Chapter 145 They actually poisoned me?
Jiang Nan even stretched out her chopsticks and listlessly poked at the watermelon that had been tested with a silver needle, muttering to herself.
"Arsenic? Poisoning? For me? Or put it in a watermelon? This method... is quite something."
She quickly calculated in her mind that anyone who could poison her must not know that she was immune to all poisons, but didn't the Empress know that?
Or...did the Empress not tell the Hesheri family about her constitution?
Because apart from the Hershey family, she couldn't think of anyone else who would want to poison her.
Whoever it is, we can find out by checking.
She looked up at the three people who were terrified.
He actually chuckled, his tone relaxed yet tinged with excitement.
"Oh my, look at this! It's only the first day, and someone is already so eager to present me... no, I mean, to us sisters with such a grand gift?"
Her gaze finally settled on Zhao Deyi, her tone carrying a playful, cat-and-mouse tone.
"Zhao Deyi, come closer to my ear."
Zhao Deyi bowed and listened attentively to the Empress's instructions, nodding in agreement.
"This servant understands."
Jiang Nan finished speaking softly, then patted him on the shoulder and spoke.
"Alright, go ahead and quietly invite everyone who handled this plate of watermelon to a private room. Remember, keep it quiet and don't frighten my guests."
"Yes, sir." Zhao replied smugly, bowed, and left the dining hall.
After Zhao Deyi left, Jiang Nan picked up her chopsticks again.
It was as if the poisoning incident was just a trivial little episode.
She picked up a piece of tender fish from the plate and put it in her mouth, savoring it slowly.
Then he smiled at the dumbfounded Niohuru clan and the others.
"What are you all standing there for? Sit down and eat with us. It's such a good meal, it would be a shame to let it get cold. Don't worry, we moved that poisonous thing away, didn't we?"
A cold glint flashed in her eyes, and her tone was disdainful.
"Poisoning me? Ha, I'd like to see who's in such a hurry to... seek their own death."
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Inside the dining hall, Jiang Nan leisurely ate her lunch.
Before long, Zhao Deyi tiptoed in and bowed to report.
"Your Majesty, all the eunuchs who handled the watermelons, as well as the palace maids who took over the placement, a total of seven people, have been invited to wait in the side room."
Jiang Nan picked up a handkerchief and wiped her mouth with an elegant gesture.
"Okay. Then let's send this plate of good melons to them."
She pointed to the plate of poisoned watermelon, her tone eerily calm.
"Cut it into small pieces and give one piece to each person. Say that I am giving them this as a special reward because I am grateful for their hard work. Let them eat it on the spot to express their gratitude. Watch carefully and test them one by one."
She paused, a thoughtful look flashing in her eyes, and added.
"However, it is still a matter of human life. I am new to Yingtai. If too many palace servants die at once, it will not sound good if word gets out, and it will make me seem too cruel. You must be careful to keep things in check. If anyone looks strange, hesitates or is reluctant to eat immediately, bring them to me immediately. Those who dare to eat without saying a word are probably unaware of the situation. Find a reason to stop them, so that no one dies."
Zhao Deyi understood immediately; this was a ploy to lure out the guilty party and make them come out on their own.
He bowed in response.
"Yes, Your Majesty! Your Majesty's considerations are thorough. This servant understands what to do."
He waved his hand, and two eunuchs immediately stepped forward.
Trembling with fear, he placed the plate of brightly colored, poisonous melons on a small table that had been prepared to the side.
Then he brought out several clean white porcelain plates and a small silver knife.
The eunuch skillfully cut the watermelon into small, similarly sized pieces, each with an enticingly red flesh.
Yet it also exudes a deadly aura.
Seeing this scene, Niohuru understood Jiang Nan's intention.
The Empress is trying to win people's hearts.
The person who poisoned the melon, or his accomplices, knew it was highly poisonous, yet they accepted the reward.
They will inevitably panic and try every means to shirk responsibility, or there will be hesitation in their eyes.
The innocent, unaware of the situation, would only be grateful and immediately eat it.
The Empress's actions were both ruthless and left room for maneuver.
The goal is to find the person who poisoned the body, not to indiscriminately kill innocent people.
The look in her eyes as she gazed at Jiang Nan now held a newfound respect and admiration.
Daijia was still completely confused and asked Consort Wang in a low voice.
"Sister Wang, is Her Majesty really going to reward them with melons? But those melons aren't..."
Consort Wang gently tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to be quiet, and whispered.
"Sister, just watch and see. Her Majesty has her reasons."
She seemed to be deep in thought, vaguely guessing Jiang Nan's plan, and admired the brilliance of his methods.
One can't help but feel a little worried for those who are unaware of the situation.
After the watermelon was cut and divided into several porcelain dishes, Jiang Nan spoke calmly.
"Be careful, don't make any mistakes."
"Yes, sir."
Zhao responded with satisfaction and personally directed several trusted eunuchs to pick up the plates containing the rewards.
They quietly left the dining hall.
The hall fell silent again, and the dishes on the table had cooled slightly.
Jiang Nan smiled and said to the three still-shaken people.
"Don't just stand there, eat some more. I've already set up the stage, and the actors will be on stage soon. You all need to fill your stomachs to enjoy the show, right?"
Upon hearing this, Niohuru composed herself and picked up her chopsticks again.
Seeing this, Lady Daijia and Consort Wang reluctantly started eating, but their minds were already on the poison-testing site.
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Zhao Deyi stood under the eaves of the side room, his face ashen.
The Empress's tactic of luring the snake out of its hole was brilliant, but also extremely dangerous—it was real arsenic.
He walked toward the room where Wang Er, the first kitchen helper to be tested, was imprisoned.
A young eunuch followed closely behind, carrying a tray on which was the dish of watermelon laced with arsenic.
The door to the side room opened, and Wang Er, a kind and sturdy man who was helping out in the kitchen, knelt down in fear when he saw Zhao Deyi enter.
"Wang Er".
Zhao Deyi tried his best to keep his voice steady.
"Her Highness Consort Jin appreciates your hard work and has specially rewarded you with this newly arrived chilled watermelon to cool you down. Her Highness has instructed that I watch you finish it on the spot so that you can return and report back."
Wang Er was taken aback at first, then his face lit up with overwhelming joy at being flattered.
In this deep palace, it is already rare for a lowly servant to be remembered by his master.
Moreover, it was personally bestowed by Consort Jin, who is currently enjoying great influence.
He kowtowed twice, his voice loud and excited.
"This servant thanks Your Highness Consort Jin for your divine grace. May Your Highness live a thousand years!"
Before he finished speaking, he eagerly took the tempting red melon flesh with both hands.
As if it were a symbol of supreme glory, they picked it up and stuffed it into their mouths.
The action was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
not good!
Zhao Deyi felt a sudden alarm bell ringing in his mind.
He hadn't expected the unsuspecting servant to react so directly and swiftly.
Just then, Wang Er opened his mouth to eat the deadly poisonous melon.
Zhao Deyi suddenly darted forward and grabbed Wang Er's wrist, which was about to put the melon into his mouth, with his left hand like an iron clamp.
"Wait a minute!"
Zhao Deyi's low shout was unequivocal.
Wang Er was stunned by this sudden obstruction, and his wrist was gripped so tightly it hurt.
Staring blankly and in fear at Eunuch Zhao's suddenly changed expression, he was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Zhao Deyi broke out in a cold sweat and his heart pounded wildly.
It was just a hair's breadth away; if he had reacted even a fraction slower...
Wang Er collapsed from the poison at that moment, and his life was over in an instant.
The Empress specifically instructed that no one should be killed.
This is only the first one. If he were to die like this, he wouldn't be able to explain it to the Empress.
If something goes wrong, how will the Empress view him?
If he can't even handle this simple task, the Empress will definitely think that Zhao Deyi is completely useless.
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