Chapter 128: The Second Prince's Suicide Out of Guilt?

"Do you understand clearly!"

The voice made Qingmu snap back to his senses, and he immediately nodded and answered.

"Yes!"

Although his thoughts were in turmoil, he kept his expression normal and hurried after him.

As for the other side, Cheng Chengxuan noticed Qingzhu following behind him, and guessed that a large part of the reason for Shang Xiaomin's actions today was to test Qingzhu.

After a brief thought, he turned his steps, ducked into a secluded corner, stopped and looked around, his gaze pausing on Qingzhu for a few seconds.

Then he tapped a few acupoints on his body, and all the tea he had just drunk was spat out.

Not far away, hearing the movement, Qingzhu's face showed puzzlement.

Prince's Son Cheng clearly has the antidote; couldn't he just go back and quietly detox?

Why take the risk of being discovered and spit it out here?

Could it be that…

No!

He suddenly recalled that when they left, Qingmu was still in the Fifth Prince's Study!

So the Fifth Prince must have other instructions for Qingmu?

Thinking this, he subtly scanned his surroundings, and sure enough, spotted a fleeting shadow by the moon gate.

It seems the Fifth Prince has already begun to suspect him!

Since when?

But he had no time to think further, because Cheng Chengxuan had already left that corner and continued walking toward his own room.

After the footsteps faded, Qingzhu darted out, walked to the spot where he had paused, and pretended to investigate for a while.

Then he turned and headed toward the Study.

After he walked away, Qingmu also glanced at that spot, his expression unreadable as he looked in the direction where Qingzhu had disappeared.

Qingzhu, don't disappoint the Imperial Prince.

I truly don't want to face you blade to blade…

In the Study, after hearing Qingzhu's report, Shang Xiaomin's expression didn't change much.

"You said he spat the tea out?"

Qingzhu nodded.

"Yes."

"Alright, this Imperial Prince knows. You may step down first."

Shang Xiaomin rubbed the outer wall of his teacup, his eyes lowered in thought.

Whether Cheng Chengxuan actually drank that poisoned tea, he didn't care at all.

After all, the Cheng Family's women would soon fall into his hands; even if Cheng Chengxuan was poisoned, it would only give him one more means of control.

This time, he wanted to test Qingzhu.

If he remembered correctly, the day Qingzhu should have taken the antidote had already passed—why did he still seem like nothing was wrong?

What exactly is going on?

"Imperial Prince."

Qingmu walked in, closed the door, and went to Shang Xiaomin's side.

"This Subordinate was following behind Qingzhu just now. Qingzhu was secretly following behind Cheng Chengxuan the whole time; the two of them did not make contact. And from a distance, this Subordinate saw that Cheng Chengxuan seemed to walk to a corner, spit out the tea, and only then leave."

"After that, Qingzhu came back."

Hearing this, Shang Xiaomin nodded.

"So, Qingzhu is fine, then?"

Then what's going on with the poison on him?

He waved his hand.

"Enough, you may step down first."

So, has the Imperial Prince actually dispelled his suspicion of Qingzhu or not?

Thinking of all this, Qingmu's heart was uneasy, and even his footsteps grew heavy.

When he reached the doorway, he suddenly let out a muffled groan, clutched his chest, gripping the clothing over his heart so tightly it nearly tore, his face instantly pale as paper. Beads of sweat the size of beans streamed down from his temples, and his whole body was quickly soaked in cold sweat.

His body couldn't hold up either, and he collapsed onto the ground, convulsing uncontrollably.

Seeing him in such a state, Shang Xiaomin stood up and walked over, his brows tightly furrowed, questioning him sharply.

"Didn't I already give you the antidote? Why still…"

Before he finished speaking, he realized with a start.

"You gave the antidote to Qingzhu!"

That's why Qingzhu's poison hadn't acted up.

So that's it, so that's it!

Qingmu curled up on the ground clutching his chest, every breath agony.

His eyes showed pleading.

"This Subordinate knows his fault. I beg the Imperial Prince to grant me medicine."

After all, he was a knife that fit the hand well enough.

Shang Xiaomin glared at him with displeasure, turned and walked to the desk, and took out a small box from the drawer.

"Just this once. If you still insist on being a bleeding heart…"

Shang Xiaomin's tone turned cold, without a shred of warmth.

"This Imperial Prince won't be paying your bills any longer!"

Having said that, he tossed the small box beside Qingmu.

Qingmu hurriedly opened the box, his whole body trembling with pain, his hands shaking as well; it took him several tries before he finally managed to take out the pill inside.

After swallowing it, the heart-devouring agony in his chest gradually faded, and he gasped for breath in great heaving gulps, as if reborn from a disaster.

"Thank you, Imperial Prince. This Subordinate takes his leave."

With that, he walked out of the Study on unsteady feet.

He had no desire to run into Qingzhu outside the courtyard.

Seeing him in such a state, Qingzhu hurried over.

"What's wrong with you?"

Studying his expression closely, Qingzhu's eyes went wide.

"You didn't take the antidote?"

"So when you said earlier that the Imperial Prince rewarded you with an antidote, that was a lie!"

Just as he was about to continue, Qingmu could no longer hold on and fainted.

"Qingmu? Qingmu!"

Just as he was about to take Qingmu back to his room, a guard came over at a jog.

"Lord Qingzhu, the Imperial Prince is looking for you."

Qingzhu glanced at Qingmu, frowning.

"But…"

The guard quickly steadied Qingmu and assured him.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely see Lord Qingmu safely back to his room and take good care of him. You should hurry over — it won't do to keep the Imperial Prince waiting."

"Alright."

Qingzhu had no choice but to head to the Study first.

He had no idea what the mad Fifth Prince wanted him to do this time.

……

Night fell, and Shang Xiaomin entered the palace once more.

"Back so soon — is the matter handled?"

The old National Lord stirred the black, murky medicinal soup with a spoon and glanced up at him.

Shang Xiaomin had a guard bring over a chair; he sat by the bedside, looked down and brushed the dust from his clothes, then replied casually.

"Cheng Chengxuan is still useful. I have my own arrangements for this person — no need for Father Emperor to worry."

"Bam!"

A medicine bowl smashed at his feet, the soup inside splashing all over the floor, with quite a bit also splattering onto Shang Xiaomin's shoes and the hem of his robe.

He frowned, irritably dabbing at it with a handkerchief, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't get it clean, and his expression grew darker and darker.

"Hmph!"

The old National Lord flew into a rage, stretching out a withered, gnarled hand like a dead tree branch and pointing at him with a trembling finger.

"So you mean to defy the Imperial Decree?!"

Shang Xiaomin, his expression unchanged, turned and instructed the young Eunuch beside him.

"Brew another bowl of medicine."

Then he looked at the old National Lord, whose breathing had grown rapid with fury.

"Father Emperor, don't get angry yet."

There's something coming that'll make you even angrier.

Just as the old National Lord was about to say something, Steward Zhao suddenly rushed in.

"Bad news, National Lord!"

"Something terrible has happened! A report just came from the Heavenly Prison — the Second Prince took his own life in his cell out of guilt!"

"What?!"

The old National Lord, struck by the terrible news, couldn't catch his breath; his eyes rolled back and he fainted on the spot.

Terrified, Steward Zhao rushed toward the hall outside and shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice cracking.

"Physician!"

"Quick, find the physician!"

The National Lord's bedchamber descended into chaos, and Shang Xiaomin strolled out unhurriedly.

He tilted his head back to glance at the starry sky, then closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

"Qingmu."

Qingmu stepped forward.

"What are Your Highness's orders?"

Shang Xiaomin opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in their depths.

"Send word to Qingye — have her pass it on to Chen Ying: move into action immediately."