Forcing me to become a concubine? Remarrying the Ninth Prince, she'll be pregnant all over the

Hua Niansan narrowed her eyes and met Lin Wantang's gaze.

Their gazes met, and the meaning was self-evident.

They are all intelligent and perceptive people; they understand each other without needing to spell it out.

"It's almost the end of the year, and there's not much new tea left in the palace. So the Emperor didn't reward him with much. But out of consideration for Lord Wei's hard work, he gave him a few cups of tea in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Oh, by the way, the Emperor also rewarded Grand Tutor Lin with tea when he entered the palace."

Everything fits together.

So that's where the problem lies.

Lin Wantang's expression was complicated as she suddenly realized something, but she forced a smile and said, "Father is right. It's getting late, so I won't keep you any longer."

She then summoned her maids and servants, and sent flowers out of the palace on the 23rd.

Then, Lin Wantang urgently summoned the servants of the Grand Tutor's mansion, including Jiang Sijiu. However, Lin Wantang did not speak to her first, but instead asked the servants in detail whether Lin Rucong had drunk tea in the Hall of Mental Cultivation before the palace banquet.

After this was confirmed, the servant recalled, "Miss, Master is deeply indebted to the Emperor. Today, when he came to the palace to apologize for the Second Miss's matter, the Emperor did not blame him and even rewarded him with some tea and snacks."

See? It matches up again.

It wasn't that Lin Wantang was suspicious, nor that Hua Niansan deliberately fabricated something, nor that Wei Wujiu intentionally comforted and coaxed her before leaving. Rather, they all knew from the beginning who was behind this scheme!

The Emperor's grace is boundless, but his heart is unfathomable...

As Lin Wantang pondered these thoughts, a deafening roar resounded in her clear mind.

No wonder Wei Wujiu and Lin Rucong suddenly experienced unusual physical symptoms on the night of the palace banquet, then recovered the next day, only to suffer repeated relapses of the poison during the night. It was because the emperor was suddenly seriously ill and had no time to "feed them the antidote."

It's probably not a cure either.

Otherwise, why would Hua Niansan linger here, probing Lin Wantang with various topics while reminiscing about the past? Hua Niansan truly wanted to tell her that the Emperor's poisoning of Wei Wujiu wasn't limited to this instance, and there was no antidote whatsoever.

Back when Wei Wujiu was seriously injured while protecting the emperor and entering the palace, he had already poisoned him for the first time.

And what about Lin Rucong? If this is the first time, even if Lin Rucong has many concerns and doesn't want to make a fuss, if he senses that his body is abnormal and there is a risk of death, he would only send a servant to the palace to report the news, instead of urgently summoning Lin Wantang back home.

And then there's Lin Xiao. He won't be coming back this year, but as the eldest son of the Lin family, Lin Rucong must have entrusted something to him before he died. But Lin Rucong just endured the poisoning and did nothing.

What does this represent? What does it illustrate?

This shows that Lin Rucong, like Wei Wujiu, already knew who had poisoned them and that the poison wouldn't be fatal immediately. It was just a way for the emperor to restrain, control, and threaten them as a warning!

The emperor was suspicious of those he appointed, truly living up to the saying, "He would die for his sovereign, even if it meant taking on a high-ranking official!"

Lin Wantang closed her eyes tightly, unable to contain the shock she felt after knowing everything. She waved to send the servants away, leaving only Jiang Sijiu behind.

Jiang Sijiu, unaware of these things, assumed she was worried about Lin Rucong and said, "Master is already well, you don't need to..."

"Go to Miao territory immediately," Lin Wantang interrupted, her cold voice accompanied by her open eyes, revealing an unprecedented murderous intent in her sinister gaze: "Find out the Mirage Heart Sand and the antidote."

For any poison, there is always an antidote within half a step.

Lin Wantang took out the page she had copied from the Imperial Study: "What exactly is this Twin Dream Awakening Fennel? Help me find out. If possible, help me retrieve the Twin Dream Awakening Fennel as well."

Jiang Sijiu frowned, still puzzled, but she didn't want to ask further, so she nodded: "Okay."

Lin Wantang took a deep breath and stuffed the stack of silver notes that Hua Ershisan had given her into Jiang Sijiu's hands: "This journey will be long, so bring more silver notes. You also need to be very careful. I'm worried about you traveling alone. Do you have anyone in mind?"

"This...no." Jiang Sijiu was used to being alone, but she was blind and would usually dress up as a vagrant or beggar when she traveled long distances.

"If you don't mind, Wei Liu, that is, Da Shun, can accompany you," Lin Wantang said, then hesitated, "But there's a difference between men and women..."

"No, people of the martial world don't concern themselves with such formalities," Jiang Sijiu said frankly. "Besides, he's the governor's man, so he probably won't do anything improper to me. Miss, please ask him to look after me in the shadows."

Lin Wantang agreed and gave Jiang Sijiu a few more instructions. After she left, she called Wei Liu in and gave him some more instructions. Wei Liu then left to carry out his orders.

Without calling for anyone to serve her, Lin Wantang walked into the bedroom with a heavy heart.

Looking at the ink and brush on the copied page in his hand by candlelight, he finally understood. No wonder there were torn scrolls in the Imperial Study; it turned out that the Shen family was behind it all.

Shen Huai'an and his son are truly worthy of being called father and son; neither of them is a good person!

Lin Wantang was so angry that she wanted to kill all the members of the Shen family. They were a bunch of mediocre people who didn't deserve to hold high positions! Where was their spirit of perseverance, skillful use of good ministers, strategic planning, and dedication to creating a peaceful and prosperous nation for the people, inherited from the previous dynasty's royal family?

"Your Majesty, you are the supreme ruler, revered and supported by all people, yet you use such despicable means to control your loyal ministers and generals who have rendered meritorious service to the court and benefited the people. Are you truly worthy of your ministers, your people, and your ancestors?"

Lin Wantang couldn't calm her resentment no matter how much she thought about it, and the sound of her clenching her teeth seeped out fiercely from between them.

As her fingers tightened, she coldly curled her lips and said, "Since you've already started the first day of the month, don't blame me for following suit and doing the fifteenth."

She walked to the desk and began rummaging through the medicine box.

Later that evening, after discussing matters with several princes, Wei Wujiu returned to Chenting Pavilion, only to hear Jiang Fulu say, "My lord, the madam just went out too. Didn't you see her sedan chair?"

Wei Wujiu gave a soft "Hmm?" and his gaze toward Jiang Fulu was reproachful, signaling him to finish speaking.

Jiang Fulu bowed in self-reproach and said, "This old servant asked Madam where she was going so late, but she ignored me. When I asked her too many times, she said she wasn't going back tonight and was going to visit Princess Yong'an to catch up."

It was already past midnight, and the palace was quiet. Would Lin Wantang suddenly feel like going to talk to Yong'an?

Why can't the two of them go to the Imperial Study tomorrow, copying historical records while chatting?

Wei Wujiu knew she was lying without even thinking about it. A slight crease appeared on his usually indifferent brows. He asked again, "After I left, when did your godfather leave? Did he say anything to her before he left?"

"This old servant doesn't know, we were all paid out at the time for twenty-three..."

Jiang Fulu then gave another detailed description of what had happened. The more Wei Wujiu listened, the more confused he became. For some reason, the string of the prayer beads he was playing with broke and scattered all over the ground with a crackling sound.

His eyelids twitched twice, as if he had a very ominous premonition.