Chapter 43: Secret Deliberations

Shocked by the news of Chongzhen's assassination attempt, the various faction leaders rushed to the palace to request an audience, only to be blocked by Wei Zhongxian, whose face was as grim as a dead man's. He declared that the Chongzhen Emperor was in a thunderous rage and would see no one.

After the many court officials dispersed, the Donglin Faction leaders gathered again at the home of Zhou Yanru, a Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat.

But the expressions on the Donglin Faction leaders' faces were not pleasant either.

Zhou Yanru said, "Gentlemen, who arranged for that Wang Sheng? How dare he attempt assassination in public?"

The others looked at each other in dismay, until Hou Xun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, said, "The Son of Heaven is brutal and unworthy of the ancestral temple.

It is inevitable that loyal officials and righteous men, out of righteous indignation, would attempt an assassination like Jing Ke."

Zhou Yanru slammed the table and said angrily, "Foolish! Stupid! Now that the man has fallen into the hands of the Depot and the Guard, under torture, what if he starts making wild accusations?!"

Hou Xun, however, said nonchalantly, "Grand Secretary, you are being overly cautious. That Wang Sheng was originally the son of a wealthy family from Jiangnan.

Both his parents died at the hands of the eunuch Wei. He only escaped disaster because he was studying at the Imperial Academy.

Now he is all alone, and originally intended to find a chance to assassinate the eunuch Wei. Unexpectedly, he was provoked today and ended up attempting to assassinate the reigning Son of Heaven."

Zhou Yanru's expression eased slightly upon hearing this, and he added, "The imperial physician on duty today is Chen Renzhong, Physician Chen, is it not?

Later, send someone to the Imperial Academy of Medicine and deliver that painting and calligraphy work by Chancellor Chen Yizhong of the former Song that I have treasured."

After discussing the matter a while longer, they did not linger and dispersed.

In the rear palace, Chongzhen was looking at the many women before him with a terrible headache.

Zhang Yan, the Tianqi Emperor's empress, had a pretty face filled with murderous intent. She pointed at Wei Zhongxian and Fang Zhenghua and said, "Fine pair of slaves you are!

You actually placed the Emperor in danger! It is a great fortune that he suffered no serious harm, or else I would have your hides flayed!"

Wei Zhongxian and Fang Zhenghua were so frightened they knelt and begged for punishment without cease.

Chongzhen's Empress Zhou was also pale with fright, clearly still terrified. Although the Emperor had ordered her eldest brother to take his own life, he had deserved his punishment, and she had never hated the Emperor in her heart.

Now that the Emperor had been attacked, Empress Zhou was scared half to death.

However, when her gaze swept over Noble Consort Yuan and Noble Consort Tian and she saw the two of them weeping like pear blossoms in the rain, a nameless fire rose in her heart, and she shouted angrily, "Enough! What are you two crying about?

The Son of Heaven is unharmed. Put away your tears at once!"

Chongzhen was feeling vexed when Wang Cheng'en came in to report that the imperial physician Chen Renzhong had arrived. After Empress Zhang and Empress Zhou and the others withdrew, Chongzhen hastily summoned him in.

The imperial physician examined the wound and took his pulse before saying, "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is a great fortune that the blade was not poisoned and that Your Majesty dodged in time. There is no serious harm.

I will prescribe a few doses of medicine for internal and external use, and it should heal in two or three days."

Chongzhen gave an "Mm" and said, "In that case, We thank you, beloved minister."

Not long after the imperial physician withdrew, the decocted medicine was delivered.

Chongzhen did not take it, but instead ordered someone to bring a dog raised in the palace and had the medicine poured down its throat.

After a while, the dog showed no abnormalities, except that its expression was very excited, and it kept trying to play with the young eunuch holding its leash.

Chongzhen secretly thought he was being overly suspicious and was about to take the medicine, but unexpectedly, Wei Zhongxian stopped him.

Wei Zhongxian first sent someone to fetch the prescription written by Chen Renzhong, but when he got it in his hands, he realized he couldn't recognize three characters. He simply handed it to Wang Cheng'en and said, "Take a look at this prescription."

Wang Cheng'en also secretly thought Wei Zhongxian was making a fuss over nothing. He took the prescription and looked it over, replying, "Father-in-Law Wei is overthinking it. This prescription contains only wound-healing herbs and medicines that promote the closing of injuries."

Wei Zhongxian, however, said, "Exactly. That is precisely why this medicine is problematic!" He shook his head and added, "I hope this servant is merely overthinking it."

Despite his words, the people around dared not be negligent. Cao Huachun immediately ordered men to seize the young eunuch who had decocted the medicine and to bring back all the remaining uncooked medicinal ingredients.

The young eunuch knelt down trembling to pay his respects, then remained kneeling on the ground awaiting questioning.

Wei Zhongxian said, "I ask you, did you decoct this medicine yourself?"

The young eunuch did not know what had happened but instinctively sensed trouble. He quickly answered, "Replying to Ninth—... replying to Father-in-Law Wei, this medicine was decocted by Physician Chen himself.

Physician Chen said he was uneasy and feared this slave would be clumsy and decoct it poorly, so he personally decocted the medicine before leaving."

Wei Zhongxian said, "Since you decoct medicine in the palace, you must know the properties of these drugs, I presume?"

The young eunuch replied, "This slave only recognizes a little. Normally, I just decoct the medicines sent over by the imperial physicians' orders."

Wei Zhongxian took the medicine bowl and handed it to the young eunuch, saying, "Can you smell and tell what difference there is between the drugs in here and the ingredients on this prescription?"

The young eunuch grew more and more uneasy, knowing in his heart that a serious problem had occurred. The fact that this medicine was for the Emperor made him more frightened the more he thought about it.

He took the medicine bowl, sniffed carefully for a long time, and even licked a bit of the dregs with his tongue before speaking: "It's different. There is one extra drug."

Wei Zhongxian urgently demanded, "What extra? Think carefully. If you answer wrong, watch your hide!"

The young eunuch was even more frightened. The more afraid he was, the less he could think, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead from fear. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came to him, and he said, "It's monkshood! This is mostly used to relieve pain, but it is harmful if taken in excess."

Wei Zhongxian then said, "Enough. You may leave. Do not speak recklessly after you return."

After the young eunuch left, Wei Zhongxian said to Chongzhen, "Imperial Lord, this servant noticed that dog's expression was off earlier and worried the medicine was not right. Now it seems the Imperial Academy of Medicine cannot be trusted either."

Then he said to Cao Huachun, who had returned with the young eunuch, "Silence that young eunuch. He failed in his duty to supervise and placed the Imperial Lord in danger.

He deserves death!"

Although Chongzhen did not know what that extra ingredient, monkshood, was for, the inexplicable addition of a drug certainly meant something was fishy. He paid no mind to the life or death of a young eunuch and asked, "What is wrong with it?"

Wei Zhongxian said, "Replying to the Imperial Lord, this servant once heard that if this substance is taken in small amounts, it causes excitement and numbness of the tongue and mouth. If the amount is large, it is incomparably poisonous.

If the Imperial Lord had not reminded this servant today, these murderers would have nearly succeeded. It seems, just as the Imperial Lord expected, the matter of the late Emperor is not so simple. The Imperial Lord is sagaciously wise."

Chongzhen was about to speak when Tian Ergeng also hurried over.

After Tian Ergeng performed the rites and straightened up, Chongzhen asked, "Has that Imperial Academy student confessed?"

Tian Ergeng said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, that Wang Sheng is a tough bone. Minister Xu and I used many methods, but we have not been able to extract anything useful."

Chongzhen said, "No need for torture. Tell Xu Xianchun to simply shine a lamp on that student, not letting him sleep, and have men repeat the questions to him constantly for twelve hours a day. He will confess sooner or later.

In addition, you and Cao Huachun are to arrest Chen Renzhong of the Imperial Academy of Medicine and his entire household, every last one of them, and throw them into the Imperial Prison."

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(End of Chapter)