Shen Du took a deep breath, his cautious gaze falling upon Xie Min. He kept his expression completely composed, looking as though nothing was amiss. Outwardly he appeared calm, but in reality, the wine cup in his hand was nearly spilling over.
Seeing that Xie Min was just about to raise his hand, Shen Du felt a surge of anxious urgency in his heart: [Quick, your stubborn mouth, say something! If you do not speak up now, it will be too late. Good grief, I do not even need to think; it is definitely the Empress Dowager who plotted this! That vicious woman is already the mistress of the inner palace, so why is she still so unwilling to give up?]
Up on the elevated dais, Xie Min heard these words and looked down at the wine cup in his own hand. This was the cup of wine brought over by Prince Lin’an as a toast, and the surrounding court officials were all watching this direction.
That cup of wine felt like a hot potato, and Shen Du’s grip on his own cup nearly slipped.
Xie Min remembered that in his past life, he had also drunk this poisoned wine. As a result, even though he survived after being treated, it left him with chronic health issues, though he had managed to live again.
Yet how did Shen Du know there was poison in his cup?
Xie Min could not help casting his gaze toward Shen Du with a hint of scrutiny, realizing that he seemed increasingly unable to see through this man named Shen Du.
“What is wrong with Your Majesty? Could it be that this prince is unworthy of sharing this cup of wine with Your Majesty?” Xie Zhen spoke with growing impatience, feeling that Xie Min was just dragging things out. Once he finished drinking, he still wanted to find Shen Du; this was wasting his time.
If the Empress Dowager had not insisted that he come and toast, Prince Lin’an probably would not have bothered to step forward at all.
“Your Majesty is young and unsuited for wine. If Prince Lin’an insists on finding someone to drink with, I will drink this cup on His Majesty’s behalf.”
Without a moment of hesitation, Shen Du spoke up directly. His gaze, however, remained fixed on the Empress Dowager, his lips curving into a slight smile as he nodded in acknowledgment.
Before the Empress Dowager could come up with a countermeasure, she heard Xie Zhen’s cold voice ring out in response to those words: “Shen Du, I am His Majesty’s own older brother. Could it be that I would harm His Majesty?”
“Prince Lin’an need not press so aggressively. It was this consort who instructed Lord Shen to keep a close watch on His Majesty and forbid him from drinking. If Prince Lin’an wishes to find someone to drink with, this consort will gladly share a cup with my brother.”
From the women’s seating area came the noble voice of a young woman, causing everyone present to instantly lower their heads. It was the Eldest Princess, His Majesty’s own older sister, and naturally, no one dared to question her.
“It is merely a cup of wine after all. Since that is the case, Lord Shen, drink this cup on the Emperor’s behalf.” The Empress Dowager let out a light laugh, then gestured with a wave of her hand to smooth things over, her gaze carrying a mocking glint.
Since Shen Du refused to be on her side, she would simply eliminate Shen Du first. Without Shen Du, wouldn’t Xie Min become nothing more than putty in her hands?
Besides, the court officials would never suspect that the lofty Empress Dowager would dare to poison the Emperor at a palace banquet.
Who would believe such a thing if word got out?
Furthermore, the Empress Dowager had already prepared a scapegoat well in advance. Whether it was Shen Du or Xie Min, one of them had to die today.
The Empress Dowager was not afraid of Shen Du knowing her murderous intent. Even if he knew there was something in that cup, what could he do? In full view of the public, and with the Empress Dowager demanding that Shen Du drink in the Emperor’s stead, could Shen Du possibly refuse?
Naturally, he could not. Shen Du needed to maintain his persona as a loyal, powerful minister; he had no way to refuse.
[Do not worry, I will step in and protect your life.] The system’s tone was grave. This was a crucial plot point in the original text and could not be missed. Furthermore, once this plot node was cleared, there was no telling if the Enlightened Monarch index would increase, so the system certainly would not drop the ball.
Hearing the system speak, Shen Du felt his heart slowly steady itself. Then, with a beaming smile, he looked up at Xie Min on the elevated dais: “Since the Empress Dowager has said so, I ask Your Majesty to bestow the wine.”
[The Empress Dowager truly takes me for a soft persimmon.] Shen Du thought to the system, though his tone turned somewhat chilly. The Empress Dowager simply underestimated him too much.
Shen Du had been born in a peaceful era as a modern person whose hands had never been stained with blood. Yet, just as the system had said, if he remained soft-hearted, the next person to die would be himself.
With a cup of poisoned wine sliding down his throat, Shen Du thought of many things in an instant. He gradually came to understand that he was now in ancient times; the dynasty he inhabited and the predicament he faced were matters of life or death, where not a single soul wished to see Shen Du stay alive.
The officials below, the Empress Dowager above.
Which of them was not eyeing his death so they could seize the young holder of imperial power in this dynasty and turn him into their puppet?
Perhaps these people had miscalculated. Shen Du had never been a soft persimmon. Even in modern times, his father had taught him how to defend himself and how to strike back.
Shen Du did not wish to kill people, but since others were determined to kill him, Shen Du had no choice but to strike back. As for his methods, the Empress Dowager would soon find out.
Grand Eunuch De glanced at the Empress Dowager, then at Shen Du. Seeing Shen Du give him a reassuring look, Grand Eunuch De finally shifted his gaze back to the Emperor.
Grand Eunuch De had a nagging feeling that something was amiss, likely because of the cup of wine in the Emperor’s hand.
Yet he could not be certain either; after all, since Shen Du had asked the Emperor to bestow the wine, it was impossible that he intended to harm himself, right?
“Since that is the case, I must trouble Teacher to drink it on my behalf.”
Xie Min pondered for a moment, his gaze remaining fixed on Shen Du. Seeing that Shen Du’s attention was entirely focused on the Empress Dowager with no further inner voice emerging,
Xie Min suddenly felt a sense of boredom. He waved his hand to summon Grand Eunuch De forward; Grand Eunuch De hurried over, took the cup, and walked toward Shen Du.
Shen Du looked at the clear wine in the cup, his gaze falling upon the Empress Dowager. He curved his lips toward her with an icy expression in his eyes and drank it down in a single motion.
Immediately afterward, Shen Du drank another cup of clear wine poured by Grand Eunuch De Shun right beside him.
De Shun wanted to open his mouth to offer a warning, but he heard Shen Du’s voice, slow, soft, and delivered word by word with an icy chill that seemed packed with boundless agony: “Go find Commander Kang. Have him surround this entire place on my orders, under the pretext that someone attempted to assassinate and poison His Majesty.”
Pain flared from deep within his heart, but the system was doing its utmost to maintain Shen Du’s bodily functions: [You may be left with chronic health issues, but it does not matter. Once you complete the mission, the reward will alleviate these lingering ailments as the reward takes effect, and they will fully heal on their own in three years.]
Hearing this, Shen Du finally heard a piece of good news.
Yet right now, only a single thought occupied Shen Du’s mind: once he woke up, Shen Du would undoubtedly make the mastermind pay the price.
Shen Du was by no means a person who would quietly swallow grievances.
He simply disliked getting his own hands stained with blood, but that did not mean others could mistake his temporary forbearance for weakness that allowed them to push their luck over and over again.
Blood dripped into the clear wine. Behind him, the sound of Commander Kang’s footsteps echoed, followed instantly by the heavy trampling of the Imperial City Bureau sealing off the entire palace banquet. The lingering trace of blood at the corner of Shen Du’s mouth reflected his wild, unhinged smile.
The surrounding court officials were startled, instantly realizing that the person capable of mobilizing the Imperial City Bureau was none other than Shen Du. When they raised their eyes to look at him, they discovered that at some point, Shen Du had actually begun coughing up blood.
Shen Du’s wine cup slipped from his hand and shattered crisply against the ground. He looked up to survey the expressions of the officials below; dead silence and sheer panic gripped the crowd, and no one dared to utter a single sound.
“Quickly, summon the imperial physicians!” Xie Min’s voice was sharp and hurried as he ordered Grand Eunuch De beside him to fetch the doctors. Grand Eunuch De rushed away, his expression carrying a flash of sudden clarity, only now did he understand why Shen Du had stopped the Emperor from drinking that cup.
Because Shen Du had already anticipated that it was a poisoned cup meant to send someone down to the Yellow Springs!
Commander Kang’s voice was neither servile nor overbearing as he dropped to one single knee right beside Shen Du, tilting his head to catch Shen Du’s commands: “Lord Shen, what are your orders?”
“There are assassins mixed into the banquet. To safeguard the nobles, no one is permitted to leave the banquet grounds by even half a step until this official regains consciousness and thoroughly investigates the matter of the assassins. Commander Kang, take your men and escort His Majesty and the Eldest Princess back to their palaces to rest. As for the Empress Dowager, I want you to escort her personally. If any mishaps occur, you can bring me your head.”
Word by word, despite the agonizing pain wracking his entire body, Shen Du dug his fingers into the table before him until wood splinters lodged under his fingertips. Regardless of the pain, his gaze locked onto the Empress Dowager as he spoke in a low, heavy voice.
It was as if he carried a hidden meaning: “This official wants that person subjected to the punishment of a thousand cuts, slice by slice.”
The Empress Dowager knew those words were directed straight at her. Yet a triumphant sense of pride swelled in her heart; with this cup of poisoned wine downed, Shen Du would likely not survive. Wanting revenge against her? In his next life, perhaps.
Xie Min hurried down from the dais, his gaze locking onto Shen Du’s face. He looked at the blood at the corner of Shen Du’s lips, a picture of fragile frailty mixed with a streak of utter madness. Even though his entire body was hurting, he was still determined to arrange every single detail properly.
Shen Du was truly fascinating. Whether it was the secrets he carried or the madness hidden deep in his bones that mirrored his own, both made Xie Min feel that this world was starting to get interesting.
“Teacher…” Xie Min spoke softly.
Hearing Xie Min’s voice, Shen Du curved the corners of his mouth, feeling that Xie Min must have been scared out of his wits, which amused him slightly.
Even though double vision had blurred his sight to the point where he could no longer make out faces, Shen Du still turned his head toward the direction of Xie Min’s voice and offered a gentle reassurance: “Your Majesty, do not be afraid. Go back to the palace and sleep; when tomorrow comes, everything will be fine.”
Watching Shen Du drink the wine, Xie Zhen had initially worn a glowing smile on his face, never expecting the outcome to turn out like this.
Yet he was the one who had offered the toast, and there was no telling whether Shen Du would suspect him of trying to harm him.
However…
The current appearance of Shen Du was truly indescribably thrilling to witness.
The expressions among the crowd varied wildly.
By the time the imperial physicians arrived, Shen Du had already fallen into a semi-conscious state. Commander Kang glanced over at Lu Shu standing nearby, then nodded in acknowledgment: “General Lu, Lord Shen is entrusted to your care.”
Lu Shu nodded, signaling Commander Kang that he could rest assured.
Commander Kang immediately picked out trusted men to escort the Emperor and the Eldest Princess back. Xie Min paused in thought for a moment, then instructed Grand Eunuch De to stay behind while he departed with the Eldest Princess and her personal maid.
Because Xie Min knew that Shen Du would wake up.
In his past life, not long after he was poisoned, he had also woken up. The secret Shen Du carried would only cause him to wake up faster than he had.
Therefore, Xie Min did not worry too much.
Once the Emperor and the Eldest Princess were seen off, the deference vanished entirely from Commander Kang’s face. With a forced, humorless smile, he reached out toward the Empress Dowager standing nearby: “Empress Dowager, allow this humble subordinate to escort you back personally. After all, Lord Shen cares most about Your Majesty’s safety.”
The Empress Dowager sneered inwardly, then turned her gaze toward Prince Lin’an: “Zhen’er, you are coming with me.”
Upon hearing this, Commander Kang raised his gaze: “Empress Dowager, Lord Shen’s orders were to escort you back alone. No one else is permitted to leave.”
“Is that so? And what if this dowager insists on taking Prince Lin’an with her?” The Empress Dowager radiated an unyielding majesty, fixing her gaze on Commander Kang and feeling that this man simply did not know what was good for him.
Yet Commander Kang remained utterly impervious to reason, stating every single word with absolute seriousness: “Then this humble subordinate will have no choice but to carry Prince Lin’an out lying down.”
Unwilling to waste any more breath, Commander Kang drew his blade directly. The surrounding guards of the Imperial City Bureau unsheathed their weapons in unison, leaving the Empress Dowager almost laughing out of sheer fury: “Fine, what a magnificent Imperial City Bureau! How dare you threaten this dowager to her face? Once Shen Du wakes up, this dowager will make sure to ask him properly what authority he has to mobilize the Imperial City Bureau!”
The Empress Dowager swept her sleeves and departed in a rage, though she was forced to leave Prince Lin’an behind. Panic rippled through the court officials upon realizing that Shen Du’s influence was now so absolute that even the Empress Dowager could not forcefully take someone away; they all held their breath, too terrified to speak, keeping their anxious focus entirely on Shen Du’s injuries.
[Thirty minutes have passed, and the toxins have been suppressed. Afterward, you might be a bit more fragile and prone to falling ill than an ordinary person, but it does not matter. As long as you complete the mission quickly, you will recover your health just as quickly.]
Shen Du didn’t mind anymore. Having been sick for so many years, with the system sustaining this current body, at least he wasn’t dropping dead. Besides, completing the task would restore his health, with that guarantee in place, Shen Du was already quite satisfied.
[I need to think carefully: who in the Empress Dowager’s palace would make the best first unlucky target for me when I wake up?]