Before the exams were even over, Bai Haoyun was carried back, reportedly poisoned. Poisoning during the examination period was a serious matter, and to reassure all the students, a thorough investigation was necessary. This task fell to the Prefectural Government of the Capital.
After a thorough investigation, the cause of the poisoning turned out to be half a pill. Further investigation revealed that Bai Haoyun had brought the pill in himself, supposedly prepared by Madam Xie for her son's health. Since this matter concerned the examination hall, it couldn't be treated as a family matter and handled casually. Zhang Yu had no choice but to order someone to summon Madam Xie to the Bai residence for questioning, in accordance with the law.
When the officials arrived at the Bai residence, Bai Linan's face turned ashen.
"I would like to speak with your wife. Please wait a moment."
The officials quickly clasped their hands in greeting, saying, "You're too kind, Mr. Bai."
Inside the hall, Bai Linan looked at Xie Xianglan and said in a deep voice, "What are you doing now? What kind of behavior is this, causing trouble at the Jingzhao Prefecture?"
Madam Xie hurriedly cried out, "My lord, I'm innocent! I begged the medicine from Miss Xie, but who knew she would plot against Haoyun? My poor Haoyun..." She then wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
Bai Linan's eyes flickered slightly, "In that case, go and tell the truth..."
"Don't worry, my lord, I know what I'm doing."
Bai Linan watched Xie's departing figure, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. If he could bring down the eldest daughter this time, all would be well; if not, Xie was of no value and could be discarded...
Not long after Xie went to the Jingzhao Prefecture, several more officials came to the Bai residence, but this time they were much more polite than before.
"Princess, please come with us."
Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly, "You gentlemen are too kind."
Bai Linan stood with his hands behind his back. Despite the major incident at the Bai residence, his face remained calm and showed no sign of panic. He simply said in a deep voice, "Eldest girl, rest assured. As long as you are innocent, your father will definitely seek justice for you..."
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow, "Then thank you very much, Father..."
One after another, the ladies and young misses of the household were taken away. The old lady paced back and forth in the hall in anger, muttering, "What a tragedy! What a tragedy!"
Looking at Bai Linan's nonchalant demeanor, the old lady couldn't help but speak up, "Linan, aren't you going to come up with a solution? Such a big thing has happened; if word gets out, where will the Bai family put their face?"
Bai Linan said calmly, "Mother, you don't need to worry about these things. I know what I'm doing. You just go and take care of Haoyun."
The old lady nodded, a pang of heartache flashing in her eyes. "Very well, my poor grandson. May God bless Haoyun so he can get better, or what will become of the Bai family..."
Bai Chuxiao led Lanxin into the Jingzhao Prefecture, not even glancing at Xie Shi, but simply smiling and speaking to the person at the head of the table.
"Lord Zhang, it's been a long time!"
Zhang Yu sighed softly, "Princess, please don't be offended. I invited you here because your lady has stated that this matter is related to you..."
Bai Chuxiao nodded, "As long as Lord Zhang handles the case impartially, this princess will naturally cooperate."
Zhang Yu then ordered in a deep voice, "Someone, go and bring a chair for the princess."
"yes"
Bai Chuxiao didn't refuse and sat down without any hesitation, while Xie Shi naturally had to stand.
Zhang Yu winked at the officer beside him, who then walked up to Bai Chuxiao with a tray.
Zhang Yu then slowly spoke, "Does the Princess recognize this item?"
Lan Xin examined the medicine carefully for a moment and nodded to Bai Chuxiao. Bai Chuxiao then looked at the person at the head of the table and said calmly, "This medicine was indeed bestowed upon Consort Xie by this princess."
A slight smile played on Xie's lips as she quickly spoke, "It's good that the Princess has admitted it. Lord Zhang, Princess Changning's crime of murdering her younger brother is unforgivable. I urge you, Lord Zhang, to detain her according to the law..."
Bai Chuxiao spoke calmly, "This medicine has passed through so many hands, how can you prove that I, the princess, poisoned it? Besides, there are many ways to poison someone. Do you think I'm so stupid as to give Aunt Xie a poisoned pill directly?"
Madam Xie retorted angrily, "Princess, there's no need for you to make excuses. After giving me this medicine, I immediately packed it up for Haoyun. It didn't pass through anyone else's hands. Would I, as a mother, harm my own child? It's clear that you, Princess, intended to poison him, but you didn't expect that Haoyun only took half a pill, thus leaving behind evidence..."
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Bai Haoyun is also my younger brother. Why would I poison him?"
Madam Xie looked at the head of the table indignantly and said, "Lord Zhang, Princess Changning dislikes her younger brother. Before the autumn examination, she severely beat Haoyun. Everyone in the Bai family knows about this. If it weren't for the old lady of the mansion stopping her in time, Haoyun would probably be dead already. The princess's first plan failed, so she came up with another vicious scheme..."
Bai Chuxiao spoke again calmly, "If I remember correctly, this medicine was personally requested by Aunt Xie, not something I offered to her."
Zhang Yu slammed his hand on the table. "Madam Xie, if you believe the Princess intends to harm Bai Haoyun, why did you feel comfortable taking medicine from her..."
Madam Xie sighed softly, even shedding two tears. "My lord, it's all because I heard that Lanxin, the maidservant by the Princess's side, is a highly skilled physician. Haoyun was beaten so badly by the Princess that he can't get out of bed. How can he take the exam? As mothers, which of us doesn't hope that our children and grandchildren will pass the imperial examination with flying colors? Originally, I just thought that it was enough for the Princess to beat him to vent her anger, so I went to ask for medicine, hoping that Haoyun would be in good health during the exam. Who knew that the Princess would be so cruel..."
Just then, two announcements came from outside the door.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
"His Highness the Prince of Yan has arrived!"
Zhang Yu, who was seated at the head of the table, quickly stood up, and the other young men in the yamen also bowed and said in unison.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince"
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Yan"
The Crown Prince nodded. "Rise, all of you. The poisoning of the young master of the Bai family involves the Imperial Examination Hall and the Princess. Seventh Brother and I have come to check on things. Lord Zhang, you can handle it as you see fit. Seventh Brother and I won't say anything more. Seventh Brother, don't you agree?"
Chu Tianze nodded calmly, "Of course."
"Yes," Zhang Yu quickly replied, bowing.
Zhang Yu sat in the middle, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the two menacing figures sitting on either side of him. He couldn't help but curse inwardly, "Why not say more? What's the point of coming to the capital if they could just wait for news at home? They're clearly here to subtly threaten me."
As expected, the Crown Prince spoke calmly, "Lord Zhang, where are we in the interrogation?"
Zhang Yu turned to the side, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, Madam Xie identified the pill that poisoned the young master of the Bai family as a gift from the Princess, saying that the Princess had intentionally harmed him. The Princess also admitted that the remaining half of the pill was indeed made by her maid..."
Chu Tianze remained expressionless and silent, as if he had only come to observe. The Crown Prince, however, his eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded calmly, "Then continue the interrogation. Just pretend we don't exist."
"yes"
"Princess, what is your explanation for what Madam Xie just said?" Zhang Yu composed himself and spoke in a deep voice.
Bai Chuxiao remained calm and spoke indifferently, "May I ask, sir, what poison has Bai Haoyun been afflicted with?"
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