Warning: Self-mutilation
Once Xue Yunfeng fell into a coma, not only did the imperial court become much more chaotic, the entire imperial palace became a mess as well.
Even though the emperor was displeased due to his absurd actions for the original host, in the end, Xue Yunfeng was the imperial concubine-born prince he cared for the most. In addition to that, with his recent performance, the emperor had already resolved to pass down the throne to him.
Even with a threat like Xue Han, everyone still knew that Xue Han did not have long to live, so it did not matter how threatening he was.
Now Xue Yunfeng had been poisoned and left at death's door. The emperor was so furious that his body regained its vigour like the final radiance of a dying sun, and his spirit soared. As he ordered people to investigate, he had the imperial physicians treat him at all costs.
"Your Majesty, the poison in the prince isn't incurable, but the antidote isn't easy to make, and the prince doesn't have much time left. Making the antidote in such a short time is really as difficult as climbing to heaven…"
The imperial physician had a face filled with anxiety and terror.
"Treat him! Do your best to treat him for Us! Go! We remember that someone from the southern island entered the palace with a panacea that's said to be able to prolong one's life. What are you still dawdling for? Hurry up and bring it over to the prince!"
Agitated, the emperor became furious, and the imperial physicians withdrew in terror.
The moment Xue Yunfeng collapsed, the entire eastern palace became bustling with activity. Because the emperor had to deal with governmental affairs, he couldn't stay for long, and the imperial consort was sickly and couldn't stay as well.
The other imperial concubines had long been dismissed, and because the emperor disliked him, Gu Bai couldn't enter the front hall. Thus, only Qi Moli remained at the prince's bedside to watch over the comatose Xue Yunfeng.
Unable to visit Xue Yunfeng, Gu Bai wasn't anxious either. He wasn't worried about Xue Yunfeng's health at all; he was just concerned about being unable to complete his mission if Xue Yunfeng died. He had long instructed Yanu to wait outside the prince's resting palace to intercept the imperial physician and invite him to Liuli Palace.
"This servant greets the young master. What instructions does the young master have to invite this servant?"
Even though the imperial physician looked down on the original host as he was a male lover, he was still someone the crown prince doted on after all. No matter how much he despised Gu Bai in his heart, he still had to make some efforts on the surface.
"Imperial Physician Wang has no need for politeness. Rong Yi invited the imperial physician over because I have a matter to ask…"
Amidst Imperial Physician Wang's bewilderment, Gu Bai indicated for Yanu to shut the door, then continued speaking with worry on his face.
"Master Wang, the reason I invited you to come today is to ask about His Highness's situation. Master Wang knows that with Rong Yi's identity, I cannot go to the front hall… Could I ask how His Highness is doing now?"
The concern on Gu Bai's face looked extremely sincere. Imperial Physician Wang was astonished for a moment, then explained Xue Yunfeng's situation. He was unable to help his expression from becoming worried once more.
The crown prince's illness was not much of a secret, so he did not conceal it either, sighing and shaking his head.
"I will not keep it from Young Master. His Highness's poison isn't an incurable poison, but what's dangerous is that this poison's antidote is hard to make. Without two months, it cannot be made, but unfortunately, this poison is also very potent. Even if His Majesty used the panacea to extend His Highness's life, at most it would only delay the poison for a few days and is of no use…"
"Is there no other way?" Gu Bai's figure flashed and he abruptly grabbed Imperial Physician Wang's arm as he spoke anxiously.
Seeing his expression, Yanu hurriedly helped him up and consoled him. "Master, there's definitely still a way… Imperial Physician Wang, your medical expertise is brilliant, so you can definitely save His Highness, right?"
"…"
Imperial Physician Wang was silent. His medical expertise may be brilliant, but he was not an immortal. If he had such confidence, he would have used medicine to save the crown prince already.
Even the dim-witted Yanu could understand this sort of silence, so Gu Bai naturally understood as well and fell silent too. He seemed unable to stand and weakly leaned against Yanu.
Seeing Gu Bai's appearance, Imperial Physician Wang sighed and subsequently thought of something. His eyes brightened as he looked at Gu Bai's eyes.
"Wait, perhaps there's another method!"
"What method?"
"When I was studying medicine, I once heard of Beizhao's fame for gu medicine. My master had once said that regardless of gender, members of Beizhao's royal family bathed in medicine and ate poison since childhood, training until they were immune to all kinds of poisons and unhurt by any poison in the world. If I didn't remember wrongly, Young Master Rong Yi was once the prince of Beizhao…"
"Imperial Physician's meaning is…" Gu Bai's ears moved slightly.
"Perhaps we could have a try with Young Master's flesh…"
He was just waiting for this sentence! Gu Bai's eyes brightened and he urgently asked, "How certain are you?"
"I'm not… We can only try." Imperial Physician Wang shook his head honestly.
"Then try! Yanu, bring me a knife!"
Gu Bai commanded without the slightest hesitation, his expression resolute. The astonishment on Imperial Physician Wang's face deepened due to this. He truly didn't expect that Gu Baiwould agree so unhesitantly.
This involved draining out blood and cutting flesh. It was not some lighthearted joke.
Yanu was also startled. "Master!"
"Yanu, hurry! If you continue delaying, His Highness will run out of time!"
Gu Bai berated him with a determined face.
This was Yanu's first time seeing him speak so fiercely, and he was frightened witless for a moment before responding. He hesitantly looked at Gu Bai a few times, not daring to resist, and finally could only obediently go fetch the things.
After the knife and bowl were brought over, Gu Bai concentrated, and without hesitation, he speedily cut open his wrist and poured out a bowl's worth of blood, then gritted his teeth and cut out a piece of skin and flesh.
"Master…"
Seeing his bloody arm, Yanu couldn't help crying and calling out at once. Imperial Physician Wang was also stunned. He had seen ruthlessness, but not something as ruthless as this, straightforwardly cutting out one's own flesh without a single cry.
"Imperial Physician Wang, I ask that you must save His Highness's life. Rong Yi begs of you…"
Finished, Gu Bai laid down the knife, his gaze pleading.
He practiced martial arts and had experience in using knives. The wound on his arm looked frightening, but in reality, it wasn't severe at all. It did hurt, but it was still within his range of endurance.
However, only he knew this. Even if Imperial Physician Wang was a professional, Gu Bai's action startled him for a moment and he didn't notice. In his heart, he was rather moved.
His gaze towards Gu Bai was much less contemptuous than before. Sacrificing one's own blood to act as a medicine for the crown prince was something many could do, but few could do so without hesitation. It was clear that this male lover was quite sincere to the crown prince…
The imperial physician sighed and soon departed while holding the bowl. Meanwhile, Yanu was choking with sobs as he bandaged Gu Bai's wounds.
Even though he was a court eunuch from Great Qi's imperial palace, when he had first entered the palace, before he had received the genuine baptism at the court, he had erred and was nearly beaten to death. It was the original host who saved him and transferred him to serve him, and the original host would usually treat him extremely well.
Compared to the crown prince or the emperor, his sentiment for the original host was much deeper. Looking at Gu Bai's bleeding arm, his heart felt incredibly unwell.
…
On this side, after Imperial Physician Wang returned to the imperial hospital with the bowl of blood, he didn't even drink a sip of water and immediately began making the medicine, afraid of delaying even the slightest.
If he couldn't cure the crown prince, the emperor would be furious, and they, the imperial physicians, might all have to be buried with him. It wasn't like there wasn't an incident in history where imperial physicians lost their lives due to failing to cure their master.
The original host's flesh actually wasn't as miraculous as rumours had said. If it could truly cure all kinds of poisons in the world, the royal family of Beizhou would have long been seized by people with evil intentions and cooked up to be eaten.
However, it just so happened that it was effective for Xue Yunfeng's poison. After the medicine was taken and after a period of labour, the poisonous air on Xue Yunfeng's face began to dissipate as he recovered his normal complexion. Even though he was still comatose, there was no need to worry for his life.
Qi Moli, who had constantly been staying by the bed, sighed in relief and hurriedly thanked Imperial Physician Wang.
"Young Master Qi has no need to thank this servant. If you truly wish to thank someone, you should thank Young Master Rong Yi…"
"Imperial Physician is saying…" Qi Moli's expression stiffened.
"This time, it was thanks to Young Master Rong Yi offering his own flesh that this humble servant was able to make the antidote. Previously, this humble servant was the same as everyone else and was somewhat scornful of Young Master Rong Yi. But today, this humble servant can understand why the crown prince had done what he did in that manner. Young Master Rong Yi truly is sincere towards the crown prince as well…"
The imperial physician was a perceptive person and had seen many dark matters within the palace. Now he was extremely moved and admired Gu Bai for offering his flesh without the slightest hesitation.
But following his words, Qi Moli's complexion gradually dulled as a sense of threat arose in his heart.
He was very clear about Xue Yunfeng's past feelings towards Rong Yi. Even if Xue Yunfeng was presently telling him that he was just using Rong Yi, he understood that, at least once, Xue Yunfeng had liked Rong Yi.
If Xue Yunfeng knew that Rong Yi was this sincere, would he still continue liking him…?
Qi Moli didn't know the answer, but he was somewhat panicked.
Taking a deep breath, he pressed down the panic in his heart, looked at Xue Yunfeng on the bed, then gritted his teeth and said, "Imperial Physician Wang, this matter of Rong Yi giving the crown prince his flesh, please don't inform him of it!"
"This…"
"Imperial Physician Wang, you know His Majesty's temperament. If he knew that he had eaten Rong Yi's flesh to survive, he would definitely feel guilty for his entire life. Furthermore, if this matter was spread out and exploited by people with intentions, perhaps it may also be harmful to His Majesty's reputation. Therefore, may Imperial Physician Wang keep your lips sealed…"
Qi Moli resolutely beseeched him.
Even though Imperial Physician Wang was uncertain, he wasn't suspicious, and Qi Moli had explained rather reasonably. Besides, Qi Moli was the crown prince's best friend and younger brother, as well as a gifted scholar who was famed across the capital as an unparalleled genius. At this time, he didn't doubt or think much of it, so he cupped his hands and agreed, then withdrew.
Not long after he withdrew, Xue Yunfeng who was on the bed slowly woke up. Seeing Qi Moli with a haggard appearance and obviously having stayed by his bedside for two days without sleep, he felt his heart being moved for a moment. Then he looked behind him as if searching for the figure of another person.
"What is Your Highness looking for?'
Xue Yunfeng's gaze flickered.
"No, I'm just still a little dizzy. You've also watched over me for a very long time. There are eunuchs and maids here to serve me, and I'm fine already, so you should hurry up and take a good rest…"
Xue Yunfeng shook his head and persuaded him to retire.
He waited for Qi Moli to leave before looking at the eunuch attending him, opening his mouth to inquire, "Where is Young Master Rong Yi…?"
"Replying to Your Highness, Young Master Rong Yi ought to be in Liuli Palace as of right now…"
"What do you mean ought?" Xue Yunfeng's complexion shifted slightly, his heart sinking. "I've been comatose for these two days, and what was Young Master Rong Yi doing? Did he ever come visit…"
"Replying to Your Highness, during the two days Your Highness was comatose, I've never seen Young Master Rong Yi visit…" the eunuch responded honestly.
"I understand. You can withdraw…"
After the eunuch finished speaking, Xue Yunfeng's eyes flashed with disappointment. Closing his eyes, he clenched his fists tightly. How could he still have expectations, still have faith? He should have long known…