The Sickly Seedling Dresses Up As An Unfortunate And Muddled Monarch - Chapter 28

When the first ray of sunlight reflected off the palace’s glazed tiles and shone into the doorway of the Pi Xiang Hall, several footsteps suddenly sounded from the previously tightly shut doors. In the next instant, before anyone could react, the doors of the Pi Xiang Hall creaked open, revealing a face that was both stern and cold.

 

The owner of this face was none other than Shi Yi, the leader of the current king Qiu Junyao’s secret guards.

 

The palace maids and eunuchs, who had been kneeling outside, were instantly on high alert, remaining in their positions and respectfully bowing their heads to the ground. They did not yet know what had happened, and could only sneak glances at Shi Yi’s face to discern what might have transpired inside the hall overnight.

 

But Shi Yi said nothing. His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, like a fierce hawk locking onto its prey, making everyone shiver and go silent, even trying to suppress their breathing.

 

Perhaps half a moment passed, or maybe just a few seconds, before Shi Yi pointed his finger. The direction he pointed was towards a trembling palace maid in green, kneeling beneath a red pillar.

 

The subordinates beside him, seeing this gesture, instantly moved like shadows to the green-clad maid’s side. Without regard for her screams, they dragged her to Shi Yi, bowing and reporting:

 

“Boss, is it her?”

 

“Yes.” Shi Yi gave a cold nod to his subordinate behind him and said, “Take this palace maid to the emperor. He has questions for her.”

 

“Understood.”

 

The subordinate bowed, effortlessly grabbed the back of the maid’s collar, and dragged her to Qiu Junyao, tossing her before the emperor like a piece of trash, then knelt and reported:

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

He said, “I have brought the person as commanded.”

 

“Mm.” Qiu Junyao responded, setting down the spoon he was using to eat porridge, and casually looked at the kneeling maid at his feet.

 

He had intended to speak, but seeing the maid’s disheveled appearance and scattered hair, he paused and frowned:

 

“Why is she in this state?”

 

“This…”

 

Before the secret guard could respond, Qiu Junyao suddenly realized that being a man, the guard naturally used more force and had little patience with suspects. The maid, having struggled, had inevitably torn her clothes in the process.

 

The maid’s fabric was naturally poor quality, and with such rough handling, her sleeve was torn, revealing a fair and delicate arm. From Qiu Junyao’s angle, he could even see the maid’s thin, trembling back and the moles on her exposed shoulder blades.

 

“…” Qiu Junyao frowned even more tightly, his voice colder, “I asked you to bring her for questioning, not to abuse her.”

 

The secret guard froze, about to kneel and admit his fault, but Qiu Junyao waved him off:

 

“Enough, leave.”

 

Then, shifting his gaze away from the maid, he instructed Huan Chen:

 

“Find her a cloak. Have her properly dressed before seeing me.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Huan Chen quickly fetched a cloak. The maid, still trembling from the guards’ rough treatment, wrapped it tightly around herself, covering every inch of her skin, as if she was scared to the point of losing control.

 

Only when the maid had composed herself did Qiu Junyao turn his attention back to her.

 

He set down his spoon, which clinked against the bowl, his voice calm:

 

“Do you know why I summoned you today?”

 

“Your Majesty, this servant does not know.” The maid, named Ning Fan, was only seventeen, one of the prime ages for a girl. Her pretty face was now deathly pale, tears welling in her eyes, making her look pitiful as she tearfully pleaded:

 

“This servant has always served Your Majesty faithfully, not knowing what mistake I made. Please, Your Majesty, forgive me!”

 

“You don’t know your mistake?” Qiu Junyao smiled slightly, as if he had heard something absurd:

 

“You, so clever, know how to poison my son, yet you claim not to know your mistake?”

 

Though his tone was casual, his gaze was so sharp that no one dared to meet his eyes.

 

Everyone, fearing Qiu Junyao’s wrath, remained prostrate on the ground, but Yin Yuan, upon hearing Qiu Junyao’s remark about the maid’s cleverness, glanced up at him, tightening his grip on his handkerchief, his expression inscrutable.

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

“You don’t dare to confront Imperial Physician Qiu because you know that you added poison to the comb. Every day, you use this poisoned wooden comb to comb my hair.”

 

Qiu Junyao lost patience with Ning Fan and directly pointed it out.

 

Seeing that Qiu Junyao had discovered the problem with the comb, Ning Fan clenched her fingers into the ground, almost drawing blood, and banged her forehead on the floor, producing a thudding sound:

 

“Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly. Even if I used the poisoned comb on Your Majesty, I have never mixed poison into the items used by the young prince to harm him!”

 

As soon as she said this, even Yin Yuan’s expression showed a hint of doubt.

 

Ning Fan was right. Even if Qiu Junyao discovered poison on the comb, it didn’t mean much. After all, she hadn’t directly poisoned Jingxiu’s food. How could Qiu Junyao be so sure that it was Ning Fan who harmed Jingxiu?

 

“You really are…” Qiu Junyao held his forehead. “You won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin.”

 

He straightforwardly said, “You’ve been serving at the imperial court. Although you didn’t directly handle the items used by Jingxiu, don’t forget—”

 

“Jingxiu has always stayed with me, very attached to me. You witnessed this with your own eyes.”

 

Ning Fan said nothing, silently shedding tears, looking at Qiu Junyao with an innocent, pleading expression.

 

“Because Jingxiu was always with me, you noticed something that others overlooked.”

 

Qiu Junyao paused, took the comb from Laifu, and looked at Ning Fan through the comb’s teeth:

 

“Jingxiu is still young, curious about everything, and being lively and active, he can’t control his behavior, so he often likes to chew on my hair.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, Yin Yuan’s face changed dramatically. In an instant, like a flash of lightning, he recalled a previously overlooked detail—

 

Jingxiu suffered from Tourette syndrome and often liked to chew on Qiu Junyao’s hair.

 

If… if Ning Fan used the poisoned comb to comb Qiu Junyao’s hair, the poison on the comb would have transferred to Qiu Junyao’s hair, which an unaware Jingxiu would chew on, thereby avoiding obvious traces of poison in food, secretly poisoning Jingxiu!

 

Thinking of this, Yin Yuan broke out in a cold sweat.

 

He never imagined that Ning Fan could be so devious, thinking of such a way to poison Qiu Jingxiu.

 

Hearing this, Ning Fan collapsed to the ground, like a puppet with its strings cut, too weak to protest her innocence.

 

“Aren’t you curious how I found out?”

 

Qiu Junyao addressed the question puzzling everyone present:

 

“You were so discreet, how could anyone discover it?”

 

“Your Majesty…”

 

Ning Fan sobbed, “You…”

 

“You planned everything, but you didn’t account for one thing: because Jingxiu was seriously ill, I had no mind to burn incense, nor did I tidy myself up or wear a sachet.”

 

“Elderflower poison carries a fragrance. You thought no one would notice that faint scent, but… a single misstep can lead to total defeat. Any action will leave a trace.”

 

After finishing, Qiu Junyao finally looked directly at the pale Ning Fan, poured himself a cup of tea, and asked:

 

“Do you have anything else to say?”

 

“I…” Ning Fan tried to speak, but her expression suddenly changed. Sensing her intent to end her life, Qiu Junyao suddenly shouted:

 

“Shi Yi, stop her!”

 

No one saw how Shi Yi moved, but in the next second, Ning Fan’s mouth was blocked, her arms were bound behind her, unable to move.

 

“Trying to kill yourself?” Qiu Junyao squatted down, meeting Ning Fan’s eyes, carefully observing her delicate face.

 

Yin Yuan noticed that Qiu Junyao liked to squat and talk to people at eye level, speaking slowly and calmly:

 

“Is it worth it?”

 

Although Ning Fan’s mouth was blocked, her eyes still spoke volumes, and she looked at Qiu Junyao with a look of defiance.

 

“Mmmph mmph!”

 

“No seeking death.” Qiu Junyao pointed a finger at her, warning, “If you die, your lover will also be executed.”

 

“……”

 

Hearing this, Ning Fan’s movements halted. She stared at Qiu Junyao, remaining silent.

 

“Shi Yi, release her.”

 

Supported by Yin Yuan, Qiu Junyao stood up and sat back in his seat.

 

“Ning Fan, stand up and speak to me.”

 

“……” Ning Fan’s legs were numb from kneeling for so long. As she stood up, her legs trembled, and she stumbled a few steps, supported by Huan Chen, who moved at Qiu Junyao’s glance.

 

“You’re smart, so I won’t beat around the bush with you.”

 

Qiu Junyao said, “I believe that poisoning wasn’t your idea alone. Tell me, who instructed you to do it?”

 

Ning Fan bit her lip, head bowed, not daring to meet Qiu Junyao’s eyes.

 

“The plot to poison the seventh prince was my idea alone. Please, Your Majesty, spare others and grant me death!”

 

After speaking, Ning Fan knelt again, kowtowing heavily to Qiu Junyao.

 

“This was truly my idea alone and has nothing to do with anyone else!”

 

“No one else?” Qiu Junyao laughed as if he had heard something amusing.

 

“You alone managed to obtain elderflower poison and plan such a meticulous scheme?”

 

Seeing Ning Fan still bowing her head in silence, Qiu Junyao spoke again.

 

“Ning Fan, attempting to murder a prince is a grave crime. If you were merely used by someone, I might show leniency. But if you refuse to confess, your only outcome is death.”

 

Qiu Junyao’s tone shifted, “You can be loyal, but you must know, no man is worth sacrificing your life for.”

 

“Even if he has been kind to you, or you have feelings for him, it’s no reason for him to exploit you. You appear to be no older than seventeen, your hands are not yet stained with blood. Your life belongs to you; don’t waste it needlessly.”

 

Qiu Junyao said, “I’ll give you one more chance. Be honest, who instructed you to do this?”

 

Hearing Qiu Junyao’s words, Ning Fan’s body tensed again.

 

She straightened her posture, her expression showing long internal conflict, with pain and struggle evident in her eyes.

 

She was still wearing the outer robe Huan Chen had draped over her earlier, as Qiu Junyao couldn’t bear to see her disheveled and ordered Huan Chen to cover her.

 

As a servant under suspicion, she had lost all dignity. If Qiu Junyao had been ruthless, he could have sold her off, allowing her to be trampled and humiliated.

 

Ning Fan knew she was the most inconspicuous servant in the imperial city. Her life was not her own to control. When she agreed to carry out the task, she was prepared to sacrifice herself for her superior.

 

…But why?

 

Ning Fan looked at Qiu Junyao, seeing no contempt in his eyes, only scrutiny and curiosity.

 

A king who noticed her disheveled appearance, spoke to her at eye level, and talked to her gently – this was something she never dreamed of.

 

Indeed, why should she get involved in these struggles and become a pawn for those men?

 

With this thought, a hint of resolve appeared in Ning Fan’s eyes. After a moment, she closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her expression had become firm.

 

“…Your Majesty.”

 

She wiped her tears, bowing again. Fear was still on her face, but there was no longer any pretense in her tears, although her voice still trembled uncontrollably.

 

“Today’s actions were all under someone’s instructions.”

 

“…Who instructed you?”

 

“…It was the First Prince, Qiu Jingming.”

 

Under great pressure and inner torment, Ning Fan whispered, “If I am lying, let me be struck by lightning and die a miserable death.”

 

“……”

 

Although Qiu Junyao had already suspected the culprit, hearing the name aloud still filled him with rage.

 

He stood up suddenly, sweeping the teacup off the table with his wide sleeve. Amidst the clattering and the calls of “Your Majesty, calm down,” he gritted his teeth and uttered a few words:

 

“Shi Yi.”

 

“Your servant is here.”

 

“Relay my order. From this day forth, assist the commander of the imperial guards in sealing off the First Prince’s residence. No unrelated persons are to enter or leave.”

 

Qiu Junyao paused, turning his back, hiding his expression from everyone.

 

“…Additionally, arrest the traitor Qiu Jingming and imprison him in the Dali Temple dungeon, to await trial!”

 

“Yes!”