Chapter 461 Sending Away and Exposing

Back at Prince Rui's residence, Shen Chu first had Yun Haixin take Little Potato and Little Apple out of the city.

"You two stay at Jingguo Temple outside the city for now. If I haven't found you in two days, then I'll have to trouble you to take care of them, Master."

Yunhai knew the seriousness of the matter, and his expression turned slightly grim.

"Don't worry, as long as I'm here, Little Potato and Little Apple won't suffer."

With the two children entrusted to their master, Shen Chu felt at ease.

"If... if Zhan-gege and I really get into trouble, Master, please take them to Nan Yue."

Shangguan Ye and Shangguan Yi are still in the capital. As soon as Yun Haixin leaves the city, Shangguan Ye can chase after her.

With Shangguan Ye, the Prince of Nanyue, around, he will surely be able to protect Yun Haixin.

Yun Hai's expression changed slightly, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Perhaps I should go and beg Shangguan Ye to..."

Shen Chu shook his head.

"This matter is, after all, a national affair of the Great Wei, and Nan Yue should not interfere. Master, please take the two children out of the city first."

Both children were somewhat surprised by the sudden decision to leave the city.

When Little Apple heard that they were going to a temple, she excitedly asked what fun things there were to do.

Little Potato frowned, a hint of worry in his eyes.

"Mother, has something happened? Um...where did he go?"

Looking around, he realized Pei Yuan wasn't there. Feeling embarrassed to call him "father" again, he quietly asked.

Little Apple chattered excitedly, "Yes, Mommy, where did Daddy go?"

Shen Chu hugged the two children and kissed their cheeks.

"Father has gone to the palace on business, and Mother also has things to do in a while. You two go and have fun with your grandmaster."

"After Daddy and Mommy finish dealing with things here, they'll come and play with you."

"Okay, okay." Little Apple's rosy cheeks were full of smiles as she hooked her little finger around Chen Chu's.

"Mommy, let's pinky swear, you can't go back on your word, okay? A person who doesn't keep their promise is a little dog!"

Shen Chu's nose tingled slightly. "Fine, a person who doesn't keep their word is a dog."

After making a pinky promise with her daughter, Chen Chu looked at her son.

"Remember to listen to your master's words, and..."

She originally wanted to say that she needed to learn to take care of herself and Little Apple, but she was afraid that these words would frighten the sensitive Little Potato.

He paused, then changed the words that were about to come out to: "Have fun."

The worry in Little Potato's eyes faded, and he nodded with a smile.

"Don't worry, Mother."

"Mmm." Shen Chu raised her hand and gently ruffled his soft hair.

After seeing the two children and Yun Haixin off, she turned to ask Jinbao.

"Haven't Chengxuan and Zhou Jun arrived yet? Go to the Marquis of Weiwu's residence and send another invitation. I'm going to pay my respects to the Marquis of Weiwu."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Chengxuan's excited voice rang out from outside the door.

"Here you are, here you are, Ah Chu, it's so good that you're still alive."

Li Chengxuan's voice drifted over even before he arrived.

His figure appeared at the doorway, his face full of excitement.

Three years had passed, and Li Chengxuan had become much darker and thinner. He had lost some of his noble air but gained more of the toughness he had developed through his years of military service.

Behind him followed Zhou Jun, whose eyes were red and swollen. Three years had passed since they last met, and he was still as prone to tears as ever.

The two entered one after the other, both eager to express their excitement.

"When I first heard you were back, I thought they were making it up, but it turns out it's true..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Chu interrupted him.

"We can talk about our feelings later. Right now, I have something important to tell you."

She looked at them solemnly, took a deep breath, and asked in a low voice:

"My two elder brothers, I wonder if Achu can still trust you as much as she did three years ago?"

Li Chengxuan and Zhou Jun exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious.

"Of course, I, Li Chengxuan, will treat you as a brother until my death, no, as a sister. I will never forget the bond we formed through blood oath."

Ah Chu, just tell me what you have to say.

Zhou Jun nodded hurriedly in agreement.

"Me too, Ah Chu, just give me your orders."

Moved, Shen Chu took out the evidence she had prepared and handed it to Zhou Jun.

"I know you are still in the Censorate. Please give these materials to Lord He. I'll leave today's grand court assembly to you."

Zhou Jun looked down and his expression changed drastically.

"It's true that the Marquis of Anding killed innocent people and claimed credit for them! That's outrageous!"

"Achu, don't worry, leave this to me."

Zhou Jun tucked the materials into his pocket, turned, and left.

Li Chengxuan asked impatiently, "Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

Shen Chu took a deep breath. "I need you to take me to see your mother and several aunts, as well as the Grand Princess of Chengyang."

Then you will accompany me to see Marquis Weiwu.

Li Chengxuan agreed without hesitation.

"What's the problem? Let's go see him now."

The two arrived at the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion without stopping.

Considering that the Grand Princess of Chengyang was advanced in years, she first met with Li Chengxuan's mother and several aunts.

The confession that Pei Yuan had obtained from the investigation in the southern border was handed over to Li Chengxuan's mother, Madam Li.

After reading it, Madam Li was so shocked that the paper scattered on the ground, her face turned deathly pale, and she almost fainted.

"Is the confession here true? The old lord and our generals didn't die from miasma, but were poisoned?"

Upon hearing this, the other Madam Lis' expressions changed drastically.

They rushed to pick up the papers on the ground.

Li Chengxuan jumped up instantly.

"What? Grandfather, Father, and several uncles were poisoned to death? Ah Chu, is this really true?"

Chen Chu sighed.

"His Highness sent people to investigate this matter in the Southern Frontier for more than half a year. The old man, the heir, and several generals all died from a poison called 'Yangjiao' in the Southern Frontier."

This poison is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect. Its symptoms are very similar to those of miasma, and at first glance, one might mistake it for miasma entering the body and causing death.

The only difference between the two is that the poison of the ram's horn is more potent; even if a person who has been poisoned dies, their bones will be stained blue.

The horned goat grows on the edge of a cliff in southern Xinjiang, not in the miasma forest at all. If someone hadn't poisoned it, how could it be such a coincidence that the old man, the prince, and several generals all fell victim to it?

The local doctor in southern Xinjiang said...

Li Chengxuan blurted out, "Who poisoned them to death?"

Shen Chu glanced at him with a hint of pity.

This incident was the biggest blow to Li Chengxuan. In his heart, he had always felt that the Longqing Emperor was a dignified yet loving elder who had spoiled and indulged him as he grew up.

But this kind elder killed all his male relatives.

Madam Li and the other ladies of the Li family reacted quickly.

Especially when I thought about the Liangzhou massacre that had been making headlines recently, everything suddenly became clear.

"It was His Majesty who sent someone to poison us, wasn't it?"

Madam Li was so angry that she trembled all over.

"What a vicious scheme! He had only been on the throne for five years at that time."

Shen Chu pursed her lips, "Does Madam believe what I say?"

Madam Li smiled bitterly, "You said that the bones of a poisoned person would be stained with a light blue color. We can verify the truth as soon as we open the coffin. There's no need for you to tell such a huge lie."

Shen Chu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She originally thought she would have to use a lot of persuasion to convince the Li family.

"The Grand Princess of Chengyang is quite old, so Shen Chu took it upon herself not to inform her of this matter. Ladies, what do you think?"

Before the words were finished, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.