Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi'an realized that it was actually his mother who had sent people. Half of her anger was stuck in her throat, leaving her feeling conflicted. Besides being angry at her mother's foolishness, she was also unsure how to face Han Zhongyu.
Although they had different stances in the past and could not be considered friends now, putting aside their positions and personal matters, he still admired Han Zhongyu's character and never thought of killing him.
But now, Han Zhongyu almost died at the banquet he hosted, and the person who poisoned him was sent by his own mother. How could he bear this?
Han Zhongyu and Xie Yushu were also waiting for Zhou Yi'an's explanation.
Xuanyuan Che spat out the half-chewed steamed bun in his mouth and made a big fuss.
"I am truly lucky to have survived. This deadly poison has actually ended up on my dinner table. It is fortunate that my sister plucked off the red spot, otherwise I would have died young!"
"If I were to die young, the ancestral graves of your Grand Tutor Zhou's mansion would be full by the end of the year!"
Xuan Yuanche's seemingly joking words sent a chill down Zhou Yi'an's spine.
Although this prince appears to be unruly, every word he utters carries a hidden meaning.
Offending a first-rank prince is a capital offense. The appearance of such a deadly poison as arsenic in front of Xuan Yuan Che is tantamount to poisoning him. Given the extent of Xuan Yuan Che's favor with the emperor, although it may not warrant the extermination of his entire family, Zhang Shi and Ruyi will certainly not survive.
Moreover, the person he intended to poison was Han Zhongyu. Han Zhongyu had come to Tai'an Prefecture as an imperial envoy, and killing Zhang Dao was done in accordance with the law, with Emperor Qingyuan's approval.
If the Zhang family now sends someone to poison Han Zhongyu, wouldn't that be disobeying the Emperor's decree and showing disrespect to the Emperor? This would add another charge to their list.
Add to that the murder of a third-rank official, who was also the emperor's right-hand man, and their Grand Tutor's mansion was basically finished.
Upon hearing Xuan Yuanche's words, Ruyi realized that she had offended the most favored prince, the Prince of Xiaoyao, and would have no recourse even if she were beaten to death. Terrified, she kowtowed to Xuan Yuanche, begging for mercy.
"Your Highness, I was wrong. I shouldn't have poisoned you in front of you. I really didn't mean to harm you. I was just following Madam's orders to poison Lord Han and avenge my uncle. I really didn't mean to offend you!"
Please, please spare me this time!
Xuanyuan Che mocked
"Han Zhongyu is an imperial envoy appointed by the Emperor, wielding the Shangfang Sword, capable of beheading all treacherous officials. Zhang Zhidao abuses his power for personal gain, oppressing the people. Killing him a hundred times wouldn't be enough. So, do you and your master resent the Emperor for eliminating a great scourge and want to rebel?"
These words were serious. Before Ruyi could speak again, Zhou Yi'an kicked her to the ground.
"Ignorant fool! Do you want to bring down the entire Zhou family? Shut up!"
Zhou Yi'an used all his strength, and Ruyi was kicked to the ground, clutching her chest and unable to speak, looking at him with shock and fear.
Zhou Yi'an had no time to care about Ruyi's life or death. She turned to look at Han Zhongyu, struggled for a moment, and then lifted her clothes to kneel down and beg for forgiveness.
"Lord Han, my mother is just a woman confined to the inner quarters and does not understand the law. She is very close to my uncle and his sister, which is why she resents you and wants to kill you to avenge my uncle."
I have no face to ask for your forgiveness on behalf of my mother, but as her son, I am willing to take the punishment in her place. Please grant my request.
Zhou Yi'an had no desire to bow down to Han Zhongyu.
He believed that his family background, appearance, and talent were no less than Han Zhongyu's. Even though he was a step behind in the imperial examination, he believed that there was no first place in literature and no second place in martial arts. Those who could pass the imperial examination all the way to the palace examination were all pretty much the same. Therefore, he was calm and composed in front of Han Zhongyu, neither humble nor arrogant, and dared to compete with Han Zhongyu in anything.
But to everyone's surprise, his mother sent someone to poison Han Zhongyu, and they were caught red-handed.
As a son, he couldn't just stand by and watch his mother go to jail or be sentenced.
But after kneeling, he would forever have to bow down to Han Zhongyu.
After Zhou Yi'an finished speaking, she glanced at Xie Yushu and felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.
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