vrcanaries Chapter 1298 Eastward Flow
Chapter 1298 Eastward Flow
She was filled with anxiety and hatred. Chun Tao, that fool, not only lost the antidote but also dared to implicate her in public! If Chun Tao were to reveal the truth, all her schemes would be in vain.
Chun Tao trembled at her rebuke, but her tears flowed even more fiercely: "Your Majesty, you can't deny it! Late last night, you sent me to the side hall to see the Grand Protector of the Heavenly Mandate Hall. He gave me the Soul-Severing Powder and the antidote, and said that as long as I did as you instructed, Lin Yiwan would be ruined, and then you could completely control the harem and even the court!"
Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent!
King Wu's face instantly turned ashen. He stared intently at Min Yue, his eyes bloodshot as if they were about to burst: "Min Yue! Is what she said true?"
Min Yue stiffened, her eyes glazed over, but she still forced herself to defend herself: "Your Majesty, don't listen to her nonsense! Chun Tao must have been bribed to slander me! I am loyal to you, how could I do such a treasonous thing?"
"Loyal?" The King of Wu sneered, his tone full of mockery and anger: "If you were truly loyal, why would you secretly possess the Soul-Severing Powder? Why would you allow Chun Tao to meet with the man in black in secret? Min Yue, do you think I'm a fool?"
He glared at Chun Tao and roared, "Chun Tao, continue! What else did Min Yue make you do?"
Chun Tao trembled with fear at the king's majesty, but dared not hide it any longer. She choked out, "The Queen instructed me to secretly mix the Soul-Severing Powder into her tea before today's banquet. She also said that she was going to offer a toast to the Lady of the Marquis. Only in this way could we successfully frame her for the poison!"
"I was confused for a moment and agreed to her request. But who knew that while wiping away the Queen's bloodstains, I accidentally dropped the antidote on the ground, and the imperial physician picked it up. Your Majesty, I really know I was wrong, please forgive me!"
Chun Tao's words struck the heart of the King of Wu like a heavy hammer.
He recalled Min Yue's suspicious behavior: repeatedly speaking ill of Lin Yiwan in front of him, secretly currying favor with court officials, and even attempting to interfere in politics. Previously, he had been blinded by love and unwilling to believe these things, but now, with the evidence irrefutable, he could no longer deceive himself.
"Good! What a loyal queen!" King Wu trembled with rage and slammed his fist on the dragon throne. "Min Yue, you coveted the throne, colluded with outsiders, plotted to frame members of the royal family, and disrupted the order of the palace. Your heart is wicked!"
He turned to the guards and roared, "Guards! Throw Min Yue into the Cold Palace and imprison her for life. No one is allowed to visit her without my decree! Chun Tao aided and abetted the evildoer; she shall be flogged eighty times, demoted to commoner status, and banished from the palace! Furthermore, thoroughly investigate the remaining members of the Heavenly Mandate Hall and punish them severely without leniency!"
"Your Majesty, spare me! I didn't! I really didn't!" Min Yue cried out pitifully, struggling to get up, but was held down firmly by the guards.
Looking into the cold eyes of the King of Wu, she felt a deep sense of despair.
What should she do? Someone please help her!
Before she could come up with a solution, she was dragged away.
As the King of Wu watched her retreating figure, he suddenly collapsed to the ground.
"Uncle!" Zhan Yan and Lin Yiwan quickly stepped forward.
The King of Wu was helped back to his bedchamber, and everyone's expressions were very solemn.
The Holy Maiden, in particular, asked in a trembling voice, "Wanwan, is your uncle really out of options? He's still so young!"
Lin Yiwan sighed helplessly, "His body was severely damaged. After he got together with Min Yue, he must have been taking potent drugs frequently, especially since he was also poisoned by the Bewitching Powder!"
The saintess asked, puzzled, "What is meant by 'bewitching mind powder'?"
Lin Yiwan explained, "As the name suggests, it is a drug that controls the mind, making the king develop a strong attachment to Min Yue and do everything in his favor!"
The saintess suddenly realized why the King of Wu was acting strangely.
He wasn't like this before.
He would never neglect state affairs because of matters of love, nor would he ever disrespect his elder sister.
But recently, his personality has changed drastically. He is completely obsessed with Min Yue and has almost become her puppet.
The saintess gritted her teeth in hatred. She dared not even think that if Min Yue's conspiracy succeeded, then the Li Kingdom would fall into her hands in the future.
This woman is so dangerous!
We must nip this problem in the bud as soon as possible and leave no room for future trouble!
Thinking of this, she said coldly, "Wanwan, no matter what, you must do everything in your power to save your uncle. As for the affairs of the court, let Prime Minister Min assist the Crown Prince in handling them. The Kingdom of Li must not be in chaos!"
"Okay!" Lin Yiwan agreed.
Meanwhile, in the cold palace, Min Yue was curled up on the cold bed, covered only by an old brocade quilt as thin as a cicada's wing. The cold air seeped in through the gaps in the fabric, making her shiver all over.
But more unbearable than the cold in her body was the resentment and bitterness in her heart.
She gripped the mattress beneath her tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh. The images of Chun Tao's confession in the main hall, the King of Wu's angry rebuke, and Lin Yiwan and Zhan Yan's confident expressions kept replaying in her mind.
She gritted her teeth and whispered, her voice hoarse like a broken bellows: "Lin Yiwan! Zhan Yan! If I ever get out of here, I will tear you to pieces and make you pay for what you've done today!"
She could have been the most honored queen of the Kingdom of Li, enjoying the glory of being admired by thousands, but due to the exposure of a carefully planned conspiracy, she became a prisoner and was thrown into this cold palace where there is no sunlight.
All of this is the fault of that bitch Lin Yiwan! If she hadn't been constantly going against me, if she hadn't received the protection of the Holy Maiden and Prime Minister Min, how could I have ended up like this?
Just as she was immersed in endless hatred, a very slight sound came from outside the window, like a leaf quietly falling to the ground.
Min Yue abruptly raised her head, looking warily out the window, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. The Cold Palace was heavily guarded; normally, even a bird couldn't get close. What could be causing this unusual activity?
She held her breath, slowly moved her body, and hid in the corner of the bed, secretly observing the movements outside the window.
A moment later, a dark figure slipped through the window like a ghost, landing silently. Only a pair of eyes, gleaming coldly in the darkness, stared straight at the bed.
Min Yue's heart tightened, and she was about to cry for help when the dark figure suddenly spoke, its voice low and hoarse, with a peculiar rhythm: "Your Majesty, I am a loyal servant of the Heavenly Mandate Hall, sent by the Great Protector to rescue you." As it finished speaking, it handed her a pill.
Min Yue almost cried tears of joy; she knew the Great Protector wouldn't abandon her.
But thinking about it, it makes sense, because she is pregnant with her adoptive father's child, and all the assassins of the Heavenly Mandate Hall would protect her life.
Without further hesitation, she immediately swallowed the antidote.
She struggled to sit up from the bed, straightened her clothes, and asked in a low voice, "The guards outside are very tight. How do we get out?"