Soon, the coffee was distributed to everyone at the event, including the Emperor and Empress, who sat at the head of the table. "Is this the coffee you mentioned?" Shi Gaoyan asked his son. "Yes, Father. Please, try it." Wenlang personally took a tray of coffee from a court lady and presented it to the Emperor himself. He explained the different types of coffee as if he had brewed them himself. After the eunuch tested it with a silver needle, the Emperor took a sip. "Mm, good aroma, good taste," Shi Gaoyan said. Wenlang smiled and turned to the guests. "Please, envoys, try this new beverage from the Yan Region. It was discovered not long ago and has become very popular among Yan people." The coffee brewed by Zhenzhu’s servants had a medium taste, suitable for everyone, but some trays contained different flavors for people to choose. Guests who sampled the coffee were eager to try other flavors, causing some to exchange cups to take a sip from each other’s drinks. "It smells wonderful, Your Majesty. Oh, it even has gold-tier spirit energy?!" one of the envoys from the Tang Region exclaimed in astonishment. Wenlang smiled. "We are fortunate to have a skilled agricultural spirit energy cultivator in our region." "Ah, truly fortunate. Truly fortunate. The Yan Region is blessed to have a wise and powerful emperor like you, who brings heaven’s favor," one of the envoys flattered, tinged with envy. A gold-tier agricultural spirit energy cultivator was rare, and they could produce beverages with such concentrated, pure spirit energy. Why didn’t his Tang Region have such talented individuals? He inhaled the coffee’s aroma deeply before sipping it slowly. The aroma that filled his mouth was such an amazing smell. "What is this beverage made from, Your Highness? I have fallen in love with it." After trying the drink, he liked it. Thus, he felt a pain in his heart. Why did the heaven so biased? "Mmm, I don’t have much knowledge about it myself, but a friend of mine does. I will invite her to explain it to you." The young man did not forget to create an opportunity for his little friend. He signaled a court lady to fetch Zhenzhu, not noticing the pair of eyes glaring at him instantly. Luluo clenched her fists tightly, though a malicious smile played on her lips. Not long after, Zhenzhu was invited into the throne hall where the banquet was held. The hall was filled with members of the royal family, nobles, and numerous high-status people. She even noticed several titled wives and ladies wearing garments and carrying bags from the Fu Zhenzhu Shop. As the shop owner, how could she be proud? She paid her respect to the one seated on the dragon throne, adhering to custom. At this moment, she was under the scrutiny of hundreds of curious eyes. However, Zhenzhu did not feel overly nervous or fearful. She tried to keep her excitement in check. At one point, she even saw Li Si giving her a smile and silently talking to her, holding up her fist. You can do this, A’Zhu! "Are you Lady He Zhenzhu, daughter of Master He?" Shi Gaoyan asked. "Yes, Your Majesty. I am He Zhenzhu. It is a great honor that Your Majesty knows of me.” "Mmm, I am somewhat familiar with your reputation. We would like you to help us cultivate the Xuexian herb. I heard that you are quite knowledgeable about herbs." The reputation of Lady He Zhenzhu for providing goods to the government and assisting the Yan Region’s army in overcoming crises was not insignificant. She had done more work than some nobles who received stipends from the royal court. Many nobles had heard her name, though they had never met her in person. Today, they finally saw that Lady He was nothing like the rumors of a large, ugly woman, capable of carrying three soldiers at once. Instead, she was exceptionally graceful and charming. The nobles, upon realizing she was Lady He Zhenzhu, became interested. Some wives even began to consider whether any of their sons were old enough to marry. This lady is fine. Shi Gaoyan had received reports that Lady He Zhenzhu successfully cultivated the Xuexian herb and saved Yong Saiweihao’s life. He intended to have her help with further cultivation, but there were to many post-war responsibilities, causing him to delay this plan. Seeing her here now, he could bring up the subject. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise," Zhenzhu accepted the praise without hesitation, causing the one seated on the dragon throne to laugh heartily in approval. A woman was well-suited for Hao’er. She accepted compliments without annoying humble rejections, unlike other women. If it were another lady from a different family sitting before him, some would be trembling and speaking incoherently. Yet, she remained calm and composed. Hao’er had indeed chosen well. "I hear you have created a new beverage. We are curious about it. What plant is it made from? It smells and tastes wonderful." "Thank you, Your Majesty, for enjoying it. This beverage is called coffee. It is made from coffee beans. I accidentally obtained the seeds and..." Zhenzhu explained the origins of the coffee beans, the cultivation process, care, harvesting, and the transformation into coffee, including the various brewing methods that produced different aromas and flavors, as well as its benefits and limitations. "Mmm, very good." Shi Gaoyan admired this woman greatly. She was indeed farsighted. If this beverage could be exported as coffee beans or powder to other regions, it could generate substantial revenue for the Yan Region. As the Emperor pondered ways to create livelihoods for the people of Yan, the sudden sound of a ceramic cup breaking echoed through the silence. “Guifei has been poisoned!” a voice shouted from among the crowd. Chaos erupted as the guests’ murmurs filled the air, but then there was another shout. “It’s Lady He! The poison is in the coffee! Lady He poisoned Guifei!” It was the voice of the same person who first shouted. At that moment, Ya Guifei’s face turned pale, and dark red blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She soon coughed up more blood, staining her pink dress red. Panic surged through Zhenzhu. The only word echoed in her mind: Disaster! “Royal Physician!” Shi Gaoyan roared, his voice booming throughout the hall, but the chaos did not abate. Wenlang stood up and commanded forcefully, “Guards!” “Surround the banquet hall! No one is to enter or leave. Summon the royal physician immediately!” The voice, imbued with spirit energy, caused everyone in the hall to freeze and fall silent, though some still trembled with fear. For the first time, Zhenzhu saw Wenlang in his imposing demeanor. Until now, she had known him as a polite man, warm and gentle as an older brother. But now, she witnessed the true Crown Prince of the Yan Region, a side of him she had never seen before. This was the true power of the Crown Prince. How could the Crown Prince of the region be merely a courteous young man? However, what worried her most was her own safety. She was not part of the royal court nor from a powerful family. She was unfamiliar with the palace’s schemes and power struggles. Zhenzhu tried to recall if she had offended anyone in the palace but could not think of anyone she might have wronged. Her beautiful face turned pale. She had made a mistake, being so careless, allowing others to attack her. What should she do now? Soon, the royal physicians surrounded Ya Guifei, who had already lost consciousness. The longer it took, the more fear gripped Zhenzhu’s heart. The hall fell silent. Even Li Si turned pale, held back by her father. If not, Lady Zhao who worried for Zhenzhu the most would have rushed to her friend sitting in the center of the hall. Zhenzhu knelt in the middle of the banquet hall, causing her to feel like she was a prisoner awaiting execution. The royal physicians examined Ya Guifei for a long while before reporting, “Your Majesty, Ya Guifei has been poisoned. Upon examination, we found that the poison is in the coffee cup.” Hearing the royal physician’s words, Zhenzhu’s face grew even paler. She had heard that without cunning, one could not survive long in the palace. But had she really brought herself to be beheaded within a day? In the past, she did not fear death, but now she had Yong Saiweihao, her parents, Li Si, and dozens of employees whose lives were intertwined with hers. If she was punished, how could the workers she brought escape? All eyes were fixed on Zhenzhu with suspicion. Yet, it was the gaze of one particular individual that felt like it pierced right through her. As a white-tier spirit energy cultivator, she could easily sense it. Was that person having such an intense murderous intent directed at her? Zhenzhu looked up and saw that it was a princess, seated among the female members of the royal family. She must be a princess. The woman’s face was exquisite, her attire and jewelry enhancing her beauty. However, her eyes were filled with malice. What had Zhenzhu done to incur this princess’s wrath? She had an excellent memory—if she had met such a striking woman before, how could she not remember? “I do not yet know what kind of poison it is, but I will do my best to neutralize it as quickly as possible, Your Majesty,” reported the royal physician. “Mmm, take Ya Guifei for the best treatment possible, do not fail.” “Yes, Your Majesty!” The royal physician responded before instructing the soldiers to bring a stretcher to carry Ya Guifei back to her palace. Shi Gaoyan’s face was now grave. Ya Guifei was an important figure, coming from a powerful family that supported the throne for generations. If she died, it would create a dangerous undercurrent. His current duty was to find the culprit behind the poisoning to mitigate the Ya family’s wrath. If the culprit could not be found, a scapegoat would be necessary. Such was the foul stench of power that he wielded. “Father, it was she who poisoned Ya Guifei,” one of the princesses spoke up from among the royal family. “That’s not true! Your Majesty, please reconsider. Miss He has only just entered the palace for the first time; she doesn’t even know anyone here.” Li Si abandoned her decorum. She both ran and walked to kneel beside her friend, kowtowing repeatedly to the one on the dragon throne. It must be the Third Princess. How could she not know that the Third Princess had feelings for her big brother? But her big brother paid no attention to her because he was in love with Zhenzhu. Thus, the princess used this method to get rid of Zhenzhu. Wenlang raised his hand to signal her to stop. “Royal physicians, thoroughly inspect the coffee for poison now!” He himself also did not believe Zhenzhu would poison Ya Guifei; there was no reason for her to do so. Moreover, he knew her quite well. Yet, due to his position and duty, he had to make the situation clear. Many guests from the other region and senior nobles were present. If anything happened to Zhenzhu, his friend would undoubtedly hold him accountable. The royal physicians examined the coffee again using silver needles and various poison-testing tools. Before long, they completed their investigation. Poison was often hidden in the rims of cups, spoons, or kettles to make detection difficult. “Your Majesty, the poison indeed comes from the coffee.” “See, it is indeed Miss He who poisoned Ya Guifei,” the Eighth Princess supported. She was closely allied with the Third Princess, Luluo, practically her follower. “She doesn’t even know Guifei. How could she poison her?” Li Si spoke up in her friend’s place. She would not accept this. A’Zhu had been framed. "She could have been hired to do it. Who knows?" Luluo sneered. "Miss He is wealthy. She wouldn’t tarnish her reputation like that," Li Si refused to back down. Zhenzhu gently nudged Li Si to quiet her, fearing that her friend might get into trouble as well. Zhenzhu then turned around and signaled the general to take his daughter away. Before long, the guards dragged the reluctant Li Si out. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝※𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖※𝕟𝕖𝕥 Shi Gaoyan was deeply troubled. He had to handle this matter decisively. First, because there were foreign delegations present. Second, because many nobles were pressuring him. Thus, he couldn’t let the future daughter-in-law of the Zhao family go easily, since it would be seen as a blatant neglection. The powerful man let out a deep sigh before speaking. "Do you have any defense, Miss He?" "I only wish to state that I did not poison Guifei, Your Majesty." She was unable to provide evidence to prove her innocence at the moment. "So, you won’t admit to it?" "I did not do it, Your Majesty," Zhenzhu insisted firmly, which made Shi Gaoyan nod slightly in approval. "But all the evidence points to you," Shi Gaoyan continued to press her. "I trust that Your Majesty, in your wisdom and fairness, will find the true culprit and punish them. However, if Your Majesty believes I am guilty, please show mercy and release my workers. They were only doing their duty and had families waiting for them. I will take full responsibility.” Hearing this, Zhao Yangshi and the senior nobles discreetly nodded. This woman was intelligent. She wasn’t admitting guilt but instead threw the problem to the one on the dragon throne. The poison test was only a preliminary examination, and everything was not yet clear. If she were punished now, it would mean accusing an innocent person. Her statement reminded the Emperor of his duty to seek the truth and judge fairly. But if he found her guilty, she asked only that her workers be spared, as they acted under her orders. This was a prisoner placing her neck on the executioner’s block, ordering the executioner to strike. But if it went that way, her innocent blood would forever stain the executioner’s hands. She was challenging the emperor’s capability amidst the eyes of the nobles and guests from the other region. If he made a mistake, it would be a lifelong disgrace. She used the eyes of the nobles and foreign envoys as tools to pressure the emperor. Luluo clenched her fists, praying that this wretched woman would be executed. “Ha, ha. Guards! Miss He is suspected of poisoning Guifei. Take her to the imperial prison to await further investigation.” Gaoyan admired this young woman. Her few words had cornered him completely. Too bad Hao’er had already claimed her. Otherwise, he would have made her Taizi’s primary consort. But no matter, a good peach had already been possessed by another. Li Si was quite brave as well. Zhenzhu was escorted to the imperial prison, with Li Si’s sorrowful and unwilling gaze following her. For a brief moment, Zhenzhu’s peripheral vision caught sight of a satisfied expression among the crowd. Zhenzhu frowned in confusion but was pulled along by the soldiers, forcing her to look away. “Sob... A’Zhu, don’t be afraid. I’ll help you,” Li Si’s eyes welled up with tears, nearly spilling over. Zhenzhu could only smile in response. She wasn’t afraid of dying; she feared causing trouble for others. Zhenzhu walked obediently with the soldiers to the imperial prison. Before entering the confinement area, she underwent an inspection and was forbidden to bring anything inside. Bracelets, necklaces, hairpins, and all accessories were removed and confiscated. However, Zhenzhu pulled a little trick to hide her dimensional bracelet from the court lady conducting the search. With her skill in the Ten Thousand Silks Concealing the Sun technique, concealing the bracelet was not difficult. Having this dimensional bracelet meant that her life in prison wouldn’t be too harsh, as it contained food and essential supplies. Upon arriving at the imperial prison, she found it resembled a cave. Inside, there was only darkness, with a few torches providing light. Fortunately, being a white-tier spirit energy cultivator allowed her to see dimly inside. The darkness, dampness, and musty odor filled the large square room. She followed the long path between the cells. The prisoners inside were filthy and bedraggled, some emitting a stench like that of decaying rats. They lay motionless on straw scattered on the floor. Zhenzhu was led to a cell at the far end of the prison. It was arguably the best cell, with a small window letting in a bit of light, making it less musty than the others. The straw had been recently changed. Though it was the best cell, it was still a prison and not the soft mattress she had. After placing her inside, the soldiers securely locked the door. “Brother, wait a moment. Can I ask where all my servants are being held?” “They are also imprisoned, same as you,” replied the soldier. “Oh, thank you, brother,” Zhenzhu nodded before slowly lowering herself onto the straw mattress. Left alone, she began to reflect on recent events. Who could have framed her? Had she unintentionally offended someone? Despite her efforts, she couldn’t pinpoint a cause. Her mind kept replaying the image of a princess’s satisfied gaze. Zhenzhu examined the cell door and the prison layout. With her Ten Thousand Silks Concealing the Sun technique and white-tier spirit energy, escaping wouldn’t be difficult. But doing so would trouble others, including her servants, workers, and even her father in Fengfu City. Therefore, she couldn’t act recklessly without careful consideration. It would be better to wait for the royal physicians to complete their investigation. If the Emperor declared her guilty, she would not remain passive and allow herself to be wronged. The sound of long nails scraping against wood pulled Zhenzhu from her thoughts. She looked toward the source of the noise and saw a small white cat jump into the cell through the small window that the light could shine in. "Just a short time away and you’ve already been bullied by others. How foolish," Baihu mocked with disdain. Zhenzhu could only remain silent, did not have any words to argue. The sound of something breaking echoed from Third Princess Luluo’s palace. Shards of ceramic scattered across the floor, and fabric and stuffing floated in the air. The state of the bedchamber resembled a battlefield. Three court ladies sat trembling at the threshold, one of them pressing a hand to her bloodied cheek. "Why isn’t she dead yet?" The princess said through gritted teeth with resentment. Hadn’t she ordered the court ladies to poison that woman in prison? But two days had passed, yet there was no news of Miss He’s death. She had painstakingly schemed to get her thrown into the imperial prison, so why was it so difficult to secretly kill her there? She feared her father might release her soon. "I... I did put the poison in her food, Your Highness. I don’t know why she’s not dead.” "It’s because all you are incompetent. Get out! All of you, out!" Another cup shattered as the unfortunate court ladies got out. "Liujiu, are you alright? Does it hurt much? Let’s go see the physician quickly, have him tend to your wound." The Third Princess was in a foul mood. Today, several court ladies had already suffered injuries because of the princess’ temper. They were truly unfortunate to be assigned to her palace. Why hadn’t they been lucky enough to serve the simple First Princess or the sweet Seventh Princess? Instead, they were stuck serving Third Princess, who transformed into a demon every day. But what could they do? Servants couldn’t choose their masters. Fate had bound them to serve the Third Princess. When the master suffered, the servant suffered. When the master was elevated in rank, the servant benefited. Their lives were inextricably tied to this vile princess. For better or worse, she was their mistress. Defying her would only bring more pain. "I won’t go in next time. Whoever’s turn it is can deal with it," one of them said as she helped her friend to the physician. Meanwhile, Zhenzhu lay in the imperial prison, unaware of the turmoil she caused the Third Princess. Read ‘Rebirth: This Farmgirl Has Spirit Fish Scales’ before anyone else with more Chapters at https://www.jinovel.com/en