husband with blood all over his mouth sent Shao Liuer into a panic as well.

Che Buchi quickly stepped forward and extended an arm to stop her. "Princess Consort, quiet! His Highness needs silence right now. Don't disturb everyone while they are working."

"What happened? How did this happen? He was perfectly fine when he went to morning court. How did he come back like this?" How could Shao Liuer possibly remain calm? She questioned him anxiously.

Hao Zhen, whose condition was extremely poor, heard the exchange and spoke weakly. "Liuer, listen to Mr. Che. Go outside. Watch over the child."

"Princess Consort!" Che Buchi gestured for her to leave.

Shao Liuer had no choice. She could only leave, looking back every few steps.

The moment she was outside, however, she stopped Che Buchi at once and asked anxiously, "Mr. Che, what exactly happened to His Highness?"

Che Buchi's expression was grave. "Judging from the symptoms, he should have been struck by an extremely potent poison."

"What?" Shao Liuer was shocked. "How is that possible? He was perfectly fine. How could he suddenly be poisoned? His Highness usually doesn't offend anyone and doesn't fight for power. Who would want to harm him?"

"I don't know what happened either," Che Buchi said. "There are no external wounds, and no signs of any poisonous substance contacting the surface of his body. The symptoms look like poison erupting from within. Most likely, he ate or drank something he should not have."

"Something he shouldn't have eaten or drunk?" Shao Liuer paced anxiously, muttering to herself. "That doesn't make sense. His Highness didn't eat before leaving this morning. He only drank some water. Besides, everything he eats and drinks inside the residence is checked rigorously. I drank from the same water flask he did this morning. Why am I fine while only he was affected? Unless..." She abruptly raised her head, as though remembering something. "His Highness usually eats a little in the court waiting chamber before morning court. Could... could someone inside the palace have tried to poison him?"

"This..." Che Buchi hesitated. That was not something he could say carelessly. After wavering for a moment, he said, "Normally speaking, food and drink are controlled even more strictly inside the palace. Every stage is checked by multiple people. Anyone handling the food should have no opportunity to poison it, unless..."

He too had begun suspecting the possibility he did not dare voice lightly. Unless someone inside the palace had issued the order, slipping poison into the food without discovery would be extremely difficult.

The food in question was prepared for imperial princes and other members of the imperial clan. The number of people who both dared give such an order and had the power to make it happen could hardly even be counted on one hand. His suspicion settled on one person: Hao Yuntu, emperor of Qi.

The mere thought was terrifying. Beneath imperial power, the saying that even a tiger would not devour its own cubs did not necessarily apply.

But on further thought, that did not seem right either. If Hao Yuntu wanted this son dead, why would he need to use such methods? He could simply find an excuse to depose or execute him. There was no reason at all to bear the infamy of poisoning his own son.

"Unless what?" Shao Liuer's heart was pounding as well. She had vaguely begun to suspect Hao Yuntu too.

Che Buchi shook his head. "Princess Consort, don't think too much. With everyone joining forces to suppress the poison in His Highness's body, we should be able to hold it down for half a day. There is enough time to seek treatment."

"Half a day?" Shao Liuer cried out. Only half a day—the very sound of it terrified her.

"Princess Consort, don't panic," Che Buchi said. "On the way back, the moment I realized something was wrong, I immediately sent someone to the imperial palace to inform His Majesty. His Majesty will certainly find a way to save him. At the same time, I sent a fellow disciple back to the sect on urgent business. The sect will also do everything in its power to save His Highness."

Shao Liuer nodded repeatedly. "Mr. Che, my mind is in complete turmoil right now. I entrust His Highness's safety to all of you."

"Princess Consort, rest assured. We have followed His Highness for so many years that we are already counted among his people. His fortunes are tied to our own futures within the sect. We will do everything in our power to keep His Highness safe!"

To reassure the woman, Che Buchi had spoken his true thoughts.

Shao Liuer bent slightly in gratitude. After thanking him, she gritted her teeth again. "His Highness has always treated people generously. Who could it be? Why would anyone use such a vicious method against him?"

Che Buchi fell silent. He could not say either.

"Mother!" A toddler, still unsteady on his feet and led by a wet nurse, came walking toward them. He was small, but his speech was already clear.

Shao Liuer immediately went over and picked up the child. She did not dare let him approach. She was afraid he might see his father's miserable state and be frightened.

Holding her child in her arms, tears glimmered at the corners of her eyes. She was frightened and deeply worried. The imperial household was ruthless—she had long since learned that lesson. Hao Cheng's earlier marriage into Wei was one example. If the emperor truly had struck at her husband, then once Hao Zhen died, what would become of her and her child?

...

Crash! A teacup shattered against the floor. Hao Yuntu, emperor of Qi, looked like an enraged beast, bloodshot veins standing out in his eyes.

It was not merely one of his sons who had been poisoned.

At first, when word came that one son had suffered severe poisoning, he had remained relatively calm. But as report after report arrived saying others had been poisoned as well, he could no longer remain composed.

Every one of his sons who had attended morning court had been poisoned, along with other members of the imperial clan.

The imperial household might be ruthless, but that did not mean the emperor had completely lost his humanity. When it mattered, paternal affection still existed in his heart. Someone was trying to kill every one of his sons who stood in the court!

Bu Xun hurried in, carefully avoiding the broken shards of the teacup underfoot. He quickly reported, "Your Majesty, do not be anxious. The most capable imperial physicians have already been dispatched urgently to the various residences. We have also notified the three great sects and asked them to send experts in treatment at once."

Hao Yuntu's face twisted savagely. He pointed directly at Bu Xun's nose. "Every member of the imperial clan who attended morning court was poisoned. Don't tell me every one of their households was poisoned separately. Tell me—where did the problem occur?"

Bu Xun's expression was grave. "Clearly, the problem should have been with the food and drink in the court waiting chamber. This old servant has already ordered the arrest of every person connected to that food. Not one has escaped. I have ordered them rigorously interrogated!"

"Interrogate my ass!" Hao Yuntu roared. "A pack of servants would never dare do this on their own. Someone must be directing them from behind the scenes. Dig out the mastermind for me! I want him cut to pieces by a thousand blades!"

Bu Xun accepted the order. "Yes!"

"Yes, my ass!" Hao Yuntu jabbed a finger at his nose again. "What is the Office of Investigation good for? Someone has managed to poison people inside my own palace. Is the next meal going to poison me to death too?"

Bu Xun was terrified. "This old servant is incompetent!"

"Find the mastermind. Get out!"

The emperor rarely lost his temper with him like this. Bu Xun hurriedly backed away, knowing the emperor was in a towering rage.

Yet before he reached the door, Hao Yuntu suddenly shouted again, "Come back!"

Bu Xun immediately returned obediently and stood awaiting orders.

Hao Yuntu's gaze was cold and sharp, like a tiger ready to devour someone. "Prince Jin was absent from morning court. He claimed to be unwell and took leave?"

Bu Xun bowed slightly. "Yes. Prince Jin requested leave yesterday."

"Good. Very good. His younger brothers in court are all lying before the gates of death, yet he happened to fall ill at exactly the right time and escaped the disaster. My fine son truly has Heaven-blessed fortune!"

Bu Xun's heart pounded. The emperor had begun suspecting Prince Jin. Yet it was not difficult to understand. No matter how one looked at it, Prince Jin was burdened with suspicion that would be difficult to wash away.

"Arrest him!" Hao Yuntu forced the word out through clenched teeth. Then, one word at a time, he said, "Arrest him first and ask questions afterward. Bring him back and interrogate him thoroughly!"

The moment those words were spoken, Bu Xun knew Prince Jin's life was finished. A prince personally ordered by the emperor to be arrested and rigorously interrogated—whether he proved guilty or innocent, the emperor was no longer leaving him any face at all. All of Hao Yuntu's dissatisfaction with Prince Jin had erupted completely. Prince Jin would probably never have any connection to the throne again in this lifetime.

But Bu Xun did not dare say another word. With something like this happening, the Office of Investigation—and therefore Bu Xun himself—was already covered in filth he could not wash away. What standing did he have to plead for anyone else? He respectfully accepted the command. "I obey!"

About an hour after leaving, Bu Xun returned. With him came the sect leaders of Qi's three great sects.

The incident had grown far too serious. It had alarmed all three sect leaders enough that they had personally gone to the various residences to inspect the victims.

When Hao Yuntu saw the three of them, even in his anger he had no choice but to restrain himself. At least outwardly, he became deferential and respectful. He cupped his hands in greeting. "I have failed to govern my household properly and troubled the three Sect Leaders to make the journey in person. The fault is mine."

The three either shook their heads or waved their hands, indicating that it was nothing.

Yuwen Yan, Sect Leader of Tianhuo Sect, said, "Your Majesty overstates the matter. Now that things have reached this point, this is no longer merely Your Majesty's household affair. The situation has already affected all three sects. Naturally, we had to come ourselves."

Hao Yuntu said, "I thank the three Sect Leaders for your magnanimity. Since you personally went to examine the victims, has the condition of those poisoned in the various residences eased at all?"

The three sect leaders exchanged looks. Their expressions were awkward, or perhaps somewhat unnatural.

Bei Xuan, Sect Leader of Xuanbing Sect, said gravely, "Judging by the symptoms, the members of the imperial clan should have been poisoned with the extremely rare Jade Corpse Poison."

Hao Yuntu was startled. "The Jade Corpse Poison that has no antidote?"

All three nodded slightly.

A dark gloom covered Hao Yuntu's face. "In other words, even the three great sects have no way to save them? They cannot survive and can only wait to die?"

San Qianli, Sect Leader of Daqiu Sect, said, "It is not that there is absolutely no hope. The Ghost Doctor's disciple is here in the Qi capital. Red Child poison likewise has no antidote, yet he was able to neutralize it, which shows that his methods are extraordinary. We may as well ask him to try. With the sects doing everything they can, the princes and imperial clansmen should be able to hold on for roughly half a day. There is still time to persuade the Ghost Doctor's disciple to act."

[End of Chapter 1120]