Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 322: Chu Mo Falls into the Trap

After completing her task, Xie Ping returned to the palace.

Xie Shi'an picked up the powder and walked back to the Xie residence. Standing at the entrance, he heard Xie Shikang wailing loudly.

Since their grandmother entered the palace and never returned, Xie Shikang had been cared for by an old maidservant who couldn't manage him properly, leaving him crying day and night.

Unwilling to face the chaos at home, Xie Shi'an went out to the main street and found an herbal shop, asking the shopkeeper to examine what the powder contained.

"This is a stimulant," the shopkeeper said, closing the paper packet. "This particular packet includes an ingredient called Juezi Root, which should make it even more invigorating."

Xie Shi'an asked, "Is Juezi Root poisonous?"

"Young man, you must be joking. Juezi Root is extremely expensive, only affordable by noble families," the shopkeeper replied. "An ordinary stimulant costs half a tael of silver, but this small packet would require at least fifty or sixty taels."

Xie Shi'an lowered his gaze.

Not poisonous?

The Empress went through such great efforts just for a packet of stimulant?

Something wasn't right.

But since it wasn't poisonous, it would be easy to add to the Gong Xi Prince's tea.

For him, there was no risk involved.

The Gong Xi Prince, completely unaware, drank the drugged tea. That very afternoon, he was summoned to the palace by the Empress.

The Empress sat in her chair, lighting an incense burner. A delicate fragrance began to spread through the room.

"Mo'er, didn't you mention last time that you wished to return to the Ministry of Revenue? There's been some progress on that matter."

Though the Empress spoke with a smile, her heart was filled with cold severity.

Some days earlier, after she had sent thirty thousand taels of hush money to the Gongxi Royal Mansion, the second prince immediately wrote to her, demanding her help in returning to the Ministry of Revenue.

She knew that as long as Xie Ping remained a vulnerability, the second prince would continuously threaten her to do his bidding.

"Thank you, Mother," the Gong Xi Prince said with a cupped-hand salute, a smile forming at the corners of his mouth.

Suddenly, he felt his head swelling slightly, and the incense from the burner made him somewhat uncomfortable.

But seeing that no one else seemed affected, he had no choice but to endure the discomfort.

Then the Empress stood up. "It's too stuffy in here. Mo'er, accompany me to the imperial garden for a walk."

The Gong Xi Prince also felt stifled and immediately agreed.

The two walked to the imperial garden, which was blooming with all kinds of flowers. The chaotic mix of fragrances assailed him, making his breath catch.

His heart began to race uncontrollably, pounding as if it might leap out of his chest.

His vision gradually blurred, and people appeared as double images.

The Empress's voice echoed in his ears: "I didn't expect Lady Zhou to be in the imperial garden too..."

He looked up and saw a woman playing the zither in a pavilion not far away. The music felt like a demonic sound, making his head feel as if it were about to explode.

He realized something was wrong.

But he had no spare mental energy to think about it.

He only wanted the zither music to stop. Immediately.

He rushed toward the pavilion.

By the time his consciousness gradually returned, he saw Lady Zhou lying on the ground, covered in blood, while he held a dagger from who-knows-where.

"Mo'er, you... you've killed someone," the Empress's voice sounded again. "Lady Zhou was currently the emperor's favorite! Your father will not let this go!"

Clang!

The Gong Xi Prince dropped the dagger to the ground.

Only then did he fully understand—this was a trap.

He turned to look at the Empress. "You framed me!"

The Empress smiled. "Mo'er, how can this be called framing? It was indeed you who killed Lady Zhou. So many people witnessed it."Prince Gong Xi looked over and saw many palace maids gathered around the pavilion.

There were maidservants from Lady Zhou, some from the Empress, and even young eunuchs who normally tended the flowers in the imperial garden.

He stumbled and fell to the ground.

He couldn't understand - both he and the Empress had smelled the incense and heard the zither music, so why had only he lost his mind...

"I know you didn't mean it, Mo'er. As your legal mother, I naturally have to cover for you to some extent." The Empress bent down to help him up, her face filled with concern. "Look at you, so frightened. Rest well tonight, don't worry about this matter. Be good and return now."

Granny Yin stepped forward: "Your Highness, this old servant will escort you out of the palace."

Chu Mo understood that this was the Empress's counterattack.

He also understood that while the Empress would absolutely cover up this incident perfectly, she would simultaneously leave evidence that could be used against him.

The Empress gave a cold smile and ordered her people to handle the aftermath.

When the palace maids lifted Lady Zhou, one of them was startled: "Your Highness, Lady Zhou is still breathing, she's not dead..."

The Empress cast a cold glance: "I say she's dead, so she's dead."

"Yes..."

The palace maid picked up a handkerchief and pressed it over Lady Zhou's nose and mouth.

Chu Mo returned to the Gongxi Royal Mansion in a daze.

He summoned a physician to examine his pulse. After examining for a long time, the physician finally said: "Your Highness has consumed stimulant medication. You've taken an excessive amount, causing mental excitement. Just drink more water to flush the medicine from your system."

Chu Mo's expression darkened.

When exactly had he been drugged?

All tea in the mansion was tested for poison, so it probably didn't happen in the royal mansion.

As he was pondering this, a servant came to report: "Your Highness, Madam of the Duke has arrived."

Chu Mo frowned.

He didn't have much contact with the Duke's residence. Why would Madam of the Duke visit? Since she was a female relative, he asked the Princess Consort to receive her.

Not long after, the Princess Consort sent someone to invite him to the front courtyard, saying Madam of the Duke had important matters to discuss.

While Chu Mo was having a secret discussion with Madam of the Duke...

Yun Chu and Chu Yi were packing their luggage in preparation for heading south.

There weren't many leisurely moments in life. Now that the family of four was together, traveling to see the great rivers and mountains of the Great Jin - what a wonderful thing this was.

With court disputes raging, leaving the capital and staying away from these troubles was indeed a good choice.

"Mother, when are we leaving?" The two children were very excited.

When they were younger, they had traveled to many places, but that was for seeking medical treatment. With their poor health, they had no mind to appreciate the scenery.

"The physician says your father will be able to ride a horse the day after tomorrow," Yun Chu said with a smile. "We'll depart the morning of the day after tomorrow and reach the Lizhuang post station by evening. Lizhuang has some famous local delicacies. We'll play there for a few days, then slowly head south. There's no hurry."

Chu Hongyu clapped his hands excitedly: "Great! Great! I love going out to play the most!"

Chu Changsheng tilted her head and asked: "Mother, can Xian come play with me? I want to be with her."

Chu Hongyu instantly became unhappy: "Changsheng, do you like Xie Xian more than your brother?"

"Of course not." The little girl took her brother's hand. "In my heart, mother and brother will always be first."

Chu Yi leaned in: "What about your father?"

The little girl showed her white teeth: "Father is first too."

Chu Yi: "..."

That "too" carried quite some ambiguity.

He paused for a moment and said, "I'll arrange for someone to bring Xie Xian over, how about that?"

"Father, you're the best!"

The little girl threw herself into Chu Yi's arms.Chu Yi held his daughter in one arm and embraced Yun Chu with the other, his face beaming with joy.

Chu Hongyu rested his chin on his hand and said, "In that case, I'd also like someone to accompany me on a trip."

Chu Yi's eyebrow twitched.

This boy loved cricket fighting and got along well with the sons of some noble families, often fooling around with them in the past.

Could it be that he wanted those mischievous lads to come along on the journey south?

Just as he was pondering how to refuse, he heard his son say, "I'd like my two tutors to accompany me. We mustn't neglect my studies and martial arts training during the journey."