Chapter 649

Entering Princess Anping's bedchamber, Hu Xiaotian and Wu Jing Shan simultaneously bowed and saluted, saying: "Your subject Wu Jing Shan, Hu Xiaotian, pays respects to the Princess, Thousand Years, ten thousand years!"

From behind the curtains came a weak, feeble voice: "Sir Wu, little whiskers, do you still remember that I am this princess……"

Wu Jing Shan said with trepidation: "This old official constantly worries about the Princess's safety……" He then glanced at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Sir Hu is the same."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "What happened to the Princess? Why are there so many physicians here?"

Princess Anping said: "I don't know why, but I constantly feel weak and powerless, my heart is anxious."

Hu Xiaotian said: "May I enter to take the Princess's pulse?"

Princess Anping said: "No need, I'm tired, I want to rest properly; you all may leave."

Hearing her voice, Hu Xiaotian's heart eased a little, at least confirming that Zijin was alive and well; he gave Wu Jing Shan a look, and together they withdrew outside, where he saw Liu Yucheng also present. Hu Xiaotian clasped his hands to Liu Yucheng and said: "Master Liu, how is our Princess faring?"

Liu Yucheng said: "It should be nothing serious, just a touch of wind-cold; I prescribed a decoction for her, and as long as she takes it on schedule she'll be fine." He picked up his medicine box, preparing to leave.

Hu Xiaotian repeatedly thanked him, respectfully saying: "I will see Master Liu out."

Hu Xiaotian said to Wu Jing Shan: "Sir Wu, you and Zhou Mo and the others are to guard here; without my order, no one may enter the Princess's chambers."

Wu Jing Shan nodded.

Hu Xiaotian left Rising Imperial Palace together with Liu Yucheng. After stepping out the gate, seeing no one around, Liu Yucheng lowered his voice and said: "Princess Anping has been poisoned!"

Hu Xiaotian sucked in a breath of cold air: "What?" The first possibility that came to mind was that Consort Shu and her son wanted to eliminate Princess Anping, in order to sabotage this marriage alliance; his heart turned cold halfway, and if this were true, Consort Shu and her son would be utterly vicious.

Liu Yucheng said: "I have not made this public; Princess Anping's pulse indicates chronic poisoning. I inquired about her condition, and it seems someone has tampered with her food and drink. The toxin accumulates day by day, gradually worsening."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Brother Liu, do you know what poison she has been given?"

Liu Yucheng said: "I originally wanted to collect a blood sample from the Princess to test it back, but she refused. However, Brother Hu, rest assured—the poison she has taken is not severe; I have a bottle of Nine Revolutions Blood-Cleansing Pill here. Take it. Give her one pill each morning and evening; within three days it will cleanse the toxins from her body. Also, remember to be careful with the Princess's diet from now on." Although Liu Yucheng suspected this matter was related to the attendants serving Princess Anping in Rising Imperial Palace, since it involved the Da Yong imperial family, he dared not speak too plainly.

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Brother Liu, is there a medicine that makes one fall asleep after taking it?"

Liu Yucheng had long regarded Hu Xiaotian as a good friend and had no suspicion of his motives; he nodded and said: "Yes. Tranquility Pill—taking it helps one fall asleep." He took the bottle of Tranquility Pill from his medicine box and handed it to Hu Xiaotian, adding specifically: "Remember, you may take at most one pill at a time; if you take two, even an ox would be put to sleep."

Hearing how potent this medicine was, Hu Xiaotian felt ever more delighted. This Tranquility Pill will surely come in handy later.

After seeing Liu Yucheng off, Hu Xiaotian turned back to Rising Imperial Palace. Zhan Peng and the fifty warriors were all waiting outside the gate for his return. Hu Xiaotian had Zhan Peng and Zhao Chongwu accompany him inside, and ordered Yan Fei to lead the remaining warriors to guard the gate of Rising Imperial Palace, allowing no one to enter or leave without his permission.

Cao Xi felt helpless as well; the guards under his charge responsible for defending Rising Imperial Palace totaled no more than thirty, far fewer in number than Hu Xiaotian's group, and their strength was vastly inferior. Cao Xi knew full well that his own martial arts were roughly on par with Zhan Peng's, but earlier Zhou Mo had displayed his skills, astonishing everyone, and there was no way he could match Zhou Mo. Therefore Cao Xi issued orders: no matter what happens today, his guards must remain calm and merely observe. Even Fang Lianhai of Jade Palace, who had suffered a defeat at Hu Xiaotian's hands, would only bring disgrace upon himself if he tried to show off. Fang Lianhai would certainly not accept humiliation; once he leaves, he will surely seek reinforcements.

As Hu Xiaotian passed by him, Cao Xi clasped his fists and said: "Sir Hu, I hope you won't make things difficult for me."

Hu Xiaotian replied: "It's not that I refuse to give you face; rather, you fail to cherish what you have. You repeatedly promised to look after the Princess well, yet now my household Princess is plagued by illness."

Cao Xi said: "Who eating grains and legumes can avoid illness?"

Hu Xiaotian, too lazy to argue, coldly replied: "Since you have neglected your duties, we will take care of the Princess ourselves."

"Hu—"

Hu Xiaotian had already strode into Rising Imperial Palace with Zhan Peng and Zhao Chongwu.

Outside Princess Anping's bedchamber, Wu Jing Shan paced back and forth like ants on a hot pan, for he did not know Zijin's condition and was also deeply worried; although Zijin was merely an impostor princess, she was the envoy's sole hope—only by marrying Zijin smoothly to the Seventh Prince, Xue Daoming, could they hope to report back to the Emperor and perhaps escape unscathed.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian return with Zhan Peng, Wu Jing Shan hurried forward and said: "Sir Hu, how is it?"

Hu Xiaotian said nothing, turning to Zhan Peng and Zhao Chongwu: "From now on, you two guard the inner court; no one may come and go at will, not even Cao Xi and those post station chiefs."

Zhan Peng and Zhao Chongwu received the order, each taking position at the gate of the inner court; the two Guards originally stationed there glanced at them but ultimately dared not say anything.

Liu Mama and Fang Lianhai had just left together; only four palace maids remained in the inner court. Frightened by the sudden turn of events, they turned deathly pale and were at a loss. Hu Xiaotian stared coldly at them and said: "Since the superiors sent you to attend the Princess, you ought to serve her attentively; if I find that you harbor even the slightest intention to harm her, I will take your lives." The maids lowered their heads in fear, not daring to meet Hu Xiaotian's gaze.

One of the maids held a tray with the medicine just decocted for Princess Anping; trembling with fear, her hands shook uncontrollably. Hu Xiaotian walked over, took the tray from her, and slowly approached the door. Before entering, he turned to the others and said: "Without an order from the Zajia, no one may enter." He then pushed the door open and stepped inside, where he immediately heard Zijun's somewhat angry voice: "Didn't I say no one is allowed to come in? The Princess needs to rest properly!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Your Highness, it's me!"

Behind the curtain, Zijun let out a cold snort: "You're the last person I want to see!"

Hu Xiaotian lifted the curtain and saw Zijun lying on the bed, her hair disheveled, her complexion ashen, her face wan and pitiable.

Hu Xiaotian placed the tray on the bedside table and smiled: "Your Highness, I apologize for my late arrival in guarding you; please forgive me."

Zijun said: "You seem delighted to smile; seeing me like this, are you overjoyed?"

Hu Xiaotian replied: "Heaven and earth's Conscience, the illness is in the Princess's body, the pain is in my heart; when the Princess falls ill, I feel it as if it were my own."

"You wish I were dead already."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If the Princess were to die, we'd all likely have to follow her to the grave; therefore I wish the Princess a long life of a hundred years."

Zijun said: "You smooth-talking hypocrite, you lot are living carefree while you've dumped me alone in this Rising Dawn Palace, deprived of freedom and never seeing daylight—what's the difference between that and being under house arrest?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "But back then, the Princess refused to leave with us."

"If I won't go, do you all forget your duties? Abandoning me and ignoring my fate, I will surely write a letter to my imperial elder brother, detailing all your misdeeds so he can chop off your heads."

Hu Xiaotian knew she was just talking; he lifted the medicine bowl and said: "Princess, it's time to take your medicine."

Zijun furrowed her brows: "I won't take it; who knows if you've put poison in it to kill me?"

Hu Xiaotian was both amused and exasperated; he had no choice but to set the medicine bowl down again.

Zijun asked: "What exactly is wrong with me?"

Hu Xiaotian didn't answer right away; instead he looked around the room, making sure no one was inside, then went to close the door, returned to Zijun's side, and sent a mental transmission: "Your Highness, calm down—you have actually been poisoned."

Upon hearing his words, Zijun's pretty face flashed with a hint of panic: "What?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Someone must have tampered with your food and drink."

Zijun trembled as she asked: "Why would they want to harm me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I don't know exactly who wants to harm you." He then took out the two porcelain bottles from his bosom, retrieved a Nine-Revolutions Blood-Cleansing Pill and a Peaceful Ease Pill, and whispered: "Take these two pills."

Zijun asked: "What are these?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Medicine to cleanse the toxins from your body—the Nine-Revolutions Blood-Cleansing Pill."

Zijun looked at Hu Xiaotian half-believing, half-doubting.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You needn't doubt me; we're on the same side now, and if something happens to you, it brings me no benefit."

Zijun bit her lip, finally nodded, took the pills from Hu Xiaotian's hand; seeing her swallow the two pills one after another, he relaxed, fetched her a cup of water, which she drank a few sips of before suddenly yawning.

Hu Xiaotian deliberately said: "Are you feeling sleepy, Princess?"

Zi Juan nodded and said: "I don't know why I suddenly feel a bit drowsy; could there be something wrong with your medicine pill?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "The princess still doesn't trust me; you're tired, so get a good rest." (To be continued)