Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1168: Chapter 1170: The Enemy is Hidden, I Am in the Light_1

Today, Emperor Wuning, Tang Yin, was in a foul mood. If it were anything else, he would have endured it to give his imperial uncle some face, after all, his imperial uncle had taken the initiative to guard the former emperor’s tomb, which was highly appreciated and praised by both Tang Yin and everyone at court.

But this time, it concerned Wenwen’s safety, and he really couldn’t stay calm.

The Empress Dowager, noticing the emperor’s irritation, comforted him softly, ”They should arrive soon, and the imperial doctors have also said that Wenwen’s condition hasn’t worsened at least, and the fetus is safe. That’s a relief.”

”Those quacks say it’s fine and that’s it? They can’t even cure her, how would they know it’s fine? And that old disciple of the Bai family is of no use at all!” the emperor exclaimed angrily.

At this moment, a eunuch reported that Bai Ruozhu had arrived, and the Empress Dowager quickly said, ”Why announce it, just bring her in quickly!”

Soon Bai Ruozhu and her party entered Cining Palace. Thanks to Luan Chao’s favor, Jianqi was also allowed to enter the palace, accompanying Bai Ruozhu to the royal audience.

Upon seeing Bai Ruozhu, the emperor threw the teacup in his hand, and with a quick move, Jianqi stepped in front and got splashed with hot tea on his clothing.

”Bai Ruozhu, We have been waiting for you for days. Go treat Consort Yue immediately. If she does not wake up, We will make you wish you were dead!” the emperor roared.

Bai Ruozhu was startled and, regaining her senses, became furious. She jumped out from behind Jianqi and shouted, ”Why doesn’t Your Majesty just kill me now? Did I miss the date myself? I was held hostage outside, narrowly escaped death, returned with the reputation of having contracted smallpox, and then was dragged to the Jiang Residence by the Virtuous King to be mistreated. Was any of this willingly done by me?”

As she spoke, tears began to flow uncontrollably. ”Achun’s fate is still unknown, and I am powerless to save him; I am already as good as dead. What else do you want from me, Your Majesty?”

Thinking back on her journey, she had faced countless difficulties. Despite the heartache, she returned to the capital, inadvertently causing harm to innocent Doctor Zhou and Guoguo’s father, subjecting little Guoguo to a life-threatening ordeal. Guilt tormented her incessantly, nearly suffocating her; was she now to face the emperor’s threats too?

She was not an ancient person, devoid of an intrinsic reverence and loyalty for imperial authority bound to her very marrow. So why should she, whose husband risked his life for the emperor and whose whereabouts were still unknown, still be threatened and blamed by the emperor?

The color on the emperor’s face grew increasingly ugly, and the Empress Dowager, standing beside him, wiped away a bead of sweat in concern. As a mother, she naturally sided with her son and was even more anxious about Consort Yue’s safety, but at that moment, seeing the sorrow on Bai Ruozhu’s face, she too felt a touch of sympathy.

”Ruozhu, you have been wronged. The emperor was speaking in anger; don’t take it to heart,” the Empress Dowager hurriedly advised.

Bai Ruozhu wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and, saluting the Empress Dowager, said, ”This wife will first go and see to Consort Yue.” With that, she turned and entered Consort Yue’s room.

The Empress Dowager stealthily glanced at the emperor and, seeing that he did not intend to pursue the matter further, quietly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself that the girl Ruozhu had quite the temper.

The emperor cast a glance at Jianqi, who had shielded him from the tea, and with a cold snort, ordered Wang Shun, ”Arrange for someone to bring him a change of clothes.”

Jianqi wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but seeing Luan Chao giving him a cue, he politely thanked them and followed the eunuch down.

”Tell us about the journey; the secret letters were unclear.” The emperor looked at Luan Chao.

Luan Chao immediately reported on the situation they encountered on the road, with great detail, hardly missing any detail worth noting.

...

In Consort Yue’s room, Bai Ruozhu’s brows were tightly furrowed as she checked Consort Yue’s pulse again, confirming that indeed she had been poisoned. However, the toxin was one she had never seen before, and it was not even recorded in her Poison Scripture. For the moment, she had no idea how to detoxify it.

If it were a common person, such as the type affected by the Nirvana Poison like Chu Hai, she could attempt various methods one after another, abandoning one approach for another until she found a solution. But Consort Yue was different; she was pregnant with a large belly. How could Bai Ruozhu dare to experiment recklessly? Currently, the poison hadn’t harmed the fetus in Consort Yue’s womb, but what if her attempts at detoxification went awry and disrupted the current balance?

No wonder Jiu Sheng and the other Imperial Physicians were at a loss.

Bai Ruozhu considered the Spatial Hot Spring, but she was unsure of its effects on the fetus and dared not try it without caution.

About half an hour later, she rubbed her temples and walked out of Consort Yue’s room, exhausted. In the Main Hall, she said to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager who were waiting: ”Your servant is incompetent and, for the time being, cannot detoxify without risk of failure.”

”Bai Ruozhu, are you challenging Our patience? Haven’t you said before that ’a subject must die if the sovereign demands it’? Aren’t you afraid of dying? And what about your parents and siblings?” the Emperor said with unrestrained anger.

”Your Majesty, Ruozhu is not that kind of person. Wenwen’s illness is peculiar this time, and it might not be so simple. Even Master Yao couldn’t do anything, could he?” The Empress Dowager quickly interjected on Bai Ruozhu’s behalf, but she too was worried about Consort Yue and said to Bai Ruozhu, ”Ruozhu, please think carefully about a solution. Perhaps you can come up with something soon?”

Bai Ruozhu ignored the Emperor and, looking at the Empress Dowager, said: ”Consort Yue’s condition is special, and I dare not attempt detoxification rashly for fear of endangering her child. Fortunately, the child is still safe and even continues to grow.”

”How can that be called fortunate? She’s been unconscious all along; her body is bound to deteriorate sooner or later. Won’t the child be in danger eventually?” the Emperor asked angrily.

Being questioned by the Emperor in this way, Bai Ruozhu suddenly widened her eyes as an idea occurred to her. If they opted for conservative treatment, that could be a viable approach.

The Empress Dowager, who had interacted with Bai Ruozhu the most, noticed her change in demeanor and immediately asked eagerly, ”Do you have an idea? Speak quickly!”

”I must thank His Majesty for the reminder. Because Consort Yue has a fetus in her womb, I do not dare attempt detoxification lightly. However, if we can maintain her bodily functions from deteriorating, the fetus could continue to grow normally. Once the child is born, we can then attempt to detoxify Consort Yue,” Bai Ruozhu said.

The Emperor slammed his palm on the table, ”Nonsense! The fetus won’t be born for several more months. How is it possible to sustain her until then? Even if you could, do you intend to make Consort Yue a living dead? ”

Bai Ruozhu’s pupils constricted slightly; she realized that the Emperor was truly anxious about Consort Yue, so anxious that he had lost his usual composure and stability.

”Before finding the most reliable method of detoxification, this is the only way for now. If His Majesty can find a more adept person to perform the detoxification, please feel free to disregard my method. As for maintaining Consort Yue’s bodily condition, I will certainly try my utmost,” she said, pausing slightly, ”as long as she doesn’t get tampered with again in the meantime.”

The Emperor’s eyes grew dark with concern, aware that if Consort Yue were poisoned again, the situation would worsen.

”The enemy is in the shadows while we are exposed; merely defending is not the solution,” Bai Ruozhu continued.

”Easy for you to say. So, what are your ideas?” the Emperor scoffed.