Chapter Sixty: Unable to Cure the Poison, Dealing with the Poisoned Person

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In the Wen De Hall, the flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows. Sheng Yanming stood quietly in the center of the hall, his head slightly bowed, saying nothing.

Zhao Yizhen, illuminated by the bright candlelight, carefully read through the thick confession document, word by word.

“So Tan Erlang claims that the one who ordered him to assassinate me was the chief official of the Western Xia Intelligence Bureau?” Zhao Yizhen asked with suspicion.

“Yes, Tan Erlang said exactly that,” Sheng Yanming replied in a deep voice.

“That can’t be right,” Zhao Yizhen shook his head. “The poisoned arrow was extremely potent; even Wang Rukai hasn’t been able to concoct an antidote yet. If Western Xia possessed such a powerful weapon and this perfect opportunity, why would they spare my life?”

Sheng Yanming nodded in agreement. “I, too, have pondered it endlessly. This assassination attempt seems more like a feint.”

Zhao Yizhen handed Tan Erlang’s confession to Yu Zhong and rubbed his temples. “How was the search of the Western Xia Intelligence Bureau’s secret division tonight?”

Sheng Yanming answered, “Before I entered the palace, Vice Commander Ji reported that we dismantled 35 secret offices of the Intelligence Bureau, apprehended 80 operatives, and seized 279 confidential documents and letters. The Investigation Division is currently reviewing and interrogating them one by one.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yizhen’s expression darkened further. “To orchestrate such a feint, they were willing to expose and sacrifice so many operatives? Has Li Yuanshao of Western Xia gone mad?”

“I believe this assassination was meant to cover Western Xia’s next move, to disrupt Dayu’s attention in advance,” Sheng Yanming said. Having dealt with the Western Xia Intelligence Bureau for ten years, he understood their style thoroughly and spoke the truth in one sentence.

Zhao Yizhen gritted his teeth in fury. “Western Xia has become increasingly arrogant over the years. Though they have not invaded Dayu’s borders, their operatives are everywhere within our territory. This is utterly intolerable!”

At this, Sheng Yanming suddenly knelt and apologized. “It is my failure in duty, Your Majesty. Please punish me.”

“Rise,” Zhao Yizhen sighed helplessly and shook his head. “You are my most trusted and relied-upon man. How could I blame you?”

But Sheng Yanming remained kneeling stubbornly. “Your Majesty is merciful and reluctant to punish me, but I must be self-aware. Your Majesty,” he bowed deeply, “I humbly request to purge all Western Xia Intelligence Bureau operatives in Bianliang, the Eastern and Northeastern Capital Roads, the Western Hebei Road, and the Eastern Huainan Road through this case.”

Zhao Yizhen was shocked. He stared at Sheng Yanming for a long while before sighing. “I know your hatred for the Western Xia runs deep, but this task cannot be accomplished overnight. The peace between our two nations is hard-won. The purge of the Western Xia Intelligence Bureau must be carried out gradually.”

“Your Majesty!” Sheng Yanming called out.

“My decision is final. You may withdraw now,” Zhao Yizhen said, unwilling to listen further, waving his hand dismissively.

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Sheng Yanming’s face was filled with sorrow. Helpless yet unwilling to yield, he slowly left.

His once-straight back bowed slightly, as if all his spirit had been drained in an instant.

Zhao Yizhen watched Sheng Yanming’s figure dissolve into the endless darkness, then withdrew his gaze with melancholy and sighed, “Yanming resents me.”

Yu Zhong hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, the Commander has always been clear-headed and loyal. He would not resent you.”

Zhao Yizhen shook his head. “This time is different. This time, it is a matter of national and personal hatred.”

Yu Zhong considered for a moment. “Your Majesty, why not speak frankly with the Commander? It would spare him unnecessary suffering.”

Zhao Yizhen glanced at the stack of confessions. “Whenever it comes to Western Xia, Yanming becomes impulsive, enraged, even murderous. It’s not that I distrust him, but I fear hatred will blind him and eventually harm himself. The Western Xia Intelligence Bureau must be dealt with, but Yanming is not the best person for this task.”

Yu Zhong nodded. “Your Majesty is wise. The Commander is brave but becomes obsessive and irritable when it involves Western Xia. Handling the Intelligence Bureau requires extreme caution, emotional restraint, absolute loyalty to Your Majesty and Dayu, and a fresh face unknown to Western Xia. Such a person is hard to find in the Martial Virtue Division and even among the court officials…” He hesitated, unwilling to say “untrustworthy.”

Zhao Yizhen understood Yu Zhong’s unspoken words perfectly.

Indeed, although no open war has broken out between Dayu and Western Xia in recent years, Western Xia’s Intelligence Bureau operatives have never ceased infiltrating Dayu.

Western Xia remains ever vigilant and ready for war.

Dayu has enjoyed years of peace to recuperate but still lacks the strength for a full-scale conflict with Western Xia.

Dayu dares not recklessly break this delicate peace.

Western Xia, however, lurks and waits, eager to provoke a war.

At this moment, any action against the Western Xia Intelligence Bureau must be handled with utmost caution. The chosen agent must be extraordinarily sharp.

With this in mind, Zhao Yizhen was struck by a sudden thought—he recalled the most suitable person for the task.

He slammed his fist on the table and asked, “What about Wang Rukai? Any progress on the antidote?”

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Yu Zhong was a bit thrown off by Zhao Yizhen’s train of thought.

They had just been discussing the Western Xia Intelligence Bureau, so why suddenly inquire about Li Xubai’s injury?

But he reacted quickly and blurted out, “Just now, the young scout reported that Director Wang concocted an antidote and administered it to the Deputy Commander. They are now waiting to see the effect.”

“Let’s go and take a look,” Zhao Yizhen said, leading the way out. Yu Zhong hurried to keep up.

“Ouch, it hurts so much! Just give me a punch to knock me out quickly,” Li Xubai, pale-faced, lay on the bed clutching his belly tightly. Large beads of sweat dripped down his forehead, soaking the silk blanket beneath him.

Song Shiyu frantically wiped Li Xubai’s sweat. Listening to his incoherent groans, her glare at Wang Rukai grew sharper, eyes wide as if ready to devour him. “Director Wang, are you capable? Why is he still in so much pain?”

“I’m not capable; if you are, then you try!” Wang Rukai’s temper flared. He slammed his chopsticks onto the table and abruptly gave up.

Hmph, he’s the one blamed for incompetence—who else but him?

“I’m in this state, about to die from the pain, and you two still have time to bicker? The pain isn’t yours! Are you trying to kill me? If I die and become a ghost, I won’t spare either of you!” Li Xubai groaned even louder.

Wang Rukai’s patience snapped. He snatched the cloth from Song Shiyu’s hand that was wiping Li Xubai’s sweat and stuffed it into Li Xubai’s mouth, frustrated. “I refuse to believe this poison can’t be cured!”

Li Xubai rolled his eyes but could no longer groan.

Wait, if this old man can’t solve the poison, how can he possibly cure the poisoned patient?

Wang Rukai muttered incantations over the table covered with medicinal herbs. His graying beard nearly pulled out, he hadn’t noticed Zhao Yizhen entering the hall or Song Shiyu kneeling on the floor.

“What’s going on here?” Zhao Yizhen asked, noticing the cloth stuffed in Li Xubai’s mouth. He hesitated to reach out, fearing it might disrupt the antidote, then turned to Wang Rukai.

Only then did Wang Rukai snap back to reality, falling to his knees with a thud. He stiffened his neck and said, “Lord Li is too loud. Blocking his mouth keeps him quiet.”