Song Ting wouldn't mistake this candy, because it was something he had prepared for Huai Xu and brought from Chang'an.

Fearing the journey would be boring, Song Ting prepared many snacks for Huai Xu, one of which was maltose candy. This candy was sold in only one shop in the entire city of Chang'an, with no other branches.

Song Ting picked up the candy and held it in her palm, not daring to imagine how heartbroken Huai Xu would be if he knew about this.

"Sir, the count has been completed; there are a total of ninety-three people."

Ninety-three people.

They distributed ninety-three portions of eight-treasure porridge that morning. This also meant that everyone who received the porridge died.

"Could the poison have been mixed into the porridge?" Zhang Bingzhi also thought of this. "Which chef was in charge of cooking the porridge?"

“It shouldn’t be porridge,” Song Ting said calmly. “We all drank the porridge, including the chefs who served it.”

"If it wasn't poured into the porridge, how do you explain that those who died were all people who received a share of the porridge?"

Zhang Bingzhi was extremely anxious. "Commander Song, ninety-three lives have been lost. This matter can no longer be concealed. It will spread very soon."

"When the time comes, everyone will know that someone died from drinking the porridge meant for blessing. People are most afraid of this. Have you thought about the consequences, sir?"

On the eve of the prayer ceremony, the eldest princess drowned; during the ceremony, the Empress Dowager vomited blood and fainted; then, the people of Sishui Town died from poisoning after drinking the eight-treasure porridge used for the prayer ceremony…

Every single event is inextricably linked to the prayer ceremony, and all of them are enough to cause panic among the people.

Everything was spiraling out of control, and Song Ting felt as if an unseen hand was manipulating everything from behind the scenes. It gave him a very bad feeling.

Suddenly, his eyelids started twitching violently, and he felt inexplicably flustered.

"Where are the others in town?" Song asked Eleven beside him.

The Imperial Guards had already searched the entire town and its surrounding area, and Eleven then recounted the situation to Song in detail:

"There's a local opera in the neighboring town today. Apart from those who stayed in town to collect their eight-treasure porridge, most of the others went to watch the festivities. Three people went back to their parents' homes, six are sick and bedridden, and seventeen..."

Many of those who had gone out to work had already returned to town, and the Imperial Guards were questioning them.

Song Ting strode forward: "First, keep the monks involved under guard. We'll make a decision after the coroner has verified the facts. Come with me and ask them what happened."

“And those few survivors.” Zhang Bingzhi said with a grim face, giving Song Ting a meaningful look. “Don’t let them go out and spread rumors.”

The meaning of this sentence was already very clear. Song Ting glanced at him, and Zhang Bingzhi met his gaze: "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. I believe the commander will not be swayed by womanly sentimentality."

Song Ting's expression darkened. Ignoring his words, she followed Eleven and said, "Take me to see those people first..."

Almost everyone in the village was dead. Song Ting and the others worked for several hours, and by the time they returned from the foot of the mountain, it was already 11:45 PM.

He originally didn't want to disturb Huaixu, but when he entered the courtyard, he couldn't resist and thought that he had to take a look no matter what.

—Huai Xu is ill, and I can't feel at ease without seeing him.

She gently pushed the door open and entered. The person on the bed stirred and turned to the side. Those peach blossom eyes that always appeared in Song Tingmeng's dreams were clear as water in the darkness.

"You're back?" Chu Huaixu was still awake.

Song couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart; he just felt a bittersweet ache. He tiptoed over and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Um."

"How is it going? Is that little girl named Xiaobao alright?" Chu Huaixu turned over, lay face down on the bed, and looked at Song Ting with his chin propped up.

Although Song Ting had given the death order, the news spread extremely quickly, and even Chu Huaixu, who had been in his room the whole time, heard about it.

Song Ting was still holding the candy in her hand, and she really didn't know how to bring it up with Huai Xu.

But Chu Huaixu was an extremely intelligent man, and from Song Ting's silence, he had already guessed the truth: "They're all dead? Chen Xiaobao is dead too?"

He had just suffered a few hours ago, and Physician Zhang had instructed him not to experience great sorrow or joy. Song Ting was afraid that he would feel bad, so she went over, hugged him, and kissed his forehead.

Chu Huaixu didn't break free and quietly let him hold him.

What are you holding in your hand?

Song Ting didn't want him to see it, fearing it would upset him even more, but Huai Xu had sharp eyes, so he had no choice but to hand it over.

"It's this candy." Chu Huaixu took the candy, unwrapped it, and made as if to put it in his mouth. Song Ting was startled. "You can't eat it."

"Why?" Huaixu wouldn't let go. "Afraid the candy might be poisoned?"

"..."

Chu Huaixu smiled, and with their hands clasped together, he bit off half a candy. He fed the remaining half to Song Ting, asking, "Does Your Excellency dare to eat this?"

Song Ting put the half-candy in his mouth almost without hesitation. Chu Huaixu smiled again and leaned down to kiss the corner of his lips.

"If it's poisonous, then let's die together."

Song readily agreed, "Alright, let's die together."

This promise somehow tickled Huaixu's funny bone. He lay on the bed, kicking his legs and laughing until tears almost streamed down his face. After a while, he gradually stopped and looked up at Song Ting.

"Does the gentleman not want a future, wealth, and honor?"

Because he had laughed for so long and so hard, his face was flushed, his eyes were misty, and he was breathing more rapidly than usual.

Song Ting looked at him, raised her hand to touch his forehead, and only felt relieved after confirming that the fever had subsided.

"No, thank you," he replied softly. At the same time, he silently added in his heart, "As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter whether I live or die."

Chu Huaixu narrowed his eyes, the smile on his lips gradually fading. Then he turned over, his back to Song Ting: "I'm going to sleep. Please, Lord Song, get out of here."

Song responded, tucked the blanket around him, and then quietly left the room.

Xiao Wu and Qi Zhou stood guard at the door: "My lord."

Song Ting nodded: "Guard this place well, don't let even a fly get in."

The situation at Baima Temple was far more complicated than he had imagined. At this moment, Song Ting had a very bad premonition. Everything that had happened was like the prelude to a storm, and what awaited them ahead was an even fiercer storm.

But in reality, Song Ting had no time to think too much. There was still no news from Chang'an, and the two accompanying imperial physicians were helpless. For the two days following the ceremony, he had to perform internal energy exercises for the Empress Dowager twice a day.

Even so, it was only enough to keep the Empress Dowager clinging to life.

The truth behind the poisoning of the people in Sishui Town has yet to be found, leaving Song Ting with no choice but to run between the two places every day.