Chapter 4: The Regent Prince
Seeing that it was still early, Yun Wei immediately summoned a carriage and set out for the Regent Prince’s Manor.
However, the manor’s security was exceptionally tight.
Before the carriage could even reach the main gate, it was stopped by the guards.
Manager Ding quickly jumped down from the carriage, cupped his hands respectfully, and said,
“Gentlemen, the person inside this carriage is the owner of Qianjin Pavilion. A few days ago, your esteemed manor summoned one of our physicians, but he has yet to return. Our master has been deeply worried, fearing that Physician Tan’s medical skills may have been insufficient and that he might have offended an honored guest. We have therefore come in person to offer our apologies.”
The moment they heard that the carriage carried the owner of Qianjin Pavilion, surprise flashed across the guards’ otherwise stern faces.
Who in the capital had never heard of Qianjin Pavilion?
Yet no one had ever seen the mysterious person behind it.
And now…
The owner of Qianjin Pavilion was actually inside this very carriage?
For a moment, the captain of the guards hesitated.
After all, a physician from Qianjin Pavilion had indeed been summoned to the manor a few days earlier.
Noticing his hesitation, Manager Ding lowered his voice and added,
“Sir, perhaps you could report this to your superiors. Our master’s expertise in treating poison surpasses even that of Physician Tan.”
Hearing this, the captain’s expression changed.
“Wait here.”
With those words, he turned and hurried away.
Meanwhile, Yun Wei remained seated inside the carriage.
She did not sit idle.
Instead, she calmly reviewed all the account books that Manager Ding had brought with him.
Before long, the guard returned, accompanied by a young man dressed in light armor.
The young man spoke in a deep, measured voice.
“The owner of Qianjin Pavilion… is inside this carriage?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Manager Ding immediately nodded in confirmation.
The young man glanced at the silent carriage before taking two steps forward and lifting the curtain.
The moment he saw Yun Wei inside, he frowned, his expression darkening.
“A woman?”
Yun Wei cast him an indifferent glance.
“And what if I am? Do you no longer wish to cure your master’s poison?”
The young man’s expression changed instantly.
How did she know it was his master who had been poisoned?
Yun Wei caught every trace of surprise on his face.
So…
Her guess had been correct.
The poisoned person was indeed the Regent Prince.
She said nothing more and calmly lowered her head to continue reading the account book in her hands.
After a brief internal struggle, the young man fixed Yun Wei with a sharp, hawk-like gaze and warned,
“If you leave now, there’s still time.”
“Since I dared to come, I dare to bear the consequences.”
Yun Wei showed not the slightest fear.
The young man let out a cold laugh.
“Then come with me.”
Yun Wei understood exactly what he meant.
If she failed to cure the Regent Prince…
She would never leave the Regent Prince’s Manor alive.
But since she had come here of her own accord, she naturally had confidence that she could leave safely.
Still, the guard’s attitude only made her more certain.
The poison afflicting the Regent Prince was an extraordinarily troublesome one.
Before long, the young man led Yun Wei to a place called Yanhui Hall.
The hall was heavily guarded.
Everywhere they passed, people held their breath and lowered their voices.
The atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.
Following the young guard, Yun Wei entered the inner chamber.
“Why is it a woman?”
The moment she stepped inside, a eunuch stood up.
His reaction upon seeing Yun Wei was almost identical to that of the guard.
The young guard immediately shot back with Yun Wei’s own words.
“And what if she’s a woman? Don’t you want our master to recover?”
The guard had never gotten along with the eunuch, and he seized the opportunity to throw her words right back at him.
“You…!”
The eunuch was left speechless.
Yun Wei paid neither of them any attention.
She walked straight ahead.
Inside the chamber, heavy curtains draped around a spacious bed.
Lying upon it was a young man with strikingly handsome features, though his face was deathly pale.
His eyes were closed, his long eyelashes resting quietly against his cheeks.
He was clearly unconscious.
Yun Wei couldn’t help taking a second look.
So…
This was Rong Zhen, the Regent Prince who stood beneath only the Emperor and above all others?
Rumor had it that he was decisive and ruthless, a man capable of controlling everything beneath heaven.
Yet now…
He could only lie silently upon the bed, lost in unconsciousness.
Even so, despite being asleep, the young man still radiated an overwhelming aura of nobility and authority.
Qingfeng, the young guard, spoke from the side in a cold voice.
“I’ve already warned you. If you fail to cure my master’s illness, you won’t leave this place alive.”
“Mm.”
Yun Wei merely acknowledged him calmly.
She composed herself, sat beside the bed, and began taking the man’s pulse.
Qingfeng stood nearby with his sword folded across his arms.
The eunuch also stepped over to stand beside him, both of them watching Yun Wei closely.
Seeing the practiced ease with which she examined the patient, they couldn’t help feeling surprised.
Could this young woman truly know medicine?
A moment later, Yun Wei stood up and took out the needle pouch she had brought with her.
When she unfolded it, rows of silver needles of varying lengths were neatly arranged inside.
Selecting one of the needles, she instructed,
“Bring me a candle.”
“Wait.”
The eunuch frowned.
“You’re planning to use acupuncture on our master?”
“Yes.”
Yun Wei looked at him calmly.
“Is there a problem?”
The eunuch froze.
What kind of question was that?
Of course there was a problem.
“You haven’t even explained what’s wrong with our master, and you already want to use acupuncture on him?”
The eunuch was furious.
His master was a man of immeasurable importance.
How could he allow someone to stick needles into him so casually?
Yun Wei took in the anger on his face and replied unhurriedly,
“The poison afflicting the Regent Prince is called Yinxi. It is a poison that causes infertility.
“He was poisoned when he was still very young.
“At first, the victim experiences almost no symptoms. Other than being unable to consummate a marriage, there is little noticeable effect.
“But this poison is exceptionally vicious. Without anyone realizing it, it gradually devours the victim’s vital essence and blood.
“Once it reaches its final stage, the victim frequently falls into prolonged unconsciousness.
“If the antidote is not administered in time, death is inevitable.
“This time… your master has probably been unconscious for several days already.”
The eunuch and Qingfeng were both stunned.
“Is… is that really true?”
Yun Wei answered calmly,
“The two of you attend the Regent Prince closely. You should know better than anyone whether his condition matches what I’ve just described.”
The two men fell silent.
Because everything she had said…
Was true.
Over the past year, their master had fallen unconscious again and again.
At first, the episodes lasted only a short while.
But as time passed, each period of unconsciousness grew longer than the last.
Especially this time.
Their master had already been unconscious for five full days.
They had sought out renowned physicians from everywhere, yet none could determine what was wrong with him.
That was why they suspected poisoning and summoned Physician Tan from Qianjin Pavilion.
But even Physician Tan, an expert in detoxification, had been completely helpless.
After a long silence, Qingfeng frowned.
“But none of the other physicians could diagnose it…”
Seeing the doubt in his eyes, Yun Wei explained,
“That isn’t their fault. Yinxi is ranked first among the Ten Legendary Poisons. It disappeared long ago.
“In today’s world, very few people even know of its existence.”
Qingfeng blurted out,
“Then how do you know about it?”
She was far younger than those famous physicians.
They had known nothing…
Yet she seemed to understand the poison in such detail.
It was difficult not to be suspicious.
Yun Wei answered indifferently,
“You don’t need to know why I know.”
Then she repeated firmly,
“Bring me the candle.”
Although Qingfeng and the eunuch still had their doubts, their master had remained unconscious for many days.
Countless physicians had already examined him, yet not one had been able to explain the cause of his illness.
If this continued, the fact that the Regent Prince had been poisoned would eventually become impossible to conceal.
And once that secret leaked…
The political struggles within the imperial court would inevitably erupt once more.
At present, this young woman was the only one who had recognized the poison.
For now…
They could only trust her.
If she dared harm their master in the slightest…
They would kill her immediately.
Without further hesitation, the two men fetched the candle as instructed.
Yun Wei held the silver needle over the flame for a moment to sterilize it.
Then she returned to the bedside.
Just as she was about to insert the needle—
A hand, as firm and powerful as forged iron, suddenly seized her wrist.
