Facts have proven that the saying "a dog can't change its spots" holds true. Well, isn't the man right in front of them a perfect example?
He slightly curved his lips, looking as if he was all ears.
"Your Highness, just give the order. I will spare no effort and dedicate myself until my last breath."
This kind of attitude was exactly what he liked. Regarding the loss of the jade pendant just now, the King of the Western Regions thought it was worth it.
He could win someone's loyalty with just a jade pendant. After his goal was achieved, he could just take the jade pendant back.
Thinking this way, all his previous dissatisfaction vanished into thin air, and even his expression became much more cheerful.
The better his expression, the more it proved that he was brewing some big conspiracy in his heart.
Lan Xi was as clear as a mirror. With a respectful look on his face, he seemed to be at the king's mercy.
"The king has brought some newly developed rat poison this time. All you need to do is pour this poison into the wells all over Changjing City, and your task will be completed."
Lan Xi was slightly stunned. Although he had been mentally prepared, hearing the king still sticking to the previous plan at this moment stirred up some emotions in his heart.
"Your Highness, do we still have to continue with the previous plan? But now we don't have enough manpower. The previous plan can no longer be carried out."
The King of the Western Regions, who had just been in a good mood, immediately showed dissatisfaction upon hearing this.
"When did it become your turn to question the king's plan? You don't need to worry about the manpower. The king had already prepared a large number of people before coming. You just need to finish the poisoning, and the rest can be left to others."
He was a conceited man who never liked his decisions to be questioned. This plan had been in his mind for a long time, so he certainly wouldn't change it easily.
Lan Xi knew his temper well. Seeing him getting angry, he didn't say anything more.
"I know my mistake, Your Highness. Please rest assured. I will arrange all these things as soon as possible."
"Alright, alright. Get out of here quickly. You're really annoying me just standing here."
Hearing this, a hint of mockery flashed in Lan Xi's eyes. This king was really digging his own grave.
"I take my leave."
As soon as he left the posthouse, he headed straight for the palace.
When Shi Muwǎn heard that he had come, she had the freshly cooked food served on the table.
"The emperor is having dinner here today. Since you're here, sit down and eat with us. I'm sure you've come to see me for something. So sit down and talk."
Excitement appeared in Lan Xi's eyes, and he unceremoniously sat down at one side.
The young emperor twitched the corner of his mouth seeing his familiarity.
"Didn't Lord Lan just go to see the King of the Western Regions? Why did you come back so soon? Did you find out any useful information?"
Lan Xi knew that he couldn't hide anything from this young emperor, and he didn't intend to hide it in the first place.
While eating, he said, "The King of the Western Regions brought some newly developed rat poison this time. He seems very confident and hasn't changed the previous plan. He has also dispatched a large number of people from the Western Regions. I'm sure they will arrive in Changjing City soon."
The young emperor looked at the mountain - like bowl in front of him and ate gracefully, bite by bite.
"So, what's your plan, Lord Lan?"
Lan Xi was slightly stunned and almost thought he had misheard.
"Your Majesty, I'm asking for your opinion. Why are you asking me for my plan?"
Wasn't it supposed to be the emperor who made the decision?
Now that the answer was right in front of him, he was still beating around the bush.
Lan Xi said that in his life, he hated people who beat around the bush the most. Unfortunately, this person was the young emperor whom Shi Muwǎn liked the most. There was nothing he could do but endure it.
Ji Heng gently put down his chopsticks, and immediately a palace attendant handed him a silk handkerchief. "Yes, I'm asking for your opinion. If it were you, would you pour the poison?"
Almost without thinking, Lan Xi chose what he thought was the most correct answer.
"Of course I wouldn't pour the poison. I'd destroy it all after I got it."
The young emperor didn't give him any face and rolled his eyes directly.
"I thought Lord Lan was so capable to be highly regarded by the King of the Western Regions. It seems I overestimated you."
Well, he was actually looked down upon one day.
He was so angry that he was about to explode, but because of the look Shi Muwǎn gave him, he could only eat his rice obediently.
After a long time, seeing that the young emperor didn't say anything else, he was really curious about what was wrong with his answer, so he whispered.
"Please, Your Majesty, give me some advice."
"Alright, since you've asked sincerely, I'll be kind enough to tell you. Your intention of destroying the poison is right, but you're too reckless. You didn't think about the consequences of your actions at all."
"So what should I do to achieve the best result?"
Ji Heng blinked his eyes and slightly curved his lips. "Of course, it's to fish for big game with a long line. Now that we've got the poison, why don't we develop an antidote based on it? The King of the Western Regions hasn't shown his true colors yet, and no one outside knows his real face. Shouldn't we give him a chance? Then we can officially declare war on them."
His words were like a bolt from the blue to Lan Xi. Thinking about it, he really had been negligent this time and failed to consider such an important thing.
The young emperor continued, "We still haven't found out the cause of the deaths of those common people. If this matter isn't handled properly, first, it might implicate the divine doctor unjustly. Second, if this matter was instigated by the Western Regions, we'd be scaring the snake."
"I understand, Your Majesty. It's all my negligence. Sure enough, the rumors outside are not reliable."
This last sentence piqued Shi Muwǎn's curiosity.
"Oh? What are the rumors about the emperor outside?"
Lan Xi opened his mouth. Facing her bright eyes, he just couldn't say no.
Just as he was in a dilemma and didn't know whether he should say it or not, the young emperor came to his rescue.
"Just tell the truth. We won't punish you. Anyway, today we're just having a meal. Let's just take it as after - dinner talk."
"Then, I'll tell the truth. Before I came to Changjing City, the common people outside said that the empress dowager held the real power and the emperor was just a puppet. So the emperor didn't even have the right to speak here and didn't understand state affairs."
Lan Xi thought the young emperor would get angry like the King of the Western Regions after hearing these words, but the result was unexpected.
The young emperor listened with great interest, looking full of curiosity. If he didn't know the inside story, he would have thought the emperor was an outsider.