Xiao Wu turned her head in a somewhat puzzled manner. Seeing her elder sister staring intently at that booklet, she tilted her head slightly.
— So, this booklet is really worth reading after all?
Ye Chutang continued to flip through the pages.
Xiao Wu obediently waited beside her.
Ye Chutang read very quickly, even faster and faster, and in no time, she had finished flipping through the thin booklet.
By the last page, she had confirmed her suspicions.
— Indeed, someone had quietly poisoned Emperor Wu of Mu, causing his heart condition to relapse.
The perpetrator’s method was subtle; they simply increased the dosage of several different ingredients in the food. On the surface, there seemed to be no abnormalities, but only by looking at them all together did one realize that these ingredients were mutually destructive and caused great damage to the heart.
Such a sophisticated method of poisoning...
Ye Chutang slightly narrowed her eyes—it seemed to share some similarities with the poisoning case of Xiao Chengqi.
The difference was that the poison administered to Emperor Wu of Mu was a slow-acting one that would only take effect over time, while the poison that affected Xiao Chengqi was highly toxic and caused rapid onset of symptoms.
What was common between the two cases was that both poisons were extremely rare, and both were intended to take lives!
Perhaps... there was indeed a single mastermind behind this?
If that were the case, it was truly chilling to think about.
This proved that the perpetrator’s forces had silently infiltrated the palace!
Ye Chutang took a copper basin, lit the booklet, and threw it into it.
The flames soared, dancing and casting faint shadows on the doors and windows.
It wasn’t until the booklet was completely burned to ashes that Ye Chutang poured a cup of tea into the basin as well.
The smell of burnt matter wafted through the air, leaving only wisps of white smoke.
After cleaning everything up, Ye Chutang finally stood up.
Xiao Wu was no longer surprised by this; after all, her elder sister often burned things from time to time—sometimes letters, sometimes books. She had gotten used to it.
Ye Chutang then pushed open the door, and the night breeze blew in, instantly dispersing the stuffy atmosphere inside the room.
It was as if nothing had happened at all.
Ye Chutang took Xiao Wu’s hand.
“Let’s go; time to eat.”
……
In the palace...
Xiao Chenglin limped as he walked towards the Qianyuan Hall step by step.
Inside the hall, Emperor Wu of Mu sat in the foremost seat, with ministers from the Inner Cabinet, the Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Justice standing on either side.
Xiao Chengqi knelt in the middle of the hall, his face pale and wan.
Guifei was by his side, her tears still not dried.
Hearing the footsteps, everyone looked in that direction with complex expressions.
Since Xiao Chenglin’s leg was injured, he had never appeared in such a setting again.
Many of those present hadn’t seen him in several years.
Now, upon seeing him again, the once frail and young prince had clearly grown considerably.
He was handsome and well-mannered, though somewhat too introverted, and his clothing was excessively plain.
The original text can be found at 6#9@Book/Ba!
If it weren’t for that disabled leg, he would be in much better condition than he is now.
Xiao Chenglin knelt down and bowed: “Your servant pays his respects to Your Majesty.”
Emperor Wu of Mu looked at this son, whom he had almost forgotten, with deep eyes, then waved his hand.
“Nếu chân ngươi không tiện, thì cũng không cần phải chào hỏi gì nữa. Người này, hãy mời ngồi đi.”
Tiêu Thành Lâm cúi đầu cảm ơn.
Khi anh ta đã ngồi xuống, lần đầu tiên anh ta mới nhìn chăm chú về phía Tiêu Thành Huân đang quỳ ở giữa.
Anh ta do dự một lát, rồi mới hỏi: “Không biết Hoàng thượng vội vàng triệu con vào cung, có chuyện gì vậy?”
Nhưng Hoàng đế Mục Vũ không trả lời ngay câu hỏi đó, mà chỉ hỏi: “Huang Kun đâu rồi?”
Lý Công công vẫy tay ra hiệu: “Dẫn Huang Kun vào đây!”
Tiêu Thành Lâm sững sờ một lúc.
Khi nhìn thấy bóng dáng đầy máu bị kéo vào, anh ta mất một hồi lâu mới nhận ra, rồi không thể tin được mà thốt lên:
“… Tiểu Khun tử?”
Hoàng đế Mục Vũ hỏi với giọng nặng nề: “Huang Kun, ta muốn hỏi ngươi, chuyện Tiêu Vương bị thương ở chân trước đây, rốt cuộc là tai nạn hay có kẻ cố ý ám hại?”
