tallest building

Chapter 229 Allies

Su Qingyun looked at Wen Mingqian, her expression unreadable.

Wen Mingqian held the slice of ginger in his hand, his expression playful. "You used the bowl lid to hide the ginger, your purpose was to frame me. Of course, if you could poison the Empress, that would surely satisfy you even more."

"What makes you say I put this piece of ginger in there? And what makes you say it's poisonous?" Su Qingyun retorted.

“Imperial Physician Su, every time I prepare medicinal meals for the Empress, I only put in three slices of ginger. This slice is extra. At first glance, this slice of ginger looks normal, but it hides a secret.” Wen Mingqian said as he slowly tore open the ginger slice. “There are many small wax beads inside, which will melt when heated, and inside they contain poison.”

Therefore, even if you put ginger slices in, you still won't be able to detect poison with a silver needle in a short time. However, the time it takes for the wax beads to melt from the imperial kitchen to the empress's palace is enough.

Su Qingzhu fell silent again, only staring coldly at Wen Mingqian.

Wen Mingqian naturally knew what he was planning. As long as he wasn't exposed on the spot, he could just deny it to the death.

"Did you really think I was there to prepare medicinal cuisine for the Empress? No, I went to the Imperial Kitchen just to find you." Wen Mingqian tossed the ginger slices aside. "I found clues on the green tangerines before, and I deduced that the person who poisoned them must be related to the Imperial Kitchen. But there are too many people involved, and it's hard to make a judgment in a short time. Only by going there in person can I slowly find out the truth."

Actually, I didn't suspect you at first, because Qing'er told me that the Empress doesn't eat fruits like green tangerines, so there's no need for the imperial physician to examine her.

I think you must have seen this point, which is why you poisoned it.

After all, you frequented the imperial kitchen; poisoning was incredibly easy for you. Judging from the poison powder on the tangerines, you sprinkled it there. With your wide robes and sleeves providing cover, how easy would it be to sprinkle poison powder!
I observed carefully for a few days, and then deliberately let people know that it was I who made the Empress stop offering those green oranges, so that you would naturally transfer your hatred to me.

Or perhaps you'll deepen your hatred for me, because it's because of me that the Empress is able to maintain her composure; I suspect you've already harbored hatred for me in your heart.

When she said this, Su Qingyun's eyes visibly moved, showing a mixture of disgust and surprise.

Clearly, he had not expected Wen Mingqian to be so intelligent, having already seen through all the hidden secrets.

"Physician Su, let's go back to what I said before. You're really not a smart person," Wen Mingqian smiled. "Otherwise, you should be asking me right now why I didn't expose you on the spot?"

"Why?" Su Qingyu asked stubbornly.

“Because I only want to stop you, not harm you,” Wen Mingqian said. “Of course, if you believe me.”

Su Qingyun didn't believe it; his eyes spoke volumes.

"I know why you don't believe me. It's because in your eyes, my efforts to please the Empress will only make me your sworn enemy, right?"

Su Qingyun didn't speak, only gave a cold laugh.

He remained silent, but Wen Mingqian didn't mind performing a monologue: "A person who dares to poison the Empress must not be a coward, and must have his reasons. Lord Su, what is your motive?"

Su Qingyun remained silent, even though Wen Mingqian knew what he had done.

"Agastache rugosa, gypsum, honeysuckle..." Wen Mingqian suddenly recited a prescription.

Su Qingyun's eyes widened, and then widened again, finally voicing her question: "What... what are you reciting?" "Lord Su is an imperial physician, can't you tell that I'm reciting a prescription?" Wen Mingqian smiled, "This prescription originated from the palace and has saved many lives, but unfortunately it was burned long ago and can no longer be used."

"Who exactly are you?" Su Qingyun stared intently at Wen Mingqian. "Who sent you?"

"Lord Su, given the current situation, you have no right to ask me," Wen Mingqian reminded him. "If you want to know, you must first answer my question—what was your purpose in plotting to murder the Empress?"

"Because she deserves to die!" Su Qingyun gritted her teeth. "She's a vicious woman! I hate her!"

“But as far as I know, the Empress has never harmed you, nor has she harmed your family,” Wen Mingqian asked again. “Where does your hatred come from?”

"That's all I can tell you," Su Qingyun said. "Who gave you that prescription?"

"Lord Su's hatred is related to this prescription, isn't it!" Wen Mingqian wouldn't be led astray. "Back when the plague raged in the palace, we were fortunate to have two people. One of them was you, Lord Su, and the other..."

"You've been beating around the bush, but you actually know everything, don't you?" Su Qingyun finally couldn't hold back any longer. "What exactly do you want?"

"Whatever Lord Su wants to do, I will do." Wen Mingqian's smile vanished.

“Impossible! I’m avenging her, and you…” Su Qingyun shook his head.

"I'm also seeking revenge for her." Wen Mingqian looked directly at Su Qingyun. "Otherwise, why would I be here talking to you? Wouldn't it have been better to just expose you directly?"

"How could that be?" Su Qingyun laughed. "I used the poison very discreetly. In just a few more years, that poisonous woman will suffer a mental breakdown and go insane. But you stopped me, causing me to fail at the last minute..."

"Doctor Su, you're oversimplifying things," Wen Mingqian asked him. "Once people discover that you poisoned someone, even if they can't trace it back to you, innocent people will be implicated."

Besides, even if we drive the Empress mad, or even poison her, what then? Will that person's innocence be cleared?

"You...you really did this for her?" Su Qingyun asked incredulously. "Then who are you to her?"

“We call each other sisters, though we are not related by blood, our bond is stronger than that of close relatives,” Wen Mingqian said. “Since you fought the plague together, she has probably told you that she experienced the plague when she was young and took care of those who had it. I survived thanks to her care…”

"So you're the one..." Su Qingyun's eyes lit up immediately, "She mentioned you were on the mountain..."

“Shangyin Peak Bodhi Hermitage,” Wen Mingqian said, “Sister Shen and I lived there for three years.”

"You really are...she...is she...?" Su Qingyun was excited. It turned out that he wasn't the only one who still remembered Consort Shen after all these years.

When he learned that Wen Mingqian was an old acquaintance of Shen Fu and brought up the events of that year, he suddenly wondered if Shen Fu was still alive.

“My sister died in the chaos of war…” Wen Mingqian’s eyes reddened. “By chance, I had a brief meeting with her before she passed away.”

“Oh…” Su Qingyun lowered her head. Yes, that person is long gone.

How could she still be alive?