"Was this brewed by the Empress herself?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I was worried about Your Majesty's health, so I cooked this soup."

Xie Dahai then tested the area with a silver needle, and Zhao Huan immediately frowned: "Xie Dahai, what is your intention?"

Xie Dahai immediately knelt on the ground, trembling, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble servant is worried about Your Majesty's safety."

Zhao Huan said with a stern face, "This soup was personally prepared by the Empress!"

"Yes! This humble servant is guilty, and begs Your Majesty for punishment!"

"Apologize to the Empress immediately!"

"This humble servant deserves to die a thousand deaths, Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

"No need for formalities. I understand that you are thinking of His Majesty's safety. With a guard like you by His Majesty's side, I feel at ease."

Although Zhao Huan outwardly rebuked Xie Dahai, he did not blame Xie Dahai at all, as it was indeed what Xie Dahai should do.

Zhao Huan trusts no one now, and even if the soup was personally prepared by the Empress, there might still be danger.

Who knows if those ministers who were frightened by him today will have any ulterior motives? Just in case, Zhao Huan would take precautions against everything.

However, since it was made by the Empress herself, he couldn't say anything, so Xie Dahai stepped in to handle it.

Xie Dahai naturally knew what the emperor was thinking, and he was willing to play the villain. He was originally a member of the emperor's personal guard, so if he didn't play the villain, who would?

Zhao Huan was relieved after Xie Dahai confirmed that the substance was not poisonous.

After finishing a bowl of soup, Zhao Huan felt much more comfortable, and his tired body regained some strength.

He frowned slightly, sensing that as the Jin invaders advanced southward, Zhao Ji was becoming increasingly restless and was about to stir up trouble.