Chapter LXXI - The Intended Target
The prayer hall remained frozen.
The young noblewoman lay unconscious upon the floor while palace physicians rushed forward in panic.
No one moved.
No one dared.
Because Prince Rui stood in the center of the hall with one hand resting upon his sword.
And everyone understood:
If this incident touched Shen Li in any way—
blood would follow.
The Empress Dowager's expression had finally become serious.
"Seal the hall."
Her command echoed sharply.
Guards immediately obeyed.
Heavy doors closed.
No one would leave.
Not until answers appeared.
—
Meanwhile, Prince Rui never once looked away from Shen Li.
Not once.
The poisoned noblewoman barely held his attention.
Because instinct screamed something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The timing. The location. The witnesses.
Too perfect.
Dangerous.
Then suddenly the palace physician knelt.
Sweating heavily.
"The poison was administered through incense."
Silence.
Every noblewoman stiffened instantly.
Incense?
The physician nodded nervously.
"Yes. A rare toxin activated when mixed with a specific floral fragrance."
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Prince Rui's eyes narrowed immediately.
Because he noticed something.
The collapsed noblewoman wore jasmine perfume.
Strong jasmine perfume.
The physician continued:
"The poison should have affected only individuals carrying that fragrance."
The hall erupted into confused whispers.
Then suddenly—
Shen Li froze.
Jasmine.
Earlier this morning—
the palace attendants had attempted presenting her with jasmine-scented incense before the ceremony.
She had declined.
Because she preferred plum blossom scents.
A tiny decision.
Meaningless at the time.
Not meaningless now.
Prince Rui noticed her expression instantly.
And immediately understood.
The temperature inside the hall dropped violently.
Dangerous.
Terrifyingly dangerous.
Then softly— too softly—
he asked:
"What happened?"
Shen Li lowered her voice.
Only for him.
"The attendants offered jasmine incense this morning."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Prince Rui's face became unreadable.
Then somehow—
even colder.
Because now the picture emerged clearly.
The poisoned noblewoman was never the target.
Shen Li was.
The other woman simply carried the wrong fragrance and suffered the consequences.
The realization spread through the hall like wildfire.
Several noblewomen visibly paled.
The Empress Dowager's expression darkened sharply.
Even Consort Xu froze for one dangerous second.
Enough.
Prince Rui saw it.
Of course he did.
—
Then suddenly—
Prince Rui laughed.
A terrible sound.
Soft.
Controlled.
Infinitely worse than shouting.
Every person in the room felt fear crawl down their spine.
Because Prince Rui only laughed like this when his patience finally ended.
Then he looked toward Consort Xu.
Not accusing.
Not emotional.
Just watching.
And somehow—
that felt far more frightening.
The Consort maintained perfect composure.
Almost perfect.
Then calmly:
"Prince Rui cannot possibly suspect this concubine."
Prince Rui tilted his head slightly.
Then:
"Can I not?"
The hall froze again.
Direct challenge.
Open challenge.
Inside Longevity Palace itself.
The Crown Prince wasn't present.
The Emperor wasn't present.
Nothing stood between Prince Rui and his anger now.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
—
Then unexpectedly—
Shen Li stepped forward.
The movement immediately drew every eye.
Prince Rui looked toward her sharply.
Concern appearing before anything else.
Always concern first.
Shen Li squeezed his sleeve lightly.
Tiny touch.
Instant effect.
Then she looked toward the Empress Dowager calmly.
Elegant.
Composed.
Terrifyingly steady.
And suddenly—
everyone remembered something important.
Princess Rui was no longer the quiet abandoned noblewoman from years ago.
She had become dangerous too.
Then Shen Li spoke.
Softly.
Clearly.
"The poison was intended for this daughter."
The room went silent.
Because no one expected her to say it openly.
Yet Shen Li continued.
"This daughter declined the offered fragrance."
"Another noble lady unknowingly received what was meant for me."
The words landed heavily.
Irrefutable.
Logical.
Impossible to dismiss.
Then she looked toward the unconscious woman on the floor.
And quietly added:
"Which means the attacker cared more about killing this daughter than avoiding innocent casualties."
The hall chilled instantly.
Because suddenly this wasn't merely palace intrigue.
It was attempted murder.
Premeditated murder.
Inside a royal ceremony.
—
The Empress Dowager slowly set down her teacup.
The sound echoed sharply.
Then she spoke.
For the first time that morning—
her voice carried genuine anger.
"Investigate everyone."
Silence.
"Every attendant."
"Every servant."
"Every fragrance used today."
The order struck like thunder.
Consort Xu's fingers tightened slightly.
Only slightly.
Enough.
Prince Rui noticed.
Shen Li noticed.
The Empress Dowager noticed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then Prince Rui finally looked toward Shen Li again.
His expression softened instantly.
Only for her.
The contrast felt terrifying.
Then quietly—
so quietly only she heard—
he murmured:
"This prince was right."
Shen Li looked up.
Prince Rui's eyes darkened.
Cold fury hidden beneath control.
"The palace became too dangerous."
And for the first time—
Shen Li realized something unsettling.
Prince Rui wasn't thinking about the war anymore.
He was thinking about taking her away from the capital forever.