Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1013 - 93: Poisoning

~3 minute read · 854 words
Previously on Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne...
Zhao Yao inspected the rice fields in Swamp Prefecture, where innovative techniques like curved plows, water wheels, and fish-ducks for pest control led to robust growth in both regular fields and terraces, earning gratitude from the locals who planned further expansions. He and Zheng Cheng finished constructing a windmill to ease the harvest and instructed the people in its use. Seeking respite from capital visitors arriving post-trade fair, Zhao Yao hid in the North Mountain Laboratory, but upon returning for morning court, Lian Fang updated him on their persistence and the mounting court accusations of treason and foreign bribery. Dismissing the charges with plans to ignore them or even flee overseas if slandered, Zhao Yao resolved to meet the visitors after court to discern their intentions.

After departing from He Lianfang’s study, Zhao Yao opted not to hurry to his chamber for slumber but headed to his own study. Absent from it over the recent days, a heap of duties demanded his attention.

Entering the front courtyard, a bunch of cats and dogs dashed toward him, tails wagging enthusiastically. He knelt down, reached out to caress them, and bestowed kisses upon them.

These felines and canines hail from the Swamp Prefecture, taken in by Zhao Yao the year before. He had rescued the homeless cats and dogs wandering that region.

A number of the rescued cats and dogs dwell in Prince Han’s estate, others reside at the Nanshan farm, and some more are housed in the camp of Zhao Yao’s personal guards.

In those times, the cats and dogs adopted by Zhao Yao in the capital had all departed prior to his journey to Lingnan. Certain ones perished from sickness, others from advanced age, and a few from mishaps.

Such cats and dogs had aided him immensely in collecting intel and providing support. Their passing left him devastated for an extended period. To Zhao Yao, they ranked as vital companions.

Felines, canines, and birds alike served as Zhao Yao’s watchful informants. Their companionship unveiled countless details to him. Across the years, be it royal court secrets or officials’ schemes, he remained informed. This vigilance spared him from numerous perils and threats.

Upon arriving in Lingnan, he kept on saving cats and dogs, deploying them anew as his vigilant scouts and devoted forces.

In the midst of the trade gathering, guards of Prince Han’s estate patrolled accompanied by the dogs. Zhao Yao dubbed them "police dogs."

Tong Le oversaw their preparation. He has emerged as a specialist in readying police dogs and war hounds. During his days in the capital, Zhao Yao assigned Tong Le to instruct the cats and dogs.

Having distributed affection evenly among the cats and dogs, Zhao Yao ushered them into the study.

The animals behaved impeccably. Upon entering, they settled submissively beside Zhao Yao’s feet.

Typically, General Hu and Xiao Jin’s presence deterred the cats and dogs from nearing Zhao Yao.

General Hu and Xiao Jin exhibited intense jealousy. Whenever they lingered nearby, they seized Zhao Yao for themselves, permitting no additional creatures to approach.

Across the previous two days, lacking General Hu and Xiao Jin, the cats and dogs naturally seized the moment to nestle against Zhao Yao.

Soon after Zhao Yao took a seat, Tong Xi arrived bearing a bowl of soup.

"Your Highness, the kitchen prepared this fresh soup. Please partake in a bowl to nourish your belly."

"It smells so good." Zhao Yao hadn’t felt hunger at first, yet the soup’s inviting scent abruptly ignited a fierce appetite. Precisely as he moved to accept the bowl from Tong Xi, Wang Cai and Wang Jin at his feet erupted into barks.

The cat resting on Zhao Yao’s lap along with the one perched on the desk both rose, snarling aggressively at Tong Xi.

Wang Cai: [Yao Yao, there’s poison, there’s poison in the soup. Don’t drink it!]

Tong Xi jumped at the unexpected ferocity from Wang Cai and the rest, "Your Highness, what’s happening?"

Zhao Yao seized the soup from Tong Xi’s grasp and leaned forward to inhale its scent deeply, noting no peculiar aroma. From the desk’s drawer, he extracted a silver needle and immersed it in the soup. In short order, the needle darkened.

Upon observing this, Tong Xi blanched in alarm, his gaze brimming with dread and disquiet.

"Your Highness, it wasn’t me, I didn’t poison it..."

Zhao Yao cut in on Tong Xi, reassuring him with a soft tone, "I believe it wasn’t you."

At Zhao Yao’s words, the heart nearly bursting from Tong Xi’s chest eased back into place. Still, apprehension etched his countenance.

"Your Highness, someone seeks to poison you—who could it be?" Recalling the soup’s origin in the kitchen, he appended hastily, "Your Highness, it has to be a kitchen worker; I’ll rush to seize them immediately."

"Wait." Zhao Yao halted Tong Xi, "Acting now would scare off the hidden foe."

"Then what do you plan to do, Your Highness?" The notion of a traitor in the household plotting against Zhao Yao left Tong Xi agitated and uneasy. "Your Highness, we must swiftly uncover the poisoner."

Zhao Yao regarded Wang Cai and the companions: "Wang Cai, assist me in locating the soup’s poisoner."

Wang Cai and the rest swished their tails, yelping: [Yao Yao, rest assured, leave it to us, we will find out right away.]

Zhao Yao added more directions, "Upon discovering the poisoner, refrain from biting him immediately. Watch him closely, observe his connections."

Wang Cai: [Understood, we will certainly find the mastermind.] Wang Cai belongs to a distinctive hunting dog lineage from Lingnan, exceptionally clever and nimble. Crucially, their olfactory senses are extraordinarily keen, enabling detection of the soup’s abnormality the moment Tong Xi carried it inside.