The Empress Lan calmly selected the medical officer who was the first to claim he could awaken Emperor Gengshi but not completely cure him.
The medical officer tremulously rose, took out a small medicine bottle from his medical kit, and walked to Emperor Gengshi's bedside. He opened the bottle and held it to Emperor Gengshi's nose.
The pungent smell made everyone in the hall cough from a distance. Emperor Gengshi, who had been unconscious, also slowly awoke.
Seeing this, the medical officer returned to Empress Lan and knelt before her, "Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress, His Majesty has woken up.
However, the toxins from the Longevity Pill have accumulated in his body for a long time. If the remaining toxins are not completely removed, His Majesty will still faint intermittently as he did today.
Moreover, as the intervals between episodes shorten, His Majesty will become addicted to the Longevity Pill. Once he misses his dose, his emotions will become uncontrollable.
By then, the Longevity Pill will have completely depleted His Majesty's body and vital energy, and even a great immortal would be powerless to save him."
Upon hearing this, Empress Lan subconsciously looked at Emperor Gengshi, who had just woken up on the couch.
Even though he was weak from his recent faint, the anger in his eyes was still clearly visible.
"Princess Qin, I command you to detoxify me immediately."
Having vomited blood earlier and then fainted for a while, Emperor Gengshi's voice lacked energy as he spoke.
However, his words were clearly heard by everyone present.
Everyone was astonished. Emperor Gengshi had not spoken to Lu Qingwan about detoxifying him after he woke up. Could it be that his consciousness was clear while he was unconscious?
Lu Qingwan had already leisurely walked to Emperor Jingyou's bedside, "Your servant will first take His Majesty's pulse, then prescribe medicine and administer acupuncture."
Emperor Gengshi blinked, seemingly agreeing.
Lu Qingwan had already learned from the toxicology report from her spatial laboratory that the Longevity Pill was indeed a potent poison. After taking his pulse, she was surprised to find that the poison had already deeply affected Emperor Gengshi's lungs.
Thinking of Emperor Jingyou, who had been poisoned repeatedly, and then looking at Emperor Gengshi, Lu Qingwan couldn't help but furrow her brow.
Were poisoning emperors so easy these days?
She was puzzled by this herself, but her frown sent shivers down the spines of the others in the palace.
Empress Lan immediately asked nervously, "Why do you frown?
Is His Majesty's condition dire?
Lu Qingwan withdrew her hand, took out silver needles, and began to administer acupuncture, saying, "At this point, there's no talk of dire or not dire.
Your servant can do her best to detoxify, and at least prevent His Majesty's condition from worsening.
However, Your Majesty the Empress, your servant would like to ask, His Majesty's poison has been present for at least three years.
I heard that His Majesty has dedicated personnel to test his medicine. In these three years, has no one discovered that this so-called Longevity Pill is problematic?"
Her words were a clear mockery of those around Emperor Gengshi.
But the facts were before them, and neither the guards nor the Empress had the right to be ashamed.
As they stared at each other, the eunuch's sharp voice rang out again, "Reporting to His Majesty, Commander Wei of the Embroidered Uniform Guard requests an audience, stating he has urgent matters that must be reported to His Majesty in person."
The Embroidered Uniform Guard were the imperial guards of the Great Qin Palace, and their appearance usually signaled a major event.
Emperor Gengshi personally responded, "Announce him."
A moment later, a young man in black armor and with a saber at his waist strode into the hall. He ignored the crowd in the hall and knelt directly before Emperor Gengshi's bedside.
Kneeling on one knee, he declared, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the internal guards have just intercepted a carrier pigeon flying from the palace to the outside. This is the intelligence the pigeon was carrying. Please examine it, Your Majesty."
Lu Qingwan silently withdrew her needles, "His Majesty is unable to rise. If this is indeed important intelligence, Commander Wei, please present it to His Majesty personally."
Saying this, she considerately made way for Emperor Gengshi's bedside. Emperor Gengshi did not object.
Commander Wei bowed and stepped forward, unfolding a palm-sized piece of paper before Emperor Gengshi.
Emperor Gengshi's clouded eyes strained to read the contents. He seemed incredulous. He closed his eyes, then opened them again.
Confirming the content was correct, he said hoarsely, "Immediately escort Ming Ji to the Imperial Academy of Music for thorough interrogation. Seal the palace gates and allow no one to leave."
Commander Wei responded, and without regard for the varied expressions of those in the sleeping chamber, strode out.
Empress Lan, Consort Li, and the Empress Dowager watched Emperor Gengshi nervously, none daring to speak.
Finally, it was Emperor Gengshi who broke the silence, "Continue."
Three simple words, devoid of any emotion. After Lu Qingwan walked over, he spoke again, "Is there a way for me to act normally immediately?"
"His Majesty has been poisoned with a slow-acting poison. Today was an unexpected outbreak. After acupuncture and medication, with some rest, your actions should not be significantly affected.
However, this medicine is most damaging to the mind. If His Majesty does not wish to faint without warning again, he must cultivate his mind and avoid anger as much as possible.
Furthermore, within half a month of stopping the Longevity Pill, you will feel very unwell, but if you can endure it, there will be no further issues.
But if His Majesty cannot endure it and takes the Longevity Pill again, he will likely be unable to escape its grip for the rest of his life."
She spoke in great detail, and everyone listened attentively.
Even Empress Lan and Consort Li thought that Emperor Gengshi might heavily favor Feng Xi Wu and bestow many rewards upon Lu Qingwan.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Gengshi asked without warning, "I heard that you are not only skilled in medicine but also in manufacturing firearms and artillery?"
Lu Qingwan's hand, which was inserting needles, suddenly moved to a different position, "Then Your Majesty must have misheard. Your servant is merely a humble woman of the inner chambers who, by chance, obtained a pistol and presented it to the late Emperor of the Great Qian.
As for firearms and artillery, your servant has never even seen them, let alone manufactured them."
She lied with a straight face, and Emperor Gengshi stared at her with an gaze that seemed to penetrate her soul.
Lu Qingwan paid him no mind and stood up directly, "Bring me paper and a pen. I need to write a prescription."
The eunuch was now perceptive and immediately brought the ink and brush. Lu Qingwan sat at a table not far from Emperor Gengshi's bedside to write the prescription.
Emperor Gengshi's gaze followed Lu Qingwan, "You said you cannot manufacture firearms and artillery. Where did the three cannons at the border of the Great Qian come from?"
"Your Majesty should ask the Emperor of the Great Qian about this matter, shouldn't he?"
She said innocently, "Of course, the Emperor of the Great Qian would not easily admit that he forged those cannons himself. After all, everyone knows that all firearms originate from Great Qin. Wouldn't you agree, Your Majesty?"
A group of medical officers frantically wiped their sweat, wishing they could beg Lu Qingwan to shut up.
To their surprise, Emperor Gengshi was not angry at all. Instead, he calmly initiated a new topic.
"My Longevity Pill was presented by the Grand Commandant. I trusted the Grand Commandant and took it daily for three years.
To think it nearly cost me my life. Empress, how much do you know about this matter?"
After waiting for so long, it had finally come.
Seeing Emperor Gengshi directly confront her, Empress Lan instead displayed a sense of relief and knelt before Emperor Gengshi's bedside with a thud.