Catching Monsters

Chapter 577 Eunuch Feng has the best chance

"Father!"

Linglong's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly ran towards Xiao Yuzheng, wanting to check on his condition.

Unexpectedly, two people suddenly appeared in the imperial study.

"Princess Ningyi, don't come any closer!" The moment the two appeared, they reached out and stopped Linglong. The two quickly came to Xiao Yuzheng's side.

The two men appeared to be around forty or fifty years old; one was wearing a white shirt, and the other was dressed in black.

Feng Yu quickly arrived at Xiao Yuzheng's side. He saw that Xiao Yuzheng was spitting out blood, convulsing, and the veins in his neck had turned black.

"Quickly, summon the imperial physician."

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yun quickly said, "I have a rare item in my home that might be able to cure His Majesty's poisoning."

Upon hearing Jiang Yun's words, Feng Yu seemed to realize something. He grabbed Jiang Yun's collar and quickly flew out of the Imperial Study. Before leaving, he told Linglong, "Having the Imperial Guards seal off the palace and prepare tea is the responsibility of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The person who poisoned the palace is probably inside the Imperial Study."

"No one may leave."

Feng Yu and Jiang Yun quickly flew towards the Jiang residence, but Jiang Yun hurriedly said, "Eunuch Feng, my sister should be studying at Renyi Academy at this time, not at home."

"Renyi Academy?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Yu led Jiang Yun to change direction and quickly headed towards the Renyi Academy.

The Renyi Academy was not far from the capital city; after all, the five major academies were the holy land for scholars throughout the Zhou Dynasty.

The entire Renyi Academy was surrounded by a tall white wall, covering a total area of ​​nearly thirty acres within the inner city. At the very center of the academy was the Dacheng Hall, where statues of Confucian sages were enshrined and worshipped.

Every year on the birthday of the sage, a grand ceremony is held in the academy.

Behind the Dacheng Hall were rows of study rooms, student dormitories, and separate courtyards where many Confucian scholars lived.

With a whoosh, the two flew above the Renyi Academy.

Below the academy, there were more than ten study rooms, from which the sound of students reading aloud could be heard continuously.

What they recited were all the classics of sages.

At the same time, perhaps sensing Feng Yu's arrival, a great scholar quickly flew up from behind the Renyi Academy. Fang Tingzhi, dressed in a white scholar's robe, flew to Feng Yu and Jiang Yun and asked, "Eunuch Feng, what brings you here in such a hurry?"

"Where is Jiang Qiaoqiao?"

Seeing Feng Yu's anxious expression, Fang Tingzhi glanced at Jiang Yun and said, "Come with me."

At this moment, in a schoolhouse, Jiang Qiaoqiao, dressed in a scholar's robe, was sitting at the front of the classroom, holding a classic text of the sages in her hands, and slowly reciting the words of the sages along with the other students.

The school had only about thirty students, a small portion of whom were sent by high-ranking officials and nobles from the capital to study the classics.

Most of them are selected from all over the country, and are people with exceptional talent.

The Zhou state exclusively revered Confucianism and Taoism, so the Renyi Academy naturally held a high status. It was almost impossible for ordinary high-ranking officials and nobles to send their children there.

Even the Renyi Academy wouldn't give them any face.

Those who could send their children to study here were basically high-ranking officials who came from the Renyi Academy and held important positions in the court, and the children they sent were somewhat talented.

Of course, Jiang Qiaoqiao was the only girl in the entire school.

In front of the school, a Confucian teacher held a ruler in his hand, with classic texts of the sages laid out in front of him, and looked down at the many students below.

Soon, footsteps sounded beside him, and the Confucian scholar looked over in that direction, intending to get angry.

During class time at Renyi Academy, no one is allowed to disturb the students; this is the rule.

But upon seeing the person who had arrived, the scholar's angry gaze vanished: "Great Scholar Fang, what brings you here?"

After speaking, the Confucian scholar looked at Jiang Qiaoqiao.

He also knew that Jiang Qiaoqiao was Fang Tingzhi's personal disciple; otherwise, as a woman, it would be one thing for her to enroll, but how could she be qualified to sit in the front row and listen to lectures?

"Qiaoqiao, is Xiao Hei here?" Jiang Yun walked in quickly.

"Brother, you're back?" Jiang Qiaoqiao's eyes lit up when she saw Jiang Yun. "I told you to come to the academy, but you're free today."

"Where's Xiao Hei?"

Seeing that Jiang Yun's expression was a little off, Jiang Qiaoqiao quickly took off the scholar's hat from her head. Little Black was sleeping on her head.

"Come on, Xiao Hei." Jiang Yun reached out his hand, but Xiao Hei only glanced at him before closing his eyes again to sleep, seemingly unwilling to pay any attention to Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun didn't have time to slowly persuade Xiao Hei, so she said, "Qiao Qiao, quickly take Xiao Hei and come with me."

“Okay.” Jiang Qiaoqiao quickly stood up after hearing this, but then she looked at the Confucian teacher. The Renyi Academy had very strict rules, so this kind of thing naturally required the Confucian teacher’s approval.

When the Confucian scholar Fang Tingzhi arrived, what could he say but nod in agreement without hesitation?

Soon, Jiang Yun and Feng Yu, along with Jiang Qiaoqiao and Xiao Hei, flew swiftly towards the palace.

After they left, the students in the classroom looked at each other, and one of them couldn't help but whisper, "Was that Jiang Qiaoqiao's older brother? Was he Jiang Yun from the Eastern Garrison?"

"He doesn't look much older than us, and I heard he's highly regarded by His Majesty."

These people had long heard of Jiang Yun's reputation. Of course, most of these students came from ordinary families, and even those children of high-ranking officials who were forced into the program were still very famous to them.

After all, the fact that Jiang Yun arrested dozens of sons of high-ranking officials and nobles and imprisoned them in the Imperial Guard prison is still considered a legendary feat in the capital.

"Silence, silence." The Confucian scholar frowned and said in a deep voice, "Continue reciting the classics of the sages."

"Yes."

The students present immediately stopped making noise.

……

Inside Xiao Yuzheng's palace, he was now unconscious, his skin had turned somewhat black, and the black and white figures beside him were channeling their magic power to resist the toxins in Xiao Yuzheng's body.

Knowing that his time might be limited, Qin Hong had already arrived after hearing the news. When he arrived, his face was ashen as he looked at the unconscious Xiao Yuzheng and stood beside him with a gloomy expression.

Soon, Feng Yu, Jiang Yun, and Jiang Qiaoqiao, who was holding Xiao Hei, arrived outside the palace.

After entering the house, Jiang Yun told Xiao Hei to quickly go forward and detoxify Xiao Yuzheng.

The black and white figures frowned upon seeing that Little Black was a demon, and their gazes turned to Qin Hong. Qin Hong nodded and said, "Let it try."

Soon, Xiao Hei was placed on Xiao Yuzheng's body, flashing a faint white light. Just like before, when Feng Beier suffered such a serious injury, Xiao Hei was able to heal her.

Not to mention it's just toxins.

As the white light shone upon him, Xiao Yuzheng soon spat out a mouthful of black blood, and the blackness of his skin gradually faded, making his complexion look much better.

Qin Hong hurriedly stepped forward, reached out and grasped Xiao Yuzheng's pulse. After checking it, he breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "His Majesty's health is no longer a major concern."

After speaking, Qin Hong slowly turned his gaze to Feng Yu and asked in a deep voice, "The question now is, who is so audacious as to poison His Majesty!"

Feng Yu's expression hardened, and he slowly said, "The tea that Your Majesty drinks is specially supplied from the South, so there should be no problem with the tea."

"The problem lies with the person who prepared the tea for His Majesty."

Guanglu Temple.

At this point, Feng Yu slowly looked at Jiang Yun beside him and said, "Jiang Yun, you go back immediately and lead the people of the Eastern Garrison to the palace to investigate the case. No matter who is involved, you must investigate and interrogate them thoroughly, understand?"

"Yes!" Jiang Yun nodded heavily upon hearing this, knowing that this matter was of great importance.

Before leaving, he glanced at Jiang Qiaoqiao and said, "I will have someone send Jiang back to the academy later."

……

At this moment, the imperial city is under martial law. No one is allowed to enter or leave without His Majesty's written order. Fortunately, Jiang Yun obtained a waist token from Feng Yu, which allows him to move freely.

He rushed back to the Eastern Garrison Command immediately and had Qi Da select two hundred shrewd and capable Imperial Guards to accompany him into the palace.

After listening, Zidane quickly selected his men, but his expression was somewhat strange. Normally, it would be impossible for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to send hundreds of men into the palace.

"Lord Jiang, what happened?" Qi Da asked in a low voice.

Jiang Yun remained calm and said, "Go to the archives and bring all the personnel information from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Imperial Kitchen. I'll look at it on the way."

"There's something wrong with Your Majesty's tea today; someone poisoned it."

Upon hearing this, Zidane's pupils dilated slightly, and he quickly complied.

Soon, Jiang Yun led two hundred Imperial Guards into the palace and arrived at the Imperial Kitchen.

The Imperial Kitchen was established through the reform of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and was under the leadership of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

The Court of Imperial Sacrifices was headed by the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Further down is the imperial kitchen.

This institution was originally His Majesty's tea room and kitchen, also known as the Imperial Tea and Kitchen, hence the name Imperial Kitchen.

The Imperial Kitchen was located in the front courtyard of the palace, and consisted of several courtyards. At this moment, the area had already been surrounded by the Imperial Guards.

Upon hearing the news, Minister Sun of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices arrived, his legs trembling with fear. He sat at the entrance of the Imperial Kitchen, unable to stand up no matter how the Imperial Guards tried to help him.

Although he didn't know what had happened, the Imperial Guards suddenly surrounded the Imperial Kitchen and notified him to come.

Even a fool could guess what had happened.

Upon seeing a large number of Imperial Guards appear and take over the guard duties from the Imperial Guards, Minister Sun of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices nearly fainted.

"You are Lord Sun, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, right?" Jiang Yun stepped forward and said expressionlessly, "I am Jiang Yun from the Eastern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I am here on imperial orders to investigate a case. Please cooperate."

"Lord Jiang, I know nothing, I know nothing." Sun Lianyu was in his fifties and had a small mustache.

He was originally a cook, skilled in southern cuisine, which Consort Shu loved, and that's how he rose through the ranks in the imperial kitchen.

Relying on his excellent cooking skills, he was able to become a high-ranking official of the third rank, Guanglu Temple Minister, which is quite an inspiring miracle of hard work.

Looking at Sun Lianyu's head-shaking and swaying manner, Jiang Yun said coldly, "Lord Sun, it won't do if you know nothing. How am I supposed to investigate the case?"

"What exactly happened?" Sun Lianyu asked, forcing himself to speak.

Jiang Yun slowly said, "The tea Your Majesty drank today contains a deadly poison."

Upon hearing this, Sun Lianyu was so frightened that his eyes rolled back and he fell straight backward. Qi Da, who was next to him, rushed forward and pinched his philtrum hard, but he couldn't wake him up.

"It seems the only option is to take him back to the imperial prison for a thorough interrogation," Zida said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing the words "Imperial Prison," Sun Lianyu immediately stood up.

Jiang Yun put his hand on Sun Lianyu's shoulder and said, "Lord Sun, don't worry. We Jinyiwei never wrong anyone when we investigate cases. Just answer whatever I ask. As long as it has nothing to do with you, we won't wrong you."

"Yes, yes, yes." Although Sun Lianyu's official rank was higher than Jiang Yun's, he was extremely respectful at this moment: "Lord Jiang, please ask whatever you want, I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

Jiang Yun asked, "How many people are in the Imperial Kitchen? Who prepares the tea? I know that His Majesty's meals and tea are subject to strict regulations. You are quite knowledgeable about this, so you should know at what stage someone could poison the food."

Sun Lianyu took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and then said, "A small portion of His Majesty's tea comes from excellent tea merchants in the south."

"But most of them are tea gardens planted by our Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices himself in the south."

"There shouldn't be any problem with the tea."

"As for His Majesty's meals, in theory there shouldn't be any problems. The tea leaves are all stored in the warehouse, and I personally keep the key. I will personally go and retrieve some every three days."

"No one else is allowed to enter."

"The water also comes from within the palace."

"When preparing tea, the tea master will record his name every day and prepare two copies."

"One portion is for His Majesty, and I will drink the other portion myself beforehand to confirm that it is correct before passing it on to His Majesty."

“During this period, there will be eunuchs from the palace keeping a close watch on things.”

"There was absolutely no chance to tamper with it."

"After the tea is prepared, it is usually delivered to His Majesty's study by Eunuch Feng himself."

"I think, if there's an opportunity to poison someone, Eunuch Feng has the best chance..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun turned to look at Qi Da, who was holding a small notebook and writing down Sun Lianyu's words: "Don't write down the last two sentences yet."

(End of this chapter)