[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling":3,"chapter-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-84":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Top Scholar of Da Ling",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2288919,4475,"Chapter 84: Sudden Poisonous Scheme","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-84",84,"\u003Cp>That afternoon, Jiang Mingyu sat alone in the county magistrate’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sunlight streaming through the window lattice cast a drowsy haze over the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu wore a pale blue official robe, slowly chewing a shriveled corn bun, his face betraying unmistakable exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Tukesulu went to train troops and the new cook was sent to assist the city defense camp, Jiang Mingyu had not eaten a proper meal in days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, he thought a quick bite would suffice, but after several days, he felt his body weaken and his spirit decline sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much deliberation, Jiang Mingyu decided that even if he had no money left, he must hire a cook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, before recruiting enough soldiers, he—the temporary acting commander and imperial envoy—might starve to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called the guard stationed at the door: “Go into the city at once and bring back a cook. I can’t take this anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These guards had been sent by Tukesulu ten days ago, after the Bamboo Pole Man and the Mustached Man failed to assassinate Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard promptly replied, braved the snowstorm outside, and hurried out of the magistrate’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he waited anxiously for the cook’s arrival, a guard at the gate rushed in: “My lord, the Inspector has sent someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s eyes lit up with joy. He set down the corn bun, straightened his robe, suppressed his excitement, and spoke with dignified composure: “Bring him in at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In walked a middle-aged scholar dressed in dark blue robes, a string of jade pendants hanging at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about forty, tall and slender, with streaks of gray at his temples and a few loose strands of beard, his manner refined and courteous—clearly the bearing of a learned man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed deeply to Jiang Mingyu and got straight to the point: “I have been sent by Inspector Wang to inform you: the Inspector has persuaded the Inspectors of Wangyun and Gaoyang prefectures to sign a contract for one million jin of coal. Here is the first installment: forty thousand taels in gold. Please accept it, Lord Jiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Xingwang added respectfully: “Inspector Wang went to great lengths to persuade the two prefectural Inspectors. Lord Jiang must act swiftly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu, both delighted and grateful, smiled broadly, revealing a row of white teeth, his eyes nearly closed with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu exclaimed, “Good. Tell Inspector Wang I shall act at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out ten thousand taels without hesitation and handed them to Jing Xingwang: “A small token of appreciation for Inspector Wang—nothing worthy of his efforts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Xingwang accepted the money with both hands, bowing respectfully. Jiang Mingyu then produced a stack of five-thousand-tael silver notes: “Jing Shiyeh, you’ve traveled far—consider this my gift for tea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Xingwang had not expected any extra payment; now he was stunned with delight. “Oh no, Lord Jiang, you flatter me too much—why go to such expense...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his hands swiftly slipped the notes into his wide sleeves, as if fearing Jiang Mingyu might change his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled calmly and spoke slowly: “I know you are Inspector Wang’s trusted confidant. Should any favorable opportunities arise, I hope you will speak well of me to him—I shall be forever grateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Xingwang beamed, wrinkles around his eyes deepening: “Lord Jiang is truly wise, with boundless prospects. I shall surely convey your goodwill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Jing Xingwang depart, Jiang Mingyu privately sighed—he still felt a pang at parting with so many taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But having lived two lives, he understood: this money had to be spent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You cannot catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. He must win Wang Zhe to his side to stand against Prince Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maintaining good relations with Wang Zhe for now was the most advantageous course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aligning with Wang Zhe brought him nothing but benefits—at least for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jiang Mingyu drifted in thought, his stomach growled loudly. He tucked away the silver notes and gave a bitter smile: “Thinking of all this is still too far off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled bitterly at himself—caught in the web of power struggles, he had nearly forgotten the basic sensation of hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right now, the most important thing is to fill my belly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Jiang Mingyu could no longer endure the gnawing emptiness in his stomach, the guard he had sent to hire a cook finally returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the guard walked a tall, burly man wearing a coarse cotton padded jacket, stained with grease and missing several buttons, reeking of stewed meat—clearly someone who spent his days in the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard bowed respectfully to Jiang Mingyu: “My lord, this is the cook we brought from the city. His name is... what was it again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man spoke in a low, trembling voice: “My lord, I am Che Hongda.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name seemed unfitting for his imposing frame, but his thick beard, gray temples, and nervous posture revealed a quiet, inarticulate man, especially intimidated by authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starving, Jiang Mingyu had no interest in his background. He waved impatiently: “Enough. Get to the kitchen and cook something. I’m about to faint from hunger!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Che Hongda nodded frantically, carefully lifting several bags of fresh ingredients, frowning as if afraid of offending this new official, and hurried out with the guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the steaming dishes were placed before him and Jiang Mingyu was about to dig in, a faint squeaking came from the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and saw a gaunt rat peering at the food, its eyes wide with hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu first laughed, then felt pity. He gestured: “You look just as starved as I am. Come, we’ve met by fate—here, have a piece of fatty meat. Catch it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pinched a small piece of fragrant braised pork and tossed it before the rat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rat, clearly starving, seized the meat without fear and devoured it greedily, letting out contented squeaks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it lifted its head, big watery eyes fixed on Jiang Mingyu, hoping for more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu shook his head helplessly: “Little one, this won’t do. I’ve given you something—I haven’t even eaten yet...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking, the rat suddenly convulsed violently, foam oozing from its mouth, then tinged red with blood. It emitted a weak whimper, curled into a ball, twitched a few times, and lay still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu turned pale, sweat beading on his forehead. He instinctively dropped his chopsticks and shouted: “Someone! The food is poisoned! Get help!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arriving guards saw the rat’s death and instantly understood: someone had deliberately poisoned the meal. He barked: “Someone dared to assassinate my lord! Go to the kitchen and seize Che Hongda!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later, the guard who had gone to capture Che Hongda rushed in, panting and drenched in sweat: “My lord, we searched every corner of the magistrate’s office. Che Hongda is gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu frowned, his gaze icy: “Didn’t you say you met him on the street?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard trembled under his stare: “Y-yes, I met him on the street.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s face darkened, his eyes sharp as lightning: “I have never met him before. This is no coincidence. Your ‘chance encounter’ was part of his plan all along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard’s legs shook as he whispered: “What do you mean, my lord?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered, his voice chilling: “I mean he waited for the perfect moment to poison the food. You were merely pawns in his scheme—exactly what he wanted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send word to Murong Yunhai: search every inch of the city. Find Che Hongda and bring him to justice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard bowed frantically and fled as if escaping death itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu knew the mastermind was almost certainly Huang Chaoran. He clenched his fist and growled: “Huang Chaoran, you think you can outwit me? If I catch that cook, I’ll raze your Huang family to the ground without mercy!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1304,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7b34036df0f84b39ab461309c0c57857ed4ec5ae6d92d281775c2f3f18abfb9d","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-85","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-83",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]