novelraw Chapter 803 - 781: Exposed
Chapter 803 - 781: Exposed
Xie Jue can sense Fang Chuning’s feelings, only because his mood is the same as Fang Chuning’s, both fearing sudden loss. These days, Fang Chuning has been dining with him, and Fang Chuning would eat before him, letting the poisoned meal enter Fang Chuning’s mouth first.
If they were to eat together, then it would be fine, dying together without regrets, but if Fang Chuning left him first, he could only watch helplessly as Fang Chuning struggled in pain, how would he feel?
He appears calmer than Fang Chuning, but his heart has long been tumultuous, and he too finds it hard to bear sudden bereavement.
He also needs strong hugs and kisses to confirm that the heart of the person in his arms is still beating, his hands are so warm, his breath so familiar, they have narrowly escaped a disaster.
"Anning, it’s okay!" Xie Jue softly reassures, "I’m afraid too."
"I thought I was the only one who would be so frightened."
"I am human, not a deity; I also fear death," Xie Jue softly says. Once a person has attachments and ties, they fear death. People who are fearless only exist in stories.
"This journey through Sannan is unsettling, from today on, I won’t leave your side."
"..." Xie Jue wants to say it’s absurd, but realizes Fang Chuning might indeed do such a thing. Fortunately, today Fang Chuning brought some wild fruits for him. In the heat of Sannan, wounded and with no appetite, Fang Chuning goes through great effort to find sweet wild fruits for him to eat. If it weren’t for eating the wild fruits, this meal would’ve sent them both away.
Thank goodness!
Xie Jue thinks, if he insisted on not bringing Fang Chuning, how desperate he’d be upon receiving the news of Fang Chuning’s poisoning in Yangzhou days later.
Han Ziqi hastily leaves the tent to find Han Li and instructs him to investigate who touched Xie Jue’s meal today. With the camp in disorder, any move would leave traces. The envoy has over three thousand people, and Han Ziqi brought more than two thousand troops, but cannot guarantee all are his own, or who has been bought off along the way wanting Xie Jue’s life.
"What a bastard, only caring for his own land, not thinking that if Xie Jue dies in Sannan, Xie Xun’s cavalry could be at the border in three days, trampling over Sannan territory. He thinks he’d die and drag down the people of Sannan, really a bastard!" Han Ziqi angrily curses his older brother.
Han Li says, "If Xie Jue dies en route, that means your protection is inadequate. If Xie Xun gets angry, all it takes is the eldest prince suggesting to the king to offer your head as compensation and Xie Xun might not wage war. A classic case of killing two birds with one stone. He calculated that since Xie Xun just ascended the throne, he wouldn’t mobilize troops. As long as you die, he hopes to inherit the throne and renegotiate with Xie Xun."
"Dream on. He hasn’t even interacted with Xie Xun, doesn’t know Xie Xun’s personality. If Xie Jue truly died, Xie Xun would personally lead an expedition. He’s dreaming!" Han Ziqi grows more anxious. "Have people investigate thoroughly. I want to see how many people my elder brother placed here. From today, inspect my meals as well..."
Princely Heir, you take Golden Jade Pill daily, these poisons can’t harm you. By the way, if you’re worried Prince might be poisoned, should we let him take Golden Jade Pill too to eliminate any chance of others poisoning him?" Han Li suggests, referring to a pill the Sannan Royal Family consumes, which grants immunity to half the poisons. The Sannan people are adept with poisons, trained from young to identify and prevent being poisoned. Given the Golden Jade Pill, chances of being poisoned are slim.
Han Ziqi’s breath sinks, face solemn, "If I give him the pill now, telling him he’ll be immune to all poisons after taking it, do you think he’ll believe me? Will he take it? You’re not considering who he is, he’s Xie Jue. How could he possibly take our royal elixir?"
"Understood, I’ll investigate now."
Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin soon hear about the attempt to poison Xie Jue, both are taken aback. Zhang Boxin is so shocked he forgets about the two innocent rabbits, focusing only on whether Xie Jue and Fang Chuning are unharmed. Since the Imperial Physician hasn’t seen them, all are anxious, and though the Imperial Physician says the prince is unharmed due to timely discovery, everyone remains worried until Xie Jue and Fang Chuning appear, believing only then that it truly is okay.
"The Sannan people are audacious, trying to poison the prince. If the envoy can’t reach the capital, can they bear the consequences? Could this negotiation be a trap, deliberately luring the prince to kill?" Zhang Boxin discusses secretly with Lin Xiao, "Han Ziqi previously spread rumors in the capital that the prince is of Sannan Royal blood, is it true?"
The rumors spread quickly then, but the Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guard stopped the dissemination. That time, Xie Xun had just ascended to the throne, many rumors circulated in the capital, and remnants of the Yuwen Royal Family were causing chaos. Amidst this melee, Xie Xun found an excuse to quell the turmoil. But those like Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin, already privy to secrets, were aware. In fact, Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin discussed privately that Xie Jue and Xie Xun are obviously brothers, their distinctive features passed on to Ruyi. How could they not be of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion’s bloodline? But if his mother were Sannan Princess, how could there be no word all these years, content just being the concubine of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion? Any woman with such a background would vie for power her son, demand main-wife status. How could she remain silent all these years without a whisper?
Zhang Boxin didn’t believe it then, but his brother is an Emperor’s Guard, highly informed, casually said it’s likely true. Every mention of it sees Lin Xiao acting as if it’s taboo, and even Zhang Boxin, while initially skeptical, began to see why some in Sannan would resent Xie Jue’s negotiation efforts.
They also feared Xie Jue would gain the priest’s support and ascend to the Sannan throne.
"Prince and General dislike anyone discussing this, you’d better keep your mouth shut, loose lips cause problems," Lin Xiao warns, worried Zhang Boxin might speak carelessly.
"I understand, I’m not foolish."
"Not foolish? You argued with Mr. Fang over two rabbits. If you’re not foolish, who is?"
"Ah, the rabbits, innocently dead, I must bury them."
Lin Xiao, "..."
Han Ziqi, now titled Princely Heir, is undeniably capable. The investigation progresses swiftly, and the target is soon identified. Unfortunately, by the time he sends someone to capture them, the culprit has already taken poison and died, leaving no note.
Fang Chuning looks at the corpse, lips tinged blue and purple, confirmed by the Imperial Physician as poisoned with the same toxin that was in Xie Jue’s meal. This person must’ve been a death warrior, knowing exposure would mean death.