AWB Chapter 273 Poisoning (11)
Chapter 273 Poisoning (11)
As Gu Chang left Tiandu City, time quickly came to the Queen's birthday.
At the hour of You, halfway through the palace banquet, Emperor Tu Yanqing, after drinking a glass of wine, foamed at the mouth and fell to the ground. The originally lively banquet suddenly became chaotic. Eunuchs shouted that there was an assassin, and the ministers gathered around the main seat, protecting the foaming emperor.
Queen Leng Yanqu wanted to get closer to Tu Yanqing, but was beaten to it by Yang Ruiyue.
She paused, then turned her head and shouted at the chaotic scene, "Someone! Go find the imperial physician! Everyone, be quiet!"
As her voice echoed in the hall, although there were still some chaotic sounds, fortunately no one shouted.
Soon, the Royal Guards entered the palace in an orderly manner from outside the palace and took control of the entire hall.
"Your Majesty... is dead..." Yang Ruiyue's head shot up, her eyes wide. The pearl hairpin on her head had come loose from her large movements. The rose-red eye makeup at the corners of her eyes, meant to accentuate her tender, watery gaze, now looked a bit ridiculous.
Leng Yanqu's expression grew even colder. She stood there motionless, her straight body supporting the queen's wide dress. Under the light, she was like a mountain pressing down on Yang Ruiyue's heart.
"Is it..." Yang Ruiyue had a ridiculous thought in her mind. Before she could say anything, she heard Leng Yanqu's cold and majestic voice ringing in her ears:
"Doctor An, come and see His Majesty."
With the arrival of Doctor An, Yang Ruiyue shut up. She put her hand on the arm of the palace maid beside her, stood up and walked aside.
She looked around and found that her son was not there.
"Where is the prince?!" She was shocked and hurried to ask the palace maid beside her.
"Have you forgotten, Your Majesty, that His Highness went to a side hall to rest because he was drunk not long ago?" The palace maid felt the pain in her forearm being grabbed by Yang Ruiyue. She endured the pain and answered Yang Ruiyue's question.
Hearing this, Yang Ruiyue didn't care about the present and wanted to walk out of the hall.
"Your Highness, it's dangerous outside. It's safer to stay here." The middle-aged general in the lead stopped Yang Ruiyue. He was the general of the Zhou Kingdom, Liu Wang.
"The Crown Prince is still in the side hall! I'm going to find him!" Yang Ruiyue's long nails, painted with bright red nail polish, pinched the soft armor on Liu Wang's forearm. She used force, completely ignoring the fact that her nails were about to break off.
Liu Wang grabbed her wrist and removed it from his arm.
"Your Highness, don't worry. My son Liu Weisi is patrolling outside to find the bad guys. Please give in." After Liu Wang finished speaking in a deep voice, he walked past Yang Ruiyue and walked towards the emperor.
Yang Ruiyue's breathing became rapid. In this situation, only when she saw with her own eyes that her son was fine could she feel relieved!
"Your Highness! No way!" The eunuch's sharp voice suddenly rang out.
Leng Yanqu frowned slightly, "Let her go out."
Without any obstacles, Yang Ruiyue quickly left here and ran quickly towards the side hall.
"Empress! I am late!" Liu Wang stepped forward and stood in front of Leng Yanqu. His eyes were deep, and they flickered slightly when he looked at Leng Yanqu.
Leng Yanqu's expression remained icy. "General Liu, His Majesty is in very poor health. Please hold on here. What's the situation outside the palace?"
"Nothing happened outside the palace, Your Majesty can rest assured. But Your Majesty..." Liu Wang said at the end, a little hesitant.
Leng Yanqu sighed and turned sideways so that Liu Wang could clearly see Tu Yanqing lying on the ground.
When Liu Wang saw Tu Yanqing's face was blue and purple and foaming at the mouth, he frowned and looked at Leng Yanqu.
Doctor An, who was still trying to save Tu Yanqing, suddenly sat down on the ground. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he trembled as he said something that shocked everyone: "Your Majesty... has passed away!"
"His Majesty has passed away!" Liu Wang repeated what Doctor An said. His eyes darkened and he turned and walked out of the hall.
Side hall.
When Liu Wang arrived at the door of the side hall, he saw the panic-stricken Yang Ruiyue holding the ashen-faced Crown Prince Tu Mingen.
Seeing someone coming, Yang Ruiyue, who was originally stunned, stared at Liu Wang with a vicious look, "It's all your fault! Why didn't you send someone to protect the prince?! Why?!!!"
Liu Wang didn't say anything. He walked forward, squatted down, and reached out his hand to check the cause of Tu Ming'en's death.
Liu Wang, who had seen too many deaths, said solemnly, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince died about a quarter of an hour ago. He was poisoned. Imperial Noble Consort, did His Royal Highness drink the same wine as Your Majesty?"
But Yang Ruiyue seemed unable to hear Liu Wang's voice. She stubbornly repeated what she had just said, "Why didn't you send someone to protect the prince? Why didn't you send someone to protect the prince?"
The emperor and the crown prince died tonight, and the entire Tiandu City fell into panic.
Half an hour later, the bodies of the emperor and the crown prince were taken to another location. Everyone still inside the palace was to be interrogated. Only the frightened Empress Leng Yanqu was allowed to leave.
From the moment the emperor collapsed, Tu Weizhi found a corner to hide in. His expression was calm; it didn't matter to him whether the emperor died sooner or later. Now, he just wanted to get back to Prince Duan's mansion as soon as possible to see Nie Huaili.
Ever since he knew that Nie Huaili was pregnant with his child, Tu Weizhi felt that he had an extra worry on his shoulders.
But Nie Huaili was always wary of Nie Qingxue, worried that Nie Qingxue would attack her again.
If I had known this, I would have killed Nie Qingxue earlier.
He watched Liu Wang interrogate everyone who attended the banquet one by one, and suddenly realized that Tu Mingyuan was not there.
Then he remembered that the emperor would not allow Tu Mingyuan to appear at a banquet like this.
Now that the crown prince is dead, the only one who can ascend the throne is Tu Mingyuan.
Could it be that Tu Mingyuan did this?
impossible!
Tu Weizhi threw the thoughts in his mind aside.
Tu Mingyuan's plan was to leave the palace completely. He hated the imperial power so much that how could he attack the emperor and the prince?
What if Tu Mingyuan lied to him?
After this thought came out, Tu Weizhi tightened his jaw. He couldn't find any reason to convince himself.
He felt a vague sense of unease. Both the emperor and the crown prince had died of poisoning. This incident was too sudden.
Just now, Liu Wang sent someone to find the eunuch who delivered wine to the emperor, but all the eunuchs who delivered wine to the emperor were dead.
Now everyone has a tacit understanding in their minds.
The person who did this is most likely the Seventh Prince.
While Tu Weizhi was thinking about this, he noticed that Liu Wang was looking at him.
Tu Weizhi was wondering what Liu Wang was looking at him for.
When Liu Wang came over with several soldiers, he clearly heard Liu Wang say, "Catch him."
"Why are you arresting me?!" Tu Weizhi asked loudly in disbelief.
"Our people found secret letters written by you on those dead eunuchs." Liu Wang said in a deep voice with cold eyes.
Tu Weizhi immediately realized that someone was framing him. "General Liu, if I were the king, wouldn't you think it's ridiculous? Putting an important secret letter on a eunuch?!"
Liu Wang ignored Tu Weizhi's explanation. He had two soldiers restrain Tu Weizhi before speaking, "Did Your Highness do this? I'll investigate the whole matter. If Your Highness is innocent, I will clear your name."
Then Tu Weizhi's mouth was blocked with a sweat towel and he was carried away by two soldiers.
In the Shuilin Courtyard of Prince Duan's Mansion.
Nie Huaili sat upright on the edge of the large bed. Tu Weizhi should have returned by this hour. However, there was no news from the palace, only reports that an assassin had infiltrated the palace and that the Imperial Guards had been urgently dispatched to protect the emperor.
Nie Huaili felt a little uneasy, she felt that this matter was not that simple.
At this time, Chun Ye came in with a cup of calming tea, "Madam, drink some calming tea first."
Nie Huaili looked up at Chunye, her eyes suddenly filled with a hint of hostility. She raised her hand high, but just as her slap was about to land on Chunye's face, she suddenly stopped because she smelled a strange fragrance.
The aroma captivated her whole heart, and Nie Huaili's face showed an expression of fascination, "Quickly bring the tea."
"Yes, ma'am." Chun Ye stood there from beginning to end. Even when Nie Huaili wanted to hit her, she kept her head down and did not move.
Nie Huaili took the calming tea and drank it eagerly. The warm tea instantly made her feel refreshed, and then she felt like she was floating in the clouds. After finishing the calming tea, Nie Huaili lay back on the soft bed and casually threw the teacup on the ground.
Fortunately, there was a carpet, so the teacup was not broken.
Chun Ye squatted down silently and reached out to pick up the teacup on the ground. After picking up the teacup, she slowly stood up. When she saw Nie Huaili sleeping with his eyes closed, a big smile appeared on her face.
The next morning, in the palace prison.
Tu Weizhi paced around the cell, feeling somewhat distraught. He hadn't slept all night, and his eyes were bloodshot from all the strain.
He would glance outside the cell from time to time, as if someone would come to rescue him at the next moment. He did this many times that night.
Through the small window in the wall, he knew it was daybreak outside. Since it was daybreak, there should be a result. But he waited and waited, but no one came to tell him if he could leave. Just as he was about to go to the cell door and call the jailer, he heard footsteps approaching.
He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Nie Qingxue in a black dress walking towards him.
"Nie Qingxue, what are you doing here?!" Tu Weizhi had a bad feeling in his heart. This woman was definitely not here to save him.
Nie Qingxue had a cold expression on her face, and no one followed her. She walked up to Tu Weizhi, who was standing outside the cell, seemingly admiring his miserable state.
"How do you feel, Your Highness Prince Duan?" Nie Qingxue said coldly, with a hint of teasing in her tone.
Tu Weizhi frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Did you do all these things?" Tu Weizhi expressed this absurd idea.
Hearing this, Nie Qingxue shook her head. "No, didn't you do all these things? You killed my uncle and the Crown Prince. Didn't you do this just to take the throne?"
Tu Weizhi said in shock: "This prince has never coveted the throne!"
"But now, everyone thinks you have it." Nie Qingxue smiled slightly, but this smile was a mockery. "Isn't this secret letter written in your handwriting?" As she spoke, she took out the letter paper from her sleeve, unfolded it, and pointed it to Tu Weizhi so that he could see it more clearly.
Looking at the familiar handwriting, Tu Weizhi's eyes were filled with disbelief, "How is this possible! Someone must have imitated my handwriting!"
"This secret letter has already been verified. I came here at the request of Princess Duan, to let you travel with peace of mind. After all, you and I were once engaged." Nie Qingxue said with some regret, folding the letter and putting it in her sleeve. Then, looking into Tu Weizhi's bloodshot eyes, she continued, "Come here, bring the wine over so that the prince can leave in a dignified manner."
As soon as she finished speaking, the person outside came over with a tray in his hands and his head lowered.
Tu Weizhi gnashed his teeth and said, "I want to see the Queen! Isn't there the Seventh Prince?! Why don't you suspect him?!"
Nie Qingxue gave him a strange look. "Didn't you poison the Seventh Prince to death? The old maid who had been taking care of the Seventh Prince in the cold palace said that she saw him talking to an unfamiliar eunuch last night. She vaguely heard him say that Prince Duan had died. When she wanted to listen more, she found the Seventh Prince lying on the ground, lifeless."
Hearing this, Tu Weizhi opened his dry eyes wide. He couldn't imagine who wanted to throw this dirty water on him and even killed the emperor and two princes.
Seeing Tu Weizhi like this, Nie Qingxue felt extremely happy. She took the wine glass on the tray and signaled the person next to her to open the door and hold Tu Weizhi down.
Unexpectedly, Tu Weizhi somehow found the strength to break free from the jailer's restraints. Seeing the open prison door, Tu Weizhi ran towards it.
Nie Qingxue seemed to have known that Tu Weizhi would do this, and she slammed the cell door shut even faster than Tu Weizhi.
Tu Weizhi wanted to open the door and go out, but the jailer behind him grabbed his calf, slowing down his movements.
Several jailers outside heard the noise and rushed in.
"Hurry up and hold him down, he wants to escape." Nie Qingxue said coldly.
After receiving the order, the other jailers rushed into the cell and pressed down Tu Weizhi's limbs to prevent him from moving.
Nie Qingxue sighed, "Why bother? We could have left in a dignified manner."
A jailer pinched Tu Weizhi's chin and with a click, dislocated his jaw.
It was also a good opportunity for Nie Qingxue to put the dove wine into Tu Weizhi's mouth.
Looking at this scene, Nie Qingxue waved his hand and asked the other jailers to leave first.
After everyone left, Nie Qingxue knew it would take some time for the poison to take effect. During this time, she could talk to Tu Weizhi, "Do you know, in my previous life, you and Nie Huaili used the poison wine to kill me? To be more precise, in my first life, it was Concubine Chen who caused me to drink the poison wine and killed me, and then had her daughter marry you in my place. In my second life, I eliminated Nie Huaili and Concubine Chen, and happily married you, but I didn't expect that you had already colluded with Nie Huaili and caused me to drink the poison wine again."
"In my third life, I used the new emperor's sword to kill you and Nie Huaili. However, the new emperor was afraid of me. He discovered my secret and killed me. But now I have taken my revenge, which is not bad."
Listening to what Nie Qingxue said, Tu Weizhi could already feel his internal organs beginning to ache violently. He forced himself to open his mouth and mocked Nie Qingxue: "What a stupid woman, you've died so many times..."
"If it weren't... if it weren't for God's pity on you, what do you think... cough cough cough cough!" Tu Weizhi said as he started coughing and spitting out black blood.
"However, I didn't kill the prince and my uncle." Nie Qingxue took a step back, afraid that Tu Weizhi's blood would stain her shoes.
Tu Weizhi's eyes began to blur, and he died before he could ask who killed them.
Nie Qingxue sneered, then turned and left this dirty place.