The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Xiao Heng pondered for a moment, then asked, "Brother Yelü, do you know about the 'Pulse-Trapping Poison'?"

Yelü Yuanxiu smiled with almost disdain, looking completely in control. "The 'Qianji Poison' is a type of strychnine, mainly made from strychnine. Those poisoned will experience convulsions throughout their bodies and eventually die like a puppet being pulled by a 'Qianji' mechanism."

"Moreover, this poison comes from your country's famous itinerant doctor, Shen Qizhen. This man has been traveling for many years, which has made him lean and wiry, but he has flexible muscles and bones. When he walks, the medicine bell at his waist rings lightly, almost imperceptibly."

Xiao Heng was slightly taken aback. Few people knew the origin of this poison. It seemed that Yelü Yuanxiu was not entirely ignorant. Judging from his reaction, everyone knew that Yelü Yuanxiu was right.

At this moment, Xia Tingfu suddenly spoke up, "If it is a colorless and odorless poison that can cause unconsciousness and is difficult to detect, do you know its origin?"

Yelü Yuanxiu frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This might be a bewitching powder, mostly made from ingredients such as datura flowers and aconite."

“If you only mention the toxicity, it’s easy to make a mistake in judgment. After all, there are many poisons with similar toxicities. It would be best if you could name the poison so that I can accurately identify its source.”

For a time, most people believed Yelü Yuanxiu's words.

Lovi stroked his chin, pondering, and said, "Even if we know the origin of the poison, it's not easy to investigate with so many people in the harem."

Xia Tingfu nodded in agreement, "Yes, and the person who poisoned them would definitely be careful to hide themselves."

At this moment, Qi Zhi, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "Perhaps we can start by investigating the people around Consort Li; maybe we can find some clues."

Xiao Heng's eyes darted around, thinking to himself: Is he trying to divert attention?

As the discussion progressed, he continued, "Although we are trapped here, we can't just sit and wait to die. Everyone, try to recall what you've been thinking; maybe we can piece together some clues."

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose outside the door. It was the guards who had been standing guard, shouting, "Your Highnesses, His Majesty has decreed that you must go to Xuanyang Palace immediately!"

Everyone was startled and exchanged glances, not expecting such a turn of events. They all stood up and straightened their clothes. Yin Geer also came out at the right time, it seemed that he had been awake for a while but did not want to get involved in their affairs.

Xiao Heng was taken aback; it seemed he wouldn't get any results from the question.

It was just past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), and the morning mist had not yet dissipated. Golden sunlight pierced through the layers of vermilion gates, turning the snow on the glazed tiles into fragments of gold, refracting countless rays of light. Despite the brilliance, it was still extremely cold.

When Xiao Heng and his entourage arrived, Emperor Jing was already sitting high on a chair made of white marble, his wise eyes seemingly able to see through everything.

The seating arrangement below remained the same as yesterday, with everyone seated in their respective places.

Xiao Heng glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw that Jing Anle was there, with Jing Fengyao and Jing Fengyu on her left and right, respectively. Consort Li's seat was empty, and Consort Lin was not there either.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." The group bowed in unison.

Qi Zhi glanced at it, and a sense of unease flashed through his heart.

"No need for such formalities," Emperor Jing said, raising his hand slightly.

Yelü Yuanxiu, always lacking tact, blurted out, "Your Majesty summoned us so early, has it been discovered that the real murderer has been identified?"

The other foreign princes all froze, cursing Yelü Yuanxiu in their hearts.

However, Emperor Jing, who was sitting down, did not look well and appeared quite grave.

Seeing this, Xiao Heng quickly tried to ease the tension, saying, "Since Your Majesty has summoned us, you must have something to tell us. Please speak freely."

Compared to this, Xiao Heng's words seemed much more appropriate.

"Yes, Your Majesty, now that there is a result, please tell us quickly so that things can be resolved." The speaker was Empress Dowager Chen Huaping. She was not concerned about Consort Li, but rather about how the bed in Xuanyang Palace could not compare to the soft couch in her Cining Palace.

She hadn't slept a wink last night and harbored considerable resentment towards Emperor Jing. After all, she was the Empress Dowager of the country; how could she suffer such injustice?

Everyone could understand what the Empress Dowager meant, but no one dared to respond.

Princess Yongping sat there with a detached expression. Even though Princess Laili had been frightened yesterday and needed company, she still sat radiantly in her own seat today. In contrast, Consort Chen looked much worse, as if she hadn't rested well either.

On the surface, Prince Qing remained calm, but when he was summoned today and did not see Jing Rou, who was only told that she was unwell, he had a bad feeling.

The main hall was solemn and eerily quiet.

"Yesterday, Consort Li was poisoned and almost lost both her and her unborn child. The imperial heir is a matter of national importance, and the person who poisoned her has ulterior motives."

Emperor Jing paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "I have already sent people to investigate thoroughly, and now we have the results." Everyone held their breath and pricked up their ears.

"Guards, bring forth the witnesses!"

A short while later, palace servants from the imperial kitchen were brought in, along with Li Miao, a trusted subordinate of Emperor Jing. The servants knelt on the ground trembling, heads bowed, not daring to look at the crowd.

"Your subject, Li Miao, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Emperor Jing said in a deep voice, "Get up."

"Tell me about the findings of your investigation yesterday."

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to Li Miao.

The palace maid trembled, her voice trembling with sobs, "Your Majesty, yesterday I went to deliver medicine to Consort Li, and on my way I was bumped by a young eunuch, and the medicine bowl almost spilled..."

She started begging for mercy again halfway through her sentence, "This servant really didn't know that the drug was administered at that time! I beg Your Majesty to spare my life, I beg Your Majesty to have mercy!"

Emperor Jing frowned deeply. "Did you get a good look at the little eunuch?"

The palace maid shook her head, crying, "It was dark, I couldn't see clearly, I only remember that he was thin and ran very fast."

Li Miao continued, "Your Majesty, I sent people to search along the route from the Imperial Kitchen to Consort Li's palace. They found a small paper packet stained with poison in a flower bush. After examination by the Imperial Physician, the poison was confirmed to be the same as the poison that Consort Li was poisoned with."

"The imperial physicians of my Jing Kingdom are useless; they cannot even detect this poison. I hope that the princes, with their extensive knowledge and experience, can help examine it."

Now it was Jing Anle's turn to be bewildered. Didn't Consort Lin say last night that this poison was called "Heartbreaker" and came from the poison doctor Sai Yun? Now she was deliberately asking these foreign princes, what did that mean?

Xiao Heng's heart stirred, and he was about to speak when Yelü Yuanxiu spoke first: "This poison looks like it's designed to cut off someone's intestines. It was made by the poison doctor Sai Yun. This poison is colorless and odorless, and it can cause severe abdominal pain and harm the fetus."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked, and Jing Anle's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting that Yelü Yuanxiu also knew.

Emperor Jing's gaze sharpened. "Are you sure?"

Yelü Yuanxiu patted his chest and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I would never be wrong." Emperor Jing fell into deep thought, and the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly tense.

"Moreover, this poison-making herb, known as the Green Pearl Orchid, only blooms in winter and withers in spring and summer, and..." He sneered, looking at Qi Zhi meaningfully, and continued, "And because of the climate, it only grows within the territory of Qi Kingdom."

For a moment, everyone looked at Qi Zhi...