Chapter 167 Testing
The imperial guards stood in a row, forming a human wall around the Imperial Hospital.

The officials who came to visit the patient and inquire about his health stood outside the gate of the Imperial Medical Bureau in silence with solemn expressions, constantly craning their necks to look inside the door.

Under the eaves of the corridor, the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, and several officials from the Imperial Clan Court were kneeling there.

Dai Quan came out.

The prince and others stood up together:
“How about it?”

“Are you awake?”

Dai Quan made an apologetic expression to the prince and others, and strode out of the Imperial Hospital.

Everyone looked at each other and knelt down again.

The officials guarding the gate opened a passage.

Pairs of suspicious eyes guided Dai Quan as he ran through the crowd toward the Da Nei Pharmacy.

Li Hu came hurriedly.

When he ran into Dai Quan, Li Hu grabbed him and asked anxiously, “What’s going on?”

Dai Quan stopped in his tracks and nearly fell down. He glared at Li Hu and said hurriedly, “My living ancestor! If you delay the treatment of the second prince, both you and I will lose our heads!” Then he pulled the corner of his clothes from Li Hu’s hand and left without looking back.

Looking at Dai Quan’s receding back, Li Hu’s face suddenly became serious.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and the corner of Li Hu’s robe was blown up.

Li Hu came to his senses and turned to walk towards the crowd outside the Imperial Hospital.

Seeing Li Hu coming, Jia Yucun walked over quickly.

Li Hu looked at him: “What’s going on?”

Jia Yucun: “I don’t know the details, but I heard that someone put poison in the wine that the Second Prince drank.”

Li Hu raised his eyebrows. Is there any wine to drink in the clan house?

Jia Yucun looked around and lowered his voice: “I heard that the wine is not from the clan house.”

Not from the clan house?

Li Hu’s eyes flashed. Could it be that this was a self-torture trick directed and performed by the second prince and his mother?
There was a sound of footsteps. Li Hu turned around and saw Zhongjing Hou Shi Ding striding towards him with a knife slung over his shoulder.

When passing by Li Hu, Shi Ding glanced at him intentionally or unintentionally.

Li Hu was slightly stunned. What does this mean?
Jia Yucun sighed, “I hope the Second Prince is safe and sound. Otherwise, His Majesty will be furious and may launch a major investigation, and even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will be implicated.”

Li Hu nodded.

The wind was getting stronger and stronger, making the robes of the officials standing outside the door rustle.

Li Hu looked at the prince kneeling there. Could it be the prince?
After a long time, Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding came out from the main hall and walked towards the gate.

Everyone’s eyes turned to him.

Shi Ding’s face was stern without a trace of smile. He didn’t even look at them. He walked straight to Li Hu and said, “General Li, His Majesty is waiting for you. Please follow me.” Then he turned and walked towards the gate.

Li Hu was stunned for a moment, then looked at Shi Ding who walked into the gate, and had to follow him.

With a loud “bang”, there was a commotion in front of the Imperial Hospital.

Seeing Li Hu walk in, the Fourth Prince subconsciously looked at the Crown Prince. He was startled. The Crown Prince’s cheeks were red, so red that it was scary!
The fourth prince blinked and lowered his head.

In the hall, Director Li of the Imperial Hospital and several attending physicians were discussing something.

Shi Ding gently lifted the curtain and motioned Li Hu to go in.

Li Hu nodded and walked in.

As soon as he stepped through the door, Li Hu was stunned.

The second prince lay on the bed with his eyes closed and his teeth clenched. Emperor Yongchang sat on a chair beside the bed with his eyes closed, his face so pale.

Li Hu was stunned for a moment, but still walked over lightly: “Your Majesty.”

After a long time, Emperor Yongchang slowly opened his eyes, looked at the Second Prince who had his eyes closed, and then slowly looked at Li Hu: “The wine was bought by the eunuch in charge of the Xianfei Palace from a restaurant on Chongwenmenli Street.”

Li Hu lowered his head slightly, waiting for the emperor to continue.

Emperor Yongchang looked at Li Hu and said, “Marquis Zhongjing checked and found out that the owner of the restaurant is surnamed Li.” A royal family member? Li Hu was startled and looked at the emperor.

Emperor Yongchang: “Tell me, what should I do?”

Li Hu thought for a moment and replied, “This is a matter concerning the royal family, so I dare not speak rashly.”

Emperor Yongchang was startled at first, then he looked at him scrutinizingly and said word by word: “The name of that restaurant is ‘Taihe Tower’.”

Li Hu was startled again: “I have never been there, so I am not sure.”

Emperor Yongchang stared closely into Li Hu’s eyes, trying his best to discern the truth from his expression.

This look made Li Hu feel uncomfortable, but he did not avoid it. He met his gaze and asked tentatively, “Your Majesty.”

Emperor Yongchang was still suspicious and stared at him closely: “Do you really not understand, or are you pretending to be confused in front of me?”

Li Hu was stunned for a moment, then looked at the emperor sincerely: “I don’t understand.”

Emperor Yongchang stopped looking at him and glanced at Shi Ding, who was still half outside the door, before continuing, “Taihe Tower is your property.”

Shi Ding understood and stepped out.

Li Hu was stunned.

Emperor Yongchang: “I believe this matter has nothing to do with you.”

Li Hu came to his senses and knelt down quickly: “Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I will repay your grace with my life.”

Emperor Yongchang stretched out his hand and gave him a light support: “Get up.”

Li Hu: “Yes.” He answered, nodded again, and then stood up.

Emperor Yongchang: “I believe you. I did not ask Marquis Zhongjing to send people to seal Taihe Tower. Go and find out the truth about this matter for me.”

Li Hu did not respond immediately. He thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, please ask Marquis Zhongjing to hand over the eunuch in charge to me for interrogation.”

Emperor Yongchang was silent for a moment, then said, “As ordered.”

Suddenly, there was a “thump” sound outside.

Then came the exclamation of the Grand Master: “Oh no! The Third Prince has fainted!”

Emperor Yongchang stood up suddenly and walked out hurriedly.

Li Hu glanced at the second prince lying on the bed, then followed him out.

Da Zongzheng was kneeling on the ground and embracing the third prince, while Li Yuanzheng was kneeling on one knee beside him to take the third prince’s pulse.

Emperor Yongchang looked at the Third Prince, then said to the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince, “Get up.”

The fourth prince: “Thank you, father.” He kowtowed respectfully and then climbed up.

The prince still knelt there, motionless.

Li Hu sensed something was wrong and hurried over, calling softly, “Your Highness the Crown Prince,” while reaching out to help him.

“So hot!”

Li Hu was startled, and quickly reached out his hand to touch his forehead, and was even more shocked: “The prince has a high fever!”

Emperor Yongchang was also startled and shouted, “Call the imperial physician! Call the imperial physician quickly!”

Several attending physicians gathered around.

Li Hu picked up the prince and walked into the main hall.

Several attending physicians followed in hurriedly.

Emperor Yongchang also followed in hurriedly.

After a chaotic commotion, the crown prince, the second prince and the third prince were all lying in the imperial hospital.

After looking at Li Hu’s receding back, Emperor Yongchang turned to look at Shi Ding and said, “The second son’s situation is very dangerous. It shouldn’t be a self-torture trick. Li Hu doesn’t seem to be lying.”

Shi Ding paused and said, “Perhaps Li Hu can get something out of that little eunuch.”

Emperor Yongchang nodded and said, “This kid always brings me surprises.” After that, he turned and walked into the gate of the Imperial Hospital.

Shi Ding glanced at Li Hu’s gradually disappearing back, then turned around and followed him in. Just now in the wing room, although Li Hu had his back to him, his position was very clever, and he was obviously on guard against him.
(End of this chapter)