Chapter 130: Agony Sweeps Through, A Rebirth Transformed

"Your Pang family may treat others like brothers, but it does not mean they feel the same way. My brother was poisoned by the Chen girl, and since she is currently staying at your residence, it would be best to detain her and force her to produce the antidote to save his life."

Xie Yuheng became increasingly convinced that Chen Baoyi was the culprit. The Chen girl had only arrived in the capital two days ago, coming all the way from the Linghai region. The poison afflicting Brother Chu and Pang Yunjin was highly suspicious. It was likely that the old scoundrel Chen Dingtian had struck some disgraceful deal with the Japanese pirates. Thinking of this, Xie Yuheng grew even more agitated. Southern Chu and Japan had no trade relations, and it was uncertain if Southern Chu could even treat a Japanese poison.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry back to the Pang residence and seize that woman surnamed Chen, or you can just wait to collect your brother’s corpse."

With that, Xie Yuheng turned on his heel and strode toward the old imperial physician. "Elder Physician, do you have any knowledge of Japanese poisons?"

The old physician was taken aback; he certainly did not. "Is the Young General implying that the Xie young master has been poisoned by Japanese toxins?"

The physician's words startled Xie Yuheng. He had never specified whether it was his eldest or second brother, but he had no intention of clarifying. It was just as well; if someone from the Xie family was in trouble, these physicians would pull out all the stops. "If my suspicions are correct, it is nine times out of ten from Japan." He could not be certain the poison was Japanese, but he was sure it had been administered by the Chen family.

"I can only say that I must see the afflicted person before I can determine if it is curable." This was truly thorny. If it were a poison from Southern Chu, there was nothing he could not cure. But if it were Japanese, it was hard to say. The Japanese were adept at underhanded, wicked arts; it was not even certain if it was a true poison.

In the Imperial Study, the old Emperor lay half-reclined on the dragon throne, feigning sleep. As he listened to the reports from below, he slowly opened his eyes. "Both the Pang and Xie young masters have been poisoned?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Imperial Hospital has received word that the second young master of the Pang family and the young master of the Xie family both arrived at the palace at the same time to request physicians, specifically experts in toxicology. It is rumored that the eldest young master of the Pang family and the young master of the Xie family have both been struck by a mysterious poison. The symptoms are identical: a coma without a pulse. During the process, the young master of the Xie family asked one of the physicians if he understood Japanese poisons, as if he knew who had administered it and what the poison was."

The old Emperor’s eyes darkened. He issued an order: "Send more men to the Xie and Pang residences. You must ensure the safety of both young masters and conduct a strict investigation into the poisoner. I would like to see who is trying to disrupt my empire."

"Yes."

After the messenger left, a figure emerged from behind the screen. "Father, someone has lost their patience. Would you like me to take action?" This was the Crown Prince, who was currently out of favor with the Emperor and had been ordered to remain in his residence for reflection.

"Do not alarm the snake. Remain still for now. Those imperial uncles of yours hiding in the gutters have long since lost their patience. I intend to take them all down in one fell swoop. Years ago, I spared their lives, only to be conspired against by them. I ended up with the foul reputation of forcing a palace coup and harming my own kin. This time, I shall grant them their wish."

"According to the information I have received, Chen Dingtian intends to join forces with the Third Prince, and the Chen family desires to marry their daughter to the Third Prince as his primary consort."

The old Emperor's eyes were stained with a blood-red hue. "A mere bastard. I did not expect him to lure out an old fox like Chen Dingtian. I thought it would be that old man surnamed Wu. Truly disappointing."

Xie Yuheng galloped back to the Capital Garrison. Two physicians climbed out of the carriage, still dizzy and disoriented. The elder physician, supporting his younger colleague, retched repeatedly; the Young General had driven the horses as if they were flying. The journey from the palace had nearly shaken his old bones apart, leaving his internal organs feeling displaced.

"Elder Physician, stop vomiting! Quickly, come with me to treat my brother." Xie Yuheng hoisted the old physician and hurried toward Brother Chu's tent.

Lying on the bed, Shen Zhao had her brows tightly knitted, her lips trembling and devoid of color. A low, trembling voice, like that of a trapped beast, spilled from her lips. "It hurts..."

It hurt so much! Her internal organs felt as if they were being seared by fire. Her blood felt as if it had been ignited, burning every inch of her skin and every piece of her flesh. What was happening to her? She felt as if she were being roasted in a furnace.

At the same time, at the Pang residence, Chu Mu, who lay in a coma, had lost all color in his face. His body trembled faintly, the veins on his hands bulged, and cold sweat soaked through his robes.

Pain! Cold! He felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, frozen solid. The bone-chilling cold seeped into his marrow, making every tendon and every bone ache with a frigid agony. His blood had gone stagnant, pushing him to the brink of death. What was happening to him? Was A-Zhao enduring the same pain right now? If he could barely withstand this, how could his A-Zhao endure it?

"A... Zhao..." Chu Mu’s lips parted slightly, letting out a painful murmur. The sound was fragmented and as thin as a mosquito, making it impossible to hear what he was saying. It was taken only for a pained moan.

Beside him, Pang Yunjin’s clear eyes filled with shattered light. His hands trembled as he reached out to grasp Chu Mu’s tightly clenched hand in a panic. With red-rimmed eyes and a hoarse voice, he said, "Miss Shen... Miss Shen... don't be afraid, I am here... Yunjin is here..."

Chu Mu had no strength left to scold Pang Yunjin. He was overwhelmed, suffering from the pain while worrying about A-Zhao’s plight. A searing, heart-wrenching pain suddenly swept through his entire body. The unconscious Chu Mu’s body convulsed violently, and he let out a cry of agony.

"Ah..."

Chu Mu’s cry left Pang Yunjin deathly pale, his lips trembling as his whole body shook. He hurriedly pressed down on the convulsing Chu Mu and urged the family physician nearby, "Quickly, come and see what is wrong with Miss Shen!"

The physician’s face was ashen. Could this young lady be dying? With trembling hands, he reached out to check the young lady’s pulse. Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock. "It’s there! This young lady has a pulse! Congratulations, Young Master! The young lady is pregnant!"

Pang Yunjin’s face shifted between pale and blue. He lowered his voice and asked, "Are you saying Miss Shen is with child?"

Having passed the peak of the intense pain, Chu Mu recovered. He felt as if he had been reborn, a wave of relief washing over his body. The torture he had just experienced felt like a hallucination; he could actually move his hand now. He tried to open his eyes, and a pale, bloodless face appeared before him. Before he could speak, he heard the conversation between the physician and Pang Yunjin, and he could no longer lie still.

Nonsense! That physician was spouting nonsense! A quack, an absolute quack! He and A-Zhao hadn't shared a bed in two years; how could she be pregnant? Even if they had, A-Zhao had been taking contraceptive medicine; it was impossible for her to be pregnant.

He bolted upright from the bed and snapped coldly at the physician, "You quack, stop slandering my reputation! How could I be pregnant?"

Pang Yunjin and the physician were both stunned. Pang Yunjin’s eyes held a suppressed, excited gleam—Miss Shen had awakened. Though his heart raced, his face remained calm; he dared not show his joy, fearing that if he appeared too delighted, Miss Shen would despise him.

The physician looked utterly bewildered. Heaven is his witness, when did he ever say the young lady was pregnant? He had meant that the young lady had a pulse again!

Meanwhile, at the Capital Garrison...