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Ning Zhiyuan looked at him strangely and said, "You... Your smile is not normal."
Xiao Liulang suppressed the corners of his lips, concealing his smile, and spoke seriously, "Did you come to see me just to exchange greetings?"
As they turned to the main topic, Ning Zhiyuan stopped joking and said, "Uh..."
Ning Zhiyuan scratched his head and awkwardly said, "I brought my family to the capital, including my sister-in-law. She asked me to invite my friends to our house. I don't have many friends in the capital, so I thought of asking you... if you're available one day..."
He was actually quite nervous asking this question. Despite being the third ranking scholar in their cohort, their identities and circumstances were quite different.
He was also someone favored by the Emperor, but the way the Emperor treated him and Xiao Liulang was ultimately different. Of course, the main reason was their differing abilities. He knew his own worth and didn't harbor any jealousy whatsoever.
However... he felt a bit inferior.
Not only had Xiao Liulang gained the Emperor's favor, but he also had a good relationship with the Empress Dowager on the other side. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to suppress Grand Preceptor Zhuang.
Befriending someone like that, was he overreaching himself?
Moreover, he didn't have much fortune, and his house was just rented. His family lived quite modestly.
With these thoughts in mind, Ning Zhiyuan didn't wait for Xiao Liulang's answer and hurriedly declined on his behalf, "But Hanlin Academy has been quite busy lately, and both of us are probably occupied..."
"Okay." Xiao Liulang replied.
"Huh?" Ning Zhiyuan was taken aback.
Xiao Liulang said, "I'll ask my wife when she's available and we'll visit your house together."
Ning Zhiyuan was dumbfounded, "Ah..."
H—He... He agreed?
……
With Gu Jiao coming to the examination compound twice, Xiao Liulang more or less learned a bit about the current situation. Based on this knowledge, Xiao Liulang decided to visit the imperial palace.
"Your Majesty, Senior Compiler Xiao requests an audience."
Inside the study, Eunuch Wei reported in a low voice.
The Emperor paused his hand that was reviewing the memorandums. He pressed his slightly weary head and said, "He hasn't come for a few days."
Eunuch Wei hurriedly explained, "Senior Compiler Xiao has been serving as an invigilator at the examination compound for three days."
"Oh, the examination for the six ministries." The Emperor almost forgot about it. The six ministries conducted assessments once a year, usually in the sixth month. This year, due to the visit of the envoy from the State of Liang, the palace examination was delayed by a month, let alone the assessments for the six ministries.
Not all officials participated in this type of assessment; it was conducted through random selection and overseen by the Hanlin Academy. However, it was known to be extremely strict.
"Let him come in." The Emperor said.
"Yes." Eunuch Wei went outside and brought Xiao Liulang in.
Xiao Liulang cupped his hands and bowed in salute, "This official pays his respects to Your Majesty."
The Emperor picked up a memorandum and said lightly, "How come you have time to come here today?"
Xiao Liulang, still bowing, said, "This official has something important to report to Your Majesty."
"What is it?" The Emperor asked.
Xiao Liulang spoke with a solemn voice, "On the first day this official served as an invigilator at the examination compound, someone poisoned this official’s dinner with arsenic."
The Emperor frowned.
"This official had originally preserved the evidence, but unfortunately, due to the hot weather, the evidence has deteriorated." Xiao Liulang said, but he still took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve.
Eunuch Wei stepped forward to take the bottle and removed the lid. A pungent smell of rotten green onions wafted out, causing Eunuch Wei to quickly cover his nose.
Given the situation, it wouldn't be appropriate to show the bottle to the Emperor.
The Emperor asked, "How do you know it was arsenic?"
Naturally, Xiao Liulang wouldn't reveal that Gu Jiao had visited the examination compound. Sneaking into the examination compound was a capital offense. Even if the Emperor wouldn't punish Gu Jiao, there was no need to diminish the favorable impression she held in the Emperor’s eyes.
Xiao Liulang replied, "Has Your Majesty forgotten that JiaoJiao is a physician? When we were in the countryside, there were rats in our house, and JiaoJiao made some rat poison using arsenic. This official even helped her prepare it."
This was a lie.
Dangerous substances were strictly forbidden for Xiao Liulang to handle, and Gu Jiao made sure of that.
Xiao Liulang had clearly learned the art of cunning and deception from Old Chief, lying without even changing his expression.
Xiao Liulang continued, "A person disguised as a guard delivered my dinner. This official found him unfamiliar since he wasn't one of the guards from the morning or noon shift. This official became suspicious and discovered that the food had been tampered with."
The Emperor furrowed his brow in doubt. "Who would dare to target you at the examination compound?"
The examination compound had strict security, and it was almost impossible for an assassin to infiltrate, let alone poison Xiao Liulang's food.
The Emperor looked directly at Xiao Liulang and said, "Zhen hasn't heard any such news from the examination compound."
Xiao Liulang met his gaze without flinching and replied, "This official didn't publicize it. Without knowing who the culprit is, this official didn't want to escalate the situation in fear that the culprit would become desperate."
The Emperor considered the reasoning and looked at Xiao Liulang, saying, "You may leave for now. Zhen will thoroughly investigate this matter."
Xiao Liulang bowed and said, "This official shall take his leave."
As a precaution, after Xiao Liulang left, the Emperor summoned the imperial physician and asked him to examine the green onions.
The green onions had been picked out from the egg drop soup and had already spoiled, but the physician confirmed the presence of arsenic.
"Your Majesty, it is indeed arsenic." The imperial physician reported.
A chill passed through the Emperor's eyes. "Zhen understands. You may leave."
That night, the Emperor called for the chief guard of the examination compound and inquired about any suspicious individuals that had been noticed.
The chief guard responded, "On the first day of the examination, it seems that someone sneaked in and knocked a guard unconscious. They even took the guard's clothes. Unfortunately, this subject failed to apprehend the intruder due to my incompetence."
This matched Xiao Liulang's account.
The Emperor ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.
Unexpectedly, before the poisoning incident at the examination compound could be resolved, the next day brought another incident involving Xiao Liulang.
"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Young Miss Gu and Senior Compiler Xiao are injured!" Eunuch Wei rushed into the imperial study in a state of urgency.
The Emperor promptly set aside the memorandums and asked, "Where are they?"
Eunuch Wei worriedly replied, "They are at the medical hall... Miraculous Hands Hall... I saw Eunuch Qin leaving the palace in a hurry and casually asked what happened. That's when Eunuch Qin informed me that something happened to Young Miss Gu and Senior Compiler Xiao!"
Xiao Liulang was a favored official in the Emperor's eyes, not to mention Gu Jiao. Her significance to the Emperor was almost equivalent to that of his own children.
The Emperor didn't even bother with the memorandums. He changed into his regular attire and, accompanied by Eunuch Wei, hurried to the medical hall.
In one of the rooms within the small courtyard, Gu Jiao lay unconscious on the bed, while Xiao Liulang stood by her side. His left hand was wrapped in bandages and hung around his neck, and his mouth and forehead bore bruises.
This was the first time the Emperor had witnessed both of them injured before him. He stood there momentarily stunned before asking, "What happened?"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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