Who poisoned him?

Xu Shu looked up and immediately spotted the source of that terrifying killing intent.

It was Zhu Yuanzhang, striding straight toward him.

At the sight, he shuddered and hurried forward. "Your Majesty, you already know?"

Butcher Zhu's eyes and ears really were formidable!

He already knew about something that had only just happened at the Imperial Medical Bureau.

"The Third Imperial Grandson is all right. The poisoning isn't severe," Xu Shu hastily added, his will to survive stronger than ever.

Zhu Yuanzhang could tell that Xu Shu had rushed over to report the poisoning. Only upon hearing that it wasn't severe did the icy killing intent radiating from him subside a little, though it remained terrifying.

"Where's Yuntong?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked another question.

Xu Shu was already drenched in cold sweat, and now fresh sweat broke out. Lowering his head, he said, "His Highness is still at the Imperial Medical Bureau. Before coming here, I instructed the two deputy directors to prepare medicine for him."

"Send orders to Jiang Jue. Seal off the entire Eastern Palace."

The chill surrounding Zhu Yuanzhang eased a little more, and he strode toward the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Xu Shu had no choice but to follow beside him. After a moment's thought, he first explained Zhu Yuntong's current condition and the nature of the poison.

Zhu Di hesitated briefly, then followed as well.

Together, they headed straight for the Imperial Medical Bureau.

None of them even dared breathe too heavily. Old Zhu's presence was simply too overwhelming, his killing intent too fierce, as though he might slice them into a thousand pieces at any moment.

Zhu Yuntong remained at the Imperial Medical Bureau. The two deputy directors had prepared the medicine as quickly as possible and were now busy decocting it.

Everyone there had a slight tremble in their legs.

Of course they were afraid.

They had no idea whether Butcher Zhu would unleash another slaughter.

Zhu Yuntong was waiting idly when he suddenly felt the air turn cold.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Jixiang's voice rang out from outside just then.

No wonder it had suddenly grown cold. Zhu Yuanzhang had arrived, walking in with killing intent pouring off him.

With Butcher Zhu here bristling with murderous intent, how could it not get cold? Zhu Yuntong muttered inwardly.

At the announcement of Zhu Yuanzhang's arrival, everyone there knelt.

"Grandfather."

Zhu Yuntong had no choice but to go out and greet him. Seeing someone else behind him, he smiled. "Fourth Uncle, what brings you here too?"

"Are you all right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang anxiously took Zhu Yuntong's hand. "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good!"

Zhu Yuntong answered.

As long as he avoided strenuous exercise, he felt no different from a healthy person.

Chen Junzuo steeled himself and said, "Your Majesty, the Third Imperial Grandson's poisoning is not severe. We at the Imperial Medical Bureau can still treat it. His medicine is already being decocted."

"Go, then. Watch the fire."

Zhu Yuanzhang urged him at once.

As though a weight had been lifted from their shoulders, Chen Junzuo and Dai Sigong hurriedly rose and returned to the medicine.

"Xu Shu."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was icy. "Is he truly in no serious danger?"

"He truly isn't," Xu Shu assured him. "I would never dare deceive Your Majesty. Fortunately, the Third Imperial Grandson noticed his discomfort in time."

"Where might this poison have come from?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked again, his voice still icy.

"Well..."

Beads of sweat dripped from Xu Shu's forehead again.

There were things he truly dared not say. They might involve power struggles within the palace, and if he said too much, he feared he would meet a swift death.

"Place the Imperial Food Service under guard as well. Bring that old wretch Xu Xingzu here."

Zhu Yuanzhang could guess the reason without Xu Shu spelling it out.

It was either the Eastern Palace or the Imperial Food Service.

Only those places had the opportunity to poison Zhu Yuntong.

According to Xu Shu, it was also a slow-acting poison that accumulated in the body. Its effects would not manifest immediately, but as it built up over time, the body would gradually develop problems, ultimately leading to death.

At that thought, Zhu Yuanzhang's killing intent threatened to break loose again.

Whoever wanted his grandson dead would first have all nine branches of their clan slaughtered by him.

He would spare not a single one!

"Father!"

Zhu Di said, "It's a relief that Yuntong is all right, but what is he to do from now on? He isn't safe even inside the palace."

This was exactly the moment Zhu Yuntong had been waiting for. He hadn't expected Zhu Di to offer such timely assistance. He hurriedly said, "Grandfather, I still want to move out."

"Shut up!"

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhu Di, then said, "Sit down and don't move about. We'll discuss it after you've taken your medicine."

His presence was so commanding that Zhu Yuntong dared not disobey.

Zhu Di dared not speak again either, but stayed nearby, wanting to see what would happen next.

Before long, the Embroidered Guard brought Xu Xingzu over.

The entire Imperial Food Service had also been sealed off by the Embroidered Guard.

"Your Majesty!"

As soon as Xu Xingzu arrived, he dropped to his knees before Zhu Yuanzhang and kowtowed. "May I ask Your Majesty whether something has happened again? Have I done something wrong again?"

Whatever had happened, admitting fault first was the right move.

Besides, the Embroidered Guard had been fierce just now, and the Imperial Food Service had been placed under guard.

As the emperor's foremost cook, he had nearly been dragged away by the Embroidered Guard and was utterly panicked. Fortunately, they had brought him to the Imperial Medical Bureau rather than the Embroidered Guard's prison, but he was still terrified here!

Something serious must have happened.

"Yuntong has been poisoned. Did you know about it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked icily.

The cold in his voice seemed capable of freezing Xu Xingzu solid.

"What?"

Xu Xingzu cried in alarm. "Your Majesty, I know nothing about it! I can guarantee that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the meals I prepared for His Highness."

As he spoke, he kowtowed hard.

Hearing that Zhu Yuntong had been poisoned made him wish he were dead.

If an Imperial Grandson was poisoned within the palace, the two likeliest sources were the Eastern Palace and the Imperial Food Service.

If the investigation really traced it to the Imperial Food Service, what could Xu Xingzu do?

He dared not think any further.

"I wasn't specifically responsible for the Third Imperial Grandson's meals before."

Thinking it over, Xu Xingzu added, "It was only that morning that I personally began overseeing the Third Imperial Grandson's meals. I can guarantee there was absolutely nothing wrong with them."

"Who handled them before?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"A eunuch!"

Xu Xingzu said, "I can help the Embroidered Guard identify that eunuch. I've served at Your Majesty's side for so many years. You know my character better than anyone."

Zhu Yuanzhang did indeed know what sort of man Xu Xingzu was.

Otherwise, he would already have delivered a vicious kick and found himself another cook.

"Go, then!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved him away.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving me a chance to redeem myself through service."

With that, Xu Xingzu took the men of the Embroidered Guard and hurried away.

"Grandfather, I'm all right," Zhu Yuntong said. "Please don't kill too many people!"

"Everyone who deserves to die must die!"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly. "It's only because you're in no serious danger. Otherwise, I'd want to kill everyone in the palace."

He truly lived up to the name Butcher Zhu!

Zhu Yuntong knew Old Zhu was absolutely serious.

He really could kill everyone in the palace to accompany him to the grave.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness!"

Dai Sigong came out again, holding a tray with a bowl of pitch-black medicinal broth on it. "The medicine is ready."

"Drink it now. Once you've finished, I'll take you back to the Eastern Palace."

"Fourth Son, stop standing around here. Go back! There's nothing more for you to do here."

"And don't let word of today's events get out, or I'll deal with you lot first."

Old Zhu certainly did not want outsiders learning these secrets of the imperial family.

Zhu Di could only leave first, thinking helplessly, It seems I still haven't managed to find out where Father stands. This incident ruined everything. Ah!

Zhu Yuntong could only blow on the medicine, pinch his nose, and swallow it despite its bitter taste and foul smell.

He had no idea whether he could get Lü Shi killed this time.

With clear evidence, it should be possible. His only fear was that the Embroidered Guard would fail to find any.