Chapter 62: Just some old things
The mentality of Emperor Xiao Ziran of Nanyue was completely distorted.
The pain of unrequited love, the resentment of being "betrayed", and the feeling of powerlessness when learning that there may have been a misunderstanding in the past all transformed into a fierce malice towards Crown Prince Liu Xiao.
His methods were extremely insidious and patient.
He no longer showed any obvious hostility, but instead showed special appreciation and friendliness towards Crown Prince Liu Xiao in public.
At a horse riding and archery exchange activity arranged by the Ministry of Rites, in which young officials and children of nobles from both countries participated.
Xiao Ziran "happened" to pass by and stopped to watch.
When Liu Xiao beautifully shot an arrow into the bull's eye, he generously clapped his hands and praised: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is indeed a man of both civil and military talents, quite like Your Majesty in his youth! He is truly a blessing to the Celestial Empire!"
His praise was just right and his eyes were gentle. Anyone who saw it would feel that this was the sincere appreciation of a friendly monarch for his juniors.
Even Liu Cong, who was always vigilant at the side, was temporarily unable to detect the cold venom beneath that smile.
After the event, Xiao Ziran even sent someone to send a "small gift" to the East Palace in the name of "getting to know each other at first sight" and "encouraging the younger generation" -
A set of soft armor made of gold wire, carefully crafted by skilled craftsmen from Nanyue, is said to be extremely light yet impenetrable to swords and spears.
There is also a box of "Ningshenxiang", a precious spice special to Nanyue, which is said to be able to calm the mind and enhance memory.
When the gifts were delivered to the Eastern Palace, Liu Xiao was discussing something with Liu Cong.
Look at the soft armor that is gleaming with gold and is extremely finely crafted, and the box of spices that smells so fragrant as soon as it is opened.
Although Liu Xiao felt that Emperor Nanyue was a little too enthusiastic, out of courtesy he was still prepared to accept it and express his gratitude.
Liu Cong frowned, stepped forward and stopped the eunuch who was about to take the spices.
He picked up a pinch of spices, put it to the tip of his nose and sniffed it carefully, then picked up the soft armor and examined it again and again.
"Royal brother, is there anything wrong?" Liu Xiao asked.
Liu Cong's face was solemn. "Your Highness, we must be cautious. The Emperor of Nanyue is being overly attentive. It would be best to have these things examined by the Imperial Physician before use."
He was extremely distrustful of anything that came from Xiao Ziran.
Liu Xiao felt that his second brother was a little too cautious, but out of trust in his brother.
Still nodded in agreement: "Just as my royal brother said."
The imperial physician was soon summoned.
After a careful inspection, he replied, "Your Highness, Second Prince, this soft armor is finely crafted and contains no hidden weapons. This 'Concentrating Incense'... is indeed made of precious medicinal herbs that soothe the mind and nourish the brain, and does not contain any common toxic substances."
Liu Cong's brows didn't relax upon hearing this. "No common toxicity? Then are there any unusual ingredients...that only work when mixed with other things?"
The imperial physician pondered for a moment, looking a little embarrassed. "This... If we were to examine all possible changes caused by the combination, it would take a very long time and would be difficult to exhaust..."
"Then investigate!" Liu Cong said firmly.
"Divide these spices into several portions and test them one by one with His Highness's daily diet, incense, tea, and even the flowers in the palace! Until they are absolutely confirmed to be harmless, these substances must not come near the Crown Prince!"
"Yes, yes." The imperial physician agreed quickly and retreated with the box of spices as if it were a hot potato.
Liu Cong also ordered the gold-thread soft armor to be put into the warehouse and strictly guarded on the grounds that "Your Highness does not need it at the moment and the style is too ostentatious." No one was allowed to take it out without his permission.
When Xiao Ziran learned that the gift he sent was stopped and strictly inspected by Liu Cong, he was not angry, but instead a sinister smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"Check it out, take your time."
He stroked the jade ring on his thumb and muttered to himself.
"'Concentrating Incense' itself is certainly non-toxic and indeed a beneficial substance. But what if it encounters 'Die Drunk Powder'?"
That was a secret treasure passed down by the Shadow Owl Guards back then. It was colorless and odorless, dissipated when exposed to heat, and inhaling it could cause a person's mind to gradually become drowsy and produce hallucinations...
Liu Cong, you can defend against the open spear, but can you defend against this hidden arrow from the past?"
He had already used special channels to mix a trace amount of "Drunken Butterfly Powder" that was hardly noticeable into another batch of spices that were tributed to the Celestial Palace.
That batch of spices is currently being stored in the inner storehouse of the imperial palace, and will sooner or later be distributed to various palaces for use...including the Eastern Palace.
As long as Liu Xiao comes into contact with these two things at the same time, the toxicity will slowly take effect.
It's a process so slow and secretive it can avoid all regular inspections.
What Xiao Ziran wanted was not to poison Liu Xiao to death immediately, but to make him slowly "sick" and "disabled".
In the Yangxin Palace, Emperor Liu Jin was also having a hard time.
The fierce conflict with Xiao Ziran that night ended with his angry scolding.
But the possibility of "being forced to leave" and "the letter being swapped" as Xiao Ziran mentioned was like a poisonous thorn that pierced deeply into his heart.
He recalled the details of that year over and over again.
The handwriting on that letter was indeed slightly different from Xiao Ziran's usual handwriting.
He was heartbroken at the time and did not investigate further.
Xiao Ziran's father, the old Emperor Nanyue, was indeed known for his tough tactics and strong desire for control.
And Xiao Ziran's look of pain and despair just now, which didn't seem completely fake...
Could it be... that I really hated the wrong person for twenty years?
As soon as this thought came to mind, it brought with it a suffocating feeling of pain and absurdity.
If it was truly a misunderstanding, then what was the point of all the hatred he had harbored for the past twenty years, and all the suffering and torment he had endured alone?!
What about the self who was forced to become cold and hard and fight for the throne at all costs because of his "betrayal"?!
He fell into extreme self-doubt and painful struggle, and his mood became increasingly unstable.
Crown Prince Liu Xiao was keenly aware of his father's depression. That day, he personally brewed a pot of calming tea and went to the Yangxin Palace.
"Father, I see you've been very tired lately, so I made you a cup of tea."
Liu Xiao placed the teacup gently on the table, his tone filled with cautious concern.
Liu Jin came back to his senses from his chaotic thoughts and looked at his son's clear and worried eyes. His heart felt slightly warm, but also a little sad.
He took the teacup and took a sip. It tasted sweet and had just the right warmth.
"Xiao'er is thoughtful." Liu Jin's voice was slightly tired.
"Is your Majesty Father preoccupied with state affairs, or is there something...troubling him?"
Liu Xiao asked tentatively, "I may not be able to share your worries, father, but I am willing to listen."
Looking at his son's sincere face, Liu Chen almost had an urge to pour out to him the grudges and hatreds that had been pent up for twenty years.
But he finally held back.
Those dirty and unbearable pasts should not pollute Xiaoer's ears.
And if he knew that he was born by a man, would he think that his father was a monster?
"Nothing, just some old things." Liu Jin shook his head and changed the subject. "How are your studies these days? What are your thoughts on your interactions with the Nanyue delegation?"
Seeing that his father was unwilling to talk more, Liu Xiao stopped asking questions and answered obediently about his homework and experiences.
The father and son chatted for a while, and the depressing atmosphere in the hall eased slightly.
After Liu Xiao left, Liu Jin looked at the cup of calming tea which was still half full, and remained silent for a long time.
Xiao'er's care was like the warm sun in winter, temporarily dispelling some of the haze in his heart.
No matter whether what Xiao Ziran said was true or false, no matter what happened in the past, Xiao'er was his son and the future of the empire, and he had to protect him.
The implementation of the "Qingzhe" plan was not smooth sailing.
The "Owl Feather" organization is more cunning and deeply rooted than imagined.
Although the inner factory and shadow organization have eliminated several strongholds and captured some peripheral members, their core layer is always hidden in the fog and difficult to reach.
During the meeting between the two emperors, bad news suddenly came from the southern border:
Several gangs of bandits that had been suppressed suddenly revived and became extremely ferocious and organized. They were no longer satisfied with looting caravans and even began to attack border garrisons!
The local commander sent an urgent report, suspecting that these bandits were supported by "Owl Feather" or even certain forces of a certain country, and requested instructions from the court.
This urgent report was sent to Emperor Liu Chen and the second prince Liu Cong, who was responsible for assisting in military affairs.
Liu Jin looked at the urgent report with cold eyes.
The banditry happened so coincidentally, right during Xiao Ziran's visit to Beijing? This was definitely not a coincidence!
Is it "Owl Feather" who wants to create chaos?
Or is Xiao Ziran trying to put pressure on the Qing Dynasty or cover up other conspiracies?
Liu Cong was even more worried about the safety of the prince.
The border is unstable, and my father's attention will inevitably be distracted. Will this create a better opportunity for the enemies lurking in the capital?
"Father, the banditry on the border cannot be underestimated, but I believe that the safety of the capital is of paramount importance, especially now."
Liu Cong said in a deep voice, "I suggest that we send a capable general to the southern border to supervise the battle and send in reinforcements. We must quell the banditry as soon as possible. However, the defense of the capital must not be relaxed, especially to prevent anyone from luring the enemy away from the mountain!"
Liu Jin looked at Liu Cong with admiration. This adopted son always had such a clear view of the overall situation.
"I approve. Who do you think would be the best person to send?"
"General Han Feng is calm and capable, and is familiar with the situation in southern Xinjiang. He is qualified for this task." Liu Cong recommended his trusted and beloved general.
"Okay. Appoint Han Feng as the imperial envoy, lead 10,000 elite soldiers from the Beijing camp, and set off today to quell the rebellion in southern Xinjiang!" Liu Jin immediately issued an order.
Han Feng took the order and left.
The heavy responsibility of defending the capital fell even more heavily on Liu Cong's shoulders.
He worked almost non-stop, inspecting key departments and adjusting defenses, like a fully drawn bow.
A few days later, the inner treasury distributed a new batch of spices to each palace as per the rules.
The Eastern Palace also received some, including the incense mixed with a trace amount of "Drunken Butterfly Powder".
The eunuch in charge of receiving the medicine wanted to take it to the imperial physician for examination according to the rules, but was interrupted impatiently by the eunuch in charge.
"What are you checking?! These are all uniformly distributed and recorded items from the Imperial Treasury. How could there be any problems? Hurry and give them to His Highness. He's been studying hard lately and needs to relax!"
Therefore, this batch of incense was quietly used in the study and bedroom of the Eastern Palace.
They burned extremely lightly, with almost no smell, and had nothing to do with the "Concentrating Incense" that was previously given by the Emperor of Nanyue and was under strict guard.
Everything seems calm.
However, the careful second prince Liu Cong was the first to notice something was wrong.
He found that Crown Prince Liu Xiao seemed to be more easily tired recently, and sometimes he would be slightly distracted when listening to his reports on government affairs.
There was even one time when he was reviewing memorials, his pen paused for a long time until he was gently reminded, and then he came back to his senses.
"Is Your Highness feeling unwell?" Liu Cong asked worriedly, alarm bells ringing in his heart.
Liu Xiao rubbed his brows and tried to cheer himself up: "It's okay, maybe I didn't sleep well last night."
He was a little confused about his occasional trance, but he didn't think much about it, just thinking it was due to the heavy workload in recent days.
Liu Cong did not dare to be careless.
He immediately summoned the imperial physician in secret and checked the prince's pulse again.
After a careful examination, the imperial physician replied, "Your Highness's pulse is stable, though slightly weak, likely due to fatigue. There is no evidence of poisoning or other illness."
Liu Cong's brows furrowed even tighter.
He believed in his intuition that there was definitely something wrong with Xiao's condition!
He ordered a thorough inspection of all items in the Eastern Palace, especially those that had been recently delivered, but still found nothing.
At the same time, Emperor Xiao Ziran of Nanyue learned through secret channels that the Eastern Palace had begun using that batch of special incense, and a cruel smile of success appeared on his face.
"It's almost time..."
He whispered to his personal guard, "It's time to take the next step. Find a way to make the box of 'Concentrating Incense' that was put away 'accidentally' appear somewhere where the prince can reach it..."
For example, mix it into the book he's going to read next time? Or, let some insignificant eunuch 'accidentally' sprinkle it on the corridors that the prince often passes by, mistaking it for ordinary perfume?
He wanted to speed up the process and make Liu Xiao "break down" as soon as possible! He couldn't wait to eliminate the evidence of Liu Jin's betrayal!
The subtle fragrance is already in the air, and the conspiracy is closing in.
The body of Crown Prince Liu Xiao was being eroded unknowingly, and the most vigilant Second Prince Liu Cong, although he felt something was wrong, had not yet found the source of the deadly poison.
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