The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 832 - 832 384 Spousal Abuse Scum (two updates)_3

Chapter 832: 384 Spousal Abuse Scum (two updates)_3 Chapter 832: 384 Spousal Abuse Scum (two updates)_3 “Let him in,” the Emperor said.

“Yes.” Eunuch Wei went to the door to lead the person inside.

Xiao Liulang clasped his hands together and paid his respects, “Your humble servant greets Your Majesty.”

The Emperor picked up a memorial and said indifferently, “How did you find the time to come to us today?”

Xiao Liulang clasped his hands and said, “Your humble servant has a matter to report.”

“What matter?” the Emperor asked.

Xiao Liulang said earnestly, “On the first day of proctoring at the Imperial College, someone poisoned the evening meal of your humble servant with arsenic.”

The Emperor’s brows furrowed slightly.

“Your humble servant originally preserved the evidence, but unfortunately due to the hot weather, the evidence has spoiled.” While saying this, Xiao Liulang still took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve.

Eunuch Wei stepped forward to take the small porcelain bottle, pulled out the stopper, and was met with the stench of rotten green onions, causing him to quickly cover his nose.

As it was, it wouldn’t be right to bring such a thing before the Emperor’s eyes.

The Emperor asked, “How did you know it was arsenic?”

Xiao Liulang naturally wouldn’t mention that Gu Jiao had visited the Imperial College; sneaking into the Imperial College was a capital offense, even if His Majesty wouldn’t punish Gu Jiao, why should he waste Gu Jiao’s favor in His Majesty’s eyes?

Xiao Liulang said, “Has Your Majesty forgotten that Jiaojiao is a physician? Back in the countryside, when we had rats at home, Jiaojiao used arsenic to make rat poison, and your humble servant even assisted her.”

This was a lie.

With hazardous materials, Gu Jiao always prevented Xiao Liulang from coming into contact with them.

But Xiao Liulang had thoroughly learned the art of survival in the royal court from the old Grand Preceptor, and he spoke without a change of expression.

Xiao Liulang continued, “The person disguised himself as a guard to deliver my meal. I noticed he had a strange face, not like the guards from the morning and noon, so I was wary and thus discovered that my meal had been tampered with.”

The Emperor furrowed his brows suspiciously, “Who would dare to target you at the Imperial College?”

The Imperial College was heavily guarded, and it was virtually impossible for an ordinary assassin to infiltrate, much less poison Xiao Liulang’s meal.

The Emperor stared intently at Xiao Liulang, “I have not heard such news from the Imperial College.”

Xiao Liulang met his scrutiny without evasion, “Your humble servant did not publicize the incident. Not knowing who the culprit is, I dared not cause a commotion, fearing the culprit might take desperate actions.”

The Emperor thought it made sense. He looked at Xiao Liulang and said, “You may return for now. As for this matter, I shall see to it that it’s thoroughly investigated.”

Xiao Liulang clasped his hands, “Your humble servant will take his leave.”

Out of caution, after Xiao Liulang left, the Emperor called for the imperial physician to inspect the spoiled green onions.

The green onions, which had been picked out from the Egg Flower Soup and were spoiled, tested positive for arsenic by the imperial physician.

“Your Majesty, it is definitely arsenic,” the physician said.

The Emperor’s gaze turned frosty, “Understood, you may leave.”

That evening, the Emperor summoned the chief of the guards from the Imperial College, asking if they had spotted any suspicious individuals.

The chief guard said, “It seems that someone sneaked in on the first day of the exams, knocked out a guard, and even stole the guard’s uniform, but unfortunately, your subordinate was incapable and did not catch him.”

This matched up with what Xiao Liulang had said.

The Emperor ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.

Unexpectedly, before the investigation into the poisoning at the Imperial College could conclude, another incident occurred involving Xiao Liulang the next day.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Lady Gu and Xiao Xiuzhuan have been injured!” Eunuch Wei rushed into the Imperial Study Room in a panic.

The Emperor put down the document in his hand with a slap, “Where are they?”

Eunuch Wei said anxiously, “At the Medical Hall… the Hall of Miraculous Hands… it was I who saw Eunuch Qin hurrying out of the palace and casually inquired what had happened, and it was Eunuch Qin who told me that Lady Gu and Xiao Xiuzhuan had an accident!”

Xiao Liulang was a subject favored by the Emperor, and Gu Jiao’s significance to him was almost like that of his own child.

Not bothering with the documents anymore, the Emperor changed into his regular clothes and, accompanied by Eunuch Wei, hastened to the Medical Hall.

In a room of the small courtyard, Gu Jiao lay unconscious on the bedchamber, while Xiao Liulang stood by her side. His left hand wrapped in a bandage hung around his neck, and there were bruises at the corners of his mouth and forehead.

This was the first time the Emperor had truly seen them injured in front of him, and he was momentarily stunned, “…What happened?”

“Your Majesty,” Xiao Liulang got up, intending to clasp his hands and bow, but seeing his bandaged arm, he awkwardly changed to a slight bow instead.

“No need for formalities,” the Emperor raised his hand, stepped to the bedside, and looked at the unconscious Gu Jiao, his gaze then drifting to the basket of blood-stained clothes nearby, and his breath hitched, “How is the little genius doctor?”