Song Jinzhao first examined the complexions of Wang Nie and Qi Xiong.
Their breathing is weak. Although their faces are flushed, their lips are pale with a purplish tint.
She peeled back their eyelids to observe their pupillary responses, bringing the candle closer.
Their pupils are significantly dilated and sluggish to react to light. This does not look like a coma caused by drunkenness.
Then, she reached out to check their pulses.
The pulse is deep, slow, and weak. On the surface, it feels as if suppressed by a heavy weight, but underneath it is hollow and rootless. They must have ingested some kind of knockout drug.
She leaned in, using her hand to waft their breath toward her nose to sniff carefully.
Aside from the smell of alcohol, there is a trace of a bitter, sour, and putrid scent. It should be the smell of the drug.
Jiang Dongsheng's heart beat faster and faster as he listened.
So, before being assassinated, they had already been drugged at the Prince Ying's Manor.
Thoughts raced wildly through his mind, and soon, Jiang Dongsheng made a decision.
He stammered as he asked Song Jinzhao, So, are they in any danger? If it is a knockout drug, will they wake up after a sleep?
The matter was too grave for him, a mere prefect, to decide. He had to let the Emperor make the call first.
Song Jinzhao nodded. They are not in danger. Judging by their pulses, they should wake up in two hours.
Jiang Dongsheng took a deep breath. His mind was a jumbled mess, yet he forced himself to forge a way forward.
I ask the County Princess to keep the matter of the drug a secret for now. I will immediately enter the palace to report to His Majesty, and let him decide everything.
Having said that, he quickly ran out the door.
The clattering hooves disappeared into the dark night, as if his pants were on fire.
In the Emperor's bedchamber, Xiao Chengjing had gone to sleep early, pleased that the marriage alliance matters were finally settled.
The door was suddenly knocked from the outside. Zhao Yande, who was sitting on the floor keeping the night watch, jolted awake in fright, feeling as if he had fallen off a cliff in a dream.
Still shaken, he straightened his hat, stood up, walked to the door, and opened it a crack.
Knocking so loudly! If you wake the Emperor, it will cost you your miserable life.
The little eunuch said in a panic, Eunuch Zhao, something terrible has happened! The Prince of Qi and the envoys from Shuobei were assassinated! Lord Jiang of the Jingzhao Prefecture has entered the palace overnight and demands to see His Majesty.
His whisk fell to the ground. Zhao Yande stood with his mouth half-open, his eyes bulging out.
What is all this noise? Inside the room, the awakened Xiao Chengjing looked entirely displeased as he roared fiercely toward the door.
Zhao Yande hastily picked up his whisk from the floor, turned, and ran to the bedside. Reporting to Your Majesty, the Prince of Qi and the Shuobei envoys have been assassinated! Lord Jiang, the Prefect of Jingzhao, is outside requesting an audience.
Xiao Chengjing, who was just about to lie back down to sleep, suddenly widened his eyes. In an instant, all his drowsiness vanished.
Who is so bold as to assassinate a prince and foreign envoys right here in the capital? Are the Prince of Qi and the envoys injured? Send Jiang Dongsheng in immediately!
By the time Jiang Dongsheng was brought from outside the palace gates to the Imperial Study, Xiao Chengjing had already donned his dragon robes and was sitting solemnly on the dragon throne.
His dark-ringed eyes looked as if they could devour a man alive.
Are the Prince of Qi and the envoys injured? What exactly happened? Tell me everything in full detail.
Jiang Dongsheng fell to both knees, his eyes full of self-reproach and agony, looking as if he were about to cry.
Replying to Your Majesty, just an hour and a half ago...
Jiang Dongsheng explained everything clearly and in minute detail, including the Prince of Qi's attitude afterward and Song Jinzhao's diagnosis that the two envoys had been drugged.
The Imperial Study was terrifyingly quiet. Xiao Chengjing's breathing fell upon Jiang Dongsheng's ears like the sound of a sharpening blade, threatening to slice his flesh off piece by piece.
He did not know how long he knelt there. Just as his knees were about to lose all feeling, Xiao Chengjing finally spoke.
The gloomy voice struck heavily against Jiang Dongsheng's heart. He clenched his fists tightly to keep his body from trembling so violently.
The wedding wine was too strong. The two envoys from Shuobei passed out from intoxication. It has nothing to do with any knockout drug.
On their way back, they ran into a notorious bandit. The bandit wanted to silence them but was coincidentally stumbled upon by the Prince of Qi. The manor guards fought to the death and severely injured the bandit. What you are hunting tonight is a thief, not an assassin. This is the official story for tonight's events.
Jiang Dongsheng swallowed hard, instantly understanding Xiao Chengjing's intention.
He forcefully kowtowed, pressing his forehead against the ground, and said in a trembling tone, This humble subject understands Your Majesty's intent. I will go and handle it immediately.
