Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Stop Fooling Around

Fourth Prince Lu Chuo of Northern Di was pale as snow, clutching his chest in agony while attendants supported him. His teeth clenched tightly as pain wracked his body.

“Medicine! Where is the medicine?” Jin Ri Xu, limping, rushed forward, frantically searching through Lu Chuo’s clothes. Yet no medicine was found.

Two palace attendants from Northern Di knelt trembling. “General Xu, the Imperial Prince always carries his medicine himself. We—we truly don’t know!” they pleaded in their Northern Di language.

Though influenced by Sheng Kingdom’s tongue, Northern Di words remained foreign to most Sheng officials, who relied on translators. Sheng Zhi Wan, however, understood perfectly, though she stood silently with the others, revealing nothing.

Lu Chuo’s face turned from white to blue, his handsome features now tinged with deathly grey. Sheng’s Imperial Physicians hurried to him, Imperial Physician Jiang quickly ordering him brought inside a tent. The physicians rushed to diagnose him—checking pulses, heartbeats, and pulling back his eyelids.

Women of Sheng Kingdom were naturally barred from the tent. Emperor Chong Sheng rushed over, his previous joy vanished completely. All his plans depended on Lu Chuo remaining alive. If Lu Chuo died in Sheng, Northern Di would surely declare war, claiming their prince had been murdered.

Emperor Chong Sheng’s kingdom was in no shape for war. Lu Chuo must survive!

Emperor Chong Sheng ordered the physicians to preserve Lu Chuo’s life at all costs, dispatching messengers to fetch Imperial Physician Song from the capital immediately. Physician Song, elderly, had fallen ill two months ago after treating a patient in the rain and thus hadn’t accompanied them.

Emperor Chong Sheng silently cursed whoever caused Physician Song’s illness, but there was no time to pursue that matter now. He stared anxiously toward the tent, deeply troubled.

Northern Di generals Hu Shu Xie and Jin Ri Xu looked grim. Both realized their prince had been betrayed. Their plan had been to poison Lu Chuo just before leaving Sheng territory, yet this sudden timing caught them off guard.

They could hardly believe it—but what else could they think? Compared to Sheng’s weakened state, Northern Di was never short of capable warriors. The harsh reality settled heavily upon them.

Imperial Physician Jiang emerged, drenched in sweat despite the cold. “Your Majesty, Prince Lu Chuo has been poisoned. With his existing heart condition, he won’t survive until Imperial Physician Song arrives.”

“Impossible!” screamed one of Lu Chuo’s attendants suddenly, rising and shouting fiercely in Northern Di language. “The Fourth Prince has survived worse episodes countless times! Why would he succumb now in Sheng Kingdom? You must have plotted against His Highness!”

Without warning, she drew a hairpin and lunged toward Emperor Chong Sheng.

“Imperial Father, be careful!” Sheng Yuan Hao quickly moved to shield him, though Commander Xie An easily subdued the attacker. Yet, even as Emperor Chong Sheng ordered her jaw dislocated, it was too late. Black blood dripped from her mouth; she had already poisoned herself.

“Outrageous!” Emperor Chong Sheng roared. This crude plot had ensured Sheng would bear the blame unless Lu Chuo survived. But how could he? Everyone saw his terrible state when Physician Jiang lifted the tent flap.

The Northern Di generals rushed into the tent, finding Lu Chuo unable to speak clearly, lips trembling weakly. Silence spread heavily across the training grounds.

“Imperial Father!” A clear, melodious voice broke through the silence from among the gathered officials. “I may have a way to save Prince Lu Chuo.”

What?

Physician Jiang stared in shock. Qi Shu Xian turned incredulously toward the speaker.

Slowly stepping forward, Sheng Zhi Wan knelt gracefully before Emperor Chong Sheng. “Please, Imperial Father, allow your daughter to try.”

Emperor Chong Sheng looked down in disbelief. “Qing Ning? Do you realize what you’re saying?”

“I do. Since childhood, I’ve been frail and learned medicine to cope with my sickness. After marrying into Duke Qi’s household, I read many medical texts to help Mother-in-law Madam Cui,” Sheng Zhi Wan explained earnestly. “Prince Lu Chuo’s condition matches exactly what I read.”

“Absurd!” Emperor Chong Sheng snapped.

Qi Shu Xian hurriedly knelt beside Sheng Zhi Wan. “Your Majesty, forgive her! She speaks rashly out of worry.” He turned urgently toward Sheng Zhi Wan, whispering anxiously, “Stop fooling around! You only read a few books—how can you match the Imperial Physicians?”

But Sheng Zhi Wan shook his hand away, lifting her gaze to Emperor Chong Sheng. “Imperial Father, if I fail to save Prince Lu Chuo, I’ll pay with my life!”

“Zhi Wan?!” Qi Shu Xian paled in horror.

From the crowd, Shang Hang Yu clenched his fists tightly.

Qi Shu Xian pleaded desperately, “Zhi Wan, I was wrong. Stop fooling around, please!” He feared she acted out of anger over the Red Fox given to Meng Yang, unaware she no longer cared about their quarrels.

The court was not the place for childish tantrums. Sheng needed someone of high rank to bear responsibility for Lu Chuo’s death, and Qi Shu Xian’s panic grew at the realization.

Yet Sheng Zhi Wan merely smiled faintly.

Fooling around?

She had long stopped caring; he simply hadn’t noticed.

She knelt again gracefully. “Imperial Father, please let your daughter try!”

Qi Shu Xian reached to stop her, but Sheng Zhi Wan ignored him completely.

Emperor Chong Sheng gazed deeply into her resolute eyes. “Qing Ning, are you certain? Do you understand the consequences if you fail?”

Countless people would demand punishment—even Emperor Chong Sheng might struggle to protect her. He indeed needed someone to deflect Northern Di’s fury, but he never imagined Sheng Zhi Wan would volunteer.

Truly, like father, like daughter.

“I understand, Imperial Father,” she declared boldly. “But I have one request: If I succeed in saving Prince Lu Chuo, I ask you to grant me one wish.”

Emperor Chong Sheng stared at her, bemused yet respectful of her bravery. “Very well. As long as your wish does not harm the kingdom or its people, I promise to grant it.”