"Speak! Who had their hands on yesterday's dishes?" Eunuch Tang was assigned this task. It was a most onerous one. He couldn't tell if the emperor trusted him too much or just threw this difficult problem at him. If he failed to find out the truth, he feared his fate... Even a powerful eunuch like Eunuch Tang didn't dare to think further.
"I... I'll speak. Yesterday I saw Xiaochunzi from Xiliyuan sticking his finger into a plate." The cook, his skin lacerated from the beating, wailed and cried as he spoke.
Alas, he had been a royal chef for over a decade. Why was he so unlucky this year? All the misfortunes had befallen him. Those fifty strokes of the cane were no joke; they were carving into the flesh of his buttocks!
"Alright, take this stinking cook aside. Once his innocence is proven, treat his wounds." Eunuch Tang covered his nose. The cook reeked of smoke and grease, which almost made him vomit.
The two guards were so engrossed in watching the cook's pain - stricken face that they forgot to take him aside.
"Quickly take him away, quickly... I can't stand it." Eunuch Tang looked disgusted, fluttering his dainty fingers.
The guards then snapped out of it and quickly dragged the cook aside.
"Hurry up and bring that Xiaochunzi..." Eunuch Tang took a sip of tea. The matter was urgent, and he was waiting for the person to be brought.
A moment later, a delicate - looking young eunuch walked in. As soon as he entered, he knelt down. He dared not offend Eunuch Tang. "Eunuch Tang, I... I... I'm Xiaochunzi."
"Take him away and give him ten strokes of the cane first!" Without hesitation, Eunuch Tang gave the order. Those ten strokes were just an appetizer.
"Eunuch, spare me! Ouch... ouch!" In a short while, a sobbing young eunuch knelt in front of Eunuch Tang again, crying pitifully.
"What are you crying for? I've only beaten you ten times. Do you think it's too few? Should I take you away and give you another thirty?" Sure enough, upon hearing this, Xiaochunzi immediately stopped crying.
The two guards who had just carried out the punishment couldn't help but snicker. They hadn't really put much strength into the ten strokes; it was just for show. Eunuch Tang didn't really want to beat him severely, but just to scare him into not lying.
"Someone said they saw you sticking your finger into a dish on the day of the royal banquet. Which dish was it?" Eunuch Tang flicked his fingernail.
Xiaochunzi blinked his eyes, frowned and thought for a while, then quickly replied, "It was the Hibiscus Two - Color Fish. I just dipped my finger in the soup and tasted it."
Eunuch Tang remembered clearly that day. He knew that the Sixth Prince hadn't eaten the two - color fish. "Did you see any suspicious people?"
"No!" Xiaochunzi answered honestly.
"No? Take him away and give him fifty strokes of the cane until you remember!"
"Eunuch, don't beat me. I remember, I remember." Xiaochunzi said in a hurry. Eunuch Tang glared at him. "Then hurry up. My back is about to break from sitting here."
"It was Cuiqiao from Yueyuan. I saw her acting furtively."
"Are you telling the truth?" Eunuch Tang couldn't sit still anymore. He stood up abruptly from his chair. If it was really Cuiqiao as he said, then there was indeed a problem.
"Every word I say is the truth. I wouldn't dare tell a single lie. I'm even willing to confront her face - to - face!"
"Lock him up first. No one is allowed to contact him, and he's not allowed to commit suicide or bite his tongue." Eunuch Tang gave the order in one breath. His back ached, and he grimaced as he covered it.
Having obtained the final result, Eunuch Tang finally let out a sigh of relief. The task assigned by the emperor was finally completed.
"Your Majesty, this interrogation has been going on for several days..." Concubine Yu was about to speak when Eunuch Tang bowed and walked straight in. He quickly came to Duke You's side and whispered something in his ear.
"I didn't dare to continue the interrogation after getting this far, Your Majesty." Eunuch Tang stood in front of Duke You with his hands at his sides, speaking in a low voice.
"Good. Then I'll interrogate personally. Oh, right. Didn't the Sixth Princess say she found the medicine? You go to the treasury today and pick some good medicinal herbs. Go to the Sixth Prince's Mansion on my behalf to check on him."
"Yes!" Eunuch Tang bowed in response. This task would allow him to leave the palace and have some peace, which was exactly what he wanted.
It was the seventh day since the Sixth Princess had sent a message to the palace. The emperor didn't dare to see the result of the Sixth Prince taking the medicine himself, so he sent Eunuch Tang instead. Alas, poor Sixth Princess, a delicate woman. How could she bear to do this?
If the Sixth Prince got better, that would be good. If not, it would be a great crime! Even if he wanted to say a few good words for her, he wouldn't be able to. As Eunuch Tang walked, he kept weighing this task assigned by the emperor in his mind.
"Someone, quickly prepare the carriage. I'm going to the Sixth Prince's Mansion!" Eunuch Tang shouted loudly outside.
He was holding a large box of good medicine in his arms. He had carefully selected them. Anyway, the emperor didn't care, so he just took as much as he wanted. The emperor had personally ordered him to pick the best, and he was faithfully carrying out the emperor's order.
As soon as Eunuch Tang's carriage arrived, the carriage that had gone to pick up Duke Qing also arrived at the mansion's gate. Duke Qing lifted the curtain and, supported by his servants, staggered out of the carriage.
Seeing the emaciated Sixth Prince, Eunuch Tang's eyes welled up with tears. This child had really suffered a lot. He had watched him grow up since he was a child. This child had been in poor health since childhood, and unexpectedly, he had suffered such a disaster!
"Hey, I was wondering why the magpies were chirping non - stop on the branches this morning. It turns out there's an honored guest! Eunuch Tang, you've had a long and tiring journey. Come on, enter the mansion first!" Mei Qingxue broke into a big smile when she saw Eunuch Tang.
Eunuch Tang was slightly stunned because he didn't see any signs of worry on Mei Qingxue's face.
"Eunuch Tang, please come in. I'm in this state now, so I won't stand on ceremony with you." Duke Qing said weakly. Han Chao supported him on one side, and Mei Qingxue held his other arm. He looked out of breath.
"The prince is right, Eunuch Tang. Please enter the mansion first!" Mei Qingxue supported Duke Qing and tried to give Eunuch Tang a nice smile. In fact, she was very nervous because the Chinese stellera root was a close relative of Aconitum kusnezoffii, which was extremely rare. Those who saw it but didn't recognize it would think it was just a wild grass, and those who knew it was poisonous would spread all kinds of strange rumors.
"Sixth Prince, I'm not being formal with you." As he spoke, Eunuch Tang stepped into the mansion first.
Because Duke Qing was weak, Han Chao supported him and went straight to Qingxue Pavilion.
"Eunuch Tang, the prince has gone to Qingxue Pavilion, which is my bedroom. The prince is currently resting there. It's a bit far, and you know the prince's health... The reception hall is over here." As she spoke, she pointed to the side.
Hearing Mei Qingxue's words, Eunuch Tang smiled faintly. As a eunuch, where couldn't he go? He could even enter the emperor's bedroom at will, even when the emperor was with his concubines.
"It's not a problem that it's a bit far. I can manage this short distance. Let's go to the princess's bedroom together. The prince is going to take the medicine soon, right? I'll watch so I can report back to the emperor." There was no expression on Eunuch Tang's face.
What? They were going to watch him take a poison? And what's more, report back to the emperor? Hearing what Eunuch Tang said, Mei Qingxue didn't show any displeasure on her face, but she was muttering in her heart. Goodness, wouldn't they be watching to see if he died or not?
Well, since that was the case, she just wouldn't let them have their way. She nodded and said, "Of course. Since Eunuch Tang wants to go, let's go."
Eunuch Tang nodded slightly and glanced at Mei Qingxue.
"Eunuch Tang, please!" As Mei Qingxue led the way, she asked, "Eunuch, what kind of tea do you like? I'll have someone make it for you right away." Building a good relationship with the emperor's closest attendant was a powerful way to plead for mercy. Mei Qingxue had seen this kind of plot too many times. One word from this powerful eunuch was more useful than a hundred words from others!
"I only drink pre - rain Longjing. Other teas just don't suit my taste!" Eunuch Tang's eyes showed amusement, and the corners of his mouth turned up as he glanced at Mei Qingxue.
"Oh my God!" Mei Qingxue was immediately stunned upon hearing this. Damn it, how could she forget that this old man had the same taste in tea as the emperor! He must have secretly drunk it when no one was looking. Now she had over - promised.
Seeing Mei Qingxue's expression, Eunuch Tang was extremely delighted. He wondered how this girl would handle this situation.
"Cough, cough. Eunuch Tang, to be honest, there's only the flower tea I made in the mansion. If I had known you had such refined taste, I wouldn't have boasted." Mei Qingxue coughed softly in embarrassment.
Eunuch Tang found this little girl so amusing as she clearly rolled her eyes. He deliberately said, "So you were just teasing me because I'm a eunuch! Alas, being a eunuch is really a sad thing!"
"No, no. I definitely didn't mean that. Please don't misunderstand, Eunuch Tang! You know that in this mansion, the prince has been taking medicine all year round. There used to be no tea at all. Since I got married into this family, I've made some fruit teas and flower teas in my spare time. They're not high - class, just for a bit of novelty." Mei Qingxue quickly explained.
She was telling the truth this time. Eunuch Tang was just teasing her. The more he saw this little girl, the more he liked her. Seeing that Mei Qingxue was really anxious, he quickly said, "I don't drink tea. I'm just joking with you!"
"What?" This old eunuch was so sly. Mei Qingxue was speechless. She was as anxious as if on fire. How could she be in the mood to laugh? Really!
"Eunuch, may I be so bold as to ask if there's any progress in the poisoning case?" This was what she was most concerned about at the moment. She had no mood to joke with him.
Eunuch Tang looked around. Mei Qingxue quickly dismissed the attendants, leaving only the two of them.
Eunuch Tang carefully observed the surroundings again, then whispered, "I'm telling you this secretly. Don't betray me. During today's interrogation, I got a lead related to Concubine Yue's courtyard. I think there might be something fishy about this. So I didn't continue the interrogation. I think this matter is probably not that simple."