The Princess Wei Yang

Chapter 103: Formidable Use of Poison


Chapter 103: Formidable Use of Poison


Comments:


Erica– Been without Wi-Fi for a few days, apologiesfor the delay


Notes:


[1]Should the student be better than their teacher


BaiZhiandZhaoYuewerebrieflytakenaback. BaiZhiwhispered:“Xiaojie, JiuYiniangislockedupinherowncourtyard,Laoyesaid——”


FatherdidnotsayIcouldntgoandaskquestions.”LiWeiYangidlysaid.


BaiZhisaid:“Buttheweatherissocold.”


LiWeiYangdidn’tpayanymindtoit:“Itdoesntmatter.Letsgo.”


ZhaoYuehadbeensolemnandsilent.Hearingthis,shenodded:“Yes.”


Therewasnotraceofanyonealongtheway.Perhapsnoonewantedtogooutinthisheavysnowyweather.LiWeiYangfirmlyheldontohercloakandwalkedintoJiuYiniangscourtyardbutdidnotrunintothecaretakers.Inthesnownotfaraway,therewasasilhouetteofa figuremovingstrangely.


Thatpersonslonghairwasunkempt,fallingeverywhereandseemedtobedraggingherfeet.Her kneesstiff,shewalkedasifhe was awkwardlylimping.ShewasgettingcloserandclosertoLiWeiYangandcouldbefaintlyseenonlywearingthinlayerofclothesInthisweather,howcouldanyonewearsomethingsospa.r.s.ehere!Amomentlater,LiWeiYangsaweverythingclearly.ThepersoninfrontofherwasnoneotherthanJiuYiniang!Shewasnotwearingthinsummerclothesbutawhitenightgown.


LiWeiYangfrowned,howcould JiuYiniangrunoutsideofthehousealone?!DidntLaoFurenordertohavemoreservantsto guard herandkeepherunderclosewatchHowcouldshe runoutsidewithoutanyonedoinganything?Whydidsherunoutinthiskindofweather?!


ZhaoYueinstinctivelyplacedahandontheswordbyherwaist,cautiouslyeyingJiuYiniang.


JiuYinianghadalreadydiscoveredthemandsuddenlystaredintenselyatLiWeiYang,clappingherhandsandlaughing.


LiWeiYangnoticedhervoicewasratherabnormalandshuddered.Shelookedatherfaceandonlysawapairofsoulless,holloweyesasshehadwithLiChangXi!


Hahaha,soitsyou!”JiuYiniangtwirledapale,frozenbluefinger.Herhandswerealwaysbeautifulanduntaintedbyevenalittlebitofdust,butnowtheywerecoveredinmud,dirtandblood.


Iknowyou!YourethatcapableSanXiaojie!Ahno!ItsLiWeiYang!Thatbearerofmisfortune!”


LiWeiYangraisedhereyebrows.CouldJiuYinianghavetrulylosthermind?


ZhaoYuewantedtostopJiuYiniangfromcominganycloser,butLiWeiYangshookherhead.ZhaoYuehadtostepback.JiuYinianggiggledominouslyandcameclosertoLiWeiYang.Thestrangelightinhereyesintensifiedassheusedthesecretivetoneofvoiceofayoungchild:“Child, arentyoureallycapable?!Savemethen,saveme,Ireallydidntharmyou!Ididnthurtanyone!Theyareharmingme!Theycolludedwithoneanothertoharmme!IonlyfeltthatthingwasbeautifulandwantedtoborrowittomakeoneforJinger.Itrulydidntharmyou!”


Thewordsofamadwomanwerenotnecessarilycredible,butLiWeiYangsintuitiontoldherJiuYiniangwastellingthetruth.


Shefrownedandsuddenlyraisedhervoice:“Wherearethepeopleinthiscourtyard?Didyoualldiesomewhere?”


Hervoicewasnotveryloudamidstthewindandsnow,butsevenoreightpeopleappearedfrominsidethecourtyard,fourMamasandacoupleyatous.Theyallhadafearfullookontheirfaces.


LiWeiYangcoldlysaid:“Allofyouweresupposed towatchoverJiuYiniang,whatareyoualldoing?!”


ThefourMamashastilykneltdownandapologized.Wheneveritwasthiscold,theydidnotstandguardbythedoorsandsneakedinsomewinetodrinkandplaycards.TheyjustrealizedthatLiWeiYanghadarrivedbutdidnotdaretocomeoutinfearofbeingpunished,butitseemed likeitwasunavoidable.


AMamaquietlysaid:“Xian Zhuforgiveus,theweatheristoocold.AlltheNubishandsarefrozenblue.WethoughtJiuYiniangwasmentallyunstableandwouldnotrunout,sothen——”


LiWeiYangcoldlystaredatthem:“QuicklyhelpYinianginside!”


Huh? DidntJiuYiniangharmSiShaoye?SiShaoyewasXian Zhusfull-bloodedyounger brother.WhydidXian ZhucontinuetotreatJiuYiniangthiswell?TheMamaslookedatoneanother.TheydidnotdaretoobjectandquicklydirectedpeopletoseizeJiuYiniang,butthestrengthofamadwomanalwayssurpa.s.sedthatofanaverageperson.JiuYiniangbegantolaugh,hervoicesharpasshebrokefreefromthecrowd,swayingassheran.Everyonerushedtoseizeherandaftersomedifficulty,theymanagedtoholdherdownonthesnow.JiuYiniangwasbarefoot,herentirebodycurledupasifshewasgettingsick.


LiWeiYanglookedonfromafarandhadanominouspremonition.Shewhispered:“Haveyourolder brotherwatchoverJiuYiniang.”


Yes.”ZhaoYuequietlyresponded.


LiWeiYangsintuitionwasratheraccurate.Onedaylater,JiuYiniangwasfounddeadinherroom.


ThephysiciansaidJiuYiniangcommittedsuicidebyswallowinggold.”LiWeiYangslowlysaid.


ZhaoNanshookhishead:“No, Nucaistoodguardoutsidetheentiretime.Ifshecommittedsuicidebyswallowinggold,Nucaiwouldhaveseenit.”


LiWeiYangsighedandsaid:“Ofcourseshedidntcommitsuicide,shewasmurdered.”


Xiaojie,whenyatoubroughtdinnerinthatevening,JiuYiniangwasstillwell.Nucaihadalsotestedthefoodwithasilverneedle.Therewasnopoison,butaftersixhours,JiuYiniangstoppedbreathing.


AtfirstNucaisuspectedshehadbeenpoisoned,soNucaihadcheckedallthefurnishingsinroombutcouldnotfindanytrace of poisonanywhere. Then,NucaiexaminedJiuYiniangscorpseandfoundthatshelookedasifsheweredreaming,asifithadbeenpainless.


So,thepersonwhokilledhermusthaveusedapoisonthatcouldnotbedetectedoractedinawaywecouldnthavepossiblyimagined.”


LiWeiYanghadlivedinthe palaceandknew aboutmany types ofpoisonthatcouldnotbedetected.Forthemostpart,thosewereingredientsthatcontaineda.r.s.enic,soitwasnotsurprisingthatZhaoNancouldnotfindthecauseofJiuYiniangsdeath.


Itseemsouronlycluehasbeenlost,”ZhaoNanfrowned.Inhisopinion,thewindingtroublesinthisgrandresidence havemadepeople’sheadshurt.Someonepeacefullylivingouttheirdayscouldsuddenlydieinfrontofeveryone’s eyes.Hereallycouldnotunderstandit;hewouldrathergotothebattlefieldtofightandkillthantobeafraid,worryingaboutwhenanarrowwillcomeforhimoutofnowhere.


DidntanyofyouthinkthatJiuYinianggoingmadisstrange?”LiWeiYangprompted.


ZhaoYuenodded:“Shewasingoodhealth,butfromthemomentsheleftHeXiangCourtyard,itsasifsheturnedintoadifferentperson.”


LiWeiYangnoddedandsaid:“LiChangXilosthermindbecauseofthetraumaIcausedher,butwhydidJiuYinianggomad?”


MaybeShemadeagravemistakeandwasafraidofbeingpunished——”BaiZhisupposed.


LiWeiYangshookherhead:“Ifshewasdaringenoughtodoit,shecertainlyknewoftheconsequences.Howcouldshegomadsoeasily?”


BaiZhididnotspeakanymore.ShealsofelttherewassomethingwrongwithJiuYiniangsuddenlygoingcrazy.Perhapssomeonehadahandinit.


OnlyMoZhousighedandsaid:“PoorLiuXiaojie,shehasalreadylosthermothernotlongafterbeingbornintothisworld.”


LiWeiYangsmiled:“Thisisactuallyagoodthingforher.AlthoughJiuYiniangwasbeautifulandclever,shedidnotgrowupinalargeprestigioushousehold.Sheiseasilymanipulatedbyothers.Withamotherlikeher,Liumeimeiwillbeinvolvedinmanytroublesomematters.Nowthatsheisdead,JiangYueLanhastoestablishherimageofagentle,goodmotherinfrontofeveryone.Shewillexpectantlytreatherwell.”


BaiZhinodded;“Xiaojiehasapoint.”


MoZhoudisagreed:“WhoknowswherethenewFurensheartis.WhatifshealsodisposesofLiuXiaojie?”


LiWeiYanglaughed:“Foolishyatou, whywouldsheneedtoactagainstLiumeimei?Liumeimeiisonlyaconcubine-borndaughter.Infuture,sheonlyneedstogiveherabitofdowry.ShecouldalsouseLiumeimeitofurtherher familyinterests. Ofcourse,shemustbecarefullyraised ---forthesakeofJiangYueLansgoodname.ButMinZhiisdifferent…”


Firstofall,suppressingtheconcubine-bornsonistokeeptheinheritanceforthelegitimateson.Eveniftheconcubine-bornsonmovedout,hewillalwayshaveashare.Ifhedoesntmoveout,youwouldhavetoputmoneytowardssupportinghishousehold.Whenitcomestoanarrow-mindedandunfavored mainbranchofthefamily,theywillnaturallytreatmoneyastheirfleshandbloodandresentnotbeingabletoremovetheconcubine-bornsonfromexistence.


Thesecondreasonistoprotecttheeldest,legitimatesonsstatusinthehousehold.AmongtheofficialsinDaLi,thereweremanyconcubine-bornsonsthathavesurpa.s.sedtheirlegitimatecounterparts.Withachievementsinhand,notonlycouldtheywrestlefavorfromthelegitimateson,buttheirmothergainshonorashersonspositionrisesandmayevenbeabletocompetewiththeofficialwife’s.


LikethecurrentprefectofZhangzhou,LiuFang,whowasoriginallyaconcubine-bornson.HewasraisedbythelegitimatemotherLiushifromayoungage.Whenhereturnedandsawthathisbirthmother,Lishi,withaheadofwhitehair,stillhadtoabidebyetiquettetowardsthelegitimatemotherandcouldntbearit.HepurposelyaskedforBixiasedicttoallowhimtobringhisbirthmothertoZhangzhouPrefecturewithhimtosharehisprosperity.TheEmperorsawthatLiuFanghadenduredmanyyearsofhardworkandhardships,butthenewsspread,andhislegitimatemotherLiushifeltthissonwastoounrulyandwasfurious.SheorderedtheservantstochokeLishitodeath.So,itseemedlike sheraisedthisconcubine-bornsonwithherguardraised.Thiswasalsohumannature.ThiswasthemainreasonLiWeiYangdidnotwanttoleaveMinZhiwithJiangYueLan.Ifshedidnthaveason,shemaytreatMinZhiwell,butwhatifshehadherownson?Theproblemwould becomerathercomplicated.


LiWeiYangthoughtupuntilthispoint,thenlookedatthebranchesoutsidethewindowthatwereswayedbythewind:“Thisisthelastsnowfalloftheyear.”


BaiZhiandMoZhoulookedatoneanother,notunderstandingwhyLiWeiYangsuddenlymentionedthis.


Theperson who had thesamethoughtsasLiWeiYangwasLiXiaoRan.HefeltJiuYiniangsmadnesswasstrangeandsuspectedsomeonepoisonedher.Asheponderedoverit,shesuddenlydied.Perhapssomeonemurderedher.Atfirst,hewantedtothoroughlyinvestigate.Unfortunately,theshopownerwasdeadandwith neitherawitnessnora testimony, theonlycluewaswiththeyatoubyJiuYiniangsside.Herwordsbecametheonlydoorstothe truth. Nomatterhowshewasinterrogated,theyatouonlyrepeatedthat:JiuYiniangpoisonedSiShaoye,andshedidnotknowanythingelse.Lateron,LiXiaoRansentforanexpertintorture,butthatyatoustilldidnotchangeherconfession.


Nomatterwhatitis,ithasnoeffect.Eithertheyatouistellingthetruthorshebelievesthatwhatshessayingisthetruth.”LiWeiYangsaidtoZhaoYue.


ZhaoYuedidnotunderstand:“Whatisthedifference?”


LiWeiYangsmiled:“ThedifferenceisthatshereallydidseeJiuYiniangputthepoisoninsideorsomeoneelsemadehermistakenlythinkthatJiuYiniangdealtwithpoison.”


ZhaoYuesuddenlyunderstood:“Then, isthereawaytoinvestigateit?”


LiWeiYangcoldlysaid:“Ithappenedonce,sotherewillinevitablybeasecondtime.Aslongaswepretendnottoknowanythingforthetimebeing,theotherpartywillcontinuetoact.”


ZhaoYuenodded:“NubicertainlywillcarefullywatchoverSiShaoye.”


Atthatmoment,ZhaoNanquicklycameinandkneltdowntosay:“Xiaojie, followingXiaojiesinstructions,NucaisearchedthroughJiuYiniangsfoodintherecentdays…”Hehandedoverastackofpapers.


LiWeiYanglookedatitforawhilebutstillcouldnotseeanythingoutoftheordinary.Sheloweredhervoice:“Thereisnothingstrangewithfoodpreparation.Whatisgoingonhere?”Awhilelater,shefrowned:“Gofindaphysician.”


ZhaoNanrespondedandquicklydisappeared.LiWeiYangsolemnlylookedathisretreatingfigure.


Twohourslater,ZhaoNanbroughtbackanold,white-hairedandbeardedphysician.LiWeiYanglookedatZhao,andheimmediatelysaid:“NucaitoldtheguardsatthegatethatayatouinXiaojiescourtyardwasill,sotheLifamilyphysicianwouldnotbesummoned.”


LiWeiYangnoddedandsaid:“Pleasetakealook,istheresomethingwrongwiththesefoods?Orwouldconsumingtoomuchofanyofthese beharmful?”


Theoldphysicianwastremblingandstilldidnotknowwhathappened,buthesawtheluxuriousfurnishingsintheroomandLiWeiYangsmannerofdressandunderstood.Heloweredhishead,notdaringtolookatLiWeiYang.Heacceptedthepapersandscannedthrougheachone.


ThesepapersrecordedJiuYiniangsdailymealsinthepastmonth.


Theoldphysicianexaminedthemandpointedatadishthatwas preparedforeverymeal:“Thissteamedca.s.sava——”


LiWeiYangsaid:“Ca.s.savaisuniquetoJiuYiniangshometownandsomethingshelovestoeat.Fuqinalwaysdotesonherandsendsforittobedeliveredfromherhometown.Shedidnottouchitwhenshewaspregnant.Itsnothingnew.Why,isthereaproblemwithit?


Theoldphysicianlookedalittlehesitant:“Theleaves, stems,androotsofca.s.savasaretoxic,andfreshrootsarethemosttoxic.Ifraworundercookedca.s.savaiseaten,eventhroughasipofsoup,itmaystillcontaintoxins.Consumingtoomuchofitwillleadtodeath.Therefore,mostpeopledontlikeeatingit.”


LiWeiYangfrownedandthensaid:“Thisisunlikely.Thekitchenstaffwouldnotserveuppoorlypreparedfood.”


Theoldphysiciandidnotdaretosaymoreandpointedatanotherdish:“ThisEnokimushroomanddaylilydish AhThemushroomscontainatypeofcolchicine.Ifitsnotcarefullycookedandconsumedinlargeamounts,itcaneasilyleadtotoxinsdisruptingthedigestivesystem.Ordinarypeoplecanstilldigestit,butifsomeoneweakandfrailwastoeatit …”


Frail? JiuYinianggavebirthafewmonthsago.Herhealthnaturallycouldnotbeatitsbest,butdaylilywasoftenusedincooking.LiWeiYangneverheardofitbeingtoxic,soshemadeanexpressionofdisbelief.


Theoldphysicianexplained:“Thisoldmanhasseenwithhis owneyesapatientwithgastrointestinalbleedingforsevendayswhoseemedperfectlynormalbutsuffocatedtodeathintheend…”


BaiZhimadeafaceofdisgust.ThisoldphysiciandaredtosaysuffocatetodeathinfrontofXiaojie-- hewastrulyoutofline!


LiWeiYangshookherhead.ThiscouldnotexplainJiuYiniangsdeath.Tosayshediedbecauseofthetoxinsinmushroomsordaylilieswasabsurd.Everyoneeatsthesethings,andnoonehaseverdied from this.Theoldphysicianwasspeakingofaspecialcasethatwouldonlyhappenundercertaincirc.u.mstances.No,waitamoment,whatifsomeonedeliberatelyundercookedtheca.s.savaorintentionallyletthefrailJiuYiniangconsumealargeamountofca.s.sava?


Theoldphysiciancontinued:“Xiaojieisyoungandit’s normal that you haveneverseenthis.WhenIwasyoung,IusedtoexaminecorpsesfortheImperialCourt.Isawwithmyowneyesallthestrange,primitivewayspeoplekilloneanother!Takethisroastporkandpotatodish.Theblossoms,leaves,androotsofthesepotatoescontainalotoftoxins,especiallyintheshoots.Younggreenpotatoesordarkspotsduetoimproperstoragecontainextremelyhighlevelsoftoxicity.Aslongasonemakesgood useofit,theycaneasilyputsomeonetodeath.Ofcourse,tograspthis,onemustneedtoexperimentwithitmanytimesandhavedirectaccesstothevictimsfood…”


LiWeiYangunderstoodeverything.Shewavedahand.BaiZhiimmediatelyplacedalargesilverbagintheoldphysicianshand.Theoldphysicianpanicked:“This Ididnotexamineanyoneyet,Icannotacceptsomuchmoney…”


LiWeiYangsmiled:“Thankyouforclarifyingmysuspicions.”


Theoldphysicianwasrewardedbutfrightened.Heintendedtosaymore,butZhaoNanhadshowedhimout.


BaiZhisoftlysaid:“Thisoldmanscarespeoplewithwhathesays!Weeatthosethingsevery dayandhaveyettoseeanyonedie!”


LiWeiYangshookherhead:“Indeed, ifyouwanttouseitproperly,youmustknowJiuYiniangshealthverywellandusethischancetokillher.Thisisnotsomethingtheaveragepersoniscapableof.Imafraidapoisonsexperthasappearedinthishousehold.”


Xiaojieissayingits——”ZhaoYuewasstunned.


AchillinglightcrossedLiWeiYangseyes:“Toputhertodeathlikethat,IknowwhythispersonwouldwanttostepfootintotheLifamily!”


InadifferentresidenceintheCapital


ZhouTianShouworriedlywalkedinthroughthedoorsandgreetedtheyoungmaninceremonialgarmentsstandinginthehall.Theyoungmanturnedbackwithasmile:“Noneedtostandonceremony,Taoistleader.”


ZhouTianShouoriginallylivedinmountains,butforsomereason,hewasinvitedtothisplaceamonthago.Hemettheyoungmanhere,whoarrangedthisresidenceforhim.ZhouTianShouledamodestlifestyleandhadneverreceivedsuchacourtesy.Hecouldnothelpbutwalkaroundthecourtyardandglancedaround.Thetablesandbedweremadefrompreciousrosewood,thefour-paneledscreendividerwasinlaidwithgold,thecurtainsembroideredwithsilk,thebedding,andeventhesleepwearweremadeofsilk.Everythinginthehouse,eventhechamber pot,waslacqueredwithgold.


Atmeals, thetablewouldbefullofseeminglysimplevegetariandisheswithmushrooms,winterbambooshoots,fungus,chestnuts,cauliflowerandvegetables.However,heknewthatwhilemeatwashardtocomebyinthese seas,freshvegetableswereevenmorerarethanabaloneandginseng.Hewasblindedbysuchextravaganceandcouldnotbelievewhatfortunehestumbledupon.However,somethingmadehimuneasy,notknowingwhattheotherpartywantedhimtodo.


Now, theyoungmanappearedbeforehimasecondtime.ZhouTianShouknewthatthistime,itwouldbetogivehimatask.


IinvitedTaoistleaderheretoaskthatyouleavethisplace.”Theyoungmansmiledashesaidthis.


ZhouTianShouwasshocked.Howcouldheleavesuchawonderfulplacebehind?Hisfacerevealedhisreluctance,buttheyoungmancontinued,withoutwaitingforhimtospeak:“Dontmisunderstand.Ihavenootherintentions.SomeonewillcomeandinviteTaoistleaderintothepalace.”


Intothepalace?!”ZhouTianShouwasevenmoreastonished:“Inviteme?”


Theyoungmansmiledandsaid:“Indeed.”


ZhouTianShoufeltratherstrange.Hecouldnthelpbutlookattheyoungmansappearance,feelinghehadan.o.bleandhandsomeappearance.Hiseyebrowswerelikemountains,hiseyeslikeapondinautumn,andeverythingfromhisnosetohismouthwas perfectly sculpted, butmostimportantlywas his fate ZhouTianShouhadanideaofthisyoungmansident.i.ty.Hewasgoodatlookingatfaces,butthereweremanythingsonecanseebutcannotsayforsure.


Youshouldreturntoyouroriginalresidence,Taoistleader.Inthreedays,QiHuangziDianxiawillinviteTaoistleaderintothepalace.”Theyoungmansaid.


ZhouTianShoufearfullysaid:“IntothepalaceMymaster…”Hismastersaidmattersinthepalacewerecomplicatedandtoldhimnottobeinvolvedwithquestionablepeople,butheknewthathismasterwasafraidhewouldstealhisbowlofrice[1].


Theyoungmanssmileseemedevenmorecharming:“Everythingwillbetakencareofonceyouareinthepalace.However,ifyouwanttosurpa.s.syourmasterinBixiaseyes,youneedtobringBixiaauniquegift.”


ZhouTianShoulookedhim,puzzled:“IamonlyapoorTaoist,whatgiftcouldIsend?”


Theyoungmanonlysmiledandsaid:“Ah, agift.Ihavealreadypreparedoneforyou.”


ZhouTianShoufollowedtheyoungmansgazeoutthewindow.Hesuddenlystopped,hiseyesimmediatelyfixatedonayoungwoman.Hehadneverlookedclosely atbeautifulwomenandkepthimselfpure,butatthismoment,hestaredunblinkingly.Thebeautyinfrontofhimhadsofthands,afaircomplexion,sharpphoenixeyes,beautifuleyebrows,andaclever,charmingsmilethatmadeonesheartquiver.Afterall,hewasareligiouspract.i.tionerandimmediatelyrecollectedhimself:“Thisis——”


Theyoungmanhadaslightsmile:“The emperorismissingaflawlessbeautybyhisside,right?”


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Translator: Chau


Editor: Erica


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