"This is for the best," Chu Chen said, a devilish curve to his lips as he lifted the wine jar and drank.
One bowl, two bowls... In the blink of an eye, Chu Chen had consumed six bowls. The Prime Minister's face turned ashen, and he repeatedly tried to stop him.
"Lord Chu, that's enough. You're already drunk!" the Prime Minister urged anxiously.
"It's fine, Prime Minister, please continue drinking. I can still drink more," Chu Chen said, seemingly oblivious to the Prime Minister's unease, and continued to drink.
The Prime Minister broke out in a sweat, his forehead beaded with perspiration. Was Chu Chen mad? Drinking so much at once, what if something happened!
As he was contemplating this, Chu Chen's wrist suddenly flicked, spilling a considerable amount of wine, which splashed onto his clothes.
"Hiss!" The Prime Minister clutched his chest in pain, his face contorted in agony. "Lord Chu, are you alright!"
"Prime Minister, what's wrong with you?" Chu Chen stood up, looking at him with confusion.
He gasped for breath, his fleshy face flushed crimson. "Cough, cough, I'm fine. I just choked just now."
"I see. Since Prime Minister is feeling unwell, perhaps it's best to retire and rest early," Chu Chen said with concern.
The Prime Minister waved his hand and chuckled, "No matter, no matter. I shall accompany Lord Chu for one last bowl." With that, the Prime Minister refilled his wine and looked at Chu Chen with a hearty expression.
Chu Chen nodded slightly. "Please."
Bowl after bowl, the Prime Minister became groggy, his eyelids drooping. "Chu... Chu Chen, why aren't you admitting defeat yet? Stop! Stop!"
Chu Chen glanced at him indifferently. "Prime Minister, you truly disappoint me." He then lifted his wine bowl and drained it.
"Chu Chen, how dare you insult this official!" The Prime Minister was furious, wishing he could pounce on Chu Chen and strangle him.
But his legs were weak and unresponsive, leaving him only able to slump on the chair like a turtle, retching continuously.
Chu Chen staggered away from the table, appearing thoroughly drunk.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, this Prime Minister's tolerance for alcohol is truly abysmal," a burst of boisterous laughter erupted at the banquet after Chu Chen left.
"Chu Chen is such a waste! He actually dared to have a drinking contest with the Prime Minister? Truly overestimating himself," a man in brocade robes sneered derisively.
His name was Li Wenjie, a notorious dandy in the capital. Relying on his father's favor and his own wit, he acted recklessly.
"Young Master Li, you shouldn't say that. Lord Chu is an imperial censor, after all. We can't afford to offend him," a scholar in a green robe said with a smile.
"Why should I fear him? My father is the Minister of Justice. What right does Chu Chen, a mere martial man, have to challenge me?"
Li Wenjie curled his lips disdainfully. "Besides, I've studied military strategy since childhood. How can a brute like him compare to me in terms of strategy?"
"Young Master Li is wise," everyone flattered.
"By the way, what kind of wine was Chu Chen drinking just now? It's so potent?" Li Wenjie asked.
"That was a hundred-year-old brewed Peach Blossom Drunk!" the Prime Minister's steward said proudly. "It's said that one bowl is enough to get someone dead drunk!"
"So potent!" Everyone looked at the Prime Minister in shock, marveling at how he had managed to produce such a treasure.
"Naturally," the Prime Minister said smugly, as if boasting about his own excellence.
Chu Chen staggered out of the hall. As he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped and looked back at the wine on the table.
A cold, bloodthirsty smile curved his lips. "Prime Minister, I hope you won't have to pay a price for your actions today!"
With that, he disappeared into the night. Inside the Prime Minister's mansion, in a luxurious chamber.
"Bang!" The sound of a shattered wine jar broke the silence. The Prime Minister, his face flushed and eyes bloodshot, glared at Chu Chen, his hand trembling as he pointed at him.
"Chu Chen, you've gone too far! You dared to poison this Prime Minister!"
Chu Chen sneered mockingly. "Prime Minister, you should say that to His Majesty the Emperor. You dared to secretly switch the wine, you should have the courage to bear the consequences!"
"You... This Prime Minister..." As the Prime Minister spoke, he suddenly collapsed to the ground with a thud.
His lips were dark and purplish, his body convulsed twice, and then he fainted.
"Prime Minister!" A group of guards rushed into the chamber, surrounding the Prime Minister anxiously. They hastily carried him out of the room.
Chu Chen watched the Prime Minister's retreating figure, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Prime Minister, since you've schemed against me with all your might, don't blame me for being impolite!"
With that, he walked directly towards the exit of the Prime Minister's mansion. As he passed the rockery, his steps suddenly halted. He turned his head and looked towards a dark corner. "You've been hiding there eavesdropping for a long time, haven't you."
"Chu Chen, you heartless wretch!"
A deep voice came from the corner. A middle-aged man slowly walked out.
He was burly and robust, with thick sword-like eyebrows above sharp, sinister eyes. A chilling aura of killing intent emanated from him, sending shivers down one's spine.
The moment he recognized the man, Chu Chen's pupils contracted, and his body trembled violently.
He had always known this man was lurking in the shadows, observing him, but he had never expected this man to be the Emperor!
The Emperor slowly paced towards Chu Chen, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings. After confirming no one was nearby,
He asked in a chilling tone, "I ask you, what have you been doing all these years?"
Chu Chen trembled, kneeling on the ground, daring not to make a sound.
"Hmm?" The Emperor let out a soft sound, his majestic gaze suddenly turning cold. "What? You won't answer when I ask you a question?"
Chu Chen shivered in fear and quickly kowtowed to explain, "This subject is wrongly accused! This subject has not betrayed Your Majesty!"
The Emperor narrowed his sharp eyes and questioned word by word, "Are you sure?"
"Sure!" Chu Chen said firmly. "This subject absolutely has no intention of betraying Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, a complex expression flickered in the Emperor's eyes. He spoke slowly, "Chu Chen, I have known you for decades.
You have always been loyal and devoted, which is why I bestowed wine upon you. But if you dare to deceive the sovereign..."
He did not finish, but the threat was evident.
Chu Chen's heart sank. He gritted his teeth and kowtowed three times heavily. "This subject dares not. This subject was also forced to do so. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me!"
"I won't forgive you if you dare," the Emperor snorted and turned to leave, flicking his sleeves. "Scram. Behave yourself from now on, and I will spare your life."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" Chu Chen was overjoyed. He quickly kowtowed and then hurriedly followed the Emperor's footsteps.
In a secluded courtyard of the Imperial Palace.
"Your subordinate greets Your Highness!" the man in black said, kneeling on one knee respectfully.
"How is the investigation?" Feng Jing Tian asked with a grave expression.
"Your subordinate has sent people to the Prime Minister's mansion as Your Highness commanded, and they have drugged and brought the Prime Minister here," the man in black replied respectfully.
"Where is the Prime Minister now?" Feng Jing Tian asked, frowning.