Although the man had not offered a single word of explanation in the main hall just now, the young emperor still remembered what he had tasked him with the previous day.
Cui Qizhou didn't intend to beat around the bush. Recalling the information he had gleaned from those officials, his expression turned solemn.
"This matter might be rather troublesome. According to them, the medicine for this plague was secretly given to them by someone."
"Who on earth would have the audacity to spread the plague in Chang'an City?"
"I don't know, Your Majesty. It would be better if you send someone else to investigate privately."
"You've had a tough night last night. After we've seen those people, you can go back and rest first."
"Yes."
When the two of them arrived at the prison, moans and groans came out from time to time. "Your Majesty, please spare us. We really didn't know such serious consequences would follow."
Ji Heng rolled his eyes. Cui Qizhou had just told him that these people clearly knew the consequences of using those things, yet they still insisted on doing so.
Walking up to them, his voice was devoid of any emotion.
"Speak up. Where did those things come from exactly? If you can't give a reasonable explanation today, don't blame me for being merciless."
The men exchanged glances. Finally, one of them couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Wang Fugui! Those things came from you. We were dragged into this by you. What else do you have to hide? Hurry up and tell His Majesty the whole truth."
"Yes, we're innocent. Your Majesty must believe us. It was all his doing. He was the one who instigated us."
Seeing the two of them struggling desperately and immediately selling him out, Wang Fugui's face darkened. But in the end, he didn't dare to utter a single word of rebuttal.
"Your Majesty, I'm innocent too. At that time, someone did secretly give us that thing, saying it could help us refine the unique elixir in the world. But I never got to see that person's true face."
The young emperor knew that by this point, they definitely wouldn't dare to hide anything from him. But he suddenly found it rather laughable. These old foxes who had been in the officialdom for so long didn't even know how to be wary of strangers.
For a moment, he didn't know whether to call them brainless or just plain stupid.
Pulling his thoughts back, Ji Heng sat down on a chair beside him.
"How did you usually get in touch with that person? That person couldn't have just handed the things over to you and then never showed up again, right?"
The three men glanced at each other. Wang Fugui knew that it was impossible to keep it hidden. Instead of waiting for the emperor to send someone to search, it would be better for him to hand over the things honestly.
So, he told the whole story.
"That's what happened. If you want to get in touch with that person, you'll have to wait until the fifteenth day of every month."
If that was the case, they couldn't do anything to these three people for the time being. Tonight was the fifteenth day of this month. They had to catch the person behind this to figure out how to solve the plague.
Ji Heng and the young emperor exchanged glances and nodded, as if they could read each other's minds.
"It seems that this is all a misunderstanding. Although you were used and caused a great mistake, just be more careful next time. I won't hold you accountable this time. You can go back first."
Hearing this, the three men were a bit dazed. Were they really going to be let off so easily? The development of the situation seemed to be different from what they had expected.
The young emperor naturally saw what was on their minds. A mocking smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"Should I beat you up and then strip you of your official positions for this matter to be over?"
Obviously, this was a result that none of the three men wanted to see. They shook their heads like rattles.
"Your Majesty, please forgive us. We definitely didn't mean that. We'll leave right away and won't bother Your Majesty anymore."
After saying that, the three men fled the prison as if there were tigers chasing after them.
The young emperor folded his arms, a smile in his eyes.
"It seems that it's not possible for the national master to go back and rest now. How about next time?"
Cui Qizhou had already anticipated such a result. "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will surely capture that person tonight."
"Good. Once this matter is over and the people of Chang'an City are out of danger, I will definitely give you a good chance to rest."
The two of them burst into hearty laughter. The three men who had escaped thought that the matter was over and heaved a long sigh of relief.
Wang Fugui still held a grudge against his two colleagues for easily betraying him just now.
He snorted and turned his head to the side.
"I knew you two were unreliable. I didn't expect you to be so unreliable. You thought you could keep yourselves safe by pushing me out? Do you really think so?"
The two men forced out a smile at the same time. They hadn't expected that the young emperor would let them go so easily. At this moment, they naturally regretted what they had done just now.
"Lord Wang, don't be angry. We also thought about the consequences of betraying you just now. If His Majesty wants to punish you, I will surely share the same fate with you."
If a ghost heard these words from their mouths, even the ghost wouldn't believe them.
Wang Fugui pulled his sleeve out of their hands. "That's enough. After this matter is over, let's never contact each other again. You've lost all my trust anyway."
Since he had said so, the other two men could only feel ashamed and then returned to their mansion with him.
There was no other way. They had to be there tonight to meet the mysterious person. Otherwise, the mysterious person wouldn't show up.
...
The night fell, and everywhere was deathly quiet. The hustle and bustle of the day had faded away, as if foretelling what was about to happen.
Wang Fugui and the other two men were nervously waiting on one side. They had deliberately left the main seat empty. It was obvious who it was for.
Cui Qizhou frowned. The guards beside him were a bit curious. This national master had always been a legendary figure. It was basically impossible for them to work with him on a daily basis. Finally, they had this opportunity today, and everyone wanted to gain some favor in front of the national master.
"National Master, it's already so late at night. Is that mysterious person not going to come? Maybe the mysterious person sensed something was wrong during the day."
Cui Qizhou cast a cold glance at the guard and said with certainty.
"Since it's always been this pattern, it will surely be the same tonight."
As soon as he finished speaking, a shadow flashed in the dark. He was the first to notice it and immediately made a gesture for everyone around to stay quiet.
The mysterious person staggered in. No one knew what he had just been through.