After hearing her gossip, all the civil and military officials went crazy.

Chapter 128 The Villain's Lair

[Host, hurry and get the turtle swimming upwards! There's a cliff ahead!]

The system's shrill electronic sound echoed throughout the sky.

Fang Lingchu tried her best to get the turtle to swim backward, but it seemed like something was pulling it back, and it couldn't go back no matter what it did.

【No! Guagua, something seems to be attracting the turtle ahead.】

Fang Lingchu spoke to the system somewhat anxiously.

[Host, you're only 10 meters away from falling. If you really can't manage, try swimming to the side!]

Fang Lingchu looked at a buffer zone next to her, with a sheer cliff above it. She looked up and, though scared, still made the turtle swim towards it.

Just as the turtle and the group of people swam to that side, the cliff suddenly opened up, and the group of people, along with the turtle, fell down.

【Ugh, Guagua, you're such a troublemaker!】

After everyone entered, the cliff closed.

After the group emerged from the water, they saw a fairly wide cave.

Gu Wangyan and Yu Shuang protected the two people behind them, watching their surroundings warily.

Fang Lingchu shrunk the turtle and put it into her system space.

(The tortoise is already Fang Lingchu's pet; it can change size and can be carried with her at all times.)
Then release your men to check if there is any danger in the cave.

The group slowly moved onto the rock. Fang Lingchu looked at herself, soaking wet, and felt very uncomfortable.

The voice also sounded disdainful, but not towards the system.

"Guagua, where is this place?! A bare cave... are we going to encounter some kind of adventure?"

The system looked at the cave and made a bewildered expression in Fang Lingchu's mind.

Then he said, "[Host, this crown prince is indeed someone Heaven hates and who manipulates plot points to kill off! He managed to unlock such a hidden plot point; I'm truly impressed!]"

Yu Shuang: What do you mean?
Crown Prince: Is it my fault? Isn't this a problem with Heaven?

Gu Wangyan: He knew it wouldn't be that simple.

Fang Lingchu was completely confused.

[What's going on, Guagua? What hidden plot? What does it mean?]

The system sighed and said, "Host, you need to be mentally prepared. The gossip surrounding Gu Wangyan has been updated. The Crown Prince's plot-driven death is related to this matter, and the Emperor isn't doing well either."

Outside the palace.

Someone said that His Highness the Crown Prince had disappeared, and that Fang Lingchu and Gu Wangyan had fallen off a cliff and were nowhere to be found.

Then many people started to get restless.

The Grand Tutor and the First-Class Academician, along with some other officials, waited outside the palace.

"We request an audience with His Majesty."

Then the Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor arrived, and several ministers followed after hearing the news.

A large group of people stood at the palace gate, looking as if they wouldn't leave until the emperor opened the gates.

When the common people saw that such an important person was like this, many came to watch the spectacle.

Citizen 1: Why are there so many adults here? What happened?

Commoner 2: Don't you know? I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince, Lord Fang, and General Gu disappeared together. The Imperial Guards searched the lake but couldn't find them anywhere. There's a cliff below that lake. Tsk tsk tsk, it seems like they're in grave danger!

Commoner 3: So, should we change the crown prince?

Citizen 4: What does this have to do with us? Don't talk nonsense, just watch.

Commoner 5: Why hasn't His Majesty opened the door yet? Could something have happened to His Majesty?

Citizen 6: No way, Your Majesty... Someone is spreading rumors maliciously, and the people are becoming increasingly worried, with more and more people coming to watch.

The people's words reached the ears of everyone present.

The adults present exchanged glances and made a mental note of it.

royal palace.

The emperor sat in his chair with a pained expression and purple lips.

Suppressing the nausea of ​​blood, he said to the eunuch Gao beside him, "Gao De, go and invite the Empress here."

Then she stumbled to the bed inside, without calling out to anyone.

The Crown Prince hasn't returned yet, nor has Fang Lingchu. If something happens to him now, all their previous efforts will have been in vain.

The Empress heard that ministers outside were requesting an audience, but the Emperor did not allow them to enter.

There was a premonition that something might be wrong with the emperor.

Quickly bring the people you trust from the Imperial Medical Academy to the Hall of Diligent Governance.

She happened to run into Eunuch Gao. Upon seeing him, the Empress didn't ask any questions, but simply quickened her pace towards the Hall of Diligent Governance.

At the same time, they ordered people to block the news.

"Give the order: everything is as usual. Anyone who dares to leak the news will have their entire family executed."

The head palace maid beside her responded and quietly returned to the Phoenix Palace.

The Empress soon arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance, had Gao Gege stand guard at the entrance, and then summoned the Third Prince into the palace.

The Empress felt extremely distressed when she saw His Majesty lying on the bed, covered in cold sweat.

"Your Majesty, how are you? Physician Liu, please take a look at His Majesty quickly."

Liu Feipeng was specially trained by the emperor to examine his body, and he was also certified by Fang Lingchu as a loyal person.

Liu Feipeng dared not delay and quickly stepped forward to examine His Majesty's health.

Upon feeling His Majesty's pulse, he was soon terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

The Empress was very worried when she saw him like this.

"Imperial Physician Liu, how is His Majesty?"

Liu Feipeng examined the body carefully for a while before saying, "Your Majesty has been poisoned. This poison is very potent, but it's alright, Your Majesty..."

Before Liu Feipeng could finish speaking, he was sternly rebuked by the Empress.

"His Majesty is in this state, and you still say it's nothing serious? Liu Feipeng, His Majesty trusts you, that's why I brought you here. His Majesty is already so deeply poisoned, why aren't you quickly administering the antidote?"

The emperor's eyes were also ashen, and his lips twitched slightly.

Liu Feipeng knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your Majesty still has the residue of the antidote pill from last time in your body, so this poison can naturally be neutralized, though it will be painful. If you ask me to neutralize the poison, I am powerless to do so! Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing that His Majesty could be cured of the poison, the Empress breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt a pang of heartache upon hearing that His Majesty might suffer.

"Is there any way to make His Majesty suffer less?"

Liu Feipeng lowered his head and said, "No, this poison is Datura Netherworld Poison. A single drop can kill a person instantly. Your Majesty is still unharmed because of the antidote pills that remained in your instincts. Otherwise..."

Liu Feipeng didn't say anything more, but the emperor and empress understood what he meant.

The Empress asked coldly, "Do you know who poisoned me?"

Liu Feipeng lowered his head even further before saying, "This poison is in liquid form. If you carry it on your person, it will give off a faint floral scent. People who come into frequent contact with it will have their fingernails turn slightly black."

After Liu Feipeng finished speaking, he didn't dare to look up at the Empress.

Liu Feipeng was also helpless! Gaining the emperor's trust was a good thing, but if he was incompetent when the emperor fell ill, he would still die!
(End of this chapter)