Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Chapter 632 Life hangs by a thread

Empress Dowager Li could no longer hold her temper. Her face darkened. "What's going on? Queen, Xiao Qi sent someone back with a message saying that Madam Ci'an's affairs had been dealt with. Why is there no news at all from Princess Mingzhu?"

Empress Dowager Li could no longer sit still. She paced back and forth anxiously, unable to bear the concubines' soft words of comfort. "Mingzhu was raised by me. If anything happens to her, Empress, I will never let it go! The Emperor won't let it go either! Empress, send someone to check on the situation! Or call Prince Ding here, and I'll tell him myself!"

Lan Qingwu's face was slightly cold and he said directly: "Go and tell Prince Ding!"

Lan Qingwu arranged for the Crown Princess and the others to stay in a side hall of Fengqi Palace. Ruping specifically sent a message to the Crown Princess, asking her to keep the children safe and not to go to the main hall. Empress Dowager Li was furious about Princess Mingzhu's disappearance, and Lan Qingwu was afraid of scaring the children again, so he simply told the younger generation to stay in their own hall and not to go out.

As expected, the Crown Princess could vaguely hear Empress Dowager Li's loud questioning voice from time to time in her own palace. Lan Qingwu was, after all, a daughter-in-law, not a son, and she was always concerned about Empress Dowager Li in her words and deeds. The Crown Princess sighed slightly. It seemed that even her mother-in-law had her ups and downs. Being openly challenged by Empress Dowager Li like this was almost impossible before. If there was anything serious, Emperor Shenwu would have blocked Empress Dowager Li's difficulties long ago.

Prince Ding was summoned to Fengqi Palace. He listened to Queen Mother Li's worries and suspicions, and exchanged a subtle glance with Lan Qingwu, his eyes full of helplessness.

Prince Ding could only try his best to persuade her: "Empress Dowager, please calm down. The eldest princess will definitely return safely! You are so anxious and angry. If anything happens, she won't be able to bear the consequences after she returns safely! Besides, His Majesty is cleaning up the mess at the border..."

Prince Ding hadn't finished his words of persuasion when he heard the eunuchs outside shouting, "Princess Mingzhu is back! Princess Mingzhu is back!"

Lan Qingwu frowned slightly and said quickly, "Who's outside? Come in and talk!"

The young eunuch hurried into the hall and knelt on the ground with a plop. "Your Highness the Queen and the Queen Mother, the eldest princess has been rescued! But her condition is not good. She is now rushing to Fengqi Palace!"

Empress Dowager Li was almost out of breath. She said anxiously, "Why is the situation not good? This child must have suffered a great hardship. I will go and take a look!"

Empress Dowager Li didn't care about anything else and walked out of the hall. Lan Qingwu had no choice but to follow Empress Dowager Li. He and Prince Ding supported Empress Dowager Li on both sides and walked out of the hall together.

Lan Qingwu also reminded Ru Ping: "Quickly go and summon a few imperial physicians to Fengqi Palace. Also summon Imperial Physician Nie!"

If Princess Mingzhu had any physical symptoms, Lan Qingwu would feel more at ease with Nie Wushuang in Fengqi Palace.

Ru Ping agreed and left. The other concubines had waited all day, exhausted, but they could only follow Empress Dowager Li and the Empress. No one wanted to offend Empress Dowager Li at this moment. Princess Mingzhu had finally gotten the news, and no matter how much trouble she had to make, no matter how long she had to wait, they dared not say a word. Didn't you see that the Empress Dowager didn't even look at the Empress with a good face?

Empress Dowager Li looked extremely worried. She couldn't help but say, "If anything happens to Mingzhu, wouldn't that mean my death? What could possibly be wrong with her? I'm really worried!"

Prince Ding quickly comforted him, "It's probably just some external injuries or something. The most important thing is that the eldest princess returns! By the way, where is that little eunuch? Any news about the eldest prince consort? Are they together?"

Lan Qingwu glanced around: "The eunuch didn't mention the prince consort..."

In the dim night, the eldest princess's panicked and helpless cries were heard: "Grandmother, Mother...Grandmother..."

Empress Dowager Li was even more flustered. "Something must have happened to Mingzhu! Hurry up!"

As soon as they walked out of the gate of Fengqi Palace, they ran into Princess Mingzhu, who was jogging towards them supported by palace servants. The night was hazy, and the palace lanterns on both sides illuminated Princess Mingzhu's pale and tear-stained cheeks.

"Pearl!"

Empress Dowager Li was extremely anxious. She wanted to move faster but couldn't. The complicated palace dress restricted her steps. In her anxiety, she almost fell. Lan Qingwu and Prince Ding hurriedly supported her. Lan Qingwu hurriedly said, "Be careful, mother!"

By the time Empress Dowager Li had managed to regain her balance, Princess Mingzhu was already running up to them. Her mournful cries filled everyone's eardrums, "Grandmother, Mother, Mingzhu finally sees you!"

"Royal Grandmother...Mother Queen..."

The eldest princess's sorrowful words were so heartbreaking that they moved everyone who heard them to tears. Empress Dowager Li's eyes were red, and she said, "Mingzhu..."

Princess Mingzhu released the two palace maids who were holding her and rushed to Empress Dowager Li: "Grandmother, Mingzhu finally sees you!"

"My Mingzhu, how much suffering you have endured!"

Empress Dowager Li held the eldest princess's hand tightly and carefully examined Princess Mingzhu's face. Princess Mingzhu looked disheveled, her hair half disheveled and without any hair accessories. Prince Ding and Lan Qingwu naturally let go of Empress Dowager Li's arms.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Princess Mingzhu took two steps to Lan Qingwu. She reached out and held Lan Qingwu's hand: "Mother, Mingzhu finally sees you! Mother, I'm sorry for worrying you these past few days!"

Lan Qingwu looked at Princess Mingzhu in surprise. When had they ever been so close? She sent people to search for the eldest princess, only to fulfill her duty to the Emperor Shenwu.

Lan Qingwu was about to pull her hand back when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her fingers. She stared at Princess Mingzhu with eyes wide open in disbelief and took two steps back involuntarily, "You..."

The next moment, Lan Qingwu fell straight back without any warning!

Before he completely fell into darkness, only one thought came to Lan Qingwu's mind: Brother Heng, Ruo Ruo may never be able to wait for you again.

When she fell down, a piece of letter floated out of Lan Qingwu's sleeve. It was a letter she wrote to Emperor Shenwu with endless longing and expectation: My husband Yunheng, time flies, and only the beautiful scenery lives up to my longing for you. I hope you will linger in the peach garden on the border. The peach blossoms are in full bloom, so you can take your time to return!

Lan Qingwu longed for Emperor Shenwu to reminisce about the past in the small peach garden where they had met, painting the newly blossomed peach blossoms so that he could recount them upon his return. The two of them held onto a burning longing, hoping for a more beautiful reunion in the future.

Everyone was shocked! Ru Han quickly stretched out his arms to catch Lan Qingwu from behind. Before she could react, he said, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! What's wrong with you?"

The Seventh Prince, who was chasing after Princess Mingzhu, witnessed this scene from a distance. He rushed forward and asked, "Mother! What's wrong with you?"

The Seventh Prince knelt on his knees and took Lan Qingwu's hand. He saw that the middle finger of her left hand had turned purple. He suddenly looked up and stared at the eldest princess: "What did you do to my mother? What is that in your hand?"

Empress Dowager Li was panicked for a moment and looked at Princess Mingzhu hesitantly. Unexpectedly, Princess Mingzhu was even more panicked and surprised. She murmured softly to herself, "What's going on? Didn't that person say that the attack would not occur until half a month later?"

The Seventh Prince heard this clearly, and his face suddenly became gloomy and cold. Concubine Jiang and Concubine Liang hurried forward to investigate. Concubine Liang's eyes were stern: "It's poison! Seventh Prince, call the imperial physician!"

"Where's Imperial Physician Nie? Call Imperial Physician Nie!"

The Seventh Prince shouted sternly, "Huanfeng, capture the eldest princess and don't let her leave Fengqi Palace! Take the thing from her hand!"

Someone immediately flashed out from the dark shadows, forcibly grabbed the eldest princess' wrist, and pulled an emerald ring from her finger. Then Huanfeng squatted down and observed her: "Seventh Prince, he has been poisoned!"

Concubine Jiang said in a trembling voice, "Seventh Prince, where are the disinfectant pills your second brother gave you?"

The second prince used up the seventh prince's disinfection pills and Lan Qingwu's ice and snow pills. He would not be afraid of poisons for a short time, so he consciously returned the disinfection pills in his hand to the seventh prince. The seventh prince did not refuse and put them away.

Upon hearing this, the Seventh Prince hurriedly pulled out a disinfectant pill from his bosom with trembling hands and fed it to his mother. He then directly picked up Lan Qingwu and ran towards the palace: "Quickly, go summon Nie Wushuang!"

After a flurry of activity, the crowd all followed him into the palace. Suddenly, only Empress Dowager Li, Prince Ding, and the extremely panicked Princess were left outside. Empress Dowager Li said solemnly, "Mingzhu, you really... you... you are so confused!"

Princess Mingzhu cried, "Grandmother, I didn't mean it. I just believed other people's slander! I..."

Prince Ding was not led astray by Princess Mingzhu: "This isn't the first time you've done something like this! You've done it again. If anything happens to the Empress, His Majesty will not let you off the hook!"

A phantom guard came over and directly controlled the eldest princess. She cried and begged, "Grandmother, please take me away! I don't want to be here! I don't want to be locked up here. I didn't mean to do this!"

Empress Dowager Li hesitated for a moment before saying, "Don't touch the eldest princess. I will take her to the Cining Palace!"

Unfortunately, the Phantom Guards didn't obey everyone's orders. They remained indifferent, and one of them refused, saying, "Don't worry, Queen Mother. I'm a woman like the Princess, and I won't ruin her reputation!"

The Phantom Guards directly locked up the struggling and crying Princess Mingzhu.

Empress Dowager Li was both angry and anxious, and Prince Ding flicked his sleeves and walked into the hall.

Nie Wushuang was originally invited by Ruping for Princess Mingzhu, but when the two returned to Fengqi Palace, the palace was in chaos and everyone was in a panic.

"Quick! Doctor Nie, the Queen has been poisoned!"

Ruhan was about to cry, but she tried hard to calm herself down.

Nie Wushuang and Ruping's faces changed drastically. Nie Wushuang ran into the bedroom quickly. At this time, Li Zhong also rushed to Fengqi Palace. He had a frosty face and pulled Lianqiu aside to ask what happened.

The atmosphere in the bedroom was extremely solemn. The Seventh Prince, the Seventh Princess and the Crown Princess were standing guard in front of the bed. Imperial Concubine Jiang and others did not dare to go far and could only stand guard at the door of the bedroom.

As soon as Nie Wushuang took action, his face immediately became extremely ugly. He observed the purple-red needle hole on Lan Qingwu's left middle finger, and the thin red line that quickly spread above the middle finger. He quickly opened his medical box and pulled out the silver needles without bothering to disinfect them. In the blink of an eye, the silver needles were inserted into Lan Qingwu's left hand and arm one by one. The red line that was climbing rapidly upwards finally stopped, but it looked very shocking on Lan Qingwu's icy and jade-like hand.

Nie Wushuang said in a deep voice, "This is a deadly poison that kills instantly upon contact with blood. Because the toxin is red, it's called 'Beauty's Short Life' or 'Beauty's Withered Bones'. If there hadn't been a disinfectant pill blocking the poison for a moment, it would have taken only a quarter of an hour for the red line to spread to the heart meridian, and that would have been the moment when the Empress would have died! Now that I've sealed the poison with a silver needle, I can only guarantee the Empress will be safe for seven days at most! The disinfectant pill that the Seventh Prince gave me can probably only block it for one to two days, which means the Empress has eight to nine days left to live!"

The Seventh Princess immediately said, "I still have some disinfectant pills here. My father left them for me when he went to the border!"

Nie Wushuang quickly reached out and took it: "Hurry and give it to the Queen! It can extend her life by one or two days!"

Prince Ding's voice came from outside the door: "I have another disinfectant pill here!"

The Seventh Prince hurriedly said, "Thank you, Uncle Ding! But Doctor Nie, how can we completely remove this poison?"

Nie Wushuang's eyes were red with pain as he spoke word by word, "There is no cure! Unless the Queen still has the Ice and Snow Pill!"

The Seventh Prince trembled all over. "My Second Brother has already used up the Ice and Snow Pill! Who else in the entire Imperial City still has the Ice and Snow Pill?"

Nie Wushuang said, "Your Majesty may still have an Ice and Snow Pill in his hand. Seventh Prince, I can only delay for about ten days! You must find a solution as soon as possible!"

As soon as Nie Wushuang finished speaking, the Seventh Prince rushed out like a whirlwind. His thoughts had never been as clear as they were at this moment. Father, mother's life is hanging by a thread. Only if father returns can mother have a chance of survival.

When Concubine Jiang heard about the Ice and Snow Pill, she collapsed to the ground in shock and fear. She never thought that things would develop to this point!

"Ice and Snow Pill! The Empress gave the Ice and Snow Pill to Jin'er! Doctor Nie, you must save the Empress! Nothing can happen to the Empress! She gave the life-saving medicine to Jin'er!"

If the Empress lost her life because of this, even if the Second Prince hadn't intentionally taken the antidote, the Emperor would probably be filled with disgust, anger, and even hatred towards his son. And Jin'er and I would live in guilt for the rest of our lives.

When Concubine Jiang thought of the consequences, her whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The seventh prince ran to the study, picked up the wolf-hair brush on the desk and began to write a letter. His hands trembled involuntarily because of fear. The next moment, he held his right hand tightly with his left hand. After his right hand stopped shaking, he quickly wrote one word at a time.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the seventh prince grabbed the rice paper and rushed to the backyard. He was like a gust of wind, quickly passing by one palace servant after another.

"White clouds! White clouds!"

The seventh prince shouted. The eagle Baiyun was eating raw meat. Upon hearing the familiar voice, it immediately circled and flew up.