Chapter 54 It seems I've been tricked...
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the auspicious offering ceremony has arrived.
The sun shone high in the sky, and the summer heat had not yet subsided. Li Pan stood expressionless among the officials, his sleeves tucked in.
Before the emperor and crown prince arrived, the officials whispered among themselves, saying that today was indeed an auspicious day. It was said that purple clouds had appeared briefly at dawn, a lucky omen of auspicious purple clouds coming from the east.
At this very moment, under a clear blue sky and bright sunshine, the glass shimmered and the steps gleamed. Li Pan squinted repeatedly before he could finally endure the blinding light.
"His Majesty has arrived—at the Welcoming Stone—"
Upon hearing a long, drawn-out announcement, the previously somewhat listless civil and military officials immediately straightened up, displaying a ramrod-straight and respectful posture.
Amidst the resounding sounds of bells and drums, the sacred stone bearing the inscription "Heaven's Blessing" was carefully arranged, lined with bright yellow brocade, and slowly carried into the center of the Imperial Ancestral Temple Square.
The emperor, wearing a crown and imperial robes, looked solemn, with the crown prince following closely beside him.
Amidst cheers and hymns, the emperor, the crown prince, and other imperial relatives entered the temple, personally offering incense and libations. They then bowed and prayed before the ancestral tablets.
After the ceremony, the emperor drank the blessed wine and ate the sacrificial meat, then distributed the remaining wine and meat to the crown prince, the imperial relatives, and the civil and military officials in the square, sharing the imperial ancestor's blessings.
Li Pan also received a small cup of wine and a small piece of meat.
Li Pan glanced at the emperor's figure in the distant Imperial Ancestral Temple, then at the wine and meat in front of him, and hesitated.
—Could the emperor have secretly poisoned him inside?
He glanced around quietly and saw that all his colleagues had already thanked him and started eating, while he remained motionless, which seemed quite out of place.
He slowly raised his wine cup, intending to secretly pour the wine into his sleeve under the cover of his body, but before he could even bring the cup to his lips, he suddenly heard a commotion coming from the ancestral temple.
He put down his wine cup and looked closely. To his surprise, he saw that the Crown Prince had somehow fallen to the ground, surrounded by panicked palace servants and bewildered imperial relatives. The Emperor stood beside the Crown Prince, his back to the court officials, his reaction unknown.
A perfectly good auspicious ceremony was forced to be interrupted due to the Crown Prince's sudden illness. The imperial physicians rushed into the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the heavy doors were quickly closed, shutting out all prying eyes and doubts.
The officials were blocked in the square by the Imperial Guards, unable to go in or out, and looked at each other in bewilderment.
Fortunately, everyone present was worldly-wise, and fearing trouble, they all kept quiet.
Li Pan lowered his eyes and stood silently in the square, with untouched wine and meat in front of him, but no one cared about him anymore.
After being left to stand in the scorching sun for an hour, Eunuch Zheng finally came to deliver a message, ordering the Imperial Guards to release the prisoners.
However, not everyone was able to leave. Everyone involved in the preparations for the ceremony, regardless of their official rank, from the Minister of Rites to the palace servants, was detained.
Li Pan was only responsible for escorting the divine stone back to the capital. After that, it was no longer his concern. He walked at the back of the departing crowd, brushing past several colleagues who had been temporarily detained. He saw the panic and confusion on their faces.
Li Pan pursed his lips and left the Imperial Ancestral Temple without saying a word.
It was midday, and there wasn't a breath of wind in the air. The Imperial Ancestral Temple was always quiet, and at this moment it was even more so, so eerily silent.
Li Pan hurriedly returned to the manor. Lou Xueying noticed his pale face and asked what had happened. When she learned that the Crown Prince had suddenly fallen ill, she was stunned.
Li Pan keenly noticed her unusual behavior: "What? You know the reason?"
Lou Xueying quickly shook her head: "How would I know? I was just wondering, how could His Highness the Crown Prince have an accident at such an important occasion as the Auspicious Offering Ceremony? Was it an accident, or was it deliberate?"
Although she said this, she was already convinced in her heart that it must have been Emperor Jinghui who did it.
Emperor Jinghui had long harbored murderous intentions towards the Crown Prince. His so-called sudden illness was remarkably similar to the symptoms Emperor Jinghui had before his death in his previous life.
Lou Xueying just couldn't understand why they had to choose such a day to make their move.
Moreover, the auspicious offering ceremony was ordered by Emperor Jinghui to be conducted by the Crown Prince himself, so it would be difficult to pin the blame on someone else, right?
Lou Xueying asked, "How is His Highness the Crown Prince now?"
“I don’t know. When I left, the imperial physician hadn’t come out yet. Perhaps he was still treating the child.” Li Pan thought for a moment and then said, “But I think His Highness the Crown Prince should be fine. If something had really happened, we would probably still be in the Imperial Ancestral Temple by now.”
Lou Xueying sighed softly and said, "Never mind, it has nothing to do with us. It's good that you're alright."
However, by evening, the gatekeeper came to report that Miss Yao had arrived.
"Yao Biyue? Why is she here all of a sudden?" Lou Xueying was taken aback. "Quickly, please invite her in."
She hurried toward the door. As soon as Yao Biyue saw her, she abandoned all decorum and rushed over, grabbing her hand in a panic and crying out, "Susu, you have to help me!"
"Don't panic, don't panic," Lou Xueying hurriedly asked, "What happened?"
Yao Biyue swallowed hard, tried to keep her voice steady, and quickly recounted the events.
It turns out that Yao Biyue's father was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Agriculture also participated in the preparations for the ceremony. The sacrificial meat and other sacrificial foods needed for the ceremony were directly provided by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The prince was indeed unharmed, but he suffered from severe abdominal cramps. After examination, the imperial physician suspected that the piece of sacrificial meat the prince had eaten was abnormal, since the hot weather made the meat susceptible to spoilage if not stored properly.
So the Imperial Ancestral Temple released another batch of innocent officials to go home, but this time only the Minister of Agriculture who provided the food and the palace servants responsible for guarding the food were detained.
The Crown Prince's accidental consumption of mutated sacrificial meat is not a major incident, but it is not insignificant either. Under normal circumstances, he might be punished and that would be the end of it. However, this was a sacrificial ceremony for offering auspicious omens. In front of the auspicious sacred stone and the ancestral tablets of the royal family, His Highness the Crown Prince was allowed to eat mutated sacrificial meat, forcing the peaceful and sacred ceremony to be interrupted. This is a great dereliction of duty and a disregard for the majesty of the heavens, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was a disregard for the majesty of the heavens and a plot to harm the imperial heir.
Upon receiving the news, Madam Yao's legs went weak and she was unable to walk. Yao Biyue was at a loss and could only seek help from Lou Xueying.
Lou Xueying found it very strange after hearing this.
Why make such a big fuss just because the Crown Prince accidentally ate some bad meat? But all the meat used must be screened at every level, especially meat that goes directly into the mouths of the Emperor and the Crown Prince. It must be handled with utmost care. How could such a basic mistake be made?
Li Pan, who was standing nearby, also said, "Is it really a problem with the meat?"
"I...I don't know..." Yao Biyue said, her lips trembling. "That's what the messenger from the palace said, but I don't think the Ministry of Agriculture could have such a problem..."
"Don't be afraid. It's not just your father who's been detained. There's definitely room for maneuver. Maybe if we investigate further, we'll find out that the Crown Prince ate something else, not just the meat," Lou Xueying comforted her. "We don't know anything at the Marquis's residence. Why don't I take you back to the Lou family and ask my father if he has any news?"
Yao Biyue bit her lip, glanced at Li Pan, and couldn't help but pull Lou Xueying aside again, whispering, "I... I'm actually most afraid that there's something wrong with the meat, but... what you told me before... His Majesty wants to... wants to change the heir apparent... What if that's true..."
Lou Xueying was also stunned.
If it wasn't a problem with the meat, then it could only be a problem with the person. She had previously thought that Emperor Jinghui had poisoned the Crown Prince, but now it seemed that he had actually found a scapegoat?
If the Crown Prince dies as a result, then Yao Biyue's father will truly be unable to get out!
But since the deed was done, Lou Xueying couldn't interfere. She could only say to Yao Biyue, "Don't scare yourself. Calm down. I'll take you to my father now and hear what he has to say."
Yao Biyue nodded reluctantly.
Lou Xueying, supporting Yao Biyue, turned to Li Pan and said, "My lord, I must go home."
Li Pan: "I'll take you there."
These are turbulent times, and unless absolutely necessary, he doesn't really want her out of his sight.
So Li Pan personally drove Lou Xueying and Yao Biyue to the Lou family home.
Unfortunately, Lou Shu didn't have any new information either.
He could only look at Yao Biyue and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, your father and I have been friends for many years, and I watched you grow up. I will definitely not let him suffer an injustice. However, the case is strange right now, and the palace should still be investigating. Although your father is in prison, there is no need to worry about his personal safety for the time being. It's getting late, and you, as a young lady, shouldn't be running around. Go back to your residence quickly and wait for news tomorrow."
Yao Biyue could only thank him with tears in her eyes and bid farewell to Lou Shu.
By the time Yao Biyue was escorted back to the Yao residence, it was completely dark.
Li Pan and Lou Xueying returned to the Marquis's residence. Li's mother stood at the gate of the courtyard, looking at them with concern: "Is the matter very serious?"
Lou Xueying lowered her eyes and said, "My friend's family has been implicated, but Mother, don't worry, this matter has nothing to do with the Marquis or the Lou family, and it won't affect us."
Li's mother sighed: "Even though it won't affect us, I felt really sorry for Miss Yao when I saw how panicked she was!"
Lou Xueying forced a smile: "The matter is still under investigation, and it's not certain that something has really happened."
Li Pan: "Mom, go back to sleep. Stop worrying about other people's business."
"Alright, alright, I won't cause any more trouble." Li's mother shook her head and slowly went back into the house.
Li Pan and Lou Xueying returned to their rooms, quickly washed up, and then rested.
Lou Xueying lay on the bed, deep in thought, when she suddenly heard Li Pan ask, "That Miss Yao, is she the one we met on the day we entered the palace?"
Lou Xueying hummed in agreement: "You still remember?"
Li Pan: "What did she go to the palace for that day?"
Lou Xueying hesitated for a moment, but then, thinking that everyone knew about this, she said, "The Empress summoned her and wanted her to meet His Highness the Crown Prince."
"A prospective bride?" Li Pan exclaimed in surprise. "She's going to be the Crown Princess?"
"No," Lou Xueying said. "The Crown Prince didn't like her, and she didn't like the Crown Prince either, so it didn't work out."
Li Pan: "I suppose the world will just say that the Crown Prince didn't fancy her, right?"
Lou Xueying frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"
“What I mean is, if the Yao family harbors resentment because their marriage alliance with the Crown Prince failed, and they want to take revenge on him, that’s plausible,” Li Pan said calmly. “Don’t ask why this date was chosen, or why this method was chosen. Just tell me, did the Yao family have this motive?”
Lou Xueying fell silent.
"Since there is a motive, the possibility of Yao Shaoqing being held accountable is greater than that of others."
“But His Majesty has no grudge against Yao Shaoqing! Why would he scheme against Yao Shaoqing like this?” Lou Xueying blurted out.
Li Pan stared at her in astonishment: "What does this have to do with His Majesty?"
Lou Xueying realized she had spoken out of turn and immediately fell silent.
Li Pan immediately sat up abruptly, staring at Lou Xueying: "What do you know?"
Lou Xueying swallowed.
Li Pan: "Swoosh!"
Lou Xueying knew she had made a grave mistake and that Li Pan would not let it go, so she had no choice but to explain, "Actually...actually...I heard something before. His Majesty seems to be somewhat dissatisfied with the Crown Prince. I'm worried...I'm worried that His Majesty might be considering deposing the Crown Prince..."
Li Pan was shocked: "Where did this news come from?"
Lou Xueying's hands were hidden under the blanket, twisted nervously into a knot: "That day when His Majesty saw me alone... I overheard his conversation with Eunuch Zheng... You, you mustn't tell anyone..."
"Why does His Majesty want to depose the Crown Prince? What has the Crown Prince done?"
"Then I don't know..." Lou Xueying looked at him anxiously, "So I think there's something fishy about what happened today. If the Crown Prince didn't eat the bad meat, but ate something else... Don't be fooled by the fact that the Crown Prince seems fine now. If he has any aftereffects later... then wouldn't Yao Shaoqing really be in trouble..."
Li Pan frowned and remained silent.
"Maybe I'm just overthinking it," Lou Xueying said softly. "But no matter what, this matter seems to be beyond our control right now. Especially you, you're barely able to protect yourself, so please don't get involved."
“I know,” Li Pan said. “I’m just wondering, if what you say is true, and His Majesty wants to depose the Crown Prince, then why did he entrust him with the affairs of the sacrificial ceremony? Did I return to the capital not because he let you go, but because I happened to give him an opportunity to deal with the Crown Prince?”
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Changqing Palace.
Emperor Jinghui sat there with a gloomy expression, with Eunuch Zheng kneeling before him, trembling with fear.
"Didn't I tell you to have someone put poison in the Crown Prince's wine? Why has it suddenly become that he has a stomachache, and that it's something to do with the meat?!"
"Your Majesty, this old servant truly knows nothing!" Eunuch Zheng cried out in protest. "This old servant has made all the arrangements. The wine cup was indeed smeared with medicine, and His Highness the Crown Prince certainly drank from it! I don't know why he had no reaction at all! As for the meat, this old servant didn't let anyone touch it, and I have no idea what happened!"
Emperor Jinghui deliberately chose to act on the day of the sacrificial ceremony, but his purpose was not to poison the crown prince.
Poisoning would easily arouse suspicion, and he didn't want to bear the name of wrongfully killing a loyal official for the sake of such a wicked creature. Therefore, the medicine he arranged was not poison, but a drug to intoxicate. This drug would not cause poisoning, but would only temporarily impair one's senses, making one appear as if drunk, confused and delirious. In the previous dynasty, some people had become addicted to this drug, which was later banned by the government. However, for Emperor Jinghui, finding someone to make it again would not be difficult.
Once the effects of the drug take hold, the Crown Prince will lose his composure before the ancestors and all the officials. Furthermore, since the Crown Prince is in charge of overseeing the sacrificial ceremony, if he protests after regaining his senses, Emperor Jinghui will have grounds to claim that the Crown Prince's past misconduct and poor handling of the auspicious offering ceremony have angered the gods and ancestors, resulting in divine punishment as a warning to everyone that this scoundrel is unfit for important responsibilities. In this way, the Crown Prince's prestige will inevitably collapse, and the Emperor will have a reason to completely sideline him, making future actions much easier.
But to his utter surprise, things spiraled completely out of his control. He was no longer concerned about where the sleeping potion had gone, but rather, where the rotten piece of meat that the Crown Prince had eaten came from!
He wasn't angry because the plan had failed; he felt as if he had been outmaneuvered and had no idea what would happen next. This feeling of the enemy being in the dark while he was in the light terrified him.
However, with everyone watching, he couldn't confront the Crown Prince and demand an explanation. He could only suppress his anger and order the officials involved to be detained for questioning.
After receiving a brief medical examination, the Crown Prince was transferred back to the Eastern Palace for careful recuperation.
"Is the Empress still in the Eastern Palace?" Emperor Jinghui asked through gritted teeth.
Eunuch Zheng replied, "I just received news that the Crown Prince has taken his medicine and is resting, and the Empress has also returned."
Emperor Jinghui stood up abruptly: "Let's go to the East Palace."
With a worried expression, Eunuch Zheng replied, "Yes."
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