Chapter 85 The Antidote

Chapter 85 The Antidote

After the rain stopped, Shen Nanzi and Xie Yan were moved back to Prince Jing's residence.

Under pressure from both Prince Jing and Shen Minghan, the old imperial physician gathered renowned doctors from Luoyang for a consultation.

*

Beside the Pear Courtyard lies the residence of the Second Imperial Consort.

Outside the Second Imperial Consort's bedroom, Xue Qingning, dressed in a plain cloak, walked quickly out with a solemn expression.

Xue Yubai rushed over, blocked the doorway, and demanded sharply, "What are you doing?"

"Brother, I want to see him!"

Xue Qingning's usually cool and aloof face had lost its composure.

Her eyes were filled with panic and unease, and her slender white fingers gripped the edge of her cloak, trembling slightly.

"Are you crazy?" Xue Yubai grabbed her wrist, his expression stern as he stopped her.

"No! He will die, Xie Yan will die!"

Xue Qingning's rationality had been torn to shreds, her eyes were filled with tears and a desperate red, and her voice was trembling uncontrollably.

"Even the imperial physicians were helpless. Do you think he'll survive if you go there?"

"That's why I need to see him even more." Xue Qingning's resolve hardened upon hearing the word 'death'.

“If we’re really going to die, what good will seeing him do? It’ll just be all for nothing.” Xue Yubai’s anxious voice carried a resolute calmness. “Qingning, wake up.”

“Then I’m going to see him. I’ve already missed him once, and I don’t want to have any regrets this time.”

Xue Qingning's eyes held an unwavering resolve; even if knives rained down from the sky, she would endure a thousand cuts to meet him.

Xue Yubai gripped her wrist tightly, their wrists exerting force against each other, the two blue veins on their wrists like taut strings, neither giving way.

The air seemed frozen, so heavy it was hard to breathe.

Xue Yubai gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with emotion. "You are his sister-in-law. If you go, I'm afraid you won't be able to control yourself. So, please listen to me this once and stay in the manor."

“I am his sister-in-law, why can’t I visit him?” Xue Qingning retorted, still refusing to back down.

"Even the Emperor hasn't sent anyone to visit you, so why are you, as the Emperor's sister-in-law, in such a hurry?"

"It's precisely because there are so few people in this world who truly care about him that I'm going," Xue Qingning reminded him. "Brother, why does Xie Yan always stand with us? Isn't it because of his sincerity?"

"Sincerely!" There was an unbearable pain in Xue Yubai's eyes, like being pricked by fine needles, and even blinking was a little slow.

When he looked at Xue Qingning again, his eyes were already resolute. "There's no turning back now. Qingning, even if he dies, you stay in the manor and don't cause me any trouble."

"elder brother!!"

*

Xie Yan felt as if he were in flames, his whole body was burning hot, and his internal organs were in excruciating pain.

Breathing felt like it was accompanied by a whistle; each breath felt like a thousand needles piercing deep into the throat, repeating endlessly.

No part of my body was alright; it felt like I was being fried in a pan of oil, and the pain was so intense that even shivering was a luxury.

Xie Yan was awakened by excruciating pain, each breath feeling like his last.

He opened his heavy eyelids, as if tearing open a hole in the darkness, which also stung his eyes.

A sound came into my ears; it was the arguing of the imperial physicians outside.

"This formulation is the result of repeated discussions, and it is advisable to take it as soon as possible."

"The three toxins are intertwined, but what is their respective proportions? There is simply no conclusion."

"If there is even the slightest deviation, or if any one of the herbs is added in excess, Princess Jing's health... could be fatal."

"The most terrifying thing is the snake venom, which is extremely difficult to cure. If you are not careful, it will backfire with other poisons. If you use it forcefully, you will probably die immediately."

"But Princess Jing is currently hanging on by a thread; if she doesn't receive medication soon, she might also..."

A sigh rippled through the room, followed by silence.

At this moment, Xue Yubai's voice appeared, "I suggest that this medicine... be given to Princess Jing immediately. If anything goes wrong, the dosage can be adjusted and given to His Highness Prince Jing."

The imperial physicians understood Xue Yubai's meaning: Princess Jing had run out of options and could only try anything as a last resort.

If she can be saved, she will be saved; if not, then it is her fate. But Prince Jing is different.

His poison dosage is less than that of Princess Jing, and currently, his chances of survival are higher than Princess Jing's.

Although Xue Yubai's words were driven by personal motives, they were also the most rational advice.

Therefore, none of the imperial physicians objected.

“No!” Shen Minghan objected. “We should find another doctor who is skilled in treating snake venom. There must be other ways. We cannot use medicine rashly.”

"Without medicine, the princess probably won't make it through the night," came the old imperial physician's voice.

Xie Yan knew that Shen Minghan was afraid that the drug would hasten Shen Nanzi's death and dared not accept her departure.

"Grand Commandant!"

The imperial physicians' collective cries contained both dissuasion and endless worry.

Xue Yubai stated frankly, "We have already invited three of the best snake venom doctors here, along with the imperial physician, making more than twenty top-notch medical professionals."

"Grand Commandant Shen, you actually understand that there is no need to be stubborn and delay treatment."

The outside world fell silent once again.

Xie Yan's throat was sore that he could no longer make a sound, so he could only turn his head in pain and look at the stone beside him.

Stone met his gaze, his pupils widened, his previous worries vanished, and his eyes were filled with joy. He shouted frantically, "My prince has woken up!"

A moment later, Xie Yan's bedside was surrounded by imperial physicians, who were taking his pulse, observing his expression, and asking about his feelings.

Xie Yan held his breath for a long time before finally uttering a hoarse and weak voice: "Give me the medicine."

Xue Yubai's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly spoke up to stop him: "Prince Jing, you mustn't act rashly!"

Shen Minghan glared at Xue Yubai, "Why not?"

His expression was oppressive and authoritative, as if he would beat Xue Yubai up regardless of his status if Xue Yubai said another word.

His sister can drink, but Xie Yan can't?

The two sides are locked in a standoff, and their selfish motives are crystal clear!

"Bring it here!" Xie Yan spoke again, his breath trembling.

Seeing Xie Yan's insistence, the old imperial physician from yesterday knelt down and prostrated himself on the ground.

"Your Highness! This poison is vicious and difficult to discern. The antidote is a mixture of mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining ingredients. Although the antidote has been prepared, it has not been tested and is extremely dangerous and unpredictable. Even I am not entirely confident in its effectiveness."

"Your Highness is of inestimable worth; please reconsider."

Xie Yan closed his eyes in discomfort. "She is my wife. I don't need her to test the medicine. Give it to me!"

He raised his voice for the last sentence, his tone carrying an undeniable force and determination.

Shen Minghan looked at the maid carrying the bowl of medicine and said in a deep voice, "Give me the medicine!"

The maidservant approached with the medicine, and Shen Minghan picked it up and went directly to Xie Yan's bedside.

Xue Yubai's face was extremely ugly, but things had already come to this point.

He was powerless to stop him any longer and could only stare at him with fear in his eyes.

Xie Yan forcefully propped himself up, took the medicine bowl, and drank it all in one gulp under everyone's horrified gaze.

Not long after he drank the antidote, a sweet and metallic taste rose in his mouth, and black blood gushed out, spraying onto the footboard.

The air was filled with the stench of fishy and bitter medicine.

He collapsed weakly on the edge of the bed and then lost consciousness.

"Your Highness!" Wuying exclaimed in surprise.