Chapter 70
"But I am worried about my eldest brother's followers in the court. They are hiding too deeply. If we miss any of them, will our efforts fail?" Yi Luoyue sighed.
"We have basically investigated his connections in the court. If we are careful, we can still control the general direction."
"Dangdangdang." There was a light knock on the door, and Bai Die's voice came from outside the door.
"Princess, Prince Consort, Liefeng has arrived and said he has something important to report."
"Let him in."
Bai Die pushed the door open and walked in, followed closely by Lie Feng.
"Your Highness, I just received news from the secret guards that the virtuous prince summoned Doctor Wen late at night to discuss a plot, and then he left the city after leaving the virtuous prince's mansion!"
"Leaving the city at this time? What is he going to do out of the city?" Gong Yuchen frowned slightly.
Liefeng took out a note from his sleeve and handed it over.
Gong Yuchen picked up the note and took a look at it, his eyes pondering the word "poisoning" for a moment.
"Did anyone send someone to keep an eye on him? Which direction did he go?"
"We've sent people to follow them. Judging from their direction, they should be heading towards the barracks outside the city."
The military camp outside the city? He left the city at this time, and his destination could be the military camp? Could it be that Yi Luoyao was planning something? The garrison outside the city is currently under the command of Li Fei's brother! Could it be that Doctor Wen was going there...?
"Your Highness, do you need me to send someone to stop Doctor Wen right now?"
"No need." Gong Yuchen looked up at Liefeng, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"If we stop him, not only will the virtuous king become suspicious, but he will definitely come up with other solutions. So it's better to go along with his wishes."
"Brother, are you planning to have Doctor Wen poison the army?" Yi Luoyue was furious. They were planning to repeat the events of three years ago!
"That's probably what he was planning. The virtuous prince is willing to spend a fortune this time, completely disregarding the possibility of exposing the palace epidemic incident three years ago."
"Liefeng, go find Doctor Li immediately and ask him to do two things."
"Your Highness, please speak."
"First, find the prescription used to treat the Li Palace epidemic three years ago. Second, have him quietly go to the garrison camp outside the city later and secretly collect some well water samples to see if there's anything unusual. It would be best if there's evidence that Doctor Wen poisoned the area."
Gong Yuchen paused and added.
"Also, have Li Fei talk to his eldest brother and have the soldiers pretend to be infected. Let the whole thing run smoothly. Then, spread the word that half the soldiers in the camp are sick, and there aren't even enough people on duty. Yi Luoyao has a lot of spies, and they'll definitely report this back. We can make him think his plan is successful."
"Yes, I obey your command and will go right away."
"Also, keep a close eye on Doctor Wen. Once the 'wedding banquet' begins, arrest him immediately."
"I understand!" Liefeng bowed, turned around and left quickly.
"you mean?"
"I've always wondered why Yi Luoyao wanted to conduct experiments like the epidemic."
Yi Luoyue was stunned for a moment, then she understood his intention.
"You mean if an epidemic breaks out, he can eliminate dissidents on the one hand, and on the other hand, he can gain support for his contributions to treating the epidemic?"
"I can't think of any other explanation otherwise."
"Yes, this is indeed the most reasonable explanation." Yi Luoyue nodded.
"Only when they feel that the biggest threat has been eliminated will they be more confident in forcing the emperor to abdicate."
"Imperial Physician Li said that the epidemic three years ago caused body aches and persistent fevers. It looked just like the plague, but it wouldn't actually kill anyone in the short term. On the day of the abdication, he could prevent the garrison outside the city from entering to rescue the emperor, and then he could blame it on the 'epidemic' afterwards. His calculations were truly brilliant."
"So we need Imperial Physician Li to verify whether Imperial Physician Wen was the one who poisoned the place. If it's true, then we'll play along with them to paralyze them. That way, we can catch them and their followers in one fell swoop."
"Luo Yue, you must stay in the mansion for the next few days. I have strengthened the security here. Also, I have told Qin Ying to be prepared. She will disguise herself as your maid on the day of the 'wedding banquet'. You will temporarily hide her in your original bedroom. When the time is right, I will send someone to pick her up and have her testify against Concubine Shu in front of my father and the entire court!"
Yi Luoyue looked at Gong Yuchen's calm profile and his determined eyes, her heart full of admiration.
"Well, I feel much more at ease with you here. By the way, our wedding is in four days. Will the wedding preparations be affected? If so much has happened, will Father postpone the wedding?"
"No, don't worry, our wedding will not be affected in any way." Gong Yuchen said in a firm tone.
"In four days you will be my Crown Princess, and no one can change that." He was not worried at all, and the expression on his face returned to his previous rebellious and arrogant self.
"Besides, once something happens, a joyous wedding will be necessary to appease the people and stabilize the court. As far as your father is concerned, it will actually be a good thing. He also hopes that you can get married soon and have someone to take care of you."
Yi Luoyue felt warm in her heart and a bright smile appeared on her face.
"I doubt if there's anything you can't do."
"Little fool, you are my wife, so no matter what difficulties we encounter, no matter what I do for you, I am happy to do it. As for you, just wait happily to become my bride."
Yi Luoyue nodded, leaned on Gong Yuchen's shoulder, and spoke softly.
"Gong Yuchen, thank you. If it weren't for you, I really don't know what I would do. The dowry has been prepared according to the specifications, and they are all treasures carefully selected by my father. But I think these are actually not important. What is important is "you". I am very glad that my husband is Gong Yuchen "you"." Yi Luoyue looked at the handsome and affectionate lover in front of her with loving eyes.
Gong Yuchen felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart, and he stroked her hair gently with a gentle tone.
"I've already had everything prepared quickly. The wedding dresses and ceremony items are all ready, and the guests have been invited. I will definitely marry you when the time comes, and we'll have a grand wedding."
"Okay, I'll listen to you. Thank you for your help, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Yi Luoyue smiled with relief.
"You don't know how I've been living these past few days. Shouldn't you give me some reward?" Having said everything that needed to be said, it was time to do something happy.
"Is that so?" Yi Luoyue's eyes flashed with mischief, her fingers stroked his Adam's apple, and she offered her cherry lips, teasing Gong Yuchen.
"Little fox, you are starting a fire." A charming smile appeared on his lips, and he lifted Yi Luoyue's chin with his fingers, his eyes full of lust. She has been holding back for several days. Doesn't she know that men cannot be teased!
"What? Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you still afraid that I will start a fire?" Yi Luoyue leaned her whole body on him and pouted coquettishly.
"Whether I'm afraid of you starting a fire or not depends on how you put it out." Gong Yuchen pinched Yi Luoyue's small nose lovingly.
"Oh! Are you dissatisfied with me?" Her smile was so beautiful that it captivated everyone, and her sweet voice bewitched his nerves.
"I dislike you! You underestimate yourself. Seeing that you won't feel like sleeping for a while, why don't we give it a try..." He forced a wicked smile and whispered in her ear.
Yi Luoyue's face flushed with shame, and she raised her fist and punched him in the chest.
He growled, leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. She bore his stormy passion and responded with equal intensity.
The two of them snuggled together tightly, their bodies emitting amazing heat. He slightly moved away from her lips and smiled wickedly. He panted and pulled open her clothes and bellyband. His lips greedily wandered on her snow-white neck, his fingers gently kneading her delicate skin, and then... entangled with her, indulged in her, until the whole room was warm.
When I woke up, Liefeng had been waiting outside for a long time.
"Your Highness, I have something important to report."
"Tell me, is there any new movement from the wise king?"
"This morning, Imperial Physician Wen returned to the city. Imperial Physician Li also went to the barracks last night, unnoticed. He discovered a medicine called 'Lihan' in the barracks' well. If the soldiers drank the water, they would suffer from high fever and headaches. However, most would experience fatigue and weakness within seven days, without damaging their internal organs. As long as they take the antidote within seven days, the symptoms will resolve on their own."
He chose this medicine because he wanted to shirk responsibility later and say it was just an "epidemic". After all, apart from the 30,000 soldiers, it would not be a good thing for Yi Luoyao if they really died.
"Did Doctor Li come up with any solution?"
"Doctor Li was afraid that if he detoxified the well, the virtuous king would discover it, so he mixed the antidote into the garrison's rations. When these rations came into contact with the poisoned well water, the poison would be eliminated. However, they would suffer symptoms similar to those of an epidemic: their faces would turn pale and they would feign a cough, but it would not harm their bodies at all. This was all a show for the virtuous king's spies to see."
"Go and tell Li Fei again that no one is allowed to leave or enter the barracks before the 'bride banquet'. If anyone asks, say there's a suspected epidemic."
"Your Highness, everything is going according to plan. Now we just need to wait for the 'bridal banquet' to catch the virtuous king and his men in one fell swoop."
Gong Yuchen's eyes were determined. After so many years of fighting, it was finally time to end it all. Yi Luoyao thought he was in control of the situation, but he didn't know that from the moment he decided to "force the emperor to abdicate", he had already walked into the trap they had set.
"And Your Highness, I have just found out that the virtuous king not only bribed Gong Yuxian, but also secretly contacted the concubine of the Crown Prince of Nanyi, and agreed that once he succeeded in forcing the emperor to abdicate, the concubine would persuade the Crown Prince of Nanyi to support his ascension to the throne." Liefeng said in a low voice.
Gong Yuchen frowned slightly when he heard this.
"The concubine of the Crown Prince of Nanyi? I didn't expect Yi Luoyao to have this trick up his sleeve. However, based on his understanding of the Crown Prince of Nanyi, he is a man who knows the current situation very well. He might support Yi Luoyao's ascension to the throne, but only if Yi Luoyao has successfully forced the emperor to abdicate. However..."
He pondered for a moment and said to Liefeng.
"Immediately contact Li Fei and our people in Nanyi, Dongyi, and Beiyi, and have them monitor the movements of the armies in these areas at all times. Also, notify King Cheng and have them strengthen the defenses of the city gates to prevent anyone from sneaking into the city."
"I obey your order!" Liefeng bowed and turned to leave.
Yi Luoyao, who was far away in the Xianwang Mansion, was still immersed in the dream of ascending the throne, and had no idea that his every step was under the control of others.
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