The Imperial Guards rushed forward at the command, ready to arrest Xie PanâEr.
"Nonsense! You accuse me of poisoning His Majesty, do you have any evidence?"
"I am the evidence! Eunuch Ling beside the Emperor said that today the Emperor didnât go anywhere else, nor did he eat anything strange. The only place he visited was the Wanhua Palace, and he ate nothing at noon but the wild vegetable cake you made!
Tell me, if you didnât poison him, who else could it be?"
Xiao NingâEr stomped her feet, trying to pin all the blame on Xie PanâEr!
"His Majesty... only ate the wild vegetable cake I made?
Did he not eat anything else?
At noon, didnât you bring some delicious dishes? Did His Majesty not eat them?"
Xie PanâErâs question embarrassed Xiao NingâEr immensely. The Emperor didnât even glance at the dishes she brought; his heart and eyes were only for those unsightly wild vegetable cakes!
"The Emperor only ate the wild vegetable cakes you made!"
Saying this, Xiao NingâEr gritted her teeth, looking at Xie PanâEr with a gaze that seemed to burn and incinerate her.
"Thatâs impossible! The wild vegetable cakes I made absolutely..."
"Impossible or not, you can explain it in prison!"
Xiao NingâEr shouted angrily to the Imperial Guards beside her, "What are you waiting for? Arrest her!"
As soon as she finished speaking, rapid footsteps were heard from outside.
"Hold on!"
It was Long Wu; he had been exposed in front of Xiaosuisui during the summer, and the Emperor appointed him as a Squad Leader of the Inner Guard!
Such a position is not conspicuous, but very useful!
"C... Captain Long Wu!"
This team is specifically responsible for the safety of the Emperor within the Palace, not usually leaving the scope of the Imperial Study!
"His Majesty ordered that no one is allowed to make things difficult for Miss Xie. The poisoning case needs further investigation!"
"Investigate... investigate what? Isnât it obvious that it was Xie PanâErâs doing? What else needs to be investigated?"
Long Wu directly shielded Xie PanâEr and glanced at Xiao NingâEr, plainly stating, "His Majesty has ordered that Miss Xie and Miss Xiao NingâEr be summoned to Yangxin Palace for questioning!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao NingâErâs eyes widened, "Why question me?
I wasnât the one who poisoned the Emperor, why do I have to be questioned?"
Xie PanâEr sneered, "Just because you say it wasnât you doesnât mean it wasnât you. Whereâs your evidence?
Just like you claim it was me, you need proof!"
After saying this, she rolled her eyes at Xiao NingâEr, then turned to Long Wu, worriedly asking.
"Captain Long Wu, is His Majesty alright?"
"Rest assured, Miss Xie, His Majesty is fine now, the poison has been neutralized. Ji the Divine Hunter has also entered the Palace. Heâs currently speaking with His Majesty, and this case will likely be investigated personally by him. His Majesty asks you not to worry!"
Xie PanâEr was momentarily stunned. Long Wuâs words inexplicably warmed her heart, realizing that the Emperor deliberately had someone convey such a message to her, knowing that some did not wish for her peace in the Palace!
Inside Yangxin Palace.
"You got poisoned, alright, but why drag her into it? If this isnât cleared up, good luck on establishing an empress!"
Ji Youzhi flipped through the records of recent times but found nothing!
"It seems the greatest possibility lies in the luncheon. Did you really only eat the wild vegetable cakes made by PanâEr?"
The Emperor, lying on the bed, directly rolled his eyes, "Ji Youzhi, this is a matter of life and death; would I joke with my own life?"
Ji Youzhi scratched his head, "Then this is odd. Is the food department from noon still around?"
Eunuch Ling quickly replied, "Yes, the Imperial Physician inspected them, and theyâre non-toxic."
"Whereâs the food?
Let me have a look!"
Eunuch Ling came out and reported, "After His Majesty was poisoned, I immediately ordered all the food and utensils that His Majesty ingested today to be sealed! They are in the Side Palace next door!"
Ji Youzhi nodded and followed Eunuch Ling to investigate, seeing two sets of chopsticks, a plate of saury, a serving of braised pork ribs, a vegetable soup, and a pig trotter...
The dishes were few but colorful, and most importantly, untouched.
Itâs now winter, nearing the yearâs end, with scarce vegetables. Even a bowl of vegetable soup is a luxury only the Emperor and Empress Dowager can have every two days.
Ji Youzhi examined each item.
"Why is there half a cup of tea left?"
He reached out to feel it; it was no longer warm. Judging by the tea level, it seemed only a sip was taken!
Eunuch Ling quickly answered, "This is the tea His Majesty drank when poisoned, and by protocol, it must be sealed!"
Ji Youzhi nodded and was about to consult the Imperial Physician when it was announced that Xiao NingâEr and Xie PanâEr had arrived.
He temporarily set aside the matter and hurried to the Main Hall.
At this moment, Xiao NingâEr and Xie PanâEr were both brought before the Emperor by the Inner Guards and were kneeling together!
The first thing Xie PanâEr said was, "Your Majesty, is the poison truly neutralized?"
The Emperor nodded, "Itâs cured!"
Xiao NingâEr snorted coldly, "Crocodile tears! You obviously poisoned the Emperor, and now youâre pretending to care!"
Xie PanâEr ignored Xiao NingâEr. This mad dog of a woman was like Xie Yingying; the best choice was to ignore her!
Now, she was focused on waiting for Ji Youzhi to find the real culprit and clear her name!
Thinking this, her eyes couldnât help but search the palace.
The Emperor, seeing her expression, couldnât help but ask, "What are you looking for?"
Xie PanâEr casually replied, "Wasnât it said that Ji the Divine Hunter has entered the Palace? Where is he?"
Emperor: "..." So her thoughts are still on Youzhi!