Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 675: Chapter 331 Dangerous Situation_2

A few years ago, on the occasion of Prince Wei’s coming-of-age birthday, Zhao Yao gifted him a Great Replenishing Pill. This pill not only fortified Prince Wei’s frail body, but also alleviated the effects of all poisons. Seeing the excellent effects of the Great Replenishing Pill, Zhao Yao wanted to purchase a few more for Prince Wei, but unfortunately, the doctor from the Miao Border had passed away unexpectedly. However, Liang Run later managed to acquire some quality medicine from the Miao Border.

This medicine, unlike the Great Replenishing Pill, did not have the effect of strengthening the body; it only relieved the effects of poisons. Zhao Yao named it the detoxification pills. This detoxification pill had no adverse effects on the body, so he took it.

Speaking of the detoxification pill, Zhao Yao had previously given one to Prince Chu. Since the Great Replenishing Pill, which he previously gifted to Prince Wei, had the same detoxifying effect, Zhao Yao did not give another detoxification pill to Prince Wei.

At the time Zhao Yao gave Prince Chu the detoxification pill, Prince Chu consumed it immediately without hesitation. Like Prince Wei, Prince Chu trusted Zhao Yao deeply and never doubted his intentions.

Zhao Yao gave the detoxification pill to Prince Chu out of concern that someone might poison him. The Crown Prince and Prince Dai had long seen Prince Chu as a thorn in their side and had always wanted to eliminate him, possibly even secretly sending someone to poison him.

Liang Run informed Zhao Yao that this detoxification pill was specially concocted by a poison doctor from the Miao Border, with excellent detoxifying effects. Though it couldn’t neutralize severe poisons entirely, it could significantly reduce their toxicity, preventing immediate death. If it were an ordinary poison, it could swiftly clear the toxic effects.

Zhao Yao had previously been knocked unconscious and dosed with a sedative, but before he regained consciousness, its effects had been purged from his body. However, at that time, his hands and feet were tied, preventing him from moving.

He was now immensely grateful that he had taken the detoxification pill earlier; otherwise, he would truly have become at the mercy of others.

Zhao Yao lay on the table, patiently waiting for the poison’s effects to dissipate. After a while, he felt his strength return to his entire body, and his hands and feet were no longer weak and limp. However, he had to feign the symptoms of poisoning and not let anyone notice his recovery.

The person sitting across from Zhao Yao was also slumped over the table. His complexion, already pale, became even more ghastly after being poisoned.

"Are you alright?" Zhao Yao asked weakly, sounding as though he had no strength at all.

The person across from him didn’t answer, and Zhao Yao did not press further. He braced himself on the table and slowly stood up, staggeringly making his way towards the bed. Upon reaching the bed, as if he had used up all his remaining strength, he collapsed onto it.

The person who had been reclining on the table suddenly lifted his head and cast a cold glance at Zhao Yao.

Lying on the bed, Zhao Yao fixed his gaze on the small window above him. Faint chirping of birds could be heard from outside, discussing where to look for food next.

If there wasn’t another person in the secret chamber, Zhao Yao would have called the birds outside to help send a message. But now, with another person in the chamber, he could not act rashly or allow them to discover he wasn’t poisoned.

Zhao Yao and the other person were confined in the secret chamber; logically, they should assist each other, devising a plan to escape together. Still, Zhao Yao refrained from doing so. He didn’t know the person’s true identity and couldn’t easily trust them. Moreover, the person exuded a "keep-away" aura, suggesting that even if he wanted to plan an escape together, the individual likely wouldn’t trust him in return.

Xiao Jin was tasked with traveling to the capital to find the second uncle and wouldn’t return for a short while. If Xiao Jin were present, it could seek out second uncle and his faction.

Under current circumstances, he could only wait for an opportunity when they were taken out of the secret chamber to devise an escape plan. For now, he would bide his time, conserve his energy.

Having put his mind at ease, Zhao Yao soon fell asleep lying on the bed.

The person sitting at the table, seeing Zhao Yao asleep, immediately stood up. His movements were swift, showing no signs of being poisoned.

He walked over to the bed, looking down at the blissfully sleeping Zhao Yao with a mocking, cold smile. Bending down, he gently patted Zhao Yao’s shoulder; after a while, convinced he was in a deep sleep without any reaction, he turned and left the secret chamber.

After he left the chamber, Zhao Yao, who had been lying on the bed sleeping, suddenly opened his eyes. Sitting up, he sharply focused on the chamber door.

This person could freely exit the chamber; he wasn’t captured but chose to be confined! This person was targeting him!

Zhao Yao’s heart sank heavily, and his expression turned grave.

Who exactly was this person, and what were their motives? Why were they targeting him?

Could it be they knew his true identity?

Wait, he wasn’t randomly caught but purposefully captured?

Zhao Yao furrowed his brows, suddenly remembering the two boats that had inexplicably caught fire earlier. He felt an ominous premonition—could it have all been orchestrated to shake off the Imperial Army and capture him?

Why capture him? He was merely a neglected prince; what use could he serve them? Did they intend to use him to threaten his father?

Wait, he had a good relationship with his fourth brother. Could it be they captured him to threaten his fourth brother?

Yet, his fourth brother had no influence in Jinling or Suzhou and hadn’t meddled in Jiangnan affairs. While the Crown Prince and Prince Dai might want to eliminate his fourth brother, they wouldn’t try to kill him at this moment. Moreover, though he was out of favor, he was still the Emperor’s biological son. If he perished in Jiangnan, killed by the Crown Prince and Prince Dai’s people, his father would surely not spare the Crown Prince and Prince Dai.

It probably wasn’t to threaten his fourth brother.

Not the fourth brother, nor his father—so who else?

The eighth brother?

The eighth brother was deeply concealed; it couldn’t be to threaten the eighth brother.

Zhao Yao racked his brain but couldn’t fathom the reason for capturing him.

Initially, he thought he was captured for his looks to be sold off, but now finding out that wasn’t the case left him utterly clueless.

Zhao Yao recalled how Zheng Xilin had always urged him to leave Jinling City, saying that his status as a prince would bring him danger, raising a suspicion in his mind.

Could the third uncle have found out something and hence urged him to leave Jinling City?

He hadn’t done anything significant or deliberately pried into matters in Jinling City and Suzhou Prefecture, so why was he being drawn into it? Since when did his disregarded prince status become so important, and why hadn’t anyone told him?

Originally, Zhao Yao thought he wouldn’t face any immediate life threats, but now it appeared his situation was quite perilous. If he couldn’t escape, he might not survive the return trip to the capital.

Despite realizing the danger he was in, Zhao Yao didn’t panic or lose composure. Instead, he remained calm. With little information at hand, he was unaware of his location, the person’s identity, or their intentions. He could only patiently wait for their next move, then form an escape plan.

Meanwhile, in the distant capital, Prince Wei, upon learning of Zhao Yao’s disappearance, was extremely anxious and immediately ordered the Southern Wei people in Jiangnan to locate Zhao Yao.