Back In Time (The Reincarnation of the Cruel Concubine)

Getting worse

Physician Zhong summoned all the skilled healers in the palace, to help prove whether there really was mercury in Zhou Xie Ling's herbal medicine. The physician arranged all the herbs on a long table, and the healers were asked to observe closely. Starting from the shape, color, aroma, and taste.

As a result, most of them say there is a mercury metal mixture in the powder-shaped, herbaceous herbs that have been mashed to make it easy to brew. At first glance when the solid metal is mixed, it looks like the original. But as it brews, the metal begins to react.

"Right, Your Majesty." said Physician Zhong, "There is mercury in this herb."

Physician Zhong brought a bag of herbs that had been contaminated.

"So how's next?" wu Li Mei asked in confusion. "What about Xiao Ling?"

"We must give many antidotes for the princess, Your Majesty." suggested one of the old healers.

"Hopefully the poison has not spread widely, so there is still hope" Physician Zhong added.

Without waiting for any more orders, Physician Zhong and the others immediately headed to the medicine storage room in the palace health center. They'll make a poison potion for the princess.

The situation inside the palace was quite chaotic after news of Zhou Xie Ling being exposed to mercury poison started to spread, the soldiers were busy searching all the maids in the princess pavilion to find evidence. The search for Yang Li had yet to bear fruit, it seemed that the young lady had already run far away.

Wu Li Mei thought hard, stringing together pieces after pieces of events that happened. And he was unable to find a gap, even though there were many irregularities. The medicine for Zhou Xie Ling was replaced weekly by Physician Zhong.

Suspecting the healer, it was obviously impossible, Physician Zhong was the one who helped him make the herbs. The only mastermind behind all of this was the maids in the princess pavilion, including Yang Li who suddenly disappeared.

"Capture all the maids in the princess pavilion, and punish them."

An order came, not Emperor Zhou nor Wu Li Mei, but Yang Jia Li who had just arrived at the princess pavilion. The empress came with many soldiers who began to catch one by one the ladies.

"What are you doing? I haven't even given an order yet." Emperor Zhou said.

The empress bowed respectfully, "The order will sooner or later be delivered, I don't think my actions are wrong."

"But the ladies may be innocent" Wu Li Mei said.

"Then? If not, who is wrong?" asked Yang Jia Li. "The one who gave the herbal medicine?"

Wu Li Mei rounded her eyes, "You. accused me, Your Majesty?!"

"I'm not accusing you Mei-mei, that's a presumption that might be true."

"I can't possibly poison my own son."

Wu Li Mei turned her head as her arm was being held back by the emperor, the woman asked for an explanation through an eye gaze. But the emperor ignored him, he brought the concubine to sit down and calm down.

"Oh, Your Majesty. I don't know anything." beg Dayang Hong, the woman squabbled as she hugged Wu Li Mei's leg, as did Lien. The soldiers prepared to catch them, and the two maids immediately shook in fear.

"Oh, Your Majesty. Forgive me!"

Yang Jia Li approached, "There is no forgiveness. Soldier! Catch all the ladies in the princess pavilion."

Wu Li Mei was about to protest, but was prevented by the emperor. However this was the right thing to do, arresting all the maids for evidence. But what's the point if the evidence is obtained by torture. Wu Li's. Mei was not to the heart when she saw Dayang Hong being dragged forcibly by the soldiers, the old woman cried out for mercy.

"I'm sorry, Dayang Hong." said Wu Li Mei, who had come to see the maid and nanny of the princess since childhood was cruelly arrested. If Zhou Xie Ling was here, he would have thrashed out asking Dayang Hong to be released.

The loyal Dayang Yi beside Wu Li Mei simply shook her head, "I don't know, Your Majesty."

...****************...

"Uhukk... " Zhou Xie Ling coughed again, this time even more powerful than two days ago. During these two days, Wu Li Mei remained faithful to be by his side.

The maids and healers helped the princess to break down, lie back on the bed. That radiant pale face was getting weaker these two days, the antidote to the poison had not shown any signs of successfully fighting the poison. Wu Li Mei thought this might be the initial reaction to the antidote, but did it have to be that sick.

The concubine did not have the heart to take care of Zhou Xie Ling directly, her heart was filled every time the child thrashed in pain and coughed up blood.

"Mother" Zhou Xie Ling said without a sound, her small hand raised slowly and greeted by the mother's warm grasp.

"Yes, honey?"

Zhou Xie Ling wanted to talk a lot, relaying her lament. But he had no energy left, the little girl just cried while staring blankly at Wu Li Mei.

The gentle embrace that drowned the princess in a warm embrace made her calmer, the only thing she needed was for Wu Li Mei to remain beside her.

"Mother will always be here, dear." said Wu Li Mei full of sincerity, he gave a smooth swab on the princess' back so that she quickly slept.

Both of his brothers were present, accompanying his mother to take care of Zhou Xie Ling in turn. Each of them took control of the drugstore as Wu Li Mei was preoccupied with Xie Ling's declining health.

Zhou Fang Yin placed three stalks of blue peonies inside the vase, he placed them in the corner of the sister's room.

"Mom." Zhou Ming Hao pulled out a chair for Wu Li Mei, seeing the mother so dimly alarmed him. "Have you eaten?" ask the crown prince again.

"Later, I'm not hungry."

"But it's already noon." replied Zhou Fang Yin, "How about a cup of tea?"

Wu Li Mei nodded.

Zhou Fang Yin immediately asked the lady-in-waiting to prepare tea and light dishes.

After all the maids in the princess pavilion were captured, Empress Yang Jia Li placed a substitute lady to guard there. All the affairs in the pavilion were not separated from the knowledge of the empress.

The tea and dishes were ready, the smell of jasmine tea spoiled the concubine's sense of smell. Deliver calmness through a warm sip. Wu Li Mei took out a flower-shaped bean cake, she bit it once and put it back down.

Wu Li Mei did not want to get sick at the thought of the princess, she still had to endure and stay strong for Zhou Xie Ling.

A gentle swipe on the back of her hand, made the concubine turn her head. Zhou Ming Hao smiled faintly as he clasped his hand. "Trust me ma'am, everything will be fine" he said.

Wu Li Mei nodded, returning that warm smile with heated eyes.

The powerless concubine held back her cries as Zhou Fang Yin clenched her tightly, hugging her frail body giving her strength. Likewise, Zhou Ming Hao, who joined, embraced the two women he loved more than anything.

"We'll always be with mom."

"All will be well, ma'am."