115 Her Return

"Shu Yi, how's the progress? Did you find out the source of the poison?"

After XuanRong fainted, Shu Yi helped her nursed back to health. She was now occupying the previous courtyard of her mother when her mother was still the Young Miss of the Chen family. When she woke up, her maternal grandfather and her maternal aunts in law were very glad. Although they wanted to ask many questions to XuanRong, they decided to let her recuperate first. They knew that if XuanRong was ready, she would tell them on her own without forcing her to say the truth.

"Reporting to Young Miss, this servant was able to find some clues. From the foods the Chen family ate to the things they personally used, this servant tried to check it one by one. This servant discovered that in the past year, the cotton fabrics the Chen residence used, and the supply of aquatic foods had been changed. The cotton fabrics from the TaiYu tailor shop's owner died and the son decided to sell the shop, lowering the quality of the goods. Thus, the Chen family stopped buying the cotton fabrics and changed store. When this servant checked the new tailor shop, this servant did not find anything suspicious but when this servant visited the shop that sells fishes and other aquatic foods at the market near the fort, this servant found out that the shop no longer operates."

XuanRong's eyes sharpened when she heard Shu Yi's report. A sudden thought passed her mind, but she did not immediately open her mouth. She raised her hand and signaled Shu Yi to continue, urging him to finish his report.

"Continue."

Shu Yi nodded.

"This servant forcefully entered the shop and saw that it was full of many aquatic foods such as clams, fishes and other stuffs. This servant checked and discovered that some of the fish's scales were starting to peel off and their eyes had a silver white shade inside. This servant brought some samples so that Young Lady can check whether the poison is present in the fishes."

XuanRong raised her hand and touched the scales of the fish. The fish was quite big, more than eight inches. The scales immediately peeled off revealing a pale meat.

"Young Miss, this servant tried to cut open the fish's belly and saw the abnormal swelling of its stomach. This servant detached the fish's stomach and saw that it was full of a shiny silver-white liquid. Although it was in small quantity, this servant thinks that it was the foreign poison Young Miss was talking about."

While Shu Yi was talking, XuanRong did not cease to check the fish. She also saw the shiny silver-white liquid inside the fish's stomach. The liquid was even smoother than the bronze mirror they were using in Qian Zou. it could reflect the outline of her fingers. XuanRong lowered her head and smelled the fish's stomach but she did not smell anything. XuanRong placed her forefinger and rubbed the fish, trying to get a small amount of the silver-white liquid. She placed her finger on her mouth and tried to taste it. Once again, she tasted nothing, but…. The female Gu sudden became agitated.

"This is indeed the one I have been looking for. Tell me, how's the result of your investigation?"

"After a week, this servant was able to connect the silver-white liquid to the country of Jing."

"Ah? The Jing?"

XuanRong tired to remember if she had encountered the silver-while liquid in her previous lifetime but she recalled nothing.

'I was expecting that it would be connected to the Emperor.. but why the country of Jing?'

"The Country of Jing had a very popular object. It was well sought by the noble ladies and even the Imperial Family. Young Miss, have you heard the Jing country's special mirror?"

'Special mirror?' XuanRong thought.

She was familiar with the special mirror from the Jing country. It was even shinier than the bronze mirror, had a smooth surface and would reflect a much better and clearer image.

"Yes."

"This servant found out that the special mirror's back was made from that silvery-white liquid. That liquid was a tribute given by a foreigner when he visited the Jing country. They call it mercury. The mercury was used to create special mirrors but according to the reports, that substance called mercury is very potent. If one would intake a huge amount of mercury, one would die immediately. This servant suspected that the fishes sent to the Fourth Branch's courtyard were fed with mercury every day."

XuanRong nodded. Shu Yi's reports were plausible. Since the Chen family was still needed, he could not touch Chen Zi Tao and his sons and grandsons. Thus, the Emperor used the females of the Chen family. Even if the Jing country helped the Emperor in his scheme, The Emperor would still not trust the enemy country.

"Okay. Shu Yi, you will monitor Fourth JiuMu. Although she is still weak, her pregnancy is already stable. Today, I will return to the Fu to prepare for the upcoming Imperial Birthday Banquet."

"Yes, This servant will obey Young Miss' order."

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Baili Chen was in a bad mood. After more than a month of being imprisoned inside the Baili's ancestral hall, he was finally released. When he thought that he could go back to his nightlife, he found out that no matter what he did, his third leg would no longer stand up.

*thud*

"What is happening?!"

Baili Chen slammed the cup on the table due to anger. He was inside his own courtyard. Two young maidservants were kneeling in front of him. One was stroking his third leg while the other one was kissing his balls. The two young maidservants' lips were very soft, making one feel hot. Unfortunately. Baili Chen's third leg remained passive, not moving a single bit.

"Useless!!"

Baili Chen slapped one of the two young maidservants and kicked the other one. He was very angry to the point that his veins were already visible on his neck. He felt that the two were not good enough to stir his desire. He had to find an expert. He had to visit a brothel.

'Fuck! If my friends find out, I will become the laughing stock in the capital.'

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After the incident during XuanRong's coming of age ceremony, Xu Ji An's treatment towards XuanFei became much colder. Although one could not tell, but XuanFei could feel the aloofness in Xu Ji An's actions. Although the Empress' fraction and XuanLi tried to suppress the news, they were only able to block it to the commoner's side but the noble families in the capital, especially the families of those people who witnesses the event, already heard the truth. When the Emperor learned the truth, he was very angry that he slapped Xu Ji An on the face. Although he was already planning to make XuanFei the Crown Princess after she reached the marriageable age, the Emperor did not expect that something like that would happen. He could not get angry at XuanFei because she was the 'victim' and was only 'forced' by Xu Ji An. He could only compensate the Xuan family and promised that during his Imperial Birthday Banquet, he would announce the engagement between the two.

"Y-Your Highness, would you like to drink tea? Fei'er personally brewed it. The leaves were freshly picked and were washed carefully."

XuanFei held a tea pot, shyly asking Xu Ji An.

"Mmm."

The two of them were on a small pavilion located inside the garden. After that event, even if he did not want to, Xu Ji An was ordered by Empress Wei to visit the Xuan residence frequently. At first, Xu Ji An was ecstatic to visit, hoping to see XuanRong but when he found out that she was currently staying at the Chen residence, he lost his joy.

XuanFei was smiling happily as she foolishly stared at Xu Ji An.

'This man in front of me is mine alone. No one can have him. The only person who is fit to become his Crown Prince consort is none other than me, XuanFei. Heh.. It's a good thing that XuanRong, that bitch, is not here. I hope that bitch will stay in the Chen residence forever and will not come back here!'

But… XuanFei's wish was bound to become unfulfilled.

"San XiaoJie!"

One of the servants ran forward and anxiously called XuanFei. XuanFei glared at the servant for destroying her peaceful time with Xu Ji An. She wanted to slap the servant to death but she had to act properly in front of the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, please pardon my servant. Speak! What is it?"

"San XiaoJie… Da XiaoJie has returned to the Fu!."

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[Unedited Chapter]