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Yi Xiang Yuan.
Shen Yu distributed the portrait of the Northern Poison to her servants, constables, and guards of the Dali Temple, and once again instructed them: "Find this kind of grass in the courtyard. Note that it has withered yellow leaves. Remember not to touch it with your hands. Although it looks withered yellow, it is actually plump and juicy. If you touch a wound, the toxin will enter the body and cause you to die on the spot."
As everyone dispersed, Chen Yu turned and walked towards Lord He.
The official stood ramrod straight beside the round table with a stern face. Beside him stood a guard, whose chin was raised and whose proud posture could not hide his arrogance. Clearly, this guard was the official in disguise.
Shen Yu deliberately pulled He Daren to sit down and poured him tea, saying, "Uncle, you've worked hard. Have a cup of tea to quench your thirst."
After saying that, she picked up the portrait beside her and handed it to the guard, glancing at him sideways, "Go and look in the flowerpots in front of you. Remember, don't touch them with your hands."
The guard took the portrait and walked into the garden with his head held high.
Seeing this, Lord He shook his head, signaling to Chen Yu not to provoke the official.
Shen Yu pouted and rolled her eyes. To protect the prince, the emperor falsely accused Liu Yu of assassinating Prince Hong and ordered Liu Yu to be secretly beheaded at noon. Fortunately, Prince Yan and Hong Yu had rushed to Dali Temple to protect Liu Yu. Once the truth is found, Liu Yu can get rid of his imprisonment.
At this moment, Aunt Bai came over carrying a plate of pastries. Although she couldn't speak, she had a smile on her face. She thought to herself that Lord He was a high-ranking official, and when Bai Yejing and He Yuan got married, Lord He would be their in-laws.
Aunt Bai put down the pastries and sat down next to Master He, pouring him tea and water, and stammeringly asking him what business he had come here for.
At this moment, Aunt Bai only knew that Bai Yehua had been killed by Liu Yu, but was unaware that Bai Yehua had assassinated Prince Hong. Seeing Lord He shake his head and remain silent, she could only force a smile.
Just then, the guard returned and placed the portrait on the stone table.
Aunt Bai picked up the portrait and looked at it for a moment. She pointed at the portrait and stammered, then got up and pulled Master He out.
The group followed Aunt Bai to Chengyuan.
Shen Yu was filled with doubt. Could it be that what Aunt Bai said about Chengyuan contained a strange poison from the north? She couldn't help but purse her lips, thinking that Aunt Bai must have been careless and unable to tell the difference.
To dissuade Aunt Bai and to prove her innocence, she had no choice but to order the servants to open all the doors and let Aunt Bai move around freely.
Aunt Bai ran into the hall, went straight to the long table, moved a pot of peonies down and placed it on the octagonal table. Then she pointed at the peonies and began to stammer at Master He.
Upon taking a look, the man's expression changed drastically. He looked at Chen Yu and said, "It's a rare poison from the north."
Shen Yu was shocked, finding it hard to believe that her family possessed the Northern Cold Poison. But how could Aunt Bai know that this place harbored such a rare northern poison? It should be noted that Aunt Bai had only visited Cheng Garden once and had never set foot in this hall. Moreover, there were two potted plants on the long table, one a peony, the other a jasmine; why was Aunt Bai rushing towards the peony pot in particular?
Before she could react, a guard stepped forward to verify the evidence himself, then slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Mu Chenyu! You are harboring evidence! What is your punishment?"
Although she was terrified, she forced herself to remain calm and stepped forward to investigate. It was indeed a rare poison from the north. She immediately knelt down and explained:
“Your Majesty, how could Shen Yu harbor evidence? I remember the day Bai Yehua returned from his campaign, he was waiting for me here. He must have secretly planted the poisonous plant in my flowerpot, just waiting for the truth to come out so he could frame me.”
Upon hearing this, Aunt Bai immediately understood the whole story. It turned out that Mu Chenyu had led people to Yixiang Garden to search for evidence of Bai Yehua's crimes. How could this be allowed? If Bai Yehua was truly guilty, wouldn't she and Bai Yejing also be implicated?
So, Aunt Bai hurriedly knelt down, pointing at the poisonous weeds and then at Chen Yu, finally shaking her head and weeping bitterly. This action was clearly an attempt to identify Chen Yu and plead for Bai Yehua's innocence.
Unfortunately, the poisonous herb was found in Chengyuan Garden, and Chenyu was naturally listed as a suspect. The Emperor ordered He Er to escort her to Dali Temple.
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Inside the prison.
Shen Yu gripped the iron bars and looked around. She had been here before; it was the corridor where Liu Yu was imprisoned. Unfortunately, she could only see the opposite side. There was no one in the cage diagonally opposite; only a chain hanging in the air remained.
She pressed her face against the iron bars, looked to the side, and whispered, "Grandma..."
With a clang, the outer gate opened, followed by Eunuch Cai's voice, "Quickly lead the way and clear the dry grass from the path, lest the Empress trip over it."
Has the Empress arrived?
Shen Yu was terrified; the Empress must have come to find her.
Hongyu had told her that the Empress was worried about Prince Heng's suffering in Xiliang and wanted to find a virtuous and dignified woman to serve him. Did the Empress's arrival now mean she was to serve Prince Heng?
She hurriedly retreated to the middle of the cage, whereupon a guard ran over and opened the cage door, followed by an imperial physician. The physician, without saying a word, was about to take her pulse. She tried to break free, but was held down firmly by two old women who suddenly rushed in.
Looking up, I saw the Empress standing outside the cage, looking at me with a dignified expression.
“Chenyu, I was thinking of helping you leave the Bai family yesterday, but I didn’t expect you to be able to do it on your own. The more capable you are, the more I like you. You failed to marry Prince Yan back then, and now you are no longer… So why not go along with Prince Heng and go to Xiliang with him? I will ask the Emperor to pardon your crime.”
"The fish that sinks in the water is unwilling."
"Unwilling? You concealed evidence and conspired with Bai Yehua to murder Prince Hong. This crime deserves the extermination of your entire family. However, considering the merits of your father and elder brother, His Majesty will only execute you. You will be beheaded at noon tomorrow. I devised this plan for you in order to save your life."
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