Film and Television: The Collector Who Rampages Across the Heavens

"Bang bang bang..."

Two figures were engaged in a fierce battle, their punches landing with a barrage of various martial arts techniques. This kind of hand-to-hand combat between masters was the most exciting, captivating the nobles and royalty on both sides.

"Ding Peng is indeed a master of our Great Liang!"

"That's right, they actually managed to suppress Bailiqi so much that he had no chance to fight back..."

"It seems he'll be the prince consort this time!"

Su Li took a sip of her drink and watched coldly from the sidelines.

The prince's smile never faded for a moment, but at that moment, a sudden change occurred. Ding Peng pressed his hand to his chest and spat out a mouthful of black blood.

Everyone was taken aback, and even Mei Changsu's previously confident gaze tightened.

Bailiqi stood there dumbfounded, completely bewildered. As a master of similar strength, he was certain that he hadn't inflicted much damage on his opponent.

But why would he suddenly vomit blood?

The Crown Prince immediately brought Xie Yu to Ding Peng's side, and the latter picked up a strand of blood with his finger and smelled it.

"Ding Peng has been poisoned. It is a chronic poison that can gradually reduce a person's physical condition during a fight, and may even lead to death if they are not careful."

Xie Yu glanced at everyone present with a questioning look, then gave Prince Yu a deep look, whose face turned ugly.

"What?"

The crowd erupted in commotion, exchanging glances and focusing particularly on the princes, especially Prince Yu.

Because these two princes were the most fiercely competing among themselves, and some people secretly knew that Ding Peng had already sided with the Crown Prince.

The possibility that Prince Yu poisoned him is extremely high...

Emperor Liang was instantly enraged upon hearing this. To poison someone, especially at such a critical moment, inside the imperial palace, was a direct challenge to his authority.

"presumptuous!"

Upon hearing this, all the nobles and royalty present knelt down.

His cold gaze swept over the Northern Yan delegation and the direction of Prince Yu, and he said in a chilling voice, "This man has ulterior motives. Order the Suspended Mirror Bureau to thoroughly investigate this case."

"Yes!" The guard disappeared swiftly from the main hall.

Mei Changsu knelt in the crowd, his face grim. He had secretly sent someone to cooperate with Prince Yu, but the poison he had given was a colorless and odorless poison that would completely drain one's strength. How could it have turned into such a deadly poison?

"Who could be trying to sabotage this competition, just like me?"

He bit his lip and pondered deeply. The power dynamics in the capital were quite complex, and many people shared similar thoughts.

Soon the imperial physician arrived and examined Ding Peng. "Your Majesty," he said, "the poison that Warrior Ding Peng was afflicted with has been expelled by his internal energy. He will recover in a few months."

"Alright, you can go now."

At this time, Xia Chun and Xia Qiu, who had come from outside to receive orders, began to investigate the clues under the emperor's command.

When Ding Peng regained consciousness, he shook his head when asked, "Apart from drinking a sip of water just now, my diet last night was normal."

Xia Qiu then picked up the water glass from his seat, circled it with his hand, and sniffed it.

"Your Majesty, the source of the poison is indeed water, and the poisoner must be someone from the palace."

Emperor Liang, unable to contain his anger, grabbed the tray and threw it away: "Someone actually dared to extend their reach into the palace, how wonderful... they simply don't respect me at all."

The person who poisoned Ding Peng so openly and honestly in this grand hall is very likely to turn against the emperor in the future.

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! Arrest everyone involved, no matter who they are."

This incident undoubtedly touched a nerve. If even the palace is not safe, then where is safe?

Emperor Liang snorted coldly and left in a huff. After everyone present was checked and searched, they finally left the palace.

"Eighth brother, wait a minute..."

Prince Jing caught up from behind, his face grim, and asked him, "Who do you think might have poisoned him?"

Su Li glanced at Mei Changsu, Princess Nihuang, Prince Yu, and the gritting-teeth Crown Prince, shook her head, and whispered, "Anyone could be involved. Anyone who can profit from it is likely to poison you."

The poison was, of course, arranged by him. Ding Peng also knew that the poison would only cause him temporary physical weakness and would not cause serious injury.

He planned to use the emperor's hand and the power of his secret schemes to eliminate a group of Jiangzuo Alliance spies planted in the palace, and then make arrangements as opportunities arose.

"Yes, anyone who could profit from this is likely to poison us." Prince Jing sighed, looking towards the deep palace. "I wonder how many more people will be wrongly accused and die unjustly in this incident."

Su Li nodded noncommittally and quickly left the palace.

Then all eyes in Jinling City, big and small, turned to the palace. As expected, a bloody storm engulfed all the servants in the palace.

All the eunuchs, palace maids, and guards who handled the tea and pastries during the martial arts competition were arrested and tortured.

In just one week, more than a hundred people were killed, all by order of the emperor himself.

The original plan for Princess Nihuang to choose a husband through a martial arts contest was also delayed. The Crown Prince was furious and, when he secretly conspired with Xie Yu, pointed the finger at Prince Yu as the mastermind behind the incident.

Although Xie Yu had doubts, he nodded: "No matter what, at least Prince Yu's side failed. Perhaps we can take advantage of this Ding Peng poisoning case to muddy the waters and insert our hands into the Imperial Guard."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince immediately rubbed his hands together excitedly: "That's right, this major poisoning case must involve many people, and the Imperial Guards are also responsible. Immediately arrange for someone to forge a secret letter to frame a deputy commander of the Imperial Guards..."

Framed Meng Zhi was too high a target, so neither of them mentioned it.

"Yes, I will take care of it right away."

Soon, a deputy commander of the Imperial Guard was framed and directly taken to the prison for interrogation by the Suspended Mirror Bureau.

Upon hearing this news, Meng Zhi immediately sought advice from Mei Changsu in secret: "I can assure you, my subordinates would never commit such a thing as poisoning..."

"Sit down and tell me the whole story."

Mei Changsu knew perfectly well that his old friend couldn't possibly be involved in such a case. The current situation was quite complicated, and he vaguely guessed that the Crown Prince's side was escalating the case and deliberately framing the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard.

"Here's what happened: this morning, Xia Qiu arrested my deputy commander with a secret letter that had been seized, and eunuchs and palace maids have also confessed that he was the one who ordered it," Meng Zhi said anxiously.

Mei Changsu's face darkened: "The evidence is overwhelming; it seems they were prepared!"

"What do you suggest we do? Think of something quickly..."

Mei Changsu pondered for a moment and said, "To solve this problem, we must find the real poisoner. I think Prince Yu is also very anxious. Perhaps we can persuade him to find an unrelated person to take the blame and close this case."

Meng Zhi was taken aback: "Is that possible?"

"It's up to us to make things happen. If we don't close the case soon, more and more people will be implicated."