Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

At three quarters past midnight, the bell of the imperial palace had just rung when Ling Haoran, the Minister of Justice, entered the East Palace with more than twenty elite yamen runners, holding torches.

The night wind brought with it the chill of early autumn, causing the torches to flicker and illuminate the solemn faces of the people.

"Sir, all the eating utensils used by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince today have been sealed." A yamen runner stepped forward quickly and reported in a low voice.

Ling Haoran nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping across the main hall of the East Palace. He said in a deep voice, "Investigate, and don't miss a single thing."

The yamen runners quickly dispersed, some checked the wine pots and cups, some looked through the bowls and chopsticks used by the prince, and even the incense, candlesticks and tea leaves in the hall were not spared.

The silver needle flickered coldly in the candlelight, and it pierced into the suspicious place again and again, but it never turned black.

At this time, the maid Xiaoqing hurried through the corridor and came to Chu Ning's bedroom.

She knocked gently on the door and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Justice is searching the Eastern Palace, even the Crown Prince's bedroom is being checked."

There was silence in the hall for a moment, and then Shen Wanying's cold voice was heard: "Let them investigate."

Xiaoqing was stunned: "But..."

"The Crown Prince has been poisoned. This palace is more anxious than anyone else."

Shen Wanying's voice trembled slightly: "As long as they can find the murderer, they will turn the entire Eastern Palace upside down!"

Xiaoqing didn't dare to say anything more and had to retreat and pass on the order.

Ling Haoran stood in the courtyard of the East Palace, looking at the gradually whitening sky, his eyes bloodshot.

He hadn't slept all night, but he had searched every corner of the East Palace, the Imperial Garden, and even the Imperial Kitchen, but still couldn't find any clues.

"Sir, we have checked everywhere and there is indeed no trace of poison." Zhang Mingyuan, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, reported in a low voice.

Ling Haoran rubbed his temples and said tiredly, "Isn't the poison in the palace?"

Zhang Mingyuan hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke: "Sir, the Crown Prince went to another place today besides the Imperial Garden and the Eastern Palace."

Ling Haoran suddenly looked up: "Where?"

"The Tutor's Mansion."

"Grand Tutor's Mansion?"

Ling Haoran frowned, "Taifu Dugu has been seriously ill for a long time and rarely even attended court meetings. How could it be..."

"My lord, it may not be the Grand Tutor himself."

Zhang Mingyuan whispered, "There are many servants in the Taifu Mansion. If someone secretly took action, it might not be impossible."

Ling Haoran was silent for a moment, and finally made up his mind: "Let's go to the Taifu Mansion!"

As soon as the sky brightened, Ling Haoran had already led his men to the Taifu Mansion.

The guards at the gate of the mansion saw the Ministry of Justice people suddenly arrive and hurriedly stopped them: "Sir, the Grand Tutor is seriously ill and should not see guests!"

Ling Haoran said coldly: "This is related to the safety of the Crown Prince. I must meet with the Grand Tutor!"

Without waiting for the guards to inform him, he strode into the mansion.

Grand Tutor Dugu Xin was lying on the couch, his face pale. He heard footsteps and opened his eyes with difficulty:

"who……"

Ling Haoran bowed and saluted: "Master Taifu, the Crown Prince was poisoned and unconscious last night. I have been ordered to conduct a thorough investigation, and I need to search the Taifu Mansion."

"what?"

Dugu Xin sat up suddenly, his old face turned red instantly, and then he started coughing violently, and a mouthful of blood sprayed onto the quilt.

Ling Haoran was shocked and quickly stepped forward to support him: "Master, calm down!"

Dugu Xin trembled and grabbed his arm, his voice hoarse: "Who... who dares to harm the prince?"

Seeing him so excited, Ling Haoran's doubts were slightly alleviated, but he still insisted: "It is my duty to investigate."

Dugu Xin took a breath and finally caught his breath. He gritted his teeth and said, "Investigate! You can search my house!"

"If anyone dares to murder the Crown Prince, I... ahem... I will skin him alive with my own hands!"

Ling Haoran did not dare to delay and immediately ordered the yamen runners to search the Taifu Mansion.

The yamen runners dispersed and searched every corner.

Ling Haoran personally checked Dugu Xin's study, scanning the bookshelves, desks, and even flipping through every book, but still found nothing.

When Ling Haoran came out of the Taifu Mansion, it was already bright.

The morning light shone on the bluestone slabs in front of the Taifu Mansion, reflecting his tired and solemn face.

He looked back at the closed door, still feeling a little guilty.

Taifu Dugu was already seriously ill. After hearing the news that the prince was poisoned, he was so angry that he vomited blood and almost fainted.

"Sir, the search of the Grand Tutor's Mansion has been completed, and no suspicious items have been found." Zhang Mingyuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, reported in a low voice.

Ling Haoran nodded slowly and sighed: "Let's go back to the Ministry of Justice."

In the lobby of the Ministry of Justice, candlelight flickered. As Ling Haoran stepped through the threshold, he saw the Imperial Censor Jia Yu sitting upright in the guest seat, sipping tea leisurely.

"Master Jia?"

Ling Haoran was slightly startled, then he bowed and said, "I didn't know Lord Jia was coming. I'm sorry for not coming to greet you."

Jia Yu put down his teacup and stood up to return the greeting. "Thank you for your hard work, Lord Ling. I heard that the Crown Prince's poisoning case is under investigation by the Ministry of Justice, so I came to inquire about the progress."

Ling Haoran gave a bitter smile and signaled his attendants to withdraw. When they were the only two left in the hall, he whispered:

"Master Jia, to be honest, I have been searching all night, searching almost every corner of the East Palace, the Imperial Kitchen, and even the Imperial Tutor's Residence, but I still can't find a single clue."

Jia Yu frowned slightly: "Even the Taifu Mansion was investigated?"

Ling Haoran nodded: "Although the Grand Tutor is seriously ill, this is related to the safety of the Crown Prince, so we have to investigate."

Jia Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Master Ling, do you have any suspicions?"

Ling Haoran shook his head: "I have no clue at the moment."

Jia Yu sighed and said, "I've also asked the Imperial Guards, but they don't have any information either."

"The Imperial Guards don't have any clues either?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Ling Haoran's eyes.

The Jinyiwei have spies all over the capital. If even they can't find any clues, this case may be more difficult than imagined.

Jia Yu said helplessly, "Not only that, I even asked the great doctor Sun Simiao, but even he had never seen this kind of poison before."

"You don't know Sun Simiao either?"

Ling Haoran's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had grasped something key.

Jia Yu nodded. "Dr. Sun has been practicing medicine for decades and has seen countless strange poisons, but the poison the prince was poisoned with is something he has never heard of."

Ling Haoran tapped the table thoughtfully, "If it's a poison that even Sun Simiao doesn't recognize, then it's very likely..."

"The poison of the barbarians?" Jia Yu continued.

Ling Haoran's eyes narrowed. "That's right! The barbarians live in remote areas, and their poisons are treacherous. Doctors in the Central Plains may not know all of them."

"If we can find out whether there are any barbarians lurking in the capital, perhaps we can make a breakthrough."

Jia Yu pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Lord Ling's words make sense. I will immediately order the Jinyiwei to thoroughly investigate the whereabouts of the barbarians in the capital."

Ling Haoran bowed and said, "Thank you, Lord Jia, for your help."

Jia Yu smiled faintly: "The safety of the Crown Prince is of vital importance to the country. I must do my best."

The two men whispered a few more words, and then Jia Yu stood up and said goodbye.

After he left, Ling Haoran stood alone in the lobby of the Ministry of Justice, looking at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, his mind churning with thoughts.

"The barbarian poison..."

He murmured softly, "If this is really the work of the barbarians, then this matter is probably more complicated than we imagined."