At the mention of the Court of Judicial Review's punishments, Xia He shook like a leaf. She knocked her head hard against the floor twice and sobbed, "I'll tell you everything! Please don't torture me!"
After begging for mercy, Xia He began explaining how Liu Ru had harmed Hu Lanxin. "I don't know where my young mistress got this drug. All I know is that it's called Thousand-Day Fall, and it's a slow-acting poison.
"Taking it for a day or two won't do anything, but over months and years, it gradually drains a person's vitality. Once all their vitality is gone, they die.
"But there are no outward signs. Even taking their pulse only reveals that their body is weak. Nothing else shows up.
"I remember that she only started administering it after Prince Changping's young heir was born. The late princess consort had a difficult labor, and the imperial physician who examined her pulse said her constitution had been damaged. She would be very frail afterward and needed careful nursing.
"My young mistress only decided to poison the princess consort after learning that. She said no one would grow suspicious if the princess consort became weaker by the day.
"She bribed the person who served the princess consort her medicinal decoctions, as well as the person responsible for the young heir's pastries. She wanted to get rid of them both.
"But the young heir wasn't fond of treats, so that attempt failed. The princess consort, however, took her medicine every day, and her health steadily declined. She passed away not long ago.
"There was still a little poison left. My young mistress told me to dispose of it, but I didn't dare throw it away outside. I still have it."
Shen Shixu was pleasantly surprised to hear this. He