Chapter 26: Reveal the True Culprit

Xi Er trembled, scared so much that even her kneeling wavered.

Her face was full of despair, and she hurriedly shouted, "Nubi, I'm being wronged!"

Xiao Mingshu's face was as still as water, bearing a look of iron‑that‑won't‑be‑steel, and she raged, "Why don't you honestly explain where this thing came from?"

Xu Luoyan and Li Pin exchanged glances, visibly sighing in relief.

Xu Luoyan's gaze shifted between Xi Er and the Empress, finally settling on Wan Tang.

She said meaningfully, "Now that's interesting—Grandfather Xi never left you in your poorest times, so how could he harm you?"

"Could it be that this is a play you staged yourself? Or is there someone else behind you?"

Xu Luoyan stood up; the clouded expression on her face now gave way to smugness.

Feigning contemplation, she said slowly, "If I recall correctly, Grandfather Xi once spent some time with the Empress, didn't he?"

Xiao Mingshu, though angry, also wore a helpless, helpless look.

Standing aside, Lady of Grace Qi shouted angrily, "Noble Consort, what do you mean? The Empress is like a bodhisattva—how could she harm anyone? Just because you have red lips and white teeth, you want to wrong people?"

"Whether it's a false accusation, just interrogate and you'll know, right?" Xu Luoyan said with a smile.

Wan Tang, seeing both sides' conflict nearly mapped out, finally spoke, "Grandfather Xi, you have always been sincere to me and meticulous in your deeds."

"I already told you to dispose of these things; why are they still here?" Wan Tang said.

Xi Er, as if clutching a lifeline, hurriedly said, "Returning, young master, it's not that Nubi refused to discard them; I simply didn't have time."

"Hahaha." Xu Luoyan burst into laughter, then shouted, "Everyone can hear it—Wan Tang herself admitted. She knows about these things."

"Raising an army, staging it yourself, even poisoning the Emperor's beloved pet, all to vie for favor?"

"Such a person is truly terrifying."

Xu Luoyan spoke with heightened emotion.

Li Pin lowered her head, tugging at her sleeve from beside, yet she showed no reaction, not even noticing Li Pin's face already drenched in cold sweat.

Wan Tang slowly lifted her head, seeing Xu Luoyan's pained expression, her voice trembling more.

Before speaking, she choked, "My sister gave them to me, so they are naturally mine."

"But sister, why do you hate me so much that you must put me to death?"

Li Pin lowered her voice again, "Your Majesty, these are the items you sent out!"

Xu Luoyan brushed it off, "There are plenty of good things elsewhere, and these were all prepared by Li Pin. I only gave orders; I never even glanced at them, how could I remember?"

At that moment, Li Pin's words made her suddenly realize, leaving her speechless. Her hand trembled slightly, unsure if from anger or fear, and she quietly withdrew it into her sleeve.

She turned to Chu Yunzheng, pleading, "Emperor, I went to see her out of goodwill; how could I know she would defame me like this?"

Chu Yunzheng, unwilling to listen to the dispute, half‑closed his eyes, then opened them sharply, his keen gaze landing on Xu Luoyan: "Did you send the items?"

Xu Luoyan, no longer daring to be arrogant, suddenly went weak, kneeling and hurriedly saying, "I… I didn't know!"

"I only went to see her," she said.

"Reporting back to the Emperor," Li Defu replied, hunching his back, "Investigation shows the aconite in the medicine residue and that in the box are the same species."

All Imperial Concubines turned pale; despite the scorching heat, each felt a chill in body and mind.

With life at stake, Xi Er dared not any hesitation, kneeling and repeatedly kowtowing, "Emperor, Empress, Nubi is truly wronged!"

"Today Noble Consort sent some items; Xiao The Bracelet immediately hid them. These items were also retrieved by Nubi from Xiao The Bracelet's quarters."

"The Noble Consort's gifts were all tonics; how could Nubi have known there would be aconite inside?"

Xi Er kept saying, and kept pounding the ground with "dong dong dong" sounds.

"Nonsense! This palace and Lady Wan are like sisters; how could we harm her?" Xu Luoyan said resolutely.

The palace fell into dead silence; everyone's expressions varied, their gazes shifting between Xu Luoyan and Xi Er.

Xu Luoyan could barely conceal the sharpness in her brows, she stared at the Emperor, her tone urgent and indisputable.

"Emperor, the evidence is conclusive; why hesitate any longer?" She stepped forward, her fingers in her sleeve trembling slightly, yet she still forced that aggressive aura: "The items have been retrieved, the truth is clear—what are you still waiting for?"

The Emperor sat upright above, his gaze deep and inscrutable.

His eyes lingered on Xu Luoyan's face for a moment, as if assessing and weighing.

"Yan Er." The Emperor finally spoke, his voice low and calm: "You and Wan Tang are sisters; you should not intervene in this matter."

Upon hearing this, Xu Luoyan's complexion turned instantly pale; she opened her mouth, but faced with the Emperor's unfathomable gaze, she swallowed the words she had not yet spoken.

【Xu Luoyan is clearly feeling guilty.】

【The heroine is the heroine; Xiao The Bracelet is already slipping into the doghole, yet these people keep interrogating Xi Er.】

【When Xiao The Bracelet runs, the charge lands squarely on Xi Er's head. Wan Tang also cannot escape blame.】

【It will surely be labeled as self‑staged, even daring to poison the Emperor's pet.】

Wan Tang's heart tightened; without hesitation, she gave a command to Xiao Shunzi.

Xiao Shunzi quickly turned around, looking toward the doghole in the corner.

"Trying to run? Stop!"

A sharp shout rang out from Xiao Shunzi.

People hadn't reacted yet when Xiao Shunzi, swift as an eye, leapt forward; his right hand, like iron tongs, clamped the man's neck, his left leg swept, and with a "bang" he slammed the man hard onto the bluestone slab.

Xiao Shunzi's knee pressed against his back, and someone immediately moved to bind Xiao The Bracelet's limbs.

Xu Luoyan's fingers, hidden in her sleeve, curled into her palm.

The Emperor squinted, shouting angrily, "Push that person up to me!"

When Xiao The Bracelet was brought up, Li Pin's body shivered; she was fortunate to have someone beside her to support her.

"Sister Li Pin, what's wrong with you?" Wan Tang sneered.

Wan Tang quickly spoke, drawing everyone's attention to Li Pin.

She lifted a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from her face, and after a moment composed herself: "My attire is a bit tight today; I fear I might be suffering from heatstroke."

Wan Tang saw this and said lightly, "Sister, you also must take care of your health; if you didn't know, I would have thought you were familiar with this little eunuch."

"Lady of Grace Wan, such words cannot be spoken," Li Pin's tone suddenly deepened, and she raised her voice to shout.

Such a reaction was indeed a bit reflexive.

"Dog Nubi, who are you? Why are you running?" Chu Yunzheng snarled.

Xiao The Bracelet knelt on the ground, trembling like a sieve. His eyes were frantic, and he hurriedly said, "I am the Nubi of Cuivei Palace, Xiao The Bracelet."

Xi Er's face was full of angry roar, very frightened, and she shouted at Xiao The Bracelet, "You really are vicious, still daring to run?"

"The items were seized from your room; why don't you honestly confess!"

Xiao The Bracelet kept silent, refusing to speak.

【Not speaking is still simple; Aconite's toxicity is so strong that if you truly touched it, there will definitely be residue on your hands.】

【A piece of potassium iodide starch test paper can reveal it.】

【In ancient times, where were these? Can't we use something reliable?】

【Can't silverware in tea also detect it?】

Xu Luoyan forced herself to speak, "What tables and benches, they're all people from your palace. Lady of Grace Wan, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Just to try to frame this palace?"

Xu Luoyan said, then turned to the Emperor, cooing, "Emperor, you see her, she bears a grudge against this humble concubine."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze was as deep as ink, falling on Wan Tang, carrying a few inscrutable scrutinies.

Wan Tang gave a bitter smile, stepped forward and bowed, her voice respectful: "To poison this medicine, one must touch Aconite."

"Shei put the poison, a test will reveal."

Wan Tang pulled out a silver hairpin from her hair, walked to Xi Er, and scraped the finger gaps and palm with the silver pin.

Then she placed the silver item into the tea, and the silver did not change color.

She then went to Xiao The Bracelet, followed the same method. When she placed the pin into the tea, the pin turned black instantly.

The Chief of the Court, seeing this, hurriedly said, "Lady of Grace Wan, you are so clever; I, the humble Subject, never thought of this method. Silverware merely touching Aconite does not change color, but when combined with tea or salty water, it reacts and turns black."

"With this verification, that eunuch indeed is the one who touched Aconite."

With the Chief's confirmation, that is ironclad evidence.

Xu Luoyan's face was frighteningly pale.

Li Pin still trembled as she pleaded, "Emperor, please arbitrate for the Noble Consort; this Nubi is simply trying to falsely incriminate the Consort!"

Earlier, Xu Luoyan had already admitted that the items were delivered by herself.

At this moment, trying to deny it is impossible.

Li Pin could only act immediately to defend, crying innocence, refusing to admit.

Chu Yunzheng's eyes suddenly swelled with terrifying anger; he snatched the steaming tea cup from the desk and smashed it forward violently.

"Bang!"

The blue‑green porcelain shattered, hot tea splashed everywhere, a few droplets flew onto Li Pin, scorching her fingertips, yet she dared not move an inch.

"Emperor, calm your anger!"

Everyone crouched on the ground, foreheads pressed against the cold golden bricks, holding their breath.

Li Defu, his face pale, hurried forward, shouting sharply, "Beat this dog Nubi to death!"

Two guards immediately lifted Xiao The Bracelet and dragged him aside.

Xiao The Bracelet's legs went weak, tears streaming as he struggled, "I am innocent! I know nothing…"

The punishment bench was already set in the courtyard; a cowhide whip soaked in salt water was snapped, the first strike tore skin and flesh.

Xiao The Bracelet screamed in a heart‑wrenching howl, the concubines' hands clutching handkerchiefs trembled, some regret came.

"Speak!" Li Defu grabbed Xiao The Bracelet's disheveled hair knot, slammed his head hard onto the punishment bench, "Who ordered you to poison?"

The whip's shadow like a snake, Xiao The Bracelet drenched in blood, finally collapsed, crying, "I confess."

He suddenly glanced at Xu Luoyan, his words cut off. Xu Luoyan's gilded armor tilted slightly, pointing to the side.

"It… it is Noble Consort Li Pin!" Xiao The Bracelet shivered all over, roared angrily, and suddenly bit his own tongue fiercely.