After being forced into a marriage with a wealthy family, the virtuous wife caused a huge uproar.

Seeing his serious expression, Rong Yingluo knew that something important had happened.

But Gu Ce took her out of the capital.

Upon arriving at the city gate, a low-key carriage was waiting nearby.

Gu Ce approached the carriage, bowed, said a few words, and then returned to his own carriage.

The two carriages continued on their way and arrived at a village.

After getting off the carriage, Rong Yingluo saw Zhong Sheng waiting at the entrance of the manor. The two carriages drove directly into the manor before stopping.

"Zhong Sheng, it's been a long time since I've seen you at your residence. So this is where you are." Rong Yingluo greeted him with a smile.

Before she could finish speaking, Gu Ce pulled her to the carriage behind them.

Gu Ce personally stepped forward and lifted the curtain, and Rong Yingluo then saw that the person in the carriage was Emperor Taikang.

Her husband hadn't given her any information, only saying that she'd find out when they arrived. Seeing the Emperor so suddenly was quite unsettling for her.

"Your Majesty, this humble woman pays her respects." Rong Yingluo quickly performed a curtsy.

"No need for formalities." Emperor Taikang's expression was solemn, and he did not say anything more.

Just then, a scream came from one of the rooms: "Ah! Give it to me, I want it, I want it!"

The sudden shout startled Rong Yingluo.

"Haha, I got my revenge! I killed someone! It felt so good!"

Another shout came.

Emperor Taikang frowned, but quickly regained his composure.

"What's going on?" Rong Yingluo couldn't help but ask.

"You'll know once you go in and take a look," Gu Ce gestured to Zhong Sheng.

Zhong Sheng led the group to the house from which the sound came, pushed open the door, and Gu Ce led Emperor Taikang and Rong Yingluo across the threshold.

Two disheveled middle-aged men were tied to two pillars, emaciated, with sunken eyes and high cheekbones.

Both of them struggled desperately, trying to break free of their restraints.

Upon seeing someone enter, the two struggled even more fiercely.

"Give it to me, give me my medicine right now!" The one on the left was still yelling for his medicine, veins bulging on his neck, saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth onto his tattered clothes.

The one on the right suddenly fell silent, its head bowed, its shoulders trembling violently, and a hoarse sound coming from its throat, like a wild beast trapped in a cage.

Emperor Taikang remained calm, but his serious expression grew even colder.

Gu Ce stepped forward and said to the two guards, "Untie him."

He pointed to the death row inmate who had quieted down.

The guard obeyed the order and untied the rope from the wrist of the condemned prisoner on the right.

The death row inmate collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, curling up into a ball.

Then he began to tremble, first his fingers, then his whole body, his teeth chattering, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead even in late autumn.

"Cold...so cold..." the death row inmate mumbled incoherently, clutching his shoulders tightly. "Give me the medicine, please."

The man's eyes were full of pleading.

Rong Yingluo involuntarily took half a step back.

She wasn't some sheltered, unsophisticated woman, but the sight before her still made her heart skip a beat.

She had only heard her master talk about the symptoms of opium addiction, but this was the first time she had actually witnessed them.

Gu Ce gently reassured her, "Don't be afraid, there are guards watching over you, they won't hurt you."

Suddenly, a strange smile appeared on the lips of the still-bound death row inmate. The smile gradually widened and finally turned into a maniacal laugh.

"Hahaha... See that? All that blood is yours." He craned his neck forward as if chasing some non-existent sight. "You can't escape, not one of you can escape, you'll all die. You'll be buried with my wife, children, and elderly mother."

His laughter sounded shrill and piercing in the small room, turning the tiny space into a living hell.

Emperor Taikang observed for a long time before speaking, his voice calm and unreadable: "They've become like this in just half a month?"

"Your Majesty, that's right," Gu Ce replied, bowing. "To ensure you see the most realistic effects, I have increased the dosage of the medicine over the past two weeks."

I had Zhong Sheng try it out the day before yesterday, without giving him any medicine, and record the results.

If the medicine is not given, the poison will take effect in just six hours, causing the body to feel like it is being gnawed by thousands of ants, with tears and snot streaming down the face, and the person to become delirious.

If the medication is not continued, he suffers unbearable pain, even more frantic than someone who has lost their mind.

At this point, no matter what you ask the poisoned person, they'll confess anything to get a bowl of medicine. Giving them more medicine would be like drinking poison to quench thirst.

Gu Ce took a booklet from Zhong Sheng and respectfully handed it to Emperor Taikang: "This booklet details the daily changes in the two people's symptoms. At first, they experienced euphoria, then dependence, then tolerance, and finally, they lost control like this."

Emperor Taikang looked at it seriously.

"Give it to me," the death row inmate screamed, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible, "just one bite."

Emperor Taikang finished reading quickly, then closed his eyes tightly and said, "Let's talk outside."

Stepping out of the room, the late autumn sun shone on them, offering no warmth whatsoever. Just like their feelings at that moment.

Emperor Taikang walked to the locust tree in the courtyard and stood there.

Gu Ce stood half a step behind him, not saying a word, just waiting quietly.

Half an hour later, Emperor Taikang sighed deeply: "In the fifteen years since I ascended the throne, caravans from the northwest border have been smuggling Wushi powder into the country every year, and this has been repeatedly prohibited but not stopped."

"I originally thought that Five-Stone Powder was the most poisonous substance for controlling people's hearts, but I never imagined that there was something even more insidious than Five-Stone Powder, a thousand times more potent than weapons."

Emperor Taikang wondered what the consequences would be if an enemy country used such a thing to maliciously harm the people or officials of Southern Xia.

Gu Ce cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise. The harm of this substance is not immediate, but rather insidious. It first makes people think they have attained extreme bliss, but by the time they come to their senses, they are already ruined, their families are broken, and even their will to live has been completely devoured by the addiction. I believe that this substance must be brought under the jurisdiction of the government, just like arsenic."

"You're right. Arsenic isn't only used for poisoning; it can also be a valuable medicine, just like the poppy," Emperor Taikang remarked.

"Your Majesty, not many people should know that poppies have this effect. I discovered it while dining at Mingyue Tower, and the owner behind Mingyue Tower is the Crown Prince."

Therefore, I suggest that we immediately investigate the people around the Crown Prince to see which physician is providing him with this information.

This person is dishonest and should not be allowed to live.

"If His Highness the Crown Prince has too many people like this around him, it could very well lead him astray," Rong Yingluo suggested.

She didn't dare to directly say how bad the Crown Prince was, but instead said that the people around him were bad and had bewitched him.

"You're right. I will make my own decision." Emperor Taikang glanced at the room where the two condemned prisoners were staying. "Give those two a quick death."

Gu Ce bowed and agreed.

Zhong Sheng turned and went into the room, and a moment later two pig-like screams were heard.

"Young Madam Gu, you discovered this matter, you have made a great contribution, what reward do you want?" Emperor Taikang quickly calmed down.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I do not ask for any reward, but only that my husband be promoted and become wealthy." Rong Yingluo broke the dull atmosphere with a sweet smile.

"Haha..." Emperor Taikang was amused by Rong Yingluo's words, "You want A-Ce to get promoted so your family can get rich, right?"

"You noticed that?" Rong Yingluo's smile grew even brighter.

With Rong Yingluo's two witty remarks, both the Emperor and Gu Ce smiled.

"A-Ce, I'm entrusting you with another important task," Emperor Taikang said in a deep voice, his smile fading.