Cao Gu immediately realized that Gao Wenjie was responsible for knocking over his wine glass, recalling Gao Wenjie's earlier action.

This is a huge mess!

But when he looked back, Gao Wenjie's face was deathly pale, and there was a faint trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

Then I realized I was overthinking it; this Mr. Gao was clearly a victim too.

"Help! Someone come quick!"

Cao Gu was truly dumbfounded.

There was some chaos at the men's table, but things were a bit better at the women's table, where everyone was drinking more politely.

Only a few ladies who downed their drinks in one gulp slid off their chairs and onto the floor, unconscious.

Madam Du also felt dizzy and nauseous.

But she couldn't fall down. Regardless of who poisoned her, as the mistress of the household, she had to stabilize the situation.

"Someone help! Save him! Go get a doctor!"

Of all the people present, the three were the most composed.

Murong Yue, Ahao, and Qi Yuan.

As soon as the commotion was heard, Qi Yuan flew over and landed steadily in front of Murong Yue.

At the same time, he pulled a signal flare from his pocket and threw it into the air.

Soon, amidst the chaos of war, the garrison stormed in, led by a group of people dressed as civilians.

He bowed to Qi Yuan.

With a wave of his hand, Qi Yuan ordered all those who were poisoned or not, men or women, to be placed under the guard of the garrison.

Do not allow anyone to move.

Madam Du gritted her teeth, a sharp pain shooting through her abdomen. "Young man, you're protecting your master, but there's a limit!"

Qi Yuan gave her a cold look, completely ignoring her.

Just as Madam Du was about to speak, the Du family's butler rushed in from outside.

"Madam! Madam! All the doctors from Tongrentang are out on house calls today. This old servant went to Jishetang, and the doctors there are also out on house calls there."

None of the city's most renowned doctors were seeing patients.

"Go and fetch the imperial physician."

"yes."

The Du family had a physician who was supported by the family year-round.

But the bad news soon arrived: "Madam, the family physician has been poisoned and has already passed away."

Yes, how could the imperial physician possibly miss today's banquet, this intoxicating southern paradise?

Thinking of the wine, Madam Du pushed aside the guards and ran to the men's section to find Gao Wenjie.

"Lord Gao! You're the one who delivered this wine, hand over the antidote..."

But Gao Wenjie also collapsed to the ground unconscious, his face ashen.

Where would someone poison themselves without sparing their own life?

Madam Du began to suspect that someone else had done it.

What should we do?

She was so anxious that she paced back and forth, the pain in her abdomen making her see stars and unable to concentrate.

This poison is incredibly potent; I only just tasted a tiny bit.

If so many powerful and influential people were to die at the banquet, how would I explain it to others?

Du Ziming and Pan Cong, those two bastards, are dead, so be it.

But there are also the prefectural governor, Hengtong Money Exchange...

Murong Yue had seen enough, so she asked Qi Yuan to bring over the imperial physician from her team.

On this day, while the people were still busy, they saw that the Du family and the prefectural government office were suddenly surrounded by soldiers.

Something's happened!

Some people recognized these as military personnel.

That would be even worse!

Before they could react, officers and soldiers were already standing on the streets to issue notices.

"Except for grain shops, rice stores, and clinics, all shops will be closed for one day, and unauthorized personnel are prohibited from moving around."

Los Angeles enters its first 100-day lockdown.

Everyone huddled at home, trembling with fear, too afraid to go out.

Anyone with even a little bit of connections wanted to find out what was going on, but the Du family and the government office were as impenetrable as an ironclad fortress.

The powerful and wealthy were even more panicked, as their patriarchs were all at the Du family's banquet.

The Li family, who owned a large cloth shop, tried to rush out, but were killed instantly by government soldiers.

Cao Gu gave the order: anyone who resists, kill.

"Rebellion! Rebellion! Is Cao Gu rebelling?"

Cao Gu: ...What the hell? I have no idea what's going on.

The soldiers belong to him, but they're not under his command anymore!

Inside the government office, Li Xuanji was in charge, and the officials who did not come to take up their posts were strictly guarded at home.

None of the officials in office dared to speak.

He was made to stand in the hall as punishment.

He listened as Li Xuanji issued his orders one by one.

"Martial law is in effect in Los Angeles; only entry is permitted at the city gates, no exit."

"Arrest those previously deployed, and kill any who resist."

"Investigate official roads and trade routes, and detain all suspicious persons."

"yes!"

These orders were increasingly severe.

Los Angeles is about to change.

Moreover, someone recognized that this decisive and ruthless figure was none other than the high and mighty Imperial Advisor.

Hearing the commotion outside, Gao Qingpei's pained and contorted face broke into a slight smile.

"Father, it's a success, isn't it?"

He believed that all of this was arranged by his father.

Gao Wenjie took the initiative and killed everyone; he couldn't let Luozhou fall into chaos, so he must have a backup plan.

Thinking of this, her head lolled to the side, and she fainted from the pain.

Du Mansion.

Those who were still alive stood in one place, while those who were barely lying on the ground were in several rows, like dead quails.

It gives you goosebumps.

Du Ziming died, and Pan Cong barely survived.

The imperial physicians used the method given by Li Xuanji to examine each person and quickly identify those who were 'poisoned' every day.

Report this to Qi Yuan.

Next came the large-scale interrogation.

"Do you know that this kind of stuff is addictive?"

"How much silver did you give the Du family to buy it?"

"What else did you give as gifts?"

"What have you done for the Du family?"

How many other people in your family are like you?

The Imperial Guards interrogated the men, and then they signed, sealed, and pressed their fingerprints.

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