As night descended upon the Imperial City of Great Yan, silence reigned throughout, with only flickering candlelight visible deep within the palace walls.
Recently, the border situation had grown delicate. Although the Northern Di people were internally divided into war hawks, peace advocates, and neutral factions, the war faction commanded the greatest power, aggressively pushing for an alliance with the Western Rong to attack Yan. Within the Great Yan court, several figures closely monitored the Northern Di situation, with Prince Xiao Zhongyan being the most vigilant among them.
Xiao Zhongyan had long maintained connections with the Northern Di royal family. He secretly communicated with the peace faction, attempting to constrain Tuoba Feiyan and prevent the Northern Di from launching a war. He believed that if he could weaken Tuoba Feiyan's influence and allow the peace faction to gain the upper hand, he could avoid conflict between Great Yan and the Northern Di.
However, when news of these activities reached Tuoba Feiyan's ears, it provoked her great anger.
"Xiao Zhongyan... how dare he interfere in Northern Di internal affairs?" Tuoba Feiyan stood by the window, her gaze sharp as a blade, clutching a secret intelligence report in her hand.
"He thinks by allying with the peace faction, he can change the situation?" She laughed coldly, a chill flashing in her eyes. "Nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot."
She had never appreciated challenges to her authority, especially not from someone like Xiao Zhongyan.
"Let's give him a small warning, let him taste the flavor of百足散 (Baizu Powder)," Tuoba Feiyan tapped the table lightly, her tone nonchalant.
Baizu Powder was a secret Northern Di poison—not lethal, but capable of causing internal energy stagnation and blood turbulence, limiting one's physical capabilities for days as though afflicted with serious illness.
She thought this would be enough to make Xiao Zhongyan back down.
However, she underestimated the variables at play.
Several days later, in the capital of Great Yan, lights blazed throughout the prince's mansion.
With the Northern Di war faction gaining momentum and border tensions rising, Xiao Zhongyan decided to host a banquet for his close military officers—partly to discuss border defenses, partly to gauge their views on the Northern Di situation.
"Come, this is excellent wine sent from the Western Regions. The Third Prince must try a cup!" a military officer said with a smile, raising his cup.
Xiao Zhongyan, known for his generous spirit, accepted the cup and drank it in one go, slightly furrowing his brow: "Good wine indeed, but I'm feeling somewhat unwell today—drinking it gives me a strange discomfort."
He set down his cup and rubbed his temples, feeling unusually weak, attributing it to recent exhaustion. While the banquet continued with lively conversation, he began to sense something was wrong. A thin layer of sweat formed on his back, and an inexplicable tightness gripped his chest.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?" asked a concerned officer beside him.
Xiao Zhongyan forced a smile: "It's nothing, just overwork lately. I'll be fine after some rest."
He picked up a cup of warm tea and slowly drank it, but found that the discomfort didn't diminish—instead, it spread to his limbs, causing his fingers to tremble involuntarily. His brow furrowed, but he remained silent, secretly trying to regulate his internal energy to dispel this sudden discomfort.
The strange sensation intensified, however, feeling like alternating currents of ice and fire roiling within, spreading from his core to his organs. He took a deep breath, attempting to suppress the churning sensation inside, but his throat felt parched and his vision slightly blurred.
Just then, a vice-commander smiled and raised his cup: "Third Prince, you look well today. Allow me to offer another toast!"
Xiao Zhongyan managed a smile and raised his cup, but noticed his fingers trembling. A sense of alarm rose within him as he sensed something wrong, but he had no time to dwell on it.
"Your Highness, your complexion doesn't look good..."
Before he could respond, a violent constriction seized his chest, bringing with it a severe sensation of suffocation that nearly made him lose his balance.
As soon as those words were spoken, he felt his chest tighten further, making it difficult to regulate his breathing, as if invisible currents of cold and heat were battling inside him.
"Your Highness?"
Seeing his unusual expression, everyone approached to inquire, only to witness his face alternating between flushed and pale, his brow deeply furrowed, his breathing rapid.
"What... what's happening..." Xiao Zhongyan supported himself against the table, fingers trembling, seemingly caught in indescribable agony.
Suddenly, he violently coughed up a mouthful of black blood, swayed, and then collapsed heavily!
"Your Highness! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"
Chaos erupted throughout the prince's mansion.
However, by the time the imperial physician arrived, it was too late.
"The Third Prince... the poison has penetrated too deeply. There is no remedy."
These words struck like lightning, shocking the court.
That night, the news rapidly reached the palace.
"The Third Prince... dead?" When Xiao Zhengyu heard this news, he was standing in his study, the folding fan in his hand momentarily paused.
"Yes, according to secret reports, he suddenly collapsed during a banquet at his mansion."
Xiao Zhengyu frowned slightly, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, his voice cold: "Do we have autopsy results?"
"The imperial physician says the prince died from poisoning. They estimate the poison had been in his system for several days, possibly contracted earlier this week."
"Several days ago?" Xiao Zhengyu's gaze deepened. "So he was already poisoned, but it only took effect today?"
Zhang Zexiang lowered his voice: "The poisoner's method was extremely subtle. Initial examination reveals the prince's blood and energy were in chaos, with what appears to be a slow-acting poison that had been lurking in his body for days. After analyzing the prince's recent diet and symptoms, the imperial physician believes the poison to be—Baizu Powder."
Xiao Zhengyu frowned slightly: "Baizu Powder?"
Zhang Zexiang nodded, speaking softly: "This poison is not normally fatal. It typically causes internal energy stagnation and blood turbulence, leaving one weakened for days, similar to being gravely ill without external catalysts. However... when the prince drank strong liquor that day, the alcohol accelerated the poison's effects, ultimately attacking his heart with fatal consequences."
Xiao Zhengyu contemplated for a moment, his gaze growing profound.
"Baizu Powder... that's not a poison found in the Central Plains."
"It's from the Northern Di."
The atmosphere in the room grew tense as Zhang Zexiang lowered his voice further: "Your Highness, this matter likely involves Tuoba Feiyan."
Xiao Zhengyu remained silent, slowly closing the secret report in his hand, his eyes gradually turning cold.
"Tuoba Feiyan..."
He murmured softly, a chilling edge to his tone.
"This matter cannot be left unsettled."