CHAPTER 677: CHAPTER 677 CONSPIRACY

If blood kept flowing like this, a person would die within half a Shi Chen.

Neither pulling out the arrow nor leaving it in was an option!

Imperial Doctor Zhang, unmatched in the Imperial Medical Bureau, felt for the first time that he was utterly powerless.

「...」

Jiaofang Hall received the news quickly. It was the Empress herself who came. From Zhaochen Palace, it was Eunuch Li who arrived. Others from the Harem gradually received the news and came as well. Consort Cheng Pin, after settling the barely hundred-day-old Second Prince, also rushed over.

Everyone followed the Empress, anxiously watching the Imperial Physician.

The Empress’s face was filled with worry, and she even squeezed out a few insincere tears. "How could such a thing happen! How could Sister Shih..." She couldn’t continue and started wiping away tears.

The rest of the people, regardless of whether it was genuine or not, began to cry as well. After all, everyone was quite adept at keeping up appearances.

Although Xia Ruqing did not cry, her solemn expression as she lowered her head made her less noticeable.

Li Shengan watched this scene unfold and stepped forward helplessly. "Ladies, please, don’t be like this, she’s not in such a bad state yet!" It was just a matter of excessive blood loss, that’s all!

Upon hearing this, the Empress’s face lit up with ’surprise.’ "Yes! It’s all my fault for upsetting my sisters! Everyone, please stop!"

The concubines ceased their crying.

The Empress said, "Imperial Doctor Zhang, no matter what means you use, you must cure Sister Shih! Whatever medicine is required, feel free to take it from my quarters! If I don’t have it, I will personally go and beg the Empress Dowager!"

Her words put Imperial Doctor Zhang in a difficult position. "Empress..."

Just as he was about to say something, an attendant suddenly ran out from inside, interrupting him. "Master, there’s a situation inside!"

Imperial Doctor Zhang, hearing this, hurriedly apologized and went in.

He saw that the blood flow from Shih Jieyu’s chest was gradually lessening. "Has it stopped?" he asked.

Imperial Doctor Chen wiped off his sweat. "Thanks to the genius of the Deputy Director of the Bureau, my lord, I kept applying the medicinal powder just as you instructed, and it worked!" At the very least, the bleeding wasn’t as fast now! At the very least, as long as the arrow was not touched, there was no immediate threat to her life!

Imperial Doctor Zhang breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good!"

Soon after, the crowd outside rushed in.

The Empress was the first to sit at the bedside and grasp Shih Jieyu’s hand. "Sister Shih, you saved the Emperor! You are a great heroine!"

If it had not been for Shih Jieyu’s intervention, it would have been the Emperor lying there now. The arrow had been shot from behind. If the Emperor had been completely unguarded, and if the assailant had been a skilled archer, who knows what might have happened... The Empress didn’t dare to think further and was even more reluctant to speculate aloud.

Shih Jieyu’s face was as pale as paper, and she spoke weakly, "Thank you, Empress. This is just... what your servant... should do!" She coughed, her words strained from weakness. "COUGH, COUGH!"

The Empress quickly stopped her. "Enough, don’t talk too much. Just rest well! The best Imperial Physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau is here, so don’t be afraid! Focus on healing!"

The Empress patted her hand and stood up.

At that moment, people sent by the Empress Dowager hurried over as well.

Upon entering, Sister Qing was met with the overwhelming scent of blood. When she opened her eyes, the sight of large, dark bloodstains on Shih Jieyu’s chest greeted her.

"Ah!" Sister Qing exclaimed in shock. However, being an experienced Old Sister, she quickly composed herself and stifled further sound.

"How could this have happened!" She had heard that the Emperor was attacked and someone injured. "The Empress Dowager was terrified!"

The Empress quickly stepped forward to console her. "Sister Qing, when you return, tell the Empress Dowager that Sister Shih is doing alright for now. She needn’t worry for the moment!"

Sister Qing, still shaken, patted her chest and nodded. "Yes!"

Since the Empress said there was no immediate cause for worry, she didn’t ask further. Having gained a rough understanding of the situation, she departed.

With Shih Jieyu’s condition temporarily stabilized, everyone dispersed.

As the crowd dispersed in a disorderly manner, the weakened Shih Jieyu could no longer hold on and fell into a dark sleep. Zhaoer stayed by her side, not daring to leave even for a moment.

Imperial Doctor Zhang prescribed a decoction. Once it was brewed, Zhaoer personally fed it to Shih Jieyu. After Imperial Doctor Zhang confirmed multiple times that the bleeding had stopped, he too departed.

The sky gradually darkened. In the evening, after Commander Xia and Commander Xu had the Imperial Forest Army conduct an exhaustive search, they finally apprehended the suspect. He was a recruit who had arrived just over half a year ago, a promising candidate selected from another camp.

When he was caught, Xia Tingfeng even found a poison pill in his mouth. "It’s definitely him, Your Majesty!"

Xia Tingfeng brought both the poison and the man over. Zhao Junyao rose from his imperial desk and looked down at the guard, who had already been beaten half to death.

He asked coldly, "Are there any accomplices?"

Vice Commander Xu glanced at Commander Xia, unsure how to respond. After all, the man was under Commander Xia’s command.

Xia Tingfeng looked extremely chagrined. "Your Majesty, I have already investigated. There are no accomplices, only this man!"

Zhao Junyao exhaled a sigh of relief. "In that case, send him to the Ministry of Justice! Investigate thoroughly!"

These words shocked the two subordinates. It wasn’t the Punishment Department, nor the Dali Temple, but the Ministry of Justice! His Majesty is truly considering exterminating his entire clan!

"Yes!" Xia Tingfeng could say no more and had to comply, then exited.

Commander Xu followed behind, silent. He felt a twinge of pity. The assassin was one of Commander Xia’s men; this time, Commander Xia was bound to be implicated. Even though he knew Commander Xia would never plot rebellion, still...

Vice Commander Xu shook his head, said no more, and led his men away. Xia Tingfeng, not dwelling on it, simply left the palace.

「...」

Inside Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion, Ni Manxue, as usual, had instructed the servants to prepare dinner and was waiting for his return. Upon hearing a maid announce his arrival, she went out to greet him with a smile. "You’re back?"

Under the candlelight, her face looked especially tender. Xia Tingfeng’s icy, solemn expression finally softened a fraction. He managed a faint smile and nodded. "I’m back!"

Ni Manxue didn’t notice anything unusual about him. She smiled as she helped him out of his robe, saying, "Quick, wash up and eat. You’re a bit late today!"

"Mhm!" Xia Tingfeng nodded.

Afterward, as they washed up and ate dinner, neither of them spoke. Ni Manxue, being a well-bred lady, observed the custom of not speaking during meals. As for Xia Tingfeng, he just wasn’t in the mood to talk.

He was ladling soup when, lost in thought, some of it spilled.

Ni Manxue couldn’t help but give a wry smile. "My dear husband! What’s wrong? Your soup bowl is full to overflowing!"

Xia Tingfeng quickly stopped, put down his bowl, and wiped his hands with a napkin. "It’s nothing, I’m alright." He didn’t want her to know; it would probably scare her.

Ni Manxue, seeing he seemed tired, didn’t press the matter.

After washing up, they quietly drank a cup of tea and read for a while before it was time for bed.

That night, Xia Tingfeng held her exceptionally tight. She found it a little unusual. "My dear husband, what’s the matter?"

After a long silence, Xia Tingfeng suddenly asked, "If, one day, I were to lose everything, would you regret marrying me?"

Ni Manxue chuckled. "My dear husband, when I married you, weren’t you already in dire straits?"