Luo Ye laughed casually: “Master, do not worry. I’ve already drunk from this cup. If it were poisoned, I would have been affected already.” He then drank the remaining water. He continued: “Testing for poison all the time is too troublesome. Why not replace all dining utensils with silver? Then we’d immediately know if something is poisoned.”
Pan Xian replied: “On my way here, I considered this method. But then the other party might stop attempting to poison you. This would make it difficult to identify the traitor in the residence and might lead them to use other methods to harm you, which I would find hard to prevent. It might be better to play along and let the traitor attempt to poison you.”
Luo Ye clapped in praise: “As expected, Master’s considerations are thorough. Let’s proceed this way.”
Pan Xian then made arrangements, having a silver needle test all food and drink before Luo Ye consumed them.
To be extra cautious about special poisons undetectable by silver needle, he also arranged for someone to taste the food. Only Luo Ye’s most trusted few knew of this plan, keeping it hidden from everyone else in the residence, including his wives and concubines.
At this moment, Third Prince Luo Zhan was eating pastries from the kitchen, praising their unique and delicious flavor.
Soon, he began experiencing intense abdominal pain, his face turning pale, sweat pouring down his forehead. His attendants ran in panic to call the imperial physician. The Third Prince’s wife, not knowing what to do, could only have him moved to an inner room and wipe his sweat, though this seemed futile.
Luo Zhan’s pain intensified. Initially rolling on the bed, he gradually lost strength and could no longer move. His consciousness began to blur, only able to moan in pain.
The Third Prince’s wife, anxious and afraid, turned to her attendant: “Go check again! Why hasn’t the physician arrived?”
Luo Zhan, who was originally lying motionless on the bed, suddenly reached out and grabbed a capsule, placing it in his mouth. After swallowing it with difficulty, he rolled up a transparent film beside him and pinched it in his loosely closed fist, then stopped groaning in pain.
The Third Prince’s wife noticed that the person on the bed who had been moaning continuously was now silent. She looked at him in panic and called out tremblingly, “Your Highness…?”
Luo Zhan said in a low voice, “Has the imperial physician not arrived yet?”
The Third Prince’s wife was slightly relieved, leaning down to check his condition. Seeing that his expression was no longer as painful as before, she asked, “The imperial physician has not yet arrived. Are you feeling better, Your Highness?”
The antidote Meng Qing had swallowed was now taking effect, easing the abdominal cramps. He slowly propped himself up and said, “Better.”
The Third Prince’s wife hurriedly supported him and brought a cup of water to feed him. Meng Qing lay down again; although most of the poison had been neutralized, his body was exhausted from the previous painful struggle.
He asked weakly, “Has Master Yu Wen arrived? If he has, please ask him to come in immediately.”
“Your Highness, this subordinate is here.” Yu Wen Xin, who was always by Luo Zhan’s side during the day, would naturally retreat when Luo Zhan entered the inner courtyard at night. As soon as he heard that the Third Prince had been poisoned, he rushed over and was waiting outside. Hearing the Third Prince’s inquiry, he quickly stepped into the room.
At this moment, however, his face was filled with heavy worry, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, and his eyes looking concernedly at the bed: “How are you feeling, Your Highness?”
Meng Qing closed his eyes and said, “This prince suddenly had extreme abdominal pain. I almost passed out just now.”
Yu Wen Xin frowned and asked, “How could Your Highness suddenly have abdominal pain?” His expression suddenly changed, and he urgently ordered the servants to collect the food and water used by the Second Prince and test them with silver needles.
Soon, the imperial physician arrived and checked his pulse with an unusual expression. Meng Qing stared at him and asked, “Imperial Physician, what’s going on?”
The imperial physician wiped away his cold sweat and hesitated before saying, “The pulse indicates poisoning, but fortunately, Your Highness is blessed and the poisoning is not deep. This humble physician will prescribe a remedy.”
Hearing the words “poisoning,” the Third Prince’s wife was shocked. “Your Highness…” But seeing Meng Qing’s stern expression, she stopped speaking.
After the imperial physician wrote the prescription, the Third Prince’s wife ordered a servant to decoct the medicine. As the imperial physician was about to leave, he heard the person on the bed say, “Imperial Physician, please stay in the residence for a few days until this prince recovers.”
The imperial physician helplessly bowed and retreated.
As soon as he went out, two guards escorted him to his “temporary” residence, where he obediently entered the room. He considered himself unlucky to have encountered such a situation during his shift.
After the imperial physician was taken away, Meng Qing signaled the Third Prince’s wife to leave. Once she closed the door, he asked Yu Wen Xin, “Master, how should we proceed now?”
Yu Wen Xin had already detected poison in several pastries and was investigating the servants who made and delivered them. Hearing Meng Qing’s inquiry, Yu Wen Xin suggested immediately concealing the fact that he was not deeply poisoned and spreading the news that he was on the brink of death. This way, they could avoid the most intense period of conflict, and when the others fought to the point of mutual destruction, he could reap the benefits.
Meng Qing nodded, “Master Yu Wen’s words are most wise. Now, the most urgent matter is to find the spy in the residence.”
Yu Wen Xin said, “This subordinate has already sealed the prince’s residence, preventing anyone from leaving, and will definitely find the spy.”
Meng Qing said, “I’ll leave this to Master Yu Wen.”
After Yu Wen Xin withdrew, Meng Qing told the two close guards beside him, “The Third Prince’s wife was also frightened tonight. Let her rest early and don’t come in.” Then he closed his eyes.
The two guards were brothers named Xia Yuan and Xia Zhe, who had followed Luo Zhan for many years and were loyal and reliable. They received the order and retreated outside the door.
The Third Prince’s wife was about to enter the room but was stopped by Xia Yuan, who said, “His Highness has already rested.”
The Third Prince’s wife felt upset, feeling that Luo Zhan now suspected her. However, Luo Zhan had been poisoned right in front of her, and the pastries had been sent from the small kitchen in this courtyard. Before finding the real culprit, he probably would not trust anyone. Still, she insisted on speaking through the door to Luo Zhan, “Your Highness needs care at this time. This wife will wait outside. If you need anything, just call for me.”
Meng Qing went along with her. Now alone in the room, he opened his right fist, unfolded the terminal and attached it to his left arm, logging in and sending a message to Yu Yi: How are things on your end?
Yu Yi was still waiting alone in the room. Feeling a light vibration on her left arm, she opened the terminal and saw a message from Meng Qing. She replied: I’ve entered Luo Ye’s residence and met Pan Xian. It seems they haven’t found the person who poisoned the residence yet, so they’ve left me in the room without paying attention to me.
Meng Qing sent a message through the terminal, bringing out earphones and a jade pendant: Since you’re alone, put on the earphones and we can talk.
Yu Yi: I’ve put them on.
Meng Qing pushed aside the pattern on the jade pendant and spoke with his lips: “Has Luo Ye been poisoned?”
