Chapter 566: Prince Qiao Yu Wen'an Passes Away

During a Half Hour Rest, the Qiao Prince's residence was already in chaos.

Yu Wen'an was carefully moved by the servants from the Shufang to the inner chamber's bed.

He shed the Brothel stained with black blood and broth, and put on a clean plain nightgown.

His complexion was ashen blue‑purple, and his eyes were tightly shut.

The once heroic face now had no color; the black blood lingering in his seven orifices had solidified, exuding a shocking, eerie hue.

Shangguan Suqing knelt beside the bed, her sideburns slightly loose, her eye sockets swollen red like walnuts.

She held a pristine white brocade handkerchief, dipped it in warm clear water, and gently yet urgently wiped the black blood from Yu Wen'an's cheeks and corners of his mouth.

The skin under her fingertips was ice‑cold and bone‑piercing, tightening his heart repeatedly.

The handkerchief quickly turned a dark hue; she tossed it aside, grabbed a fresh one, and kept wiping, murmuring with a heavy nasal tone, full of desperate pleading: "Prince, you must not have any trouble!"

"Wake up quickly, open your eyes and look at me, okay?"

Her voice grew lower, finally choked and barely audible.

Tears fell like beads whose strings had snapped, each striking the brocade quilt on the bed, spreading a small wet blot.

The surrounding maids stood nearby, all faces full of panic, daring not to breathe, only wiping their tears covertly.

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a servant's loud report, breathless and urgent: "Princess! The physicians have arrived!"

"The physicians have been summoned!"

Before the words finished, the servant lifted the curtain and entered, turning to bow toward those behind: "Han Taiji, Yan Taiji, this way, please!"

Shangguan Suqing sprang up from beside the bed, staggered briefly before regaining her balance.

She looked up and saw two elderly men in scarlet official robes, both with white hair and beards, each carrying a heavy medicine box, walking in under the servant's guidance.

They were indeed the most experienced physicians of the Imperial Medical Institute, Han Taiji and Yan Taiji.

Seeing their figures, Shangguan Suqing felt as if she had grasped a lifeline while drowning, a spark of light flashing in her eyes.

She hurried forward, clutching Han Taiji's sleeve tightly, her voice trembling with urgency, almost pleading: "Physicians, quickly! Quickly treat the Prince!"

"If you cure the Prince, no matter how many rewards—gold, silver, jewels, fertile lands, fine houses—I can decide to give them all to you!"

Han Taiji said gravely, "Princess, remain calm and do not be impatient!"

"Please allow us, the old ones, to first take the Prince's pulse and examine, to determine the cause before proceeding."

"Alright, alright, alright!"

"Please, both of you!"

"Quickly, please!"

Shangguan Suqing promptly responded, urgently stepping aside to make room.

Her gaze fixed on Yu Wen'an on the bed, her palms already soaked with sweat.

Han Taiji and Yan Taiji exchanged a glance, each setting down their medicine boxes and sitting at the bedside.

They each extended a finger, placing it on Yu Wen'an's left and right wrists, closing their eyes, concentrating as they took his pulse.

The Shufang instantly fell into dead silence, only the faint breathing of the two and Shangguan Suqing's suppressed rapid heartbeat remaining.

Time passed second by second, and Shangguan Suqing, standing nearby, felt each moment like torment.

She stared at the physicians' expressions, seeing their brows knit tighter and their faces grow increasingly solemn.

The unease in her heart grew ever stronger.

Suddenly, Han Taiji and Yan Taiji opened their eyes together, jerking their heads up, eyes meeting.

Both eyes were filled with unmistakable shock and astonishment, as if they had diagnosed something unimaginable, and they exclaimed in unison: "This…?!"

"What is it? Physicians!" Shangguan Suqing could no longer hold back, stepping forward, her voice trembling with sobs, "What exactly happened to the Prince?"

"Was he poisoned?"

"There is still a cure, right?"

Han Taiji slowly withdrew his hand, his Adam's apple bobbing, swallowing a mouthful of saliva before barely calming his thoughts.

He and Yan Taiji rose together, bowing to Shangguan Suqing, their voices trembling uncontrollably, saying word by word: "Prince… the Prince… he has already passed away…"

"Passed away?" Shangguan Suqing was stunned, unable to grasp the meaning of the words.

Yan Taiji added, his tone equally heavy: "Based on the pulse and symptoms, the Prince likely died about half a incense stick before, when the poisonous blood attacked his heart, causing his qi to cease."

"We, the old ones, are powerless; please, Princess, restrain your grief!"

"What?!" Like a bolt of thunder exploding overhead, Shangguan Suqing felt her blood freeze instantly, her mind blank, "No—!"

She staggered back several steps, shaking her head in disbelief, tears flooding out again.

Moments later, she lunged to the bedside, clutching Yu Wen'an's cold body with both arms, pressing her cheek against his lifeless chest, crying out loudly: "Prince! Wake up! You cannot die!"

"How could you abandon me alone!"

"Open your eyes and look at me, okay?"

"I beg you, Prince!"

Her wailing was mournful and melodic, filled with endless sorrow and despair, moving every servant and maid present to grief.

Everyone knelt on the ground, heads bowed, crying silently, the entire inner chamber shrouded in a mournful atmosphere.

Shangguan Suqing wept for a long time, her cries gradually fading, leaving only intermittent sobs.

She lifted her tear‑streaked face, her swollen red eyes fixed on Yu Wen'an's lifeless visage on the bed, her hoarse voice wailing: "Prince, who exactly harmed you?"

"Who was so ruthless to lay this poison upon you?"

Yan Taiji, seeing the Princess's emotions slightly calm, stepped forward, his expression solemn, saying: "Princess, we have just carefully examined the Prince's symptoms: black blood flowing from the seven orifices, a ashen‑blue complexion, pulse breaking with chaotic threads, and the corpse already showing slight rigidity…"

"Based on these traits, the poison that afflicted the Prince should be the Qi State's secret toxin 'Dripping Water Guanyin'!"

"Dripping Water Guanyin?" Shangguan Suqing murmured the name, her eyes full of bewilderment and hatred.

Han Taiji nodded, agreeing: "Our judgments are in accord!"

This poison is colorless and tasteless, dissolves extremely easily in soups, wines and other drinks, and is hard to detect.

Moreover, its toxicity is fierce, but the incubation period is long; at least half a month ago it was already slipped into the Prince's food, accumulating day by day, and only today did it suddenly strike—once the poison takes effect, death is immediate, with no cure to be found!

The night was as black as ink, spilling over the streets and alleys of Chang'an.

Inside Prince Qiao's mansion lay a dead silence of sorrow.

Only white banners rustled in the evening wind, like the wailing of lost souls.

Everywhere in the mansion, plain white silk was hung, and the lanterns in the corridors were replaced with white candles.

Under the dim yellow light, every corner exuded a bone‑piercing chill.

From the matriarch down to the servants, everyone wore coarse hemp mourning garments, with white hemp sashes at their waists.

Tear stains clung to their faces, their steps heavy, even their breathing deliberately softened, lest they disturb the Prince who had just passed away.

In the center of the courtyard, a temporary spirit canopy had long been erected.

Yuwen Ang's corpse was placed on a spirit bed covered with white brocade, draped with a brocade quilt embroidered with a coiling dragon pattern, revealing only a face still tinged with blue‑purple.

The black blood from the seven orifices had been wiped clean, yet the agony of his final moments remained hard to conceal.

Several everlasting lamps were lit around the spirit bed; the flickering flames cast towering shadows of the surrounding people, adding a further sense of gloom.

Four embroidered‑clad envoys in sturdy attire gathered beside the spirit bed, carefully examining the corpse.

Their movements were skillful and cautious, sometimes turning over garments, sometimes probing the body with silver hairpins, brows knit, expressions solemn.

Outside the spirit canopy, Li Tan stood with his hands behind his back.

His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, swept over the corpse on the spirit bed and then over the surrounding people.

There was not a hint of emotion in his eyes, only the cold indifference of official business.

Chen Yan stood right beside him.

His eyes calmly stared at Yuwen Ang's corpse on the spirit bed, expressionless, as if merely observing an inconsequential object.

In his mind he muttered coldly: "Yuwen Ang, in your next life be honest and become a simple fool!"

Chen (the speaker) had once witnessed too many half‑step dragon‑transformations' falls…

Therefore it is impossible to leave any hidden danger for oneself!

At one side of the spirit canopy, Shangguan Suqing was supported by two maidens, her white mourning attire making her skin appear whiter than snow.

Her hair was disheveled, tear stains still wet on her face, a pair of swollen red eyes fixed on the corpse on the spirit bed, tears streaming down like broken beads, and she kept wailing: "Prince! Prince!"

"How could you just abandon me…"

"You've left, what am I to do!"

Shangguan Suqing's mournful cries were heartrending, causing the surrounding servants to all feel sorrow, bowing their heads to wipe away tears.

After roughly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, those embroidered envoys finally completed their examination.

They gathered their records, hurried to Chen Yan and Li Tan, bowed together respectfully, and in a reverent low voice said: "Chen Zhuguo, Supervisor, the autopsy results are in…."

Chen Yan gave a slight nod and said calmly, "Speak."

The lead embroidered envoy straightened up and reported, "After our careful examination, the poison that Prince Qiao contracted matches the judgments of the two previous imperial physicians!"

"It is undoubtedly the Qi State's secret strange poison 'Dripping Water Guanyin'!"

"The poison infiltrates the tissues, already spreading throughout the body; when it erupts, it is unparalleled in speed, striking the blood and heart, causing death…"

Li Tan heard the words, his eyes deep, and said nothing further.

Chen Yan's gaze inadvertently swept over Shangguan Suqing beside him.

She wore mourning clothes, pear‑blossom rain, her already delicate face now added a few more touches of pitiable elegance, truly living up to the saying "If you wish to be charming, wear mourning attire."

His heart stirred slightly, then he composed himself, stepped to Shangguan Suqing's side, clasped his fists, and in a solemn yet grandiose tone said, "Princess, Prince Qiao's untimely death is truly a regret for Great Zhou!"

"Please, Princess, restrain your grief and take care of your health!"

He paused, then shifted his tone, his gaze becoming stern, and in a deep voice said, "Murdering a royal prince is a heinous crime!"

"This Duke will see this matter thoroughly investigated and bring the true mastermind to justice!"

Li Tan, standing nearby, immediately echoed with a face full of indignation, "Exactly! Chen Zhuguo's words are spot on!"

He clenched his fists and said resolutely, "The Mingjing Office will never allow the perpetrators who poisoned the Prince to go unpunished!"

The two delivered a passionate, righteous speech, speaking with utmost propriety.

The surrounding servants all wore looks of admiration.

However, Shangguan Suqing suddenly broke free from the maidens' support and, with a 'thud', knelt before Chen Yan.

Both knees hit the ground, her forehead striking the cold Qingshi slab with a muffled thud.

Tears mixed with the dust on the floor, soaking her cheeks.

"Princess! What are you doing?" Chen Yan clearly hadn't expected her to act so, he was momentarily startled, then feigned urgency, leaning forward to help her, "Please get up quickly! Let's speak properly!"

Shangguan Suqing did not rise, lifted her head, tear‑filled eyes gazing at Chen Yan, full of pleading and desperation, her hoarse voice crying, "Chen Zhuguo! Please, you must advocate for my Prince!"

"Princess, rest assured!" Chen Yan quickly reached out to help her up, his tone sincere as he soothed, "This Duke and the Supervisor will investigate this to the end, sparing no trace."

He supported Shangguan Suqing's arm, feigning magnanimous righteousness, and said, "No matter who the hidden mastermind is, whatever their background, once we uncover them they will be sentenced to extreme punishment, repaying blood with blood!"

Shangguan Suqing, who had still been sobbing softly, suddenly jerked her head up, her beautiful eyes blood‑veined and suddenly widened, her voice abruptly rose, carrying a few notes of a do‑or‑die resolve: "Chen Zhuguo! I know who the murderer is!"

"You know?" Chen Yan's brows twitched subtly, a perfectly measured puzzlement appearing on his face, his gaze locked on her as if probing the truth of her claim.

"It's Gao Changjing!"

"It must be that Qi State's Gao Changjing!"

Shangguan Suqing blurted it out, speaking at a startling speed, her excitement barely restrained.

Her chest heaved violently, as if convinced of the answer, then she screamed hysterically, her voice sharp and hoarse: "Last time the Prince colluded with you to scheme against him, causing him to lose troops and flee in disgrace!"

"He must be nursing a grudge, secretly…"

"This must be his revenge!"

The woman's words rang out like a thunderclap, full of deep hatred, as if she had personally witnessed the entire process of Gao Changjing poisoning.

Li Tan and Chen Yan exchanged a glance, a fleeting hint of amusement flashing quickly in both their eyes before vanishing.

Li Tan was the first to speak up loudly, his tone full of sudden realization: "Chen Zhuguo, the princess's words are not without reason!"

"This Droplet Water Guanyin is actually a secret Qi State poison, ordinary people cannot obtain it at all…"

"Since Gao Changjing, as a member of the Qi State Imperial Clan, must be the author without doubt!"

Chen Yan, following his lead, immediately put on a look of righteous fury, slapped his thigh hard, and scolded: "That Gao Changjing is truly vicious!"

"The noble Gao clan imperial house cannot afford to lose, yet resorts to such despicable and shameless means to covertly harm the prince!"

"It is truly the conduct of a petty person, disgraceful!"

The man clenched his teeth, as if fire were about to spew from his eyes.

He expressed that hatred to the fullest.

Shangguan Suqing, seeing both had agreed with her words, felt her grief and anger deepen.

She looked at Chen Yan, tears surging again, sobbing and wailing: "Chen Zhuguo! My prince is a Great Zhou war hero, who earned great battle merits for Great Zhou, risked his life, yet meets such an end!"

"You must not watch him die with grievances, dying without peace!"

"We must avenge him and erase the hatred!"

A fleeting, barely perceptible smile flashed in Chen Yan's eyes, then was replaced by utmost seriousness.

He raised his right hand, his expression solemn, and said with confidence: "Princess, I, the Duke, hereby assure you…"

Then, with a resonant and forceful tone, he vowed: "No matter if Gao Changjing flees to the ends of the earth, I will capture him and bring him back to Chang'an!"

"At that time, I will have this thief torn apart by a thousand cuts, dismembered among five horses, making him endure the cruelest punishments in the world, to appease the spirit of Prince Qiao in the heavens!"

These words rang out like thunder, and the surrounding servants could not help but admire them.

Shangguan Suqing was even unable to speak through her tears, repeatedly bowing to Chen Yan: "Thank you, Chen Zhuguo! Thank you, Chen Zhuguo! The prince, now in the afterlife, will surely appreciate your great kindness!"

"In the second year of Baoding, Prince Qiao Yuwen An passed away. The prince had once lost his way, but then suddenly repented, the prodigal returned, corrected his past faults, and was praised by the era.

Alas, he fell victim to the Qi spy Gao Changjing, who lurked in Chang'an, secretly plotted poison, and was abruptly slain; Heaven granted him no years.

Both court and commoners mourned in shock, alas, how mournful!"

—'Chronicle of Zhou'·Yuwen An Biography