Chapter 325: Poison from the Princess Consort

Chapter 325: The 'Poison' the Princess Gave

I shouldn't have sneaked out with Chen Hu without discussing it with you. This was entirely my own idea, and Chen Hu had nothing to do with it. If you want to blame someone, blame me alone, not him.

Upon hearing this, Chen Hu felt touched and thought to himself:

Your Highness, you're such a good man. I shouldn't have said earlier that you had no backbone.

In my heart, you are the most honorable man with real backbone.

After finishing his silent reflection, he pricked up his ears again, his face full of nosy curiosity!

Ji Yuntang asked again, "Anything else?"

"I shouldn't have knocked out Second Miss Ji with a chess piece..."

Before Luo Junhe could finish his sentence, Chen Hu immediately stepped forward to defend him.

"Your Highness, I can testify to this. It wasn't the Prince's fault. Second Miss Ji was cursing you downstairs. She said that the position of Princess Ye was originally hers, that you stole it from her, that she's a total jinx, and she even cursed you to die—very nasty words."

"Our Prince couldn't stand it and knocked her out to stand up for you. In the end, it was all Second Miss Ji's fault; she had it coming. You mustn't blame the Prince for this."

Ji Yuntang scanned the neatly arranged chessboard on the table. Exactly three pieces were missing.

She immediately knew that it was indeed Luo Junhe's doing.

He had been recovering well lately. Although he still couldn't wield a sword or practice martial arts, his inner energy had gradually returned!

Ji Yuntang placed her fingertips on his wrist to check his pulse.

She said in exasperation, "I know you're skilled in martial arts, but dealing with a little white lotus like Ji Qingqing doesn't require you to lift a finger."

"Her cursing me won't cost me a pound of flesh, but if you use your internal energy again, the poison I've worked so hard to suppress will spread to your heart faster. It will be much harder to suppress next time."

"We haven't found the antidote herbs yet. Do you intend to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair, Your Highness?"

Luo Junhe felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't felt any discomfort after using his internal energy, but he never expected the fallout to be this bad.

He took Ji Yuntang's hand, pulled her into his arms, and whispered gently to calm her down.

"A Tang, I'm sorry, I didn't know it would be like this. I remember every word you said today, and I won't do it again."

Ji Yuntang gritted her teeth, unable to hide her anger.

"What I'm mad about isn't that you sneaked out without my permission, nor that you took matters into your own hands against Ji Qingqing. It's that you don't take your own health seriously."

"Do you know how many people are hoping you'll get better soon? And how many are secretly wishing for your death?"

"If you truly care about me, then put your own health first from now on. Don't do things you know you shouldn't, and don't play the hero. If you encounter a problem you can't solve, just come talk to me. I can handle it myself if needed."

"A He, I've said my piece, so you think it over carefully. I'm going back."

After saying this, Ji Yuntang pulled away calmly from his embrace, opened the door, and walked out.

But after a few steps, she turned around. She took a small porcelain bottle from her storage space and handed it to Chen Hu.

Curious, Chen Hu asked, "Your Highness, what is this?"

"Poison. Give this to him and make sure he takes it."

Her voice carried a hint of anger. After leaving these words, she walked away without looking back.

Chen Hu held the "poison" in his hands, unsure whether to give it to Luo Junhe or not.

He said, making a face, "Your Highness, is the Princess trying to murder her husband—or what? How else could she ask me to give you poison?"

Luo Junhe pursed his lips and reached out his hand. "Give it to me."

Chen Hu looked shocked. "Your Highness, this is poison! Are you really going to take it?"

"Give it to me!" Luo Junhe said sternly.

Reluctantly, Chen Hu handed him the small bottle.

Luo Junhe pulled out the stopper, tipped out one pill, and without hesitation, popped it into his mouth.

Chen Hu's eyes widened in shock. "Your Highness, this is poison! Did you... did you really eat it?"

Luo Junhe said simply and calmly, "Even if it were poison, I'd take anything she gives me."

"Not to mention, this isn't poison at all. It's medicine to calm the wild energy in my body."

After taking it, Luo Junhe felt completely at ease.

His mind was completely at peace.

He sipped his tea, realizing Ji Yuntang was all talk and no bite—she had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Sure, she was angry, but in the end, she only wanted what's best for him.

Down by the competition stage, Ji Yuntang came back fuming. Xie Liuzheng, noticing how upset she looked, asked,

"Sister Yuntang, did you get into a fight in the toilet? You've got a face like you're constipated."

Ji Yuntang: "..."

The corner of her mouth twitched in disbelief. She thought Xie Liuzheng had a weird way of thinking.

Who would fight in a toilet? Wouldn't that be asking for shit to rain on your head?

Ji Yuntang said, "Brother, do I look like such a violent person?"

Xie Liuzheng actually gave her a serious once-over and nodded earnestly. "Yes."

"Otherwise, why were you gone so long? If you hadn't come out soon, this heir would have sent someone to find you in the toilet."

Ji Yuntang: "..."

She said with irritation, "Then just assume I got into a fight in the toilet."

By now, the results for the second round of the woodworking competition were out.

Unsurprisingly, Ji Yuntang scored full marks again, firmly taking first place.

Xie Liuzheng was filled with pride. He praised her, "Sister Yuntang, throughout history, in the Canglang Poetry Talk, I bet no one in history has scored full marks in two straight rounds but you."

Ji Yuntang shrugged and spread her hands. "When you've got skill, you can't hide it. Nothing I can do. After all, I'm just too talented to stay low-key."

However, to Ji Yuntang's surprise, Zhao Qian, who had taken second place in the previous round, scored a high of ninety-six this time, only one point lower than Jiang Yunhang.

Zhao Qian designed an iron plow and achieved a good third place.

As for Ji Zihang, he had already fallen out of the top seven.

This angered him greatly, so during the third round of the law exam he kept a scowl the whole time.

The law examination also lasted for the duration of one incense stick. Unlike previous tests which focused on applying the current dynasty's laws, this time the exam required candidates to propose improvements to the laws according to their own ideals.

High-scoring candidates would have the opportunity to have their improved laws incorporated into the Ministry of Justice for uniform use.

This was a tremendous honor for the candidates.

Even if only one of their provisions was selected, they could claim to have participated in the revision of the Dongchen Kingdom's criminal law, and their entire family could bask in the reflected glory.

Ji Yuntang looked at the rice paper in front of her. She had always known that the legal system in ancient times was imperfect, with most laws and regulations favoring those with status and position.

As for the many commoners without status, they could only be exploited by those above them.

In this dynasty, the collusion among officials was so severe that it was difficult for ordinary people to seek justice.

Thinking of this, Ji Yuntang picked up a brush and began to write on the paper.

She wrote ten items in one go, focusing on five areas: crimes against the person, property crimes, crimes against public security, corruption and bribery, and crimes undermining the market economic order. Drawing on her legal knowledge, she provided many opinions and suggestions.

Ji Yuntang knew that this was the best way she could fight for the benefits of the common people.

Although what she wrote might harm the interests of many aristocratic families and thus offend some people, she acted without hesitation and without any regrets.

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