The room fell into pandemonium. Before Doctor Liu had even walked out of Duke Ningguo Manorâs front gates, he was invited back again.
Not long after, Jin Wang, who received the news, also arrived.
âThe old master doesnât have any major issues, he was just overstimulated. The medicine must be taken on time every day. If he gets overstimulated again, it may be a stroke next time.â
âDoctor Liu, thank you so much.â
Fortunately, Doctor Liu hadnât left yet and was able to arrive in a timely manner and administer acupuncture for Duke Ningguo. Otherwise, Duke Ningguo may be in a worse state, being paralyzed and bedridden was even possible,
âNo need to mention it. The old master has protected and saved countless lives while serving in the army. This is heavenâs blessings.â
Jin Wang, dressed in a dark blue robe, was sitting on an armchair next to the bed. He said, âStay here for a few more days. Wait until his condition is stable before leaving.â
Doctor Liu nodded and said, âYour Highness, this poison today is a bit strange. If this old man is right, it should be the same poison that poisoned Side Consort Hu.â
Upon hearing this, Jin Wang looked over immediately.
Although Second Master Shen wasnât aware of what had happened, his eyes revealed how shocked he was.
âIf it werenât because this poison also has the effect of sealing the throat with blood, I wouldnât have been able to link these incidents together. This poison could be taken internally and externally. Since it uses blood to seal the throat, if it entered the body through an open wound, the poison would take effect instantly. If it was taken orally, depending on the potency, it would also take effect sooner or later. Of course, if the internal organs were bleeding, the poison would also kill the victim instantly.â
âAre you sure that this is the same poison?â
âNot a hundred percent. Only eighty percent. â
Jin Wang nodded. His face was calm, but his left hand was already fidgeting with the ring on his right hand. This was his automatic reaction when he is deep in thought.
âIt should have something to do with those fewâŚâ
A weak voice sounded from the bed. It was Duke Ningguo who had just woken up.
Second Master Shen hurriedly walked over. âFather.â
âHelp me sit up.â
Jin Wang apologized, âGrandfather, it was I who brought harm to you.â
Duke Ningguo leaned back against the soft pillows. His face looked weak, but there was a touch of fortitude between his brows. He shook his head. âIf we were to cast blame, itâs not so easy to clearly extract who is to blame for what. If your mother wasnât sent into the palace, none of this wouldâve happened and it was I who sent your mother into the palace.â
From the moment Shen Luan entered the palace, it was inevitable for the Shen Family to keep themselves out of this muddy water.
But at that time, with the situation of the Shen Family, this wasnât something they could refuse. Emperor Hongjing needed something that could keep the Shen Family in check, so he chose Shen Luan, the most beloved daughter of the Shen family, and gave her the title of consort.
He wanted to use the Shen Family, but he was also afraid of the Shen Family.
After Shen Luan entered the palace, she remained out of the limelight. She wasnât favoured but one couldnât say that she wasnât favoured either. But simply because her origins were the Shen Family, it was enough to make many people jealous.
Originally, her body was not suitable for giving birth to an heir, and she had never planned to give birth anyways. But at that time, Emperor Hongjing had gained the opportunity, and repeatedly tried to attack the Shen Family in secret. Shen Luan had no other choice but to conceive Jin Wang and hide it from the Shen family.
Shen Luan sacrificed her life for the Shen Family, leaving the entire family devastated. But it was precisely she who left the Shen family with a lifeline, so it wasnât easy to say who was to blame for all this. From the moment Jin Wang was born, he couldnât avoid getting tied up with the Shen Family.
If one really wanted to find the culprit for all this, it would be Emperor Hongjing and the evil imperial authority.
Jin Wang briefly explained the case of Side Consort Hu being poisoned to death.
After listening to him, Duke Ningguo said, âSo this was all caused by Yong Wang?â
Jin Wang nodded.
Duke Ningguo said again, âThis really doesnât seem like something Yong Wang would do. Heâs making so many moves now at such a critical time, is it because heâs afraid of something?â
Jin Wang pondered for a moment. âIt could be that he has something he wants to do, but is afraid of this prince ruining it for him, so he could only resort to such methods.â
If he were to cut down Duke Ningguo, it was tantamount to cutting down the entire Shen family and cutting down half of Jin Wangâs arm in the capital. Ever since Jin Wang was bestowed his vassal state, and the Shen Family returned to the capital, Duke Ningguo and Second Master Shen had been busy with establishing forces in the capital.
Duke Ningguo fought in both the South and the North for dozens of years. The Shen Family was also a military family. Although both Duke Ningguoâs father and his brothers did not perform as many meritorious military deeds as himself, they did have their own prestige. Therefore, the Shen Family had countless students all over the country, including the military officer system.
Just like how civil officers value each other because of their past, such as the school and city they came from, military officers also have a sense of camaraderie and support. Especially on the battlefield, during moments of life and death, many fateful friendships are forged.
Military officials are different from civil officials. Many of these military men were straightforward and didnât speak flowery words like the civil officers. They only valued love and loyalty.
As the old saying goes, for scholars to rebel, it could not be done within three years. This was because scholars understand certain principles better. For example, they knew to weigh the pros and the cons and looking forward into the future as well as back into the past. No matter what, everything they do is a result of thinking a lot, and considering a lot. But this was not the case with those reckless men. Most of them would simply smash the wine cup then start attacking.
So over the years, with the help of their former subordinates, Duke Ningguo and Second Master Shen drew over several military officers for Jin Wang. There werenât many high-ranking military officers. Most of them were only middle and low-ranking military officers, but these military officers were scattered throughout the three major battalions of the capital. The military forces of five cities as well as the commander for the capital cityâs guards were also not forces to be reckoned with.
âSo looking at the current situation, Yong Wang is planning to go to war, and took action first by trying to poison this old man?â