Eunuch Quan brought Ning Chen and Zisu to a room.

Ning Chen saw Prince Duan lying on the bed.

"Old Quan, there's nothing wrong with him that I can see. Good color in his face. He doesn't look ill at all."

Ning Chen looked Prince Duan over as he said it.

Eunuch Quan said, "Prince Duan has not woken once. He has been like this since last night, and calling to him does no good."

"The imperial physicians have looked at him too, and they simply cannot find the cause."

Curious, Ning Chen went over to try calling him a few times. The moment he got close he caught a stench of rot.

"Why does he smell like a dead rat?"

Eunuch Quan's face changed and he said quietly, "Mind your words!"

He dropped his voice further. "It's coming off Prince Duan himself."

Ning Chen looked disgusted. "Has he soiled the bed?"

Eunuch Quan shook his head. "It seems to be coming from inside his body. The imperial physicians cannot find the reason for that either."

Zisu stepped up and began examining Prince Duan.

When she had finished, her face was grave.

Eunuch Quan asked, "Miss Zisu? What do you make of it?"

Zisu shook her head. "I can't find the cause of it either."

Ning Chen and the others came out and reported the situation to the Xuan Emperor.

The Xuan Emperor's brows drew tight. He had not thought that even Zisu would be at a loss.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. Zisu is not equal to it."

The Xuan Emperor waved a hand. He did not blame Zisu.

He ordered Eunuch Quan to post a heavy reward: a thousand taels of gold to anyone who could cure Prince Duan.

Ning Chen muttered, "How can this have happened? Prince Duan was perfectly well the day of my wedding... A man doesn't just fall unconscious out of nowhere."

Eunuch Quan told Ning Chen that Prince Duan had been in perfect health yesterday. In the evening he had eaten roast duck at the Heavenly Blessing Tower, then gone to the courtesans' quarter,…