The next morning in the royal court, the atmosphere was tumultuous with ministers arguing loudly, making the session as chaotic as a marketplace. Emperor ChengSangKing, unable to bear the noise, demanded silence. He then asked ShangGuanCY to explain the disturbance, who revealed that the issue was with the owl soup from the previous day, suspected to be poisoned.
This revelation incited further uproar. Emperor ChengSangKing, visibly angered, questioned who would dare poison a royal gift. ShangGuanCY urged calm, explaining that the soup had been distributed by various officials to the populace, making the target of the poisoning unclear.
During the heated discussion, a senior official emerged, advocating for thorough aid and investigation but also suggesting caution in rewarding the ShangGuan family too soon. This comment sparked a debate about the appropriateness of rewards and the responsibilities of government officials.
As tensions escalated, ShangGuanCY deftly countered the criticisms, arguing the poisoning was too broad to be a targeted attack by their family. The debate highlighted the complex power dynamics and rivalries within the court, underscoring the intricate balance of governance and personal vendettas.
Finally, Emperor ChengSangKing decided that the ShangGuan family would finance the aid efforts from the national treasury and that the investigation into the poisoning would be led by the critical official, demanding results within seven days. With a call for quiet, he ended the session, his departure reflecting his fatigue and desire for solitude in the imperial gardens, a place where he sought refuge from the burdens of leadership.
In the early morning at the royal court, discussions were loud and contentious, reminiscent more of a marketplace than a place of governance. Emperor ChengSangKing, frustrated by the noise, demanded silence and inquired about the cause of the uproar. ShangGuanCY, stepping forward, explained that there were suspicions of poisoning in the owl soup distributed at the festival, which had reportedly made several people ill, including family members of officials.
This statement reignited the tumult, prompting Emperor ChengSangKing to angrily demand who dared to poison the royal gift. ShangGuanCY called for calm, explaining that while the soup was a royal gift, its preparation and distribution had been managed locally by various officials, which complicated the situation.
Amid the ongoing debate, a seasoned official interjected, arguing against immediate rewards for handling the crisis and suggesting that such issues should be resolved first. This sparked further debate about the appropriate rewards for duty and the complex dynamics within the court. ShangGuanCY, defending his family against the insinuations of negligence or worse, argued that they had acted in good faith to help the affected people.
Emperor ChengSangKing ultimately declared that the treasury would fund the relief efforts and tasked the critical official with leading the investigation into the poisoning. He demanded results within seven days, signaling his intention to handle the matter with both urgency and thoroughness.
The session ended with the emperor visibly drained by the proceedings, leaving for the tranquility of the imperial gardens, reflecting the heavy burden of leadership and the intricate power dynamics at play in the court.
Observing the dire circumstances in the tent city outside ShangGuan Manor, Meng the Physician approached with a blend of urgency and grave concern. The outer tents teemed with the afflicted populace of Jingdu, their groans of distress permeating the air as numerous doctors fluttered between them, their faces etched with frustration at their inability to diagnose the cause.
"Yes, all the affected citizens are gathered here. I've summoned every capable physician from Jingdu to aid in this crisis. Yet, despite our efforts, the cause remains elusive. The symptoms strongly suggest poisoning, but none of the antidotes have proven effective. No one can pinpoint the source of the ailment," ShangGuan CY explained with a visible furrow of worry on his brow.
"Let us not despair just yet. Allow me to examine the patients myself before jumping to conclusions," Meng the Physician responded, signaling his team to commence their examinations.
A moment later, a junior physician whispered urgently to Meng, who nodded gravely and then turned to ShangGuan CY, "May we speak privately for a moment?"
"Of course, let's step inside," ShangGuan CY gestured towards his residence, leading Meng away from the crowded tents.
Inside, Meng shared his preliminary findings with a heavy heart. "It pains me to say, but this ailment is unlike anything I've encountered. My skills may not suffice to uncover the cause promptly."
"What can be done in the interim? The people suffer greatly, and if we cannot determine the cause, at least some relief must be found," ShangGuan CY implored.
"For now, I recommend administering palliative treatments to alleviate symptoms while I consult additional medical texts at home. It will take time, but I hope it will bring us closer to a solution," Meng suggested, scribbling a prescription which he handed to an attendant.
Reflecting on the anomaly of the situation, ShangGuan CY noted, "Every year the owl soup is prepared without issue. Only this year has it brought such calamity, and without any apparent change in the preparation process."
Meng pondered this as well, "If there's a new factor this year, particularly with the privately purchased ingredients, it could be the key. However, it's odd that the families of officials who oversaw the soup's distribution are also affected, suggesting a widespread issue."
"Indeed, I've verified that the affected citizens received their portions from various officials. That multiple households, including those of the officials themselves, exhibit the same symptoms is puzzling," ShangGuan CY admitted with concern.
"Perhaps it's just a tragic accident?" Meng proposed.
"If only it were so simple. But if someone orchestrated this, identifying them after the crisis abates will be challenging," ShangGuan CY sighed heavily.
As they concluded their discussion, attendants prepared the newly prescribed medicine outside, offering it freely to all afflicted, hoping to provide some respite from their suffering.
Nearby, Li Luoning, not officially recognized among the medical responders, passed by. Recognized by a desperate grandmother, she pleaded with him to save her granddaughter, who had fallen ill after consuming the owl soup. Li immediately tended to the young girl, checking her pulse and symptoms, his expertise drawing on both conventional and holistic insights.
As he was handed a bowl of the freshly prepared medicine for the child, his acute senses alerted him to something amiss. He sniffed the concoction carefully, his suspicion growing. "Hold on," he commanded, seizing the bowl. "This medicine must not be administered!" His interjection halted the distribution, sparking a confrontation with the reluctant server.
Observing ChengSangJY's suddenly repressed emotions, ShangGuanCY couldn't help but sigh inwardly,
"This JY brother, naturally kind and agreeable, truly believes all under heaven are good. His heart, pure and pristine as snow, a rarity. Born to any other family, he could have become anything he wished, yet fate placed him in this imperial household. With no other heirs from the king, his role as the future crown prince is sealed, regardless of his own desires."
"Isn't there still Big Brother Mo, the elder son, both literate and martial, wouldn't he make a fine ruler?" murmured JY quietly.
He referred to MoLan Prince, the eldest prince of ChengSang nation. When the young king ventured to the Northern Mo, he fathered a son with Princess LanShi of the North Mo. It was hoped this union would fortify ties between the two nations. However, General LinMuchuan, acting alone under the cover of night, led the Red Kirin cavalry to decimate the Northern Mo capital in a bloody conquest. He died on that battlefield, and by the time ChengSangKing arrived, all was already done. Princess LanShi, unable to bear her kingdom's ruin and personal loss, ended her life hanging at the city gates of Northern Mo.
"If it were earlier, you might have had a hope, but now, with MoLan Prince in his condition, do you really think he could ascend the throne? I doubt he will live past forty," LinHuaichu said bluntly.
Seeing LinHuaichu so unrestrained, ShangGuanCY scolded,
"Huaichu, show some respect. He is a prince after all; it's not for a subject to speak so freely behind his back."
"What's wrong? Am I not right? Look at him, all skin and bones, already greying and barely able to speak without coughing. If you met him at night, it would be scarier than seeing a ghost," LinHuaichu grumbled, not fond of ChengSangMo since an incident that had led to frequent tensions between them.
"Enough! If you keep this up without care, beware I might tell your elder brother," warned ShangGuanCY.
"My brother has been stationed at the Northern borders, only returning once every few years. By the time he comes back, you'd have forgotten all about this," LinHuaichu said smugly.
"You don't know yet?" ShangGuanCY said with a sly smile.
Hearing this, LinHuaichu paused, looking serious, "Know what?"
"Just a few days ago, the emperor ordered him back to the capital for counsel. By my calculations... he should be arriving soon," counted ShangGuanCY, raising his eyebrows at LinHuaichu.
Hearing this news, LinHuaichu jabbed JY accusingly,
"What! There's such a matter? How come I didn't know about it? JY, why didn't you tell me?"
"I only heard about it a few days ago, and I'm seeing you today for the first time since; I hadn't had the chance to mention it," JY explained, grinning as he watched LinHuaichu scratch his head in vexation.
"That's it, I'm doomed. My study's a mess, and I've got stuff all over the place. If my brother arrives today and sees it, I'm a dead man. I'll have to leave now and sort it out; see you later, CY," LinHuaichu said as he hurried home.
Meanwhile, outside ShangGuan Manor, under a few makeshift tents, ailing citizens groaned under the attentive gaze of busy physicians.
"Meng the Physician has arrived!" announced loudly as two carriages halted in front of ShangGuan Manor. A white-haired old man in official robes stepped down, followed by several younger men in similar attire.
"Meng, sir," greeted ShangGuanCY, dressed in plain light-colored clothing, descending the steps to welcome the arrivals.
"We are here by imperial command to assess the condition of the citizens," stated Meng the Physician.
"Please, come this way," urged ShangGuanCY, leading the group towards the tents.
"Have all those with symptoms from the city been gathered here?"
"Wait!" LiLuoning exclaimed as he grabbed the bowl from Old Lady Lin's hands and sniffed it carefully, his suspicions growing stronger. He approached the person preparing the medicine and demanded, "What exactly are you brewing here?"
The server, already disgruntled from the day's thankless tasks, replied haughtily, "What else would it be? It's a life-saving prescription from the Imperial Physician. Do you think I'm handing out porridge here?"
Ignoring LiLuoning's concern and unimpressed by his interference, the server scooped another bowl of the medicine, intending to distribute it.
"This medicine must not be drunk!" LiLuoning intervened, reaching out to stop him.
The server swatted away LiLuoning's hand with a fan, snapping irritably, "Why can't it be drunk? This is a formula from Meng the Physician. What would a wandering healer like you know? Stand aside!"
Undeterred and growing increasingly desperate, LiLuoning knocked the bowl of medicine to the ground, declaring, "I told you, this cannot be consumed!"
The spilled medicine, which had taken significant effort to prepare, ignited the server's fury. Throwing his fan to the ground, he shouted, "You've got some nerve, causing a scene right in front of ShangGuan Manor! You're asking for it, today I'll teach you a lesson!"