MCSCPM -Chapter 131 Standing Firm with Reason

“Your Majesty, I think since the Grand Minister is here, why not let him examine this original-leaf plant together with the Divine Physician?” Consort De said calmly and gently.

Her thought was simple—find an excuse to divert attention, so Yin Qingyue wouldn’t have too many ideas about the miraculous herb.

The Grand Minister quickly understood her intent. “Your Majesty, although I do not understand medicine, by Heaven’s blessing, I am quite knowledgeable about plants,” he said, speaking with complete seriousness, convinced it was no offense to deceive the Emperor.

Yin Qingyue, though curious about the plant, understood clearly that the Emperor had no desire for the truth to be revealed.

At that moment, Prince Jing, who had been observing silently, suddenly spoke. “I think it’s better to investigate thoroughly.”

Emperor Nangong Lin’s expression shifted slightly, but he nodded. “Then investigate. Make it perfectly clear.”

“Your Majesty, then please have the guards move the plant here,” Yin Qingyue said calmly.

The plant looked old, its branches and leaves thick and lush. Being a woman, she couldn’t possibly move it herself.

“People!”

“What is Your Majesty’s order?” several guards quickly approached.

“Move the plant near the screen in front of me,” Nangong Lin said coldly. Everything was now right before him. If Yin Qingyue were wrong, her life would be forfeit. Even Prince Jing couldn’t protect her—this would be a case of deceiving the Emperor.

Bang, bang. The guards carefully moved the plant but accidentally knocked the nearby tables and chairs, producing a few clattering sounds.

“Be careful! This was sent by the Empress—if it gets damaged, you’ll be in trouble!” one eunuch thought to himself, secretly hoping nothing would happen. After all, the Divine Physician had embarrassed him earlier in front of the Emperor.

Yin Qingyue circled the plant repeatedly, saying nothing. This plant was extremely unusual.

“Divine Physician, have you discovered anything?” the eunuch asked curiously. Seeing her pace silently around the plant left him puzzled.

“Eunuch, don’t be impatient—haste won’t get you hot tofu,” Yin Qingyue said with a smile. When she was working, no one else had a say.

The eunuch knew better than to argue; opposing Yin Qingyue would only lead to trouble.

“Look carefully. This plant’s leaves appear healthy, but after all these years, hasn’t anyone noticed the roots are rotting?” Yin Qingyue pointed at the plant’s roots. She hadn’t physically exposed them yet—but the faint smell of decay had been detectable the moment she entered the room. As a Divine Physician, she could discern even the slightest signs.

“How is that possible?” Nangong Lin said in disbelief but remained silent. It had been sent by the Empress; he didn’t want to believe it could be harmful.

Her words left the room in stunned silence; no one dared to confirm that the Empress’s plant was the cause of the Emperor’s cough.

“Don’t believe me?” Yin Qingyue said to Nangong Lin, her stunning eyes radiating confidence. Her assessment was correct: rotting roots with healthy leaves. If not this plant, what else could it be?

“Help me up!” Nangong Lin said, still in disbelief but ready to face reality.

“Move aside! Expose the roots of this plant,” he commanded, assisted by a nearby eunuch.

The guards carefully parted the leaves, and a foul stench hit everyone.

“What is this smell? So awful!” the maids and imperial physicians exclaimed, covering their noses.

Nangong Lin frowned deeply, his face darkening.

“Seems the Divine Physician was right,” he said softly. Though he had suspected, it was hard to accept.

“This can’t be!” he told himself. The evidence was before him—denial was impossible, especially with so many witnesses.

“Your Majesty, this proves that the plant is the root cause of your cough. How would you like to handle it?” Yin Qingyue said calmly. Everything was as she predicted—the plant was indeed the source of the Emperor’s illness.

Nangong Lin remained silent, staring at the plant. Others might not know, but he understood: the sender of this plant—the old acquaintance—was in fact the Empress, currently unconscious.

Memories flashed before his eyes. Could the candied pear the Empress had prepared have been intended to harm him? Could this sweet-faced woman lying beside him in bed have been trying to poison him all along?

The more he thought about it, the harder it was to accept.

“Cough, cough!” He coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth.

“Someone! Quickly, the Emperor is vomiting blood!” the eunuch shouted.

“Lay the Emperor down first,” Yin Qingyue said calmly. She knew the shock of this truth was immense for him, even if he suspected it. She could see his protective instinct toward the old acquaintance—despite not knowing who it was.

“Although this plant was sent by Your Majesty’s old acquaintance, it does not necessarily mean they poisoned it,” Yin Qingyue said gently. This reflected the Emperor’s true feelings—he did not wish to believe the Empress had malicious intent.

Since Yin Qingyue had entered the palace to examine the Emperor, her life had been tied to the intrigues of the inner court. Poisoned Empress, poisoned Crown Prince, even attempts on the Emperor’s life—all part of a larger conspiracy, unknown to her.

After hearing her words, Nangong Lin’s tightly furrowed brow slowly relaxed. The problem lay with the plant, but it didn’t necessarily implicate the Empress. He still trusted He Minmin, after all, after all these years.

Prince Jing squinted slightly, watching Yin Qingyue speak. “Enjoyable” was the only word to describe his feelings.

“The Divine Physician’s analysis is indeed accurate,” Nangong Lin praised repeatedly. His emotions shifted rapidly; serving an Emperor was like serving a tiger—the mind of an Emperor was always unpredictable.

“Your Majesty is correct! The Divine Physician speaks the truth!” a eunuch echoed.

Yin Qingyue found it nauseating. The palace officials, just like those at the Luocheng Courtyard, swayed with the wind. But to survive, she had to face it.

“Divine Physician, I want to hear how you determined the roots were rotting,” Nangong Lin said, curious. She had not even looked at the roots directly—how could she know?

“I noticed it the moment I entered,” she said calmly.

“Oh?” everyone was surprised. This seemingly ordinary young woman had such skill.

“I smelled the decay as soon as I came in. The room is poorly ventilated, so it must be this plant. Your Majesty, do not be surprised—since childhood I have understood such things, so my sense of smell is naturally more acute than ordinary people,” Yin Qingyue explained. This matter would inevitably reach the Empress’s ears; it was only a matter of time.

“Do you all hear that? Follow the Divine Physician closely. My ailments of so many years are solved by her alone. You useless lot of imperial physicians can’t match even her. What use are you?” Nangong Lin scolded, still coughing violently, long frustrated with the ineffectiveness of traditional treatment.

“Spare us, Your Majesty!” the physicians knelt, begging repeatedly.

“Your Majesty, please control your anger! If you injure yourself in anger, it will worsen your condition,” another physician pleaded.

“Yes, Your Majesty—anger will worsen your cough,” they all chimed in.

“Someone, remove this plant from me!” Nangong Lin said, irritated. After so many years, he had been tormented by this plant.

“Your Majesty, wait—this plant still needs to be kept,” Yin Qingyue said calmly.

“Kept? What use? Should it take my life?” Nangong Lin coughed again.

“No, Your Majesty. I still need this plant to prescribe the proper remedy. To solve a problem, one must start from its source,” Yin Qingyue explained. Even as a Divine Physician, she needed the cause to treat the effect. If the plant were discarded, even a transcendent healer could not cure the Emperor’s cough.

Nangong Lin realized he had been short-sighted. Today, he had lost face in front of everyone—but it was worth it. If Yin Qingyue could cure him, he could forgive her.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Yin Qingyue said coldly to Prince Jing. Since entering the Emperor’s chamber, his gaze had never left her.

“If not for me, could you have discovered the real culprit?” Chu Jingcheng said softly. He simply followed his instincts; he cared for her and would do anything for her.

Yin Qingyue did not reply, staring at him coldly.

“What? Was I right?” Chu Jingcheng’s amusement grew.

“Prince Jing, if you want to say something, wait until we’re out,” Yin Qingyue said, unwilling to cause trouble. If the Emperor blamed her, her earlier words and actions would have been wasted.

“What, do you mean I should reveal the Empress’s part?” Prince Jing said with a smile, lowering his voice. The implied threat, however, could not fully come to fruition.