Chapter 223: Minghui Poisoned

Ning Daying went and came back, almost rolling and crawling straight into the Cold Palace.

Her face was pallid, tears mixed with sweat smeared her cheeks, and when she grabbed Wan Tang's arm, her fingertips were icy and trembling uncontrollably.

"Sister… elder sister… something's happened!" her voice hoarse and incoherent, "Minghui… Minghui coughed up blood!"

"Hui Guifei sister… fainted!"

"The imperial physician said… it's poisoning!"

Wan Tang felt a chill surge from the soles of her feet straight up to the Heavenly Spirit Crown, her heart suddenly tightening, almost ceasing to beat.

She turned and gripped Ning Daying tightly, her nails nearly digging into her flesh, her voice warping with extreme terror: "What did you say?!"

Even with the barrage warning, how could it be so fast!

Before the barrage gave a bit of reaction time; now it doesn't even allow any reaction time?

"On the way back from you… halfway there, Minghui started vomiting nonstop… Hui Guifei sister was so frightened she lost her spirit, and was hurriedly carried back to Jingren Palace…"

Ning Daying sobbed breathlessly, "The imperial physician hasn't reached a conclusion yet… sister… she suddenly fainted!"

She wiped her face forcefully and urgently pushed Wan Tang: "You go quickly!"

"Take advantage of the chaos in the palace now, run quickly."

"Both my sister and I believe it's not you."

"But the Empress doesn't believe it; she insists it's you, out of jealous hatred, poisoning people."

"The guards are probably coming to seize you right away!"

Wan Tang's mind buzzed, yet the extreme terror forced out a strange calm.

She suddenly seized Ning Daying's wrist, her gaze sharp enough to shock: "It's the Empress! The poison isn't in the food, it's on the clothing!"

Ning Daying's eyes widened in astonishment: "How did you…"

"No time to explain." Wan Tang cut her off sharply, pushing her forcefully toward the door, "Go back quickly."

"Keep a close watch on Jingren Palace, especially the people the Empress sent."

"Anyone who approaches Hui Guifei or Minghui's medicines or clothing must be watched to death."

Ning Daying, shaken by the resolve and urgency in her eyes, instantly grasped the gravity of the situation.

She asked no more, gave a firm nod, and turned, rushing out like a gust of wind.

【Ah, the Empress acted so quickly; it seems Wan Tang has been too lax during this time.】

【Forget this for now; Hui Guifei's incident, and the Empress immediately sent someone to inform the Duke of Ning.】

【The Duke of Ning is already advanced in age; arriving at the palace now, who knows what might happen. Then the whole world would truly descend into chaos.】

【The focus is Chu Yunzheng, right? Hui Guifei is already of great significance to Chu Yunzheng. First, the relationship between Bai Li and Hui Guifei, and the Duke of Ning's regard for Xiao Huihui. Once something happens, it's not just a consort's incident; it's also the Duke of Ning's three hundred thousand troops.】

【Trouble—Li Defu is approaching the Cold Palace with his men.】

【Now, anything found in the Cold Palace, if searched out, would be a disaster for Wan Tang, Xu Yanchuan, and those outside!】

Accompanied by a rush of footsteps.

Li Defu stormed in directly with his men.

"Search for me."

At Li Defu's command, the junior eunuchs and guards entered in succession.

Wan Tang only felt an overwhelming chill instantly sweep over her entire body.

The burning anxiety over her daughter's uncertain fate intertwined with the present trap, nearly tearing her apart.

She forced her nearly collapsing body to stand, her voice trembling with extreme fear and anger:

"Lord Li, Minghui is my own flesh and blood."

"Even a tiger's poison won't eat its cubs; how could I harm her?"

"I want to see Minghui! I need to know what happened to her!"

Her eyes brimmed with tears, the most genuine maternal terror.

Yet Li Defu's face showed not a hint of emotion, extremely cold.

Instead, a delighted smile.

He sauntered forward slowly, his voice like a venomous snake spitting poison:

"Virtuous Consort, now that things have come to this, do you think you still have any use for me...?"

He deliberately paused, admiring Wan Tang's sudden change of expression, "The Emperor's golden words: everything Ping'er has now is earned by herself, and has nothing to do with you."

Wan Tang's heart sank to the bottom of a valley; the pleading on her face vanished instantly, turning into a cold, dead silence.

Li Defu leaned closer, lowering his voice, each word laced with poison: "As for you... disappearing from this world early would be better for everyone, wouldn't it?"

"After all, only the dead pose no threat, right?"

At that moment, a guard shouted from the inner chamber: "Lord Li, we've found it."

"We uncovered this under the Virtuous Consort's pillow!"

A guard hurried out, holding a small porcelain bottle that was clearly newly stuffed in.

Wan Tang's pupils contracted sharply, instantly understanding everything.

She thrust her head up abruptly, her gaze like a blade aimed at Li Defu.

A cold, scornful smile curled at the corner of her mouth: "Li Defu! It seems... you've teamed up with the Empress again?"

Li Defu seemed to have heard a joke.

He scoffed aloud: "Your Majesty, that remark is rather harsh."

"What do you mean 'again'?"

"I have always... only done what benefits me the most."

He paused, a cruel smugness flashing in his eyes.

He added slowly, "Moreover… the idea of making you disappear, Li Ping'er also nodded in agreement."

Xiao Shunzi, upon hearing Li Defu mention Li Ping'er, instantly became emotionally agitated.

He thrust his neck forward and retorted, "Impossible! Miss Li Ping'er would never…"

"Shut up!" Li Defu barked, cutting him off, and disdainfully glanced at him, "What would a rootless thing like you understand?"

"It was because Li Ping'er was young before, she didn't understand."

"Only after truly tasting the feeling of being above others does one know what one really wants!"

Wan Tang heard that and let out a faint, light snicker.

That laugh was like a spark thrown into hot oil, instantly igniting Li Defu's suppressed fury.

He snapped his head to glare at Wan Tang, his voice suddenly rising, tinged with the agitation of a mask being pierced: "What are you laughing at?!"

"What do you think those small favors you gave count for?"

"Can they bring her wealth and honor?"

"Can they make her a paragon mother for the world?"

Facing his raging stare, Wan Tang was not frightened at all,

but calmly retorted, "And you?"

"Li Defu, you keep saying it's for her; what exactly do you expect Li Ping'er to bring you?"

Her gaze burned like a torch, pressing step by step: "Don't use fatherly love as a pretense!"

"Others might believe it, but for you, Li Defu, is a descendant bearing your blood truly that crucial, worth all your scheming?"

"What unspeakable purpose are you trying to achieve by using her?"

Li Defu's face darkened, and he snorted coldly, "That's none of your business."

"Moreover, you yourself are hard to protect now; what can you use to govern?"

He grew somewhat irritated under Wan Tang's eyes that seemed to see through everything.

Almost involuntarily, he growled low, "I love her! She is my daughter! Is that reason enough?!"

Wan Tang actually made a dry retching motion, her face full of unabashed disgust.

Although Xiao Shunzi didn't understand why Wan Tang reacted that way, seeing the stalemate, he still clung to a final sliver of hope.

"Lord Li, please, for Li Ping'er's sake, help my master!"

"My master truly cares for Li Ping'er!"

Li Defu's gaze flicked back and forth between Xiao Shunzi and Wan Tang, and a strange smile suddenly appeared on his face.

He stared at Xiao Shunzi, his tone becoming ambiguous: "I know you."

"Li Ping'er mentioned it, saying that over the years in the palace, thanks to your covert care."

Xiao Shunzi hurriedly nodded, still wanting to plead on Wan Tang's behalf.

Wan Tang, however, furrowed her brows, vaguely sensing something amiss.

Li Defu stopped looking at Wan Tang, only gestured to Xiao Shunzi, his tone unexpectedly softening a bit.

"You, come with me. For Li Ping'er's sake, I have some words… to tell you alone."

Xiao Shunzi hesitantly glanced back at Wan Tang, at the moment Li Defu turned around.

He exchanged a tacit understanding glance with Wan Tang in an instant, then lowered his head and followed Li Defu out of the courtyard.

Just as Li Defu's front foot had taken Xiao Shunzi away, a few young eunuchs rushed out from the room.

Holding a porcelain bottle aloft, he shrieked, "Found it! The poison is right here!"

Before the words finished, several wolf‑like eunuchs lunged forward, gripping Wan Tang's arm tightly.

The leading eunuch shouted sternly, "Virtuous Consort! The culprit and the loot are caught; what do you have to say now?!"

Having said that, they gave her no chance to defend herself, brutally dragging her outward.

Jingren Palace.

The court attendants held their breath, heads bowed, their steps hurried and chaotic, the air thick with a heavy scent of medicine.

The imperial physicians gathered at the inner hall entrance, whispering hurriedly, each with cold sweat on their brows.

Chu Yunzheng's face was as still as water, arms crossed, standing in the hall, exuding a terrifying low pressure around him.

Xiao Mingshu stood beside him, her face showing unabashed worry, yet a trace of cold pride lingered deep in her eyes.

At that moment, Wan Tang was roughly shoved in by two eunuchs, crashing heavily onto the cold floor tiles.

Her hair bun was disheveled, her clothes slightly rumpled from the struggle.

Upon entering the palace, all her attention was instantly drawn toward the inner hall, where her daughter Minghui lay.

"Quick! The Princess's aura is growing weaker, fetch the silver needle!" an urgent cry came from the inner hall.

The sound thundered like a startling lightning bolt in Wan Tang's ear.

A buzzing rang in her mind, all thoughts of conspiracies and predicaments were cast aside, leaving only the panic of her daughter's imminent danger.

She scrambled up from the ground as if maddened, disregarding everything, rushing toward the inner hall: "Minghui! My Minghui!"

"Stop her!" Chu Yunzheng barked sharply, his voice icy and bone‑cold.

Immediately a guard stepped forward, holding Wan Tang firmly.

She struggled desperately, eyes blood‑red, crying out hoarsely, "Let me see her!"

"Emperor, I beg you to let me see Minghui; she is my daughter!"

Xiao Mingshu looked down from above, a mocking curve lifting the corner of her lips.

Her voice, however, carried a hypocritical anguish: "Sister Virtuous Consort, now that it's come to this, what motherly act are you still putting on?"

"Truly disgusting!"

She waved her hand, and the guard forcibly pressed Wan Tang down to kneel on the ground.

Xiao Mingshu walked up to her, phoenix eyes full of authority, her voice suddenly sharp: "Virtuous Consort."

"You dare to lay such a poisonous hand on Hui Guifei and Minghui Princess."

"The evidence is conclusive; what else do you have to say?!"

Wan Tang suddenly lifted her head, tear tracks crossing her face, her eyes unusually firm: "Subject have not!"

"Subject will never harm Minghui; she is Subject's life!"

"Still daring to argue!" Xiao Mingshu sneered, "The poison you retrieved from the Cold Palace, Hui Guifei and the Princess both fell into trouble as soon as they left your hands."

"All the human and material evidence is present!"

Wan Tang's heart felt like being torn by a knife; she knew this was a complete frame‑up, yet she could not defend herself.

She cast her last sliver of hope toward the man who had once shared warmth with her and was the father of her child.

Her voice trembled and shattered: "Emperor… in your heart, do you also view Subject this way?"

"Minghui… she is the flesh that fell from Subject's body!"

She tilted her head up, tears blurring her sight, almost collapsing as she asked: "Do you truly believe… that Subject would be ruthless enough to strike at her own flesh and blood?"

Chu Yunzheng only stared at her coldly, his deep eyes showing not a hint of warmth.

Not a trace of trust either, only the emperor's indifferent and suspicious scrutiny of a guilty subject.

Chu Yunzheng stepped toward Wan Tang, the hem of his dark dragon robe brushing the icy floor, bringing an intangible pressure.

He slowly crouched, his icy fingertips suddenly seizing Wan Tang's chin.

Forcing her to lift her tear‑streaked face, meeting his bottomless eyes now swirling with a terrifying chill.

In that gaze, not a trace of past affection or complexity, only pure, almost cruel scrutiny and anger.

"Wan Tang," he began, his voice low and slow, yet each word was like an ice spear.

Striking Wan Tang's heart, "Do you know what Hui Guifei means to me?"

His fingertips pressed, pinching Wan Tang's jaw into pain.

"Do you always think… I am foolish?"

A chilling curve lifted at the corner of his mouth, self‑mocking yet filled with boundless rage.

"Foolish enough to be toyed with by you time and again?"

"Allowing you to use Minghui, to use Ping'er, even to use the little… lingering affection I still have for you."