экстравагантный - Глава 17
Bei Chentian laughed: "You just need to watch the show." He then glanced thoughtfully at Lin Feng: "However, I also have my doubts. What kind of environment could create a woman like you? At least in terms of reading people, I think I'm probably not as good as you."
"That's just the truth, you don't need to feel inferior." Lin Feng said arrogantly in a cold voice behind him. Bei Chentian smiled and added, "Also, you're probably the most shameless woman in the world."
Others at least knew how to put on a show, but Lin Feng couldn't even be bothered with that. Yet, this arrogant personality resonated quite well with Bei Chentian. A moment of silence fell, while the hall was bustling with activity. The two women were engaged in a fierce, subtle power struggle, their arguments sharp and pointed. Lin Feng, preoccupied with peeling fruit, thought he might as well take the opportunity to observe the political landscape of the court.
His gaze drifted to the center of the hall and saw that the ministers were roughly divided into three camps, with subtle hostility between them. Nangong Chuixue strolled behind the hall. Most of the military officers were probably from Beichen Tian. They were gathered together and showed great respect for Nangong Chuixue.
"Is Nangong Chuixue one of your trusted confidantes?"
"He wouldn't call me a confidant, but he's a rare friend." Lin Feng found it quite ridiculous that the word "friend" came out of Bei Chentian's mouth.
"People like us can't possibly have friends!" At least, Lin Feng didn't trust others, and Bei Chentian gave her the feeling that he was one of them, so he didn't trust others either.
“You see things very clearly.” Bei Chentian didn’t deny it, but shrugged and smiled.
Lin Feng glanced at him and said, "You should at least explain what forces those two groups of people belong to, right?"
Bei Chentian glanced at it and was once again amazed by Lin Feng's terrifying observational ability. After thinking for a moment, he said, "One of those two forces is the veteran force of Father Emperor in the court. In fact, Father Emperor does not trust the three of us brothers. Father Emperor has been a womanizer all his life and has been involved with many women. He knows that we brothers hate him to the bone, so he is on guard against us."
Even between blood relatives, such precautions would chill the heart of any normal person. But Lin Feng treated it as commonplace, without even blinking.
Seeing that her expression remained unchanged, Bei Chentian's eyes flashed with admiration, and he continued, "My eldest brother knows that his power in the court is inferior to that of my second brother and me, so he withdrew from the court struggles. Whoever gains power in the future will surely give him a sinecure, and he will be content. My second brother is different from me. I have been fighting on the frontier for many years and have many military generals under my command, but I have very few civil officials. You should know from the way Han Qing and Zhang Zhuo are that I have too few strategists and other talents on my side. Of course, people like you are even fewer, which is why I spared no effort to recruit you."
Lin Feng snorted coldly. So that's how it is. She knew he wouldn't be so polite to her. After all, Bei Chentian was a king, and he wouldn't easily let go of anyone who offended his dignity.
However, for now, Bei Chentian won't do anything to her. Moreover, Lin Feng quite appreciates that Bei Chentian didn't hide anything and directly told her that he had no intention of killing her.
"My second brother has nearly half of the civil officials in the court, one each with my father, while I hold military power, so they dare not act rashly. Otherwise, this court struggle would probably have broken out long ago."
Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. So, does this mean the Second Prince is also suspected of rebellion? Moreover, Bei Chen Tian is the Crown Prince. If something happens to the Emperor, the first person to be suspected will probably not be Bei Chen Tian, but the Second Prince who spends all his time in the court!
Startled, Lin Feng wondered if Bei Chentian was planning a murder-for-framing scheme. If so, wouldn't it be necessary to kill the Second Prince to ensure there were no witnesses? Lin Feng looked around again; there were far too many military officers!
To avoid suspicion, Bei Chentian had already brought all his most skilled and trusted generals to the banquet, so that even if the blame fell on him in the end, he would have a reason to exonerate himself.
The imperial palace is not a place anyone can just come to.
Lin Feng said grimly, "I know what you want me to do."
Just then, the emperor suddenly convulsed, a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and he fell off the couch!
"Your Majesty!" Several military officers and civil officials stood up, intending to help him up, but before they could even stand, they all fell down, all exhibiting the same symptom.
Everyone was horrified: "The wine is poisoned!"
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Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the emperor's symptoms were different from those of the others. While the others were generally weak and unable to exert any strength, the emperor was already pale and had a blank stare, with his limbs twitching as if he had been exposed to severe cold.
Bei Chentian gritted his teeth and shouted, "Summon the imperial physician! Go immediately!"
"Absurd! Utterly absurd!" The food and wine at the state banquet had already been tested for poison using various utensils. Moreover, the dishes in the palace were quite elaborate, undergoing many processes. How could someone still poison the food? Bei Chentian's handsome face was filled with worry. The three imperial physicians, Tao, Wang, and Zhang, rushed over. They were also deeply guilty about what had happened.
"Your Highness!"
"No need for formalities, Physician Wang, please take a look at us. Our symptoms seem like MI drugs. Physician Zhang, Physician Tao, please diagnose my father first." Bei Chentian remained calm in the face of danger. Although the ministers served their own masters, they all obeyed his command when things got really chaotic. The throne should have been his for the fore long ago.
When the three imperial physicians saw the emperor being helped to clean the blood from his mouth, they knew the situation was serious. They rushed forward, each taking out their tools to listen to his pulse and make a diagnosis.
The ministers gradually calmed down amidst the chaos, but they did not notice that several people were missing from the banquet.
Lin Feng, who was next to Bei Chentian, mysteriously disappeared. The usually arrogant Second Prince had also changed his expression after everyone was poisoned and quietly withdrew.
Bei Chentian saw all of this, and a smile appeared on his lips.
That person fell for the trap!
Meanwhile, the Second Prince's expression turned grim after discovering that all the officials attending the banquet had been poisoned while he remained unharmed. He wasn't stupid! As a prince, he sensed something was amiss.
This is Bei Chentian's scheme! This wicked plan will wipe out both him and the emperor in one fell swoop. The second prince is usually arrogant and unpopular, and he has many disagreements with the emperor. No one will doubt Bei Chentian, but they will definitely suspect him.
The second prince rushed back to his palace, angrily threw a chair at the ground, and it smashed to pieces.
"Damn it! Bei Chentian, you traitor! You actually wanted to kill your father and frame him! You deserve to die!" How could he have imagined that Bei Chentian would act so decisively and swiftly upon returning to court, setting up this scheme? He originally planned to cooperate with the emperor to get rid of Bei Chentian in a few days, but who knew that he would strike first!
What to do now? Only a few princes could poison so many people's food without anyone noticing. The eldest prince withdrew from the struggle for the throne, so usually no one would suspect him. Therefore, Bei Chentian must have arranged the murder and framed him! The second prince shrank back, suddenly startled, and only now did he realize how unwise he had been!
With all the officials present at the banquet, Bei Chentian dared not do anything to him. As long as he denied everything, he was still a prince, and what could anyone do to him? But now, if he were to die, wouldn't Bei Chentian be able to leave no evidence and save him from all trouble?
Another shock! It turns out this was all part of Bei Chentian's plan! Everything…
The palace was now completely dark and silent! In the vast hall, only the Second Prince stood there, stunned. He remembered that all his guards and maids had been sent by Nangong Chuixue to work as his assistants at the banquet. He had even agreed with a smile, thinking he would embarrass Beichen Tian, since he couldn't even offer him some decent guards and maids...
A cool breeze blew by, making the main hall unusually cold. The second prince shivered and ran frantically out of his bedchamber.
A black figure leaned lazily against the round gate of the courtyard. His entire body was covered by black cloth, so his face could not be seen. Only two cold, tangible eyes were cast at him.
"You can't kill me! You can't kill me! You're one of Bei Chen Tian's men, aren't you? Bei Chen Tian only brought a few people today, you'll definitely be suspected! He... he wants to kill you!" The Second Prince cried out urgently, his brain almost crushed by the fear of death. "Why don't you submit to me? I'll guarantee you a life of luxury, why be a mere pawn of Bei Chen Tian! Hmm? What do you think?"
The sneer was extremely sinister: "Naive! If Chen Tian deserved to die ten thousand times, you would have been killed by him a million times over!"
A female voice—it's a woman!
The second prince's mind went blank. Who was she?! She had just overheard his words, so what was she doing here? Did she not want to kill him?
The Second Prince instantly became arrogant again, laughing, "So you're a woman. You should have said so earlier. Since Bei Chentian doesn't want you, just join me, and I'll definitely make you my concubine! But the position of principal wife is still up for discussion. Bei Chentian is just a brute. You'll see that I'm much better than him..."