Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

She felt uneasy, yet suppressed by a faint fear—that person knew her palace secrets, and if he were to reveal them, even if she had nothing to do with it, she would inevitably become a pawn to be discarded.

"Lv'e," Consort Shen said softly, "transmit my decree that, three days from now, at midnight, whoever asks, say that I am unwell and do not wish to disturb His Majesty."

Green Calyx was startled: "Your Majesty, are you really going to keep the appointment?"

“Even if it’s a trap, I have to go through with it.” Consort Shen raised her eyes, her expression frosty. “Otherwise, they’ll think I’m afraid forever.”

At the same time, the Tianji Camp's spies also secretly reported this letter to Zhu Han.

After listening, Zhu Han slowly closed his eyes: "They really took the bait."

Zhao Wu frowned: "Your Highness, are you saying... that letter was arranged by you?"

Zhu Han opened his eyes, his gaze cold and sharp as a blade: "I ordered someone to spread the word that someone in the know has information about Consort Shen's crimes. If she is truly involved, we will send people to investigate; if she has been framed, we will personally go to the meeting."

"What about the Flying Crane Seal?" Zhao Wu asked.

Zhu Han smiled faintly: "That was not done by my people."

Zhao Wu was stunned: "Then...who is it?"

"This just proves that there is another eye in this palace."

After saying that, he turned and walked to his desk, picked up his brush and sketched a single character on the paper: "Crane".

"Issue the order—set up three lines of surveillance outside the Imperial Study. If any strangers approach, do not alarm them, just record their movements. In this game, I want to see who makes the first move."

Three days later, the night was deep and the cold moon hung like a hook.

The back corridor of the Imperial Study was quiet and deserted, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the bamboo leaves.

Consort Shen, draped in a black cloak, walked slowly in, with Lü'e following behind, looking anxious.

"Your Majesty, this servant feels something is amiss..."

"Shut up," Consort Shen said softly. Her hand was hidden in her sleeve, tightly gripping a gold needle—a self-defense weapon given to her by the palace's secret guards.

Suddenly, a low laugh came from the shadows.

"The Imperial Concubine is indeed trustworthy."

Consort Shen's heart tightened. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man in black standing under the eaves, his face covered with a black veil, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes.

"who are you?"

"I am merely a messenger."

"Whose message are you conveying?"

"Naturally, it is... the one whose fate is intertwined with that of the Empress."

Consort Shen's expression changed slightly: "Nonsense! I have no outside help!"

The man chuckled: "Why does Your Highness deny it? If you hadn't sent Chunliu to fetch the medicine that day, how could the Crown Prince have..."

"Shut up!" Consort Shen said sharply, a hint of fear in her voice. "I have never ordered anyone to extract poison!"

The man slowly took a step closer, his voice low and deep: "And whose order was that? If Your Majesty won't tell, I will let the whole world know."

Consort Shen was furious. A golden needle suddenly shot out from her sleeve, its cold light flashing—

However, the other party seemed to have anticipated this, dodging to the side and striking her wrist with a backhand.

Consort Shen groaned and took several steps back, the golden needle falling to the ground.

Green Calyx exclaimed, "Your Majesty!"

Just then, a low shout rang out from the shadows: "The Heavenly Secrets Battalion is on duty! Trespassers—seize them!"

Countless shadows swept out from both sides of the eaves. With a flash of light, the man in black reacted quickly, leaping onto the roof and using the momentum to escape outside the palace walls.

Zhao Wu shouted urgently, "Stop them!"

"Stop!" Zhu Han's voice suddenly rang out.

Zhao Wu stopped and turned back in confusion. Zhu Han emerged from the shadows, dressed in black, his expression cold and indifferent.

"Let him go."

"Your Highness?" Zhao Wu asked, puzzled.

"If this person is indeed the clue, we must not alert the enemy. If he escapes too quickly tonight, he will surely report back to his master."

Zhao Wu suddenly realized: "Is Your Highness planning to play the long game?"

Zhu Han nodded slightly: "That's right. Tomorrow morning, his master will definitely summon Consort Shen for questioning—at that time, the real culprit will naturally show up."

He turned to look at Consort Shen. The woman was pale and her hair was disheveled, but she still stubbornly straightened her back.

"Is Your Highness deliberately leading me into this trap?" she asked coldly.

Zhu Han looked at her and said calmly, "If we don't guide her, how will we know whether Your Highness is a player in the game or a pawn being manipulated?"

Consort Shen bit her lip: "You..."

Zhu Han's gaze was like a knife, his voice calm yet icy: "Your Majesty, if you truly want to protect yourself, you should tell me why Chunliu left the palace that day?"

Consort Shen remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Chunliu... was indeed acting on my orders. But the medicine wasn't for the Crown Prince, but rather..."

Her voice trailed off, as if she were revealing a huge secret—

Zhu Han's eyes narrowed: "But...?"

Consort Shen closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face: "For...the Empress."

Upon hearing this, even the wind outside the hall seemed to stop.

Zhao Wu looked up in shock: "The Empress?!"

Zhu Han's heart trembled violently.

"To be the Empress?" Zhu Han's voice was deep, filled with undisguised shock.

Consort Shen nodded gently and said slowly, "That day, the Empress suddenly caught a cold and was bedridden for several days. Although the imperial physicians could not diagnose anything serious, she still could not get better. She personally summoned me and said that she could not sleep at night and had a terrible headache. She asked me to find a medicine that could help her sleep peacefully. That medicine was obtained by Chunliu from outside the palace."

Zhao Wu frowned: "Where did that medicine come from?"

“It was made by an old pharmacist outside the palace,” Consort Shen said. “His medicines are always very effective, but also extremely potent. After Chunliu returned to the palace, the medicine was carefully sealed and sent to Fengyi Palace, where it was given to the Empress. Who would have thought—a few days later, the Crown Prince was poisoned.”

Zhu Han remained silent.

Consort Shen's eyes were glazed over: "At the time, I didn't think much of it and just assumed that the Crown Prince was ill. It wasn't until later, when someone secretly told me that the poison powder that poisoned the Crown Prince had the same ingredients as the medicine I sent to Fengyi Palace, that I realized... someone had switched it."

Zhu Han asked, "Is that old pharmacist still alive?"

Consort Shen shook her head: "On the third day after Chunliu returned to the palace, the pharmacist died suddenly in the street."

Zhao Wu gasped.

"Has the body been found?" Zhu Han asked.

“They found him, but reported him as ‘dead from illness,’ and the body was quickly taken away without even an autopsy.”

Zhu Han frowned slightly, slowly turned around, and looked at the cold moon outside the hall.

"The Empress, the Imperial Concubine, the Crown Prince... the three are entangled, and the clues are connected. If there really was a poison switch, it must be in the Phoenix Palace."

Consort Shen raised her eyes, her voice trembling: "Does Your Highness suspect the Empress?"

Zhu Han turned around, his expression solemn: "I never judge crimes based on conjecture. But if there is anyone who has harmed the Crown Prince, I will find them regardless of their rank."

Consort Shen's expression was complicated: "If Your Highness really investigates further, it may alarm His Majesty."

Zhu Han sneered: "If we don't investigate thoroughly, won't that further disrupt the peace in the palace?"

The next morning, at Fengyi Palace.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated in the palace when Zhu Han, accompanied by Zhao Wu and Li Wen, secretly arrived. Outside the palace, the maids and eunuchs acted in an orderly manner, seemingly without any abnormality.

"Your Highness, the Empress is still ill and may find it difficult to receive guests," the palace maid guarding the gate whispered.

Zhu Han said calmly, "Tell the Empress that I have been ordered by the Emperor to inquire about the Crown Prince's affairs."

The palace maid was taken aback, but dared not delay, and hurriedly went inside to report.

A moment later, the curtains swayed in the Phoenix Palace, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

Empress Pei, dressed in a light gold palace dress, walked out slowly with the help of a palace maid. Her face was pale, but she still maintained her dignified appearance.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

Zhu Han cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Majesty, no need for formalities. The matter of the Crown Prince has disturbed the inner palace, so I have come to visit you."

Madam Pei smiled faintly: "Your Highness cares deeply for the Crown Prince, and I am grateful. The Crown Prince's safety is all thanks to that old man's miraculous healing."

Zhu Han said, "Although the Crown Prince has awakened, the source of his poisoning has not yet been determined. Your Majesty, I have been ordered to investigate thoroughly and have come to inquire about the matter concerning the Crown Prince."

Pei paused, her smile faltering slightly. "Your Highness, please ask." Zhu Han slowly said, "A few days ago, the Imperial Concubine said that my sister-in-law had asked her to fetch medicine to cure her insomnia. Is this true?"

Pei's expression changed slightly, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

"It is true," she said calmly. "I did have a terrible headache those days, and I asked the Imperial Concubine to ask for some calming medicine. But I did not take it."

Zhu Han's eyes sharpened: "You haven't taken it? Why?"

Madam Pei lowered her eyes: "The medicine had an unusual color and a pungent smell. I suspected it had an off-odor, so I ordered it to be sealed away. That very night, Chunliu accidentally knocked over the medicine box, spilling the powder on the ground. I ordered it to be swept up and then never mentioned it again."

Zhu Han stared into her eyes, his tone calm: "Where is that powder now?"

Pei paused slightly, then said softly, "It has long been discarded."

Zhu Han turned to look at Zhao Wu. Zhao Wu understood immediately and silently withdrew, clearly intending to secretly search Fengyi Palace.

Madam Pei raised her eyes, her expression calm: "Your Highness seems not to believe me?"

Zhu Han said, "Your Majesty, I dare not. It is only because the investigation of the case requires meticulous attention to detail."

Pei chuckled: "His Majesty will surely be pleased with Your Highness's prudence."

After she finished speaking, her gaze turned slightly cold, as if hinting at something.

Zhu Han's heart skipped a beat. Pei's words were sharp, but she didn't say it outright.

In the evening, Zhao Wu brought back the news.

"Your Highness, your subordinate found a medicine box under the floor tiles of the east side hall of Fengyi Palace. It contained dried powder, which is very similar to the one left in the Crown Prince's bedroom earlier."

Zhu Han took the medicine box, his expression changing slightly.

"As expected..."

He whispered, "Send it to the Imperial Pharmacy for examination immediately. Remember, do not disturb the Empress."

Zhao Wu accepted the order and left.

Before long, Li Wen rushed in: "Your Highness, Chunliu's belongings have also been found."

"explain."

"Before she died, she left behind a hairpin with a single character engraved on the bottom: 'Phoenix'."

Zhu Han raised his eyes, his gaze deep and intense: "Phoenix Seal?"

“It is the mark of the Phoenix Palace.”

Zhu Han snorted coldly: "It seems that this case is not just about poisoning, but about using poison to harm others."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his thoughts swirling.

The prince's poisoning, Chunliu's sudden death, the pharmacist's death, the switching of the medicine powder—every link is perfectly connected, yet it seems as if it was deliberately arranged like this.

Zhao Wu asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, shall we report to the Emperor?"

Zhu Han pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The time is not right. If we report it now, it will only alert the enemy. This matter is extremely serious, and if my brother is angry, I fear there will be bloodshed in the harem."

"That……"

"First, we need to find out the origin of the medicine box in Fengyi Palace. If it is indeed poison, then we can conclude that the person who switched it must be either the Empress or the Imperial Concubine."

Zhao Wu sighed, "Your Highness, this step is extremely risky."

Zhu Han smiled: "The more dangerous the situation, the more the truth will be revealed."

A few days later, the Imperial Pharmacy reported back.

The powder, upon testing, was indeed identical to the poison that had poisoned the prince—both contained trace amounts of "intestinal-severing powder."

Zhu Han's expression turned slightly cold: "As expected."

Li Wendao: "Then this case was committed by Fengyi Palace?"

Zhu Han waved his hand: "No. The fact that Fengyi Palace could keep this medicine box proves precisely that someone deliberately placed it there."

Zhao Wu exclaimed in surprise, "A deliberate frame-up?"

Zhu Han nodded: "The switcher was extremely cunning. He used the Empress's name to obtain the medicine, then had it delivered by the Consort, and finally arranged for the poison to appear between the Crown Prince's palace and the Phoenix Palace, intending to implicate the two."

Li Wen asked, "Then who is the real poisoner?"

Zhu Han looked out the window; the night was deep and dark.

"Since that person can orchestrate events between the two palaces, he must hold a high position and be well-versed in the affairs of the inner court. Besides the empresses and concubines, it must be the chief eunuch or the head of the imperial kitchen."

He paused, then suddenly remembered—

"Lu An!"

Zhao Wu suddenly looked up: "The eunuch who met with Consort Shen that night!"

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Han's eyes: "Order the Heavenly Secrets Battalion—secretly capture Lu An!"

Late at night, behind the East Depot's warehouse, Lu An was secretly exchanging a letter with a eunuch.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed by, and a dagger was pressed against his throat.

Zhao Wu said coldly, "Lu An, the Prince requests your presence."

Lu An's face turned deathly pale.

A moment later, he was brought before Zhu Han.

"Lu An," Zhu Han approached slowly, "Do you know your crime?"

Lu An's knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground, trembling as he said, "Your Highness, please forgive me! This servant was only following orders!"

Zhu Han's gaze was sharp as a blade: "Whose life?"

Lu An's lips trembled: "Yes...yes...the Empress Dowager has issued a decree—"

Before the words were finished, a sound suddenly pierced the air outside the window!
"Oh!"

A short arrow pierced through the window and struck Lu An squarely between the eyebrows.

Blood splattered, and he collapsed and died.

Zhao Wu roared, "There's an assassin!"

Zhu Han's expression remained unchanged, and he slowly exhaled: "It seems that the real culprit is afraid of him speaking up."

He turned and whispered, "Zhao Wu, seal off the scene. Tomorrow morning, thoroughly investigate all bows and arrows in the palace. Remember—this case must not be leaked in the slightest."

Zhao Wu obeyed the order and left.

Zhu Han stood by the window, looking at the short arrow. The arrow's fletching was engraved with a small pattern—a crane spreading its wings.

He said softly, "Feihe, it's you again."

The wind blows the candlelight, the shadows flicker and the person feels cold.

Zhu Han's gaze gradually turned cold—

"It seems that there is more than one enemy hiding in this palace."

The palace was as silent as a tomb in the dead of night, with only the occasional breeze from the Imperial Garden carrying the delicate fragrance of osmanthus and a chill in the air.

Zhu Han stood by the window, his fingertips tracing the short arrow, his brows furrowed.

The tiny "flying crane" pattern on the arrow's tail is carved with such fine detail that it is beyond the capabilities of ordinary craftsmen.

The crane spreading its wings, the brushstrokes vigorous, subtly reveal a chilling aura.

Zhao Wu stood to the side, his face grave: "Your Highness, I have searched the entire palace's bow and arrow storeroom, but I have not found any arrows with the same design. The feathers used in those arrows are extremely rare; they are feathers from a Western Region eagle."

“Eagle feathers…” Zhu Han murmured, then turned around and said in a deep voice, “This item is not owned by the inner palace; it is only found in the special armory of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Zhao Wu exclaimed in surprise, "Then wouldn't that mean—"

“Not bad.” Zhu Han’s gaze was cold. “This arrow was made by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Zhao Wu was taken aback: "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is my brother's personal guard, how could they be involved in this?"

Zhu Han sneered: "The Embroidered Uniform Guard has many branches, and in recent years, due to the Emperor's efforts to quell the chaos within the palace, many powerful ministers have interfered. If someone is secretly directing it, it wouldn't be difficult to seize the arrow."

Having said that, he paced back and forth, saying, "Before Lu An died, he mentioned 'the Empress's decree.' He couldn't possibly have falsely accused the Empress. The moment he uttered those words, he was torn to pieces—which shows that what that person feared most were those two words."

Zhao Wu said in a deep voice, "Does Your Highness suspect... that the Flying Crane faction is hiding in the palace?"

Zhu Han nodded slowly: "And right next to the Empress."

The following day, news of an unusual event spread through the palace early in the morning. The Crown Prince's condition had suddenly changed. (End of Chapter)