Leaving the prime minister's mansion, Paul was happy that this matter was over, and he didn't have to kill Minister Long's son.
Truth be told, this would most likely create many more problems than it solved, and the minister could make things hard for Xiao Han in the court, which was the last thing Paul wanted.
The minister assured Paul that he would enter the palace within an hour to annul the marriage proposal, so Paul decided not to waste any more time and get back home to continue raising his cultivation.
With a few more hours of daylight left, Paul left the capital and changed into his battlegear in his tent before taking out a transport spell.
This time, he looked around to see if there was someone who wanted to stop him again, as he didn't want to jump back here like last time.
Good thing he did, as the moment he was about to activate the spell, he saw four guards rushing in his direction.
-What now?
Paul asked, looking at the sky.
All he wanted was to go back home and cultivate, but there was always something in his way.
-Lord Marshal, please wait.
The officer shouted, seeing a spell in his hand.
-What's going on?
Paul asked when the soldiers approached him.
-Your presence is requested at the palace.
The officer said, relieved that they managed to find him before he left.
-Lead the way.
Paul said, trying not to sigh at this.
He was in the palace only a few hours ago and hoped never to have to enter it again.
-Why am I being summoned?
Paul asked the officer while they were on their way to the palace.
-I was not informed about the reason.
However, it has to be important, since his majesty ordered it personally.
The officer answered.
Soon they arrived, and the guards at the gate didn't even check the scroll, and just told them to hurry up.
As soon as they arrived in the throne room, Paul wanted to bow and greet the emperor again, but was stopped.
-We have no time for this.
The emperor stopped him.
-Several of our concubines were poisoned, and the palace healers are unable to deduce the cause or even what poison it is.
We order you to go and do whatever you can to save them.
The emperor said sternly.
-Guards will escort you to the harem and stay with you for as long as it takes.
Also, if there is anything at all that you require to save the concubines, they will bring it to you.
-As you wish, your majesty.
Paul said and left with the guards.
Usually, there was no way for a man to enter the harem if he was not from the imperial family or an eunuch, so this was an unprecedented situation.
Paul was brought to a large pavilion where at least two dozen beautiful women were lying on mats, with fever and in pain, judging by their expressions and groans.
-What's the situation?
Paul asked the older healer he met that morning.
-Young man, the situation is bad. We have no clue what is going on.
The concubines had a tea party and dinner together, when suddenly they all fell and started to scream in pain.
We checked the food, the tea, everything down to the smallest spoon, but we found no poison, and we couldn't find any other reason for what's happening to them.
The man said, not hiding anything.
Paul nodded and approached the nearest concubine.
He placed a finger on her forehead and activated the diagnosis technique, looking for a reason for her suffering.
It took a while, but he finally found it.
However, this was not a poison but a parasite, and a very dangerous one at that.
-Guards, cordon off this pavilion. No one is leaving this place without my permission.
Paul said, stunning everyone.
-Move people, if this thing spreads, then we are in deep trouble.
Paul shouted, seeing the guards standing in shock.
-What did you find, young man?
The older healer asked.
-It's not poison, but a parasite, and it's not a common one either.
This thing reproduces within minutes and is transmitted through touch, so everyone who is here or was here before has to be quarantined.
Paul explained.
He only knew about it because his reincarnation soul told him about it a moment ago, when he found the parasites inside the concubine's body.
-Do you know how to deal with this?
Another healer asked.
-I do, but it will take time.
Paul answered.
The guards moved fast, and soon there were dozens of armed soldiers around the pavilion, and everyone who entered it and left was brought back to be quarantined along with anyone with whom they had contact.
Paul immediately started checking people, one after the other, and most of them could leave since there was no parasite inside them, but together, there were over seventy patients now.
Most of whom were concubines and their ladies in waiting.
-I need a lot of strong alcohol, honey, and some female Ice mages.
Paul informed the guards as soon as he knew how many victims he was dealing with.
-Young man, can you explain to us how to deal with this, so we can help as well?
One of the healers asked.
-These parasites stay under the skin to jump hosts if an opportunity arises, but their bodies produce toxins that are dangerous for humans.
The easiest way to get rid of them is to spread some honey on the skin, since they are attracted to it, and then freeze it before removing the whole thing.
After that, we need to clean the holes they leave with alcohol to stop any potential infection, before we proceed to removing toxins from the body.
-That's why you asked for female ice mages?
One of the healers asked.
-Yes.
Paul nodded.
-These are imperial concubines, so no man can see their bodies except the emperor himself.
That's why we need females to do this.
Paul said, just as a group of female Ice mages arrived.
He was not even surprised that most of them were from the Yuki clan.
Not long later, all the females were doing what Paul asked them to do.
They were not exactly sure if what he asked of them would help, but they did so anyway.
Soon, they were bringing out whole buckets filled with frozen honey and hundreds of parasites inside.
Paul ordered the guards to burn these parasites immediately and not to touch the ice under any circumstances.
It took over three hours of repeated effort before the first concubines had no more parasites in them, and Paul used this time to explain to the other healers a way to remove the toxins, as well as teaching them the diagnosis technique he was using.
As soon as the first concubines were cleared of parasites.
Paul demonstrated the treatment, which lasted five minutes at most, before all the toxins were removed, and the concubine was taken away to rest in the medical wing.