The Mandarin Duck Pot, from the outside, looks similar to an ordinary wine pot, but its spout is slightly higher than that of a regular wine pot.
If you cut it from the side, you can see the inside of the wine pot displays the Yin-Yang Taiji pattern. The middle of the pot is divided into two parts by a curve; one side has a hidden slot for placing poison. There’s a chanism on the handle, and once you trigger this chanism, the poison would roll into the black half of the pot, turning the poured wine into deadly venom.
"This Prince Ling’an has arranged everything ticulously, even investigating such detailed objects so thoroughly!"
Long Yue stared at the wine pot that had only a tiny difference, and silently muttered in her heart.
"Go, pour everyone a cup, let’s have a taste!"
Who would dare not drink the wine bestowed by the Imperial Concubine? Everyone accepted it gladly and even showered complints. Long Yue kept her eyes fixed on the palace maid holding the wine pot, watching her as she poured wine in front of herself and then poured wine for Yang Zhuoya.
Long Yue focused her gaze and saw her gently press the handle while pouring wine for Yang Zhuoya.
She’s made her move!
Just as expected, the poison target wasn’t herself but Yang Zhuoya!
But why would she do that?
What benefit would killing Yang Zhuoya bring her? Moreover, could this be used to fra her? Ridiculous, she didn’t even have the motive to kill Yang Zhuoya!
No! There’s definitely sothing wrong here!
But it was too late for her to think further, as the wine had already been poured.
"Ladies, please! Have a taste?"
"Thank you, Imperial Concubine!"
This was a noble banquet, with noblewon drinking, so they naturally paid attention to their image, each one drinking with their sleeves covering their faces.
Yang Zhuoya also prepared to drink, gently covering with her sleeve. Long Yue grabbed a piece of pastry and rushed forward: "Sister Zhuoya, have a piece of pastry before drinking, it’ll settle your stomach and not hurt your gut..."
"Crash!"
Long Yue handed over the pastry, intentionally tugging her sleeve. Noblewon typically hold the cup with orchid fingers, not very steady, so with this pull, the small cup dropped and spilled wine everywhere.
"Oh dear, Sister Zhuoya, I’m sorry, I didn’t an to. Look at , all clumsy, how embarrassing..."
Long Yue feigned a look of sha and remorse, her face turning red from anxiety.
Yang Zhuoya smiled faintly: "It’s fine, besides, you didn’t do it intentionally..."
"How is it fine? The fruit wine bestowed by the Imperial Concubine, you actually spilled it? Are you disrespecting the Imperial Concubine? How bold you are for soone of Sixth Rank Imperial Decree!"
The concubine who previously helped Consort Xue scold Long Yue stood up again, harshly reprimanding.
"Lady Li, she didn’t do it intentionally, presumably the Imperial Concubine has a magnanimous heart and won’t mind these trivial details."
Yang Zhuoya rose to speak for Long Yue.
Lady Li imdiately looked cold: "Oh well, am I supposed to be narrow-minded then?"
The shaless woman was implying she was petty at every turn, how furious it made her!
"You misunderstood, Minister’s Wife didn’t an that..."
"Humph, misunderstood? Seems I’m indeed narrow-minded then..."
"ow~"
Lady Li still wanted to reprimand, but suddenly, a cat’s ow echoed, and a pitch-black cat without a single stray hair erged from a dense bush, leaping towards the spilled fruit wine.
"Oh dear Little Black, how did you get over there! Co back, don’t bump into the dignitaries!"
A palace maid rushed over, likely having brought the black cat out for a walk, except the black cat dashed away, running towards the Imperial Garden.
The palace maid had been searching nearby, and only found it when she heard the sound.
"Quickly chase away that cat!"
Long Yue’s seat was conveniently in a blind spot for Consort Xue and Lady Li’s vision, so neither noticed the black cat’s entry initially. But upon hearing the ow and seeing the cat, Consort Xue’s face turned livid.
She sharply ordered them to chase the cat, but it was too late!
The black cat licked the fruit wine, owed again, and collapsed motionless on the ground.
"Ah, ah, ah, a dead cat, a dead cat!"
Long Yue shouted exaggeratedly, grabbing Yang Zhuoya’s sleeve and pulling her aside, moving away from the area.
"Assassin, there’s definitely an assassin here, soone wants to harm the Imperial Concubines!"
"Nonsense, this is the Imperial Palace, where could an assassin be? You must not speak nonsense!"
Lady Li’s face chilled, pointing at Long Yue and cursing.
"Lady, this wine is poisoned, there’s surely an assassin mingled within the crowd, trying to poison one of the Imperial Concubines, only they accidentally spilled it!"
"Utterly ridiculous, everyone here is a woman, where could an assassin be? According to this concubine, the assassin seems to be you! You intended to poison Mrs. Su, but montarily slipped, spilling the wine cup. Initially hoping the matter would pass unnoticed, who knew a black cat would reveal your slip? Only then did you feign innocence, shouting out loudly!"
Lady Li coldly smiled, attacking Long Yue with sharp words, truly brilliant, turning black to white with such skill!
"Lady Li, what are you talking about? Clearly, there’s an assassin intruding within the palace, but instead of investigating the assassin, you’re slandering ? In this palace, nothing is more important than the Emperor’s safety, hey, what are you all standing here for? Go catch the assassin, huh?"
Lady Li saw Long Yue seemingly ready to exit the garden, knowing she was afraid. That’s good; fear makes others believe she’s the culprit. Lady Li smirked coldly: "Lady Jiao, such boldness to commit a cri within the Imperial Palace, still hoping to escape? Guards, grab her!"
A few robust eunuchs imdiately stepped forward to apprehend her.
But how could they be her match?
"Impudent! I’m at least a Lady Jiao bestowed by the Emperor, without evidence, dare you apprehend ?"
"Evidence? Fine, guards, search her!"
With those words, several elder matrons rushed forward.
Search her? Haha, nothing on her person, but Long Yue knew once they searched, they’d certainly find sothing.
"Hey, your black cat died, still stunned? Quickly notify your master!"
The little palace maid saw the black cat dead, scared into weakness, lips trembling speechlessly. Long Yue hurriedly went to pat her awake.
The palace maid woodenly turned her head, eyes lifeless, "Little Black died... it’s dead... I won’t survive..."
"Little Black! My Little Black—"
Just at this ti, a hurried voice sounded from outside the Imperial Garden.
User Comments
0 comments from readers