He pursed his lips and asked curiously.
"Isn't Your Majesty at all angry about the rumors outside?"
Hearing this, the young emperor waved his hand casually. "What's there to be angry about? Everyone has different opinions. Besides, I'm the protagonist in this story. Only I know the truth. Of course, I won't get angry because of those so - called remarks."
Watching his graceful movements and relaxed tone, he suddenly understood why the Western Regions could only be confined to a small area while the territory of the Great Liang was vast. Just based on the charm of a great emperor and their self - cultivation, ten kings of the Western Regions couldn't match.
With this thought, at first, he only chose to follow the young emperor because of the Empress Dowager, but now there was a bit of sincerity in his service.
"The Great Liang is fortunate to have Your Majesty, who is so wise and understanding. It won't be long before the unification of all countries."
His heartfelt admiration only earned a smile from the young emperor.
"Set off tomorrow. Finish the task as soon as possible so that the common people can enjoy peace earlier."
"I understand, Your Majesty."
...
The next day.
After Lan Xi clarified his task, he came to the post - station early.
Looking at the people who had been waiting and the things prepared on the table, he smiled.
"Since Your Highness has made all the preparations, I won't say much more. Your Highness just wait here patiently for good news."
The King of the Western Regions leaned back on the chair and patted his shoulder.
"I'm pinning all my hopes on you. Don't let me down. Otherwise, you should know what the consequences will be."
"Your Highness, don't worry. I will surely bring you the news of victory soon."
He deliberately emphasized the word "victory", and the King of the Western Regions didn't notice anything unusual. Instead, he was very happy.
As night fell, everything was going on quietly. What the King of the Western Regions didn't know was that his actions had actually accelerated his own demise.
After all the wells had been poisoned with rat poison, Shi Muwǎn was still worried about the common people and went to the epidemic area in person. As soon as she got there, she met a familiar person.
Seeing a middle - aged man sneaking around as if he wanted to leave, she sent someone to ask about the situation.
The middle - aged man stammered. It was obvious that he was not a good person.
Without hesitation, Xiao Xiao caught him and brought him to Shi Muwǎn's tent.
Looking at the middle - aged man kneeling on the ground, Shi Muwǎn tapped her fingers on the table.
"Speak! Who are you exactly? Why were you sneaking around outside?"
The middle - aged man had been pestering Shi Muwǎn before, but this time he seemed to be in a state of escape. It was really strange.
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Since you're not willing to talk, I have plenty of ways to make you speak. Xiao Xiao, take him away."
"Yes."
Xiao Xiao had been itching to do something for a long time. She had disliked this middle - aged man for a long time. Unexpectedly, she finally got the chance today. She would surely make this middle - aged man pay for his previous actions.
In a short while, there came howls from outside.
Shi Muwǎn found the noise annoying, so she told Ziyi to gag the middle - aged man.
Soon, Xiao Xiao walked in from outside.
"Your Highness, this matter is really important. You may need to go and see for yourself."
"Oh?"
Shi Muwǎn got up and walked in front of the middle - aged man. Seeing his blood - stained body, she knew that he had endured for a long time and could no longer hold on, so he finally chose to talk.
"Tsk tsk. If you had spoken earlier, you wouldn't have had to suffer this physical pain."
The middle - aged man struggled to get up, holding on to his last breath.
"I... I'm actually the murderer who killed those common people. After you left, you didn't find out about me. I waited for so long and found that I was safe. I thought you had given up on this case and the Divine Physician had taken the blame for me. So today, I wanted to sneak out of the capital city. I didn't expect that I couldn't get out and was caught by you instead."
Shi Muwǎn frowned. Although this middle - aged man was a bit greedy, he didn't seem to be so bold.
She decided to test him first.
"Do you still remember what weapon you used to kill those people?"
"Yes, I used the dagger I carried with me. I took action when those people were weak after taking the medicine. Then I framed the Divine Physician with his dagger."
What he said matched what was found at the crime scene. However, there was still one thing that Shi Muwǎn couldn't figure out.
"Those common people had no grudges against you. Why did you kill them?"
Hearing this, the middle - aged man's face was full of regret.
"I... I thought I could become the Empress Dowager's subordinate. I didn't expect to fail in the end. I was really angry. I noticed that the Empress Dowager was very close to the Divine Physician. He was just a doctor, weak and defenseless. I had learned some martial arts at home, so I came up with this way of revenge."
After he finished speaking, Xiao Xiao slapped him.
"Bold! You've dirtied the Empress Dowager's reputation. Who do you think you are? How dare you have such improper thoughts about the Empress Dowager."
"The late emperor has been gone for many years. The Empress Dowager has been living alone. I was just thinking for her sake. Why can't I?"
As he said this, a lecherous smile appeared on his face. This time, Xiao Xiao kicked him directly. The middle - aged man fell to the ground not far away, spitting blood from his mouth.
There were many on - looking common people around. They finally realized that they had wronged the Divine Physician and felt regretful. Thinking that the Divine Physician had whole - heartedly served them before, one by one, they began to plead with Shi Muwǎn.
"Empress Dowager, it's all our fault. We believed the words of villains and wronged the Divine Physician. Could the Empress Dowager please let the Divine Physician come back? We want to apologize to him in person."
Hearing this, Shi Muwǎn thought of the young emperor's recent plan. She turned her head away and said coldly.
"The Divine Physician has worked hard day and night for you without a single complaint. But you, instigated by others, just based on what you saw and heard, directly sentenced him to death. Do you think you people still have the right to be saved? Why should the Divine Physician work hard for you just because of your so - called apology?"
Although part of what she said was to buy time for the Divine Physician, it was also the truth. These people were really heartless.
Fortunately, they had caught the murderer this time. But what if they couldn't catch the murderer next time? Wouldn't the Divine Physician be wronged to death by them?
Thinking of such a result, Shi Muwǎn felt indignant for the Divine Physician.
The common people's faces looked uncomfortable. They also knew that what Shi Muwǎn said was the truth.
"What does the Empress Dowager want us to do before allowing us to see the Divine Physician?"