Chapter 68 Was the truth serum just a prank on him?
The note said that the truth serum had been poured into the wine jug at Lin Yuan's table.
This medicine was colorless, odorless, and even non-toxic. Even the most skilled imperial physicians in the palace could not detect any clues about it.
Wen Shuwan hurriedly looked up in Xie Linyuan's direction, wanting to remind him not to drink, when suddenly the image of him tilting his head back and drinking in a daze flashed through her mind.
He had already drunk the problematic wine.
In fact, everyone at the table drank it.
Wen Shuwan pondered the last sentence on the note: "If you don't believe me, just watch Vice Envoy Zhang; he will be the most powerful proof."
Deputy Envoy Zhang? Isn't he the master's subordinate? How could he help Lin Ruoxue prove the authenticity of the truth serum?
At this moment, the people at the opposite table started making noise again.
Vice Envoy Zhang was sitting next to Xie Linyuan, and the two were drinking.
A middle-aged man carrying a wine glass walked over, his face reeking of alcohol. He was fat and had big ears. He slapped Zhang, the deputy envoy, on the shoulder with one hand. "Deputy envoy Zhang, hiccup, I heard that your wife has been keeping a close eye on you lately. You're so pathetic that you can't even find a copper coin for cupping therapy. Is that right?"
Vice Envoy Zhang, his face flushed, said, "What nonsense are you talking about? I still have some money on me, believe it or not?"
The middle-aged man shook his head with a mocking laugh. "Tsk, how many are there?"
Vice Envoy Zhang shouted, "I'm afraid you'll be scared to death if I tell you, it's a full half tael and five copper coins!"
After saying that, Vice Envoy Zhang covered his mouth in annoyance. Why did he have to blurt it out? Had he drunk too much? That shouldn't be the case; he's a heavy drinker.
The middle-aged man continued, "Oh? So where did this money come from?"
"Of course, it's because I always secretly overcharged by a few copper coins when I helped my colleagues carry things..."
By the time Vice Envoy Zhang realized what he had said, it was too late to take it back.
Oh no! He quickly lowered his head, covered his face, and avoided eye contact with the people at the table.
There was someone on the field who was just as flustered as Vice Envoy Zhang, and that was Wen Shuwan.
There was no reason for Vice Envoy Zhang to say such disgraceful things in public; Wen Shuwan had heard that he had an excellent alcohol tolerance.
The only explanation now is that the truth serum is real.
Wen Shuwan suddenly felt a chill run through her body, as if she had been drowning back in the suffocating lake a year ago, feeling helpless and desperate.
Her heart was pounding harder and harder. Was she really going to face the fear that haunted her nightmares?
Wen Shuwan originally thought that Xie Linyuan had only married her out of a sense of responsibility, and that even if he didn't like her, they would live harmoniously after marriage.
But that day, Lin Ruoxue told her that she was the one who interfered and broke up the couple. She didn't know if it was true or not.
Wen Shuwan kept avoiding the question, afraid to hear Xie Linyuan's affirmative answer.
She really can't take it.
She is a very weak and cowardly person.
I'm so sorry.
"Mianmian wants more food, ah~" The child gently shook Wen Shuwan's sleeve, indicating that she was still very hungry.
"Okay, come on." Wen Shuwan forced a smile, pretending to be nonchalant.
No one knew that in the heart of this gentle woman, a small boat had already struck a huge iceberg.
Over there, the middle-aged man wasn't letting up with Vice Envoy Zhang. He grabbed the man who was trying to make an excuse to urinate, saying, "Don't be in such a hurry to leave. Since your wife is so fierce, I wonder who is the woman you love most in your heart, Vice Envoy Zhang?"
Upon hearing such juicy gossip, the women and young ladies in the room all perked up their ears with curiosity, and even the men cast their eyes to watch the spectacle.
"Bang!" Vice Envoy Zhang slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his voice strong and clear, "My only love is my wife!"
The sound was so loud that it silenced the previously noisy room for a moment.
The middle-aged man hadn't expected such a reply and said dryly, "Ha, really?"
This time, Vice Envoy Zhang grabbed the man and wouldn't let him leave. He kept rambling on about how good his wife was and how much he loved her.
He even wiped away a few tears as he spoke, saying, "My wife has suffered with me all these years."
His disgusting and clingy demeanor made even his colleagues, who had been swindled out of money by Vice Envoy Zhang, reluctant to ask him for their money back.
However, these tears fell gently into the hearts of the women at the table.
"I never imagined there could be such a deeply affectionate man in the world."
"Everything written in the storybooks is true, I understand it all now." A melancholy young lady slowly wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes.
But these tears extinguished the fire of anxiety in Wen Shuwan's heart.
Wen Shuwan's expression was complicated. Her aunt had told her about Vice Envoy Zhang's affair.
Looking at the tearful Old Zhang, Wen Shuwan felt a great weight lifted from her heart. Men really are good at acting. The palace is recruiting dancers, why doesn't he dance in front of the emperor?
So, that medicine was fake?
Why make such a big fuss just to mock Vice Envoy Zhang?
The people at the table had different thoughts. At this moment, the faint exclamations of palace maids could be heard from a side room.
The crowd's attention was diverted, and some busybodies even went over to inquire.
Wen Shuwan's gaze wandered around before finally settling on Xie Linyuan.
The man's lips curled into a smile as he fiddled with a small, exquisite wine glass. He tilted his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing, and downed another glass of wine.
Xie Linyuan sneered inwardly. This great gift had finally been returned to the Lin family.
Wen Shuwan looked at the cold and handsome man and wondered, "Won't it cause problems if I drink too much of this fake medicine?"
Those who went to check the side room exclaimed in surprise. Amid the commotion, several palace servants carried a large box to the front of the main hall.
A palace maid suddenly knelt on the ground, panicked. "This servant...this servant doesn't know anything! I just accidentally knocked over a chest of the Third Princess's dowry. I didn't expect to see this item. Please spare me, my lord! This servant doesn't know anything!"
The crowd gathered around, craning their necks to look inside the box, and discovered a voodoo doll lying inside. The doll had a strange face, neither human nor inhuman, and was covered in silver needles.
It's like a drop of water falling into a pan of oil, instantly exploding.
"How could such an evil object be in the Third Princess's dowry?"
"They say he inherited the bloodline of the Pei family's imperial advisor and is skilled in divination, but in reality, he's probably secretly researching witchcraft."
"Make way, everyone!" The Third Prince has arrived.
The crowd parted to make way for a main road leading directly to the witchcraft puppet.
The third prince's face was ashen as he stared at the object with a sinister look.
Damn it, why didn't they discover it sooner or later? Why did this have to happen right after they finished their greetings, in front of everyone?
"Please return to your seats, Your Excellencies. His Highness the Third Prince will handle this matter." It was the man in black who served under the Third Prince.
But no one moved. This was a major event that could lead to the extermination of nine generations of one's family. No one wanted to miss such a big event. Besides, if they didn't find out the truth now, it would be hard to say what would happen in the future.
Seeing that no one was leaving, and that they were all high-ranking and powerful figures in the court, whom the Third Prince relied on in many ways, it was not appropriate to rudely drive them away.
The Vice Minister of Works stepped forward and examined the voodoo doll closely.
He fiddled with the clothes on the doll, "Look, everyone!"
Everyone craned their necks to look.
"This is not..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
