Chapter 286: Won’t Disappoint Her
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Su Bin was left in a state of shock upon receiving Qin Zhenzhen’s clandestine missive.
In her message, Qin Zhenzhen revealed that, following an acupuncture session administered to the Empress Dowager, she had successfully relieved the venerable woman’s debilitating headache. To her astonishment, the Emperor had personally made an appearance during this encounter.
However, what caught her attention was the Emperor’s disconcerting demeanor—it appeared as though he had fallen victim to a subtle, slow-acting poison. This insidious toxin was exceedingly challenging to detect, employing the principle of gradual consumption to surreptitiously advance its malevolent agenda. As time elapsed, finding a cure would prove to be a formidable task.
Rumors abounded that the Emperor’s personal attendant was a captivating maiden dispatched to the palace by the influential Jiang family. Not only was she a paragon of beauty, but her culinary skills were also exceptional, ultimately securing her a special place in the Emperor’s heart. It seemed increasingly likely that this enchanting woman was the perpetrator behind the Emperor’s poisoning, with suspicions pointing towards a nefarious plot by the Jiang family to usurp the throne.
Su Bin had assumed control of the intelligence network for over three months now, and he was well aware that the mother of the Eighth Imperial Uncle hailed from the Jiang family. He also understood that the Eighth Imperial Uncle was not one to be underestimated. Nevertheless, he had never fathomed that the Eighth Imperial Uncle would dare to conspire against the Emperor, directly plotting regicide.
This dire situation raised an unsettling question: would Su Bin be compelled to eliminate the Crown Prince next?
Qin Zhenzhen went on to elaborate on their predicament, explaining that she had discerned a malevolent glint in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. Regardless of whether she could ultimately cure the Empress Dowager’s ailment, it seemed plausible that the malevolent old woman might eventually seek to harm her and her grandma.
In a bid to buy time, Qin Zhenzhen intended to exploit the scarcity of the Immortal Pill, using it as an excuse for the delay. She concluded her message by inquiring whether Su Bin believed it necessary to inform her of the Emperor’s poisoning.
Would they die faster if they said it?
The Emperor’s poison was still not that deep. She had the ability to detoxify him, but it was hard to say if it would last longer.
In order to ensure the safety of Qin Zhenzhen and her grandma, Su Bin was already conflicted about whether to go to the Marquis Mansion to acknowledge his kin and use his status as the heir of the Marquis Mansion to protect Qin Zhenzhen and her grandma.
However, now that he suddenly knew a huge secret, Su Bin pondered for a moment and made a decision.
He sent someone to call Mr. Chen over.
The two of them were plotting in the study.
When Mr. Chen heard that someone had poisoned the emperor, he was also shocked.
“Who do you think poisoned the emperor, sir?”
Mr. Chen named two suspects.
The initial suspect in the case was the Eighth Imperial Uncle, closely associated with the Jiang family. This suspicion arose due to their role in overseeing the Emperor’s sustenance, accomplished through the selection of palace beauties to serve in this capacity. This raised suspicions of potential favoritism.
It’s worth noting that the palace beauties dispatched by the Jiang family were prohibited from bearing royal offspring. This measure aimed to prevent any tampering with the Emperor’s food or involvement in potential power struggles among the princes.
Consequently, the Jiang family’s women sent to the palace primarily held roles as attendants in the imperial kitchen or as sources of entertainment.
Yet, an exception existed in the form of the Eighth Imperial Uncle’s mother. The fact that he had grown up in good health was a testament to her exceptional influence.
The second suspect in the case was the Crown Prince. His motive lay in the potential to ascend the throne more swiftly by poisoning the Emperor. However, he lacked the opportunity to administer poison unless he could somehow bribe one of the Jiang family’s palace beauties responsible for the Emperor’s service. This avenue seemed relatively improbable.
As for the other princes, they were still too young to be considered suspects.
Given these circumstances, the Eighth Imperial Uncle emerged as the primary suspect.
Following about two hours of deliberation and planning in the study, Su Bin and Mr. Chen finalized their strategy.
Su Bin reassured Qin Zhenzhen, advising her not to take any action for the time being and to await her husband’s forthcoming positive news.
Upon receiving this message, Qin Zhenzhen blushed. Su Bin’s demeanor was becoming increasingly affectionate, even referring to himself as her husband in his notes. Was he truly intent on putting on such a display?
Nonetheless, she harbored no significant concerns about waiting for Su Bin’s positive outcome. Her confidence in his capabilities was unwavering, and she believed that he would not let her down..