After reporting to Zhen Huan that he suspected something was wrong with the fish and shrimp supplied specifically to Noble Lady Mei and Noble Lady Yi, Wei Lin secretly obtained samples of the fish feed and water used in the imperial kitchens’ fish ponds at her instruction.
The plan was simple: if Wei Lin found something suspicious there, they would have their answer. If not, they would have no choice but to risk alerting the culprit by detaining everyone in the Imperial Kitchen and having the physicians conduct a thorough investigation.
Fortunately, Wei Lin recognized the problem almost immediately.
“Your Majesty, cinnabar has been mixed into the fish feed.”
Zhen Huan knew what cinnabar was. Its greatest danger lay in its mercury content.
Even in modern times, if someone accidentally breaks a thermometer, they are told not to touch the mercury with bare hands and to ventilate the room afterward.
Now mercury had been mixed directly into the fish feed, allowing toxins to accumulate in the fish and shrimp. One hardly needed to imagine how harmful it would be to the human body.
“The person behind this is truly vicious.”
Wei Lin nodded grimly.
“Indeed. Consuming excessive amounts of cinnabar can cause symptoms like those Noble Lady Mei has been experiencing—headaches, nausea, and trembling hands. But these symptoms are also common among pregnant women, making the poison extremely difficult to detect.
“Over time, it may lead to miscarriage, deformities in the fetus, or even death. Moreover, cinnabar poisoning is difficult to identify through pulse diagnosis alone. It is almost impossible to guard against.”
“Wei Lin, come with me to Changchun Palace. Fuga, go summon the Emperor. This matter cannot be delayed for even a moment.”
Understanding the severity of the situation, Fuga hurried away at once.
At Changchun Palace, Fuca Langhua turned deathly pale after hearing Wei Lin’s report. She immediately instructed Lianxin to summon every consort in the harem.
“Royal Mother,” she said anxiously, “failing to protect the imperial heirs and the women of the harem is my negligence. You were the one who discovered this. I nearly caused a terrible disaster.”
“It was difficult to notice the problem through Noble Lady Mei and Noble Lady Yi’s symptoms alone,” Zhen Huan replied. “Even with so many imperial physicians attending them, no one discovered anything.
“But we must determine where this cinnabar came from. Otherwise, who in this palace will ever sleep peacefully again?”
Though she spoke calmly, Zhen Huan knew how chaotic this harem could be.
After all, even a eunuch like Wang Qin had managed to smuggle prohibited drugs into the palace. In the far more orderly days of her own reign, safflower and musk had still found their way into the inner palace. It was hardly as though the consorts had simply gone to the Imperial Household Department and openly requested such things.
“Yes,” Langhua replied. “I’ve already sent the eunuchs responsible for feeding the fish and shrimp to the Office of Punishments. We should have answers soon.”
As they spoke, the consorts arrived one after another, all confused as to why the empress had suddenly summoned them.
Neither Langhua nor Zhen Huan offered any explanation.
The women could only whisper among themselves.
At last, everyone had arrived—including Hongli.
Only then did Zhen Huan speak.
“I have summoned the Emperor and all of you here today because someone in the palace is attempting to harm the imperial heirs.”
Hearing this, Bai Ruiji instinctively covered her stomach.
She had always been straightforward by nature.
“Your Majesty,” she asked anxiously, “does this mean someone is trying to harm Noble Lady Yi and me?”
Consort Chun looked equally alarmed.
“Or are the princess and the three princes in danger?”
“The princess and princes are unharmed,” Zhen Huan reassured them.
“Wei Lin, explain Noble Lady Mei and Noble Lady Yi’s condition to His Majesty.”
The two pregnant women stared fixedly at Wei Lin.
Under the gaze of everyone present, he carefully recounted how he had discovered the problem with their fish and shrimp, and exactly what that problem was.
The entire hall drew in sharp breaths.
Hongli frowned.
“What is the condition of Noble Lady Mei’s and Noble Lady Yi’s unborn children?”
Wei Lin bowed his head.
“Your Majesty, cinnabar poisoning is difficult to detect through pulse diagnosis, especially in unborn children.
“I can prescribe detoxifying medicines that will not harm the fetuses. However, judging by Noble Lady Mei’s symptoms, she has been consuming cinnabar for quite some time. The fetus has continued to develop throughout that period, so there will certainly be some impact.
“As for the extent of the damage, we will not know until the child is born.”
Hongli was clearly dissatisfied with the answer.
But Wei Lin had been a respected physician even during the late emperor’s reign. He had also discovered what none of the other physicians had.
His words were almost certainly correct.
“What is the worst possible outcome?”
Wei Lin hesitated and glanced at Zhen Huan.
She gave him a slight nod.
If he refused to answer, another physician would tell the Emperor anyway. Concealing the truth would serve no purpose and would only make Hongli doubt him.
Besides, if Hongli sought answers privately and made some rash decision, she would have no chance to intervene.
Taking a breath, Wei Lin looked at Bai Ruiji, who was staring at him with desperate hope.
“The worst possibility is that the child may be born with physical deformities.”
Bai Ruiji broke down completely.
Her baby was already more than four months old. Half a month earlier, she had felt the first movements.
She had been overjoyed.
Now, faced with this devastating news, she felt as though her world had collapsed.
But even more frightening than the diagnosis was the Emperor’s reaction.
No matter how humble her origins, she knew that the imperial family feared scandal above all else.
And a deformed child would be the greatest scandal of all.
Falling to her knees, she crawled several steps toward Hongli, tears streaming down her face.
“Your Majesty! Please save my child! The baby is already moving—I can feel it! My child must be healthy!”
She turned desperately toward Wei Lin.
“Physician Wei, you’ve examined me so many times. You know! Tell His Majesty my child is healthy. Tell him you can save this child!”
Wei Lin lowered his head, unable to meet her pleading gaze.
Hongli’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.
He was clearly wavering.
After remaining silent for a long time, Noble Lady Yi also knelt.
She had been luckier than Bai Ruiji—her pregnancy had been discovered later, and she had only eaten the contaminated fish and shrimp for a few days.
But who could guarantee that her child was unharmed?
Silence filled the hall.
Everyone’s eyes shifted between Bai Ruiji and the Emperor.
No one dared speak.
They all understood the weight of this decision.
Zhen Huan hesitated as well.
In her own era, prenatal examinations and modern medicine emphasized healthy pregnancies and early detection of problems. Even today, doctors might advise terminating a pregnancy under such circumstances.
And Hongli—so concerned with appearances—was even less likely to accept the risk.
In this era, however, not even the most skilled physicians could determine the child’s condition.
Should she persuade Bai Ruiji to give up the baby?
If the child truly suffered from severe disabilities and a lifetime of pain, would bringing it into the world really be an act of kindness?
She looked at Bai Ruiji’s desperate eyes.
The usually vibrant young woman was pale and trembling, kneeling alone and begging for someone—anyone—to save her child.
Yet she had no one.
Even in modern times, doctors cannot make such a choice for a mother.
If that was the case, then perhaps they should gamble.
At last, Zhen Huan spoke.
“Noble Lady Mei is nearly five months pregnant. How could we bear to force such a large child from the womb?
“There were rumors that the first child conceived after the Emperor’s accession would be especially blessed. I never cared for such superstitions before.
“But this time, I choose to believe it.
“This child carries great fortune. Surely it will survive this ordeal unharmed.”
Hongli still looked uncertain.
Steeling herself, Zhen Huan lowered her voice so only Hongli, Bai Ruiji, and Fuca Langhua could hear.
“If the worst truly comes to pass… then we will say that Noble Lady Mei delivered a stillborn child.
“Noble Lady Mei, even knowing that, do you still wish to keep this child?”
Bai Ruiji stared blankly at the silent Emperor.
She understood she had no other choice.
“Yes,” she said firmly. “I do. Even so, I want to keep my child.”
Zhen Huan turned to Hongli.
After a long moment, he finally nodded.
“Then we shall do as Mother says.”
“Very well. Help Noble Lady Mei and Noble Lady Yi back to their seats to rest.
“Wei Lin, examine them and see whether this shock has affected their pregnancies.”
Wei Lin immediately obeyed.
Zhen Huan’s expression hardened.
“Now we must deal with the most important matter of all.”
She looked around the room.
“Who is responsible for this?”
At those words, Bai Ruiji lifted her head.
Rage burned openly in her eyes.
Whoever had harmed her child—she would make them pay with their life.