Chapter 241: One Stone, Two Birds

Mo Junyan's words fell, and the Right Prime Minister's complexion changed abruptly.

"Prince Li, what does this mean? When have I ever done such a thing? When did I ever cling to the Crown Prince?" Old Su whispered: "I have served for many years, a life of integrity, never committed an indecent act; my Su family children would never overstep any bounds. Now Prince Li openly slanders me and the Crown Prince for factional collusion—what is his true intention?"

Mo Junyan, watching his righteous speech, smiled and said: "A life of integrity—Minister Su may indeed be upright, but your granddaughter is not as obedient and sensible as you think."

"Prince Li, what does this mean?"

"Since rumors are being mentioned, This Prince suggests Minister Su investigate the romantic affairs of the Su family's miss and the Crown Prince."

Old Su heard this and felt a weight in his heart.

Could it be that Yu Qing actually did something out of line?

Old Su's complexion shifted, and he fell silent.

The Emperor watched the play for a long while, and when the Right Prime Minister finally fell, a hint of smile flashed in his eyes.

"Enough," the Emperor pressed his lips together and whispered, "I am not here today to listen to your quarrel." He turned to Chi Nan Yi: "The turmoil today started because of you; do you have anything to say?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Emperor waved his hand, indicating that she should continue.

Chi Nan Yi stepped forward, calmly and clearly recounting the events of today.

"The reason the two died in the commoner's shop was not food poisoning but pre‑ingested poison. Two unrelated households took the same dose of the same toxin at the same time and place—a probability virtually impossible. Moreover, according to the commoner, Ghost Soul Powder is not an ordinary poison; ordinary people cannot obtain it. How could simple farmers acquire it? Most importantly, the prefect's messengers entered the shop, asked no questions, seized the people, and imposed punishment without an autopsy, trying to force a confession. Every case is suspicious—don't you find it too odd?"

"So, what method do you have to prove your innocence?" Raising Ghost Soul Powder, the Emperor furrowed his brows: "Where is the evidence? The evidence of their false accusation against you? Relying only on your speculation cannot exonerate the World's First Village." After speaking, he looked at Mo Junyan: "And you, executing a court‑appointed official on your own, do you know what crime that is?"

"I know."

"Knowing that you still…" He clenched his fists and shouted angrily: "Do you really think I wouldn't dare punish you? The Son of Heaven is equal before the law as a commoner; besides, you are not the Son of Heaven, you have not sat in my seat!"

Old Su and Meng Hui, hearing the Emperor say that, had their faces change abruptly.

Could it be that…

The Emperor still intends to pass the throne to Prince Li?

Prince Li's leg…

Meng Hui suddenly looked up at the Southern First Young Master standing beside Mo Junyan.

Indeed, her medical skill is so great that she might heal Prince Li's leg; plus, the recent frantic search for herbs in the palace—if Prince Li can stand again, who will ultimately claim the throne remains an unknown.

Meng Hui realized that Minister Su, that old fox, knows this even better.

"The son‑minister kills him; he deserves death. Even without today's incident, he should die," Mo Junyan waved his hand, and Yun Shui produced a stack of secret letters and presented them.

The Emperor, reading the contents, furrowed his brows and erupted in anger: "Damn, this Liu Jinming actually dared to collude with the Turks and leak secrets." He slammed the letter onto the desk and said coldly: "Colluding with foreign barbarians is a crime that implicates nine families; you, Second Brother, are still soft‑hearted."

Chi Nan Yi, hearing this, glanced at Meng Hui's pallid face.

She knew in her heart that Mo Junyan's move was actually meant to pressure Meng Hui.

If the Emperor discovered his secret hoarding of the border fengshui map, he would surely be executed along with his nine families.

Sure enough, Meng Hui kept wiping sweat from his forehead; when he previously handed over the border fengshui map, he didn't know that the Southern First Young Master was actually Prince Li's man. Now that the two are aligned, does it not indicate that Prince Li already knows about his secret map?

Thinking of this, why wouldn't Meng Hui be drenched in sweat?

"Minister Meng, what's wrong?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Meng Hui said weakly, "I merely feel a bit warm."

"Warm? In this bitter winter month, you feel warm?"

Meng Hui forced a nervous laugh and dared not speak further.

The Emperor withdrew his gaze and looked again at Chi Nan Yi: "I ask you, do you have evidence?"

"Yes." Chi Nan Yi whispered, "After the coroner examined the bodies, the commoner already asked: the food in the victims' stomachs contained no toxins. The poison manifested because the soup's ginseng activated the toxin; the Ghost Soul Powder was taken about half an hour before the poison took effect, and at that time they had not yet arrived at World's First Village. So it was a deliberate murder, choosing World's First Village as the scene to both kill and frame the commoner."

Listening to her clear logic, the Emperor nodded.

"Taking the poison before going to the shop indeed has nothing to do with your World's First Village."

"But the two died unjustly, and the commoner's shop has now been embroiled in a lawsuit, possibly damaging its reputation." Chi Nan Yi, half‑kneeling, pleaded earnestly: "I implore the Emperor to capture the true mastermind and avenge the innocent villagers." She glanced at Meng Hui, whose body shivered at her gaze, and he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Southern First Young Master is right; we must not let the true culprit go free."

Since Meng Hui said so, Old Su could not remain silent and quickly added, "Minister Meng's words are indeed correct."

The Emperor glanced at Chi Nan Yi and asked, "Since you have evidence, why didn't you bring it out earlier?"

Chi Nan Yi's lips twitched slightly; she acted this way naturally to kill two birds with one stone—both exposing Liu Jinming and implicating the Crown Prince, while also giving Meng Hui a hint.

Why wouldn't she enjoy it?

"Father Emperor, Ghost Soul Powder is extremely hard to trace; if we can track the locations where it appears, we might locate the true mastermind."

Mentioning Ghost Soul Powder again, the Emperor's brows furrowed even deeper.

"Leave this matter to the Dali Temple to handle!" the Emperor rubbed his temples, fatigue evident: "I am weary; you may all return."

"Your Majesty, the commoner's shop…"

"Since this matter has no connection to your World's First Village, just continue operating."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

They exited the Imperial Study; Minister Su bowed to Mo Junyan, turned away with a dark face, while Meng Hui lingered close behind Mo Junyan, seeming to have something to say but unsure how to begin.

"Do you have business?" Chi Nan Yi turned to him: "Do the young master and miss of your household recover?"

Seeing Chi Nan Yi speak to him, Meng Hui hurried forward, his face full of ingratiating smile: "Alright, alright, thank the Divine Doctor."

"No need to thank me," Chi Nan Yi laughed, "Minister Meng has already paid the reward; between us it's an equal exchange."

Mentioning "reward," Meng Hui's smile froze, and he mechanically nodded, "Yes… yes…"