Chapter 271: Leaving

No, that's not right!

Wushe suddenly recalled that when the immortal pill was forged, Li Shimin had also worried it might be flawed, so he was the one to test the poison first.

He saw that it was fine, and when he first took it there was indeed a refreshing feeling, so Li Shimin ate it.

Thinking of this, Wushe felt like crying.

Damn, it seems it didn't escape either.

"Zi An!"

At this moment, Li Shimin turned his head and said, "Earlier you said my poisoning was not severe, that if I rested properly and stopped taking this toxic pill, it wouldn't endanger my life—so is that true?"

When those words were spoken, everyone shifted their gaze to Chen Yan, putting considerable pressure on him.

"Yes, Your Majesty, your poisoning is indeed not deep; if you stop taking the toxic pill, it will not threaten your life."

"But what about it?" Li Shimin's gaze was sharp. "Earlier I knew you had something left unsaid; I also don't believe a toxic pill that can kill a sparrow in such a short time. I've taken it for many days; as long as I rest properly, I will recover."

"Whatever it is, just say it straight; I will never blame you."

Chen Yan pursed his lips, glanced at Empress Changsun, and spoke frankly: "Mercury-induced poisoning, even if not severe, will inevitably cause aftereffects; it won't endanger life, but it will affect daily living to some extent."

"It's akin to the Empress's respiratory ailment, incurable, but it does have effects."

"If properly nurtured, the impact is minor—perhaps some memory decline, occasional insomnia, anxiety, and a more irritable temper."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin and his family were not angry; instead, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Being poisoned but not dying, only with some aftereffects, was a result they could accept.

Anyway, it's better than death, right?

"Alas~"

Empress Changsun sighed softly; Li Shimin's temper had indeed grown much larger during this period. Previously she hadn't thought much, assuming he was merely disciplining the Court, and with the Prince of Yue becoming increasingly indiscreet, his temper had risen.

She hadn't expected it was actually because of the poisoning!

As Li Shimin's wife, Changsun Wugou knew exactly how angry he was at this moment.

If an assassin had tried to poison him, Li Shimin might not have been so furious; at most he would kill the poisoner, and if someone behind them ordered it, he would capture and kill them too, ending the matter there.

But Li Shimin was deceived by a group of wandering sorcerers who passed the lethal toxic pill off as an immortal pill that grants longevity, making Li Shimin gladly swallow it.

Empress Changsun still remembered that on the day the immortal pill was forged, he had boasted before several close aides, saying that once production increased, he would take them all to achieve immortality.

Li Shimin hadn't forgotten Chen Yan either; with a raised corner of his mouth, he said he would grant the immortal pill to Chen Yan.

He hadn't expected that today Chen Yan would discover the immortal pill was actually a toxic pill.

And Li Shimin not only was duped, but also lost face completely.

It's no wonder he's not furious!

"Zi An, it's getting late, you take Sizi back first," Empress Changsun pulled Sizi to Chen Yan, her eyes holding an unspoken meaning.

Li Shimin glanced this way but said nothing.

Chen Yan took Sizi's hand, his expression shifting as he understood Empress Changsun's intent.

He also guessed Li Shimin's feelings a bit, realizing it wasn't good for him to stay.

However, before leaving he said to Li Shimin, "Your Majesty, be sure to interrogate those alchemists to extract the toxic pill's formula; only then can you prescribe the right remedy and see if anything else was mixed in."

"Later I'll go back and give you a prescription; follow it to take the medicine, and regularly drink more mung bean soup, which helps detoxify."

"Mung bean soup?" Li Shimin nodded slightly in agreement, "Understood, you may go back assuredly; I am not seriously harmed."

"Very well, if any problem arises, summon me at any time."

Chen Yan responded, performed a proper bow to the two, then left together with the self‑aware Wushe.

"......"

On the road, Chen Yan, still sobbing, asked the half‑sleepy Sizi, "Lord Wushe, you must have also taken that immortal pill, right?"

Wushe's expression turned bitter, "To be honest, Lord Bo, I was the first to eat it."

"At first, when I took it, there was a refreshing feeling, so His Majesty thought it was fine and ate it."

Chen Yan: "......."

He instantly felt a mix of helpless laughter and tears, his heart full of sighs.

Immortality.

These two characters have killed so many emperors.

Even Qin Shi Huang and Li Shimin, emperors of a thousand ages, could not escape.

"If Chang'an had Tang Xuanzang from Journey to the West, we could invite him over to cut a hemorrhoid; then Li Shimin might truly attain longevity."

Chen Yan couldn't help thinking that.

Seeing that he only asked a single question and then fell silent, Wushe was extremely anxious.

"Lord Bo, could you give me a copy of that prescription?"

"I must also be poisoned, you know."

Seeing Wushe's aggrieved, near‑crying expression, Chen Yan couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.

"Hahahahaha— Lord Wushe, sorry, I just thought of something delightful, allow me to laugh for a moment, hahahaha—"

Wushe: "......"

"Ancestor, keep your voice down; we haven't even left the palace yet."

He startled, looked around, and hurried to stop Chen Yan from continuing to laugh.

His Majesty had just learned of the poisoning, and you start laughing as soon as you step out.

"Where?"

"You want to go to heaven?"

"Rest assured, Lord Wushe, how could I forget you?"

"I'll make sure to send you one later."

"Of course, you, like His Majesty, should drink more mung bean soup regularly."

"However, you only ate one, and the poison you took isn't as deep as His Majesty's, so you don't need to worry that much."

Wushe felt a great weight lift from his heart, tearfully grateful, and said, "Then I will first thank Lord Bo."

"It's nothing, a small problem," Chen Yan waved his hand indifferently.

"Hmm... although it's a bit redundant, I still want to remind you of something," he said earnestly. "Lord Wushe, you are actually in some danger right now."

"I believe that after being by His Majesty's side for so many years, you should have a way to please His Majesty more; you'd better hurry, otherwise it'll be over."

Wushe, upon hearing that, nodded solemnly.

"Oh, right, I just remembered something," Chen Yan was momentarily startled, whispering, "I've smelled that poison pill; some of its scent seems very suspicious. If you interrogate those alchemists for the poison pill's formula, you'd better not deliver it yourself; just find someone you dislike to take it."

"Lord Bo, you mean..."

Wushe's brows furrowed suddenly; the fact that he has been by Li Shimin's side for so long means he is certainly not an ordinary person.

From Chen Yan's single sentence, he instantly recalled many things.

"I understand, thank you, Lord Bo!" Wushe said solemnly.

"No need to thank... huh, Cheng Bo Bo and the others have arrived!"

"......."