RWNEFE -Chapter 465 The Renxiao Emperor is Poisoned

Someone went to find the Grand Tutor.

“I’m busy with the civil examinations. If something disappears, is it as important as the exams? If the exams are delayed, do you think you can bear the consequences?” The Grand Tutor scolded them harshly.

Later, someone informed the official that the Grand Tutor’s two granddaughters were attending classes at the women’s academy.

At Liu Mingxin’s side, naturally, some people offered exaggerated warnings, but Liu Mingxin immediately assigned them errands to send them away.

Someone also approached Zhou Ruyuan.

“Your Highness, Shen Lanxi is simply causing chaos. The entire Great Zhou court is in turmoil because of her. If this continues, will men even have a voice in the court?”

Zhou Ruyuan was still investigating, showing no reaction at all. These past few days, he had sent multiple messages to the palace, all of which had disappeared without a trace.

“Everyone knows this matter stems from a wager between Shen Lanxi and Lord Liu. You want me to intervene now and offend both of them?”

The official, after being reprimanded, slapped his mouth in frustration. How could he forget the kind of relationship Shen Lanxi had with the prince? Naturally, she was being protected.

The day before the civil examination, news spread throughout the capital that Master Ruohua, a renowned scholar, had officially joined the women’s academy.

Even a great scholar like Master Ruohua joining the academy stirred unrest among the students. Families with daughters also began to feel restless.

…

Shen Lanxi had not returned home for a long time. Seeing her family again felt like a lifetime had passed.

“Lanxi is back!”

Shen Lanxi greeted each family member individually, “Has anything happened at home recently?”

Madam Liu shook her head with a smile. “No, everything at home is fine.”

Now that she had her grandson, everything seemed complete. Her two sons were also doing well, so if she complained, it would just be foolish.

The Shen family sons could now take the civil examination again, and anyone with eyes could see that they weren’t naturally talented scholars.

Even with the exams, they were destined to fail. Only Shen Congwen refused to accept fate, and the first thing he did after court each day was to push his younger nephews to study, earning their private complaints.

Shen Lanxi returned to the study, where someone immediately delivered a letter.

It came from the northwest. It stated that Kang Zhu had hemorrhaged while giving birth and could not be saved, but the child was fine.

Additionally, the Wala intended to send another woman to become Shen Yuanjing’s new consort.

“Let the Shen family read this letter.”

A guard carried the letter over.

“Your Excellency, the letter’s suggestion?”

Shen Lanxi lowered her eyes, pupils darkening.

“This letter is in Shen Yuanjing’s own hand. If he did not agree, the following lines would not be there!”

Poor Kang Zhu—a bright, healthy girl. She had barely died, and already this is about “maintaining the greater situation.”

“Reply to Shen Yuanjing: let him decide according to his own wishes!”

“Yes!”

The civil examinations, under the Grand Tutor’s supervision, were mostly completed, with only the final palace examination requiring the Renxiao Emperor personally.

“Uncle, someone just delivered a message. The whereabouts of Prince Chen have been found. When Prince Chen fell from his horse, he injured his head. A peasant girl saved him, and they are now married.”

The Renxiao Emperor inhaled the medicinal scent and calmly said, “That marriage to the peasant girl doesn’t count. Since she saved him, she can become a concubine in the Chen Prince’s residence. Later, once this matter has calmed down, quietly deal with the girl. That way, if we act now, people would say the royal family is heartless.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will arrange for Prince Chen’s return quietly.”

The Renxiao Emperor still felt uneasy. “You don’t need to go. I’ll have someone arrange it quietly.”

“Yes!”

“Uncle, in a few days, you’ll be able to come out and preside over the palace examination!”

The Renxiao Emperor was in a good mood, and casually, Shen Lanxi lifted the palace’s restrictions on the harem.

Two days later, a piercing scream suddenly came from the Yangxin Hall.

“It’s not good…”

The scream quickly ceased.

Wang Bao had stabbed the screaming palace maid to death. Wiping the blood, he coldly ordered someone to summon Shen Lanxi, Song Daoxi, and the imperial physician.

Shen Lanxi was already in the palace and rushed over immediately.

“Lord Shen, you’ve arrived. His Majesty has just vomited blood.”

Shen Lanxi immediately said coldly, “Seal Yangxin Hall. No one is allowed to enter or leave. Re-seal the harem. Until His Majesty awakens, not even an ant may leave.”

“Yes!”

Song Daoxi and the imperial physician arrived one after the other.

“His Majesty seems to have been poisoned,” Song Daoxi began examining everything the emperor had come into contact with.

After the imperial physician examined him, his face changed dramatically.

“It’s green silkworm… green silkworm…”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Imperial physician, is this the poison of the Wan Du Sect’s green silkworm?”

The physician hurriedly replied, “It is indeed the green silkworm of the Wan Du Sect. This poison killed the late Empress. Our imperial hospital is very familiar with it!”

Shen Lanxi frowned and urged, “Then why haven’t you administered the antidote yet?”

The physician broke out in a cold sweat. “There is no antidote. When the late Empress was poisoned, His Majesty had the Wan Du Sect eradicated, and all their poisons destroyed. The green silkworm should have been destroyed too. How could it still exist?”

Shen Lanxi’s face was stern. “Is there any way to make His Majesty regain consciousness?”

The physician trembled as he spoke, “The green silkworm poison is not immediately lethal. His Majesty should awaken quickly. But…” He dared not finish.

“Speak! Hesitating will delay treatment. I’ll cut off your head myself if you waste time!” Shen Lanxi shouted.

The physician nearly cried. “This poison, although not immediately deadly, brings extreme suffering. Day by day, His Majesty will feel worse. First, he cannot speak; then his skin will decay; finally, he will be enveloped in a green cocoon and die in pain.”

What a cruel poison!

Whoever poisoned the late Empress must have hated her deeply. A single lethal poison could have ended her immediately, but instead, they let her suffer slowly, witnessing her own life fading away.

Compared to the late Empress, this poisoning is mild.

“Anyone who leaks the news of His Majesty being poisoned will lose their head!”

“Yes, yes!”

“Quickly develop an antidote. If His Majesty suffers, you and your families won’t survive either!”

The physician, terrified, rushed to create the antidote.

As he said, the Renxiao Emperor soon regained consciousness.

“Uncle, you’re finally awake!”

The Renxiao Emperor tasted the metallic flavor in his mouth, a sensation he knew all too well.

“What has happened to me?”

Shen Lanxi said, “Uncle, you were poisoned. I have already sealed the palace. We will find the perpetrator.”

The emperor looked haggard, as if aged by ten years. His skin had darkened.

“What poison?”

Shen Lanxi lowered her head.

“Wang Bao, you tell me!”

Terrified, Wang Bao knelt. “Your Majesty, it is… the green silkworm!”

The Renxiao Emperor’s vision went black, and he fainted again.

The palace was re-sealed. The ministers were used to it; they expected a decree to arrive, instructing them to continue council matters.

They were accustomed to it. Zhou Ruyuan was not.