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

As soon as the first ray of sunlight in the early morning penetrated the clouds, Ling Haoran stood in the middle of the lobby of the Ministry of Justice with a serious face.

His posture was as straight as a pine tree, but there was an unbreakable gloom between his brows.

The tragic scene when Chu Ning was poisoned last night is still vivid in my mind - the young prince who has always been full of vigor and vitality is now lying in the East Palace suffering torture.

"Sir, all the troops are ready." A bailiff stepped forward quickly to report.

Ling Haoran nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping over the elite members of the Ministry of Justice who were ready to go in the hall.

These yamen runners were all trained by him personally. They have rich experience in handling cases and are familiar with the streets and alleys of Kyoto.

But what they have to face today is the barbarian forces hidden in the shadow of the prosperous capital.

"Remember, this search must be thorough."

Ling Haoran's voice was deep and powerful. "Any shop, inn, or even ordinary people's homes that have any connection with the barbarians must be investigated one by one. If anyone is suspicious, bring them back to the Ministry of Justice immediately."

The bailiffs responded in unison, and then poured out of the Ministry of Justice like a tide, dispersing to various places in Kyoto.

Since the State of Chu successively annexed the States of Zhao, Yan and Qin, its national power has been at its peak.

The new policies implemented by Chu Ning made it possible for the people to live and work in peace and contentment, and trade routes were extended in all directions.

In this peaceful and prosperous era, more and more barbarian merchants crossed the border and came to the prosperous Kyoto to make a living.

The Hu Shangfang in the west of the city is the most lively gathering place for foreigners, with numerous shops and a wide variety of goods.

There are spices from the Western Regions, furs from the northern border, and rare treasures from the southern barbarians.

Merchants bargained in the awkward Chu dialect, and the air was filled with an exotic atmosphere.

However, today, the liveliness was disrupted by a sudden search.

"Everyone stand still! The Ministry of Justice is investigating the case!"

The yamen runners broke into a cloth shop called "Western Treasures" with knives, scaring the customers inside and causing them to flee in all directions.

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged barbarian with a full beard. Seeing this, he quickly stepped forward and said, "Sir, our shop is doing legitimate business."

"Cut the nonsense!"

The leading yamen runner interrupted sharply, "Bring out the account books for the past three months, and the rosters of all the employees!"

The same scene was played out all over the city.

From the silk shops in the East City to the mule and horse market in the West City, from high-end restaurants to remote inns, any place where there were traces of barbarians could not escape the search of the yamen runners.

As the sun rose higher, a number of suspicious persons were brought back to the lobby of the Ministry of Justice.

Ling Haoran personally took charge and interrogated them one by one.

"Name? How long have you been in Kyoto? Which barbarians do you have dealings with?" Ling Haoran's voice was unhurried, yet filled with irresistible majesty.

Kneeling in the hall was a trembling tea merchant: "Reply, Reply Sir, I am Wang Er, and I run a tea shop in the south of the city. I only occasionally buy some mountain products from the barbarians, and I have absolutely no collusion with them!"

Ling Haoran's sharp gaze slashed across the merchant's face like a knife. "On the fifteenth of last month, three customers dressed like barbarians came to your shop. Is this true?"

The merchant's face changed drastically, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. "That's just an ordinary customer who came to do business."

"Take him away and interrogate him carefully."

Ling Haoran waved his hand, and the bailiffs immediately dragged the limp businessman away.

This interrogation lasted all day.

The merchants, shop assistants, and even ordinary residents who were brought here all claimed that they were just conducting normal business dealings with the barbarians.

Ling Haoran's brows furrowed more and more tightly - perhaps some of these people really were unaware, but the murderer must be hiding in some dark corner.

At the same time, the Jinyiwei led by Jia Yu also launched a secret investigation in the city.

Unlike the Ministry of Justice's high-profile actions, the Jinyiwei's actions were more covert and precise.

Jia Yu, dressed in casual clothes and accompanied by only two confidants, came to a remote courtyard in the north of the city.

According to intelligence, there lives an old pharmacist who is proficient in various poisons of the barbarians.

"boom!"

The gate was kicked open. Jia Yu rushed into the yard like lightning and saw a hunched figure trying to escape over the wall.

"Want to go?"

Jia Yu sneered, and a Jinyiwei beside him flashed behind the man like a ghost and pulled him down.

The old pharmacist fell to the ground, looking at the stern-faced middle-aged man in front of him in horror: "Sir, please spare my life, I am just selling some herbs."

Jia Yu took out a piece of paper from his bosom, which detailed Chu Ning's symptoms after being poisoned: "Do you recognize this poison?"

The old pharmacist took the paper tremblingly, and his face changed drastically after just one look: "This, this..."

"Speak!" The Jinyiwei's knife was already on the old man's neck.

"Like...like the heart-eating poison of the barbarian royal family..."

The old man stammered, "But the recipe for this poison is top secret, known only to the royal family."

A cold light flashed in Jia Yu's eyes: "Go on."

"Those who are poisoned by this will initially feel normal, but after half a day they will experience excruciating heartaches and a burning sensation in their internal organs."

The old pharmacist swallowed his saliva and said, "Without the antidote, death is certain."

As night fell, the lobby of the Ministry of Justice was brightly lit with candles.

After listening to Jia Yu's report, Ling Haoran's face was so gloomy that water could drip out of it.

"Heart-eating poison, barbarian royal family."

He muttered to himself, and suddenly slammed his fist on the table: "It's them!"

Jia Yu calmly analyzed, "The barbarians have always been at odds with our Central Plains dynasty. Now that our country is strong, they dare not confront us head-on, so they resort to such despicable tactics."

"The most urgent task is to find an antidote."

Ling Haoran stood up and paced back and forth in the hall: "Since this poison came from the barbarian royal family, then the poisoner must be related to the royal family."

Jia Yu nodded. "I've ordered people to secretly monitor all the barbarian nobles in the city. Also, according to the old pharmacist, this poison takes seven days to take effect, and two days have already passed..."

This means they only have five days left.

Ling Haoran suddenly stopped and said, "I remember that the Barbarian delegation arrived in Kyoto three days ago?"

The two looked at each other and saw the answer in each other's eyes.

"The delegation is staying at the post house arranged by the Honglu Temple," Jia Yu said quickly. "Nominally, they're here to discuss border trade..."

"What a coincidence."

Ling Haoran sneered: "Immediately mobilize the forces and secretly surround the posthouse. Remember, don't alert the enemy yet."

At midnight, a group of dark shadows quietly approached the inn where the barbarian delegation was located.

Ling Haoran and Jia Yu led the team personally, and dozens of elite yamen runners and Jinyiwei surrounded the post station.

"Three people on the east side, five people on the west side, and the rest follow me in through the main gate." Jia Yu made arrangements in a low voice.

"Remember, you have to live."

The action unfolded like lightning.

The well-trained Jinyiwei subdued the outer guards in an instant, and Ling Haoran led his men straight to the main house.

"boom!"

The moment the door was kicked open, a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious barbarian clothes suddenly jumped up from the bed with a scimitar in his hand.

"Lord Ling, what brings you here so late at night?"

The man spoke fluent Chu language, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.