kvmb Chapter 428 Poisoning
Chapter 428 Poisoning
Shen Qingtan's eyes flashed with surprise: "The Feng family has just lost a member, and Madam Feng is visiting our residence. Isn't that a bit too inappropriate?"
"Feng Xiaozhong was executed for committing a crime, and ministers who were on good terms with the Feng family have all severed ties with them in order to protect themselves." Zhao Yi held Shen Qingtan's slightly cool fingers: "His son, Feng Zhihuan, is the prefect of Yongqing County. He exploited the people by taking advantage of the edict to open mines, and he disregarded human life, which triggered a riot. Now there is no one to help Feng Zhihuan in the court. Once the matter comes to light, he will face death."
"Is Madam Feng here to ask us for help?" Shen Qingtan asked, but immediately denied it: "No, I feel something is off."
Zhao Yi did not interrupt Shen Qingtan's thoughts, but gestured for her to express her ideas.
Shen Qingtan analyzed, "The Prince of Qi is imprisoned, the Empress is sent to guard the imperial mausoleum, and the only legitimate son of the Northern Qi Emperor has withdrawn from the struggle for the throne. According to ancestral teachings, the eldest son should inherit the throne."
“But your bloodline is not pure. Not only will the Emperor of Northern Qi not make you the crown prince, but the court officials will also oppose you becoming the new emperor of Northern Qi.”
"And the Prince Xian, who is far away in his fiefdom, is the best candidate for crown prince. Now that the Prince Xian is about to turn the tide, the Consort Shu, who has been banished to the cold palace, will probably also gain power."
"The palace servants are the most adept at changing their tune and playing favorites. Since Consort Shu is showing signs of a comeback, they will surely continue to be loyal to her."
"The Feng family and Consort Shu are cousins, and they are also part of the Prince Xian's faction. Feng Zhihuan will probably give a portion of the profits he has gained from exploiting the people to Consort Shu and her son, right?"
“Now that Feng Zhihuan is in trouble, Consort Shu will not ignore him, after all, she is a beneficiary of his actions.”
After a pause, Shen Qingtan asked, "Is what I said reasonable?"
“Your analysis is correct. Madam Feng is desperate and will place her last hope on Consort Shu, trying every means to contact her.”
Zhao Yi said, "Madam Feng's personal visit to the Prince's Mansion is either to do something for Consort Shu, or because Consort Shu can't help her and she has no choice but to come and surrender to us."
Shen Qingtan thought for a moment and decided to meet with Madam Feng.
"Go to the palace," Shen Qingtan said softly. "The cook has made zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) for you to eat when you come back."
"Okay." Zhao Yi smoothed the stray hairs by her ear and instructed, "Be careful of her."
Shen Qingtan nodded and watched Zhao Yi leave before going to the front hall to wait for Madam Feng.
Before long, Madam Feng arrived at the front hall, led by a servant.
Shen Qingtan looked up and saw Madam Feng dressed in plain clothes with a white silk flower in her hair. She looked haggard and walked unsteadily to her side.
"This humble woman greets Your Highness." Madam Feng bowed to Shen Qingtan and said somewhat awkwardly, "My family has just experienced a death, so it is not appropriate for me to visit you at the Prince's residence. However, things happened in a hurry, and I lost my composure. Please forgive me."
“The Feng family has suffered misfortune, and I can understand your lack of manners,” Shen Qingtan said with a slight smile. “Every family has its difficulties. If I were to blame you for this, it would seem that I am heartless.”
Madam Feng's expression froze, and she nervously clutched her handkerchief, unsure of how to respond.
At this moment, a maid brought in hot tea.
Madam Feng seemed to have found an opportunity to shine. She took a cup of tea from the tray and knelt on the ground, saying, "Your Highness, my husband absolutely did not frame the concubines. I don't know what happened that His Majesty would order my husband's death."
Shen Qingtan accepted the tea offered by Madam Feng and asked, "Do you wish to ask the Prince to overturn Lord Feng's case?"
"No, no, no, His Majesty personally decided on this case, how could it be a miscarriage of justice? It's just... it's just the crime... If I ask Your Highness to investigate the truth, I might offend His Majesty and implicate Your Highness."
Madam Feng watched as Shen Qingtan brought the teacup to her lips, preparing to take a small sip.
Her heart pounded faster and faster, and her voice tightened as she spoke: "I... I just want to ask Your Highness for help to retrieve Master's body so that he can be laid to rest in peace."
Upon hearing Madam Feng's words, Shen Qingtan roughly understood Madam Feng's purpose in coming.
I reckon they're here to help Consort Shu.
Although people believe in the importance of burial for peace, the matter of Feng Zhihuan is clearly more important than getting back Lord Feng's body.
Madam Feng, however, refused to mention it.
Presumably, someone promised her that they would help her resolve the Yongqing County riot.
Shen Qingtan concealed her thoughts and placed the teacup on the small table: "You said that His Majesty is still angry. If the Prince goes to the palace to demand Lord Feng's remains, His Majesty might be furious and punish the Prince."
Madam Feng pinched her fingertips, regretting that she had spoken at this critical juncture, thus preventing Shen Qingtan from drinking a sip of tea.
Her eyes reddened with anxiety, and she wanted to say something more.
At this moment, Shen Qingtan picked up her teacup again and took a sip.
When Madam Feng saw that Shen Qingtan's lips were moist and glistening with moisture, and that she was swallowing, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“I…I was just thinking…if we don’t retrieve Master’s body, it will probably be thrown into a mass grave and left to rot in the wilderness.” Madam Feng’s tears rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed, “You are the only one I can turn to. If you don’t help me, I don’t know who else to turn to…If you can help me, I will definitely repay you.”
“I understand how you feel. If we can help, we certainly will.” Shen Qingtan sighed softly, “You also know the Prince’s situation in Northern Qi…”
Shen Qingtan didn't say the last half of the sentence; she just gave a bitter smile.
Lady Feng was well aware of Zhao Yi's position, as his impure bloodline aroused suspicion from the Northern Qi emperor.
They can barely take care of themselves, how can they help her?
Having achieved her goal, Madam Feng stopped arguing with Shen Qingtan: "It was I who forced you to do something against your will." She wiped away her tears and slowly stood up: "I will not bother you any longer and will take my leave now."
Shen Qingtan didn't try to stop her, and instructed Liu Yue, "Go and see Madam Feng off."
"Yes." Liu Yue quickly saw Madam Feng out of the mansion.
As Shen Qingtan and Madam Feng disappeared from the front hall, her face immediately turned cold and sullen. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her lips and stared at the teacup with an unreadable gaze.
Tingxue sensed something was wrong and quickly asked, "Your Highness, is there something wrong with this tea?"
Shen Qingtan was very sensitive to the emotions and gazes of others. While she was drinking tea, Madam Feng was clearly staring at her.
She was always cautious. Knowing that Madam Feng had touched the teacup and that she was certain that Madam Feng had ill intentions, she decided to test the waters and placed the teacup on the small table.
Sure enough, Madam Feng's mood subtly changed.
She deliberately picked up the teacup again, but didn't touch it. She simply moistened her lips with her tongue and then made a swallowing motion.
Madam Feng's expression visibly relaxed.
Shen Qingtan instructed, "Tingxue, go and invite the imperial physician over to examine this cup of tea."
Tingxue realized that the tea was poisoned, and she was so angry that she gritted her teeth and went to find the imperial physician while cursing.
The imperial physician arrived quickly, examined the tea, and then tested it for poison. When he received the results, his expression changed: "Your Highness, this poison seems to be the one developed by Imperial Physician Zhong."
He wondered, "This is really strange. Zhong Yuanshi disappeared more than 20 years ago. Where did this poison come from?"
Shen Qingtan seemed to have thought of something, and her expression became serious. She instructed the imperial physician to keep the matter a secret and not to reveal what had happened that day, and she also gave him a few words of advice.
The imperial physician agreed and left with a heavy heart.
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace, the riot in Yongqing County was reported to the emperor by the censor, who requested the emperor of Northern Qi to make a decision.