Chapter 71: The Death Sentence

Chapter 71: The Death Sentence

When Jiang Hui returned to the camp with the Emperor, it was getting dark, and a crowd of ministers rushed over to show their concern.

The Empress, along with Consort He and others, waited anxiously on the side, visibly worried.

Xiao Sheng escorted Jiang Hui to her tent, summoning the imperial physician to treat her facial and hand injuries. After the medicine was applied, he softly said, "Hui'er, rest now. I have some matters to attend to."

Jiang Hui nodded gently, watching the Emperor's departing figure before concealing her emotions and asking Shan Zha, who had been waiting in the tent, "Any movements from Lady Li?"

"Lady Li has been in her tent the entire time and hasn't gone out," Shan Zha immediately replied. "However, the Selected Attendant spoke with Lady Li for a while before heading to the kitchen."

"The Selected Attendant?" Jiang Hui frowned.

"Yes," Shan Zha nodded, "I heard she wanted to personally cook something for His Majesty."

As Jiang Hui was about to speak further, the Princess of Chengping arrived.

She carefully examined her daughter's injuries and, seeing they were minor, felt relieved, whispering, "His Majesty has ordered the arrest of many. We will break camp and return to the palace tomorrow. The soldiers sent by Duke Qing haven't returned yet... stay alert tonight."

"I understand," Jiang Hui nodded gently, asking with concern, "Are mother and brother unharmed?"

"We're fine, with guards and household troops protecting us. Don’t worry about us," the Princess of Chengping reassured her, stroking her daughter's head before leaving after a while.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Hui instructed Shan Zha, "Take some food and ointment, and see how Sheng An is doing. Thank him for today."

The arrow had been poisoned, and although blood was let and flesh cut to treat it, Sheng An would need to recuperate for several days.

"Yes," Shan Zha replied, quickly stepping out of the tent.

As the candles were lit, Hongying brought in a meal and reported in a low voice, "My lady, I just saw the Selected Attendant carrying a food box towards the Emperor's tent."

Jiang Hui, being helped out of her riding attire by Qiu Kui, paused upon hearing this, "In such a situation, His Majesty would never eat anything brought by the Selected Attendant. Lady Li sending her with food suggests an ulterior motive."

Qiu Kui speculated, "My lady, could the Selected Attendant be a decoy, and the real trick lies in the other food? There are few food tasters."

"Lady Li always favors such double-layered schemes," Jiang Hui nodded, casting her gaze towards the meal brought by Hongying.

Aware of the gravity of the situation, Hongying did not taste the food directly but retrieved a small wooden box, took out a needle pack to test each item, and then carefully sampled with chopsticks.

After a moment, she frowned and replied, "My lady, this food... appears to be safe."

Jiang Hui hummed and then asked, "What about the tea?"

"Right away!" responded Hongying.

Indeed, the issue was with the tea.

"My lady, there's a sedative in this water. Drinking it would likely cause a deep sleep through the night."

"A sedative?"

Jiang Hui pondered briefly, with so many ministers and guards present, it was unlikely to be direct poisoning. The Emperor was always meticulous about what he consumed. It seemed the drug was intended not for the Emperor, but rather for the ministers and guards.

"However, since His Majesty is already prepared, this ploy of Lady Li's is likely to fail. It's just unclear what other tricks she might have up her sleeve."

"Let's eat, but avoid the water for now," Jiang Hui said calmly, sitting at the table.

In the middle of the night, the Emperor suddenly visited Jiang Hui's tent.

He entered so quietly that the maids, thinking him an intruder, quickly surrounded Jiang Hui to protect her.

Xiao Sheng whispered, "It's me."

He stopped Jiang Hui from performing a courtesy, placing a finger to his lips, "Hui'er, make no sound." He was unsurprised that Jiang Hui hadn’t been drugged.

Jiang Hui softly acknowledged. In the dim night, unable to clearly see the Emperor and not wanting to light a lamp, she simply sat with him, letting him play with her hand.

Outside, there was a faint sound of commotion, accompanied by flashes of light and the distinct sound of arrows whistling through the air.

Strangely, there were only sounds of people running outside, with no discernible shouts of panic.

Lady Li's sedative must have taken effect on the women and some of the ministers.

After a while, a sharp cry of "Your Majesty, be careful" suddenly came from outside, followed by the clash of arms.

"My lady, that sounded like Lady Li's voice," Qiu Kui whispered.

With His Majesty beside her, who was Lady Li calling out to outside?

Jiang Hui turned to look at the person beside her and softly asked, "Your Majesty?"

The Emperor gently caressed Jiang Hui's delicate fingertips, gently squeezing her palm and whispered in her ear, "What is it, Hui'er?"

Feeling the warmth of his breath on her ear, Jiang Hui involuntarily turned her head away, whispering softly, "...It's nothing."

The noise outside gradually subsided, and the approaching firelight revealed a group of armored figures.

A deep, steady male voice came from outside the tent, "Your Majesty, I have successfully completed the mission!"

Xiao Sheng stood up, offering his hand to Jiang Hui from his elevated position, "Would Hui'er like to come with me to see?"

With the torches now close, Jiang Hui could clearly see the Emperor's face. She nodded slightly and placed her hand in the Emperor's.

Inside the Emperor's tent, Duke Qing was gagged and bound tightly, pushed to one side. Lady Li, curled up on the ground, was being helped up by Yinzhu, an arrow piercing through her right arm from the back.

Seeing the Emperor enter with Jiang Hui, Lady Li's pupils contracted, then she quickly put on a smiling face, crying joyfully, "Your Majesty, you're unharmed?!"

The Emperor remained silent. Yang Rong'en, the Grand General of the Imperial Guards following him, spoke in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this noble lady thought you were in the tent and bravely blocked an arrow for you."

The Emperor hummed in response, his face expressionless, making no move to call for the imperial physician.

Jiang Hui paused in her steps, wondering if Lady Li, realizing her situation was hopeless, was trying to gain merit for saving the Emperor. And considering the imperial heir in her womb...

Seeing the Emperor's lack of response, Yinzhu, supporting Lady Li, cried out, "Your Majesty, my mistress thought you were in the tent and selflessly blocked the incoming arrow. She is still injured, please call the imperial physician to examine her!"

"Is that so?" Xiao Sheng sat back down, raising his voice slightly, "Lady Li's devotion to me is indeed heartfelt."

Everyone in the room bowed their heads, and Jiang Hui, watching Lady Li's pale face with her back to the Emperor, revealed a hint of irony in her eyes.

"If that's the case, An Jing, go and bring some wine," Xiao Sheng said indifferently.

"Yes." An Jing bowed respectfully and quickly exited the tent. When he returned, he was carrying a tray with a white porcelain cup on it, filled with clear wine.

"Your Majesty, what is this...?" Lady Li asked weakly, lifting her eyes.

"In recognition of Lady Li's meritorious service in saving me, I grant her a cup of poisoned wine, to preserve her body intact," Xiao Sheng spoke in his usual calm tone, showing no sentiment towards his once favored consort.

"No, no... Your Majesty, I... I was forced... I was coerced!" Lady Li shook her head, tears in her eyes, retreating backward, but was quickly restrained by the alert Yang Rong'en.

"What? Do you need me to tell you what good deeds you have done?" Xiao Sheng said coldly.

Without listening to her excuses, he ordered, "An Jing, make her drink it."

"Yes!" An Jing immediately responded, approaching Lady Li with the poisoned wine.

"Your Majesty! You can't do this!" Yinzhu, pale-faced, stepped in front of Lady Li, shouting, "Your Majesty, my mistress carries your child, you can't do this!"

The tent fell into a sudden silence.

An Jing paused in his action of administering the poison, looking to gauge the Emperor's reaction.

Seeing the Emperor's silence, Yinzhu persisted, "Your Majesty, if you don't believe it, you can summon the imperial physician for confirmation!"

Lady Li didn't speak, only gazing at the Emperor with tearful, pleading eyes.

Jiang Hui discreetly stepped back, the silk in her arms fluttering momentarily before falling still.

She didn't look at the Emperor, instead focusing on Lady Li, her mind swirling with thoughts unknown to others.

The flickering candle on the table created an eerie stillness. In this unusual silence, the Emperor slowly spoke, "An Jing, serve the wine."