He no longer appeared as he did when he first entered the hall, nor did he retain the defiance he showed when questioning Wen Yuesheng. His expression was dark and brooding, and he remained silent.

After two military doctors examined the emperor, they exchanged a glance and spoke simultaneously:
“Your Grace, the Emperor has indeed been poisoned with Gu.”

One of the military doctors, who had recently conducted extensive research on Gu poison, cast a cold glance at Shi Huaiyou and said harshly, “The Emperor is deeply afflicted by Gu poison, yet you claimed he had a stroke.”

“Shi Huaiyou, are you going to say this was a diagnostic error?”

The hall fell into dead silence.

If it were just Zhou Manniang saying this, it might have been doubted.

But now, three people had concluded that the Emperor had been poisoned with Gu.

And this was only the beginning.

After the two military doctors spoke, several imperial physicians were summoned into the hall.

These physicians were ones Wen Yuesheng had specifically requested—doctors who were not favored in the palace, rarely given the chance to see the Emperor, or those who had offended Shi Huaiyou and were sidelined.

What they had in common was that they had seldom examined the Emperor in recent years; any contact had been many years ago.

Following Wen Yuesheng’s instructions, they took turns examining the Emperor’s pulse.

Five imperial physicians in total, and all concluded that the Emperor’s pulse was abnormal.

Some lacked the skill to pinpoint the cause, others identified poison, and a few described it as something both like and unlike poison.

Yet, they all agreed on one point: the Emperor’s illness was no coincidence and certainly not a stroke.

Under these circumstances, it became almost certain that Shi Huaiyou had lied.

But what shook the ministers even more than this revelation were Zhou Manniang’s next words.

Looking grim, Zhou Manniang said coldly, “This isn’t just one type of Gu poison.”

“Upon examination, it was found that the Emperor currently has at least two types of Gu poison in his body—one lodged in his brain, the other near his heart.”

Both locations were particularly fatal.

Moreover, the Emperor had been afflicted for a long time, causing severe damage to his internal organs.

Zhou Manniang took a deep breath and continued, “The Gu in the Emperor’s brain is a rare type known as the child-mother Gu. The longer it stays in the brain, the more it affects the person’s emotions.”

“So the Emperor’s collapse was caused by this Gu in his brain?” asked the Duke of Zhen, his face pale.

Zhou Manniang shook her head. “Not entirely. Since it’s a child-mother Gu, there must be a mother Gu somewhere. The child Gu in the Emperor’s body can remain dormant most of the time, but once it comes into contact with the mother Gu, it will influence the Emperor’s mind.”

“Anyone afflicted by the child Gu will unconsciously obey the commands of whoever holds the mother Gu.”

The hall erupted in shock.

Since more than two months ago, ministers had noticed that the Emperor’s actions had become drastically different from before.

No wonder everything seemed so abnormal.

The Emperor’s behavior had oscillated between extremes—at times rational, at other times utterly bizarre.

It turned out he had been poisoned with Gu months ago and manipulated by the mother Gu to make those outrageous decisions.

Grand Secretary Lu Ge’s face was particularly ashen.

From the beginning, it was the Emperor’s decision to grant Wen Yuesheng military authority.

The Emperor had also supported the expedition to the borderlands. Given this, it made no sense for the Emperor to undermine Wen Yuesheng later by making a series of poor decisions.

Replacing the general arbitrarily was one thing, but cutting military supplies was downright absurd.

These actions seemed deliberately designed to bypass the ministers and execute some hidden agenda.

The Emperor was suspicious by nature, but not to such an irrational extent.

If someone had intentionally manipulated him, however, it all made sense.

Once Wen Yuesheng left, the court relied on Yan Ling. With certain matters remaining under wraps, they had targeted the Emperor instead!

Such an act wasn’t merely reckless; it was dragging the court and the entire Great Hui into chaos.

The realization enraged the ministers.

Whoever orchestrated this clearly cared nothing for the court or the people. Their only aim was to seize power!

“Can the Gu poison be cured?” asked Grand Secretary Lü.

Zhou Manniang looked grave. “The poison can be cured, but such malicious Gu poison causes severe damage to the body.”

She left the rest unsaid.

Given the Emperor’s current condition, with his internal organs ravaged by the poison, how long he could survive remained uncertain.

A heavy atmosphere enveloped the side hall of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Wen Yuesheng’s expression remained unchanged.

As Zhou Manniang and the two military doctors worked together to detoxify the Emperor, she calmly said, “Extract the Gu worms alive.”

Having studied all of Vice-General Hao Zhou’s research on Gu poison, she knew the methods to expel them.

The Emperor’s deteriorating condition meant the Gu worms were still active.

Extracting them alive would not be difficult.

Zhou Manniang acknowledged the instruction and, together with the military doctors, began the procedure.

Meanwhile, the ministers focused their attention on the Emperor lying on the dragon bed.

At that moment, Wen Yuesheng turned her icy gaze to Shi Huaiyou and ordered, “Detain him.”

Given the testimonies of so many medical professionals, it was clear that Shi Huaiyou was complicit.

Additionally, several imperial physicians under his influence, especially those responsible for the Emperor’s regular checkups, were also implicated.

These physicians, all students of Shi Huaiyou, had deliberately falsified the Emperor’s health records.

The evidence was damning, their crimes enough to warrant execution.

When Shi Huaiyou’s disciples were dragged into the hall, bruised and battered, they trembled with fear but stuck to their claims that they acted alone.

Severe interrogation yielded no further information.

Angered, the ministers pressed for the mastermind to be exposed.

But Shi Huaiyou remained defiant.

Believing his advanced age would shield him from severe punishment, he resolved to endure.

However, his confidence shattered when Wen Yuesheng said coldly, “If he won’t confess, drag him out and execute him.”

Her tone was so indifferent it sent chills through everyone present.

The soldiers immediately moved to carry out her order.

Shi Huaiyou’s face turned pale, but he swallowed whatever words he intended to say.

The ministers were left deeply unsettled, knowing this crucial lead had been severed.

At that moment, Zhou Manniang and her team successfully extracted two writhing Gu worms.

Placing them in an iron box, Zhou Manniang handed it to Wen Yuesheng.

Then, Wen Yuesheng ordered, “Bring Consort Liang here.”

“Consort Liang!?” The people in the hall were all taken aback.

King Jingkang abruptly raised his head, his lifeless eyes fixed on her like a hawk.

“This… does the princess mean that the Emperor’s poisoning by Gu is related to Consort Liang?” a court official asked with a frown. “What evidence does the princess have to conclude that Consort Liang is behind this?”

“Using Gu insects to control the Emperor must have a motive. In the past few months, no one in the entire harem has received as much favor as Consort Liang,” another official replied coldly after some thought.

This statement was accurate. Over the past few months, the greatest beneficiary had been Consort Liang, who had risen from the cold palace to become the Emperor’s favored consort.

Since the Emperor ascended the throne, there had been no precedence for such a rapid rise in favor.

If the Emperor still harbored feelings for her, it might have been understandable. But when she was first sent to the cold palace, the Emperor did not spare her a thought.

Why, then, would he inexplicably bring her out and shower her with favor later?

Yan Wei raised his eyes and looked at Gao Quan. “May I ask, Eunuch Gao, when Jiang Gaoran previously submitted a memorial to reduce military supplies, was anyone else present by the Emperor’s side?”

At these words, everyone in the hall reacted.

The proposal to reduce military supplies was absurd, something the Emperor would never agree to. This indicated that the Emperor must have been manipulated by the Gu.

And before Jiang Gaoran was executed, he never revealed the location of the Gu queen.

This strongly suggested that the queen Gu was not with him but elsewhere.

Jiang Gaoran had only been a pawn in the grander scheme.

Gao Quan’s face darkened. He replied, “When Minister Jiang came that day, the Emperor dismissed all the attendants.”

As the Emperor’s confidant and the overseer of his attendants, Gao Quan could not escape blame for such an incident.

His expression turned increasingly grim as he recalled the details.

The court officials frowned but listened as Gao Quan continued after a brief pause: “However, I do recall that on one occasion, before Minister Jiang met the Emperor in private, Consort Liang visited the imperial study.”

“Not just that day—she also visited early this morning.”

He paused momentarily before adding, “Last night, Consort Liang was the one serving the Emperor. Before the morning court session, the Emperor left from her palace.”

“What’s more, to accommodate Consort Liang, the Emperor brought her to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and had her wait in the side hall, intending to accompany him to the imperial study after the court session!”

The hall fell silent.

While it was known that the Emperor had been favoring Consort Liang recently, no one had anticipated it would reach such an extent.

In the past, even the favored Consort Yan did not overstep into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Under such circumstances, it was hard to believe that Consort Liang was unrelated to the incident.

At this point, many realized the wisdom in Princess Wen Yuesheng’s earlier command to prevent anyone from leaving the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The Emperor’s abnormal behavior likely began before the morning court session when someone with the queen Gu manipulated him.

Now that the situation was exposed, the culprit would likely try to destroy the queen Gu to erase evidence.

Securing the Hall of Supreme Harmony ensured the secret would not leak.

In haste, the culprit likely wouldn’t have had time to dispose of the Gu insects.

“Princess, Consort Liang has been brought in.” With everything clear, all eyes turned toward the entrance.

When Wen Yuesheng spoke of stalling, she truly meant it.

Despite spending years in luxury—even in the cold palace, where her status as the mother of a prince shielded her from hardship—Consort Liang had grown increasingly arrogant after regaining favor.

Her lifestyle now rivaled that of the Empress, even her crimson palace attire reflecting imperial majesty.

Now, meticulously adorned, she was unceremoniously dragged into the hall like cargo by soldiers sent by Wen Yuesheng.

Furious, Consort Liang cursed, “I am the Emperor’s consort! Wen Yuesheng, are you mad to allow these lowly people to touch me!?”

“Such insolence!”

Even nearly a year in the cold palace hadn’t humbled her; instead, it seemed to fuel her arrogance.

Despite her humiliating treatment, she showed no fear, continuously hurling insults.

Without sparing her a glance, Wen Yuesheng coldly ordered, “Search her palace thoroughly, and have two maids search her body.”

“Yes!” The attendants obeyed.

Before Consort Liang could react, she was dragged into a side chamber for a body search.

The area near the dragon bed was concealed, visible only to attendants.

Consort Liang felt utterly humiliated and shouted, “Wen Yuesheng, who gave you the audacity to treat me this way? When the Emperor awakens, I will—”

“Silence her.”

Her sharp voice echoed through the side hall, irritating the court officials outside.

Without arguing, Wen Yuesheng had her gagged.

Prince Jingkang’s face darkened as he sneered, “Princess Sining, you wield such authority.”

Consort Liang was his birth mother. Wen Yuesheng’s treatment of her was a direct slap to his face.

“With no evidence and mere speculation, you dare act so recklessly. Wen Yuesheng, do you even respect the royal family?”

Xiao Jin retorted coldly, “If there’s no evidence, why is Second Brother so agitated? Or perhaps this isn’t solely Consort Liang’s doing—could Second Brother be involved too?”

Jingkang shot him a frosty glare. “Nothing has been proven. Fourth Brother, aren’t you being too hasty?”

Before he could finish, Prince Wei Yangwang mocked, “Just now, Second Brother kept addressing him as Father. But now you don’t seem concerned about Father’s health? Or is it that Second Brother only worries about himself?”

His words left Jingkang visibly furious.

“Oh, my memory fails me. Since Consort Liang is Second Brother’s birth mother, if she’s guilty, then surely you’re implicated too,” Weiyang added, his tone icy. “I am curious, Second Brother—where did you get those Gu insects?”

The side hall fell into an eerie silence.

Wei Yangwang’s face darkened.

The Emperor’s poisoning reminded him of certain events.

He detested the venomous, snake-like Jingkang far more than the fallen Ma family, who had once cursed him with infertility.

“Tell me, Second Brother,” Prince Wei Yangwang said emotionlessly, “did the late Ma family have any ties to you? Patricide and fratricide deserve the cruelest punishments, don’t you agree?”

The hall was deathly silent.