14 – Poison on the Hairpin (Revised)
“Your Majesty, have I done something wrong?” Luzhu asked anxiously, looking at Jiang Lige.
The Emperor before her was different from usual, her gaze sharp as if it could see through people’s hearts.
Jiang Lige didn’t want to frighten Luzhu. In this world, no one could be more loyal to her than Luzhu—of this she had no doubt.
Jiang Lige softened her tone: “Luzhu, where did you get the short hairpin you gave me yesterday?”
Luzhu froze for a moment, her confusion utterly genuine.
“That was an old item of mine. After many years of use, the pin’s stem broke, so I polished it down to use for self-defense.”
Jiang Lige had been observing her expression all along. Seeing that she didn’t seem to be lying, she asked further: “Did you know the hairpin was coated with poison?”
Luzhu was startled, her pupils widening in shock as she instinctively knelt to examine Jiang Lige’s hands.
“Has Your Majesty been poisoned?”
Yesterday, Luzhu had been on the shore and had no idea what had happened inside the Painted Pleasure Boat.
Luzhu said remorsefully, “How could the hairpin be poisoned? I didn’t know there was poison on it. If I had known, I would never have given it to Your Majesty. That hairpin was so sharp—if it had injured Your Majesty, I could die a hundred times and still not atone for it…”
Thinking Jiang Lige had been poisoned, Luzhu was so anxious she was on the verge of tears.
Seeing that Luzhu showed no sign of deception, Jiang Lige was moved by her loyalty but fell into doubt once more.
Could it be that she had been mistaken?
Unfortunately, the hairpin had sunk to the bottom of the lake along with her when she fell into the water, leaving her with no way to investigate further.
“Luzhu, I’m fine. Yesterday, the short hairpin accidentally got wet, and its color turned black, which is why I had this concern,” Jiang Lige lied to brush it off.
Luzhu was still trembling from the scare. Wanting to comfort her, Jiang Lige took out the gold token Shang Guanqi had given her and held it before Luzhu.
“Luzhu, look. I’ve obtained an exit token from Nine Thousand Years. From now on, we can come and go from the palace as we please. Shall we go to the night market tomorrow?”
Upon hearing this, Luzhu’s tears turned to laughter as she took the token and examined it carefully for a long while.
“Your Majesty, you’re truly amazing. The words you spoke at the altar today were so moving. I cried listening to them,” Luzhu began crying again, this time from emotion.
Jiang Lige sighed inwardly once more—people in this era were truly so simple.
“Quick, think about what you want to buy at the night market tomorrow?” Jiang Lige changed the subject.
Luzhu brightened again, “I want to eat candied hawthorn, dragon’s beard candy, lotus flower pastries, sweet buns…”
Halfway through, Luzhu stopped, her face falling: “No, Your Majesty, we have no money…”
Jiang Lige was dumbfounded: Right, they had no money.
…
Qingyang Hall.
“Nine Thousand Years, Xie Shu’s whereabouts have been discovered. Should we take action?” Wuhuan requested instructions.
Shang Guanqi lay lazily on the chaise lounge, “Leave him be for now.”
“Today, the Emperor went to Sacrifice to Heaven in my stead. What do you think?” Shang Guanqi asked casually.
Wuhuan glanced up discreetly at his master, whose expression seemed rather pleased.
“When the phoenix rising from the flames appeared, I felt a golden light shining upon all.”
“Golden light shining upon all?” Shang Guanqi chuckled, feeling a sense of superiority that everyone else had been deceived while only he knew the truth.Wuhuan saw him smile, confirming that his master was in a good mood, so he boldly voiced the doubt he had been harboring for half a day: “Why did Lord of a Thousand Years give the credit for punishing the Zhang family to the Emperor today? The Emperor coincidentally displayed auspicious signs today and has already won the people’s hearts. Nine Thousand Years then handed over the Zhang family, indirectly strengthening the Emperor’s reputation. A powerful Emperor is not beneficial to us.”