bestfiction Chapter 55: Yu Bai hands over the antidote pill; De Quan is about to be taken offline!
Chapter 55: Yu Bai hands over the antidote pill; De Quan is about to be taken offline!
The Emperor nodded, and what Yu Bai said next truly shocked them.
"Your Majesty, I was attacked after passing the post station, and I was seriously injured in the process,"
As Yu Bai finished speaking, the Imperial Study fell into a deathly silence. The Emperor's face grew increasingly grim, like the dark sky before a storm. His eyes held a mixture of anger and vigilance, like two sharp blades, seemingly ready to tear apart any enemy lurking in the shadows.
His brows, already furrowed into a deep frown, were now even more deeply furrowed, as if they could trap a fly. The veins on his forehead bulged slightly from the emotional turmoil. His dark, deep eyes, like two icy flames, were now fixed on Yu Bai, scrutinizing every subtle expression on his face, as if trying to unearth more hidden clues from his story.
His tightly pressed lips trembled slightly, as if he were desperately suppressing the rage about to erupt within him. The muscles in his face were taut like a hard stone, every inch radiating a chilling and murderous aura.
"Who on earth is so audacious as to attempt to assassinate my secret guards right under my nose!" The Emperor finally spoke, his voice low and cold, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying an aura of majesty that could shake the entire palace.
The air in the imperial study seemed to be frozen by the chill. Tian Qing and Yu Bai lowered their heads, not daring to breathe. They knew that the emperor's anger at this moment was enough to turn all enemies to ashes.
"Your Majesty, according to my observation, these people's martial arts style is exactly the same as that of the Blood Fiend Palace! The moment they saw me, they aggressively demanded that I hand over something!" Yu Bai paused slightly.
He then added, “Your Majesty, it is clear that there may be someone with ulterior motives and malicious intentions by your side!” He recalled that when he sent Yu Bai to Ningguta, he was accompanied only by himself and Eunuch Fu.
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Fu's face turned ashen, his legs trembled, and with a thud, the whisk in his hand fell to the ground. He knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Your Majesty, spare my life! It was absolutely not something this servant would do! Even if you gave me a thousand times the courage, I would never dare to commit such a treasonous act!"
The Emperor's face grew increasingly gloomy, his gaze sweeping coldly over Eunuch Fu, but he remained silent.
At that moment, a sudden inspiration struck Tianqing, and he shouted, "That's right, Your Majesty! Last night around midnight, I personally witnessed Eunuch De acting strangely and furtively."
At the time, I thought he had important business to attend to and didn't think much of it. But now, upon careful consideration, Eunuch De is indeed the most suspicious! Upon hearing this, the Emperor thought to himself that this malignant tumor could no longer be left, otherwise the consequences would be endless.
It was Eunuch Fu who mustered his courage, raised his head slightly, and whispered to the Emperor with trepidation, "Your Majesty is wise. That Dequan actually poisoned you in secret. His crime deserves to be punished. He cannot be allowed to live!" Upon hearing this, Tianqing and Yubai were both shocked. They never expected that Eunuch De would actually poison the Emperor!
The emperor simply uttered a single word with a blank expression: "Kill!" Although his voice was not loud, it seemed to contain endless majesty and ruthlessness, making people feel a chill in their hearts.
At this moment, Yu Bai, who was kneeling on the ground, hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess once said that someone added a substance called Thousand Leaf Poison to the things you brought. This poison is extremely insidious. Not only is it colorless and odorless, but it also has no effect even when tested with a silver needle. Moreover, this poison takes effect slowly. At first, the poisoned person will only experience symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep and insomnia all night; in the later stages, it will cause cardiac arrest and eventually lead to death. Because the whole process seems natural, it is extremely difficult to detect any clues." Yu Bai dared not be negligent in the slightest and repeated Gu Liuli's words verbatim.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's face grew even darker, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze. He coldly shouted, "Get up! Stand up and answer!" Although the Emperor allowed them to stand, his icy tone was devoid of any warmth.
After the two stood up tremblingly, the Emperor immediately asked, "Then, did the Crown Princess mention any way to prevent this poison?" The Emperor secretly pondered that since Gu Liuli could recognize the Thousand Leaf Poison, she must know the corresponding preventative methods. Thinking this, the Emperor couldn't help but feel a surge of relief; thankfully, he had acted decisively without hesitation.
Yu Bai's expression was solemn, and his movements were as gentle as if he were holding a rare treasure. He slowly took out two small and exquisite bottles from his bosom.
The bottle was crystal clear, emitting a faint light, like two dazzling pearls.
His hands trembled slightly as he respectfully presented the items to the Emperor, bowing deeply and speaking in a respectful yet steady voice: “Your Majesty, the Crown Princess specifically instructed me to deliver these two items to you. She specifically instructed that this bottle of white pills is extremely precious, and that you, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager each take one. Once taken, they will grant you immunity to all poisons, and even the most potent poisons, such as arsenic, will not be able to cause you the slightest harm.”
At this moment, Xiao Han was sitting upright on the magnificent dragon throne, his sharp eyes fixed on the two exquisite little bottles in Yu Bai's hand.
He stretched out his right hand with great interest, gently picked up one of the bottles, and examined it carefully in his palm.
The material of this bottle was so unique—delicate, smooth, and warm like jade—clearly not something the Nanzhao Kingdom could possess. Xiao Han was secretly amazed, and his curiosity about these two mysterious items grew even stronger.
He shifted his gaze to another bottle and casually asked, "And what is this green bottle?" Yu Bai quickly stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess has stated that this green substance is exceptionally potent. She said that if anyone dares to poison you, you can use this medicine to retaliate. This poison is even more deadly than the legendary Thousand-Leaf Poison. Since those around you harbor disloyal intentions and attempt to harm you, they must not be tolerated and must be severely punished!" After speaking, Yu Bai bowed again, relaying Gu Liuli's words verbatim to Xiao Han, who sat high above him.
He instantly understood that the clever Crown Princess was afraid he would kill Dequan directly, and then Prince Duan and the others would know that he had 100% evidence of their plot to seize power. After all, one was in the open and the other was in the dark, making them difficult to deal with.
If Dequan dies under mysterious circumstances, all plans will be exposed; if Dequan dies from illness, then he will have no choice but to accept it!
"This Gu Liuli is quite a meticulous person," Xiao Han murmured softly, his voice clear even in the quiet imperial study. He raised his head, his gaze shifting from the bottle of poison to Yu Bai and Tian Qing, his eyes filled with undeniable authority and decisiveness.
"Do as the Crown Princess says. Closely monitor Dequan's every move and find an opportunity to subtly administer the poison." The Emperor's tone was calm and composed, yet it exuded an irresistible power. His face still bore a serious expression, reflecting his deep concern and vigilance regarding the situation at court.
"This matter is of utmost importance; there can be no mistakes whatsoever!" The Emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, gripping the armrests tightly until his knuckles turned white. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a ruthless glint flashing within them, a light as sharp as lightning, seemingly capable of piercing through all pretense and lies.
At this moment, the Emperor had already sketched a clear picture in his mind: those with ulterior motives would unknowingly fall into the trap he had carefully laid, ultimately reaping the bitter fruits of their actions and suffering eternal damnation. Thinking of this, a barely perceptible cold smile appeared on his lips.
Standing to the side, Tian Qing and Yu Bai sensed the majesty and aura emanating from the Emperor. They dared not be negligent in the slightest and quickly bowed to accept the order, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured, your humble servants will do their utmost to complete the mission!" After saying this, the two carefully withdrew from the Imperial Study.
As the door slowly closed, the imperial study returned to silence. Only Xiao Han remained in the large room, sitting quietly. On the table before him sat a bottle of poison, its transparent surface shimmering eerily in the candlelight. Xiao Han gently reached out and grasped the bottle, slowly turning it, his gaze fixed on the distance, seemingly lost in thought.
At this moment, Xiao Han's thoughts were surging like a tidal wave.
He was carefully considering every detail, pondering how to play this game flawlessly. After all, the slightest mistake could not only undo all his previous efforts but also bring him utter ruin…