Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 428: Cause and Effect

When the word "poison" was mentioned, some of the more timid courtiers and nobility almost lost their composure.

Clearly, it was utterly incomprehensible to them.

Poisoning the herbs meant for the benevolent assembly!

Could it really be necessary to cause such a great commotion just to deal with the Dong Family?

Upon hearing this, the Emperor’s expression darkened as well.

With a tone carrying a hint of anger, he asked.

"Is this true?"

"Absolutely true! If not for investigating this matter thoroughly, I wouldn’t have been delayed for so long."

He then continued.

"That poison, unless exposed to the sun, clings to the herbs, and anyone who touches or boils them will be poisoned. This is why the symptoms among the benevolent assembly vary."

"After the Imperial Physicians discovered this, they intended to detoxify, but who would’ve thought that the Green Sweet Fruit, the antidote, mysteriously disappeared from the Imperial Hospital. Not only that, but even the Dong Family Medicine Warehouse, which contributes herbs, was sabotaged months in advance, leaving not a single grain."

"The person behind the poisoning intended to bring the benevolent assembly in Zishan Hall to their demise, then frame the Dong Family."

The Fourth Prince spoke with clarity and force.

His words laid bare the plans of Imperial Concubine Yi and others, word by word.

Ruan Ming lay on the ground, his life or death uncertain, motionless nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Imperial Concubine Yi found her seat unbearably uncomfortable, extremely uneasy.

The courtiers linked to Imperial Concubine Yi were also drenched in cold sweat at this moment.

The Emperor’s "Oh?"

Made them even more alarmed and fearful.

"Such methods, quite the formidable character. Lift his head so I can take a look."

"Yes."

The two guards who escorted Ruan Ming into the hall immediately stepped forward and pushed aside his hair.

Then they wiped his face with a cloth, quickly revealing his true appearance.

Upon recognizing that this person was none other than Ruan Ming, the trusted aide of Imperial Concubine Yi, the Emperor coldly smiled at Imperial Concubine Yi.

The tone of his remark was tinged with disdain.

"How does the Imperial Concubine intend to explain this?"

"Your Majesty, I am wronged!"

She remained composed, even though she was deeply terrified, maintaining a forced calm as she sat on her chair.

For she firmly believed Ruan Ming would not utter a single word against her.

Thus, at this moment, she could only abandon the pawn to protect the king for long-term plans.

Then she turned to look at the Fourth Prince, a cold glint in her eyes, and said immediately.

"Fourth Prince, Ruan Ming is someone close to me. How can you accuse him so, outrightly implying I’m the mastermind behind this?"

"Yes!"

The Fourth Prince’s bluntness nearly left Imperial Concubine Yi breathless.

He truly used not a single ounce of tact.

"How dare you, I have never done such a thing. On what grounds do you slander me?"

"No need for haste, Imperial Concubine Yi. Without solid evidence, I wouldn’t speak recklessly."

Then, amid Imperial Concubine Yi’s "imposing demeanor," the Fourth Prince brought in more people.

These were the individuals who had recently been monitoring and stirring up trouble at the Dong Family’s door.

Each one now showed bruised and battered faces, tightly bound.

As they were hauled into the main hall by the guards, they kowtowed repeatedly in terror.

"These are the ones who worked for Eunuch Ruan Ming outside."

He then presented the evidence.

Inside, it was clearly documented on which days they secretly climbed to the roof of the Dong Family Medicine Warehouse, leading to the destruction of the Dong Family’s Green Sweet Fruit.

Detailed records also existed on which days they went to poison the herbs at the charitable assembly, noting precisely which families were targeted or spared.

On which days they watched at the Dong Family’s door, slandering the family and inciting unrest among the people.

And on which days they bribed the family of a person who died after taking medicine for stomach pain, to participate in framing the Second Young Master of the Dong Family.

Even more, they intended to set a fire and burn the poisoned benevolent ones.

Such were the means by which to firmly establish the calamity of the Dong Family.

One by one, the events were clear as day.

Ruan Ming, lying on the ground, seemed to hear the commotion, his eyelids fluttering open slightly.

Seeing these people all fall into the Fourth Prince’s hands, even his last hope was extinguished.

He stared intensely at one person among them, as if asking why betray?

He had endured the most torture, yet revealed nothing.

Yet they, having received just a few blows, confessed everything like spilling beans from a bamboo tube.

Leaving him utterly without any means to defend Imperial Concubine Yi.

Truly in extreme despair.

Those subordinates had felt helpless as well.

The Fourth Prince’s actions were seamless; before capturing them, he had already taken their entire families, young and old.

Even if they feared not death, nor trembled to speak.

They couldn’t bear seeing one family member after another executed before their eyes, could they?

So, in the end, once one confessed, naturally they all did.

When their testimonies were cross-examined, they matched about ninety percent.

And these testimonies and the evidence were all presented to the Emperor in the main hall.

Seeing the herbs glowing with a bluish hue, Lin Wanyi’s eyes welled with tears.

If not for the Emperor’s willingness to believe in her and the Dong Family,

such a meticulous plan might have led to the wrongful demise and imprisonment of the Dong Family.

Had all the benevolent assembly died because of this, it wouldn’t just implicate the Dong Family; she herself would have suffered too.

Then it would be her child, her parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends who would follow.

She gently wiped the tears at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, feeling a sense of rebirth from calamity.

Thankful the Dong Family could finally clear their name, and grateful for the Fourth Prince’s tireless efforts.

However, even with the evidence, Imperial Concubine Yi had a way to deny it.

After all, these people had never seen her.

Thus, if she shifted all the blame to Ruan Ming, it wasn’t impossible.

Just as she hesitated about speaking up, she saw Ruan Ming, who had been lying motionless on the ground, suddenly leap up.

Snatching the knife from a nearby guard’s waist, he swung it at those few men.

One cut sealed their throats and ended their lives; pity they didn’t even have time to react before they met King Yan.

"Protect the Emperor, protect the Emperor!"

Dong Yuzhong screamed, immediately stepping in front of the Emperor.

Fearing a repeat of the episode where the Cui Family attempted to assassinate the Emperor, without Lin Guard to sacrifice himself for the ruler this time.

Thus, he decisively stepped forward.

Suddenly, the main hall erupted in chaos.

Soon, guards rushed in from outside.

Seeing this, the frightened courtiers and nobility slightly calmed down.

Inside the main hall, Ruan Ming hadn’t yet had a chance for the next move when the Fourth Prince, standing beside, restrained him with a reverse grip.

"A eunuch with such martial skills! The Liu Family’s intent in sending you to the palace is indeed blatant!"

He then proceeded to break all his limbs.