MCSCPM -Chapter 92 Begone

After the Empress was severely poisoned, Nangong Lin refused to let her leave Weiyang Palace. He summoned all the imperial physicians from the Court of Imperial Medicine to guard the palace and study ways to counteract the poison. Yin Qingyue, however, was permitted to go to Consort Sun’s residence to inspect for any irregularities.

Yin Qingyue saw Nangong Mei’er, dazed and appearing like a completely different person, standing quietly at the back. Feeling sympathy, she stepped closer and gently squeezed her hand.

Nangong Mei’er, who seemed devoid of consciousness, sensed the warmth on her hand. She stared blankly at Yin Qingyue’s plain face, and tears suddenly began streaming down.

Yin Qingyue sighed. In this palace, Nangong Mei’er was the most innocent—she only wished for a simple, peaceful life, yet she could never have it.

Previously, Nangong Mei’er had approached her for her mother, as Consort Sun desired a son. That had been her only reason. Yin Qingyue had initially been wary of her, but as they gradually interacted, the girl’s simplicity and purity slowly won her over. In the treacherous depths of the palace, Nangong Mei’er had become something like a friend, yet now she faced such disaster.

Accompanying them were officials from the Investigation Bureau. Upon arriving at Consort Sun’s palace, they insisted on securing the scene to investigate carefully, so the Emperor and his entourage had to wait outside. Yin Qingyue watched the officials bustling about solemnly and smirked inwardly.

After some time, one of the officials emerged to report:
“Your Majesty, I found this poison in a makeup box in Consort Sun’s palace. Its appearance and taste are very similar to the poison that afflicted the Empress. However, I must wait for further examination by the imperial physicians before confirmation.”

Nangong Mei’er glanced expressionlessly, seeing Nangong Lin’s enraged face, and remained silent.

Nangong Lin’s eyes swept over the official. “So Consort Sun killed herself out of guilt?”

Nangong Mei’er trembled, a wave of deep despair paralyzing her. This was her wise and powerful father—so easily passing judgment on his favored consort, her mother.

Yin Qingyue could not bear it and let out a cold laugh.

“Divine Physician Yin, what are you laughing at?” Nangong Lin caught the hint of mockery, frowning in displeasure.

Yin Qingyue stepped forward, bowed lightly, and said casually, “I just find it amusing to see all of you taking this so seriously.”

“How dare you!” An Investigation Bureau official stepped forward, pointing at her nose. “You insolent child! How dare you behave recklessly before His Majesty!”

Nangong Lin gave the official a cold glance. “Stand down.”

He knew Yin Qingyue would not act recklessly without reason. Though young, she was methodical, skilled in medicine, and clever—she would not cause trouble in such a situation.

“Divine Physician Yin, give us your opinion,” Nangong Lin commanded, dismissing the dissenting officials and calling on her directly.

Yin Qingyue spoke calmly. “First, I need to ask the Second Princess—did you personally see Consort Sun ingest the gold?”

Called forward, Nangong Mei’er, still dazed, replied, “I did not witness it personally, but when I returned to Weiyang Palace, I saw my mother collapsed on the carpet, her face purplish. The maid said Mother had sent everyone away, and when dinner was delivered, she was already in that state.”

Yin Qingyue smiled faintly and looked at Nangong Lin. “Your Majesty, I see two possibilities. First, Consort Sun could have taken her own life or been overwhelmed by grief. But there is also a second possibility.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to her. She continued slowly, “The second possibility is that Consort Sun was murdered.”

The officials shivered, incredulous. Nangong Lin’s deep eyes betrayed nothing, fixed solely on Yin Qingyue. “Go on.”

“Hasn’t there been too much happening in the palace lately?” Yin Qingyue swept her gaze across the room. “First, the Empress was poisoned for the first time. Isn’t that suspicious? The Empress, the paragon of virtue and blessed with a dragon-phoenix constitution, always had her food tasted first—but she was poisoned. That’s one. Secondly, all clues point to Consort Sun, the Empress’s rival. Everyone knows Consort Sun is strong-willed and favored in the harem, yet this theory—that she would poison the Empress—doesn’t quite add up.”

“And if, as I suspect, Consort Sun intended to become Empress herself?” The Empress was critically ill, and Lai Mamu was absent, leaving her in Consort Sun’s palace.

Yin Qingyue glanced at Lai Mamu and smiled faintly. “Not impossible, but Consort Sun only has the Second Princess, no sons. Even if she became Empress, what could she accomplish?”

Lai Mamu fell silent, watching Yin Qingyue coldly.

Nangong Lin pondered deeply. “Continue.”

Yin Qingyue complied. “Everyone says the Second Princess poisoned the Empress, but Your Majesty knows her character. Such a gentle, unassuming princess would not do such a thing. The poison used—forget the Second Princess, even I would struggle to prepare it. Moreover, the ingredients are rare and cannot be bought. Could the Second Princess have prepared this poison years in advance?”

Nangong Mei’er gave Yin Qingyue a grateful glance—at a time when anyone touching her would bring disaster, this woman stood up for her.

Yin Qingyue bowed. “I believe the Second Princess did not poison the Empress a second time. Then the question remains: if not her, who sought to frame the Second Princess? Was Consort Sun’s death murder or suicide?”

Nangong Lin’s eyes swept over the Investigation Bureau officials—useless, none of them could rise to the task.

“The Second Princess Nangong Mei’er remains a suspect. Detain her in the Heavenly Prison. All officials of the Investigation Bureau are demoted one rank and sent back to reflect on their failures.” He swept his sleeves and departed, clearly uninterested in seeing Consort Sun one last time.

“Understood, Your Majesty,” the officials replied, kneeling submissively, their eyes filled with resentment toward Yin Qingyue.

“Thank you,” Nangong Mei’er said quietly. She glanced once at her mother’s palace, thanked Yin Qingyue, and followed the guards away.

Yin Qingyue watched her leave and returned to the Empress’s chamber.

“Divine Physician Yin! Come quickly! The Empress has fallen unconscious!” A young maid rushed to inform the Emperor but encountered Yin Qingyue, seeing her as a savior. She led her inside and sent another maid to fetch the Emperor.

Though the imperial physicians were powerless, Yin Qingyue felt certain that she could save the Empress.

Her expression turned serious as she entered the inner chamber. Empress He lay weakly on the bed, nearly lifeless.

Feeling her feeble pulse, Yin Qingyue was shocked: besides the “Three-Day Zhu” poison, there were two other toxins in the Empress’s body.

Her brows furrowed. Who could be so cruel as to want the Empress dead?

“Divine Physician Yin… this…” Zhang, the chief imperial physician, was experienced and rarely wrong, yet he was at a loss for how to treat the Empress.

“Your Majesty, the Empress has three poisons: the deadly ‘Three-Day Zhu,’ and two others whose nature is not yet identified. The toxicity of the latter two is weaker, but we don’t know who intends to strike the Empress next,” Yin Qingyue said gravely.

“Chief Zhang, you must inform the Emperor immediately. I and the other physicians will stay here. If anything happens to the Empress, we cannot bear the responsibility,” she continued.

“Yes, Divine Physician Yin,” Zhang replied, turning to deliver the message, troubled. After decades of practice, he had believed in his skill, yet here he was outmatched by a young girl, and if the Empress died, his life could be forfeit.

After Zhang left, Yin Qingyue turned to the other physicians. “Colleagues, these are extraordinary circumstances. If the Empress’s poisons cannot be neutralized, none of us may survive. I hope you can set aside past grievances and work together to save Her Majesty.”

The physicians were struck by her words, realizing the urgency. They set aside their pride and focused entirely on researching the antidote.

Zhang hurried to the Imperial Study, but the Emperor was not there; he had gone to the Xuan Palace. Frustrated, Zhang rushed there, thinking: the palace is in chaos—the Empress poisoned and critically ill, Consort Sun dead, the Third Princess confined for her affair, the Second Princess accused… yet the Emperor has time to indulge in mysticism?

“Please inform His Majesty immediately! I have urgent matters regarding the Empress’s well-being!” Zhang gasped, arriving at Xuan Palace, addressing the steward eunuch at the door.

“Chief Zhang, you know the Emperor does not allow interruptions during the mystic lecture…”

Seeing Zhang exhausted, the eunuch resolved, “Enough! Since this concerns the Empress, I will take him in!”

Zhang kowtowed. “Thank you, sir.”

Inside, the Emperor roared, “Who allowed you in? You interrupt the master’s lecture!”

Terrified, the eunuch knelt. “Your Majesty, forgive me! But Chief Zhang must report on the Empress’s condition. Please see her first, then punish me!”

“Begone!”

The eunuch scrambled away, muttering, “Don’t worry, Chief Zhang. The Emperor still cares deeply about the Empress. He will be out shortly.”

Zhang waited under the blazing sun. Nangong Lin did not appear. Wiping sweat from his brow, Zhang lamented: the Emperor obsessed over mysticism, neglecting state and family affairs. At this rate, the empire will surely fall.