Chapter 67 Returning to the Capital at Night: He wanted to see who in the city they were protecting like this.

"Me? I'm fine." Yao Ruyi's wrist was held by Gu Huizhou the whole time. He could sense whether Gu Huizhou was poisoned by using a little magic. Seeing that the other party was fine, he was relieved.

He didn't notice any signs of poisoning all day.

But if it's well water, that's also possible.

"His Majesty?"

Gu Huizhou breathed a sigh of relief. His large hand kept stroking Yao Ruyi's wrist, his thumb pressing and playing with the protruding wrist bone. "Go back."

The night was pitch black, and cries of pain occasionally drifted from not far away. Yao Ruyi nodded, thinking it was just a laxative, but she didn't know what the person who administered it was up to.

Laxatives won't kill you.

This wasted a day of autumn hunting.

The second day of the autumn hunt was postponed. The imperial physicians were so busy that they seemed to be soaking in water. Even though they had just recovered from their own illnesses, they still had to take pulses and prepare medicine.

Cui Xiangzhu stretched his shoulders helplessly. He had been feeling weak these past two days. As he passed by Wang Ran, he sighed and said with a smile, "Imperial Physician Wang, you've worked hard these past two days. You must take good care of yourself after you return to the capital."

Wang Ran nodded hurriedly. He instructed his physicians to prepare the medicine properly, then stepped aside to speak with the chief eunuch, "Eunuch Cui, have you found out who poisoned it?"

"Sigh," he said, swinging the whisk on his arm a couple of times. "The Thirteenth Lord is still investigating; it should be soon."

After pondering for a moment, he asked, "How are things going with the officials now?"

Wang Ran nodded. "That's about it, and we owe a lot to His Majesty's medicine." The old physician stroked his long beard sheepishly. "After so many years of practicing medicine, I still can't compare to His Majesty in making medicine."

His voice was old and weary, "If it weren't for His Majesty's medicine, I might be the one lying in bed right now."

Cui Xiangzhu waved his hand, "Your Majesty's medicine is truly excellent. After taking the medicine yesterday, I felt a burning sensation inside my body," he said with a chuckle, "and then I felt much better, and the pain in my body disappeared."

Wang Ran nodded, "That's the feeling. His Majesty dares to use medicine, and its effects..."

The old doctor smiled helplessly, "Truly ferocious."

Cui Xiangzhu smiled, his eyes crinkling. He gestured to several eunuchs to lift the water buckets. "Then, Physician Wang, you're busy. This servant must go back to serve His Majesty."

"Oh! Eunuch Cui, please take care."

"Sigh, let's go." Cui Xiangzhu followed behind a group of eunuchs, rubbing his stomach as he walked. Although the pain was gone today, he still couldn't eat anything, and it was nothing like the comfort he felt when he was healthy.

As Cui Xiangzhu walked back to the emperor's bedchamber, he could hear shouts and pleas for mercy from a distance.

They must have caught them.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, spare me! I was out of my mind, but! It was just a little joke!"

Cui Xiangzhu had a group of eunuchs quietly place the water bucket in the side hall. He then shuffled in, glancing at the two people kneeling on the ground as he went.

He let out a cold laugh in his heart; they were all acquaintances.

I thought Zeng Ran would behave himself after going to the patrol battalion, but I never expected him to cause such a huge mess. Another one is…

Cui Xiangzhu thought for a moment. He had seen him yesterday; his name was Wang Qi.

I heard that he was the one who fabricated stories about their Minister Xu and the 19th Party Congress.

"Speak!" Thirteen and Fourteen pressed their longswords against the necks of the two men, leaving bloody marks as the blades pressed down.

Zeng Ran collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale. "Speak, I'll talk, I'll talk!"

The man in the high position had a gloomy face and was playing with a dagger in his hand. Yao Ruyi sat to one side and glanced at the people present, looking at them as if he were a spectator.

How did Zeng Ran end up on West Mountain?

The two kneeling on the ground were completely exhausted. Zeng Ran's lips trembled, and his vision blurred as he looked around. But when he thought of the sword at his neck, Zeng Ran swallowed hard. "Your Majesty, I still hate the Nineteenth Prince in my heart, so... so I thought..."

Gu Huizhou sneered.

Thirteen's sword tightened its grip, the bloodstain on his neck deepened, and hot blood trickled down his collar. "While thinking about writing laxatives at the bottom of the well, this...this way..."

He stammered and couldn't give a coherent explanation.

Wang Qimeng swallowed hard and continued, "Yesterday, I had a dispute with the third son of the Baili family and the young master of the Qian family because of the matter concerning the nineteenth prince and the minister Xu, and I have been holding a grudge ever since."

His eyes darted around, "I saw those two shooting like peas in the pod yesterday, so I came up with this idea!"

He knelt on the ground in remorse and kowtowed, "I was confused for a moment, I would never dare to harm Your Majesty!"

Wang Qi wasn't lying. Even if he had a million lives, he wouldn't dare to drug the Emperor!

Who knows how this well water ended up being the water His Majesty was drinking!

He...he...

Wang Qi trembled as he lowered his head, trying to glance at Zeng Ran, but the sword was pressed against his neck, and he couldn't move. His eyes were almost dry from crying, and he cried out, "Your Majesty! I know I was wrong!"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

At this moment, Zeng Ran also realized what was happening and kowtowed along with him, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! I beg Your Majesty to spare my life!"

Yao Ruyi frowned. The reasons given by the two seemed flawless at first glance, but upon closer examination, they couldn't stand up to scrutiny.

Gu Huizhou sneered, slamming his dagger into the table. "If you won't talk, then kill me."

The man turned to look out the window, his gaze drifting towards the distant mountaintop. "Just throw it down from there."

"Don't offend my eyes."

The cliff face is a bottomless abyss; even a small rock falling from it can shatter into pieces instantly. Let alone a person, who might be impaled on the sharp mountainside halfway down.

One sentence brought a moment of silence to the bedchamber.

Snap—

The jade pendant suddenly fell to the ground, and Wang Qi abruptly bent over and prostrated himself, kowtowing repeatedly, "Your Majesty, I truly know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong! I beg Your Majesty to spare my life!"

The emperor remained silent, as if he hadn't heard. He turned and gestured to the person next to him, saying, "Come here to me."

Yao Ruyi was displeased. He glanced at the two people kneeling on the ground and winked at the Emperor.

Those two are still here.

"Tsk," he snorted, "These two are about to die, why should I care about them? Come here, let me hold you."

Yao Ruyi only hesitated for a moment before understanding the man's meaning. Thinking of the fox in the book, she raised a charming smile and suddenly pounced on the emperor, "Your Majesty!"

Gu Huizhou was quite pleased with this proactive attitude. Without any hesitation, he placed his hand on the other person's waist and pulled him onto his lap. "Why do you smell so good?"

Does it smell good?

Yao Ruyi lowered his head and smelled himself; he hadn't been wearing any perfume.

"Your Majesty, I—"

He understood.

Yao Ruyi changed her tone, a hint of shyness flashing in her eyes, "I follow Your Majesty's side every day, so naturally I smell of Your Majesty on me."

The man's expression suddenly darkened, and he pressed the tip of his tongue against his palate. At this moment, he dared to say anything.

He squeezed hard with his hands, kneading the soft flesh back and forth with his fingers, which displeased Yao Ruyi. He turned his back to the two men and looked at the man with resentment in his eyes.

what you do!

Gu Huizhou laughed, as if to say, "It's just for show. What is the Nineteenth Secretary angry about?"

Yao Ruyi knew he was abusing his power for personal gain, but she couldn't find any evidence to prove it.

The relationship between the two was blatantly obvious. Zeng Ran had originally held onto a sliver of hope, but now her heart had completely sunk.

Gu Huizhou actually admitted to his relationship with that pretty boy in front of them, so wouldn't they be...

no!

He can't die!

But even if he had spoken out, he might not have survived. He lay on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, the sword pressed tightly against his flesh at his neck.

The sword tip was gripping his throat; the slightest movement would send him to his death.

He hesitated...

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I'll tell you now!" Wang Qi couldn't hold back any longer. He had just propped himself up, wanting to blurt it all out, but the next second he collapsed to the ground.

Blood was gushing down her neck, and a patch of clear liquid was also seeping from her hem.

The man who had been comfortably stroking Yao Ruyi's hand suddenly turned pale. "Get out!"

This person was so frightened that he wet himself in the emperor's bedroom.

Cui Xiangzhu cursed this person in his heart, calling him a complete idiot who was good for nothing and good for nothing!

"Your Majesty, I'll talk! I'll talk, Your Majesty! Please forgive me!" Wang Qi no longer cared about his appearance; snot and tears streamed down his face, mingling with blood and staining his clothes.

Even Thirteen, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but frown.

"Xiao Dezi! Quick, bring some men to clean this up."

Thirteen and Fourteen, with cold faces, picked the person up, saying that leaving them here would only offend His Majesty's eyes.

The two men took the man away; it was good that he was willing to talk. The rest was up to them to interrogate him.

Gu Huizhou took Yao Ruyi's hand and turned to leave the bedchamber. Cui Xiangzhu was stunned when he saw this, and he sighed as he looked at the closed door.

"Once you've finished packing, quickly move the things to the side hall," the head eunuch immediately ordered. Having served His Majesty for so many years, he guessed that His Majesty didn't want to stay in this room any longer.

"Yes, Father-in-law."

As evening approached, the afterglow of the setting sun warmed the heart in the side hall. Mushroom lay down on the bed, feeling drowsy. Although the bed here wasn't as soft as the one in the Cloud Palace, it was still quite comfortable after sleeping on it for a while.

He could live anywhere, but he became even more pampered in the palace.

"His Majesty!"

Thirteen frowned, walked into the hall and knelt straight on the ground, "Your subordinate is incompetent! Those two committed suicide by poisoning themselves!"

"Suicide by poison..." the man murmured, a hint of annoyance flashing between his brows. "Go and find out where Zeng Ran's wife and children have gone."

"And the Wang family too."

He was willing to risk his life; he couldn't think of anyone else but his family, wife, and children.

“Yes,” Thirteen hesitated for a moment, and seeing that the emperor showed no intention of punishing him, he said loudly, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The warm yellow light gradually dimmed, and Yao Ruyi opened her eyes in a daze and saw the man sitting on the edge of the bed. Gu Huizhou was sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to her. The light shone on the floor, making the man look dark.

He remembered that Gu Huizhou was wearing a white robe today, but now it was tinged with gray.

"Gu Huizhou." Yao Ruyi's voice was a little hoarse; he sensed that the emperor was in a bad mood.

"woke up?"

Gu Huizhou turned his head and reached out to grab the person's wrist. "I'm packing my things. I'm going back to the capital today."

It was already evening, and judging from the looks of it, they were going to return to the capital overnight. Yao Ruyi was taken aback. "What's wrong?"

"Those two committed suicide by poisoning themselves."

For no apparent reason, they administered laxatives, causing the autumn hunt to be delayed for no reason.

Gu Huizhou's eyes were filled with gloom; he wanted to see who in the city they had such a protective attitude towards.

Yao Ruyi understood, and he got up and went to pack his things.

The autumn hunt lasted only one day, so the rewards were given according to the day's count, and the longsword was sent to Bailijiang.

Baili Jiang declined several times, claiming that he should be paid. But Cui Xiangzhu insisted on refusing.

He had to do whatever His Majesty asked him to do, and as for who would ultimately use the sword, that was up to Baili Jiang to decide.

As night fell, the carriages and horses were completely tidied up.

The imperial guards led the way, slowing their pace in the darkness. Unlike their grand arrival, the emperor's return to the capital seemed somewhat clandestine.

Yao Ruyi fell asleep leaning against the man's chest. The dragon carriage was much more comfortable than the horseback ride on the way here. He was drowsy and couldn't help but think that if he could have sat in the dragon carriage on the way here, it would have been much more comfortable.

However, they did not find any useful clues when they returned to the capital that night. Instead, the next day, news came that General Han had a daughter.

The capital was filled with shock.

"We had never heard of the princess being pregnant, yet she gave birth to a little princess just like that."

"They've been married for a year now, so it's understandable."

"That's true, it just feels so sudden."

"Why think so much? What does it have to do with us?"

The man chuckled, "It's nothing, just a little chatter."

The people around him scattered in a hurry. "We'd better use this time to do more work. The harvest in the fields is better this year, and we can't let the soil freeze in the winter."

"That's true. After finishing the work, you still have to go back to the fields to check on the grain."

Although the capital was shocked, people continued to live their own lives.

As night fell, a strong and burly figure slipped through the side gate of the palace and walked along the long palace road to the Imperial Study. Han Jiqing couldn't help but smile, and he chuckled foolishly.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your subject has brought my daughter to pay her respects to Your Majesty!"

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It's a bit short. [Let me see]