Futile Devices Scans

Bihan City, the inner palace’s Qingliang Pavilion.

The ruler, Yu Gong Lie; Chief Minister Wei Fu; Deputy Minister Feng Xie; the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice of the Dali Court; and the Chief and Deputy Directors of the Capital Security Bureau were all gathered in one hall, sitting upright with solemn expressions and holding their breaths as they listened to Ji Lian, Supervisor of the Criminal Division of the Capital Security Bureau, report the results of the investigation.

“This humble subject led his subordinates to collect all the wine, dishes, cups, plates, bowls, and utensils that Chief Minister Wei had touched at the banquet that day and examined them carefully, but no trace of poison was found. To guard against every possibility, this subject also inspected the incense burners, flower vessels, curtains, and other decorative items, but there were many people at the banquet, so the poison could not have been placed on those objects ahead of time. Otherwise, the one affected would certainly not have been the Chief Minister alone.”

“Since none of the above investigations yielded any result, this subject suspects that Chief Minister Wei may very likely have ingested the poison by mistake before the banquet began; it simply did not take effect on the spot, and the food and wine served at the banquet acted as the medicinal catalyst. Only when the two mixed did the poison finally flare up.”

“After receiving the imperial order to investigate the case, this humble subject immediately paid a visit to the residence and reconstructed Chief Minister Wei’s movements on the day of the banquet and during the three days before it from Chief Minister Wei himself and the servants of the chief minister’s residence. Chief Minister Wei went each day to the Eastern Pavilion to handle official matters and spent the entire day together with the various ministers. His meals came from the public kitchen or from imperial gifts, and none showed anything suspicious. The only exception was the night before the banquet, when the Chief Minister drank and dined with… a friend at Huifeng Tower, and did not return home until the end of the hour of Hai.”

When he said the word “friend,” there was a hesitant pause in the middle, and he could not help lifting his head to glance at Wei Fu. Yu Gong Lie and the others were all waiting for what came next, and seeing this, their gazes followed Ji Lian’s sidelong line of sight and all landed on Wei Fu, who sat in the first seat beneath the imperial throne.

Chief Minister Wei had remained behind closed doors to recuperate for a full month, and had only recently finally returned to court. Aside from being slightly thinner, his complexion was actually even better than before, perhaps because after no longer being worn down by documents and official work, his vitality had flourished anew. Merely sitting there quietly, he had a graceful bearing of unfurling brilliance, and his radiance was enough to make every furnishing in the hall lose its color.

Never mind that he was an entirely innocent victim—even if he had truly done something bad, it would still be difficult for anyone to harden their heart and blame him harshly.

Facing everyone’s gazes, Wei Fu calmly inclined his head toward Ji Lian. Before speaking, he smiled first and said gently, “The colleagues of the Dali Court and the Capital Security Bureau have spared no effort and traveled day and night all for the sake of investigating the truth on my behalf. How could I possibly disappoint everyone’s painstaking efforts? Before the ruler, there is nothing that needs to be hidden. Supervisor Ji, please speak freely.”

Seeing the way he smiled and spoke so warmly, then thinking of what he was about to say next, Ji Lian thought to himself that no wonder Wei Fu had only been here for half a year and the court had already given him the nickname “Xiling Fox.” He was truly exquisitely smooth in every direction, without letting even a single breath of wind leak through.

He took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, “On the night before the banquet, the one who drank with Chief Minister Wei was Lord Yuan Tian Jing, the stationed envoy of Pingdu.”

In truth, the officials of the Dali Court and the Capital Security Bureau had long since had some idea in their hearts. Even so, at this moment they still could not help looking at Wei Fu’s expression. Only the ruler, Yu Gong Lie, wore an unreadable expression as he let out a puzzled, “Oh?”

“Why would Qiyun’s stationed envoy come running to Bihan City instead of remaining stationed at Pingdu Port?”

This was purely pretending not to know while knowing full well. Perhaps even the night watchmen of Bihan City knew that Qiyun’s two stationed envoys were regular guests at the restaurants and singing houses on Kaiyang Avenue. Yu Gong Lie had lived deep within the palace for a long time, but he was no fool, and he was quite capable when it came to ruling the state. Wei Fu did not believe for a moment that he had no fear at all of those two hungry wolves from Qiyun.

Wei Fu calmly lifted his brows. Those amorous, rippling peach-blossom eyes briefly met Yu Gong Lie’s gaze, and ruler and subject exchanged a look across the air. In the next instant, like ripples flickering over spring water, everything returned to stillness without a wave.

His attitude remained quite humble, but at this moment, there was inevitably a hint of self-possession hidden within his calm composure. “Besides being a stationed envoy, Lord Yuan is also an elder. Recently, because of family matters, he has been running about in many places. When this subject had just entered court and was newly arrived, I once received Lord Yuan’s warm hospitality, and have always been deeply grateful. This time, since he invited me so earnestly, out of consideration for our past friendship, it would have been difficult for this subject to refuse.”

“Family matters…”

Yu Gong Lie savored those two words between his teeth, then let out a faint scoff. He did not press Wei Fu any further, and instead said lightly to Ji Lian, “Continue. What happened afterward?”

The entire hall was so silent that one could hear a needle drop. Ji Lian could hear his own heartbeat pounding desperately like drumbeats. He swallowed, his throat dry with tension, steadied his voice, and said, “After this humble subject learned of this information, I immediately went to Huifeng Tower to make inquiries. However, the restaurant’s shopkeeper, Fang Ji Chuan, vanished without a trace the day after the incident. The servants in his household also do not know where he went. He had no wife or children, and only took away a great deal of gold, silver, and valuables. It can basically be confirmed that he fled overnight.”

Wei Fu gave a soft “ah,” sounding so innocent he could practically squeeze water out of himself. “I have been to Huifeng Tower several times, but I have never met their shopkeeper. Even if we passed each other on the street, I might not recognize him. I can be said to have neither grievance nor enmity with this person. Could it be that he was the one who poisoned me? Why would he do such a thing?”

Aside from Ji Lian, everyone present curled their lips at the same time, thinking, Who doesn’t know that Huifeng Tower is Qiyun’s stationed envoys’ territory in Bihan City? You were secretly hooking up with Yuan Tian Jing, and only a ghost would believe you didn’t know him. Only Ji Lian, honest and straightforward, said, “The Capital Security Bureau investigated Fang Ji Chuan’s background. His travel documents state that he was born in Pingdu City. In the past, he worked on ships at sea, saved up some capital, and came alone to Bihan City seven years ago to run a restaurant. Business has always been very good.”

“According to the testimony of the restaurant staff, Fang Ji Chuan once said that he often traveled to and from Qiyun in the past and had quite a network of connections there. Qiyun’s two stationed envoys were also frequent guests of Huifeng Tower, and both were willing to give him face, so he was often able to obtain certain rare and unusual curios.”

“When searching Huifeng Tower, this humble subject discovered a prescription inside a wardrobe in Fang Ji Chuan’s room. The ingredients listed within were all medicinal materials we had never seen before, so we brought it to the Royal Medical Academy and asked the doctors there to identify them. Among them was a substance produced in Qiyun’s Tianmen Bay called ‘Sunken Snow Pearl.’ It is gathered from giant clams in the deep sea, its appearance is similar to ordinary pearls, it gives off a strange fragrance when burned, and when brewed into soup, it can dispel drunkenness and refresh the mind, leaving fragrance upon the tongue.”

Wei Fu struck his palm, suddenly enlightened. “That’s right. Before the gathering ended that day, someone did indeed send over sobering soup…”

The latter half of the sentence circled on the tip of his tongue, but he silently swallowed it back down.

At that time, Yuan Tian Jing had taken one sip and smilingly teased him, saying that he really was an honored guest, for even such a fine thing was something the shopkeeper was willing to bring out to show him respect.

Was the “Sunken Snow Pearl” truly the poison used to scheme against him?

Ji Lian said, “According to the Royal Medical Academy doctors’ examination of the Shifang Materia Medica, ‘Sunken Snow Pearl,’ whether burned as incense or brewed into soup, is harmless to the human body. Its only fatal incompatibility is with calendula. When the two are taken together, the effect is equivalent to arsenic. The poisoning is violent, causing the victim to vomit blood and fall unconscious, and if not treated in time, it may endanger the victim’s life.”

Crash!

Before Wei Fu had time to say anything, the sound of a teacup being overturned suddenly came from above. Everyone turned their heads and rose at the same time. “Your Majesty!”

“Calendula?” Yu Gong Lie stared at the dark tea spreading across the tabletop and murmured, “Isn’t that—isn’t that…”

Inner Attendant Tian Qing hurried over to clean up the mess and wiped the tea splashed onto Yu Gong Lie’s wrist, softly and delicately offering comfort. “Your Majesty, please rest assured. Nothing will happen. Supervisor Ji only said they cannot be mixed together. Calendula brewed alone as tea is not only harmless, but even beneficial to Your Majesty’s body. This is a prescription the Royal Physicians of the Royal Medical Academy have all verified. It is…” He paused slightly, swallowed down the rest of the sentence, and said gently, “You need not worry.”

Yu Gong Lie withdrew his hand almost in panic, as though he did not quite dare meet Wei Fu’s eyes, yet had no choice but to look toward him. Wei Fu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression mild, and asked calmly, “Supervisor Ji, it seems you have already discovered that there was food or drink made with calendula at the night banquet?”

Ji Lian replied in a low voice, “Yes. The wine served at the banquet that day had been infused with calendula, pomegranate, and green mandarin.”

“So that’s how it was. Then it makes sense.” Wei Fu nodded lightly, then turned thoughtfully toward Tian Qing. “Xiling does not have this flower, and after I came to Longsha, I never heard of any custom of using this flower to brew tea. Perhaps I am simply ignorant and ill-informed. Inner Attendant Tian, whose idea was it? How did someone think to have His Majesty drink calendula tea?”

He did not need to question him sternly, and he had not even darkened his expression, yet Tian Qing’s legs inexplicably went weak. He unconsciously blinked and looked back at Yu Gong Lie, then lowered his head and answered in a small, terrified voice, “In reply to Chief Minister Wei, calendula was originally not a Longsha product. It was a flower seed brought here by Her Ladyship the Noble Consort… Her Ladyship has always loved tending flowers and plants and is skilled at blending floral teas. Calendula tea has the effects of calming the mind, soothing the spirit, nourishing the liver, and brightening the eyes. His Majesty drank it and found it useful, which was why floral tea was used in place of the tea he usually drank.”

He seemed afraid that Wei Fu would not believe him and hurriedly added, “Her Ladyship herself also drinks floral tea! She even distributes it throughout the inner palace. It absolutely cannot be poison!”

“That is only natural. If there were a problem, something should have happened long ago. Why would it wait until today?” Wei Fu asked again, “Who was responsible for arranging the banquet that day? Who made the final decision on the wine and dishes?”

Tian Qing choked on the spot and stammered, “That…”

Wei Fu gave a silent, faint smile.

No further words were needed. His reaction was already the clearest answer.

At present, the King had not yet established a queen, the Queen Dowager had passed away early, and all matters of the inner palace were decided by Noble Consort Qi. That day happened not to be a formal imperial banquet, but merely an occasion where the King had summoned a group of civil officials in the afternoon to enjoy flowers and cruise on the water, then suddenly decided that evening to hold a small banquet. Such a minor matter was not enough to trouble the Court of State Banquets, so naturally it was handled by the Palace Food Bureau of the inner court.

And so calendula wine, which should never have appeared at a royal banquet, was brought before Wei Fu.

“Noble Consort Qi…”

Yu Gong Zhao Ye had pinched the edge of the case file out of shape, always feeling that something was not quite right. “Yuan Tian Jing is the Noble Consort’s maternal uncle, and the two of them are of one mind. That much is true. But Yuan Tian Jing and Wei Fu… I alone have run into the two of them drinking together twice. Aren’t they on fairly good terms as fox friends and dog companions? Why would he poison Wei Fu?”

Those words sounded somewhat sour. But in front of the Xiling emperor, Yu Gong Zhao Ye could jokingly call him Father Emperor; once he returned to Yeguang, he was everyone’s father. Although Jin Han was older and had deeper seniority, he would never dare expose this little father to his face, and instead echoed with deep agreement, “Exactly. Yuan Tian Jing not only has no reason to harm Chief Minister Wei, he should be holding him up carefully. After all, Noble Consort Qi has not yet become queen, and they still have to count on Chief Minister Wei to put in good words for her before the King.”

Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s brow twitched as he keenly caught the key point. “Recently, has there been talk in court of establishing a queen?”

“Yes,” Jin Han nodded. “It will soon be a full year since the King ascended the throne, and he still has no royal heir. A few days ago, some ministers submitted memorials requesting a consort selection, and the King seemed somewhat tempted, which is why Yuan Tian Jing has been so anxious to win people over everywhere and urge ministers to submit memorials, hoping to quickly bring about Noble Consort Qi’s establishment as queen. If a newcomer were to bear a royal heir before the Noble Consort, her situation would become difficult.”

“But now that this incident has happened, unless the Noble Consort can immediately produce a royal heir out of thin air, neither Wei Fu nor the King could possibly consider making her queen again.”

The thought that followed was like thunder and lightning crashing through Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s mind, making all the hairs on his body stand on end in an instant and sending a chill down his spine.

“So this was his purpose…”

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