Chapter 27
Cursed Star Falling Down to the Palace
The eunuch who came to report the epidemic didn’t lie . Just within six hours after these people died, their body quickly began to decay at a great speed that was even visible to a naked eye .
In order to avoid virus spreading in the morgue, Bai Qingqing had given herself, Zhao Yuchen and the several accompanying Imperial Physicians some antidotes to take beforehand .
This antidote was affective against all kinds of poison, so it could be used to prevent them from being infected with the epidemic .
“Bai Guniang, have you figured out what kind of poison they were infected with?”
One of the Imperial Physicians surnamed Li asked . He enjoyed a high status in the palace and boasted that his medical skills were unparalleled in the world . However, during the six years that the Sacred Emperor had suffered from the strange eye disease, he couldn’t come up with any solution .
He was surprised that the eye disease was cured by an eighteen-year-old girl . This left doctor Li in awe, and he respected the young girl Bai Qingqing from within .
Bai Qingqing furrowed her brows and speculated for a long while, “This poison is recorded in a medical book that I happened to read before . If my memory doesn’t fail me, it’s supposed to be called Elimination!”
On hearing the name, people present started to feel a wave of chill running down their spines . They had witnessed with their own eyes how horrifying this poison was .
Less than one hour after infecting with this poison, the person would begin to suffer from abdominal pain and foaming at the mouth . Two hours later, the person would stop breathing and die . Six hours later, the corpse would rot to an extent that was unbearable to watch .
Even a person as knowledgeable and experienced as Zhao Yuchen was speechless at the startling scene .
“Qingqing, do you have any solution against the poison?”
Bai Qingqing replied reluctantly, “According to the book, Elimination is incurable . ”
Everyone showed visible disappointment on hearing the news .
“Physician Li, have you counted how many are infected besides these deceased servants?”
Doctor Li answered at once, “According to my preliminary estimate, at present there are 37 people that are infected, among which 20 are maids and 17 are eunuchs . And among these 37 people, 19 of them suffer relatively light symptoms of vomiting and abdominal pain . The rest of them suffer heavier . Fortunately, they’ve taken medicines that the Imperial Academy of Medicine prescribed . Though the medicines can’t dissolve the poison within their body once and for all, their lives are saved . It’s just...”
Physician Li frowned, “The medicines we provide can only alleviate the infection symptoms, but once the poison reaches heart, even as almighty as supernatural beings are helpless . ”
Bai Qingqing nodded and then said to Zhao Yuchen, “I think this poison infection is weird . The top priority now is to not to make antidote against it, but to find the source and prevent the spread of it before it went out of control . ”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of these things . ”
Soon, Zhao Yuchen himself drafted an imperial decree, ordering to mobilize all personnel in every palace in the thorough investigation of the source of Elimination . The general manager of the kitchen was interrogated overnight, but nothing was found .
Bai Qingqing didn’t sit idle either . Years of practicing the art of healing, this was the first time that she could think of no solution . But she wasn’t willing to see vivid lives perishing one after another . Back from the morgue, she dashed to the imperial library and buried herself in the profound volume of medicine books brought to her . She turned to these books for a solution .
“Qingqing, you’ve been working on this for a whole night . If you continue, I’m afraid your eyes may suffer...”
Zhao Yuchen fondly and worriedly looked at the little woman who was sitting by the candlelight and browsing the medical books one after another . Having pulled an all-nighter, her face became pale and her eyes were bloodshot, emitting air of fatigue from head to toe .
At this moment, Zhao Yuchen hated himself for his incompetence . As a man, he felt sorry that he could offer no help but to watch his beloved woman suffer .
Bai Qingqing sat by the candlelight and read carefully the book in her hands . But her eyes were getting weaker and she felt the words on pages became vaguer and vaguer . The eyes seemed to be bleeding .
She rubbed her eyes with fingers and replied gently, “I can’t stop worrying until I find a solution . ”
“But your eyes . . . ”
“It doesn’t matter . When I learnt medication from my teacher, there were times harder than this . Back then, I had to not only memorize the names and functions of all kinds of herbs, but also try to figure out the right way to decoct them and even taste them myself . For many times, I almost died of the medicine I formulated, but I believe my survival today suggests the heaven’s blessing on me . ”
She said in a casual tone, but Zhao Yuchen was touched by the words .
Zhao Yuchen only knew she was a great doctor but had no idea of how much she had suffered as a disciple .
If he had never suspected her, she wouldn’t have had to suffer so much .
Thinking of this, he walked behind her and took her into his arms, repenting, “Sorry . I’m really sorry for what you have undergone . ”
Bai Qingqing felt a sudden wave of warmth, and the familiar smell stimulated her nose, which triggered an unpredicted and unspeakable twist of grievance and emotional warmth .
Of course, she was clear why Zhao Yuchen said that .
He said he was sorry to her, but didn’t she also feel sorry for what had happened to him during these years?
The two stayed separated but they were concerned about each other . Though this kind of concern was mixed with traces of hatred, but it couldn’t change the fact that they loved each other .
Time was indifferent and ruthless . As there were more people poisoned, Imperial Physicians woke up to the seriousness of the situation .
If the epidemic continues to spread, the entire palace would be beset with a huge crisis .
On the third day since the epidemic, rumor had it that that a folk astrologer discovered a cursed star falling down towards the Imperial Palace, and he asserted that this was the reason why the Imperial Palace of the Great Yan Kingdom was thrown into such a disaster .
Soon, this news swept through every corner of the capital city like a gust of wind and at the same time it instantly caused panic in the imperial court .
A cursed star fell into the imperial palace? What would the consequence be?
Was it because of the appearance of the cursed star that people in the palace died one by one?
Not long after the news broke out, the astrologer revealed the date of birth and the eight characters of a horoscope suggested by the cursed star . Through the vigorous investigation of all parties, this so-called cursed star turned out to be no other than Bai Qingqing, who was brought to the palace by the sacred emperor not long ago .
“Nonsense! Who on earth is crapping? How dare he made up such a rumor?”
“Please don’t be angry, sacred emperor . Although Miss Bai has made great contribution in healing your eyes, as known to each and every person in the imperial palace, her existence is going to damage the peace of the Imperial Palace . I hope Your Majesty could be fair and just . Don’t let this great kingdom that our ancestors struggled to maintain be ruined due to personal relationship . ”
The one talking was no other than Liu Xiangyi, who was currently in charge of affairs of the imperial harem .
She displayed a clear-up stance, which was to wipe out Bai Qingqing, this so-called cursed star .
In addition, as the person in charge of the imperial harem, she had duties and responsibilities to think on behalf of the whole harem .
Even Zhao Yuchen ruled over the whole world with noblest identity, he must set a good example and do the right thing when thousands of people’s lives were at stake . He couldn’t just watch people die because of his own personal relationship .
“So are you suggesting me to bring my benefactor who cured my eyes to justice right here and right now?”
A few simple words they were, but they contained infinite rage . But for Zhao Yunchen was a rational and calm person, he really wished to kill this viciously cunning woman .
Liu Xiangyi couldn’t help trembling by Zhao Yunchen’s sullen scary gaze, but once she thought of her own future, she mustered up her courage to continue, “I’m not suggesting Your Majesty to be immoral and unjust, but the astrologer has predicted the appearance of a cursed star in the Imperial Palace and the cursed star happens to be Bai Guniang who cured your eyes .
The disaster broke out after she moved in the imperial palace . At present, twenty were died already and hundreds of lives were hung by a thread .
If Your Majesty doesn’t want the imperial palace to suffer more, the only way is to remove the cursed star . Only then will heaven grant blessing and peace to our imperial palace . ”
“You...”
Zhao Yuchen was about to fly into a fury when an indifferent voice sent over from outside, “So you mean, as long as I die, the world will resume peace?”
The person questioning was exactly Bai Qingqing .
Liu Xiangyi looked back, what came to her sight was a young otherworldly and celestial beauty, Bai Qingqing .
She, a village girl, should display from her eyes a kind of nobility that dwarfed even Liu Xiangyi who had lived in the Imperial Palace for many years .