Chapter 67 Soul-Dispersing Powder

Chapter 67: Soul-Dispersing Powder

Jiang Wang stood to the side, supporting the unsteady Xiao Yan.

Though the sky wasn't dark yet and light still filled the room, Xiao Yan seemed to have plunged into pitch-black darkness.

The color drained from Xiao Yan's face, leaving behind a grayish, deathly pallor.

Jiang Wang looked at him with concern and spoke softly.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

But Xiao Yan, as if he hadn't heard Jiang Wang's words, remained frozen in place without any movement, not even a flicker of change in his expression.

He recognized it.

The drug Chang Wenji had asked Jiang Wang to administer to him was the Soul-Dispersing Powder.

It was the very poison that had killed his elder brother!

Even without taking out the black jade to test it, he recognized it clearly.

He had stared at this powder countless times during quiet nights, observing and studying every detail of this poison over and over.

Even without a scent, Xiao Yan recognized the Soul-Dispersing Powder at a glance.

The heart-wrenching grief and helplessness from losing his brother surged back once more, as if he had returned to the time right after his brother's departure.

Whenever he encountered something amusing, he would still instinctively run to his brother's courtyard, wanting to share it with him, only to realize belatedly upon seeing the desolate, tightly shut door.

His brother was no longer there.

Xiao Yan stood alone and helpless in the barren courtyard, the silent, sorrowful agony tearing his heart apart.

He wanted to cry, but found he could no longer shed tears.

And now, he was no longer the naive and ignorant youth from two years ago.

Beneath his wide sleeves, Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly, desperately suppressing his emotions, not allowing a single trace to show.

It was dangerous. He alone should bear this burden; Jiang Wang shouldn't know about this matter.

Xiao Yan's thoughts cleared slightly, but the words Jiang Wang had just spoken now echoed in his head like a demon's whisper.

"Chang Wenji told me to add it to your tea."

"He said not to add too much at once, just about the size of a fingernail per pot of tea."

"He also told me to prioritize stability, not to rush and give myself away. The drug takes effect very slowly. By the time you're completely incapacitated, he would have already moved me to a safe place."

It seemed Chang Wenji was truly getting desperate.

Perhaps the severe punishment during the spring inspection had angered Chang Wenji, prompting him to take action.

Or perhaps, taking advantage of Xiao Yan's recent ascension to the throne, his unstable position, and his lack of heirs, now was the most opportune time to overthrow him.

But no matter what, he would not let Chang Wenji succeed. Not only that, he would capture Chang Wenji and make him kneel before his brother's tomb to apologize.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Jiang Wang's concerned voice came from beside him, gently tugging at his sleeve.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yan spoke, only to find his voice already hoarse. He cleared his throat. "What is it?"

"Your Majesty, would you like to rest for a while?"

Jiang Wang looked at Xiao Yan's pale face and asked with concern.

After all, Xiao Yan's current state was truly frightening.

Xiao Yan didn't speak, but instead took hold of Jiang Wang's wrist and pulled him into an embrace.

"It's alright, let me hold you for a moment."

Jiang Wang, completely unprepared, collided directly with Xiao Yan's chest.

Being this close, feeling the warmth of another man's breath, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.

His rapidly accelerating heartbeat and gradually reddening cheeks betrayed his current nervousness.

Jiang Wang really wanted to push Xiao Yan away and calm down on his own, but he didn't.

Xiao Yan's fragile, almost broken state made him reluctant to refuse him further.

Fine, if he wants to hug, let him hug. They're both grown men; it's not like he'll lose a piece of flesh.

Jiang Wang waited quietly, reaching out to stroke Xiao Yan's back gently, just as his mother had comforted him when he was a child.

After who knows how long, Xiao Yan seemed to have recovered. Jiang Wang could clearly sense that the oppressive atmosphere around Xiao Yan had lifted considerably.

But... Xiao Yan still hadn't let him go.

"What else did Chang Wenji tell you?"

A low, hoarse whisper suddenly sounded by his ear, as if someone were lightly brushing a feather against it. Jiang Wang tilted his head away from the ticklish sensation, the blush on his face deepening.

"Chang Wenji also said... also said..."

What else had Chang Wenji said? Jiang Wang clearly remembered there were other things, but now his mind seemed occupied by something else, and he couldn't recall.

His peripheral vision caught sight of the main gate of Cangwu Hall, and the forgotten words came back to him.

"Chang Wenji also told me not to try any tricks, saying someone would be watching me."

This was also why he hadn't completely relaxed until he stepped into Cangwu Hall earlier.

The people in Cangwu Hall were all Xiao Yan's trusted men.

In his daily life in the palace, Xiao Yan would hold court in the Hall of Diligent Governance, handle state affairs in the Hall of Reverent Harmony, and stroll for leisure in the Imperial Garden.

Of course, most of the time, he was in Yaohua Hall or Langyin Pavilion, "seeking pleasure," watching dancers perform and musicians play.

In other words, aside from Cangwu Hall, any other place within the palace could harbor danger; someone might be secretly watching him from the shadows.

Xiao Yan's heart tightened, then relaxed again.

Chang Wenji had served as an official for over thirty years and indeed had many partisans in the court. However, these cards were already on the table. The person watching Jiang Wang wouldn't be among them.

The one watching Jiang Wang would surely be someone who appeared righteous or utterly inconspicuous.

So, even if someone in the palace is keeping an eye on Jiang Wang, to avoid exposure, they would only carry out surveillance duties and not harm him.

Regardless, Xiao Yan needed to conduct a new round of screening of the court officials.

“It’s fine, I will send people to protect you.”

Jiang Wang nodded. He trusted Xiao Yan—Xiao Yan always kept his word.

However, he still had a question.

He couldn’t possibly add this bottle of white powder to Xiao Yan’s food or drink, so how would the symptoms of the drug manifest in Xiao Yan’s body?

If Chang Wenji observed that Xiao Yan’s health remained consistently good, wouldn’t he realize that Jiang Wang had never administered the drug?

Chang Wenji would only be reassured if he knew Xiao Yan had unknowingly taken the drug and was showing symptoms that matched the powder's effects.

But finding someone else to test the drug just to understand its side effects would be too cruel, as that person would be innocent.

How should they proceed with this charade?

“Your Majesty, this poison…”

“It’s fine. I will replace the poison in the bottle with ordinary flour. You just need to ‘administer the drug’ according to your own pace. As for the drug’s effects, I naturally have my own methods.”

Xiao Yan sneered inwardly.

He was all too familiar with the effects of this poison. The changes in his elder brother’s health were something he would never forget.

Outwardly, his brother appeared fine, but his body would gradually be hollowed out, growing weaker and weaker. No tonic could save him, and in the end, even a minor cold could take his life.

Now, he just needed to act out the same scenario again.

Moreover, judging by the dosage Chang Wenji instructed Jiang Wang to use, it was likely double or even triple the previous amount.

This meant he wouldn’t have to act for as long as a year or two—perhaps in just three to five months, his health would deteriorate to the extreme.

By then, with the emperor dead and no heir, Chang Wenji, as a Three-Dynasty Veteran, would inevitably step forward to take charge.

At that point, everything in the Great Jing Dynasty would be under his control.

The soul-dispersing powder was unique to Beixiang, so Chang Wenji must have secretly colluded with them.

He had opened trade with Beixiang through the Ministry of Revenue, ostensibly to promote prosperity in border trade between the two countries, but in reality, he aimed to use overt transactions to cover up his underhanded dealings.

This also explained why so many high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Revenue were intricately connected to Beixiang.

Considering Beixiang’s recent unusual movements indicating a desire to deploy troops, could Chang Wenji have a hand in this as well?

If by then he had already taken control of Zhaojing and the Great Jing Dynasty, what could the court officials do even if they were dissatisfied with his actions?

Even if the imperial guards under his command refused to obey, there would naturally be forces from Beixiang to help him suppress them.

But once those barbarians entered Zhaojing, would they still be of one mind with Chang Wenji?

Were they merely using Chang Wenji, and did they harbor other intentions toward the Great Jing Dynasty?

Xiao Yan clenched his fist and swore silently to himself: he would protect the kingdom his elder brother had left him, and he would ensure the safety of the people of Dajing.

He would not allow such a situation to occur.

“Your Majesty…” Jiang Wang nudged Xiao Yan’s arm. “You’re holding too tightly—you’re squeezing me.”

In fact, the two were still embracing. Xiao Yan had never let go, and Jiang Wang hadn’t said anything about it.

But just now, Xiao Yan seemed to have thought of something, and his grip grew tighter and tighter.

Jiang Wang was starting to have difficulty breathing, so he had no choice but to push him away.

Ever since seeing the white powder, Xiao Yan’s behavior had been strange.

Although Xiao Yan hadn’t said much, and his expression hadn’t changed much, Jiang Wang could sense the immense psychological struggle and turbulent emotions within him.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

Xiao Yan had seemed so fragile earlier. As someone on the same boat as Xiao Yan, Jiang Wang also wanted to share some of his burden.

Sometimes, it’s better for two people to bear a painful matter together than for one person to carry it all alone.

But Xiao Yan didn’t seem inclined to explain anything to him.

“Just some old matters—they’re all in the past now.” Xiao Yan glanced out the window. “It’s already dark. Minister Jiang, join me for dinner.”

“Yes.”

*

Jiang Wang was both worried and concerned, but in the end, he didn’t say another word.

In the large bed at Biwu Hall, Jiang Wang found himself unusually unable to sleep.

He had been lying in bed for two hours but couldn’t fall asleep.

He had experienced this before when his bed was very ordinary.

But ever since entering the palace, whether it was the bed or the furniture for daily use, everything had been upgraded significantly, with a level of comfort comparable to a five-star hotel.

Yet today… why couldn’t he sleep?

Jiang Wang carefully recalled Xiao Yan’s behavior throughout the day and couldn’t help but feel curious about the secret Xiao Yan was hiding.

He had already revealed his identity and stance to Xiao Yan, agreeing to serve as his spy and risk his life for him.

But Xiao Yan…

Didn’t even want to tell him a single truth?

Author’s Note: Jiang Wang is about to discover this secret.