Chapter 424: At First Sounds Absurd, Upon Reflection, It

"First report to the Ministry of Justice and have them send a medical officer over. Continue the investigation—start from three days ago. Leave no trace, no slightest anomaly unexamined. Gather all the jailers and forbid them from moving about or speaking to one another. What are you standing around for? Get moving."

Chen Guanlou made an immediate decision and issued orders one by one.

Whether they could uncover the problem or find the poisoner didn't matter. Whoever administered the poison was merely an executor; the mastermind behind it could never be found.

If you really looked, you could find him.

But the key was, no one would actually search for the mastermind. The waters here ran too deep. Chen Guanlou only wanted to stand on the shore, not get his shoes wet.

The most crucial point of this matter: report it to the Ministry of Justice promptly, so they share the blame.

This point mattered more than anything else—a hundred times more than finding the poisoner.

The Ministry of Justice had created this mess, and now Prince Great Ming was poisoned. Whether he lived or died, the Ministry could not escape responsibility. Even if it meant threatening death, Chen Guanlou would drag the Ministry into the mire and make them bear the primary blame.

He dismissed the jailers and walked alone into the prison gate.

Worried he might disturb the medical officer, he stood silently to the side, watching.

The medical officer was administering acupuncture to save the man. It was winter, and the prison was bitterly cold, yet the medical officer was drenched in sweat. Chen Guanlou swiftly became his assistant, lending a hand.

As the treatment reached a pause, Chen Guanlou asked, "What's the situation now?"

"He won't die." The medical officer gasped, utterly exhausted.

"So it really was poisoning? Accidental ingestion or…?"

The medical officer shook his head. "The poison didn't enter through the mouth. It's a mist-like toxin—one breath poisons you, and it's extremely hard to guard against. But as far as I know, this poison is exceedingly rare. The key ingredient for its manufacture is nearly impossible to find."

"One breath and you're poisoned? And it kills you?"

"Had it not been discovered in time, and had I not had my life-saving remedy, Prince Great Ming would be dead." The medical officer snorted.

Chen Guanlou temporarily ignored just how impressive the medical officer was, and seized on the poison. "You know such a potent poison, Old Mu. Do you have any clue where it came from?"

The medical officer shook his head. "I don't know the source. I once encountered a similar poisoning case years ago, and made a small study of it—that's how I came to understand it. I don't even know what this poison is called in the Jianghu. But I named it myself: 'Five Colors.' Colorless—that's why I call it Five Colors."

That name was fitting indeed.

Chen Guanlou murmured in admiration.

"What merit does this humble prison have to warrant the mastermind deploying a legendary poison known only by name, never seen? One breath and you're dead—so sharp. Prince Great Ming is lucky to have met you. And you, by chance, have prior antidote experience. Old Mu, how can the world be so coincidental?"

The medical officer shot him a sidelong glance. "Chen Jailor, you speak like that—do you suspect me of being the poisoner?"

His tone and expression suggested he was ready to turn hostile at any moment.

Chen Guanlou quickly waved his hands and smiled apologetically. "Old Mu, you misunderstand. I'd suspect anyone before I'd suspect you. If you'd poisoned him, why would you save him?"

"What if I was just practicing on him?" the medical officer snorted, half-smiling, as if daring Chen Guanlou to explain himself.

"There are plenty of death-row inmates here. If you want to practice, just say so. I can get you ten men, no problem. You don't need to practice on Prince Great Ming. Not at all." Chen Guanlou spoke while waving his hands, as if he might go fetch ten men right away.

The medical officer stretched his limbs, stood up, and twisted his waist. "Fine, you've passed. If I wanted to kill Prince Great Ming, I wouldn't use poison—it's too obvious."

"You're absolutely right. Poisoning is crude, beneath your dignity, and unworthy of your brilliance." Chen Guanlou had to coddle the medical officer now.

If the medical officer quit now, Prince Great Ming's life would still hang by a thread in the hands of the King of Hell.

That would be unacceptable.

The medical officer chuckled, kicked the unconscious Prince Great Ming, "This fool? Killing him is as easy as breathing. No matter how you guard, you can't stop it. Chen Jailor, don't you agree?"

Chen Guanlou gave a forced laugh. "Old Mu, hurry and save him. Bring him back, and I'll treat you to tea. Top-grade tea from the Hou Fu—I'll give you two taels."

"You said it, then. I won't be polite." The medical officer added, "Honestly, you should poison Prince Great Ming yourself, then spread the news far and wide—it'd save you a lot of trouble."

The medical officer's suggestion sounded absurd at first, but upon closer thought—hmm—it might actually be feasible, even possible.

Countless people outside were secretly plotting to kill Prince Great Ming to sabotage the Emperor's Heaven Worship Ceremony. If you struck first and poisoned him yourself, would those plotters still bother trying to infiltrate the prison?

Chen Guanlou began weighing the feasibility.

"Old Mu, can you control the dosage so he won't die, but still shows symptoms of a fatal poisoning?"

"I can. But how will you explain it at next year's Heaven Worship Ceremony? They want a healthy, plump Prince Great Ming. You give them a poisoned man who's always on the brink of death—do you really think that'll pass inspection?"

"Is there no poison that can make him look plump and healthy, yet still show symptoms of imminent death?"

"Such a demand is unique. No such poison exists." Old Mu replied.

Chen Guanlou felt deeply disappointed.

He had ideas, but his resources were too limited—he couldn't make them real!

"But I do have a poison that keeps a man alive while making him show symptoms of imminent death. Before the Heaven Worship Ceremony, simply stop the poison, and he'll recover quickly."

The medical officer shifted his tone—suddenly, hope appeared.

Chen Guanlou beamed. "Perfect! That's the poison. Old Mu, you're brilliant."

"You really want to poison Prince Great Ming? Aren't you afraid I'll use this chance to actually kill him? Or that I'll misjudge the dosage and kill him outright?"

"Old Mu, how can you speak so poorly of yourself? You're a divine physician! The idea of you accidentally killing someone or misjudging dosage—how could that ever happen to you? Don't try to trick me with nonsense."

Chen Guanlou scolded him with solemn seriousness.

The medical officer laughed heartily—he'd had his daily dose of amusement and was satisfied. He glanced at the hourglass, waited for the time to come, then pulled the needles.

"Only my acupuncture saved him. Chen Jailor, you've struck gold."

Chen Guanlou was quick to respond. "Two taels of tea isn't enough—not nearly enough. At least three. Otherwise, you're disrespecting Old Mu."