Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1160 - 1157_1

Chapter 1160: Chapter 1157_1

Shangguan Xuanyi came to know about this and deliberately had Shangguan Ruixi arrange for a batch of food to be transported to the frontlines tonight, intending to test whether the person who had sneaked into the warehouse last night would poison it.

Unexpectedly, someone indeed did poison it, specifically, the food that was transported and consumed by the workers.

"Thankfully, not all the food was poisoned, otherwise the loss would have been devastating." So much poisoned food - it was truly heart-wrenching!

"Never, there’s so much food, where could you find so much poison? Besides, it would be too easy to discover the food was poisoned. The poison is deadly, a tiny bit can kill immediately, and can be detected with a silver needle. Besides, the person who poisoned it didn’t want to kill all of the soldiers, but to obtain more food. Of course, if they could kill some soldiers, it’s also a gain for them."

"So, the food that disappeared was poisoned halfway through transport?" Shangguan Ruixi knew that each batch of food would be inspected before being dispatched to ensure that there were no issues. Therefore, it could only have been poisoned after leaving the national treasury granary.

"Yes." Shangguan Xuanyi nodded.

The national treasury granary was heavily guarded and rigged with traps—it wasn’t easy to sneak in and poison the food.

Poisoning the food halfway through transport was easier, just like tonight. The soldiers transporting the food would seek shelter when it got dark. They needed to sleep at night. Despite having someone on guard, they were bound to doze off after a long day of travel. This was the best opportunity for the enemy.

That’s why the routes used to transport food and medical supplies need to stay confidential. If they were leaked, it would give the enemy the opportunity to take advantage.

"I wonder if the first two batches of food that were dispatched were also secretly poisoned."

"I don’t know, but we need to remind the generals at the frontlines to always test the food with a silver needle after it’s cooked."

"Did you get any information from the person who poisoned the food? Like, if they have any other accomplices?"

"No." Would Gong Zixuan be an idiot to send such a person on a mission if it was that easy to get information from them?

Internal accomplices are usually very loyal! They wouldn’t easily turn traitor! Of course, there are some who spill everything under torture, but they are few.

Shangguan Xuanyi swore that the people he planted as internal accomplices were all extremely loyal. Even under torture, they would not utter a word! If they really couldn’t withstand torture, they would commit suicide.

Therefore, traitors could only be rooted out when something happened.

However, knowing that Nangong Country was low on food, he believed that they would definitely try to get their hands on theirs!

An idea struck Shangguan Xuanyi. "I suspect that there must be traitors from Nangong Country in Prince An’s Mansion. We could deliberately leak the newly established food transport routes, and then..."

Before Shangguan Xuanyi could finish, Shangguan Ruixi interjected: "Why do you specifically suspect that there are traitors from Nangong Country in Prince An’s Mansion? Couldn’t there be traitors in Prince Rui’s Mansion? There could be foreign spies infiltrating every mansion!"

"There are none in Prince Rui’s mansion! I guarantee that my men are absolutely loyal!" declared Shangguan Xuanyi assertively.

The people he employed had all signed contracts and taken the Loyalty Powder. It was impossible for them to betray him!

He didn’t have faith in himself, but in the power of the Loyalty Powder!

"Really, I don’t know where your confidence comes from. If one day your boat capsizes in the gutter, don’t come crying to me!" Shangguan Ruixi felt hurt by Shangguan Xuanyi’s confidence.

He would never dare say this out loud though. If there were no traitors in Prince An’s Mansion, how could Shangguan Wanru have been kidnapped so easily? He even felt that his own mansion probably housed the most foreign spies in the entire Imperial City!

He felt helpless. Why did all these issues keep happening on his watch!

After a few more mishaps, the Emperor would probably even suspect their loyalty!

It was too unlucky, how could he be so unlucky to be assigned to transport the food and medicine! He didn’t want to bear this responsibility anymore! If this continued, he feared for the lives of every person in the mansion!

They had already lost their fief, they had nothing left to lose!

"Actually, I think I’m not suited to be in charge of transporting military food and medicine. Why don’t you propose to the Emperor to have somebody else take over?" Shangguan Ruixi said irresponsibly.

"Alright, if you don’t want to atone for your errors with merits, then we can treat the previous incidents by the law!" Shangguan Xuanyi agreed readily.

The crime for colluding with the enemy and treason? It was to execute nine generations of the traitor’s family!

As soon as Shangguan Ruixi thought of this, he quickly argued, "Wait, such an important matter can’t be left to others, I can’t rest assured. I’ll do it!"

This would be the last time. Once Nangong Country was defeated, he would definitely not deal with frontline affairs anymore! Anything to do with military affairs was too horrifying since it could easily involve acts of treason!

Shangguan Xuanyi glanced at the desperate-looking Shangguan Ruixi and proceeded to disclose his plan.

Snort! Not all traitors from Prince An’s Mansion have been found yet! How could he hope to wash his hands clean so quickly? Is there such an easy job in this world?

....

While Shangguan Xuanyi was busy running the court and Xiao’er was busy caring for the children and earning money at home, she also frequently repaid a visit to the Marquis Shengping’s Mansion along with her four children to meet with Jinghao.

When Xiao’er found out that the Empress Dowager intended to betroth her niece to Jinghao, she returned to the Marquis Shengping’s Mansion the next day to inform Mrs. Liu so that she could finalize Jinghao’s marriage to Gu Qiling without delay, to avoid any unwelcome surprises.

Mrs. Liu was frightened to hear this news. She didn’t know much about the personality of the Empress Dowager’s niece, but she instinctively didn’t want Jinghao to marry her. Wasn’t that akin to marrying a living Buddha and having the whole family serve her?

Mrs. Liu didn’t hesitate, she had matchmakers visit the Gu Family immediately to propose the match.

But when Gu Qiqi returned home and recounted her conversation with the Empress Dowager, her family worried excessively. After all, Gu Qiling was not someone who could hide her feelings, her whole family knew what she felt!

Even the revered Imperial Master had personally expressed to Prince Rui the intention of the two families to form a marriage alliance. If the proposal fell through, disregarding the issue of losing face, given Gu Qiling’s stubborn personality, it was highly likely she would refuse to get married for the rest of her life. Despite her eccentric demeanor, she was indeed very obstinate.

So, when a matchmaker from Marquis Shengping’s Mansion came to the Gu household to propose, Mrs. Gu agreed immediately. Shortly after, the two households exchanged betrothal gifts and the marriage was settled.

A day after the betrothal was settled, the orders for Jinghao’s appointment arrived indeed, he was to serve as Magistrate for the two newly conquered cities in Nangong Country. Although there were initially only two cities, once they gradually conquered more, these would be added till there were ten cities in total, forming Zezhou - meaning the arrival of blessings.

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