Masquerade in Bridal Attire and Marry the Prince

91. Poisoning

 

Translator: Antonia

 

Old Madam Zhao, having lived too long to be foolish, at last had an idea after some contemplation, “Now as things come to this point, it’s impossible for Zheng to solve it alone. The only option is to deal with it on both ends.”

Old Master Zhao stunned for a while, obviously perplexed at what she meant by on both ends. He took a glimpse of his wife and, seeing the distress in her eyes, instantly understood.

On the day after tomorrow, the Empress would throw a banquet for the Turkic envoys, at which the Emperor would announce the bride for the political marriage. It wasn’t a secret already, but before the day arrived, the daughters of every family stood a chance, and it was also on this account, the capital city in these days was shroud with a shadow of melancholy.

At present, a Zhao daughter was troubled with such rumors, and the person behind it might be one of his political enemies who aimed at him losing his head with it. It was a tact of one-stone-two-birds. On the one hand, he would lose a granddaughter, and on the other hand, for the man behind the scene, a hidden peril was cleaned. What a pleasant move!

No matter what, now the Zhao family had been pushed into that position. In order not to let the Emperor suspected the Zhao family, the only way was to get Zhao Zheng out of it, and it seemed the best way was to make it real.

After the two made up their minds, they summoned over Zhao Zheng’s parents. Having been in the government service for so many years, Master Zhao certainly understood the policy of cutting off every neatly and quickly agreed. Madam Zhao was a little reluctant, but when Old Master Zhao brought to her that the object would be Yuxing Tianrui, she said no more.

After all, who didn’t wish their daughter a good husband of a great family? Across the capital city, only the imperial family was more powerful than the Zhaos. If the Emperor wasn’t willing to do them the favor, then the Zhaos would force their wish into a reality.

While the Zhao family made its wishful calculation, the East Palace settled down at last. Jiu Dengdan learned from someone two ways of making wine which was said to make excellent wine and took Du Chuxuan to test it out.

Yuxing Tianrui couldn’t stop them and had to dispatch guards. On a second thought, Jiu Dengdan was the shifu and couldn’t possibly let Du Chuxuan get hurt.

“Your Highness, these are gifts from Her Majesty for Her Highness. Since she isn’t here now, so would you please check if anything is not so satisfying so that I will have it fixed.” A maidservant carried the stuff in, followed by a line of others in the same manner.

Yuxing Tianrui took a glance and saw most of the things were clothes made by the palace tailors. Supposedly, there wouldn’t be a problem. He nodded and asked the maids to put them down. After the maids left, Ada walked in, “Your Highness, Luo Yi brought news—What’s the smell?”

His eyes on a sudden open wide, he subconsciously sniffed around the room and then his eyes were directed to the clothes over there. Yuxing Tiarnui also sensed something was wrong and sprang up, “What’s the matter?” Ada had extraordinary senses and always found out things that others couldn’t.

Ada sniffed hard, “I can’t tell exactly, but this smell has never appeared in the East Palace, so I might overact.” Seeing the clothes were obviously from the Empress, he blamed himself for thinking too much. After all, the Empress wouldn’t do anything to harm Yuxing Tianrui.

However, Yuxing Tianrui’s sensitive suspicious had already been aroused and he wouldn’t let it go easily, “Let’s talk about Luo Yi’s news later when Her Highness comes back. Now go and get Luo Qing and let him check it carefully.”

Ada was fast, and since there wasn’t much work at the imperial hospital, Luo Qing arrived soon, “Your Highness, where are these come from?” Luo Qing picked up the clothes. Though his words pointed to Yuxing Tianrui, he faced Ada. Ada hesitated and replied, “From Her Majesty.”

The answer gave Luo Qing a shock. Although they were all cultivated by Yuxing Tianrui, they knew very well of Yuxing Tianrui, and the more so of Her Majesty. She would be the last one in the world to desire any harm on Yuxing Tianrui.

“Any problem?” Yuxing Tianrui looked at Luo Qing with a frown. He already knew that there must be something wrong, or Luo Qing wouldn’t have been so nervous.

Luo Qing gave a small sigh, “Your Highness, the clothes are of course made by the imperial tailors in a hurry. They are of top-quality fabrics, but there is something on them, which, if worn by Her Highness, will cause a big trouble.” While he replied, his expression turned displeased.

In fact, the poison wouldn’t have a great influence on Du Chuxuan, yet, their Crown Princess was actually a man and if he wore the clothes, not only the anticipated effect wouldn’t take place, but rather, it would lead to a more terrifying situation.

“The clothes are sprinkled with a philter. The others who smell it will only find it very fragrant, but the wearer will be vehemently passionate and won’t stop until three days’ intercourse to the full. In the most case, the wearer will perish from the excessive heat within his body, and before the explosion of blood veins, the man surely suffers a horrible fever and constant erection.”

Upon the finishing of the remark, Luo Qing discerned the stern and grave look on Yuxing Tianrui’s face and quickly added, “There isn’t a big dose on the clothes. I don’t think the aim is Her Highness’s death but something else.”

Yuxing Tianrui rubbed his aching forehead and turned to Ada, “Just tell mother that Her Highness likes the clothes very much. Do not say anything more.”

“Your Highness!” Ada gave a startled cry. Although the clothes were sent over by the Empress, if His Highness no longer trusted her and a gap developed between them, he was afraid there would be bigger troubles in the future.

Yuxing Tianrui knew what was in his mind by his look, waved his hand and deeply sighed, “Last time when there were assassins, I already suspected that there are spies in the palace. Now, it seems right. Certainly the poison isn’t done by mother, but I believe the spy is from mother’s palace.”

Ada immediately understood Yuxing Tianrui’s intention. The spy was in the dark while they were in the light, so they had to be careful not to alert the spy.