Chapter 381: The Bitter Third Prince
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The Third Prince had spent over a month in the care of the Flying Cloud Tribe, and his health had considerably improved. At the behest of the Emperor, arrangements were made to retrieve him and bring him back to the palace.
When reflecting on the Third Prince’s early life, it was apparent that he had faced considerable challenges. His mother, Imperial Concubine Chen, had been the young mistress of the General’s residence. During the Emperor’s time as Crown Prince, she had held the position of secondary consort.
Upon the Emperor’s ascension to the throne, the Crown Princess Consort became the Empress, and Imperial Concubine Chen was granted the title of
Noble Consort. However, unlike other alluring beauties, Imperial Concubine Chen had a more masculine and straightforward demeanor. She didn’t employ subtle charms, and, in any case, she did not fit the Emperor’s preferences.
Throughout her time in the palace, the Emperor had not favored her due to her connections with the General Manor. Nevertheless, after giving birth to the Third Prince, it seemed as though the Emperor regarded his duty as fulfilled and began to neglect her.
In a year, one could count the Emperor’s visits to her on one hand, and even when he did visit, he often did not stay the night. Imperial Concubine Chen couldn’t help but harbor resentment in her heart.
However, she dared not offend the formidable Emperor and could only vent her frustrations on the favored concubines. She relied on the General Manor’s influence and her status as the mother of the Third Prince, which made her actions somewhat arrogant.
This behavior only fueled the Emperor’s growing disfavor, and he had cautioned her repeatedly not to test his patience.
Meanwhile, the Empress watched Noble Consort Chen with a covetous eye. She was apprehensive about the General Manor’s influence and concerned that the Third Prince might pose a threat to the Crown Prince’s position as he grew older.
Taking advantage of an opportunity, the Empress successfully poisoned the Third Prince and pinned the blame on the favored concubine who had been tormented by Imperial Concubine Chen.
Although the Third Prince detected the poisoning early, it had already inflicted significant damage to his body. Even the palace physicians, in private discussions, expressed concerns that he might not survive to adulthood.
This distressing news naturally reached Imperial Concubine Chen, plunging her into deep sorrow as she believed she had harmed her own son. Watching her son’s frail form and hearing his constant moans, Imperial Concubine Chen wished she could punish herself for her negligence. She also regretted her mistreatment of the young concubine.
Taking advantage of the situation, the Empress spread rumors throughout the palace, attributing Imperial Concubine Chen’s misfortune to divine retribution.
Under the weight of self-blame and sorrow, Imperial Concubine Chen’s health deteriorated, providing the Empress with an opportunity to take her life.
This time, the Empress didn’t need to resort to poison. By simply providing foods that countered the medicinal herbs, she could gradually debilitate
Imperial Concubine Chen’s health, leaving no room for recovery.
The Empress executed her scheme with such precision that even if the General Manor harbored suspicions, they were unable to uncover the truth or hold the Empress accountable.
Furthermore, the Empress hailed from the powerful Public House, a family that held sway over the border military forces in South Vietnam. Their influence extended even to the military camps near the capital.
For the time being, the General Manor had no choice but to endure the situation. They desperately sought doctors and remedies, hoping that the Third Prince could recover.
By a stroke of luck, an esteemed monk in a temple claimed to possess a method to completely purge the poison from the Third Prince’s body. However, it required the Third Prince to reside in the temple for an extended period, as the process would take eight to ten years.
During this time, the Third Prince required a serene environment for his recovery.
Thus, he was placed in the monastery for his recuperation, an experience marked by considerable hardships.
The renowned monk’s method for detoxifying the poison involved a combination of medicinal treatment to restore his body’s vitality and martial arts training under the guidance of his master. This unique approach aimed to expel the poison from his body through a blend of medicine and martial expertise..