Chapter 445: Caught Red-Handed
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]
O R A N G E S T A R
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G O L D S T A R
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R A I N B O W S T A R
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T H E S U N
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Ning Wang, upon hearing Gu Jiao’s question, instinctively felt a sense of caution. However, he quickly dismissed his suspicion, saying, "Did you really poison this prince? But I'm afraid you'll be disappointed; I didn't eat your flower cake."
Gu Jiao sighed softly, "It’s good you didn’t eat it. You'll soon feel uncomfortable."
Ning Wang frowned.
Before he could inquire what her words meant, a strange sensation suddenly swept over him, causing his heart to race in panic.
He quickly gathered his Qi into his lower dantian, intending to use his internal energy to suppress that strange sensation. To his surprise, as he exerted force, he realized that his internal energy seemed to have weakened considerably all of a sudden.
Based on his experience, internal energy wouldn't diminish suddenly. Most likely, it had been dissipating for a while now; he just hadn't noticed it because he hadn't used martial arts.
He looked at Gu Jiao with a colder expression, "What have you done to this prince?"
"I drugged you." Gu Jiao answered casually.
Ning Wang retorted, "Impossible... This prince didn't swallow anything you gave me!"
He didn't question why the Emperor and the Crown Prince, who had also eaten the same flower cakes, were unaffected. After all, the drug didn't necessarily have to be in all the flower cakes. She could have drugged the one she gave to him or even contaminated his utensils.
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow, "What did I say just now?"
What she said just now——
Ning Wang carefully recalled Gu Jiao's words, ‘It’s good you didn’t eat it. You'll soon feel uncomfortable.’
Ning Wang's expression changed, "You..."
Gu Jiao turned her head to look at him, "Have you figured it out?"
Ning Wang was on the verge of exploding with anger and astonishment. He never expected this girl to be so cunning and audacious! She had actually drugged everyone in Huaqing Palace!
That's right, not only had he been drugged, but the Crown Prince and the Emperor had been drugged as well!
However, she had placed the antidote in the flower cakes in advance. Those who ate the flower cakes were perfectly fine. The Crown Prince, who had devoured several plates, must be full of energy now!
But because he was on guard against her, or perhaps she was luring him to be cautious of her, deliberately provoking him with words, he successfully avoided the antidote.
"Very well... Gu Jiao... You're indeed impressive!"
Ning Wang had never imagined that he would fall twice into the hands of the same person. Moreover, losing to her in terms of strategy was a glaring humiliation compared to being beaten physically!
"Qi Fei!" He shouted sternly.
No response.
"Don't bother calling; your subordinates have all been knocked out." Gu Jiao pointed to the tightly closed carriage curtains. "But well, the coachman is yours; you can have him stop the carriage."
What good would it do to stop it?
Was he, who was drugged, capable of beating Gu Jiao, or was his coachman capable of beating her?
Ning Wang asked coldly, "What kind of drug did you give this prince?"
"Knockout drugs." Gu Jiao replied.
Honestly, Ning Wang's ability to hold out until now was much longer than she had anticipated, indicating that his internal energy was quite profound.
Hmm, she also wanted to improve her internal energy.
Ning Wang narrowed his eyes at her, "What do you intend to do to this prince?"
Gu Jiao blinked her eyes, "Guess?"
Ning Wang looked at her deeply for a moment, then he coldly smiled. The anger and unease he had displayed earlier seemed to vanish in an instant, replaced by arrogance and disdain.
Ning Wang said, "Gu Jiao, you don't really think that I'm unaware of your little tricks, do you? Do you think I've spent these days at home just recuperating?"
Gu Jiao asked, "Oh, you investigated me. What did you find?"
"What you're most worried about, I've found it." Ning Wang's lips curled slightly. "I know what you were planning. You wanted to drug me, make me do something unforgivable to the Crown Princess, and get caught in the act by the Crown Prince."
"Heh." He chuckled coldly, "How naive, Physician Gu. Did you really think my subordinates would be so easily knocked out by you?"
Gu Jiao raised her eyes and looked at him.
Ning Wang pointed to himself, "This prince is the eldest son of the Emperor and has been in the vortex of imperial power since childhood. What do you think has allowed this prince to survive to this day? What do you think has made this prince the most cherished and favored son of the Emperor? Is it just because this prince is the eldest son? Physician Gu, this prince has told you before that you're still young, and there are many things you don't understand yet. When it comes to competing with this prince, you are still a bit inexperienced."
Gu Jiao furrowed her brows.
She found his long-winded speech quite irritating. In summary, it all boiled down to a few words: "I see through your schemes."
Was it so hard to speak plainly?
Gu Jiao gave him a particularly disdainful glance, then took out a pre-prepared syringe from her wide sleeves. She removed the needle cap in front of him and pushed the plunger slightly.
Upon seeing this object, Ning Wang instinctively felt the dominating fear of being pierced by needles!
It seemed like this was the same kind of concealed weapon used on him last time, which had instantly paralyzed his body. He didn't know what kind of poison or drug this weapon had, but its effect was even more rapid than the knockout drugs and the tranquilizing soup!
"Don't worry, it's not a sedative." Gu Jiao said casually, curving her lips slightly, "It's a hallucinogen."
In her previous life, hallucinogens belonged to the category of drugs used mainly for training assassins or for interrogating members of hostile organizations. People injected with a hallucinogen would have a scattered consciousness and weakened will—— some would become engrossed in hallucinations, unable to hear external sounds or see the surroundings, while others would still be responsive to the outside world, making it easier to extract information.
Gu Jiao wondered which category Ning Wang would fall into after the injection.
She playfully tugged at the corner of her lips.
Ning Wang shivered all over!
The Emperor was afraid of needles.
Incidentally, Ning Wang was too.
They were truly father and son.
Ning Wang's entire face turned pale, "Gu Jiao! You better not act recklessly! Otherwise, you won't be able to bear the consequences!"
Gu Jiao remained unperturbed, "Oh, what consequences?"
Ning Wang gave a cold smile, "For example, you might want to go home and check if Xiao Liulang is still there."
Gu Jiao froze in the middle of administering the injection.
Meanwhile in the East Palace.
The Crown Prince had just returned from outside, and the imperial guards were still waiting for him outside. His clothes had been torn during the recent incident, so he had to change into a new outfit before going back out.
Just as he took a few steps into the bedchamber, Chunying rushed in, stumbling and looking extremely pale, "Your Highness! Something terrible has happened... The Crown Princess has disappeared!"
The Crown Prince furrowed his brow, "Explain clearly! How did Linlang disappear?"
Chunying choked back her tears as she spoke, "This servant... This servant followed the Crown Princess to Zhuque Street to visit Princess Xinyang. On our way back, the Crown Princess mentioned wanting to buy some snacks for Your Highness. So, this servant went to buy them. However, when this servant came out of the tea shop, there was no sign of the Crown Princess on the carriage! The guards and the coachman had all been knocked unconscious!"
……
In a dimly lit room with tightly closed doors and windows, the scent of incense filled the air.
The Crown Princess slowly opened her eyes, looking around with confusion. After a while, she adjusted to the dim lighting in the room and noticed that she was lying on a soft bed.
Next to her lay a person.
A man.
The man had his eyes closed, seemingly in a deep slumber.
Once she saw the man's face clearly, a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes!
She sat up and stared intently at the peacefully sleeping Xiao Liulang, "Ah Heng, is it you?"
Xiao Liulang didn't respond to her.
"Is it really you? You've truly come back... You've come back for me."
"Why aren't you speaking? Are you angry with me?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I felt so sad after you left..."
"Seeing you again made me realize that you've always been the one in my heart. I regret not marrying you."
"Don't fall in love with someone else, don't love her; she's not worthy of you."
The Crown Princess spoke softly, caressing Xiao Liulang's cheek lovingly, "Being able to look at you like this is wonderful. Please, never leave me again."
Xiao Liulang had already opened his eyes long ago, but unfortunately, he appeared blank, as if he hadn't heard a single word the Crown Princess had said.
The Crown Princess smiled gently, a hint of a maiden shyness in her expression. She pulled his arm and gently lay down in his embrace.
Her hands wrapped around his strong waist, and she sweetly called out, “Shall we never be apart again? Let’s live a good life from now on, all right?”
Xiao Liulang finally reacted, holding her tightly in his arms and responding dazedly, “Okay.”
The Crown Princess smiled incredibly sweetly.
Xiao Liulang called out a name, which she failed to hear properly, but she didn't seem to mind at the moment.
As long as Ah Heng was with her, as long as they were together, she didn't care about anything else.
Ah Heng pinned her beneath him.
However, at that moment, the door was kicked open with a loud crash!
The Crown Prince stormed into the room, his face completely dark!
The tremendous noise jolted the Crown Princess, and she abruptly woke from her reverie. She looked at the furious Crown Prince standing at the door and then at the man she had been tightly embracing–––
Wait.
This wasn't Xiao Liulang!
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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