Chapter 100

The Culinary Chronicles of the Court Physician: The Disgraced Princess Consumes Poison to Create Medicine

In the filled cup, the shadow of the firelight reflects.

“There’s no need to be nervous.”

Emperor Diao, who had raised the cup, smiled broadly and graciously.

Fei Ling had visited the emperor’s chambers in the twilight, but there was no examination; she was merely urged by the emperor to sit across from him in a chair. Without quite understanding what was expected of her, she found herself drinking with the emperor.

“Your Majesty, I am not of a rank where I can accept this cup.”

“Call me Uncle. I will treat you as my niece. You have grown into a truly fine young lady.”

The emperor smiled warmly. Fei Ling, startled by the emperor’s unexpected words, cast her gaze elsewhere. A thorn pierced her chest, a poisonous thorn.

The emperor and I, both medical professionals, had managed to suppress our personal feelings.

(These words from a relative… I do not want to hear them.)

To distract herself, Fei Ling turned her gaze to the room.

It had been dim when she came for the examination, so she hadn’t noticed, but the emperor’s chamber had neither luxurious furniture nor seasonal flowers. The only striking feature was a birdcage made of pure silver, adorned with lapis lazuli, which glinted with an odd brilliance.

The cage was locked, but there was no canary inside.

The empty cage swayed faintly, its movement fragile and uncertain.

(What did he think of when he cherished that canary?)

Now, she could no longer understand. She had come to know the poison beneath the emperor’s calm exterior.

“You have endured great hardships and achieved remarkable feats. You saved the empress, who had been poisoned, helped the imperial princess who was on the verge of a stillbirth, and eradicated the poison that had been used to harm you. Let me thank you again.”

“…I am deeply grateful.”

Her desire for vengeance had been extinguished.

Yet, the embers of resentment still smoldered in her eyes, a silent heat that burned within. She hadn’t given up her revenge for the emperor’s sake. If she could, she would raise her voice and confront him now.

Why had he poisoned her father? Why had he made Zhen’s mother create poison and killed her?

“Your presence here has been truly fortunate.”

Zhen’s words echoed in her mind—he had said this place was the depths of hell. Ah, indeed, it was. Just meeting his gaze made her heart burn with agony. With each word spoken, her heart felt as if it was being sliced apart.

If this wasn’t hell, where could hell possibly be?

Placing the cup down, Emperor Diao said, “By the way…”

“It seems I am unable to father a child.”

Fei Ling let out a quiet sigh of relief.

(If it’s about the medicine, I can suppress my emotions.)

The emperor’s infertility was something that must not be known by others. Perhaps this was why he didn’t allow servants to be in the room with him.

“The late emperor was the same. However, he immediately had the White-Ze family bear his child. Perhaps the White-Ze has the power to overcome infertility.”

“Perhaps it was just coincidence. Besides, Your Majesty had a child with Consort Xue Mei, didn’t you?”

The emperor’s eyes darkened.

“…It seems Consort Xue Mei had a lover. Even eunuchs can impregnate women.”

“Are you suggesting that Consort Xue Mei was unfaithful?”

Fei Ling knew for a fact that Consort Xue Mei had loved another man. Yet, she had sworn that the emperor’s child was hers. She had never shared a dream with a eunuch.

To doubt her loyalty was an insult.

“Forgive me, but Consort Xue Mei…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Interrupting Fei Ling’s words, the emperor coldly dismissed her. He then drew her toward him, embracing her by the shoulder.

“I will bestow my favor upon you.”

Fei Ling froze, unable to comprehend his words.

“I called you my niece just now…”

“You are my niece, but as long as you are in the imperial palace, you are my concubine.”

He grabbed her arm and forced her deeper into the room. On the other side of the curtain, there was a bed. Fei Ling recoiled, trying to pull her arm away.

“Please stop, not like this!”

“I need a child with certain bloodline… Without it, I cannot create the medicine.”

Fei Ling was rendered speechless.

Now she understood why the emperor had persisted in visiting the harem, forcing his concubines to bear him children. The moment she understood, her blood froze.

She screamed in terror, trying to escape the room. But she was overwhelmed by dizziness, her arms and legs numb, her breath scorching hot—hunger for the poison.

(Why now?)

The moon was hidden by clouds, but it was a waxing crescent night. If she didn’t consume the poison soon, her hunger would intensify as the full moon approached. That was why the emperor had summoned her tonight.

“Don’t worry. Once this is over, I will give you the medicine.”

Fei Ling struggled desperately, her legs trembling as she moved. The emperor did not immediately chase her but watched with narrowed eyes, like one gazing at a helpless bird with broken wings.

(The corridor is no good. The guards are there.)

The guards would not help her.

With trembling fingers, Fei Ling opened a window and stepped onto the balcony. The wind, strong and mixed with snow, hit her face. She leaned out over the railing, dizzy from the height.

The emperor’s chamber was at the top of the palace. If she jumped, it would certainly mean death.

“You have no place to spread your wings. You are confined to this cage, unable to do anything but sing.”

The emperor had caught up with her.

The wind blew into the room, shaking the birdcage violently. The jarring sound was like the bell of despair. The emperor grabbed her arm.

At the moment when she had almost given up…

From behind the snow curtains, a swarm of bees suddenly attacked the emperor.

The blue poison bees. Only one person could control such dangerous creatures.

“…Zhen.”

Zhen descended from the roof.

Clad in dark armor, only his purple eyes burned fiercely. He pulled Fei Ling close, then drew a dagger, pointing it at the emperor.

“Don’t touch her. She is mine.”