Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 241 - 239

"Give the antidote pill to Mrs. Lu and the others." The Empress ordered the maid next to her.

"Isn’t it a bit inappropriate? The imperial doctor hasn’t arrived yet, we don’t even know what poison they’ve been infected with, and they are already taking medication indiscriminately?" Consort Yang was worried that once the poison was neutralized, Marquis Shengping’s family would evade responsibility.

After all, who on earth would administer poison and then present an antidote? They weren’t playing around.

"Oh? What’s wrong? Isn’t the purpose of the imperial doctor’s visit to detoxify as well? This antidote can neutralize a hundred poisons." The Empress looked at Consort Yang with a puzzled expression.

After hearing this, everyone also looked towards Consort Yang, not understanding why she was preventing the poisoned from taking the antidote.

Listening to these words, Consort Yang was secretly furious at the Empress for always undermining her. Then she smiled charmingly, "I didn’t know that this antidote could neutralize a hundred poisons. At the same time, I’m also worried that once the poison is neutralized, the real culprit might not be caught."

The maids gave the antidote pills to the three ladies’ maids one by one, and the maids hurriedly fed the pills to their mistresses.

"Finding the real culprit is Dali Temple’s responsibility. The evidence is still on the table! What is Consort Yang worried about? Besides, in Consort Yang’s eyes, is the culprit more important than human life?" As the Empress spoke, her voice became sharper and her gaze became more intense.

"I didn’t mean it that way; of course, human life is the important thing."

After hearing these words, Consort Yang turned pale. Among those who were poisoned was Mrs. Chu, who was part of her camp!

The Empress was clearly trying to turn people against her by portraying her as a cold and ignorant mistress who cared nothing for her tenants’ lives.

If others believed she was that kind of person, what would the First Prince, who was raised by her, be like?

Incompetent, careless about human life!

If that was truly the case, who would support such a person to take the throne!

Damn it, the Empress, this cunning petty villain, always trying to trap her!

And indeed, after hearing these words, Mrs. Chu glanced at Consort Yang.

The friendship of a gentleman is as light as water, but the friendship of a villain is as sweet as honey.

Such alliances based on mutual interests are the easiest to provoke. Even if they can’t immediately disintegrate the alliances, planting a seed of doubt is still beneficial!

Let them doubt each other! Sooner or later that seed will grow into a large tree!

The Empress glanced at the two of them then turned her attention away from them. Seeing that the three poisoned individuals had taken their medicine, she left several maids to take care of them and then led everyone to the emperor’s side.

On the emperor’s side, the poisoned ministers had already drunk their medicinal soup and their symptoms had eased considerably.

The Empress arrived with the other ladies and, seeing the empty medicine bowl on the table, asked after offering a courtesy, "Has the poison been neutralized? Has the culprit been found?"

"The imperial doctor prescribed medicine to neutralize it. No, all the food has been inspected, and it’s all poison-free." The emperor shook his head while helping the Empress to sit on the dragon throne.

The dishes served at the banquet were all tested with a silver needle before being served. There were even people who tasted the dishes to ensure their safety before serving them to the officials. It’s not strange that they couldn’t detect the poison.

The ladies and young ladies returned to their husbands’ or fathers’ sides.

"Or perhaps this poison cannot be tested with a silver needle. Regardless, all the food served at tonight’s banquet came from Marquis Shengping’s shop, so it definitely has something to do with their family." The First Prince was determined to pin the blame on Xiao’er’s family.

He had no choice. The Rui’an County Lord was nothing short of a wealth magnet and a mastermind. Shangguan Xuanyi and her joining forces would be like adding wings to a tiger!

If he couldn’t have her, then he would destroy her!

"How can the First Prince be so sure that there’s a problem with the food from our shop? Didn’t the emperor just say that all the food has been checked and is poison-free? Maybe this poison has nothing to do with the food at all. I suspect it is colourless and odourless and was released into the air. The ministers got poisoned by accidentally inhaling it." Xiao’er spoke with righteous indignation.

"What a joke! Who has ever heard of getting poisoned by arsenic through inhalation!" Consort Yang, who stood next to the First Prince, snorted.

"How did the imperial consort know that the poison was arsenic? Weren’t you with me when we came over here? Even I didn’t know that!" The Empress spoke lightly, leisurely watching her, her eyes seemed to say, you don’t need to pretend, I know you did it.

"It was the First Prince who told me." Upon hearing this, Consort Yang subtly showed a momentary sign of panic. Avoiding the Empress’ gaze, she spoke calmly.

The First Prince’s face changed instantly, knowing that the situation was bad.

"How did the First Prince know?" Shangguan Xuanyi looked at the mother and son, his gaze as cold as an ice-edged blade.

"I guessed it based on Minister Shang’s symptoms, which greatly resembled those of arsenic poisoning."

Damn it, why didn’t any of the imperial doctors say what poison it was?

"The First Prince is indeed remarkable, first directly sentencing the Marquis Shengping’s family, then determining that the poison was arsenic. The First Prince really has an incredible ability to strategize! I am truly amazed by the First Prince’s handling of affairs. The depth of my admiration for you grows day by day, and now it’s like a surging river, endless!" In order to express his strong admiration, Shangguan Xuanhao even applauded.

"Pfft!"

"Hee!" Shangguan Xuanjun and Di Shaowei couldn’t help but laugh, then quickly covered their mouths with their hands.

The emperor gave them a warning glance, and the two of them immediately quieted down.

Xiao’er found it hard to contain her laughter when she heard Shangguan Xuanhao’s words.

Shangguan Xuanyi gave Xiao’er a look: Is it funny?

Cough cough, alright! In such a serious matter, where even a small mistake could lead to the extermination of nine generations of a family, how could one laugh! Xiao’er quickly adjusted her expression, and put on a look of righteous indignation.

Shangguan Xuanyi shook his head. This girl could still laugh in the face of such a grave crime.

"I’m not worthy of the Second Prince’s admiration!" The First Prince flushed and didn’t dare to say much else.

Consort Yang also didn’t dare to speak casually anymore. The more you say, the more mistakes you can make. She originally thought that since the imperial doctors had already prescribed the medicine, those present must know that it was arsenic poisoning. However, the imperial doctors didn’t mention what specific poison it was.

"Consort Yang, do you have anything else to say?" The emperor asked Consort Yang.

Seeing the emperor’s expression, Consort Yang became frightened. Did the emperor know anything?

No, impossible! The doctor had said that apart from the prince, he hadn’t told anyone else.

"The sea buckthorn fruit was tributed by Xiyue Country. These past few days, the Empress and I have eaten quite a lot of it and none of us were poisoned. The rest of the food, even the spices and drinks served at tonight’s banquet, all came from Shangguan Marquis Manor. The First Prince’s hypothesis is also reasonable." Only she was willing to defend her son.

The Empress and her son just knew how to trip up her and her son!

After all, her son was the eldest prince and eldest grandson! With so many ministers present, being ridiculed by Shangguan Xuanhao for rash conduct, how could he later make the ministers submit and pay homage to him!