Chapter 6
The guards dragged Shen Qingyu through the palace corridors, rough hands gripping his arms. His crimson inner robes hung loose from the struggle, hair tangled across his face.
He did not fight back. Rather, his mind kept circling the same questions: Why had Helian Jue suddenly collapsed? What had the emperor drunk or eaten before he arrived?
The taste of their interrupted kiss still lingered on Qingyu's lips, bitter now with shock.
"Move faster, traitor!" one guard snarled, shoving him forward.
Xiao He ran after them, his voice filled with panic. "Wait! Stop! Young Master didn't do anything! Let him explain!"
The guards ignored the eunuch. They threw Qingyu into a damp holding cell in the lower prison wing and slammed the iron door shut. Chains rattled as they locked his wrists to the wall.
Xiao He pressed against the bars, tears shining in his eyes. "Young Master, say something! Tell them you didn't poison him. Clear your name before it gets worse!"
Qingyu leaned his head back against the stone, distant. "Find out what happened to the emperor, Xiao He. Go now."
Xiao He's hands shook on the bars. "I can't leave you here like this! We need to get you out first. Please, just speak to the captain. Tell him the truth."
Qingyu stayed silent, staring at nothing in particular.
The ache from his past life pressed heavy on his chest as the memory of another set of chains filled him. Another cold cell, another death ordered by the same man now lying unconscious. He said nothing more.
Xiao He wiped his face and stepped back. "I'll find out everything. I promise." He turned and ran, footsteps fading into the dark.
….
In the emperor's private chambers, chaos had taken over.
Eunuch Liu had already summoned the best palace physician–an old man with steady hands and good skills. The physician worked quickly, checking Helian Jue's pulse, forcing open his mouth to examine his tongue, then mixing herbs into a steaming bowl.
Eunuch Liu paced near the bed. "How is he? Will His Majesty wake?"
The physician wiped sweat from his brow, turning to face Eunuch Liu. "The poison entered through a drink. It has sunk deep into his body, but I have given him the antidote. He should regain consciousness soon. Keep him warm and give him the next dose in the next 48 hours."
Eunuch Liu nodded, relief mixing with worry on his face. "Okay. I'll do just that."
Elsewhere, in a hidden room lit by a single red candle, a masked man sat in the shadows. His face was covered by a dark, frightening mask carved with twisted patterns.
A woman knelt before him, her head bowed low with trembling shoulders.
"Is it done?" the masked man asked, voice low and cold.
The woman stuttered, "Y-yes, Master. The poison was slipped into the emperor's favorite wine. The new consort was with him when it happened. It should have worked perfectly."
The masked man let out an exasperated sigh through the mask, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Good. But we must move faster. Make sure the blame stays on the consort. If the emperor wakes too soon, our plan fails."
The woman bowed deeper. "I understand."
Two days passed in the cold cell.
Shen Qingyu sat on the dirty floor, his once-beautiful robes were stained. His long black hair hung messy and dull. His face had grown pale, lips dry from lack of food.
He had barely eaten the thin gruel they pushed through the bars. and he hasn't seen the sunlight for two days.
In his past life, if She Qingyu could remember, the emperor was never poisoned. There wasn't any case of him being poisoned.
Or was Shen Qingyu wrong?
Had he not seen this coming? And that someone was trying to set him up to get on the emperor's wrong side?
Henceforth, he knew he had to be careful. He couldn't repeat the same mistake twice.
On the morning of the third day, footsteps hurried down the corridor and Xiao He appeared at the bars, out of breath.
"Young Master!" he whispered urgently. "The emperor has just woken up. The physician says he is weak but conscious. I found out the poison was in his usual wine. No one else touched it except the servants who serve him every night."
Qingyu lifted his head slowly to look at Xiao He, his voice was hoarse. "Good. Find who prepared that wine."
Xiao He gripped the bars tighter. "I believe you are innocent. I know you would never hurt him. But please, let me try to get you out. The people are saying terrible things about you."
Qingyu gave a small, tired nod but said nothing else.
Meanwhile, in the imperial bedchamber, Helian Jue lay propped against pillows, his face still pale but eyes open. The physician checked his pulse again while servants hovered with fresh water and medicine.
After the treatment, Eunuch Liu waved at the physician and servants to leave.
He turned to the emperor, bowing. "Your Majesty, thank the heavens you are awake. We caught the culprit. The new Jade Consort was the last one with you. He must have slipped the poison during your… private time."
Helian Jue's eyes narrowed immediately. Without warning, he reached forward, one large hand grabbing Eunuch Liu by the throat and lifting the smaller man clear off the ground.
Eunuch Liu's eyes widened at the outbursts.
"You dare speak ill of him?" the emperor growled, his voice rough from weakness but still full of fury. His oceanic eyes burned with anger. "Qingyu would not poison me."
Eunuch Liu choked, kicking his legs weakly. His face had turned red.
The emperor's grip tightened for a moment, then a fresh wave of pain hit him. His head throbbed hard. Hesitantly, he released the eunuch with a hiss, dropping back onto the bed.
Eunuch Liu crumpled to the floor, coughing and gasping for air. He crawled quickly and brought the next dose of medicine in a small cup. "Your Majesty, please take this. It will ease the poison."
Helian Jue pushed the cup away with a shaky hand. The liquid spilled across the sheets. "No. Bring Shen Qingyu to me. Now. I want him here this instant."
Eunuch Liu stared up from the floor, eyes wide with shock. "B-but Your Majesty… he is the suspect. He is locked in the cells–"
"I said bring him!" Helian Jue's voice rose, reverberating through the room. His chest heaved with the effort, but his gaze was fierce and unyielding.
Eunuch Liu froze, as if he had just been struck by lightning. He didn't move from his spot, blinking rapidly.
Helian Jue's hand clenched the sheets. "If he is not standing in front of me within the hour, every guard who touched him will lose their heads."