Hou Ye's palm heart is a black lotus

Chapter 778 Faith (First Update)
Xiao Chengqi frowned deeply. "What!?"

Ye Chutang stepped forward and took the packet of Sichuan aconite powder from the guard.

"Besides Aconitum carmichaelii, it also contains Salvia miltiorrhiza and borneol. Although it is coarsely ground, the amount is considerable and it is extremely toxic. Both of them are highly poisonous substances that can trigger heart attacks."

Upon hearing this, everyone understood.

"Does Miss Ye mean that someone used this poison on the late Emperor?!" Chen Songshi asked solemnly.

Ye Chutang shook her head.

"I was not by the side when the late emperor passed away, so this question... is more appropriate to be addressed by the Crown Prince."

Chu Qiyuan sighed.

“Your Majesty arrived too late and only managed to see the late Emperor one last time. It is certain that the late Emperor passed away suddenly from a heart ailment. At first, I also thought it was an accident, but when I was sorting through the late Emperor’s things, I found some tiny remnants at the bottom of the bowl of porridge that the late Emperor used before his death.”

He pointed to the packet of aconite powder.

"After investigation, it was confirmed to be this thing."

Chen Songshi was stunned and couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't the Imperial Censor say that back then?"

Chu Qiyuan said helplessly, "At the time, I only had suspicions and couldn't be sure. Besides, the situation at the time... wasn't convenient."

Also.

In that chaotic night, who would have noticed a bowl of porridge?
"After verifying that the contents of that bowl were Sichuan aconite powder, I wanted to report it, but I never had the right opportunity." Chu Qiyuan paused, his gaze complicated. "I never expected that I would find out the source of this stuff so soon after arriving here today."

"Sichuan aconite has a pungent taste that easily irritates the taste buds, and it cannot be completely dissolved in water. Even a small amount can be easily detected. Therefore, the best way is to add it in several portions, and the cumulative amount can silently trigger heart disease."

Ye Chutang held it to her nose and gently sniffed it.
"It still has a slightly burnt aroma, which shows that a lot of effort was put into its preparation."

Everyone fell silent, the atmosphere becoming extremely tense!
Emperor Muwu died of poisoning!?
that--

"After the late emperor passed away, the Qiyuan Hall was sealed off, and all palace staff, both inside and outside, were taken over by the Imperial Guards and were not allowed to leave even a step," Shen Yanchuan said calmly. "Perhaps, it was because of this that the person who poisoned the palace could not find an opportunity to throw away the poison, and waited until today to try to take advantage of the chaos. Unfortunately—they walked right into the trap."

His tone was calm and even, but everyone present held their breath.

No wonder!
No wonder Shen Yanchuan entered the palace with him that day! And he reacted quickly after the incident!

The palace gates remained tightly shut until the funeral bells tolled the following morning, echoing throughout the capital. The Qiyuan Hall was heavily guarded, with guards keeping watch for three days and three nights. Even after Emperor Muwu's remains were moved to the imperial mausoleum, the palace servants were not released.

So... he was prepared all along!

"Could it be that the young master already knew there was something fishy going on?" Tang Zhongli couldn't help but ask.

Shen Yanchuan paused, his gaze sweeping past the slender, graceful figure to his side.

"On the day the late Emperor interrogated Fan Chengzhuo, I heard Miss Ye mention that His Majesty was unharmed, and that she even adjusted his prescription. Logically, the late Emperor shouldn't have had an accident that night. However, these are all just speculations, until today—"

The truth came out.

Ye Chutang's medical skills are evident to all. Since she said those words that day, she must have been confident.

But Emperor Muwu still died.

It wasn't an accident, but...man-made!
Xiao Chengqi's face was icy cold.

"Bring that man up here!"

……

The atmosphere inside the main hall was tense.

It was already April, but the place felt like an icebox.

Xiao Chenglin closed his eyes and slowly exhaled.

Soon, a palace maid was brought in. She was plain-looking, the kind of person you would forget after just one glance.

She clearly knew what had happened. When she was brought up, her face was ashen, but she did not struggle at all, letting the guards push her to her knees.

Xiao Chengqi's gaze was cold and sharp.

"Tell me, who ordered you to do this!"

The palace maid remained silent.

The next moment, she suddenly opened her mouth.

Ye Chutang reacted extremely quickly, "She's going to bite her tongue and commit suicide!"

Shen Yanchuan acted immediately!
He casually tossed the jade pendant from his waist, striking the palace maid in the throat!

The palace maid cried out in pain, and the guards immediately stepped forward and dislocated her jaw!

"He is indeed loyal..."

Xiao Chengqi squinted at her.
"I remember you. You've been in the Qiyuan Palace for several years. It seems that whoever arranged for you to enter the palace had a plan all along."

The palace maid was bleeding from her mouth and stammered, unable to speak.

Things became tricky, and everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

Such cunning, such methods... After doing so much, it's only been discovered today!
The mastermind behind this has extremely grand schemes, which are truly chilling!

Ye Chutang suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I have something I'd like to ask her."

Everyone was stunned.
Xiao Chengqi was also quite surprised, but quickly nodded.

"Just ask whatever you want. However, this woman is stubborn and probably won't speak easily."

Ye Chutang smiled gently, "My problem doesn't need her to ask."

After saying that, Ye Chutang stepped forward and bowed slightly.

The palace maid's eyes were indifferent and desperate; she was clearly prepared to die.

“I’ve seen that look in someone else’s eyes before,” Ye Chutang said with interest. “When Fan Chengzhuo was vehemently denying it, he had the same expression as you—firm, persistent, and without regret.”

The palace maid's eyelashes fluttered, but she still didn't look at her.

Ye Chutang didn't seem to care, lost in thought.

"There is only one type of person who has this kind of look in their eyes."

She stared intently at the palace maid's face, not missing a single change in her expression, and spoke softly.
"That is—people with faith."

For the sake of one belief, they would rather be shattered to pieces and suffer endless torment than turn back.

"Even the most loyal person cannot endure such inhuman torture without faith. Unfortunately, Fan Chengzhuo's faith was shattered, so he went mad."

Ye Chutang narrowed her eyes slightly.

"You've been in the palace for years, an insignificant pawn, waiting only for this day to revitalize this game for your beliefs, even unto death—was it worth it?"

The palace maid remained motionless, even closing her eyes as if to block out Ye Chutang's words.

"But that's not what I want to ask."

Ye Chutang tilted her head and smiled, asking in a light and natural tone,
"You're behaving so well because—your faith is right here today, isn't it?"

The palace maid's eyelids twitched rapidly and violently!
She finally couldn't help but open her eyes and glance at Ye Chutang!
Just a glance!
She then closed her eyes tightly again!
But enough is enough.

Ye Chutang straightened up and smiled gently.
"Looks like I guessed right."