Green Mountain
Chapter 371 - 306. Xuan Snake and Treasure Monkey

Chapter 371: 306. Xuan Snake and Treasure Monkey

The East Rongmi Lane outside of Huitong Hall was in chaos, the Yulin Army on high alert as if facing a formidable enemy.

Li Xuan’s anger surged; the princely heir’s body double had died en route, and the Yulin Army responsible for the escort could not shirk its culpability.

Time is of the essence!

At this moment, the Korea Envoys had been forced back into Huitong Hall by the Yulin Army and were prohibited from taking a single step outside.

Li Xuan, holding a sword, pointed to several Yulin soldiers brought back from Guyuan: "Zhou Chong, Zhou Li, Duobao, Li Cen, each of you will lead eighteen men to guard all exits. Do not let a single person escape. The Eunuch Party must not learn of this in advance."

Chen Ji glanced at him: "Too late."

Li Xuan froze for a moment: "Too late for what?"

Chen Ji explained, "The Spy Department has been hunting Jing Dynasty spies. When previously escorting the Korea Envoys for an audience, they had already disguised themselves among the civilians. When we exited Chengtian Gate, the spies were tailing us. Upon the body double’s death, they immediately went back to report. With over a hundred Korea Envoys, it’s impossible to find the culprit in such a short time. Once the Spy Department arrives, the Yulin Army won’t be able to stop them."

Li Xuan furrowed his brow: "What are we to do? That Poison Minister is now eyeing the Qi, Chen, and Xu families for revenge. Each of you is somehow related by marriage or kinship. If the Eunuch Party gets hold of anything incriminating, entering the Imperial Prison will be a fate worse than death!"

Chen Ji calmly stated, "Given the situation, we must prepare for the worst; we may have to pay a visit to the Imperial Prison."

The Deputy Commander Zhao Zhuofan, who had previously quarreled with them at the Governor Mansion, suddenly sneered: "The incident happened while the envoys were under your escort, it has nothing to do with me. I’m not wading into this mess with you."

Having said that, he called his subordinates: "We’re leaving!"

Li Xuan solemnly and gravely said, "You can’t leave! If you go, the remaining troops are insufficient to seal East Rongmi Lane. Should the perpetrator escape, no one can be held accountable!"

Zhao Zhuofan gave him a sidelong glance: "What, can Lord Li actually command me? Even if Commander Chen has been dismissed, it can only be addressed once a new commander is appointed!"

Li Xuan took a step forward and said sternly, "I know you’re upset, but Chen Wenren’s dismissal has nothing to do with us, it’s due to his own negligence and he has only himself to blame."

Standing sword in hand opposite Zhao Zhuofan, he continued, "Since the founding of the Ning Dynasty, no envoy has ever been violently killed on the Celestial Dynasty’s soil. This isn’t merely an assassination of one person, it’s a breach of the Swayed Hairpin Alliance and a rupture of the Sectarian Clan Covenant. If not thoroughly investigated, Ryukyu, Annan, and other states will doubt the might of Daning, causing the downfall of the Five Border Tribute Road. We must focus on the bigger picture and bring the culprits to justice, not play games out of personal grievances."

Zhao Zhuofan turned to leave: "Spare me your rhetoric, let’s go!"

Li Xuan suddenly asked, "I’ll ask you once more, are you really leaving?"

Zhao Zhuofan replied without turning back, "Leaving!"

However, at this moment, Li Xuan’s hand rose and the sword fell, severing Zhao Zhuofan’s head, just like the day in Guyuan when he cut down and seized the banner from the midst of thousands.

Crimson blood splattered onto Zhao Zhuofan’s feather-white cloak and onto Li Xuan’s face. Those present were utterly shocked.

Qi Zhenzhuo exclaimed in horror, "Good heavens! Brother-in-law, his young aunt is the most favored concubine of the second house of the Chen family, and you just killed him like that?"

Li Xuan casually wiped the blood from his face: "According to Daning Law, since Chen Wenren’s dismissal, the Yulin Army is left with one commander, who can temporarily assume the governor’s authority. Zhao Zhuofan defied military orders, and thus deserved execution."

Zhao Zhuofan’s subordinates were befuddled and exchanged looks with the Yulin soldiers who had returned with Li Xuan from Guyuan, but those Yulin soldiers quietly gazed at Zhao Zhuofan’s rolling head as if watching a freshly slaughtered sheep.

"Ugh!" one after another, Zhao Zhuofan’s subordinates retched dryly.

Li Xuan flicked his wrist, shaking off the blood from the sword blade: "I’m asking you, are any of you still leaving?"

Gazing at the corpse still bleeding, the retching soldiers hurriedly replied, "Not leaving, not leaving!"

Li Xuan shouted boldly, "This is not the time for retching. Zhou Chong, Zhou Li, Duobao, Li Cen, lead your men to seal off East Rongmi Lane, and those who defy orders, kill without mercy!"

Zhou Chong and the others clasped their hands in salute: "Understood."

With that, the four marked their troops and turned to leave for the lane’s entrance.

As they turned, the white cloaks on their backs unfolded and then closed like a fan.

Li Xuan then instructed Qi Zhenzhuo: "You keep watch on the rooftop of Huitong Hall."

"Got it," Qi Zhenzhuo climbed up, perched atop the roof ridge, and surveyed the surroundings.

At this moment, Chen Ji squatted in the quiet, narrow stone alley, examining the corpse.

Li Xuan crouched down and asked sternly, "How did he die? Poisoned?"

Chen Ji did not answer hastily, he uncovered the body’s clothing, revealing the entire corpse was cyanotic, the fingertips stained as if dipped in ink. He even pried open the mouth, finding the tongue blackened.

The bluish discoloration of the corpse is usually linked to a lack of oxygen. When blood oxygen levels drop, the skin and mucous membranes may appear bluish-purple, known as cyanosis.

The three common poisons causing cyanosis are aconitine, celandine, and Ma Qianzi, with aconitine being a controlled substance, not easily obtainable.

However, aconitine typically takes about an hour to four hours to take effect, celandine requires several days or even tens of days.

Chen Ji spoke, "Ma Qianzi—it’s the only poison that can take effect immediately."

Li Xuan looked in amazement: "You’ve identified it so quickly? Is there a possibility it’s some slow poison, just happening to act at this time?"

"Impossible. Two hours ago this double was still in the palace, eating and drinking nothing, ruling out aconitine; celandine requires daily dosing—if someone had that skill, they wouldn’t waste it on a double, and it’s impossible to control the time of death, so it’s ruled out," Chen Ji explained calmly, "Recognizing which poison is not difficult, nor is it crucial. What matters is... who poisoned him?"