Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 1014 - 93: Poisoning (Part 2)

Zhao Yao gently patted Wang Cai and the others on the head, "Go ahead."

Wang Cai led a few of its little brothers out.

Zhao Yao stroked Fu Duoduo’s head, "You all go on patrol too."

Fu Duoduo rubbed against Zhao Yao’s palm, then led its little brothers out. Fu Duoduo was the top cat in Prince Han’s Residence, responsible for patrolling the residence on normal days. Its fur was jet black, without a trace of mixed color, making it hard to spot when darkness fell. It was most suited for nocturnal patrols, scouting, and ambushes.

Since last year, quite a few assassins had attempted to kill Zhao Yao. Many assassins were discovered shortly after arriving in Swamp Prefecture and subsequently captured, thanks to Wang Cai and Fu Duoduo.

Some of the assassins were quite skilled, surprisingly able to infiltrate Prince Han’s Residence. Unfortunately, as soon as they entered, Fu Duoduo and the others detected them, and the guards immediately caught them.

Besides catching assassins, Wang Cai and Fu Duoduo could also discover poisonings, just like earlier. It wasn’t the first time someone attempted to poison Zhao Yao; since last year, someone had been trying to poison him every so often.

The person poisoning him was an infiltrator in the Prince Mansion. Those able to sneak into the mansion were no ordinary people; their disguise techniques were extremely refined, making it difficult for the guards to detect them. Only Wang Cai and Fu Duoduo could discover them.

Last year, Zhao Yao had Wang Cai and Fu Duoduo sniff everyone’s scent in the mansion. If someone tried to impersonate someone from the mansion, Wang Cai could detect them by scent.

Besides the cats and dogs in Prince Han’s Residence "recording" everyone’s scent, the military dogs in the Personal Guard’s camp would "record" everyone’s scent there too.

Apart from cats and dogs, other animals would also help Zhao Yao keep an eye on the mansion or the military camp, ensuring no suspicious individuals could sneak in.

After instructing Wang Cai and Fu Duoduo, Zhao Yao calmly proceeded with business as if nothing had happened.

Tong Xi, who was previously frightened by the poisoning, soon calmed down, albeit still a bit scared inside.

"Your Highness, who’s attempting to poison you this time?" He had encountered poisoning numerous times but always felt fearful.

"Still those people."

"Who are those people? Do they come from other prefectures or from the capital?"

"Both."

Seeing Zhao Yao’s casual demeanor, Tong Xi felt somewhat angry and pouted, "Your Highness, aren’t you at all worried that someone wants to poison you?"

"What’s there to worry about," Zhao Yao replied lightly, "It’s not the first time, and I’ve been through it many times. I’m used to it by now. Plus, with Wang Cai and the others, I’ll be fine."

"It was really thanks to Wang Cai and the others earlier," Tong Xi admired Wang Cai and the others immensely, "Your Highness, if not for them, you would have lost your life long ago."

"Indeed, without Wang Cai and the others, who knows how many times your Lordship would have died."

"Your Highness, not to mention poisoning, just think about the assassination attempts they’ve made." Reflecting on it now still frightened him, "Your Highness, will you allow those people to keep attempting to assassinate you?"

"What do you want me to do, go back to the capital and kill all the masterminds behind the assassins?" Zhao Yao laughed helplessly, "I’d like to kill them all, but I don’t have that ability."

"You could tell the emperor," endured Tong Xi, "the emperor dotes on you, and if he found out you were attacked, he wouldn’t let them off easily."

Amused, Zhao Yao retorted, "Do you think telling my father would be useful?"

"Why not? The emperor would surely stand up for you."

Shaking his head with a smile, Zhao Yao said, "Oh, you’re really naive." His father adored him but wouldn’t kill those people for him. Besides, he had no evidence those people sent assassins after him.

Tong Xi defiantly asked, "Your Highness, how am I naive?"

Zhao Yao looked Tong Xi up and down, "Your eyes are full of pure foolishness."

"Your Highness, where am I dumb?" Tong Xi didn’t consider himself foolish.

"Enough, act like you know nothing about what just happened." Zhao Yao warned him sternly, pointing at Tong Xi, "If you alert the enemy, I’ll punish you by making you clean the public toilets."

Frightened by these words, Tong Xi’s face turned pale and he shook his head vigorously.

"Your Highness, I certainly won’t alert them," he said, determined never to clean the public toilets. He had been there once before, and the stench was unbearable.

"Pour out this bowl of soup, then brew me a cup of tea." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Yes, Your Highness." Tong Xi poured the soup onto a potted plant in the corner of the study. The flower in the pot had long since died from poisoning. It wasn’t the first time Tong Xi poured poison soup or tea into that pot.

While reading the memorials, Zhao Yao inwardly marveled, unexpectedly realizing how vital his life must be, given the recurring assassination attempts against him.

Tong Xi, carrying the freshly brewed tea, walked in, "Your Highness, please have some tea."

As Zhao Yao was about to receive it, Tong Xi stopped him.

"Your Highness, you better test it with a silver needle for poison," Tong Xi insisted seriously. "Though I brewed the tea myself, I can’t ensure the tea leaves, teapot, or spring water weren’t tampered with."

Seeing the worry in Tong Xi’s eyes, Zhao Yao had no choice but to test it with a silver needle.

"No poison, now I can drink it, right?"

"Your Highness, enjoy your tea."

"The tea room is your domain; no one but you dares to approach it," Zhao Yao remarked after sipping his tea, "You don’t need to be so overly cautious."

"Perhaps an assassin has the skill to sneak into the tea room and poison it," Tong Xi said, always jittery for a while after experiencing poisoning incidents. "Your Highness, if not telling the emperor about the assassinations and poisonings, you could tell Lord Chu and Lord Wei; they’d surely stand up for you."

Waving his hand, Zhao Yao said, "Do you think I’m the only one targeted for assassination and poisoning?"

Tong Xi didn’t understand Zhao Yao’s words, looking at him confusedly.

"Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother have been targeted for assassination and poisoning as often as I have. I won’t tell them, to spare them the worry." He wasn’t competing for the throne, yet he was targeted; those competing, like Fourth and Eighth Brothers, faced even greater danger. "Besides, I’m fine, so why cause them needless concern."

Tong Xi knew he couldn’t persuade Zhao Yao, sighing slightly, "Luckily, there’s Wang Cai and the others. I’ll go find Tong Le later and have him reward Wang Cai and the others with chicken legs for detecting the poisoning."