Palace maid Shuoning

(One)

Upon hearing this, Ye Wan smiled faintly and calmly, saying, "You've always been eloquent; you always have a point."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly pulled out the jade hairpin.

A sudden surge of excruciating pain overwhelmed Jiang Shuoning, who could no longer bear it. A groan escaped his throat, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

"Caiyi, bring it here." Ye Wan's voice remained calm.

Caiyi trembled slightly. After hesitating for a long time, she finally dared not disobey and took out the medicine bottle from her sleeve, carefully placing it in her palm.

Ye Wan casually tossed the jade hairpin to the ground, uncorked the bottle, poured out a dark, heavy pill, and handed it to Jiang Shuoning, a thin, icy smile in her eyes:

"This is Mengdala, which has been given a gentler name outside: Xiangsizi."

Now, another ingredient has been added to the original formula. It won't take your life immediately, but it will gnaw at your bones and torment your soul, making you suffer day and night.

If one is lucky, one can survive for ten days; if one is unlucky, one will die silently, without even leaving a trace of grief.

If you're determined to bring down the Ye family, then go ahead and do it. I await your good news.

You hate me to the core and are determined to get rid of me, but now that you're trapped in my grasp, what can you do to me?

After saying that, she raised her hand and pinched Jiang Shuoning's chin, about to force the pill into his mouth.

In a moment of desperation, Jiang Shuoning bit her fingertip hard.

Ye Wan winced in pain, her eyes suddenly turning cold. She raised her hand and slapped the woman several times in quick succession. She stood up, handed the medicine bottle to the guard, and said in a chilling voice:

"Feed her everything, so that she may suffer endless torment and die a horrible death."

The guard bowed and accepted the bottle.

Jiang Shuoning shook her head vigorously and struggled back desperately, but she was no match for the number of guards. The guards forcibly pried open her jaw and poured the entire bottle of acacia seeds into her mouth.

She refused to swallow, so a guard kicked her hard in the stomach, another poured water down her throat, and a third covered her lips tightly.

Jiang Shuo struggled in vain, finally swallowing the contents of his throat, then collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.

Ye Wan looked down at her, her tone slow and deliberate, yet carrying a ruthless air of absolute control:

"There are twelve pills in total. After that, the addiction will kick in every two hours. If you want the antidote, you must have Prince Jingchen come to me in person."

"If you dare to report this to His Majesty, I guarantee you will be tormented to death by lovesickness."

After saying that, she yawned lightly, her expression nonchalant:

"They must be looking for her outside. Move her out immediately. I'm not stupid enough to leave her in the palace overnight."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Just as the four guards were about to knock Jiang Shuoning unconscious and put him into the mahogany box, Ye Wan suddenly stopped, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes:

"Wait, we need to make her completely addicted. Caiyi, get another bottle."

Caiyi bowed, her voice trembling, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Soon, four guards carried the mahogany box and quietly left Chuxiu Palace.

The hall fell silent again, with only a faint smell of blood remaining on the ground.

Caiyi was filled with trepidation, but finally couldn't contain herself and lowered her voice:

"Your Majesty, if Jiang Shuoning truly survives, he will surely seek revenge against us in the future, and he will ultimately be a hidden danger."

Ye Wan slowly smoothed out the fine wrinkles on her sleeve, letting out a cold laugh that was almost inaudible:

"You're too naive. How can you expect her to bring us down? When the truth comes out, the origins of this 'love-longing seed' will be attributed to the Jingchen Prince's Mansion."

Once His Majesty learns that this calamity involves the Prince's residence, and with the Crown Prince further fueling the flames, what do I have to fear?

Caiyi was startled, her heart pounding with fear. She asked in a low voice, "Does Your Highness mean to frame the Jingchen Prince's Mansion for this?"

Ye Wan raised her eyes, her gaze filled with a cruel, amused smile:

"What else do you think? When I say I will take revenge, I will not just let her suffer physical pain."

Their greatest passion in life was uncovering secrets and solving cases, but this time, they were destined to fall into the very trap they had so painstakingly sought. How interesting, truly interesting.

Caiyi gasped, her body trembling slightly uncontrollably, her eyes glancing at the bloodstains on the ground that had not yet been wiped clean.

A chill ran down his spine, and he lowered his head, holding his breath, not daring to utter another word.

(two)

Zhou Zhengyin stormed into the East Palace again tonight, causing chaos and unrest throughout the palace.

The Crown Prince suppressed the surging anger in his chest and patiently spoke one last time: "I have never seen your concubine in the Eastern Palace."

Zhou Zhengyin wouldn't listen to a word he said; his voice was impatient and full of stubbornness.

"Baozhong is a man of your Eastern Palace. It was his wife who secretly took away my concubine. If it weren't for his wife's involvement, how could my concubine have disappeared without a trace!"

The Crown Prince is inextricably linked to this matter; you must find the person for me. Otherwise, I will enter the palace tonight and ask my father to judge this matter fairly!

The crown prince looked at his unreasonable behavior with a gloomy expression. He had already cursed him as an unreasonable mad dog in his heart. But after a moment's thought, he weighed the pros and cons.

If this matter were to escalate to the Emperor's presence, causing unnecessary turmoil and damaging the reputation of the Crown Prince, it would be a case of penny-wise and pound-foolish.

He suppressed the anger surging in his chest, and his expression gradually calmed down. For the sake of the overall situation, he immediately ordered Baozhong to lead a search party.

In the streets and alleys of the capital, officials knocked on doors to search for people, and the barking of dogs rose and fell, creating a climate of fear among the people.

The Imperial Palace.

The candlelight inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation was dim; the Emperor had already retired for the night. Feng Xi tiptoed in, knelt, bowed, and whispered his report:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Jingchen, Lord Huo, and Xie Yude, they led a large group of people to search for the missing concubine on the long street, causing unrest in the streets and alleys."

Rumors have reached Prince Jingchen's ears that his concubine has been abducted to the palace, and he is currently outside the palace, imploring to see His Majesty.

Upon hearing this, the emperor suddenly opened his eyes, his chest heaving with rage.

He abruptly threw off the brocade quilt, sat up straight, and his deep shout made the bed curtains tremble slightly: "Insolence!"

Half an incense stick later.

The Emperor, wearing an outer robe, looked solemnly at Zhou Zhengyin, Huo Xiao, Bao Zhong, and the Crown Prince kneeling on the ground.

"What exactly happened?"

The Emperor slammed his hand heavily on the imperial desk, his voice filled with anger:

"Prince Jingchen, how dare you! You trespassed into the Hall of Mental Cultivation without my summons!"

Zhou Zhengyin kowtowed heavily, his voice filled with panic: "Father, this is a matter of life and death! My concubine was kidnapped by people from my elder brother's Eastern Palace!"

Before the words were even finished, the Crown Prince abruptly raised his eyes, suppressing a surge of anger, and retorted in a deep voice:

"Ninth Brother, how dare you slander the Crown Prince like this? The Crown Prince was already with you searching for someone; how can you say he was kidnapped?"

Zhou Zhengyin glanced at him sideways, then raised his head, his eyes instantly filled with red, looking at the Emperor with a pitiful and aggrieved expression: "It was Xie Yude's wife who abducted my concubine."

Bao Zhong immediately kowtowed repeatedly and said in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty is wise! I would never dare to do that! Tonight, I have been searching outside with His Highness the Crown Prince and the Prince, and I have not dared to slacken my efforts in the slightest."

My wife did indeed meet with the Consort once, but there's absolutely no reason for her to abduct anyone!

The Emperor's face was extremely gloomy, his chest heaving violently, and his cold gaze fixed on Zhou Zhengyin.

"Without the slightest evidence, you dare to make baseless accusations before me! Who gave you the audacity?"

Zhou Zhengyin's throat tightened, and he choked out a sob, each word filled with sorrow:

"Father! Even if you strip me of my title, I will find Shuoning! Father, I have been confined to my quarters for two months since I returned to the capital. I am filled with grievances, and you refuse to see me."

Besides the Princess, only Shuo Ning is by my side. If my mother could know from beyond the grave, she would surely be heartbroken to see my suffering. My life is short; my mother was framed and died. In this vast world, the only one I can truly rely on is my father, the Emperor.

Now even my father despises me. What use is this title of prince to me? If anything were to happen to Shuoning, I… I would rather die!

As he spoke, tears streamed down his face; he was heartbroken and weeping uncontrollably.

The crown prince was taken aback and remained silent for a moment.

Bao Zhong helplessly closed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on.

Huo Xiao, standing to the side, clenched his jaw tightly, his cheeks taut, struggling to suppress the smile on his lips.

He had only just seen the true extent of Prince Jingchen's acting skills.