Prince An knew the emperor wanted to pin the blame on him, but he refused to surrender without a fight.
He turned to Ye Chutang and said, "Miss Ye, this prince knows nothing about the iron cage or the assassins. Since you’ve seen them all, draw a portrait. I’d like to take a look."
Ye Jingchuan immediately grasped Prince An’s intention.
He glanced at the emperor and suggested, "Your Majesty, my daughter’s affairs with Prince An have nothing to do with the court officials. Perhaps we should adjourn for now?"
Though the emperor was foolish, he wasn’t entirely witless.
No matter whose face Ye Chutang drew, it was best not to let others see it.
With a stern voice, he declared, "All officials, hear this—deliver the disaster relief funds to the Ministry of Revenue before sunset today."
"Your servant obeys!"
"Court dismissed!"
Qin Zheng’s heart lurched, and he immediately looked at Ye Chutang.
Sensing his gaze, she turned and met his worried eyes with a reassuring smile.
The officials filed out one after another.
Soon, the grand hall was empty except for Ye Chutang, Ye Jingchuan, the emperor, and Prince An.
The emperor commanded, "Move to the Hall of Diligent Governance."
Since Ye Chutang had walked into the trap herself, he wouldn’t hold back.
Ye Chutang knew these three scheming men were up to no good, but she remained unshaken.
Upon arriving at the hall, the emperor ordered a eunuch to prepare paper and ink.
Ye Chutang spoke up, "Your Majesty, I’d prefer to use charcoal for the drawing."
The emperor narrowed his eyes. "I’ve heard your charcoal sketches are lifelike. Granted!"
The study had every kind of brush imaginable, and a eunuch soon brought the charcoal.
As Ye Chutang began sketching, the emperor said to Eunuch De, "The girl must be hungry. Bring some pastries and tea, and have the imperial kitchen prepare a meal."
"Your servant obeys."
Eunuch De promptly instructed his attendant, Shuangxi, to arrange it.
Before long, poisoned tea and snacks were placed beside Ye Chutang.
"Lady Ye, these are His Majesty’s rewards. You must not refuse."
Ye Chutang glanced at the exquisite pastries but didn’t stop drawing.
"Your servant thanks His Majesty’s grace. I’ll eat after finishing."
No doubt, the food and tea were laced with a tasteless, odorless poison!
Shuangxi stole a look at the emperor, received a silent order, and stepped aside.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Ye Chutang tossed the charcoal aside.
A eunuch quickly brought water for her to wash her hands.
Eunuch De personally delivered the portrait to the emperor.
The emperor stared at the lifelike depiction of his shadow guard, shock flickering in his eyes.
He had assumed Ye Chutang’s skill was exaggerated, but if anything, the rumors fell short.
If this portrait were to spread, someone would surely recognize his shadow guard!
Prince An and Ye Jingchuan were equally stunned by her talent.
Ye Chutang rinsed the charcoal dust from her fingers and dried them with a cloth.
Shuangxi seized the moment to present the tea and pastries again.
She lifted the cup, pretending to drink—but in truth, the liquid vanished into her hidden space.
Every pair of eyes in the room watched her face.
When they confirmed she had "drunk," their lips curled in barely concealed triumph.
Ye Chutang feigned ignorance and asked, "Does Prince An recognize the man in the portrait?"
Assuming she was already poisoned and at their mercy, Prince An denied it.
"This prince has never seen him. But since Miss Ye suffered in my estate, I’ll offer compensation."
"If Prince An denies it, then I’ll draw all twelve assassins and hand them to the Dali Temple for investigation."
Prince An glanced at the emperor, received a silent cue, and nodded.
"Very well. The Dali Temple is thorough. They’ll prove my innocence."
Ye Jingchuan knew the poison took time to take effect.
To stall, he spoke up for Ye Chutang.
"Your Highness, my daughter was terrified in your estate. What compensation will you give?"
Prince An knew any promises would be void once the poison struck.
So he pretended generosity.
"My estate was emptied, but I can offer a teahouse, a restaurant, and a hundred acres of fertile land. How’s that?"
Ye Jingchuan looked at Ye Chutang. "What do you think?"
"Not enough. I nearly died. Add a hundred taels of gold."
Prince An agreed at once. "Done. Now, continue drawing."
Ye Chutang reached for the charcoal—then swayed unsteadily.
She quickly checked her own pulse.
A moment later, her face paled, and she knocked over the teacup.
"The tea was poisoned!"
She tried to flee, but Eunuch De blocked the door in a flash.
"Miss Ye, you may not leave without His Majesty’s permission."
With that, he seized her.
After a brief struggle, Ye Chutang was effortlessly subdued.
She glared at the smug emperor and snarled, "You set me up?"
Who knew she’d one day act so well?
The Oscars owed her a statue!
Why the act?
Because she intended to play the spy—to uncover every one of the emperor’s schemes.
The emperor grinned, triumphant.
If he had a tail, it would’ve wagged to the heavens.
"You escaped Prince An’s estate last time. I couldn’t let it happen again. How does Tendon-Severing Powder feel?"
At first, the poison mimicked the effects of a muscle-relaxant—weakness, sapped strength, helplessness.
Without the antidote, the pain would worsen daily until, after seven days, the victim’s tendons ruptured in agony.
Yesterday, Ye Chutang had forced Ye Jingchuan to drink poisoned tea to study its effects.
She’d rushed back to the Grand Tutor’s Mansion to intercept the antidote and analyze it.
That morning, she’d synthesized a counteragent in her hidden space.
Hence, her flawless performance.
Ye Chutang spat, "Tyrant! The Beichen Kingdom will fall because of you!"
Ye Jingchuan, horrified, raised his hand to strike her.
"Shut your mouth, you wretched girl!"
Just as Ye Chutang prepared to bite his flesh off, the emperor stopped him.
"Grand Tutor Ye, enough!"
Such a pretty face shouldn’t be marred.
Ye Jingchuan lowered his hand at once.
The emperor beckoned. "Eunuch De, bring her here."
Dragging her limp form forward, Eunuch De presented her to the emperor.
The emperor gripped Ye Chutang’s chin—
"Pah!"
She spat in his face.
Never before humiliated like this, the emperor’s expression darkened, his chest heaving with rage.
A eunuch scrambled to wipe his face, trembling in terror.
The emperor’s voice turned icy. "Ye Chutang, provoke me again, and I’ll make you beg for death."
"Kill me then! I’m not afraid!"
"You say that only because you haven’t felt the poison’s torment."
With a gesture, he ordered Ye Jingchuan to force-feed her the pastries.
More poison meant faster agony.
Once she tasted true suffering, her defiance would shatter!
