Chapter 105: The Reversal

Liu Zhong instinctively retreated, looking at the Empress Dowager with nervous eyes.

The Empress Dowager feigned terror and snatched the wine pot from Liu Zhong. "Second Prince, you have disappointed me deeply!"

As Liu Zhong reached to snatch it back, she withheld it. While they grappled, she whispered to him, "Act as if you are possessed by a spirit now!"

"Fine, you vile woman!" Liu Zhong pointed at the Empress Dowager and cursed loudly. "What did you do back then to separate me from my son? Today, on the seventh day after my death, you are still conspiring with the Emperor to harm me! Are you not afraid of the world’s mockery for such wicked malice?"

"Second Brother!"

Hearing Liu Li’s voice, Liu Zhong turned toward him and snarled, "Ah, so it is you, the Emperor! For years, you have kept me from seeing my son in this deep palace, all thanks to you! Today, you refuse to drink or eat; how am I to be reincarnated? Do you want me to be born as the daughter of a destitute family in my next life, suffering from hunger and thirst?"

The onlookers, unable to distinguish truth from fabrication, began to whisper amongst themselves.

The Emperor stood stunned. "Second Brother, are you truly possessed by a vengeful spirit?"

Liu Zhong played the part of a vicious ghost, glaring hideously at Liu Li. "You, yes you—you have disturbed my seventh-day rite, so I shall take you with me!"

"Your Majesty, take care!" He Yu and the Virtuous Consort cried out almost simultaneously.

Liu Li looked at them both, then quickly side-stepped to avoid Liu Zhong’s lunge. "Second Brother, calm yourself!"

"Your Majesty!" the Empress Dowager roared, halting their struggle, and summoned a squad of guards. "Since the Second Prince is possessed by a vengeful spirit, take him away to rest! As for this poisoning, I shall investigate it myself!"

"Wait!" The Virtuous Consort stepped into the center, casting a glance at the High Priest. "If he is possessed by a vengeful spirit, can this be treated as a mere trifle? To ensure the safety of the Emperor and all present, I implore the High Priest to perform a rite of exorcism!"

The High Priest nodded and approached quickly. He appeared to be casting a spell to extract the spirit from Liu Zhong, but instead, he merely struck a pressure point that knocked Liu Zhong unconscious.

"High Priest, what is the result?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there is no vengeful spirit within the Second Prince, nor are there any such spirits present here."

Liu Li was startled, staring blankly at the unconscious Liu Zhong on the floor. "Men, carry the Second Prince back to his quarters!"

The Empress Dowager asked with feigned concern, "Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?"

"Continue the rites!"

"Your Majesty, tonight’s events were clearly aimed at you; you must not stay here!" The Virtuous Consort said, taking a silver hairpin from her hair and handing it to the Emperor. "If you do not believe me, test the wine. It is in the wine, and it must be in the noodle broth as well. After eating such a large bowl of noodles, who could resist that poison?"

Liu Li looked at her with suspicion. "What has come over you today?"

The Empress Dowager scoffed, "The Virtuous Consort seems to have been coached by someone; her sudden omniscience is truly astonishing!"

The Virtuous Consort ignored her, stating bluntly, "If there is poison in the wine, it must be in the noodles. This is a perfect opportunity to eliminate someone!"

"Your Majesty, why not test it?" The Empress Dowager looked at the Virtuous Consort coldly, thinking to herself: *I have harbored a viper in this palace, though she is merely a mortal fool. Would I ever spill such precious poison into a bowl of broth? Besides, that rare toxin cannot be detected by a simple silver hairpin.*

Liu Li glanced at the Empress Dowager, seeing the unfathomable depths in her eyes, and chuckled, "Forget it. Since the deceased must be respected, and we must show compassion for my late mother's grief, I will not pursue this. Let us hope I was merely mistaken!"

With that, ignoring the Virtuous Consort's protest, Liu Li poured the wine onto the ground. "Respects to Noble Consort Shu; may you journey well!"

The Virtuous Consort, driven by an inexplicable surge of courage, took her silver hairpin and dipped it into the noodle bowl. When Liu Li noticed, he saw the Virtuous Consort staring at the blackened silver in disbelief.

"This?" The Empress Dowager stepped forward, and with a look of feigned shock, removed her own silver hairpin to test the broth, only to find the same result. "Could it be... I do not believe it. Someone, bring all the noodle bowls here!"

The Empress Dowager tested the bowls with various hairpins, and all turned black, including the one in front of her.

"Audacity! Who dares to harbor such treacherous intent during the rites?"

The Empress Dowager’s angry gaze swept across the room. All the maids and eunuchs knelt, save for one head eunuch who replied, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, all sacrificial items were prepared solely by the Second Prince; no one else touched them."

"Is that so? Did no one else help in cooking these noodles?"

"The Second Prince insisted on showing his filial piety by doing everything himself!"

The Empress Dowager fell silent. Unable to devise a strategy, she ordered her carriage to the Second Prince’s quarters.

"The rites are concluded. Noble Consort Shu’s soul is clearly not here. Do not speak of tonight's events; anyone who disobeys shall be executed! Everyone involved in this matter, follow me to see the Second Prince!"

After the crowd dispersed, only a few servants remained to clean up, none daring to whisper a word. He Yu took the opportunity to soak her handkerchief with the spilled wine, then hurried back to join the troupe of musicians.

"Musicians, today's performance was a success. The Empress Dowager grants you gold and jewelry. Follow me to receive your rewards!"

Everyone followed the eunuch. Qiu Di lingered, pulling the reluctant He Yu along at the back of the line.

The late-night palace air held a strange fragrance, a mix of begonia and rose. The night was beautiful, devoid of any gloom, with a pale yellow lunar halo casting a soft, aesthetic glow. He Yu kept sniffing her handkerchief, doubting her own senses.

Qiu Di asked, "Why that expression?"

He Yu handed the handkerchief to Qiu Di, whispering in shock, "Smell it. The poison in this wine seems to come from the Western Sea Prefecture! I suspect my sense of smell is failing me. What do you think?"

"You have always been highly sensitive to medicine; why ask me? I know nothing of such things!"

Qiu Di returned the handkerchief and warned, "This is the Imperial Palace, not the Western Sea Prefecture. You must be careful! If you offend the wrong person, you will face great danger."

"Qiu Di, why do you think the Main Hall suddenly accepted the invitation from Northern Hua? Why would they let us come here to be in the spotlight? Are they not worried that the talents they spent years cultivating might be poached by the Empress Dowager?"

Qiu Di smiled without answering, pulling He Yu to catch up with the group.

"I do not know why the Main Hall seeks to strengthen ties with Northern Hua, but... are you not here to deliver a package? It would be easier to poach you than anyone else. Northern Hua is not short of musicians, but they are desperately lacking an apothecary like you—you are nearly as good as the Medicine King!"

He Yu smiled with satisfaction. "Hardly! I am far from that. But the Main Hall had me deliver this item... wait, it was medicine. Could it be that they sent me because I am a healer?"

"Medicine? You delivered medicine?" Qiu Di looked at her in horror. "Could the medicine you delivered be..."

The two exchanged a glance, both realizing the terrifying truth.

"It is fortunate that nothing happened today, otherwise... I would have regretted it for the rest of my life!"

"Well, you delivered the medicine and the wine set; one offset the other? But it seems to me that your good intentions have backfired!"

He Yu nodded thoughtfully. "If the Main Hall really has a secret arrangement with Northern Hua and I have ruined it, causing such chaos, no one will spare me."

"But you were unaware! The Main Hall had it in such a wooden box; I thought it was a precious heirloom! Who would have guessed you were aiding in a crime? You were trying to save someone, which is perfectly in character for you!"

He Yu felt much better. "You are right. I do not regret it. How could I feel bad about saving someone I care about?"

The High Priest awakened the Second Prince and retreated into a dark corner, where he transformed into Lan Shui. Everything that had just occurred was his doing; he had shielded Liu Li from a disaster.

"This Northern Hua palace is truly chaotic. Fortunately, there are simple-minded people here who are easy to manipulate! Noble Consort Shu's death was also man-made. I hope Liu Li can weather this storm!"

Liu Zhong slowly opened his eyes. The Empress Dowager was sitting right before him, and they exchanged a long, meaningful look. After a while, she secretly pulled a note from her sleeve. On it was written a single character: *Harmony*.