In the imperial court, as the news from Beijiang City was read aloud before the officials, Xue Changan was so enraged that he almost lost his regal demeanor.
Back in the study, Xue Changan angrily swept everything off the table to the ground. As if still not appeased, he stomped on them a few more times.
The palace staff were so frightened that no one dared to step forward to dissuade him.
It wasn't until Fan Min arrived, "Your Majesty, why must you be so angry?"
"Not angry? How can I not be angry? Ten thousand troops have all been brought under Xue Zining's command."
Thinking of this, Xue Changan felt as if his heart were being carved with a knife.
Now, Dongling Pass and Xiling Pass no longer obeyed her imperial decree, and the capital's guards were less than fifty thousand. If Xue Zining brought those ten thousand troops, along with the one hundred thousand from Dongling Pass and the one hundred thousand from Xiling Pass, totaling over three hundred thousand, and stormed the capital, her reign as Empress would be over.
"Why does Your Majesty worry?" Fan Min said calmly.
Xue Changan looked up at Fan Min and asked, "Do you have a solution?"
Fan Min chuckled softly, "Your Majesty, sometimes war is not won by numbers alone."
"What do you mean?" Xue Changan frowned and asked.
Fan Min bowed slightly, "Your Majesty, await good news. Beijiang will become a living hell."
Xue Changan looked at Fan Min's certainty, and her mood seemed to improve slightly.
"Good, then I will await your good news," Xue Changan said slowly.
Outside Beijiang City, by a thatched hut, a figure stood on a hilltop, gazing in the direction of Beijiang City.
Hua Yun, standing behind him, couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, why not enter Beijiang City?"
The man turned around, and a faint sadness flickered across his clear, handsome face, "That is her city, her people."
He was no longer the Prime Minister of Huangze. Being able to guard her here, and watch her, was enough.
Hua Yun was about to say more, but Hua Yu stopped him, shaking his head. As subordinates, they should not interfere in their master's affairs.
"Your Highness, something has happened. Something has happened in Beijiang City," Hua Luo said, returning from Beijiang City, rushing over.
"What happened?" Hua Yun Jin asked.
Hua Luo replied, "Everyone who attended the banquet last night has been poisoned."
Outside Beijiang City, there was widespread discontent, and the medical halls were crowded with people.
"Your Majesty, I suspect someone has tampered with this," Feng Jiu whispered to Xue Zining.
Xue Zining nodded and asked, "Have they identified the poison?"
Feng Jiu replied, "The doctors are investigating."
"How many people are poisoned?" Xue Zining asked.
Feng Jiu estimated, "Roughly about ten thousand people."
"Your Majesty, General Cheng requests an audience!" a soldier hurried to Xue Zining and said.
"I'm coming," Xue Zining said, walking quickly to the outskirts of the city. She saw Cheng Shi's face was somewhat pale. Upon seeing her, he tried to kneel to pay his respects, but his body seemed unsteady, swaying precariously. Feng Jiu, seeing this, quickly stepped forward to support General Cheng.
Xue Zining quickened her pace, and with Feng Jiu, one on each side, helped General Cheng to a chair.
General Cheng refused, wanting to get up, but Xue Zining pressed him down with one hand and said, "In this critical time, there is no need for such formalities."
General Cheng said, "Your Majesty, many soldiers were poisoned this morning and are unable to get up."
"I know. Many people in the city are also poisoned," Xue Zining said with a cold frown.
"Your Majesty, have you found the poisoner?"
Xue Zining shook her head, "Not yet. For now, we must focus on detoxifying the poisoned."
"Your Majesty, please do so quickly, otherwise I fear the morale of the army will be unstable," General Cheng said.
Xue Zining nodded, "Rest assured, it will be done as quickly as possible."
After seeing General Cheng off, Xue Zining instructed Xue Zixuan to quickly set up more temporary medical stations in the city to treat the poisoned civilians and soldiers.
She also sent several doctors outside the city to assist General Cheng's army with detoxification.
"Your Majesty..."
Xue Zining turned around and saw the County Princess Huimin. "The County Princess is not poisoned?"
Li Fanghui shook her head. "Your Majesty, did you eat rice yesterday?"
Xue Zining shook her head. "No, why?"
Li Fanghui said, "Your Majesty, because I had a poor appetite yesterday, I only ate some vegetables and did not eat rice."
Xue Zining was slightly taken aback and looked at Li Fanghui. "Are you saying there's something wrong with the food?"
Li Fanghui replied, "I don't know if my guess is correct."
"Feng Jiu..."
Feng Jiu stepped forward. "Your Majesty, your subordinate is here."
"Take some people and inspect the grain I brought."
Feng Jiu received the order and left.
Soon, Feng Jiu returned with the report, "The grain has no problems."
Xue Zining's eyes suddenly lit up, and she hurried in a certain direction.
Feng Jiu and Li Fanghui exchanged glances and quickly followed.
Xue Zining approached a well in the city, scooped a ladle of water, and took a light sip. Her gaze flickered slightly. "Take this to the doctors and see if it's poisoned?"
Feng Jiu took the water and left.
Li Fanghui stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, do not worry. We will get through this."
Two hours later, Feng Jiu returned. "Your Majesty, the water is poisoned."
Xue Zining breathed a sigh of relief. Finding the source of the poisoning made things easier.
"Do you know what kind of poison it is?" Xue Zining asked.
Feng Jiu had a troubled expression. "We don't know what poison it is."
Xue Zining's expression turned grim. Not knowing the poison could be fatal.
How could they detoxify it if this continued?
"Miss Ning, someone has placed a stone outside the city with words that are unfavorable to you," Wen Nuan said, rushing over.
"Take me to see it," Xue Zining said.
Wen Nuan led her outside the city, where a crowd of civilians and soldiers had already gathered.
Seeing her arrive, they parted to let her through. On the stone were two large characters: The Fake Emperor Appears, Causing Widespread Suffering.
Xue Zining narrowed her eyes. Wen Nuan saw this and said, "I'll go destroy it."
She stopped her. "I haven't done anything to betray my conscience, so why should I destroy it? Let it stay here. Causing widespread suffering? I want to see who is playing tricks here."
Xue Zining turned around and found that the civilians and soldiers had all taken a step back.
She pretended not to care and left.
Behind her, Wen Nuan couldn't help but say angrily, "Have they forgotten who saved Beijiang City from danger? Who saved them from starvation? Ignorant."
"It's alright. The important thing now is to find the person behind all this," Xue Zining said.
They wanted to sow discord among the troops and divide the people.
She would not let him succeed.
Xue Zixuan had also heard the words carved on the stone outside the city. "Sister, why not move the stone away!"
Xue Zining shook her head. "No need."
By evening, many of the people of Beijiang City began to flee. Xue Zixuan wanted to stop them, but Xue Zining advised him not to, stating that those who remained were the true citizens.
"Zixuan, remember that the hearts of the people are what make one invincible. Even if we keep them here, they would be like poisonous insects in the city. Let them go!"
Xue Zixuan nodded. "I just feel it's unfair to Sister. Sister saved everyone in Beijiang City yesterday, and today, because of words on a stone, all her achievements are erased."