Tan Hua - Chapter 36

Song Qing stared at Song Liqing intently. Although he pretended to be relaxed, how could he hide the darkness in his eyes and the spiritual languor?

 

He knew Song Liqing had always been accommodating, never once expressing grievances in front of him.

 

Jun Qiyu was biased against him. How could he treat him well?

 

“Is that so? Let Dad take a look at you.”

 

Song Qing gently pinched his arm, and his heart sank. Song Liqing’s arm was so thin that Song Qing’s hand could grip it easily. The clothes that used to fit him well now hung loose and baggy on him. He couldn’t even fill out his clothes anymore!

 

Song Qing, who had spent his life on the battlefield, suddenly felt heartbroken tears fill his eyes.

 

“Liqing… Are you sick? Why are you so thin?”

 

Song Qing asked anxiously, afraid that he wouldn’t tell the truth.

 

Song Liqing could only cover it up half-truthfully.

 

“I had an illness, but I’m completely fine now, Dad…”

 

“Wait!”

 

Song Qing grabbed the hand that Song Liqing had been hiding in his sleeve all along.

 

As Song Qing held Song Liqing’s hand and examined it closely, the peeled nails and scabbed wounds made Song Qing feel like he had been whipped in the heart.

 

“How… how did this happen? Was it… the Crown Prince?”

 

“No! It was my own carelessness.”

 

Song Liqing denied it, but he couldn’t hide his guilt.

 

Song Qing understood.

 

“Liqing… for the sake of me, for the sake of the Song family’s reputation, you sacrificed yourself to become the Crown Prince’s consort, thinking you would rise like a phoenix on a branch, but after entering the Qilin Mansion, have you had a single good day? I always thought there would come a day when the Crown Prince would clear up the misunderstanding with you, but I didn’t expect this kind of mistreatment! As long as you say the word, will you come back home with me?”

 

Seeing his father’s solemn expression, Song Liqing realized that he was willing to defy the Emperor.

 

But what would going back home accomplish?

 

He was already on his deathbed!

 

For the remaining short time he had left, should he sacrifice an entire family?

 

“Dad, please don’t act recklessly… I’m already Jun Qiyu’s person now, for better or for worse, I will only belong to him in this life.”

 

Song Qing looked at him shaking his head. “You… this is definitely not what you truly feel.”

 

Feeling ashamed, Song Liqing lowered his head, feeling guilty.

 

“You… just think I’m too stubborn and raised an unfilial son.”

 

Song Qing raised his hand, but couldn’t bring himself to strike, and eventually let it fall weakly.

 

“When I brought you back home, you were just as thin as you are now, such a small bundle, clearly starving and pale, when I gave you food, you hid half of it under your pillow, always worried about the next meal. Such a small child always had worries in his heart. Your little uncle always worried that you wouldn’t grow up. Now that you’ve finally grown up and passed the imperial examination… Liqing, you’re too sensible.”

 

After speaking, Song Qing resolutely stood in front of Jun Qiyu.

 

“Crown Prince.”

 

Jun Qiyu had been observing the father and son’s whispered conversation. Seeing Song Qing’s angry expression, he suspected that Song Liqing had complained and incited him.

 

“General Song, what instructions do you have?”

 

Song Qing stared at him and questioned, “Did Liqing do something against our ancestral virtues by entering the Qilin Mansion? Or has he committed some unforgivable offense? Is it your intention to mistreat him to the point of emaciation and scars?”

 

“General Song, are you here to interrogate me?” Jun Qiyu glanced at Song Liqing and said, “Illness and death are common occurrences. When Song Liqing fell ill, do you also blame me? I’ve summoned the best physicians from the entire royal hospital and ordered them to treat him diligently. Now he’s recovered… How could Liqing accuse me like this? I’ve been wronged!”

 

“When Liqing was ill, where were you, Your Highness?”

 

“I was…” Jun Qiyu paused. “I wasn’t by his side, but I sent several servants to take care of him, and the physicians were always with him.”

 

“He’s your partner! His life and death are at stake. Shouldn’t you personally take care of him?” Song Qing exclaimed angrily.

 

Jun Qiyu’s expression turned cold. “General Song, you’re not unaware of the public proposal from Pei Xingxu. It’s a slap in my face! He and Pei Xingxu did such despicable things. As the Crown Prince of Jingguo, don’t I even have the right to be angry for a few days of his illness?!”

 

Song Qing didn’t know the whole story and was speechless, just seething with anger.

 

“Alright… alright, Your Highness is the Crown Prince, everything is flawless.”

 

Jun Qiyu snorted.

 

“General Song has taken care of me in the Western Regions, and we share a master-disciple bond. It’s because of General’s kindness that I didn’t let these ugly deeds of his spread.”

 

Song Qing waved his hand wearily.

 

“Enough, if Your Highness has so many grievances against Liqing, then return him to me…”

 

Bang!

 

A loud noise interrupted Song Qing’s words, as well as the music and laughter. Everyone turned to the same direction, where the Emperor, who had been enjoying himself just moments ago, now lay silent on the table, two feet of wine spilled on the ground.

 

Jun Qiyu was the first to react in astonishment.

 

“Father Emperor!”

 

Jun Qiyu helped the Emperor up, seeing blood coming from his mouth, his mind went blank.

 

In Jun Qiyu’s mind, the majestic Emperor was always resolute and never faltered, let alone spitting blood and fainting, which rarely happened.

 

Jun Qiyu rebelled because he felt he could never surpass the Emperor’s towering presence.

 

The Emperor actually fell unconscious with a serious injury at the celebration of his longevity! The Taihe Hall immediately became chaotic, with eunuchs and palace maids screaming and shouting.

 

“Assassin!”

 

“Protect the Emperor!”

 

The Emperor’s guards had already rushed in, surrounding everyone with their swords.

 

Jun Qiyu checked the Emperor’s pulse, which was weak. He scanned the crowd with vigilance.

 

“Quick, summon the imperial physicians!” Jun Qiyu ordered, “No one is allowed to enter or leave the Taihe Hall. Anyone who disobeys will be executed on the spot!”

 

Everyone fell silent, afraid to move.

 

The imperial physicians arrived quickly, and everyone started to panic and treat the Emperor.

 

Jun Qiyu grabbed an old physician, urging him anxiously, “Quick, how is the Emperor?”

 

Song Liqing stopped Jun Qiyu.

 

In a low voice, Song Liqing said, “Wait! Qiyu, go to the inner hall. If… something happens…”

 

“Nonsense! Father Emperor won’t have any mishaps!”

 

Jun Qiyu forcefully pushed him away, but Song Liqing’s words made him think, and Jun Qiyu realized Song Liqing’s intention.

 

The Emperor was the pillar of Jingguo. If there was really bad news, Jingguo would be half-ruined. Not to mention the foreign envoys present, even these princes and ministers were all scheming. If the news spread, chaos would surely erupt!

 

“Go… go to the inner hall!”

 

Everyone watched as the Emperor was carried into the inner hall, whether they were worried about his well-being or eagerly anticipating news, it was hard to tell.

 

The inner hall became much quieter, and the imperial physicians quickly provided an answer.

 

“The Emperor is in a coma due to poisoning.”

 

“Poisoning?” Jun Qiyu doubted, “The Emperor’s food and drink are always tested with silver needles. How could he be poisoned?”

 

The old physician didn’t dare to speculate and said, “Doctor Qi from the Bian Medical Clinic is proficient in this field…”

 

Doctor Qi replied, “There are poisons in the world that cannot be detected by silver. The source of the poison may have to be traced from all the food and drink the Emperor has consumed.”

 

“Alright, you all check as Doctor Qi said… Doctor Qi, quickly detoxify the Emperor!”

 

Doctor Qi looked hesitant.

 

“I don’t know the type of poison, so I dare not use medicine rashly.”

 

Jun Qiyu scratched his head, only able to wait for the results of the poison test.

 

Song Liqing looked from afar at the Emperor, whose lips were turning purple and blood was turning black.

 

“Qiyu,” Song Liqing said, “At the banquet, all the food and drinks came from the imperial kitchen, and everyone ate them. If someone poisoned him in front of so many people, it must be someone who served him personally.”

 

Jun Qiyu suddenly brightened up.

 

“Yes! Arrest all the chief eunuchs and palace maids who served the Emperor!”

 

Song Liqing hurriedly added, “What I mean is, start with the food and drink that only the Emperor consumed… that box of longevity peaches.”

 

All the food and drink that the Emperor had touched were brought in, and a group of physicians began testing them on white rats one by one.

 

The result was unanimous: “No poison.”

 

“What about the longevity peaches?”

 

Jun Qiyu’s voice trembled slightly because he had presented that box of peaches to the Emperor himself.

 

“No poison in them either.”

 

“No poison at all?!” Jun Qiyu couldn’t believe it and angrily said, “You useless doctors! The Emperor has been poisoned, and you can’t even find the source? What use are you?! Go, arrest all the palace maids and eunuchs who served the Emperor personally, and torture them severely!”

 

Song Liqing hesitated to stop Jun Qiyu.

 

But he knew that Jun Qiyu was worried that his father might lose his rationality and wouldn’t listen to reason at this moment.

 

If it were his father who was being harmed, he would also dig into every corner to find the culprit.

 

Dozens of palace maids and eunuchs were dragged into the dungeon, crying and begging for mercy.

 

Jun Qiyu sat down despondently, watching as the imperial physicians tried various common detoxification methods, but to no avail. Instead of being detoxified, the Emperor’s forehead became darker, and his pulse weaker.

 

“Father Emperor…”

 

Jun Qiyu was at a loss, becoming more restless the more he thought about it.

 

“Your Highness, we’ve found the source of the poison!”

 

Doctor Qi exclaimed, pointing to a cage of white rats, all of which had vomited