“Quick! Summon the Imperial Physician!” Gao Quan shouted in alarm.

The entire court, including the hall where the emperor resided, descended into chaos.

Upon hearing Gao Quan’s command, a palace servant hurriedly turned to leave the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but before they could exit, a clear voice rang out: “Guards of the Imperial Hall, heed my command!”

At her command, rows of soldiers in uniform strides swiftly entered the hall.

The presence of so many soldiers instantly silenced the chaotic hall.

Prince Jingkang’s face darkened as he saw palace servants supporting the emperor, then turned to Wen Yue Sheng and angrily demanded, “Sining, what are you trying to do?”

“This is the Hall of Supreme Harmony! You’ve brought so many soldiers into the hall—are you planning treason?”

His gaze passed through the armored soldiers and landed on Wen Yue Sheng, who showed no reaction, merely issuing another cold command: “Guards, listen to me.”

Her pitch-black eyes betrayed no emotion. “Watch everyone in this hall. Until the imperial physicians arrive, no one is allowed to leave.”

Her words made Elder Lu and Wang Jin Zhi exchange a look.

A hint of alarm flashed through Wang Jin Zhi’s eyes.

He suspected certain absurd possibilities but dared not confirm them.

Elder Lü’s face darkened, but he said nothing.

The rest of the courtiers displayed varying reactions.

Prince Wei Yangwang glanced at the emperor and then at Wen Yuesheng, frowning. “Sining, are you suspecting something?”

“Suspecting something? The emperor’s condition clearly results from her reckless behavior!” Prince Jingkang sneered at Wen Yue Sheng. “Now you even try to control the court. Wen Yue Sheng, what exactly do you want?”

“What I want? We’ll know when the imperial physicians arrive, won’t we?” Xiao Jin’s face was cold as he raised his eyes to meet Jingkang’s glare.

Jingkang sneered. “Can’t you see the emperor fainted out of anger because of her? Or do you simply not care about the emperor at all?”

“My lord,” intervened the Duke of State, cutting off their argument before it escalated further. “Right now, the emperor’s health is paramount.”

Xiao Jin fell silent, taking a step back with the other courtiers and heading to the side chamber.

The emperor had been moved to the dragon bed in the side chamber by palace servants.

As they entered, a group of imperial physicians hurried in.

Wen Yuesheng stood at the doorway of the side chamber and ordered the soldiers beside her coldly, “Bring Manniang into the palace.”

“And summon the frontier doctors accompanying us on this journey.”

The faces of those nearby shifted drastically.

Many in the capital knew of a skilled healer, Man Niang, by Wen Yue Sheng’s side, who had even cured Lu Qinghuai.

Yet at such a critical moment, with the imperial physicians present, she still ordered for Man Niang to be brought in.

This unusual move did not go unnoticed.

Over recent days, some ministers had already noticed irregularities with the emperor’s health. Now their expressions turned grim.

The emperor had fainted suddenly, and all the senior imperial physicians had been summoned to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Among them, the most senior was Shi Huai You, the head of the Imperial Academy of Medicine.

Shi Huai You, an elderly physician, had already submitted his resignation to the emperor and planned to retire in a few days.

He could never have anticipated such a sudden incident involving the emperor.

Supported by fellow physicians, Shi Huai You entered the chamber with a grave expression.

The emperor’s condition was critical, and Shi Huai You paused only briefly before beginning the examination.

Gao Quan, drenched in sweat, impatiently asked as soon as Shi Huai You finished, “Doctor Shi, how is His Majesty?”

Shi Huai You kept his face stern and did not immediately respond.

After a moment of silence, he said, “His Majesty fainted due to a severe emotional shock.”

The hall fell silent at his words.

All eyes turned to Wen Yuesheng.

Everyone in the court knew how the emperor had reached such a state.

“His pulse is highly unstable, and immediate acupuncture is required,” Shi Huai You said gravely. “If delayed further, it could endanger His Majesty’s life.”

The officials’ expressions darkened further.

Wang Jin Zhi frowned. “His Majesty has always been in excellent health. How could his condition suddenly worsen so severely?”

“Are you doubting me, Minister Wang?” Shi Huai You replied coldly. “When one is overcome with anger, illness can strike easily! His Majesty is already showing symptoms of a stroke.”

No sooner had he spoken than the emperor, lying on the dragon bed, began to convulse violently.

Wang Jin Zhi’s expression soured, and the officials grew increasingly uneasy.

A stroke was not uncommon, but its severity was well understood.

If the emperor were to meet an untimely fate today, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“If that’s the case, then please proceed with the treatment immediately,” Gao Quan urged without hesitation.

The physicians handed Shi Huai You his trusted set of golden needles.

Glancing around the room, Shi Huai You said gravely, “The emperor’s condition is critical, and I cannot guarantee success. Acupuncture requires absolute quiet.”

“Therefore, I must ask everyone to leave the chamber until the procedure is complete, after which you may return to check on His Majesty.”

The ministers hesitated briefly.

Seeing the array of needles, they found the request reasonable and said nothing.

Gao Quan quickly nodded, preparing to escort the ministers out.

But many of them hesitated, their eyes shifting between Wen Yue Sheng and the royal princes.

Prince Wei Yangwang was the first to agree. “Very well, I’ll wait outside.”

Xiao Jin’s expression remained dark and somber; he did not offer any definitive response.

Gao Quan, seeing that both Wen Yuesheng and Xiao Jin remained unmoved, couldn’t help but urge, “Princess?”

Before he could finish, Wen Yuesheng replied coldly, “I’ve already made it clear—no one is allowed to leave this hall, not even one step.”

The side chamber fell into an immediate silence.

Prince Jingkang’s face darkened, and his voice turned icy. “Wen Yuesheng, did you not hear the imperial physician’s words?”

“Father is still in grave danger! If the acupuncture is delayed and any accident occurs, how will you answer for it?” He emphasized each word. “Will you stake your life on it?”

His words had just fallen when Wen Yuesheng’s cold gaze landed on him.

Since Wen Yuesheng had joined the court, she and Prince Jingkang had little interaction. This was their first direct confrontation.

The moment their gazes met, Prince Jingkang’s expression instantly soured.

His threats did not faze Wen Yuesheng in the slightest. Moreover, with the emperor unconscious, as the commander of the imperial guards, the palace troops only followed her orders.

If she forbade retreat, no one dared to retreat. The ministers present had no way of bypassing the palace troops to leave the hall.

As the argument grew heated, Shi Huaiyou suddenly stood up. His face was grim, and he raised his voice, “This illness is dire. If we delay any longer, the emperor’s life will be at risk.”

“If anyone hesitates or obstructs further, should this old servant conclude that someone wishes ill upon His Majesty?”

Though Shi Huaiyou’s words were addressed to all the ministers, his gaze was fixed on Wen Yue Sheng.

The matter concerned the emperor’s life, and no one dared to be careless. Under Shi Huaiyou’s pressure, some began to plead with Wen Yue Sheng to relent.

“Princess, regardless of your suspicions, His Majesty’s safety should take precedence.”

“Indeed, we should vacate the side chamber for now. If you won’t allow us to leave, perhaps we can wait in the main hall.”

Shi Huaiyou cast a cold glance at Wen Yue Sheng. In this situation, any reasonable official would step back.

But the person before him remained unmoved.

Staring directly at Shi Huaiyou, she suddenly raised her hand.

With a wave, several soldiers entered the chamber.

Shi Huaiyou’s face changed. “Princess, what is the meaning of this?”

Was she mad? In such dire circumstances, she dared to block him still?

Wen Yuesheng remained expressionless as she declared, “Until the military physicians arrive, guard the emperor’s bedside. No one is allowed to administer medicine or acupuncture.”

Shi Huaiyou froze momentarily before his face turned grim. “This servant acts solely for His Majesty’s safety, yet the Princess repeatedly obstructs me.”

“In such a situation, one cannot help but wonder—does the Princess wish to see His Majesty recover?”

The weight of his accusation was immense.

After he spoke, the hall plunged into an eerie silence, with no one daring to respond.

“Princess.” Amid the tense quiet, a soldier strode briskly into the chamber and whispered, “Miss Zhou and the military physicians have arrived.”

Wen Yuesheng had just returned to the capital, and everyone from her battalion had accompanied her.

Apart from generals like Zhang Yulin, who led troops to the military camp, most of the others went to the princess’s residence.

Before entering the capital, Wen Yue Sheng received a message from Yan Ling. Thus, when she entered the palace today, she brought no one except Zhou Manniang and two military physicians.

When she entered the palace, they waited at the gates.

Thus, as soon as word spread, Zhou Manniang and the military physicians arrived.

In the silent hall, Wen Yuesheng cast a cold glance at Shi Huaiyou.

Noting his unwavering gaze, she observed a brief flicker of emotion in his eyes upon hearing that her military physicians had entered.

As Zhou Manniang and the military physicians stepped into the hall, Wen Yuesheng coldly stated, “No need to rush, Lord Shi. We will soon see who among us truly wishes His Majesty ill.”

Shi Huaiyou sneered but said nothing. Instead, he raised his voice. “How commendable of the Princess to prioritize her ambitions even in moments of peril.”

He attributed Wen Yue Sheng’s actions to a desire for personal credit.

Yet he did not stop Zhou Manniang from approaching the emperor to check his pulse.

Prepared in advance, Zhou Manniang carried a medical kit.

Under the watchful eyes of the court officials, she remained composed, placing her hand on the emperor’s pulse, carefully examining his eyelids and tongue coating.

When her hand touched the emperor’s hair, her expression abruptly changed.

She conducted a more thorough examination than Shi Huaiyou, but her diagnostic speed was notably faster.

Shi Huaiyou observed coldly, his expression shifting when he saw her repeatedly examine the emperor’s head.

Before he could voice any doubts, Zhou Manniang turned to Wen Yue Sheng. “Princess.”

Her face grim, she declared, “The emperor has been poisoned by Gu.”

The words caused the officials to react with shock.

“What?”

“Wasn’t it a stroke? How could it be Gu poisoning?”

Many looked at Zhou Manniang with disbelief and fear.

Prince Jingkang’s face darkened. “Lord Shi already diagnosed a stroke. Without evidence, how can you claim Gu poisoning after only a cursory examination?”

“You’re young, with limited medical experience. Speaking such nonsense—do you value your life at all?”

His tone was harsh, and his sharp gaze fixed on Zhou Manniang.

Under his glare, Zhou Manniang frowned.

During the border wars, Wen Yuesheng had killed a lieutenant who poisoned Lu Qinghuai with Gu and captured Wuge alive. They obtained medical books left by the lieutenant.

These books were almost entirely about Gu poison.

Zhou Manniang studied them thoroughly and shared them with the military physicians accompanying her.

Thus, despite Prince Jingkang’s accusations, her expression remained unchanged.

She turned to the two military physicians who had come with her.

“Please assist in verifying whether the emperor has been poisoned by Gu.”

Unlike Zhou Manniang, these two military physicians had once been imperial physicians.

Later pardoned by the emperor to serve with the army, they became top military doctors under Lu Zhenguo.

Their medical skills and experience were exceptional.

One had even conducted extensive research on Haozhou Gu poison during his time at the border.

The two stepped forward to examine the emperor. One checked his pulse, while the other examined his skull.

Their expressions grew increasingly grave as the examination continued.

Likewise, as their diagnoses prolonged, Shi Huaiyou’s face darkened further.