Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Smallpox was a malignant disease, one that even the Imperial Academy of Medicine had little confidence in treating.

The visiting Khan of Wu Yun Country, who had brought his entire family along, now faced a dire situation: his child had contracted smallpox while in Jing Country...

The mere thought of this made Xiao Yunzhou break into a sweat.

Such an incident could very well lead to war between the two nations.

What an unfortunate coincidence!

Nothing had happened until they came to Jing Country, but as soon as they arrived as guests in the royal palace, their prince fell ill with smallpox.

Xiao Yunzhou's face darkened.

It was as if the heavens wished to destroy his Jing Country!

Should this tragedy come to pass, he would have no way to defend himself. No matter how he tried to explain, no one would believe that Jing Country wasn't responsible.

[Alas, according to the plot, shortly after the Wu Yun Country's young prince dies from smallpox, a young eunuch in our Jing Country's royal palace is discovered to have contracted the disease.]

[Yes, it's the eunuch sent by Consort Li to take care of the Fourth Prince.]

"!"

Xiao Yunzhou's eyes widened.

As the date of Wu Yun Country's visit approached, Xiao Chuchu recalled all the relevant plot points.

[This young eunuch happened to request leave from the palace on Lantern Festival night, claiming he needed to handle his father's funeral affairs, but he was lying!]

[In truth, he is one of the hidden agents of the Earth and Moon Sect...]

Xiao Yunzhou nearly leapt from his dragon throne in an instant.

The Earth and Moon Sect still had people?

[According to the plan, after Jiu Xiao's assassination attempt on the Emperor, the hidden agents of the Earth and Moon Sect were to begin their operation, aiming to exterminate the princes of Jing Country!]

Xiao Yunzhou's pupils dilated in shock. This was a chain of attacks—these remnants of the previous dynasty were attempting to uproot the entire bloodline of the Xiao family!

[The young eunuch left the palace on Lantern Festival night, and the next day he would intentionally bring in clothes and pus fluid from smallpox patients, hoping to infect the princes.]

"!"

As he listened, Xiao Yunzhou's heart trembled violently, and every hair on his body stood on end.

This incident wasn't mentioned in the morning's interrogation results from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.

Xiao Yunzhou suddenly remembered that Zhang Wei had said the Earth and Moon Sect's elder had confessed, but the Vice Leader was stubborn and refused to say anything.

It seemed that only the Vice Leader knew about this smallpox plot.

He could imagine it all now.

If the assassin had succeeded and he, the Emperor, had perished, the ministers would urgently discuss the matter of the new Emperor's succession.

At that time, this young eunuch would enter the palace with clothes from smallpox patients, infecting the princes around him, and then infecting the new monarch...

What a vicious chain of plots by the Earth and Moon Sect!

[By calculation, this young eunuch should be returning to the palace today.]

Xiao Yunzhou stared wide-eyed.

[Fortunately, Consort Li is extremely fond of the Fourth Prince and thought this young eunuch's family funeral was inauspicious. After his return, she had him sent back to the Internal Affairs Department.]

[He didn't manage to harm our princes, but when the Wu Yun Country's prince arrived, he brought calamity upon him!]

"Your Majesty, has someone reported matters related to the Earth and Moon Sect?" Zhang Wei frowned.

Xiao Yunzhou nodded, "Correct. You two now need to inquire clearly: who in your two departments had smallpox in their youth?"

Zhang Wei and Yin Moqiao were both surprised.

How strange, one moment they were dealing with the Earth and Moon Sect's assassination and rebellion.

The next moment, they were discussing smallpox?

[Wow, the modern corporate complaint mailbox idea really works.]

Behind the screen where she was eavesdropping on the court, Xiao Chuchu was drinking milk while marveling.

[The Earth and Moon Sect's smallpox plot was actually known by someone and reported to Father Emperor?]

Ha-ha.

Xiao Yunzhou strongly resisted the urge to curl his lips upward.

It really was useful.

This "Official Report Box."

Currently, only he, the Son of Heaven, could see what was in this box.

Whatever he said, went.

Xiao Yunzhou lightly coughed and looked at Old Liu, "If this matter proves true, Old Liu, you who came up with this hundred-official reporting channel will be my great meritorious official."

"Good, Old Liu and Liu Runnian, you both have had smallpox before. I heard Concubine Liu mention it."

"Come with me, all of you."

*

Outside the Zhengyang Gate, the Fourth Prince's personal attendant eunuch, who was only fifteen or sixteen years old and looked honest and simple, was returning to the palace with his luggage.

"Lord Quan Xing, you've returned."

One must show deference to a prince's personal attendant and the palace gate guards.

"Please accept our condolences."

Everyone could see the grief of losing a father etched on Quan Xing's face.

But just as Quan Xing had opened his personal satchel for the palace gate guards to inspect, before he could even muster a relieved smile—he was suddenly surrounded by more than thirty heavily armed soldiers who burst out from nowhere!

"Quan Xing, drop your bag immediately!"

Quan Xing froze in shock.

He saw that the thirty-plus heavily armed soldiers were fully equipped, each with their faces concealed by veils!

Behind them, several figures in official robes quickly emerged.

These robed officials were all unrecognizable, as they each wore thick masks.

Even their hands were wrapped up!

"Raise your hands!"

"Kneel down!"

"Don't move!"

Quan Xing: "!!?"