However, this feeling of being targeted by a venomous snake only made Wang Suier more certain that everything Jiang Mian had told them in that dilapidated courtyard back then was true.
"Y-Your Highness, if you have any questions, this c-commoner will tell you the truth right away." Wang Suier stammered nervously.
"Recently, there have been many rumors in the city about my father and me. My subordinates have investigated and found out that they originated from you people." Xiao Yixuan smiled. "I'd like to know how you came to know all these? Hmm?"
As he spoke, Xiao Yixuan glanced in Qi Zhong's direction, and his smile became even more amiable.
"Actually, the fact that the common people are willing to talk about us shows that they care about my father and me. However, there are many inaccuracies in these rumors. You should know that slandering the royal family is a capital crime that could lead to the execution of the entire family. But I am always kind. As long as you confess everything, I can spare your whole family and even let you live a life of wealth and honor."
Qi Zhong was also quickly thinking of a countermeasure in his mind.
Should he just confess the woman who had poisoned them that day, or should he just make up a random excuse to get by?
What the woman said didn't seem to be false. He had witnessed the great flood in Cangzhou eighteen years ago and still had a lingering fear of it. If this flood was really man - made, then Emperor Nansheng and that so - called Crown Prince Xuan were the chief culprits.
If they weren't guilty, why would they come after them?
Before Qi Zhong could speak, one of his companions beside him immediately said, "I'll tell! I'll tell!"
"It was a girl who escaped from Dongli Town who told us all this!"
Qi Zhong and Wang Suier secretly cursed in their hearts. This guy was really unable to resist the temptation.
Xiao Yixuan's expression turned solemn. He grabbed the man's clothes and shouted, "What did you say? A girl who escaped from Dongli Town?!"
"Tell me more clearly. How old is this girl? Is her skin sallow? Is there a dog beside her? Or... is there a man with her?"
"Yes, yes, there's a man!" the man quickly replied. "But there's no dog. As for her age and skin... I... I can't remember clearly."
Can't remember clearly...
"What about the man?"
The man looked blank again. "I... I can't remember either."
What a useless fool!
Xiao Yixuan was furious. He tried his best to conceal his expression and said, "Just a woman, and you actually believed her words so easily?"
The man cried with a long face. "She poisoned us with a deadly poison. We almost died. If it weren't for saving our lives, why would we do such a thing? The antidote she gave us only alleviated the symptoms. Only by spreading the rumors for her would she give us the complete antidote."
Xiao Yixuan's eyes lit up. "So, she's still in Guangdu County now?!"
Qi Zhong said, "She said she would give us the antidote in three days. Two days have passed, and she should show up tomorrow."
Great!
It came so easily!
There was a more genuine smile on Xiao Yixuan's face.
"This person is the thief Jiang Mian that I've been trying to catch. You've really done a great service. If you can help me capture her, I won't forget your merits."
Since their lives were now in his hands, how could they dare to refute? They immediately agreed.
"We will surely go through fire and water for Your Highness and never hesitate!"
After letting them go, Xiao Yixuan took a deep breath, and his fingers were trembling with excitement.
It seemed that God was still on his side. He had thought it would take more trouble to find out Jiang Mian's whereabouts, but unexpectedly, there was such a pleasant surprise.
She had approached these people and deliberately spread these rumors, all for the sake of Xiao Jingcheng.
This time, he would never let her escape from his grasp!
Early the next morning, in a rather desolate and dilapidated courtyard in Guangdu County.
Qi Zhong, Wang Suier and others were sitting patiently on the stone piers.
After taking half of the antidote, although the red bumps on their bodies didn't appear anymore, they still felt itchy all over from time to time, obviously indicating that the residual poison in their bodies hadn't been completely eliminated.
For example, at this moment, Wang Suier was scratching his arm vigorously.
"Lao Qi, do you think that poisonous woman will really show up and give us the antidote?"
Qi Zhong said, "It's hard to say. You know, the most poisonous thing is a woman's heart. Just wait patiently. It's our own fault for offending the wrong person."
If they hadn't stolen that woman's money bag at that time, they wouldn't have to go through all this today!
However, they waited from dawn till dusk. Apart from them, and Xiao Yixuan, a group of archers and guards hiding in the dark, no one else showed up in the small courtyard.
They waited until midnight, and a whole day had passed, but they still didn't wait for anyone.
By this time, Xiao Yixuan also realized that these three people had probably been tricked by Jiang Mian. There was simply no such thing as an antidote after three days!
At this moment, Jiang Mian had probably already left the city and headed for the next one!
Xiao Yixuan's full - hearted hatred had nowhere to be vented. He immediately drew out the saber from Meng Zhao's waist and chopped off the neck of the man on the far right. The blood splashed all over him, making him look like a ghost from hell.
This scene scared Qi Zhong and the others out of their wits. They knelt down in front of Xiao Yixuan with a thud and kowtowed desperately. "Please spare our lives, Crown Prince. Please spare our lives!"
Xiao Yixuan's chest heaved violently. He squatted down, grabbed Qi Zhong's collar, pulled him in front of him, and stared into his eyes.
"I want you to spread the rumors in the city again."
"Say that Emperor Beisheng is heartless, coveting his brother's wife, seizing the throne and robbing his sister - in - law, which is intolerable to heaven. Xiao Jingcheng is the bastard born out of the illicit relationship between Emperor Beisheng and the deposed Queen Shen. The two of them had long been having an affair. Emperor Nansheng found out the truth and thus designed to get rid of this bastard."
This version was different from what Jiang Mian had asked them to spread, and the content was even more explosive and eye - catching.
Afraid that they would end up like that man and be chopped to death by him, they didn't dare to decline and all agreed. Only then did Xiao Yixuan let them go.
Suddenly, there came the sound of urgent hoofbeats in the distance. The horses stopped outside the courtyard, and a man shouted anxiously outside, "Is His Highness the Crown Prince here? Your subordinate has military intelligence to report!"
Military intelligence!
"Keep a close eye on them and make them do as I've ordered. If they dare to play any tricks, kill them!"
Leaving this cold sentence behind, Xiao Yixuan immediately turned around and went out to greet the man.
"What military intelligence?"
It was already past midnight. The information that was rushed to him at this time must be extremely urgent. Could it be that Emperor Beisheng had finally lost his patience and was planning to send troops to attack Cangzhou?
The guard was out of breath. He knelt on one knee and presented the secret letter in his hand, and said anxiously,
"Report from Peiyuan County at the southern end of Cangzhou. A troupe appeared in Peiyuan County today. This troupe set up a stage to perform in the villages and towns around Peiyuan County. The play they performed was - "
"It was the story of the Crown Prince, Xiao Jingcheng, who turned the tide and saved all the people in Dongli Town during the great flood in Cangzhou!"