Chapter 1404: Chapter 1382: Not Someone Else
Manbao didn’t nod, but she also didn’t shake her head. Bai Shan, who was used to her ways, drew his own conclusion—that must be it.
Bai Shan couldn’t resist his curiosity, "What kind of poison is that, so potent that even Director Xiao and the others didn’t detect it?"
Manbao carefully described the appearance of that stone, and then said, "It’s said that if you live near that stone, you’ll be poisoned even if you aren’t directly exposed to its light. Gradually, you’ll grow weaker, might have nosebleeds, lose hair, and then unknowingly weaken until you die."
Bai Shan gaped, "It’s that toxic?"
Manbao nodded, "This poison can’t even be diagnosed, so even a doctor who sees the stone can’t determine if it’s a poisonous stone."
"With poison this potent, how will you explain that you know the antidote?" Bai Shan said. "You can’t exactly say your father gave it to you, can you?"
Manbao said, "I’m troubled, this antidote is hard to make. I can’t produce it right now; I can only use what’s available."
Bai Shan’s eyes twinkled as he said, "I have an idea. Tell me about the poison’s properties, and I’ll concoct a formula that no one else can come up with."
Manbao blinked, deep in thought, "I’ll have to wait until I’ve learned more to tell you."
The two reached an understanding.
Seeing her still looking worried, Bai Shan asked, "Is there anything else?"
Manbao tapped her toes and said nothing.
Bai Shan reached out to entwine her fingers, "Come on, what are you holding back for between us?"
Manbao muttered, "How did you know I had something to say?"
"Since the Crown Prince’s poison now has an antidote, why are you worrying?" Bai Shan said, "Just now at the table there were so many dishes you love, yet you only ate a bowl of rice."
Manbao realized she hadn’t even noticed she was so troubled that she ate less.
She sighed deeply, "Don’t mention it, the Crown Prince, he..."
Manbao considered for a moment before saying, "Something’s off. When I first didn’t mention he was poisoned, although he was angry, he was still polite. But after he realized he was poisoned, he went mad..."
Though, he went on a rampage before he knew he was poisoned, yet after learning about it, he was ironically quiet, sitting there without a word, seemingly normal.
Yet, Manbao felt that a rampant Crown Prince was safer, but a silent Crown Prince sitting on the ground was far more terrifying.
Carefully glancing out the window first, Manbao then quietly detailed the Crown Prince’s changes and her feelings from the day.
"What unsettled me the most were the things the Crown Princess said when she sent me off," Manbao whispered, "I feel like the Crown Princess is intentionally distancing herself from me. She used to be so affectionate; every time I left the palace she’d give me something, even if not fabrics, she’d have the kitchen prepare some delicious food for me. She was particularly thoughtful."
Manbao lowered her voice, "But this time, she specifically instructed Eunuch Wu not to escort me."
Although it seemed a bit self-centered, Manbao felt the Crown Princess’s actions seemed to be protecting her.
But previously, the Crown Princess almost wanted to announce to the world that Manbao was someone from the Eastern Palace, sailing in the same boat as the Crown Prince, treating her with the utmost favor. What person, or what matter, could be worth the Crown Princess’s fear?
Manbao lifted her gaze, her big eyes seriously looking at Bai Shan across from her, who just then lifted his eyes to meet hers.
They looked at each other, couldn’t help but swallow hard, their hearts a little scared, unsure if it was nervousness or fear, their little hearts thumping a few beats.
Bai Shan considered the situation of the Eastern Palace, couldn’t resist squeezing Manbao’s fingers, softly saying, "If distancing is to avoid implicating you, then the Eastern Palace might be planning something that could lead to its downfall, which could implicate even a doctor like you who treats people."
"Otherwise, it’s the Prince’s household intending to frame you, setting the stage for something." Bai Shan stared at Manbao, asking, "Which one do you think it is?"
Manbao hesitated a moment before saying, "Although I’m young, I trust my instincts; I feel the Crown Prince and Crown Princess don’t seem like they’re trying to harm me. Even the Crown Prince seems deliberately distant."
Bai Shan nodded, "The Crown Prince might have many faults, but he’s still upright."
They sat across from each other, and Manbao couldn’t resist poking him with the fingers he grasped, asking, "So, what do you think we should do?"
Bai Shan lowered his gaze, "The Crown Prince’s problem is that he can’t have children. Are you really confident you can cure his infertility?"
Manbao said, "As long as he listens."
Bai Shan quietly suggested, "Then have the Crown Princess conceive before he acts. Once there’s a child, he naturally won’t think about taking action anymore."
He continued, "He wants to follow the path of the Prince of Yizhou because he believes he can’t have children and feels constantly pressured. If he doesn’t do something, he fears his life might be short. But as long as he has a child, his current predicament is solved."
Manbao nodded, and then sighed, "The Third Prince too, how can he be so evil? The Crown Prince is his blood brother after all, even if it’s a competition for the throne, to poison the Crown Prince is outrageous."
Bai Shan thought for a moment before shaking his head, "It might not have been the Third Prince who poisoned him."
"Eh?" Manbao asked, "Could it be other princes competing with the Crown Prince?"
Bai Shan tapped her nose and laughed, "The struggle for imperial power isn’t just between princes. Even if someone doesn’t want to compete, there will be those who push them to compete. How many people in our history books we read from childhood grew up saying they wanted to be emperor?"
He said, "Human nature begins simply, but as people grow up, they develop desires, either their own or those around them pushing them to move forward."
Manbao seemed to ponder something.
The youthful face on Bai Shan showed a depth beyond his years, "I think when the Crown Prince and the Third Prince were young, they too were once brotherly and harmonious."
From the front yard came bursts of laughter from Datou and the others, their joy so infectious that Manbao could feel it even in the study.
She couldn’t help but turn her head to look out the window toward the front yard, softly asking, "Will my siblings become like that in the future?"
Bai Shan glanced outside, fell silent for a moment, then said, "A good family tradition lasts longer, but even the longest tradition has its ups and downs."
He said, "Don’t just look at those prominent families in the Clan Record; just look at our Bai Family. Over centuries, there have been times of brotherly harmony, but also times of unworthy descendants. Otherwise, our cousins wouldn’t have branched out early, and my family wouldn’t have relocated to Qili Village. We can only manage ourselves; the future is in the hands of future generations."
Manbao also pulled back her thoughts.
Although both were intelligent, they were ultimately young, so their sadness and worry were fleeting, their hearts filled mostly with hope.
So they put these concerns aside after a brief conversation; their main worry remained the matter of the Crown Prince.