NFBE Chapter 190 What a pity
Chapter 190 What a pity
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze to Jiang Qingyan, eagerly anticipating her analysis.
Jiang Qingyan raised an eyebrow and said mysteriously, "It's because someone doesn't want the candidates to enter the palace."
The Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy asked in bewilderment, "But it's only a matter of time before the candidates enter the palace for the examinations. Who would try to obstruct or prevent this?"
Jiang Qingyan stared at the handsome face on the bed and sighed, "It's such a pity for this good-looking man. He's suffering terribly from this illness... Look at his pale face..."
The Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy pursed his lips speechlessly. He knew the Emperor had just been spouting nonsense; he had actually believed the Emperor had seen through the truth at a glance…
Mo Ting rubbed his temples helplessly and said to the Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, "Grand Secretary, you may go back now. If there is anything else, I will send someone to inform you."
The Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy nodded slightly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, Empress, then this old minister will take his leave..."
Jiang Qingyan nodded and said, "Go ahead, I'll take another look at this handsome man and then return to the palace."
The Hanlin Academy scholar awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, then turned and left.
Once he was completely gone, Jiang Qingyan called Lu Nian to bring in the green medicine.
Green Medicine quickly put down her medicine box and then carefully took the pulse of the scholar by placing her fingers on his wrist.
After a moment, Green Medicine frowned and said, "This person has actually been afflicted by the Heartless Gu..."
Jiang Qingyan's mouth dropped open in astonishment. "What?! A Heartless Gu? There really are Gu in this world!"
Back in the Xia Kingdom, to trick Yun Yuxuan into taking her to the palace, she made up a lie, saying she could use witchcraft…
Unexpectedly, she encountered a real curse today...
After opening the medicine box, Green Medicine took out a porcelain bottle, poured out the pills inside, and put them into the mouth of the scholar.
She turned to Jiang Qingyan and said, “Your Majesty, I cannot remove this man’s poison. Only the person who cast the poison can remove it. However, I have already given him a Rejuvenation Pill. After taking this pill, as long as he does not fall in love, the poison will never take effect.”
Jiang Qingyan pouted and sighed, "I can't fall in love... that would be such a waste of such a handsome face... looks like I'll have to be an ice queen from now on..."
Mo Ting quickly reminded them, "There are other tribute scholars as well. Go and check if they are all infected with this Gu."
Green Medicine nodded and carried her medicine box to the next room.
After taking their pulses, Green Medicine looked puzzled. "What's going on? They weren't even poisoned by the same kind of poison."
Jiang Qingyan raised an eyebrow and asked, "What kind of poison did he get?"
Green Medicine frowned and said, "He was drugged with a bewitching incense that is very rare in the martial arts world."
Jiang Qingyan carefully examined the scholar's complexion; it did indeed seem different from the handsome man's symptoms...
Green Medicine opened the medicine box, found a short incense stick, lit it, and held it to the tribute scholar's nostrils.
A moment later, the scholar coughed twice and slowly opened his eyes.
Upon seeing four unfamiliar faces standing in the room, he was so frightened that he immediately sat up in bed, clutching his chest, and said nervously, "Who are you? Why are you in my room? What do you want to do to me? I am a candidate for the imperial examination. If you dare to do anything improper to me, the court will not forgive you!"
Jiang Qingyan glanced at him, speechless, and said, "Dude, don't be so confident, okay? Look down at yourself, what makes you think you're worth us doing anything to you..."
Green Medicine quickly explained, "Young master, there is no need to panic. I am a healer, here to treat you and the other tribute scholars."
Seeing that the medicine box next to Lvyao was indeed filled with all kinds of medicine bottles, the scholar finally believed what Lvyao had said and was relieved.
He lowered his arms from his chest, cupped his hands, and said, "I'm sorry, I just woke up suddenly and was a little scared when I saw so many people in the room... My name is Du Ziteng, and I thank you all for saving my life today."
Jiang Qingyan asked with concern, "Why does your stomach hurt so much after just waking up? Did you eat something bad last night?"
Du Ziteng glanced at Jiang Qingyan, speechless, and said, "My surname is Du, and my given name is Ziteng. I didn't mean to say I have a stomachache..."
Jiang Qingyan awkwardly forced a smile. "Ah... I see... Haha... Sorry..."
Du Ziteng smiled politely and said softly, "I wonder if my other classmates have also been cured by you?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingyan quickly told Lvyao and Lu Nian to continue to the next room, while she and Mo Ting stayed behind to inquire about Du Ziteng's affairs from the previous night.
Jiang Qingyan casually found a chair and sat down, then said to Du Ziteng, "Tell me about what happened before you fell ill. Did you feel anything unusual last night?"
After thinking seriously for a moment, Du Ziteng said, "Last night, we gathered in Mu Zhiqiu's room as usual to discuss the article. Later, we had dinner together, and then we went back to our rooms. Not long after, I felt dizzy and even a little nauseous. Then I don't know when I fainted."
Jiang Qingyan quickly asked, "Who is Mu Zhiqiu?"
Du Ziteng pointed to the next room and said, "Mu Zhiqiu is the scholar who lives in room number one of the top-tier rooms. He is also the one among us with the best literary talent."
Jiang Qingyan raised an eyebrow and said, "Are you talking about that ice queen and alluring handsome guy?"
Du Ziteng nodded and exclaimed, "He is indeed handsome, and he is the most outstanding man I have ever seen in my life."
After pondering for a moment while stroking her chin, Jiang Qingyan said, "We were together, eating the same things, so how come we were poisoned differently?"
Du Ziteng asked in confusion, "I wonder what kind of poison Mu Zhiqiu was given?"
Jiang Qingyan sighed and said, "Don't even mention it. He was afflicted with the Heartless Gu. He'll die if he falls in love. What a waste of his good looks!"
Du Ziteng quickly replied, "Then may I ask what kind of poison I was given? Surely I can't even have romantic feelings anymore? But I already have a wife at home, and I love her very much..."
Hearing Du Ziteng say that, Jiang Qingyan thought more highly of him.
A man who can pass the imperial examinations, openly declare that he has a wife, and make no attempt to hide his love for her, would be considered a good man, whether in modern or ancient times.
Jiang Qingyan quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, you've only been drugged with a mind-altering incense. It won't stop you from loving your wife."
Upon hearing this, Du Ziteng breathed a sigh of relief, "That's great... I thought... Oh well... It's just a pity for Mu Zhiqiu, afflicted by this curse, his fate with his childhood sweetheart is sealed..."
Jiang Qingyan, with a gossipy expression, asked curiously, "You even know he has a childhood sweetheart? What does she look like? Is she pretty? How far have things progressed between her and Mu Zhiqiu? Have they kissed, hugged, and lifted each other up high?"