The New Year was just around the corner, but Concubine Xiao Shu was poisoned. This New Year was destined to be a difficult one.
Because it was near the end of the year, the palace, which had been somewhat festive, suddenly became as cold as ice chips.
Not only is the weather cold, people's hearts are even colder.
There was panic in the palace and everyone was in danger.
Zhou Miao is very irritable.
Who was behind the incident and the plot to poison Concubine Xiao Shufei?
He was determined to find this man and skin him alive.
He finally connected with Gu Jiu, got rid of Jiang Shuyi, and had further cooperation. MMP, someone came out to cause trouble at this time.
If the cooperation between him and Gu Jiu was ruined, his eyes darkened and he would kill everyone on the suspect list one by one.
If he can't kill them today, in five years, ten years, when he climbs to a high position, he will always find a way to kill those people.
Zhou Miao is a vengeful person who can hold a grudge for a lifetime.
Whoever makes him unhappy will be unhappy for the rest of his life.
During the day, he continued his duties as usual, while keeping a close eye on the Xingqing Palace and the movements of the Jinwu Guards.
During these two days, he served his godfather Hu Jianzheng with particular diligence, and presented him with three thousand taels of silver as a filial gift, and finally got the opportunity to deliver meals to Xingqing Palace.
When you arrive at Xingqing Palace, the atmosphere is heavy and makes you feel uncontrollably fearful.
Zhou Miao's calves trembled for a moment, and then he became alert again.
He turned around and reminded the eunuchs following behind him, "Keep your skins tight and don't look around or talk nonsense."
"promise!"
The eunuchs were all humble and respectful, and they were all trained by Zhou Miao himself.
Only after inspection could he enter the main palace gate.
Seeing the person in front of him, Zhou Miao ran over and said, "Greetings, Minister Shen. I am Zhou Miao, the eunuch of the Imperial Kitchen. I am here to deliver food to His Majesty on the orders of my Lord, the Imperial Kitchen."
Shen Changshi glanced at Zhou Miao and asked, "Are you Hu Jianzheng's godson?"
Zhou Miao smiled respectfully, "Shen Changshi's eyes are sharp, and I am Hu Jianzheng's godson."
Shen Changshi smiled and asked, "What did you give me today?"
"The Imperial Kitchen prepared it according to the order. Minister Shen, please check it."
"Of course I have to check. Come in."
Zhou Miao followed Attendant Shen to the side hall.
The eunuchs behind him each carried a food box.
The food in the lunch box is freshly cooked and hot.
All the food and wine were taken out and checked one by one to make sure there were no problems.
Attendant Shen nodded, and immediately a eunuch from Xingqing Palace arrived to take over the subsequent meal delivery. The wine and food were repacked into food boxes and delivered to the emperor.
Zhou Miaodi’s meal delivery mission ends here.
Bang!
There was a loud noise coming from the hall next door, something hitting the wall pillar.
Zhou Miao shuddered noticeably, looking terrified.
Minister Shen frowned slightly, but did not go in.
Zhou Miao took the opportunity to ask, "Hasn't the case of Concubine Shu's poisoning been investigated yet?"
Attendant Shen smiled and said, "From what we hear, it seems the poisoning case has been solved. However, Your Majesty is so angry, the case has far-reaching implications."
Zhou Miao looked frightened yet curious, "Could it be that they caught the remnants of the kidnapper? Could it be one of the eunuchs in the palace?"
Shen Changshi glanced at Zhou Miao with a cold gaze, "Didn't your godfather teach you to be careful with your words and actions?"
Zhou Miao was extremely frightened, his whole body shaking like a sieve, as if he was frightened.
Her waist was bent like a shrimp, and her voice was trembling. "My father-in-law is teaching me a lesson. I will take my leave now."
"Get lost!"
Zhou Miao bowed and retreated.
When he got outside, his waist straightened instantly.
As he walked out of the palace, he kept an eye on the movements around him.
The people from the Jinwu Guard are here. Does that mean the person in the hall is Wei Zhong, the left guard of the Jinwu Guard?
Wei Zhong found a clue?
Who poisoned him?
He had to find a way to get the truth.
Zhou Miao's heart was bleeding at the thought of spending a lot of money again.
He is a real money-grubber. His past experience of begging has made him attach great importance to money.
However, in order to fulfill his promise to Gu Jiu, he gritted his teeth and took the risk.
At worst, I can ask Gu Jiu for money next time.
He spent all his money on getting information.
It is only natural to ask Gu Jiu for money.
…
In the main hall, Wei Zhong knelt on the ground.
The most valuable clue at the moment is a rubbing of a human body.
The rubbing is now in the hands of the emperor.
The emperor's expression changed repeatedly, he was in doubt and asked, "Are you sure?"
Wei Zhong said respectfully, "This is absolutely true. The body is in the imperial prison."
In the emperor's hand was a tattoo rubbing of a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue.
Wei Zhong personally led the Jinwu Guards to investigate the poisoning of Concubine Xiao Shufei.
From the palace to the outside, a gunfight broke out between the two sides, resulting in heavy casualties.
In the end, only one body was brought back.
A tattoo of a poisonous snake was found on the body.
This tattoo is exactly the same as the one on the body of the assassin who assassinated the emperor in the palace.
When comparing the two rubbings, there is no difference.
At that time, the emperor went to the temporary palace to escape the summer heat and wanted to depose the crown prince.
As a result, before the decree to depose the crown prince was announced to the world, he was attacked by an assassin.
It was Crown Prince Renxuan who blocked the fatal sword for the emperor and died for him.
The assassin bit through the poison sac and committed suicide on the spot.
Later, when the assassin's body was examined, a tattoo of a poisonous snake was found on his body.
After nearly two years, the venomous snake tattoo reappeared.
Is it a coincidence?
It's no coincidence.
There must be a connection between Concubine Xiao Shufei's poisoning and the death of Prince Renxuan.
This was obviously a strict and mysterious organization, and they were so bold that they not only dared to assassinate the emperor, but also poisoned and murdered Concubine Xiao Shufei.
The emperor's heart was already in turmoil.
"Sure enough, someone is plotting to murder me. Investigate, continue investigating."
The emperor was furious and waved his hand, and everything on the desk fell to the ground with a deafening noise.
But this was not enough to calm the emperor's anger.
The emperor was extremely furious. He picked up the inkstone and smashed it directly on the dragon-carved wall pillar, making a loud clang.
Wei Zhong shuddered, then lowered his head and said, "I obey your command. However, I have a request."
"explain!"
"I need to reinvestigate the Crown Prince's assassination. I may find some clues. Your Majesty, please grant me this."
The emperor's face was frosty and he paced back and forth in the hall anxiously.
"The Crown Prince died saving me, but I never imagined someone would poison Concubine Shu again today. Will those people come back and poison me next time? Who is plotting to murder me? Who is it?"
Wei Zhong was sweating profusely and didn't dare to speak.
Chen Dachang persuaded: "Your Majesty, please calm down."
"I cannot calm my anger. Wei Zhong, in your opinion, are the people who killed and poisoned the prince remnants of the kidnappers?"
Wei Zhong pondered and said, "It's very likely that they are the remnants of the kidnappers. The symbols on the cloth found in Changchun Palace are exactly the characters the kidnappers used to communicate and issue orders. Moreover, the remnants of the kidnappers poisoned Concubine Shu, most likely out of revenge."
The emperor was furious, his eyes were red, like a trapped beast, violent and bloodthirsty.
"What's the situation with Concubine Shu now?"
Chen Dachang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician has suppressed the poison in Concubine Shu's body. He is currently trying to find a way to detoxify her."
The emperor said irritably, "Tell the Imperial Hospital staff to hurry up! If anything happens to Concubine Shu, I will not forgive them."
"I obey your command! I will arrange for someone to deliver the message to Changchun Palace right away."
The emperor stared at Wei Zhong with red eyes. "Continue the investigation! Investigate the Crown Prince's case at will. Arrest anyone connected to this case, regardless of their background. I allow you to act first and report later. You can make your own decisions at critical moments. In short, I want you to dig deeper and show no mercy."
"Your humble servant obeys your order!"
Wei Zhong accepted the order and withdrew.
The emperor found it difficult to calm his anger, and even more difficult to suppress his fear.
Sure enough, someone was deliberately trying to kill him.
His doubts and worries are by no means unnecessary.
Who is it?
Is he the prince who was driven out of the capital by him?
Of all the sons, not one is trustworthy.
The emperor drew his sword and waved it wildly in the hall.
One of the eunuchs was unable to dodge and was hacked, letting out a panicked and short cry.
Chen Dachang frowned, and someone immediately covered the eunuch's mouth and dragged him away.
The eunuch's eyes were filled with fear, and tears streamed down his cheeks.
However, no one took a second look at the eunuch.
After the emperor had almost vented his anger, Chen Dachang spoke up to persuade him, "Your Majesty, calm down."
The emperor was breathing heavily, his eyes still crazy, but fortunately his emotions had calmed down somewhat.
He stared at Chen Dachang with eyes like a poisonous snake.
Chen Dachang showed no fear. "Your Majesty, do you still want to investigate the rumors about the Crown Prince being assassinated?"
The emperor frowned, "What do you think?"
Chen Dachang breathed a sigh of relief, and the emperor finally calmed down.
He considered and said, "Rumor has it that the Chu Palace is plotting to murder the Crown Prince. Now it seems that there may be something fishy going on."
"You mean, like the rumor about Concubine Shu being poisoned, someone spread it deliberately?"
"I think this is possible." Chen Dachang said with a bow.
The emperor snorted coldly, "I asked you to investigate the rumors, did you find anything?"
Chen Dachang shook his head. "I am incompetent. The clues are broken and I can't continue investigating."
The emperor frowned and pondered the matter.
Now it seems that the assassin was in cahoots with the person who poisoned Concubine Shu.
In other words, the assassin at the time was most likely the mysterious force behind the kidnapping case.
What is the purpose of deliberately spreading the rumor that the King of Chu is plotting to murder the prince?
Stir up suspicion among the royal family and cause them to kill each other?
It is possible.
The emperor took a deep breath and said, "There's no need to investigate the rumor case any further."
"I obey your command."
…
Prince Chu's Palace.
Concubine Sun walked into the quiet room.
There was a chessboard placed in the quiet room. Shaojian Fang smiled and invited Concubine Sun, "Your Majesty, would you like to play a game of chess?"
Concubine Sun stared at Fang Shaojian with an inquiring look.
Fang Shaojian's expression was calm. "Your Majesty, why don't you sit down first?"
She sat down opposite him.
"You did it." These were the first words she said.
Fang Shaojian smiled gently, "Does your Majesty trust me now?"
"I have always trusted you."
Just listen to this, he will never believe it.
He fiddled with the black and white pieces on the chessboard, playing with his left and right hands.
Concubine Sun took a deep breath and said, "I just received news that His Majesty has ordered a halt to the investigation into the rumors. The crisis is over."
"Really?" Fang Shaojian said with a smile, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, you can finally sleep peacefully."
Concubine Sun stared at him intently. "Did you send someone to poison Concubine Shu? And you even deliberately linked it to the kidnapping case. How did you know the symbols used by kidnappers?"
Fang Shaojian sneered, "Have you, Madam, forgotten where our family came from?"
"You? Are you the kidnapper's man?" Concubine Sun looked alert.
Fang Shaojian shook his head. "If I am the kidnapper, will Queen Cui Ruizhen keep me by her side to serve her?"
"Then how do you know the symbols used by the kidnapper?" Concubine Sun had too many questions, and today she had to get the truth.
Fang Shaojian smiled and said casually, "Empress Cui Ruizhen once ordered me to capture someone, and I learned the symbol from this person."
"Who is this person? Where is he now?"
"Dead. Your Majesty, you don't think this person is still alive. How could someone who was personally ordered to be captured by Queen Cui be alive?" Fang Shaojian looked at Concubine Sun with a smile.
Concubine Sun felt her mouth dry and swallowed subconsciously, "The people in Changchun Palace and outside the palace, were all arranged by you?"
Fang Shaojian narrowed his eyes slightly. "Your Majesty ate an egg, and yet you insisted on seeing what the hen that laid it looked like. That's not appropriate."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Sun snorted coldly, "Don't forget, you are my person now. Yet, I know nothing about you, not even when you arranged these things. How can I feel at ease with you?"
Fang Shaojian put down the chess piece. "That's not what Her Majesty said at the beginning. I remember that Her Majesty only asked to resolve the rumor, and she didn't care how to resolve it.
Now that His Majesty has finally ordered an end to the investigation into the rumors, why is Your Majesty going back on his word and insisting on getting to the bottom of it?
If that's the case, why don't you ask how the Crown Prince died at the hands of the assassin? "
"How dare you!" Concubine Sun was furious.
Fang Shaojian picked up the chess piece again and said calmly, "Your Majesty only needs to savor the taste of the eggs; you don't need to know what the hen that laid them looks like."
The Queen Mother Sun was filled with anger.
She stared at Fang Shaojian.
Fang Shaojian didn't even look at her. "Your Majesty, please go back. The matter has been resolved. We can finally have a peaceful New Year."
"What are you going to do about Concubine Shu? Can you cure Concubine Shu's poison?"
Concubine Sun suppressed the anger in her heart and asked calmly.
Fang Shaojian smiled and said, "The Concubine Shu will be well again soon, don't worry."
Concubine Sun gnashed her teeth and said, "Why not take this opportunity to let Concubine Shu go to see the King of Hell."
"My lady, be careful not to cause trouble."
"The concubine has been poisoned. It is said that the poison is very rare. Why can't we take this opportunity to give her to..."
"Your Majesty, be careful with your words. With His Majesty's current temper, have you ever considered the consequences of Concubine Shu's death? Do you really think the Prince of Chu's Palace can remain unscathed? Beware of the Prince of Chu being driven out of the capital."
When the emperor gets angry, he doesn't care whether you are a prince or a grandson of the emperor. He will not let anyone go.
Fang Shaojian continued, "The more you do, the more mistakes you make. There are many smart people in this world, and there are two smart people in the Ning Palace. We can't let them find the Chu Palace."
Concubine Sun narrowed her eyes, "Are you afraid of Liu Zhao?"
Fang Shaojian admitted bluntly, "We are indeed afraid of him."
"Why should we be afraid of him? He's just an emperor's grandson."
"He's just a grandson of the Emperor, yet he was able to single-handedly plot the murder of the King of Beirong, instigate internal strife within Beirong, and uncover the kidnapping case. Isn't such power something to be feared?"
Concubine Sun was speechless.
Fang Shaojian continued, "She's just the wife of the emperor's grandson, yet she's been able to earn His Majesty's favor through her own abilities and secure money for him. And she secured nearly three million taels of silver in one go. Isn't this kind of ability worthy of respect?"
"My Lady, Liu Zhao and Gu Jiu are not fools. As long as they have enough clues, they can find the Prince of Chu's Mansion. For now, we can't give them any more clues. This must end here."
Once the goal has been achieved, don't do anything extra. The best strategy is to decisively cut off all ties.
Fang Shaojian has the courage and he is not greedy.
However, Concubine Sun was obviously more greedy than him.
Fang Shaojian didn't care.
The matter was under his control, and even if Concubine Sun was greedy, she could not interfere in this matter.
He is the only one in the world who holds the power left by Queen Cui Ruizhen.
It was pure dreaming for Concubine Sun to think that she could surpass him and control this power.
Concubine Sun took a deep breath and said, "It seems you have made your decision."
Fang Shaojian did not hide anything. "Before the Empress came, the last order had been issued. The Empress Shufei will be well soon."
Concubine Sun snorted, "Don't act on your own next time."
Fang Shaojian laughed and said, "I will follow your Majesty's instructions. Next time, I will definitely ask for your permission first."
Concubine Sun left in anger.
Fang Shaojian lowered his head and sneered. He placed a black piece and then overturned the chessboard.
Black and white chess pieces rolled all over the floor.
Fang Shaojian looked at the scattered chess pieces on the ground with an unclear expression, muttering to himself, "As a person, don't be too careless."
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
Have you ever seen a child skipping school because they have blisters around the corners of their mouth? That's what happened to me. I was almost pissed off.
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