Chapter 268: Poisoning

Three days passed, and Chen Yan met a few friends and elders in Chang'an, then planned to return to Weinan County tomorrow.

After all, the library there is about to open, and there are many matters that require his attention; he doesn't feel comfortable leaving them all to Du Gou alone.

Near evening, Chen Yan entered the palace alone, intending to fetch Xiao Sizi.

The day they returned, Chen Yan left Sizi in the palace; today he will bring Sizi back, and tomorrow he can return to Weinan County.

Chen Yan chose an auspicious time; now it is near dusk, and Li Shimin and Empress Changsun have probably just finished dinner and are strolling to aid digestion, giving Empress Changsun a chance to spend more time with Sizi.

However, just after an eunuch reported, as they neared Lizheng Hall, they suddenly heard Li Shimin's angry roar.

"Get out, get out of my sight!"

"If you plead for that kid again, don't blame me for locking you up for another month!"

Then Chen Yan saw a chubby boy with a sullen expression walk out of Lizheng Hall.

Seeing him, the Prince of Yue's face grew even more displeased.

Chen Yan yielded the way to the Prince of Yue, slightly bowing and saying, "Your servant has seen His Highness, the Prince of Yue."

"Hmph!" Prince Li Tai of the Prince of Yue gave him a cold glance, flicked his sleeve, and left.

Chen Yan smiled, paying no heed to Li Tai's attitude, taking it as nothing.

However, when he was led by the eunuch into Lizheng Hall, he found Li Shimin seated at the desk, tea set before him, glaring at Wushe as if about to lose his temper.

Empress Changsun was seated on a soft couch, accompanied by her two young daughters, seemingly saying something.

Chen Yan hurriedly performed a bow, hoping to spare Wushe from disaster.

Seeing him arrive, Li Shimin's expression softened considerably, "Zi An, ah, come, sit."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Yan cheerfully walked over, and as he passed the trembling Wushe kneeling on the ground, he quietly gave him a kick.

"Your Majesty, shall we taste the tea?"

"Hmm." Li Shimin looked a bit weary, yet smiled faintly, "Your tea is good; drink more often, and I feel my breathing has become smoother."

"But the tea you sent last time, I gave away a lot, and it's almost finished; remember to send me more."

"Alright, Your Majesty, I promise to bring you the finest." Chen Yan nodded, and after sitting down, glanced into the tea leaf pouch.

"Your Majesty, it seems there's no tea left in here; do you have any on your side?"

"Shall I have someone go fetch some now?"

"No need." Li Shimin waved his hand, "I still have some."

"Wushe, go get it."

"Your servant obeys!" Wushe, as if granted a pardon and knowing Chen Yan was helping him, left gratefully.

"Zi An, are you about to leave?"

At that moment, Empress Changsun pulled Sizi and the Chengyang Little Princess over.

"To be honest, Your Majesty, there are many matters in Weinan County; my library is about to open, so I must return."

"Then..." Empress Changsun's expression darkened; she was reluctant to part with Sizi.

But Xiao Sizi was willing to part, rushing to Chen Yan's side, hugging his arm, "Brother Ah, when are we leaving?"

"Sizi misses Sister Qing Yue~"

"Um..." Chen Yan glanced awkwardly at Empress Changsun, whispering, "We'll go back tomorrow; tomorrow you'll see Qing Yue."

"Yay!" Xiao Sizi beamed, hopping excitedly, clearly delighted.

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun couldn't help but look displeased.

They felt as if their daughter had become someone else's.

"So, you came today intending to take Sizi away?" Li Shimin asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will leave early tomorrow morning." Chen Yan brushed Sizi's ear hair, then said, "Of course, if Your Majesty and Her Majesty are reluctant, I can rise early tomorrow and meet Sizi outside the palace."

"Hmph." Li Shimin said irritably, "If you say that, even if I'm reluctant, I will let it happen."

Empress Changsun: "Zi An, take Sizi away today; Sizi doesn't like staying in the palace, an extra night is meaningless."

"Remember to bring Sizi back to visit more often."

After such a long time, Empress Changsun no longer worries about Sizi and feels reassured that Chen Yan will look after her.

"Fine." Chen Yan smiled and nodded, just as he was about to chat with Li Shimin, he noticed bloodshot eyes and an odd complexion on Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, didn't you rest well yesterday?" Chen Yan frowned, "Why does your complexion look off?"

"Sigh~ just some vexing matters." Li Shimin seemed unwilling to elaborate, quickly changing the subject.

"I heard you want the Grand Historian to look for something, and the Grand Historian agreed?"

Chen Yan examined Li Shimin's expression closely, feeling increasingly that something was wrong.

He recalled that when they had just returned, during a meal in the Imperial Garden, he had already noticed Li Shimin's expression was off.

Today the feeling intensified.

"Zi An?" Li Shimin called out, puzzled.

Chen Yan snapped back, quickly replying, "Sorry, Your Majesty, I was just thinking and couldn't answer immediately; please forgive me."

"No problem, it's not a big deal; privately, there's no need to worry so much." Li Shimin smiled nonchalantly.

After hearing that, Chen Yan hesitated briefly, looked at Li Shimin again, and said, "Your Majesty, I sense your complexion is off; it doesn't seem just a lack of rest."

"May I take your pulse?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin and the Empress Changsun, who had been about to leave, were both startled.

"Zi An, are you saying... I'm ill?" Li Shimin's expression looked rather unpleasant.

"I can't tell now; I need to feel your pulse to see your condition before I can decide," Chen Yan shook his head.

"Er Lang!" Empress Changsun worriedly said.

Li Shimin gave his wife a reassuring glance, extended his hand, "Then you come; I've lately felt constantly fatigued and chest tightness."

"You can look, too."

Chen Yan solemnly nodded, recalling what he had seen upon arriving, and a few guesses formed in his mind.

Then, he carefully took Li Shimin's pulse, and, with Li Shimin's cooperation, examined his condition.

Li Shimin seemed somewhat irritated, because Chen Yan's requests were many—checking his tongue, then turning his eyes—making him very uncomfortable.

Moreover, Chen Yan didn't stop at one look; he examined him several times.

When Li Shimin was on the brink of losing his temper, Chen Yan finally stopped, and, his expression fluctuating, sat back down.

"Zi An, how is His Majesty?" Empress Changsun hurriedly asked, "Is he ill?"

Chen Yan shook his head.

"Not sick?"

Empress Changsun didn't stay pleased for long; the next words Chen Yan said frightened her so much that she collapsed to the ground, her face turning white in an instant.

"His Majesty, poisoned!"

"Deadly poison!"

"......."