Chapter 146 The Empress Rewards Me for Eating Melon
Zhao Deyi's facial muscles twitched slightly, forcing out a seemingly calm but somewhat stiff smile.
He casually picked up the poisonous melon that had almost caused a disaster with his right hand, put it back in the dish, and explained.
"Look at you, so impatient. Even when the Empress bestows a reward, there should be some rules. You should kneel properly to express your gratitude, and you should eat with some dignity. What's the rush?"
Although Wang Er found it strange, he dared not ask any further questions and could only nod and agree.
Zhao Deyi put the poisoned melon back on the tray.
The idea of using real poison to test the waters seemed too risky.
These unsuspecting lackeys, upon seeing their master bestow gifts, would only feel grateful and without hesitation.
If someone fails to stop them in time, they will lose their life in vain.
Zhao Deyi subtly gave a sharp look to his trusted eunuch who was carrying the tray.
Give the order in a voice that only the two of you can hear.
"Go, immediately go to the kitchen and cut a plate of the same non-poisonous watermelon. This reward is really not enough. We can't let the servants think that Your Highness is too stingy."
The young eunuch was quick-witted; seeing Zhao's smug expression, he dared not be negligent.
He immediately bowed, picked up the plate of deadly melons, and quickly retreated, rushing to the kitchen with lightning speed.
Zhao Deyi stayed where he was, calming the still-shaken Wang Er, and casually asked some unrelated questions to pass the time.
Before long, the little eunuch returned silently with a plate of watermelons that looked exactly the same.
He nodded slightly to Zhao Deyi to indicate that he had changed.
Zhao Deyi then picked up a safe slice of watermelon again and said to Wang Er.
"Alright, now eat in peace and savor the Empress's grace."
Although Wang Er found the scene strange, he dared not ask any further questions and ate as instructed.
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Zhao Deyi led his men to the next room.
Li San was a simple, honest, and burly man. When he saw Zhao Deyi enter, he immediately knelt down.
"Li San, the Empress is giving you a melon."
Zhao gestured to the eunuch to hand over the plate, his words brief and to the point.
Li San was flattered and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your divine grace! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your divine grace!"
He took the plate, didn't even look at it, and swallowed the watermelon in a few bites. After finishing, he wiped his mouth and grinned sheepishly.
Zhao nodded slightly, pleased with himself.
Next came the lowly eunuchs responsible for delivering the goods.
He was young and seemed a little timid, but when he heard that it was a gift from Consort Jin, he immediately knelt down to express his gratitude.
Although my hands were shaking a little, I still closed my eyes and stuffed the watermelon into my mouth.
The fourth was a palace maid from the imperial palace.
She was more thoughtful; after thanking him, she hesitated slightly as she picked up the watermelon.
But in the end, he dared not disobey and ate it in small bites.
Zhao Deyi caught that moment of hesitation, but saw that she ultimately ate it anyway.
They categorized him as possibly timid but not necessarily aware of the situation, and ordered him to be taken away and kept under guard.
Then Zhao Deyi entered the room where Chun Tao, a palace maid, was being held.
Chun Tao lowered her head, her fingers tightly twisting the hem of her clothes.
"Spring Peach".
Zhao Deyi's voice was steady, revealing no emotion.
"Her Majesty said herself that you, my servant, did a good job today. It's hot, so she's giving you a piece of melon to cool you down. I'll make sure you finish it before I go back to report."
Chun Tao's body trembled almost imperceptibly, and she suddenly looked up.
His face turned pale the moment his eyes fell on the plate of watermelon.
She didn't immediately express her gratitude; her eyes flickered nervously a few times.
As if just realizing what had happened, she bent down, her voice hoarse.
"This servant...this servant thanks Your Highness for the reward..."
This brief pause and panic stood in stark contrast to the decisiveness or cowardice of everyone who had previously tested the waters.
Zhao Deyi sneered inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face.
"Well, since you've expressed your gratitude, then let's eat. Her Majesty is waiting for our reply."
Chun Tao knelt motionless, cold sweat beading on her forehead, and said with difficulty.
"Eunuch Zhao...this...this reward is too precious...this servant...this servant wants to take it back and savor it slowly...this is the first time this servant has received such a valuable reward from such an esteemed person..."
"Savor it slowly? Or treat it like a precious artifact?"
Zhao Deyi scoffed, his tone turning cold.
"It seems that the Empress's reward is quite precious in your eyes? It's alright, the Empress is giving you food, not a Bodhisattva. If she tells you to eat, then eat."
"This servant...this servant has been feeling unwell in my stomach lately, and I'm afraid...afraid of cold..."
Chun Tao's voice was choked with sobs as she made up some flimsy excuse.
"Huh? Why is your body so weak? You can't even handle the greatest blessing that's offered to you?"
Zhao Deyi slowly approached, looking down at her with an ambiguous smile on his lips.
"But don't be discouraged. You are indeed a blessed person—it's just that you have to save all that blessing for later."
Zhao Deyi stopped wasting words and shouted sharply.
"Take it down!"
Two eunuchs behind her responded and stepped forward, pressing Chun Tao down firmly from the left and right.
Chun Tao was terrified, realizing she had been exposed. She trembled uncontrollably and screamed.
"Eunuch Zhao! What are you doing? I'll eat, I'll eat right now, please let me go."
"You're only thinking about food now? Let's see how you want to die!"
Zhao Deyi's eyes were clear and calm as he gave the order.
“Gag her, be careful, tie her up tightly, don’t let her die suddenly, otherwise, you two will be buried with her.”
"Yes, sir!"
Two eunuchs responded and quickly stuffed Chun Tao's mouth with a rag.
Then tie her up tightly with rope.
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Zhao Deyi stopped looking at Chun Tao, who was slumped on the ground.
He led his men towards the next room…
As I walked, I couldn't help but admire him.
Your Majesty's method is truly amazing.
The difference between the most instinctive reaction in the face of life and death and the composure of someone who is completely unaware is far too obvious.
Trying to fake it in this situation?
It's so bad it's practically inaccurate every time.
After this series of tests, the result was crystal clear.
Only the palace maid Chuntao reacted extremely strangely to the reward, making all sorts of excuses and refusing to eat it.
The person who poisoned the body has been identified.
Zhao Deyi walked steadily into the dining hall, bowed respectfully before Jiang Nan, and spoke clearly.
"Your Majesty, the person has been apprehended. She is a palace maid named Chun Tao from the imperial palace."
Jiang Nan was leisurely sipping her tea when she heard this. She looked up and spoke in a calm but approving tone.
"Hmm, well done. Bring the person in."
"Yes, sir."
Zhao responded with satisfaction and turned to shout towards the door.
"Bring him in!"
Two burly eunuchs immediately escorted Chun Tao, who was tightly bound with ropes and had a rag stuffed in her mouth, into the hall.
Without any mercy, he forced her to kneel in front of Jiang Nan.
Chun Tao's hair was disheveled, tears streamed down her face, and she trembled like a leaf in the wind.
Jiang Nan put down her teacup, glanced at Chun Tao's disheveled appearance, then turned to Niohuru beside her, her tone somewhat mocking.
"Look, it's from the Chun generation, and it even has the same name as our Chunlan."
Upon hearing this, Chunlan, who was standing to the side, quickly bowed and smiled with a hint of helplessness.
"Your Majesty, please don't tease me. There are countless names like Chun and Lan in the palace. I dare not compare myself to such a black-hearted person."
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