CHAPTER 443: 342, TRAP_3

Not only that, this plan also led to mutual suspicion among the court officials, even the Chen family and Xu family might suspect each other.

Chen Ji slowly closed his eyes to reflect.

He had personally handed over the poison to the secretary of Huitong Hall—would it be traced back to him?

No.

At that moment, everyone believed the Korea envoy had poisoned themselves to force the Ning Dynasty to send troops to Korea.

Although Chen Ji was also a member of the Chen family, even if everyone suspected the Chen family, they wouldn’t suspect him, as everyone knew his falling out with the Chen family was already public knowledge, even Jin Zhu wouldn’t think of him.

Moreover, at that time, there were at least eight hundred or a thousand people on Chessboard Street and East Rongmi Lane, all fresh out of court, ministers and clerks, all were suspects. Given the habits of the Spy Department, they would certainly recheck everyone present at that time, but Chen Ji was not among them.

Once his thoughts settled, Chen Ji slowly opened his eyes.

So the question arises, why did the Jing Dynasty want to poison the Korea envoy? There was only one reason—they wanted to force the Ning Dynasty to deploy troops.

Chen Ji took a deep breath.

It’s a trap.

The Korea envoys wanted the Ning Dynasty to resist the Jing Dynasty, but the Jing Dynasty counteracted, playing the same trick, also intending for the Ning Dynasty to send troops.

There must be a trap waiting.

...

...

Just at that moment, the sound of urgent hoofbeats came from afar.

Chen Ji stood in front of the gate, looking up to see that it was the Xuan Snake, leading a hundred spies, galloping aggressively toward the Yulin Army Commander’s Mansion!

He was shocked, instinctively tightening his grip on the long spear, thoughts racing about what oversight had led Xuan Snake here.

The next moment, Xuan Snake, with a composed face, rode into the Yulin Army Commander’s Mansion.

Once the spies behind him entered the gate, they immediately dismounted and shut the large gates of the mansion: "Seal off the Yulin Army Commander’s Mansion, to prevent anyone from escaping!"

Chen Ji clasped his hands and said, "Lord Xuan Snake, may I ask what offense my Yulin Army has committed?"

Xuan Snake glanced at him sideways and sneered but did not answer.

The school ground was silent, his black large cloak swayed as he slowly rode among the Yulin Army, the sound of hoofbeats slow and steady, as if pressing on everyone’s hearts.

As Xuan Snake passed by Li Xuan, he looked down and mocked, "Lord Li is indeed broad-minded, what, did you just come back from drinking?"

Li Xuan was silent for two breaths: "Xuan Snake, if there’s an issue, come at me alone. Exile or imprisonment in the Imperial Prison, all are my personal affairs, unrelated to others."

Xuan Snake softly said, "Such a big matter, I’m afraid Lord Li alone can’t bear it."

The Yulin Army was on edge, Qi Zhenzhuo said sternly, "Sir has been to the Imperial Prison twice, not afraid to go a third time, but if you can’t justify and yet want to wrong us, my Qi family won’t let it go easily."

Xuan Snake casually glanced at Qi Zhenzhuo: "The Qi family has quite the authority, it almost makes me afraid. But my visit here this time has nothing to do with you, step aside."

Qi Zhenzhuo was taken aback.

Xuan Snake said loudly, "Isolate Wu Xuange of the Yulin Army Left Brave Guard and his people in the Commander’s Mansion, and interrogate them one by one!"

Chen Ji slowly loosened his grip on the long spear, Wu Xuange said angrily, "Xuan Snake, what are you doing?"

Xuan Snake smiled, "At the time of the incident, you were the first to arrive at East Rongmi Lane, something is suspicious. I suspect the poison the Korea envoys ingested was given by you."

Wu Xuange frowned, "We are the Imperial Guard, when there is intentional disorder on Chessboard Street, it is our duty to swiftly quell it, what fault is there?"

Xuan Snake extended a hand from the black large cloak, carelessly inspecting if his nails were neatly trimmed: "I also want to believe that Commander Wu is innocent..."

Saying this, he looked up and smiled grimly at Wu Xuange: "But I believe more in what my own interrogations reveal."