In a blink of an eye, night falls.
Tonight is Su Xian's second night in Nanchen.
Everything goes wrong.
Chen Keyan has not yet sent the special silver needle for performing the "Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate". According to her, the secret guard has found two clues and may be able to find a suitable replacement.
One is the Taiyuan Hospital in Nanchen. It is said that a set of special silver needles from hundreds of years ago are preserved, which may be useful.
The second is an antique shop in Jiangning City. The owner of the antique shop especially likes to collect medical equipment, with a collection of up to 10,000 pieces.
However, these two clues are not simple.
Even if the secret guards don't sleep, they won't get the results until tomorrow morning.
"I hope there's still enough time!"
After Su Xian understood the situation, he had no choice but to comfort Chen Keyan like this.
In addition, Su Xian and the others have never given up on tracking down the mastermind behind the scenes, but they have tried several methods to no avail.
The mastermind behind the scenes is still at large!
After dinner, Su Xian, Li Qingniu, Yang Zhilan, Zhou Wei and others were ready to rest early.
Seeing Chen Keyan's frown, and because she had not had a good rest last night, her face became more and more haggard, Su Xian advised her with serious words:
"It depends on people. Miss Chen, please don't stay up late tonight and go to bed early. Tomorrow will be very critical. We have a tough battle to fight. As one of the parties involved, you must not languish."
"Thank you for reminding me, sir. I will go back first."
As expected, Chen Keyan's face relaxed and she left.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she walked out of this tightly guarded courtyard, she raised her eyes and saw a head in the distance, looking over here...
That's sister Chen Keyao.
"Eh!"
Chen Keyan rubbed her eyebrows, ignored it, and quickly returned to the living room to rest.
…
…
Finally, the time came the next day.
Its daybreak.
If the replacement silver needle has not been found before noon, although Emperor Chen will not die immediately, his condition will deteriorate rapidly and even the gods will not be able to save him!
Just after breakfast, Chen Keyan arrived.
This half-day is very critical. She must advance and retreat together with Su Xian and the others.
Su Xian saw that she looked good and the dark circles under her eyes from yesterday had disappeared. After nodding secretly, he quickly walked up to her and asked, "Have you found a replacement silver needle?"
Chen Keyan's face darkened, she said nothing and just shook her head.
"It's okay, it all depends on man-made efforts."
Su Xian comforted.
At this time, Li Qingniu came over with Zhou Wei. He was wearing a green Taoist robe, slightly stout, with his hands behind his back, and calmly ordered:
"Chen Di's illness requires a two-pronged approach of the Thirteen Guimen needles and decoction. I don't care whether the replacement silver needle can be found or not. You all can help me and boil the decoction first."
"OK."
Su Xian and Chen Keyan both went to help.
Because this is a big medicine, it requires many medicinal materials, and it also needs to be pre-processed, which is very complicated.
at the same time.
Somewhere in the palace.
In a dark room, only one candle burned quietly.
The light spread by the candlelight reflected two figures on the uneven wall, shadowy and shadowy, swaying slightly with the sway of the flames.
Those were two women.
It can be seen from the dark shadow on the wall.
However, the light in the dark room was too dim to see the specific faces of the two women, and their identities became a mystery.
"Just now, the imperial doctor has checked His Majesty's pulse." A woman said, her voice was low, appearing steady and calm.
"How is the result?"
Another woman spoke.
The woman's tone was frivolous, and she raised her hand to admire her long nails as she spoke.
The flickering candlelight reflected her slender jade fingers and long nails on the uneven wall, making them look slightly terrifying, like the hands of a female ghost.
The woman with a deep and steady voice replied:
"The imperial doctors say that His Majesty's condition is deteriorating rapidly. I am afraid that today... there will be no cure, and he will be so ill that even if the gods come, it will be difficult to save him!"
"oh?"
The figure of the frivolous woman suddenly stopped, and the hand that was raised in the air, like the hand of a female ghost, also stopped there. Because of the posture and the light, it looked like... a ghost claw!
"Today? There are twelve hours today. Which hour is it?" the frivolous woman asked again.
"The imperial doctors estimate that the time should be... within two hours after noon!"
"Are you sure that that person will be critically ill?" the frivolous woman asked again.
"It's certain! My imperial doctor in Nanchen is already the best in the world in terms of medical skills. They are all helpless. I'm afraid that that person will be in trouble today!"
"really?"
"It's true! Even if the gods come, they can't save that man! Although King Tian and Princess Wu are looking for doctors everywhere, the country doctors they find are nothing compared to the imperial doctors!"
"good!"
The frivolous woman was very excited. She kept rolling her hands in the air and doing various enchanting movements:
"Notify us and make preparations secretly. When the man is critically ill, we won't be able to send him off again. Then... Nan Chen's world belongs to me!"
"yes!"
"..."
Princess Wu's Mansion.
After working hard for most of the morning, the powerful medicine prepared for Emperor Chen was finally successful. It was packed in a jar and placed in a food box.
As soon as the special silver needle arrives, you can carry the food box and go straight to Emperor Chen's chamber.
Next, it's time to wait.
In the quiet courtyard, people came in and out of the living room from time to time. Su Xian, Chen Keyan, Li Qingniu and others were waiting inside.
In the living room, the food box is placed in the middle of the round table.
Everyone sat around the table, no one said anything.
Li Qingniu was the most calm person, with a calm face and an indifferent expression, drinking tea and waiting. In fact, for him, it would be better not to find a suitable silver needle.
Because in this way, he can return to Daliang Shendu earlier and reunite with his wives... Of course, he will not show this thought outside.
Chen Keyan is the most worried person.
She raised her eyebrows, looked nervous, and could not sit still. From time to time she raised her eyes and looked at the door of the living room. How she hoped someone would send her a life-saving silver needle!
However, things often don't go as planned.
Although many people came in and out of the living room to report the news, no one delivered a life-saving needle.
When Su Xian saw this, he didn't know how to comfort her, so he simply said nothing and just made the worst plan in his heart.
Yang Zhilan, Zhou Wei and others were also anxious, but they also knew that it was useless to be anxious, so they never said a word.
Time passes minute by minute.
Slowly, the sun gradually rises.
Everyone glanced at the hourglass on the side, and their hearts sank. The time was approaching noon, but the life-saving silver needle had not been delivered yet!
tomato
Chen Keyan couldn't sit still anymore. She stood up and leaned against the door of the living room, looking out. Her beautiful face was filled with sadness, and she kept sighing.
Su Xian and others also became nervous and couldn't sit still. They walked around the living room with their brows furrowed.
Li Qingniu is an exception. He remains calm and sits at the table drinking tea. The silver needle incident does not affect his mentality at all...
finally!
The day is right!
The hourglass used as a "countdown" is about to run out of sand!
Noon is coming soon!
But the life-saving silver needle hasn’t been delivered yet!
Chen Keyan almost collapsed on the spot.
She resisted crying, but her eye circles were slightly red, and her eyes were sparkling, looking pitiful.
If Emperor Chen cannot be saved, what will greet her is not the throne of Nanchen, but endless sufferings. Although she may eventually ascend to the throne, the price will definitely be too high!
Furthermore, the father-daughter relationship between her and Emperor Chen is also very strong...
Suddenly, footsteps sounded, getting closer and closer, reaching everyone's ears clearly.
Everyone's expressions changed slightly, and they turned to look outside the living room. Sure enough, someone was running towards them.
Could it be that I found a life-saving silver needle?
If you get the Silver Needle at this time, you still have enough time.
Chen Keyan, Su Xian and others were all shaken, their faces full of anticipation, looking eagerly at the people running towards them, praying silently in their hearts.
"Did you find the silver needle?"
Chen Keyan quickly ran out of the living room, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Su Xian and others also followed closely.
The man was stunned for a moment, panting and stopped in the courtyard, bowed his head and said:
"Princess Qi, there is news from the palace. The Queen, the Imperial Concubine, and the Royal Physician rushed to His Majesty's bedroom together, saying they wanted to treat His Majesty."
"..."
It turned out that while they were waiting for the silver needle here, they also sent people to secretly keep an eye on the movements in the palace, especially Emperor Chen's bedroom.
Don't worry, they rushed there with silver needles and decoctions, and happened to bump into outsiders. Wouldn't that waste time?
But the most important thing right now is not this, but the Silver Needle.
When Su Xian and others saw this, they felt dark in their hearts. This person's avoidance of Chen Keyan's question already explained the problem.
But Chen Keyan didn't want to give up. Half of the hope in her eyes disappeared, and she continued to ask: "Have you found the silver needle?"
The man hesitated for a moment and had no choice but to answer: "Never!"
Chen Keyan quickly took two steps back. Disappointed, sad, and panicked, she accidentally stepped on the hem of her skirt, causing her center of gravity to lose balance, and she fell straight back.
"careful!"
Su Xian happened to be standing behind her and hurriedly supported her.
After being stabilized, Su Xian looked forward and saw Chen Keyan with tears streaming down her face.
But she resisted crying and just cried silently.
In her eyes, which were moistened by tears, scenes of warm scenes flashed——
There is a scene of "Chen Di holding her in the heavy rain to seek medical treatment", and there is also a scene of "Chen Keyan has just learned to walk, her little body is shaky, Chen Di is behind with a look of relief"...
Emperor Chen's fatherly love for her was pure.
But today... Emperor Chen is about to become critically ill!
After today, there will be no Emperor Chen in the world.
Chen Keyan also has no father.
His eyes could no longer be opened, his mouth could no longer speak, and his body could not move. He was then put into a coffin and buried in the earth. Over the years, he finally turned into a handful of loess!
Thinking of this, Chen Keyan's heart ached violently, and her tears couldn't stop flowing down. She could not bear such cruel injury...
When Su Xian saw this, he didn't let her go, half-hugging her and comforting her softly.
At this time, another person ran towards him, his footsteps getting closer and closer, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
Chen Keyan's misty eyes lit up with tears for a moment, but then they dimmed.
There was no luck in her mind.
It's already this time, if they could find that damn silver needle, they would have gone to Emperor Chen's bedroom long ago!
Su Xian, Li Qingniu and others were also happy for a moment, and then they thought with Chen Keyan that Emperor Chen's illness might never be cured.
However, the man who ran over, waving a small cloth bag in his hand, shouted loudly:
"I found the silver needle!"
"found it?!"
"Your Majesty is saved!"
Everyone was startled at first, then became ecstatic and rushed forward to greet him.
Chen Keyan personally took the package of silver needles in her hand, endured the excitement in her heart and trembling hands, and took out the silver needles on the spot.
Under the bright and bright sunshine, the slender silver needle reflected the dazzling light.
Li Qingniu was greatly surprised. He sat at the round table without moving and ordered outside:
"Send the silver needle in, I will check if it can be used first."
"Yes, let Master take a look."
Su Xian hurriedly pulled Chen Keyan back to the living room.
Chen Keyan looked nervous and slowly placed the package of silver needles in front of Li Qingniu's desk.
Although she had just turned from sadness to joy, now her heart began to beat again, if this set of silver needles...
Su Xian, Zhou Wei and others also stared at Li Qingniu's face. If this set of silver needles didn't work, wouldn't their happiness be in vain?
“Good condition.”
Li Qingniu twisted the first silver needle with his fingers, observed it carefully before his eyes, and gave an objective evaluation.
Chen Keyan couldn't hold back and asked cautiously:
"Doctor Li, can this set of silver needles... treat my father's illness?"
"Don't be impatient. I'll wait until I see them one by one."
Li Qingniu twisted the second silver needle and observed it for a while, then his expression changed slightly.
When everyone saw this, especially Chen Keyan, their hearts suddenly sank, and they had a premonition of something bad.
Sure enough, after seeing the entire set of silver needles, Li Qingniu looked calm and sighed:
"This set of silver needles barely meets the standards of the Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate, but... it has been stored for more than hundreds of years and is no longer usable due to poor preservation!"
"..."
These words were like a bolt from the blue, hitting Chen Keyan's head.
Fortunately, she had just been heartbroken, and this blow did not hurt her much. It was just that the feeling of rising from hell to heaven, and then falling from heaven to hell was not pleasant.
It hurts like cutting out flesh!
Just as Su Xian was about to say a few words of comfort to her, unexpectedly, another person rushed over and shouted loudly: "The silver needle collected by the owner of the antique shop in the city has also been found!"
After hearing this, Chen Keyan only glanced sideways and had no reaction.
Su Xian, Li Qingniu and others also shook their heads slowly.
The set of silver needles just now came from the collection of the Taiyuan Hospital. Just imagine, that set of silver needles was not well preserved in the Taiyuan Hospital and could not be used.
And how good can a private collection of silver needles be?
I'm afraid it'll be worse!
"No matter what, let's ask Master to palm his eyes."
Su Xian personally took the package of silver needles from the man and placed it in front of Li Qingniu's desk.
Li Qingniu didn't mind the trouble and took out the silver needles and observed them one by one.
Chen Keyan silently turned sideways, facing Su Xian.
Su Xian saw her face burst into tears, pear blossoms with rain, the pain of losing her father made the sweet-smiling Princess Wu so sad, it was really heartbreaking.
Su Xian gently half-hugged her, and then gently patted her shoulder to comfort her.
Chen Keyan didn't care about the presence of everyone, and she cried silently on Su Xian's shoulder.
Soon, the clothes on Su Xian's shoulders got a little wet...
As an outsider, he understood that the matter was a foregone conclusion and had to make corresponding arrangements, otherwise Chen Keyan would have a difficult life in the future.
But she is feeling uncomfortable in her heart, so let her vent for a while first, and then we can talk about how to end it after she accepts this cruel reality.
But at this moment, Li Qingniu suddenly said:
"This set of silver needles is of great use!"
Su Xian was startled. Before he could react, the sad man lying on his shoulder trembled violently.
