Chapter 167

Chapter 167

Maria’s oppressive gaze swept over everyone present. Tear tracks still streaked her face, not yet dry, but to everyone’s surprise, she did not look panicked at all.

“Take Father back to his bedchamber first, and summon the doctors to examine him at once.” Her clear voice reached every ear in the hall. “As for everyone present, forgive my offense, but until the truth comes to light, please wait quietly here in the hall.”

“What is the meaning of this, Princess Maria?” Duke Charles immediately said in displeasure. “Are you treating all of us as suspects in the attempted murder of the King?”

“I mean no such thing,” Maria said, neither servile nor overbearing. “It is simply that the situation is still unclear. Duke, please remain calm.”

“Utterly absurd!” Duke Charles flew into a rage. “You are merely a princess. What right do you have to-”

“Father.” Emily suddenly stepped forward and gently advised him, “Princess Maria is only trying to find the source of the problem as quickly as possible. If you insist on leaving now, it will only give others something to use against you. Why not wait a while? What harm could it do?”

Duke Charles frowned, but in the end, he said nothing more.

The King was carried away, while those remaining waited quietly in the hall.

What had once been a lively, joyful banquet became silent and drawn-out.

“So you wanted that medicine to poison the King.” Nemesis, having watched the whole spectacle unfold, looked at Tu Nan with a faint, mocking smile. “You really are bold.”

Tu Nan smiled slightly. “You won’t expose me, will you?”

“What benefit would that bring me?” Nemesis gave a cold laugh. “If it weren’t for the current King, the Witch might not be treated like a public enemy by everyone. If you had poisoned him to death outright, I might have applauded instead.”

Xu Duoyi let out a breath of relief from the side.

Before long, a Maid hurried over, dropped to her knees, and reported, “The doctors have confirmed why the King vomited blood… The King… the King, he…”

“Why are you stammering?!” Maria snapped. “Just say it.”

“The King was poisoned,” the Maid said fearfully.

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

Eugene’s eyes widened sharply, and he blurted out without thinking, “How is that possible?”

“How does Brother know it isn’t possible?” Maria immediately turned to look at him.

Eugene’s expression changed. Forcing himself to stay calm, he said, “Everyone knows the King’s food is prepared and served by designated people. How could he have been poisoned?”

“That isn’t necessarily true.” Maria gave a cold laugh and immediately issued an order. “Bring me the chef who prepared the King’s food.”

The Soldier guards accepted the order and left. After a short while, they brought back a man.

Maria narrowed her eyes and looked at the man below. “I remember that this is not the person who prepares the King’s food.”

“It was Eddie.” The man below might not have known what had happened, but the sight of this scene was enough to tell him it was no ordinary matter. Trembling with fear, he fell to his knees and said shakily, “But Eddie, for some reason… is gone…”

Duke Charles gave a cold laugh. “It seems the matter is already quite clear. This chef named Eddie poisoned the King, and now he has fled to escape punishment.”

Eugene’s face flickered between shock and suspicion.

“How would a mere chef have the nerve to poison the King?” Maria sneered. “Someone must have put him up to it.”

The crowd could not help whispering among themselves.

A chef indeed would not have such courage. But then, who could have ordered him to poison the King?
Maria looked coldly at the man kneeling below the dais. “Did Eddie do anything unusual tonight? Did he meet with anyone?”

The man raised his head, thought for a moment, then stammered, “There was indeed a noble young lady who came to see him, but I didn’t know who she was…”

Eugene immediately demanded, “A noble young lady? How did you know she was a noble?”

“She was dressed splendidly. One glance was enough to tell she was either rich or noble.”

“Is she in this hall?” Eugene asked again.

The man swallowed and lifted his head, sweeping his gaze around the people present.

Everyone in attendance today was royalty or nobility. The moment his gaze touched them, they frowned in disgust.

Sweat poured down the man’s face. Under immense pressure, his eyes moved over the crowd one by one, until they landed on Tu Nan, seated in a corner.

His eyes widened abruptly, and he rubbed them hard, making sure he had not seen wrong.

Everyone followed his line of sight.

Tu Nan calmly met all their stares, her expression unchanged.

“It’s her!” the man said, pointing at Tu Nan. “Her! That’s the one!”

Xu Duoyi couldn’t help glancing at Tu Nan with concern.

Nemesis seemed to finally take the slightest interest as well, turning to look at Tu Nan.

“Oh?” Maria’s tone was heavy, impossible to read. “You’re certain it’s her?”

“I couldn’t be mistaken.” The man knocked his forehead hard against the floor. “It was this young lady.”

“How dare you!” The Queen, who had been silent until now, slammed the table and rose. “You actually dared to plot against the King! Guards, take her away!”

In the corner, Old Carter and Little Carter went bloodless, staring at Tu Nan in disbelief.

“Queen, is it not a little hasty to rely on nothing more than a chef’s word?” Maria said slowly.

Only then did Tu Nan stand, her face full of stunned disbelief. “I have no grudge against you. Why would you frame me?”

“God is my witness, there is not a single lie in what I’ve said tonight,” the man swore.

“Maria, Judy was invited to the Royal Palace by you.” Eugene gave a cold laugh. “Could it be that you’re the one behind this?”

“Brother, if you’re going to say that, you had better have evidence,” Maria said, her face darkening.

Tu Nan walked to the center of the hall and addressed everyone present. “I was with Princess Maria the entire night. When would I have had time to meet Eddie?”

Maria nodded. “That’s right. She was indeed with me.”

“And who would believe that?” Eugene said darkly.

“Are you saying a princess’s word is less credible than a chef’s?” Maria’s voice was ice-cold. “Brother, you’re pressing harder with every step. Are you targeting me?”

“I am discussing the matter as it stands!”

“Enough!” the Queen said, cutting off their argument. “Have you not embarrassed yourselves enough?”

She took a deep breath. “As for tonight’s matter, perhaps we should first ask everyone present to leave…”

“You refused to let us leave just now, and now you’re trying to drive us away?” Duke Charles was watching with great interest and naturally had no desire to go. “Is this how your country treats its guests?”

“The King has been poisoned. With a matter this serious, everyone must be allowed to know the truth,” Maria said as well. “My conscience is clear, so naturally I have nothing to fear.”

Now that things had come this far, if the true culprit was not found tonight, the kingdom would be full of rumors by tomorrow.

“Very well,” the Queen said expressionlessly. “Then let us continue.”