Chapter 62 Thank goodness, she didn't drink that wine.
What is she doing here?
Since the banquet, An He's thoughts have often been in disarray. He can't help but think of the kiss Zhao Liangxu left on his cheek.
Who would believe someone who says they like themselves?
Who would like a eunuch?
He didn't believe Zhao Liangxu's sweet talk at all, but...
What if it's true?
There was absolutely no fear or disgust in her eyes that most people would have towards him.
If she wasn't hiding it too well, then there's another answer.
It was an answer he had never considered, nor dared to hope for.
She also asked him to pamper her more.
The hot air she exhaled, the strands of hair brushing against my face, the warmth of her hands—all of it made me dizzy.
She spoke in a cold voice, yet uttered such seductive words.
Speaking like that, he really sounded like a monster from a storybook, but this monster was only trying to seduce him, a useless eunuch.
He couldn't figure it out, so he decided to go out for a walk to clear his head.
In the past, he would not have gone out on official business with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard was under his command, it was not worth it for him to personally take action.
However, the spies who had been sent to monitor Zhao Chengxin and his companion who had escaped discovered that Zhao Chengxin also had the habit of having multiple burrows. He had hidden several of his loyal subordinates in a small courtyard. Zhao Chengxin was not entirely stupid. He knew that after escaping, he would remain silent for a while. However, after the New Year, the caravan arrived, and the messages sent back by the spies showed that they had already made a move.
Zhao Chengxin's men infiltrated the residence of the Vice Minister of Works. They knew that the Vice Minister of Works was greedy and had amassed a great fortune during his tenure. Seeing the jewel-adorned merchants entering the capital, the fat and gruff Vice Minister of Works would be disgracing his reputation if he did nothing.
However, this banquet was indeed a bit too ostentatious. The Vice Minister of Works did not want to be so extravagant and obvious, but thanks to Zhao Chengxin's people secretly pushing things along, the Vice Minister of Works was encouraged to hold a banquet at the villa to seek personal gain.
The banquet was the most important part of the event. If Zhao Chengxin's men poisoned the food and drink, killing the merchants, there was a high probability that it would incite their dissatisfaction and fear, and provoke conflict.
A high-ranking official of the Southern Zhou Dynasty held a banquet with ill intentions. A Persian merchant couple, who were even invited to the Wanshang Banquet, were suddenly poisoned. It is feared that the crowded and noisy capital will become even more chaotic. Zhao Chengxin may also take advantage of this opportunity to pursue his plan to restore his country.
Anhe certainly didn't want to see this situation.
It's quite laughable that An He has been keeping a close eye on Zhao Chengxin's every move since his escape. Zhao Chengxin's grand ambitions are likely to be thwarted halfway through.
Therefore, this was still a very important matter. Anhe had been carrying that lingering unease that kept him awake for several days, so he decided to personally raid the home of the corrupt official in charge of the Ministry of Works. After all, he wasn't just greedy; he had also committed many illegal acts. He might as well take care of him all at once and let him vent his emotions and feel a little better.
But Anhe never expected that Zhao Liangxu would be here.
These past few days, he hasn't paid any attention to Zhao Liangxu's movements; he's probably too busy trying to avoid her.
Upon seeing Zhao Liangxu, he even had the urge to turn around and leave; he simply hadn't figured it out yet.
However, the intense gaze that suddenly lit up when Zhao Liangxu saw him made him unable to take a single step.
The way she looked at me, it was like she really meant it.
Thinking this made him panic.
Anhe actually knew that Zhao Chengxin's men had not yet made a move. The strong liquor that the Vice Minister of Works was about to give everyone was the medium that the man intended to use to poison them.
Just by looking at the surprised and frightened expressions of the people in front of him, he knew that they were still alive and kicking and showed no signs of poisoning.
Upon seeing Zhao Liangxu at the banquet, he felt threatened and annoyed.
Anhe had no time to mock the Vice Minister of Works anymore. He turned around and urged and scolded, "You fool, where is that servant who went to fetch the wine? Hasn't he brought him back yet?" His men had been secretly monitoring the man's movements for a long time. Only when the lurking man came out of the banquet and shook out the paper package in his sleeve did Anhe order his men to move out.
Anhe walked up to the Vice Minister of Works, looked down at him and said, "Get out of my way."
The Vice Minister of Works scrambled to the side, and Anhe's men ruthlessly kicked away his chair. Another sharp-eyed man moved a new chair to the main seat, and Anhe naturally sat down.
"Your Excellency, what exactly is going on...?" The Vice Minister of Works wiped away his cold sweat, wanting to know what the current situation was.
In the otherwise quiet inner room, everyone felt uneasy. Although the merchants were not truly afraid of An He, the gleaming blades of the Imperial Guards made them afraid to move. The people of Southern Zhou, on the other hand, were terrified to the core and dared not utter a single word.
An He retorted mercilessly to the question the Vice Minister of Works was asking, but his next sentence directly targeted Zhao Liangxu.
Although the people inside the room did not react much to these words, they unconsciously focused their attention on Zhao Liangxu.
Hazar looked at Zhao Liangxu with concern, while Yu Yan was terrified by An He's arrival and dared not even glance at the legendary eunuch. However, when she heard Zhao Liangxu being summoned, she nervously grabbed Zhao Liangxu's hem.
Then it suddenly scattered.
What role can she play?
Zhao Liangxu wasn't afraid when she heard An He's less-than-friendly tone. Despite An He's persistent gaze, she walked to his side.
Anhe tapped his fingers on the chair armrest once, twice, and then someone brought over a smaller chair for Zhao Liangxu to use.
An He, with a tense expression, looked Zhao Liangxu up and down and asked, "Have you been drinking?"
Zhao Liangxu said, "Just a few drinks, what's wrong, Eunuch An?"
An He did not answer Zhao Liangxu's question, but gave a look to the person next to him, who then understood and instructed people to check the food and drinks at the banquet.
They did see Zhao Chengxin's men preparing to poison the food, but there's no guarantee that there wasn't anything in the food.
"Someone poisoned it?" Zhao Liangxu understood An He's meaning from everyone's actions.
Anhe's men quickly inspected all the food at the banquet, paying particular attention to the Persian caravan's meals. It was unclear whether this was because the Persian caravan was extremely important or because Anhe extended his affection to them.
"Your Majesty, there is no poison in your food and drink."
Anhe was relieved. Just then, the servant who was fetching wine was brought up by the two men. The two men who were holding the servant were acquaintances of each other. They were Xia Yi and Chun Yi, who had been keeping a close eye on Zhao Liangxu.
As the two men held the servant under their control, the Vice Minister of Works noticed that the servant who had been entertaining him was actually quite tall. Compared to many malnourished servants, he was quite robust. However, since the servant was usually hunched over, he hadn't noticed that the servant was any different from the others.
Since they were all servants, he didn't care whether he knew them or not; he preferred to use servants who could flatter him properly.
But then, looking at the tall servant, he suddenly realized something, his eyes widened, and he asked Anhe in a panic, "Your Majesty, this servant is a complete stranger, he has nothing to do with me!"
An He deliberately avoided looking at Zhao Liangxu and ordered, "Go, bring up the Vice Minister's fine wine as well, so that the Vice Minister can see what his servants are up to in secret."
The Imperial Guards brought over several wine jars, each about the height of a calf, one of which had already been opened.
"Come, pour a cup for our Vice Minister. It's our own wine, so we should drink it first. After you finish drinking, remember to share your thoughts."
An He gently invited the Vice Minister of Works to accept the wine, which gave everyone in the room goosebumps.
Even if the Vice Minister of Works was only half-informed, he knew that there was definitely nothing good in the wine. He pushed the wine cup away and pointed at the servant who brought the wine, cursing loudly.
"You lackey! You..."
Anhe grabbed something and threw it at the Minister of Works' forehead, saying in a low voice, "Minister, are you making a veiled attack? I'm just a servant too."
The Vice Minister of Works, in this situation, had no intention of doing so. He was simply used to cursing, and upon hearing An He's venomous question, he disregarded the bump on his forehead and forced a smile: "Your Highness, how could this be..."
"I never expected this. I heard that you, Vice Minister, were also a second-place scholar in the imperial examinations. I thought that scholars were all gentle and humble people. I never expected that you, Vice Minister, would use such foul language. And now you are smiling at me like this. I can't accept this."
An He scoffed, too lazy to argue with the Vice Minister of Works any further, and pointed at the servant who was fetching wine, saying, "Your Excellency, take a good look. When did this servant arrive at your residence? And do you even know why he came to your residence?"
The Imperial Guards tested the wine and threw the blackened silver needle in front of the Vice Minister of Works, startling him.
"This servant was found here by my own hand, following the clues of the traitor. The Vice Minister is truly audacious, harboring a traitor from an enemy state. If I hadn't come, I fear what a disaster might have ensued."
An He's voice gradually tightened, revealing the anger in his heart. At the same time, the thought of Zhao Liangxu almost drinking the poisoned wine made him even angrier.
The Vice Minister of Works had already suspected that the tall wine-fetching servant was of dubious origin, but he never expected that the worst-case scenario would come true.
This is a crime linked to treason. He is not worthy of such a serious charge. Now he doesn't have to worry about being dismissed or exiled. If he is convicted of this crime, he will have his entire family executed!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you are wise and discerning. I know nothing! How could I possibly have such great abilities? I have always been loyal to you!"
Anhe shook his head and glanced at him, saying, "Your words are too kind, Minister. We are all loyal to His Majesty, so how can you be loyal to me?"
"Just..." He had barely uttered a word when Zhao Liangxu, completely disregarding the occasion, handed An He a cup of tea to moisten his throat.
An He's harsh words were cut short. He glanced at Zhao Liangxu with annoyance, took the teacup, took a sip, and then slammed the cup down on the table in front of him.
"We won't beat around the bush with you. We know you don't have the guts, and you don't need to worry about being torn to pieces for treason..."
The Vice Minister of Works looked up with delight and heard An He's next sentence.
"Your Excellency should just admit to the gold and silver you've embezzled and the crimes you've committed over the years, and you'll be able to... at least leave with a whole corpse."
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Author's Note: Dear readers, this novel will be available for purchase starting tomorrow with Chapter 29. Updates will still be at 6 PM sharp!
I haven't had much rest these past few days, so tomorrow's update will still be 3,000 words. However, since we're going to be a paid content creator, there will be extra chapters. After this busy period, around the 12th or 13th, there will be extra chapters in addition to the regular updates~ (I'll be on holiday those days, but I'll try my best to write extra chapters for everyone before I take a break, hahaha)
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