The guards returned to the inn and approached the emperor.
"Your Majesty, he did great on the surface, but when he wielded the paddle, the force was insufficient, and it didn't hurt. The screams were all feigned. Sending them to the prison was for show."
The emperor's face darkened. "Okay. Go rest."
After this incident, neither Qiao Mai nor Yuan Jiaqi could sleep peacefully. The emperor, accompanied by the empress, sought them out.
"In-law, you must help me vent this anger, or I might be infuriated to death."
"Speak. How can I help?"
"After we brought those people to the court, they are still alive. They were whipped and sent to prison, and it has nothing to do with us after that. I want those people to die without anyone knowing!"
"Great minds think alike. Rest assured, they will all be dead within three days."
"What? Three days?"
"During the fight just now, I secretly administered a drug."
"A poison?"
