If it were useful to find the Southern Border Princess, Su Wan'er would surely have gone to her. But since someone had already targeted these young masters, would the princess help lift the curse?
"Is there really no other way besides this?" Su Wan'er asked persistently.
Imperial Physician Zhang knew that what he had just said was of little use, but he truly had no other solution.
"Maybe the other imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Academy will have a way," he said. Now they could only place their hopes on the academy.
This was a matter of great importance, and he didn't dare to take on the responsibility alone. If something went wrong, he would surely be held accountable.
Su Wan'er thought it made sense and ordered someone to go to the Imperial Medical Academy to summon physicians. Those who could cure the illness of the Prince of Luo would not only receive a generous reward but also a promotion.
As soon as this news spread, the imperial physicians in the academy sprang into action.
In no time, the outer chamber where the Prince of Luo was resting was filled with physicians who had come to examine him.
When the Empress Dowager heard that the Prince of Luo had fallen ill, she rushed over. From afar, she saw Su Wan'er and Si Junlin sitting in the room.
"Son, how is your younger brother?" the Empress Dowager asked Su Wan'er as she approached.
"Mother?" Su Wan'er and Si Junlin quickly stood up and bowed to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager wasn't concerned about the bowing. Her mind was on the Prince of Luo's condition. "Don't bow for now. Junlin, quickly tell me how the Prince of Luo is."
Su Wan'er helped her sit on a chair and then said gently, "Mother, please rest assured. Your younger son will be fine. Look, there are so many physicians here."
All the physicians had knelt down to pay their respects when the Empress Dowager entered. Now, as her gaze fell on them, they all said in unison, "Your servants will do our utmost to treat the Prince of Luo and will surely live up to the expectations of the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress."
"Then why are you still bowing? Hurry up and start treating him!" the Empress Dowager said angrily.
Seeing the Empress Dowager's anxious expression, Su Wan'er couldn't help but recall how her own mother had taken care of her when she was ill.
Looking at the Empress Dowager's profile, her resentment towards the latter diminished a little.
She stepped forward and comforted the Empress Dowager, "Mother, you should go back and rest first. I will send someone to inform you of the Prince of Luo's condition every hour. Your health is important. Don't overwork yourself. Otherwise, if your younger son recovers but you fall ill, it will only worry him more."
After hearing Su Wan'er's words, the Empress Dowager finally relented. But before leaving, she instructed, "You must thoroughly investigate who is behind this and caused Luo'er to end up like this."
"Yes, Mother," Su Wan'er replied respectfully and escorted the Empress Dowager out.
To avoid disturbing the physicians' diagnosis, Su Wan'er and Si Junlin went to the garden.
"Is this really related to the Southern Border envoys?" Si Junlin asked Su Wan'er as he looked at the withered lotuses in the garden.
Su Wan'er sighed and turned to look at Si Junlin. "This is just my own speculation. Although many pieces of evidence point to the Southern Border envoys, I always feel that something is amiss."
"Really..." Si Junlin murmured.
After some hesitation, Su Wan'er finally voiced her thoughts. "If possible, I would like to ask Your Majesty to dispatch the Celestial Phantom Guards."
"You... know about them?" Si Junlin was startled by her words.
If the Golden Secret Agents were the best among the imperial secret agents, then the Celestial Phantom Guards were the best of the best. This was a secret known only to the emperors of past dynasties, and they dared not use them easily because they were the last line of defense for the royal family.
He didn't know... no, he seemed to know why Su Wan'er knew about them. After all, she was the current emperor.
"Since you know about the Celestial Phantom Guards, you should understand what kind of existence they are. Even I dare not use them lightly. Now that you are the emperor, it's understandable that you want to use them. But you must tell me what you intend to have them do," Si Junlin asked seriously. This was indeed a matter of great importance, but he didn't think it was necessary to use the Celestial Phantom Guards.
Su Wan'er didn't hide anything. The idea of using the Celestial Phantom Guards had just popped into her head. After all, many things were new to her. She had only wanted to solve the Prince of Luo's problem as soon as possible to reassure the Empress Dowager, but she didn't know what the consequences would be.
"Imperial Physician Zhang said that the person who tied the bell should untie it. Since we suspect that the poison was administered by the Southern Border envoys, we naturally can't go to them. Among our people, there is a Southern Border Saintess. I hope the Celestial Phantom Guards can secretly bring Xiaojiu back and also protect her," Su Wan'er said.
"This kind of thing doesn't require the Celestial Phantom Guards," Si Junlin thought for a while and then said to Su Wan'er. "I know you're worried that the other secret agents won't handle it well, but I'm their master, and I'm more familiar with their abilities than you are. If you really want to be on the safe side, just use the Golden Secret Agents."
With that, Si Junlin took out a golden secret agent token from his sleeve. "Take it. I won't be stingy."
Su Wan'er looked at Si Junlin in surprise. She didn't decline coyly. As she had said, this was a matter of great importance, and they could discuss other things after solving this problem.
Soon, the Golden Secret Agents received two orders from the emperor.
The first was to closely monitor the movements of the Southern Border envoys and the Southern Border Princess, and the second was to go to Nanhe County and escort Long Xiaojiu back.
For several days, the physicians racked their brains and used all their knowledge, but they could only use medicine to stabilize the Prince of Luo's condition and prevent his health from deteriorating further.
Long Xiaojiu returned to the palace on the third day after Su Wan'er gave the order.
The envoys from the Southern Border Kingdom were already preparing to leave, and the farewell banquet would be held in three days. Long Xiaojiu's return would determine whether these envoys would be sent back politely or be detained and punished.
After Su Wan'er explained the Prince of Luo's condition to her, Long Xiaojiu immediately said that she would do her best to help.
Then, she entered the room. As usual, Su Wan'er didn't follow. She just waited outside the room with Si Junlin.