Chapter 57#
In the early morning court, the atmosphere was stifling. For the first time since returning from his campaign, the emperor did not arrive at court on time.#
News from the palace last night had scattered to the homes of the hundred officials, whether to the families of imperial consorts or the eyes and ears of high ministers. Everyone knew that an urgent decree had been issued from the Qianqing Palace last night. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had conducted night searches throughout nearly the entire rear palace. The palace staff who were taken away remain in the Imperial Prison with no news. It was said that even the Kunning Palace had not been spared.
The attacks on the Ministry of War that had continued for the previous two days came to an abrupt halt. Several civil officials who had been eloquent earlier fell silent. When the emperor finally entered and everyone saw his inscrutable expression, they knew he was angry.
Grand Secretary Xu stood calmly among them. The emperor’s gaze fell on him from afar.
Before anyone could present a memorial, the emperor’s eyes turned to Eunuch Rong. “Show the Grand Secretary.”
Seeing the contents of the memorial, Grand Secretary Xu’s pupils contracted slightly. He immediately knelt. “Your subjects did not know.”
The emperor looked at Qi Hanzhou. Qi Hanzhou stepped forward. “Last night’s investigation discovered that the female official Shuangyue had a suspicious identity, suspected to be related to the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince. Last night’s interrogation revealed that she had dealings with the traitors in the palace.”
The faction supporting the Great Prince watched closely. They knew that because of the Crown Prince assassination attempt, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War had borne the brunt of the fallout. Now, with these words from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Great Prince’s faction suddenly realized: the Xu family itself was not clean, yet they had been slandering and framing others in court!?
“How do you explain this?” the emperor asked coldly, looking at him.
The hundred officials exchanged glances. There was simply no explanation. Shuangyue was a female official by Empress Xu’s side, an old attendant who had been with her since she became the Crown Princess. She was practically branded with the Xu family’s mark. Whatever she did, the Xu family could not escape involvement.
Grand Secretary Xu was silent for a moment before he spoke. “Your old servant has no rebuttal, but this matter is too suspicious. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly.”
“Investigate thoroughly?” the emperor looked at him. “Are you questioning the results of the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s investigation?”
Grand Secretary Xu, a veteran of two reigns and a meritorious minister who had assisted the emperor in ascending the throne, had always been treated with courtesy by the emperor since his enthronement. Even when corrupt officials and examination scandals had implicated officials under the Xu family’s patronage, the emperor had turned a blind eye. This was the first time the emperor had confronted Grand Secretary Xu before the assembled civil and military officials.
Grand Secretary Xu knelt. “Your old servant was lax in discipline. I am guilty.”
The Minister of Works stepped forward. “Your Majesty, the timing of this incident is too clever. With the female official dead, there is no evidence. Moreover, if Shuangyue had colluded with the assassins, why would she suddenly die there? Although Shuangyue was a member of the Xu family, after entering the palace she had little contact with the Xu family. Now that she is dead, there is no proof. Mere association cannot constitute a crime… If someone else framed her…”
“You certainly know how to surprise me,” the emperor said, scanning the important ministers in the hall.
The Minister of Works had misspoken.
At that moment, a cold laugh came from outside the hall. Among the front ranks of officials stood a man in splendid court robes. As soon as his laugh sounded, the surrounding members of the Great Prince’s faction fell silent.
It was the Prince of Yongjia.
The Prince of Yongjia rarely spoke in court, even when the Great Prince’s faction and the Crown Prince’s faction were locked in fierce conflict. He usually just observed.
“Your humble brother has something to report,” the Prince of Yongjia said, performing the ritual greeting.
“Minister Zhou says it’s a frame-up?” the Prince of Yongjia’s tone carried a hint of mockery. His gaze turned coldly toward the Minister of Works who had spoken. “The Crown Prince assassination case is still not closed. Two days ago in court, because of the modified carriage incident, Shen Changcun, the Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud, almost became the traitor who assassinated the Crown Prince. He is still awaiting trial in the Dali Temple prison. Now that something has happened to the female official by the Empress’s side, you can conveniently ignore past events and claim it’s a frame-up.”
“Could it be that this Crown Prince assassination was a play staged by your Xu family?”
The Great Prince’s faction and the Crown Prince’s faction had been fighting for so long, yet this was the first time trouble had landed on the Xu family. How could the Prince of Yongjia let this opportunity pass?
Qi Hanzhou stood silently while the surrounding civil officials watched in silence.
He alone kept his eyes on Grand Secretary Xu. Grand Secretary Xu, a veteran minister of two reigns, could still admit fault and retreat in order to advance even in such a situation. That was the craftiness of an old fox who had spent years at court: unflustered by events, orderly in the face of chaos.
Among the palace staff who had dealings with Shuangyue, several carried totems of the previous dynasty. First, the female official Shuangyue had died inexplicably in the Cold Palace, her body covered in voodoo insects. Then, her network of contacts was inseparable from the previous dynasty. The cause of Shuangyue’s death was bizarre, but the fact that she appeared there and had dealings with spies from the previous dynasty was enough to completely implicate the Xu family.
The emperor had not explicitly mentioned spies from the previous dynasty; he only spoke of assassins. This was a test of the Xu family’s attitude.
He looked at the emperor. The emperor silently watched the ministers argue in court.
If such a problem arose in the palace, then the incident at the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace was too coincidental.
The Crown Prince had mishandled a court assignment, and then the Eastern Palace was attacked. Civil officials in court had attacked the newly elevated Court of the Imperial Stud. The emperor saw all of this targeting clearly. Combined with the matter of spies from the previous dynasty, the Xu family could not escape responsibility.
No matter how they argued, the situation today was already settled.
Grand Secretary Xu remained kneeling.
The emperor said coldly, “Grand Secretary Xu has been negligent in managing affairs. I, the Emperor, mindful of your past diligence, hereby temporarily relieve you of your cabinet duties. Return home and reflect quietly for several months. If there are other matters, submit another memorial.”
These words shocked the entire court!
Since entering the Grand Secretariat, Grand Secretary Xu had been repeatedly favored by the emperor. Numerous civil officials in court looked to him as their leader. He rarely made mistakes. To return home to rest for several months, though not a direct stripping of power, was still a rare severe punishment. What great offense had the Xu family committed to provoke such anger from the emperor?
The Minister of Works wanted to speak further, but Grand Secretary Xu shook his head. He rose, staggering slightly. “Your old servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace.”
The emperor waved his hand and turned to leave, not even looking at him.
The court was dismissed.
…
Qi Hanzhou accompanied the emperor, following him all the way back to the Qianqing Palace. All the discussions in the court fell upon the emperor’s ears.
Having just removed some corrupt officials in court, it was not suitable to make sweeping changes. For now, the emperor had only temporarily relieved Grand Secretary Xu of his duties. Given the Xu family’s prestige and connections in court, and the fact that the matter of the previous dynasty had not been explicitly mentioned in court, the Xu family had nonetheless become a thorn in the emperor’s side.
The emperor’s trust in the Xu family had plummeted.
For the time being, Grand Secretary Xu was merely temporarily relieved of his duties. What happened next would depend entirely on the emperor’s attitude.
The mastermind behind the scenes was closely related to the previous dynasty. After repeated incidents, they were also inseparable from the Xu family. With just one Shuangyue, Ying Fusheng had steered everything in a completely different direction. It was not just him driving this change, but also the subtle shift in relationships within the court.
“Hanzhou?” The emperor noticed Qi Hanzhou’s distraction.
“Your servant is here,” Qi Hanzhou said.
“You did well this time,” the emperor said, looking at him. Seeing his respectful expression, the emperor continued, “Regarding the matter of the previous dynasty, I grant you special authority. Investigate this thoroughly.”
Qi Hanzhou was slightly startled. “Yes!”
After Qi Hanzhou had left, the emperor withdrew his gaze, his eyes falling on the memorial on the desk.
“Your Majesty, it concerns the rear palace,” Eunuch Rong said softly.
The emperor knew what it was about. Yesterday, the matter of witchcraft in the Weiyang Palace had also occurred.
“This matter has not been linked to the Kunning Palace,” Eunuch Rong said. “How should it be handled?”
With the Shen Changcun matter from the Court of the Imperial Stud preceding it, the witchcraft incident had then appeared by the Sixth Prince’s side. If not for the female official by the Empress’s side getting into trouble, the Crown Prince assassination case would inevitably have resulted in someone taking the blame.
The emperor had personally appointed the Shen family companion to the Sixth Prince, and the Shen family was also naturally allied with Ying Fusheng. The malice behind these incidents was all too obvious.
Looking at it now, the matter of the palace lamps was also inseparable. Ying Fusheng had successfully accomplished several things, and some people could not bear to see him have smooth sailing.
“Over the years, the Xu family has not stuck out, and the Empress has not sought power. I have been somewhat lax with them,” the emperor said coldly. He had deliberately allowed the Great Prince and the Crown Prince to struggle, using it to maintain balance. But if certain authorities were granted too liberally, greed would grow.
The emperor had long heard about the witchcraft incident in the palace. From the palace lamps to the witchcraft, this child had suffered many misfortunes starting from his mother’s family. Now that he was doing slightly better, he had repeatedly encountered undeserved disasters.
“What did the imperial physician say about his health?” the emperor asked.
Eunuch Rong replied, “The Sixth Prince’s pulse is somewhat stable, but he has not yet improved. Removing the poison of Sui Hongzi (Crimson Seed) will take time… Physician Chu said that the Sixth Prince’s body is unlikely to ever be the same as an ordinary person’s.”
The emperor had seen the child’s intelligence a few times. Without the Sui Hongzi poison, he could have been a prince worth cultivating. However, his frail body prevented him from martial arts, and the residual poison in his brain made him dull in his studies… For these reasons, he could not compete with his elder brothers.
Ying Fusheng was now over twelve years old but had never had his own residence, temporarily residing in the Cining Palace.
It was acceptable while he was young, but as he grew older, he should have his own prince’s palace, and later move out of the palace to establish his own household.
The Empress Dowager could protect him within the palace, but this child had no other backing. His future might not be smooth.
“Prepare the Wanchun Palace,” the emperor said.
When Eunuch Rong heard “Wanchun Palace,” his expression shifted slightly. He suppressed his surprise. “Your old servant understands.”
-*
When the imperial edict reached the Cining Palace, a crowd of imperial consorts had gathered there.
News from the court had already spread. Who could have imagined that the head female official by Empress Xu’s side would get into such trouble?
The Empress Dowager was greatly alarmed when she learned of the changes in the palace last night. As a result, Empress Xu was punished. Some of the authority formerly delegated to the Kunning Palace was taken back by the Empress Dowager, and part of it was given to Consort Yun.
The Xu family and the Yun family were openly at odds. Handing this authority to another person delighted Consort Yun. That day, when she came to the Cining Palace to pay her respects, she made a great show of it.
When Eunuch Rong arrived to deliver the edict, all the imperial consorts were present. When they heard that the emperor had granted the Wanchun Palace as Ying Fusheng’s residence, several consorts’ expressions changed.
The Wanchun Palace had been the emperor’s residence in his youth, and later it was designated by the Imperial Observatory as a place of good fortune. After the emperor ascended the throne, he had the palace renovated, and the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace was established separately. The Wanchun Palace had been empty ever since, though the emperor occasionally stayed there for short periods. Now, he had specially ordered the Wanchun Palace to be prepared and granted it to the Sixth Prince. Even the Crown Prince did not enjoy such treatment!
Ying Fusheng was momentarily taken aback, a hint of surprise flickering in his heart.
Seeing the looks from those around him, he lowered his eyes to conceal the strange glint in them and performed the ritual to accept the decree.
“Congratulations, Your Highness,” Eunuch Rong said. “As a prince of the realm, Your Highness is naturally blessed with good fortune.”
Rumors had been circulating about the Sixth Prince’s palace lamp and witchcraft affairs, hinting at ill omen. The emperor granting him the Wanchun Palace at this time was personally shattering those rumors. If the Sixth Prince moved into the Wanchun Palace, who would dare spread such rumors anymore? To do so would be to point a finger at the Wanchun Palace itself.
In addition, there were extra rewards, all sent to the Cining Palace.
The emperor’s lavish gifts drew the frequent attention of the imperial consorts, each harboring their own thoughts.
“The Sixth Prince enjoys great fortune. How could he suffer those baseless suspicions and schemes?”
Consort Yun was in a good mood today after gaining authority. Last night, she had also found some stitching materials in the palace. If not for the female official’s death drawing the attention of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, these items would have been found by them, and the framing of the Sixth Prince would have fallen on her. As she spoke, her eyes swept over the consorts present, carrying a note of warning in her words. “After today, the palace staff should be thoroughly investigated to eliminate any hidden dangers.”
The Empress Dowager looked at her but did not contradict her words.
Ying Fusheng stood by, observing Consort Yun’s demeanor. The Empress Dowager’s body was still being eroded by the sub-gnawing worm, and someone needed to take charge of palace affairs. Consort Yun was suitable: she was charming and domineering, an outlier in the palace. Such a person, hostile to the Xu family, would strive to do solid work upon first taking power, exactly what the Empress Dowager needed.
The emperor had made his move, and Qi Hanzhou had caught the mastermind off guard, costing them many hidden agents among the palace staff.
What could be extracted from these people in the Imperial Prison was uncertain. The mastermind would not dare gamble and would inevitably go to ground for a time… If they could use Consort Yun’s hand to eliminate the remaining hidden posts of the Xu family, that would be ideal.
Especially in the Imperial Household Department. For some matters, it was more convenient to act through others.
Lost in thought, Ying Fusheng snapped back to reality and noticed the Third Princess standing beside him.
She seemed to have been watching him for a long time, yet she hesitated to approach.
Ying Fusheng lowered his eyes and caught a glimpse of Consort Ruan’s gaze. He reached out and offered a piece of candied fruit wrapped in paper to the Third Princess. The Third Princess was startled, looked up in confusion, and quietly thanked the Imperial Brother. In the distance, Consort Ruan’s expression had already changed. She smiled apologetically and said softly, “This child…”
When the Empress Dowager saw the Third Princess by Ying Fusheng’s side, a hint of tenderness appeared in her eyes. She had Foster Mother Yu fetch some treats for the Third Princess.
The other consorts glared secretly at Consort Ruan. By making this gesture, Consort Ruan had shown herself before the Empress Dowager.
The Third Princess caught the smell of medicine on Ying Fusheng. She sniffled and lowered her head to eat the candied fruit in silence.
The candied fruit was sweet, but the Imperial Brother smelled bitter.
Ying Fusheng did not stay there long. After confirming that Consort Yun was fine, he found an excuse to leave.
But the moment he stepped out, Foster Mother Yu followed and brought him some wound-healing ointment. “Her Ladyship noticed this morning that Your Highness’s hand seemed injured. Knowing you don’t wish to see the imperial physician, she asked me to bring you this.”
Ying Fusheng’s injured left hand was bandaged. He had not bandaged it earlier to avoid arousing suspicion. After Qi Hanzhou had treated it, he had not removed the bandage, keeping it hidden in his sleeve. He had not expected the Empress Dowager to notice. “Thank you, Grandmother.”
Outside the Cining Palace, a palanquin was waiting.
When he reached it, Ying Fusheng’s gaze paused. He noticed a small sachet tied to it.
On the palanquin was a small sachet. Ying Fusheng looked at the clumsy stitching on it and, from the corner of his eye, spotted the Third Princess peeking out from behind the palace wall.
Song An lowered his head. “Should Consort Ruan be warned?”
It was clear to anyone that Consort Ruan was using the Third Princess.
Ying Fusheng picked up the sachet. Song An understood.
…
The capital was bustling. At the gate of the Dali Temple (Court of Judicial Review), several officials were seeing Shen Changcun off.
Shen Changcun had been released. The Dali Temple had treated him well for two days, even preparing a decent cell. It almost made Lord Shen wonder if something serious had happened. The Dali Temple remembered the salary the Sixth Prince had secured from the Ministry of Revenue, and the evidence against Shen Changcun was insufficient. The Censorate had also not come looking for trouble, so the Chief Minister of the Dali Temple turned a blind eye, and the rest followed suit.
“I owe this to the Sixth Prince’s blessing,” Shen Changcun said.
Weng Yanqing, who was driving the carriage, smiled. “The Sixth Prince said he has prepared a banquet at the restaurant to wash away the bad luck.”
The news of Grand Secretary Xu’s severe punishment in court had spread throughout the capital within two hours.
However, the talk was that the Prince of Yongjia had mocked him mercilessly in court, and Grand Secretary Xu had yielded without retorting.
Ying Fusheng listened to the retelling by the frivolous young nobles. This was the consistent tactic of the civil officials belonging to the Xu family. Those in court knew the Xu family had offended the emperor, but the common people did not. With a little embellishment, the story would become the Prince of Yongjia making things difficult for Grand Secretary Xu, thus protecting his reputation among the people.
Today’s gathering was ostensibly to welcome Shen Changcun’s father, organized by Shen Yunfei. Ying Fusheng chatted casually with Shen Changcun for a while, watching the group drink and revel for a long time.
When they began to show signs of drunkenness, he turned and went upstairs.
When he arrived, he saw Qi Hanzhou standing inside, along with several Embroidered Uniform Guard members who were wolfing down food. They had been up all night working and had just taken a break when the Sixth Prince arrived.
“Men of the military, accustomed to being unrestrained,” Qi Hanzhou explained hesitantly.
Ying Fusheng looked at Qi Hanzhou. Qi Hanzhou showed no signs of fatigue.
Qi Hanzhou noticed Ying Fusheng’s gaze. “Doctor Chen is in the next room.”
The restaurant was under Ying Fusheng’s control, with several hidden chambers underground. It was convenient to hide in plain sight. Chen Xuqiu and the other had originally been in an Embroidered Uniform Guard safe house. When the palace was in turmoil, fearing that people would be watching the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they had been moved here.
Chen Xuqiu did not mind. As a martial arts wanderer, she was adept at disguising herself when entering and leaving the capital. But Doctor Chen was older, with poor mobility, and needed a safe place.
“Once the rumors in the capital die down, I will arrange for someone to take you south,” Ying Fusheng said to Doctor Chen. “Do you need someone to pack up the herbs in your thatched cottage?”
Doctor Chen nodded. “Was the mother worm killed?”
Ying Fusheng smiled faintly. “Thanks to you, it has been eliminated.”
Doctor Chen had long realized that Ying Fusheng’s identity was unusual. Since she had mentioned the matter of the mother and sub-gnawing worms, his attitude had been clear. And Qi Hanzhou was of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The people at the restaurant called Ying Fusheng “Young Master Six,” but she knew that he was the Sixth Prince of the court. The current Sixth Prince was raised by the Empress Dowager, making it easy to guess who the sub-gnawing worm had been planted on.
Qi Hanzhou spoke up at this moment. “He is poisoned with Sui Hongzi. The court physicians know little about the secret medicines of the previous dynasty. Please take a look.”
Doctor Chen had only examined his appearance back at the thatched cottage. “Your Highness, please extend your hand.”
Ying Fusheng glanced briefly at Qi Hanzhou but still extended his hand for Doctor Chen to take his pulse.
When Doctor Chen touched Ying Fusheng’s pulse, Chen Xuqiu beside her lowered her eyes and glanced at the faintly bruised needle marks on his skin. She frowned slightly. The Sui Hongzi poison had afflicted Ying Fusheng for a long time. Doctor Chen was skilled in the treatments of the previous dynasty, but even she hesitated repeatedly when she felt Ying Fusheng’s pulse. Then she looked at his injured left palm.
Doctor Chen looked at him with surprise. Ying Fusheng’s gaze paused, and he subtly glanced at Qi Hanzhou beside him.
At that moment, Ye Xuanji seemed to have something to report from outside. Qi Hanzhou took half a step toward the door. Ying Fusheng shook his head at Doctor Chen.
“Your Highness has let out the poisoned blood,” Doctor Chen said, hitting the nail on the head.
Ying Fusheng said, “Will the Sui Hongzi poison affect my mind?”
The court physicians had mentioned this. Ying Fusheng himself could not say for sure. He had been mad before, and in this life his mind was still clear, but his body had been poisoned for a long time. The few life-preserving techniques he had learned from Chen Xuqiu were only for emergencies, not for curing illness. He could not afford to go mad now. If he did, many things would remain undone.
“Perhaps the court physicians cannot do it, but I can remove the poison,” Doctor Chen said. “But it will take time.”
The Sui Hongzi poison in Ying Fusheng’s body had penetrated deep into his organs, a sign of chronic illness.
The longer the poison remained, the shorter his life would be. It needed to be removed, and the sooner the better.
“His poison cannot be removed overnight. You cannot stay in the capital,” Chen Xuqiu suddenly said.
Before Chen Xuqiu could explain, Qi Hanzhou walked in. “Doctor Chen truly cannot stay here. Since you left the thatched cottage, several groups of people have come, openly and covertly seeking your whereabouts.”
Shuangyue had died too quickly. Some people were desperate to understand the reason.
Given this situation, they would likely trace things back to the capital soon. Ying Fusheng frequently visited this restaurant, so it was no longer safe either.
“I have never seen those people, so I am still a new face to them,” Chen Xuqiu said, looking at Ying Fusheng, as if implying something. She continued, “Those people are eager to eliminate witnesses. She cannot stay in the capital. My family owes you a debt of gratitude for the thatched cottage matter. I can treat Your Highness’s poison, but I have a request: ensure my grandmother’s safety and send her to Jiangnan (the region south of the Yangtze River).”
“Sending Doctor Chen to Jiangnan is my duty,” Ying Fusheng said, withdrawing his hand. His demeanor was calm and natural, showing no sign of weakness. “As for the lingering poison in my body, if I seek treatment, it should be I who hire Miss Chen to treat me.”
His words surprised the others. Qi Hanzhou looked at him. Here was a life-saving favor, and someone desperate to save himself would have used it to leverage a demand. But Ying Fusheng did not. Instead, he showed great respect toward the two Chens.
“The matter of sending Doctor Chen off will trouble General Qi,” Ying Fusheng said, looking at him.
Qi Hanzzhou owed him a favor for his convenience in the palace. “Naturally.”
Ying Fusheng had been outside the palace for quite some time. It was time to return.
He bid farewell to Doctor Chen and the other, then turned and left.
After Ying Fusheng had gone, Qi Hanzhou looked at Doctor Chen. “What were the results of your examination?”
“Regarding what you asked me to look into, he indeed has traces of acupuncture-related pulse patterns. That kind of acupuncture is a martial arts technique used to stimulate the spirit and consolidate blood, but it also very easily damages the foundation. The Sui Hongzi poison impairs the mind. This method can alleviate that and revive the spirit, but the person applying the needles made improper movements; the needle insertion was sometimes too shallow, sometimes too deep. The technique was both skilled and unskilled.”
After careful thought, Doctor Chen said, “But this method is not advisable. I will discuss this with Xuqiu, and she will pay attention.”
Qi Hanzhou frowned. Such acupuncture could not possibly have been performed by the court physicians.
His heart tightened. There was no one else beside Ying Fusheng… He had performed the acupuncture on himself.
Seeing that Qi Hanzhou was silent for a long time, Doctor Chen frowned slightly. After some deliberation, she said, “There is one more thing I did not have time to tell the Sixth Prince. I ask that the General relay it to him.”
“The Sixth Prince’s body contains other toxins in addition to the Sui Hongzi poison. Deep in his organs, there are other poisons. These have been present alongside the Sui Hongzi for a long time. The court physicians may have mistaken them for the Sui Hongzi poison.”
Qi Hanzhou’s expression changed sharply. He looked at her in shock.
Ying Fusheng had other poisons…?
“What poison?” His tone suddenly became severe.
“I have not yet been able to identify the poison. It is too intertwined with the Sui Hongzi. It needs to be eliminated first before it can be identified,” Doctor Chen said, thinking carefully. She then said, “However, this poison can hide within the Sui Hongzi, likely for several years. Do you know how long the Sixth Prince has been poisoned with Sui Hongzi?”
Qi Hanzhou’s gaze darkened. Shock surged in his heart. “It may have been since early childhood, or even infancy.”
Ying Fusheng had been poisoned with Sui Hongzi as a child. According to Physician Chu’s diagnosis, it was highly possible that the poison had been administered when he was still an infant. But due to the long time, the assessment might not be precise. The only certainty was that it began in his early childhood.
The emperor had many children. Ying Fusheng was just one of them. The Ning family was nothing more than a Vice Minister of Rites.
Apart from Consort Ning, who else would poison an ordinary prince?
Early childhood… Doctor Chen was taken aback. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to speak. “This is merely an inference, but the Sixth Prince is still young. For a poison to be hidden so deeply, it could possibly have been passed down from birth.”