CHAPTER 338: CHAPTER 338

In the Eastern Palace, one bowl after another of steaming black medicinal decoction was brought into the room, while basin after basin of soiled water was taken out.

"Cough, cough..." The Crown Prince, barely catching his breath, took hold of the bitter-looking medicine without hesitation and drank it down in one go. The next moment, he couldn’t help but vomit again, and this time, the medicine just ingested came up mixed with traces of blood.

Witnessing this, the Second Prince, who was pacing anxiously, burst into anger, "Useless! All of you are useless!"

The entire room of Imperial Physicians, palace maids, and eunuchs instantly knelt down in unison, bowing their heads, not daring to utter a word or even plead for forgiveness.

The few elderly Imperial Physicians, with their hairs white and faces dripping with sweat, were admittedly having a run of bad luck. On the brink of retirement, both the Emperor and the Crown Prince were now in perilous states, hardly a circumstance where their heads would stay secured for long...

Initially, with the Emperor critically ill, they thought perhaps the understanding Crown Prince might intercede with mercy, allowing them to keep their heads, and they could joyously welcome the start of a new reign name.

When the Emperor began to show signs of recovery, they recalculated that perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad; the Emperor wouldn’t be passing away anytime soon and they could claim some credit, scraping by a bit longer...

But now it was the Crown Prince at death’s door!

Now they were caught in between, with twice the risk of execution, and with only rage that dared not speak!

The Crown Prince gestured with his hand to calm them, coughed a few times, and consoled, "No need for alarm, Second Brother, I am aware of my condition and everyone has done their best."

The Second Prince snorted, flicked his sleeves, and began pacing again, seemingly very agitated.

Only then did the palace attendants rise, bringing another bowl of medicine, but the Crown Prince waved his hand, declining to drink it.

"Your Highness, you must at least try to drink it!" the Second Prince couldn’t help but interject.

The Crown Prince smiled faintly, "Drinking leads to vomiting, and vomiting leads to drinking it again, becoming unbearable. My body is like a tattered bamboo basket; it can’t hold this medicinal soup."

"But... you..." The Second Prince stammered, unable to refute for what the Crown Prince said was indeed true.

"I’ll go fetch Chen Muxue; surely the Qian Ding Sect will have a solution!" the Second Prince announced, ready to leave at once.

"Are you still trying to seize her?"

The Second Prince was halted by Yan Luan, having reached the doorway, she pulled him back again.

In front of the Crown Prince, Yan Luan composed herself as if nothing had happened prior, properly saluting and greeting, "Your Highness."

"No need for such formality, Sister-in-law... cough, cough..." Perhaps speaking too much, the Crown Prince coughed so heavily that the palace attendants became apprehensive, fearing he might breathe his last at any moment.

The Second Prince, in his anxiety, attempted to break free of Yan Luan’s grasp, but she fixed a sidelong gaze at him and clutched even tighter, pinching not just his sleeve but his entire arm, rendering him speechless with a face turning blue.

"With your skills, going there—Chen Muxue aside—even that little tiger would beat you senseless. I’ve already sent someone to politely invite her. Can’t you think a bit more wisely?"

Hearing this, the Second Prince awkwardly grinned and flattered, "Thankfully, my lady is thoughtful, such a wife—what more could a husband wish for?"

"Oh, you’re so annoying~ Saying such things in front of His Highness, it’s embarrassing~" Yan Luan immediately revealed her true nature, playfully punching the Second Prince’s chest with her tiny fists.

Thus, when Chen Muxue arrived, she saw the Crown Prince lying weakly on the bed and the Second Prince lying with a flushed face on the couch.

"Well... I’ve been punching people less lately, so I’m a bit rusty and couldn’t control the strength, hehe~" Yan Luan explained playfully, tapping her head.