Chapter 45 Uncovering the Spy

Chapter 45: Uncovering the Traitor

The Empress's face turned pale, and Ji Yuntang's words made her think of many things.

Luo Xianan's first seizure happened when he was one and a half years old, and after that, it would typically strike every two months.

Now, at age three, his episodes had become more frequent, sometimes even striking without warning, causing him to collapse and convulse uncontrollably.

The Empress was heartbroken, but the imperial physician said it was congenital, passed down from birth, and incurable, only manageable with medication.

If Ji Yuntang wasn't deceiving her, and someone was deliberately harming her son, how terrifying and chilling was that thought?

The Empress dared not dwell on it, yet a chill ran down her spine. The people around her were palace maids who had served her for years and were deeply trusted—could there truly be a traitor among them?

Just then, Nanny Shen entered and whispered in the Empress's ear, "Your Majesty, I asked Imperial Physician Sun, and he confirmed exactly what Princess Ye said, without any falsehood."

The Empress's heart sank. If Ji Yuntang were telling the truth, then the liar had to be one of her palace maids.

Ji Yuntang said quietly, "Your Majesty, the drug used to trigger the Seventeenth Prince's seizures is a poison called Crushed Star Grass. It is colorless and odorless when dissolved in water, but when refined, it appears as a white powder, making it easy to identify."

"Send people to search the rooms of the palace maids responsible for the Seventeenth Prince's daily care, and I believe you will find some evidence."

Hearing this, the Empress realized the gravity of the matter, as it concerned her son's life.

Without hesitation, she immediately turned to her most trusted aide, Nanny Shen. "Nanny Shen, personally take people to search the rooms of Shuixian, Shuiwu, Shuibing, and Shuiyan. If you find anything unusual, report back to me at once."

Nanny Shen nodded in agreement. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will go and conduct the search immediately."

About half an hour later, Nanny Xu entered with the eunuchs who had searched, presenting a packet of white powder on a tray.

"Your Majesty, this was found under Shuixian's bed. It has been verified by the imperial physician and matches exactly what Princess Ye described."

The powder was still half full, clearly used many times. The Empress's eyes reddened with anger after seeing it.

It was unthinkable how many times Shuixian had used the powder to induce the Seventeenth Prince's seizures while attending to him.

"Bring Shuixian here at once!"

When Shuixian was brought in by two guards, she was still bewildered, unaware of what crime she had committed to warrant such a dramatic arrest.

But the Empress's next words made Shuixian's legs go weak, nearly causing her to collapse.

"Shuixian, I have treated you well. Why did you poison the Seventeenth Prince? Who ordered you to do this?"

The Empress had two sons and one daughter: the Crown Prince, Luo Jingshen; the Ninth Princess, Luo Qingge; and the Seventeenth Prince, Luo Xianan.

The Seventeenth Prince had just turned three. Without someone specifically ordering her, the Empress couldn't believe Shuixian would have the audacity to do such a thing.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent! I did not harm the Seventeenth Prince. My loyalty to him is as clear as day."

With that, she suddenly turned and glared at Ji Yuntang. "It's her! She must be framing me! I beg Your Majesty to see the truth."

Nanny Shen stepped forward and shoved the tray of powder into Shuixian's face.

"How dare you, Shuixian! Even at death's door, you still deny it. Then explain this packet of Crushed Star Grass powder found under your bed!"

Shuixian's face went pale in disbelief, then quickly turned white, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

How could this be?

She had hidden the powder so carefully—how was it discovered?

But at this critical moment, how could she possibly confess? This was a crime punishable by death.

"Your Majesty, this item is not mine. Someone is framing me."

Ji Yuntang let out a cold laugh. "If you still refuse to admit it, this Princess has another way to verify."

"You have touched that powder, and residue will remain on your hands, which cannot be washed off within three days. Crushed Star Grass reacts with vinegar. If Your Majesty sends for a bowl of vinegar and has Shuixian dip her hands in it, and her fingers turn black, it will prove she has handled the powder within the past three days."

The Empress spoke coldly, "Nanny Shen, have someone bring a bowl of vinegar. I want to see if Shuixian has indeed touched the Crushed Star Grass powder."

A palace maid brought a basin of vinegar. The Empress gestured slightly, and a guard stepped forward to press Shuixian's hands into the vinegar.

Shuixian resisted desperately, unsure if what Ji Yuntang said was true. If the Crushed Star Grass powder really reacted with vinegar, she was doomed.

But in the end, her hands were forced into the vinegar basin by the guard.

Shuixian's fingertips visibly began to turn black, while the palms remained unchanged. Any observer could see that her fingers had come into contact with the powder, causing the reaction with vinegar.

The Empress stepped forward and slapped Shuixian across the face. Usually gentle, she now nearly lost her composure.

"Shuixian, it was you! How dare you harm my son!"

"Who ordered you to do this?"

Knowing she was doomed, Shuixian gritted her teeth and let out a cold smile.

"No one ordered me. I was just jealous that the Seventeenth Prince's status was higher than mine, jealous that he lived a carefree and comfortable life every day. I just wanted him dead."

With that, she gave a bitter smile and collapsed to the ground, black blood flowing from her mouth and nose.

A lethal poison, killing instantly.

Ji Yuntang stepped forward to examine her and frowned. "Your Majesty, she had poison hidden in her mouth."

Clearly, Shuixian had planned this in advance—once exposed, she chose to die.

The clue they had just found was lost again. The Empress rubbed her temples, her heart still trembling with fear.

She said, "Princess Ye, this time it was thanks to your timely reminder that I was able to uncover the traitor by my side."

"If I had let her stay by An'er's side any longer, I can't imagine what other harm she might have inflicted on him."

Ji Yuntang glanced at the little one drawing at the table and smiled gently.

"The Seventeenth Prince is very adorable. Whoever would harm him is truly heartless. Even if it hadn't been me passing by today, I believe anyone who saw the Seventeenth Prince in danger would not have stood by and done nothing."

Just then, the Empress suddenly thought of something and looked at her with excitement.

"Princess Ye, since you understand this seizure condition and saved An'er, do you have a method to cure it?"

Ji Yuntang also liked the little one. She thought for a moment and said, "I do have a method, but this illness cannot be cured overnight. I would need to perform acupuncture on the Seventeenth Prince every ten days, combined with specially formulated medication, for him to fully recover."

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