newbobooks Chapter 1389 Taking Poison
Chapter 1389 Taking Poison
Meng Xiang's words came to an abrupt halt. The guards he brought had just rushed into the palace gate when they froze in place, not daring to move an inch.
On the palace road outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a group of guards dressed in black had appeared out of nowhere. They had curved swords at their waists, expressionless faces, and eyes as cold as ice. They were the secret guards that Xiao Li had been training for more than twenty years.
These people usually live in the shadows, obeying only the emperor's orders; even Lin Yiwan is unaware of their existence.
The head of the secret guards strode into the hall, knelt on one knee, and said in a loud, clear voice, "This humble general has led eight hundred Jinyi secret guards to protect Your Majesty! The traitor Meng Yuan is plotting a rebellion, and this humble general has already taken control of all the rebels outside the palace!"
Meng Xiang's pupils suddenly contracted, and the color drained from his face instantly. He staggered back a few steps, looking at Xiao Li in disbelief: "Impossible! You were clearly poisoned by my Three Yin Heartbreak Powder, how could you still mobilize the Dark Guards?"
“The Three Yin Heartbreak Powder is indeed potent,” Xiao Li said slowly, his gaze falling on Lin Yiwan, a hint of warmth flashing across his face. “But my good daughter not only possesses superb medical skills, but also has the protection of the Lin family’s secret medicine. Furthermore, I have long suspected your disloyal intentions and have secretly laid out a backup plan, just waiting for the day you would reveal your true colors!”
It turned out that Xiao Li had long discovered that Meng Xiang was forming cliques and cultivating power in the court. So he pretended to be addicted to pills to lower Meng Xiang's guards, but in reality he had been secretly dispatching the Imperial Guards to lay a trap.
The assassination attempt at the New Year's banquet was nothing more than a play staged by him and Zhan Yan, with the aim of luring Meng Xiang to completely expose his ambitions.
Zhan Yan feigned falling into the trap, his real intention being to lower Meng Xiang's guard. Unexpectedly, Meng Xiang was so ruthless, not only using poison but also throwing Zhan Yan into the dungeon and imprisoning his two children, as well as Crown Prince Xiao Rui and the Empress.
If Lin Yiwan hadn't rushed into the palace to save them in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yiwan suddenly realized that her father and husband had already laid out a plan, and her heart finally settled down.
Looking at the brocade-clad guards inside the palace and then at the layers of dark figures outside the door, Meng Xiang knew that his fate was sealed.
He roared in frustration, drew his sword from his waist, and lunged at Xiao Li: "I had no intention of rebelling, why are you forcing me?"
"Insolence!" Lin Yiwan reacted swiftly, grabbing the sandalwood box from the bedside and smashing it hard against Meng Xiang. The box struck Meng Xiang squarely on the back of the head, causing him to groan and hesitate for a moment.
In that instant, the commander of the Imperial Guards moved with lightning speed, lunging forward and striking Meng Xiang on the back of the neck with a palm strike.
Meng Xiang's vision went black, the sword in his hand clattered to the ground, and he collapsed limply to the ground.
"Drag the traitor Meng Yuan away and throw him into the Heavenly Prison, where he will be kept under strict guard!" Xiao Li's voice carried the majesty of an emperor, leaving no room for doubt.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the guards responded in unison, dragging Meng Xiang out.
As Meng Xiang was dragged out of the palace gate, he was still screaming wildly, "Xiao Li! I'm not reconciled! I'm not reconciled!"
The palace finally returned to peace, with the fragrance of sandalwood wafting through the air and sunlight streaming in through the windows, falling warmly on the dragon bed.
Xiao Li looked at Lin Yiwan with eyes full of praise: "Wanwan, I owe you a great debt this time. If it weren't for your rescue of me from the palace, I'm afraid I would have really been harmed by this traitor."
“Your Majesty is too kind,” Lin Yiwan bowed. “Protecting Your Majesty and rescuing Zhan Yan and the children is my duty.”
"Good boy," Xiao Li nodded with satisfaction, then looked at the commander of the secret guards, "Go to the dungeon immediately to release Zhan Yan, and then go to Weiyang Palace to bring back the Empress and the children. I want to see them return safely with my own eyes!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" The commander accepted the order and left.
Seeing Xiao Li's pale face, Lin Yiwan quickly said, "Father, you just woke up and are still very weak. Please lie down and rest. Zhan Yan and the children will be back soon."
Xiao Li nodded and lay down with Lin Yiwan's help.
He closed his eyes, but could not calm down for a long time.
He never expected that his best friend of over twenty years would end up like this.
He couldn't understand why Meng Xiang, who was perfectly fine, would suddenly develop ambition.
He should have been the person he trusted most.
He slowly opened his eyes, looked at Lin Yiwan, and said in a deep voice, "Wanwan, I am heartbroken. I never expected Meng Xiang to do such a thing. When the secret guards reported that he was secretly winning people over, I didn't believe it until it was confirmed that he had embezzled disaster relief funds. Only then did I realize that he had turned against me!"
Lin Yiwan's heart skipped a beat. What about Yunshang?
How is she now?
Just as she was lost in thought, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, accompanied by the clear shouts of children.
"Grandpa!"
"Mother!"
Lin Yiwan was overjoyed and quickly walked to the palace entrance, where she saw Zhan Yan leading his two children as they hurried in.
He had already changed out of his prison clothes and was now wearing a black brocade robe. Although his face was still somewhat pale, his eyes remained sharp and piercing.
The two children broke free from Zhan Yan's grasp and rushed into Lin Yiwan's arms, crying loudly, "Mother, we missed you so much!"
"Mother is here, Mother is here." Lin Yiwan hugged Zhan Miao and Zhan Mu tightly, tears streaming down her face.
Zhan Yan walked to the bedside and bowed to Xiao Li, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty, I have frightened Your Majesty."
Looking at the family of four reunited, Xiao Li's eyes were full of smiles. He weakly waved his hand and said, "Get up. You have suffered this time. I have wronged you."
Zhan Yan was silent for a moment before speaking: "What do you plan to do about Meng Xiang?"
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Li's eyes. He said in a hoarse voice, "Now that the evidence is conclusive, let's announce his crimes to the world, confiscate the Prime Minister's residence, and as for his family, let Wanwan handle them!"
Xiao Li knew about Lin Yiwan's friendship with Meng Yunshang, which is why he wanted her to go to the Prime Minister's residence to clean up the mess.
He was a wise ruler and did not want to kill any innocent people.
Lin Yiwan quickly bowed and said, "Your subject obeys!"
Zhan Miao stepped forward and firmly grasped Lin Yiwan's hand: "Mother, I'll go to the Prime Minister's residence with you!"
Zhan Yan and Zhan Mu returned to the Marquis's residence first, while Lin Yiwan and her daughter arrived at the Prime Minister's residence in a carriage.
The Prime Minister's residence was now completely surrounded by secret guards. The leader of the guards immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing Lin Yiwan: "This humble general greets the Lady of the Marquis!"
Lin Yiwan nodded: "Have you managed to get the news that Meng Xiang has been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison? Is there any movement within the inner quarters?"
The leader, his face grim, said, "No, it's perfectly quiet. This humble general dares not presume to go and investigate!"
Lin Yiwan's expression changed drastically, and she immediately rushed into the inner courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence.
When she arrived at Meng Yunshang's courtyard, she saw her and Madam Meng lying side by side on the bed, their fates unknown.
She quickly stepped forward to check their breathing and discovered that they had both taken poison.
Without further hesitation, she immediately took the antidote and fed it into their mouths.