"Bu Er? Why aren't you with your young master?"
When Jiang Zhizhou arrived outside the Imperial City, he spotted Bu Er resting on the carriage and beckoned him over.
"Besides, it isn't dinnertime yet. Why has your young master come here again?"
Could something else have happened in the palace?
Bu Er glanced around and lowered his voice as well. "I don't know either. Young Master told me to wait outside. Young Master Jiang, how did things go on your end?"
Jiang Zhizhou had no intention of saying more. "This isn't a place to linger."
Instead of heading back, he turned and climbed straight into Yang Qing's carriage.
Meanwhile, Yang Qing was kneeling upright before Chu Jinghui.
A memorial lay on the floor in front of him, flung there.
"My minister, the Northern Liang envoys just reported that several of them fell ill after eating the lunch prepared at the Guesthouse."
Chu Jinghui's voice was stern. "Why was this not discovered beforehand?"
Yang Qing lowered his eyes. "Your Majesty, I personally inspected the Guesthouse kitchens and all the ingredients used, and found nothing amiss. The staff were also carefully selected, all reliable people with unblemished backgrounds."
"But I have already sent an Imperial Physician to examine them, and the news is indeed far from reassuring. How do you explain that?"
Chu Jinghui continued, "Even Princess Nazhen is among those affected. The Northern Liang envoys are now deeply agitated and demand that I apprehend the culprit. Otherwise, they will certainly not let the matter rest."
"Even Princess Nazhen has fallen victim?"
"Indeed. If we cannot give them a satisfactory answer, I need not tell you what the consequences will be. You understand them yourself."
"I understand Your Majesty's concern. I will go to the Guesthouse at once to assess the situation