Lead poisoning, mercury poisoning

Zhu Yuntong arrived at the Imperial Medical Bureau. Some of the people there recognized him and came over to pay their respects.

Xu Shu, the bureau's highest official, hurried out to welcome him when he heard Zhu Yuntong had arrived.

"No need for formalities!"

Zhu Yuntong nodded slightly. "I've been having some problems with my health lately. I can't exercise-even walking quickly is too much. If I walk a little faster or make any large movements, I break out in a heavy sweat, my heart races, and I become utterly exhausted. I wanted you to take a look."

"Please sit, Your Highness."

Xu Shu did not think much of it yet.

He assumed Zhu Yuntong was simply weak and unable to exercise. He planned to perform a routine examination, then prescribe some medicine to strengthen his body. A little time on that should set him right.

Zhu Yuntong sat down and extended his hand, placing it before Xu Shu.

"I'll take your pulse first, Your Highness."

With practiced ease, Xu Shu placed his fingers over the pulse in Zhu Yuntong's left wrist.

After carefully feeling it for a while, he suddenly frowned.

"Your Highness, does your heart really race? Do you sweat heavily and tire easily?" Xu Shu wanted to confirm something.

"Yes!"

"I would like to examine Your Majesty's eyes."

"Of course!"

"Your eyes are fine. I would also like to examine Your Majesty's tongue."

"Ah..."

Zhu Yuntong cooperatively opened his mouth.

"A rapid pulse, dry mouth and tongue, a red tongue with a yellow coating. This..."

As Xu Shu spoke, Zhu Yuntong could distinctly feel the fingers on his wrist trembling.

It seemed something was seriously wrong with Zhu Yuntong's body.

"Yuanli, come and take a look."

Xu Shu called him over.

An assistant director named Dai Sigong came over from within the Imperial Medical Bureau to take Zhu Yuntong's pulse, then repeated the preceding examinations.

Yuanli was Dai Sigong's courtesy name.

"Junzuo, you take a look as well."

Xu Shu spoke again.

Another assistant director, Chen Junzuo, came over curiously at his words and took Zhu Yuntong's pulse, repeating the same procedure.

Once they had finished, Dai Sigong and Chen Junzuo both shuddered. Their legs went weak, and they nearly lost their footing.

Zhu Yuntong frowned. Judging by their extreme reactions, something really was wrong with his body-something so serious that even a director and two assistant directors could barely withstand the shock.

"Whatever is wrong with me, you three can tell me!"

"I'm mentally prepared," Zhu Yuntong said casually.

"Well..."

Xu Shu was already drenched in sweat. He wiped it away, unsure how to begin.

"A rapid pulse means your heart is beating faster than normal. A dry mouth and tongue, and a red tongue with a yellow coating, indicate heat toxins invading the body and accumulating within. In other words... in other words..." Chen Junzuo wanted to explain, but did not dare continue.

"In other words, I've been poisoned?"

Zhu Yuntong said it outright. He felt that being poisoned was perfectly normal.

Not being poisoned would have been abnormal.

The instant Xu Shu and the other two heard that, they dropped to their knees.

Although the others in the Imperial Medical Bureau had not heard what they were saying, they knelt as well when they saw the three men do so. Liu Liu was among them.

Only one young eunuch slipped away quietly, running exceptionally fast.

"What have I been poisoned with?"

Zhu Yuntong was not angry. This was within his expectations. "Stand up and speak."

Only then did they dare rise. Dai Sigong said, "One of two substances: blue gold or mercury. Perhaps both. The quantities are small at present, but prolonged accumulation is the danger. Fortunately, it hasn't been accumulating in Your Highness's body for long."

Mercury was quicksilver.

Zhu Yuntong remembered that blue gold meant lead.

In other words, this was mercury poisoning and lead poisoning.

According to Dai Sigong, it must have been accumulating for some time. But that incense had only arrived a few days ago, and he had never used it again afterward. It should not have poisoned him.

It wasn't just the incense. There are other things I don't know about that can cause mercury and lead poisoning! Cold sweat broke out along Zhu Yuntong's spine.

The Eastern Palace truly was unsafe.

He had been poisoned for no apparent reason, without the slightest idea how it had happened.

I have to move out. Whatever it takes, I have to find a way!

"What should I do?"

Zhu Yuntong asked.

He still did not panic. Since the substances had not been accumulating for long, he could still be saved.

The imperial physicians could identify what had poisoned him, which meant they should have the ability to remove the poison as well.

"Yuanli, Junzuo, prepare the medicine for His Highness."

"I'll go see His Majesty. Hurry."

"Please wait here a little while, Your Highness. We at the Imperial Medical Bureau can treat this."

With that, Xu Shu hurried out.

He wondered what they were supposed to do. If Butcher Zhu suddenly flew into a rage, he might slaughter every one of the imperial physicians.

He had just lost his son, and now his grandson had been poisoned. Butcher Zhu would surely go mad.

Rivers of blood might flow through the palace.

Terrifying. Utterly terrifying!

But he could not leave it unreported. Fortunately, they had a way to treat it.

Countless thoughts raced through Xu Shu's mind. The cold sweat on his back had soaked through his official robes. He quickened his pace, running toward the Hall of Martial Valor.

"There's no need to be nervous."

Zhu Yuntong sat quietly inside the Imperial Medical Bureau, as though he were not the one who had been poisoned. "Just prescribe the medicine as you normally would. Imperial Grandfather isn't unreasonable," he said calmly.

"Yes!"

Dai Sigong and Chen Junzuo were still drenched in sweat.

If they cured him, the emperor would certainly be reasonable. If they could not, reason would go out the window. Fortunately, this was treatable.

But why would their hands not stop trembling as they measured out the medicine?

Stay calm. I have to stay calm!

After morning court, Zhu Yuanzhang thought that those little brats had been back for quite some time. It was time they left.

There were plenty of matters awaiting their attention in their fiefs, especially for the princes stationed along the frontier. He feared trouble might arise at the borders if they stayed away too long, so he issued an edict ordering them to return to their fiefs within three days.

If they still refused to leave, he, Old Zhu, would drive them out.

They were finally going back. Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and the others understood that this departure would utterly sever their hopes of contending for the succession. They truly would have no further chance.

But there was nothing they could do. No one could change what their imperial father had decided.

Before leaving, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang went to the Hall of Martial Valor to bid Old Zhu farewell.

"Imperial Father, your son is leaving."

Zhu Shuang was genuinely reluctant to go. Once he returned to his fief, it would be a long time before he could see Zhu Yuanzhang again. "If you miss me, you can issue an edict summoning me back. No matter how far away I am or how many horses I ride to death, I'll return as quickly as I can."

"All right, all right. I know."

Zhu Yuanzhang was rather unaccustomed to seeing this little brat suddenly turn sentimental. He waved a hand. "Guard Xi'an properly. And treat your wife better. Biao used to protect you, but I won't be so forgiving now. If I find out you're still committing outrages, see if I don't peel the skin off you."

"I wouldn't dare anymore."

Zhu Shuang hurriedly lowered his head.

"Imperial Father!"

Zhu Gang hesitated. "There's something I don't know whether I should say."

Zhu Yuanzhang shot him a displeased look. "We're father and son. Whatever it is, say it outright. You're acting like a woman, wanting to speak but not daring to."

Zhu Gang said, "Then I'll say it. Lü Shi treats Yuntong and the other children badly. Imperial Father, you must not make Yunwen the heir. Otherwise, before he even kills us, Yuntong may already have been toyed with to death by them."