Excellent Efficacy

Back in the palace, Duanmu Chen went to find Situ Yao.

Situ Yao's eyes were red. She was sitting by the window. When she saw Duanmu Chen coming, she seemed unbelievable. She quickly stood up and came out. After bowing, she explained what happened last night, saying that she was just afraid that something would happen to her brother and did not want to influence Duanmu Chen. A sincere decision.

"It was my grandfather who first issued the reward order. It is normal for the emperor to do that. I impulsively said nonsense last night, please forgive me." Situ Yao shed tears again as she spoke.

Duanmu Chen sighed and held her hand, "I have always hoped to have an intimate person. I also hope that that person is you."

Situ Yao took advantage of the situation and leaned into Duanmu Chen's arms.

Duanmu Chen patted her back gently, "I just left the palace and went to the Su Mansion, and I brought you something good back."

Situ Yao burst into tears and smiled, "Is it delicious?"

Duanmu Chen nodded, let go of Situ Yao, and took out a bun from the food box that Chang An silently placed on the table. It was not yet cool.

The buns are not big, the outer skin is very delicate, and every fold is quite even.

"Did my cousin do this?" Situ Yao asked.

Duanmu Chen shook his head, "Your cousin made it with his own hands. You must have never eaten it. Try it quickly."

Situ Yao took it with a handkerchief, took a few sips, nodded and said, "It's delicious. I didn't expect my cousin to have such good cooking skills."

"Gu Ling is just a monster. There is nothing he can't do." Duanmu Chen sighed and laughed again, "There is one thing he can't do, give birth to a child."

Situ Yao also smiled.

After Situ Yao finished eating the little bun, rinsed his mouth, and made tea, the two seemed to have restored their previous harmony.

After Duanmu Chen took a sip of tea, he put down the cup and suddenly asked, "Yao'er, can I trust you?"

Situ Yao looked slightly startled, then nodded affirmatively, with a gentle tone but firm eyes, "I am the emperor's concubine. Maybe I will never forget the relatives who gave birth to me, but I will never do anything to betray the emperor."

"Okay." Duanmu Chen nodded and smiled, "I went to the Su Mansion today and happened to hear Su Liang and Gu Ling say that she had made a new and interesting medicine."

With that said, Duanmu Chen pushed a tea cup towards Situ Yao, "Drink this."

Situ Yao looked uneasy, "There is something the emperor said..."

"Yes. Don't be afraid." Duanmu Chen smiled gently, "I say it is interesting because it does no harm to the body. Otherwise, I wouldn't let you use it."

"I'm a little confused, what's so interesting?" Situ Yao didn't touch the cup.

"That's fine, I'll tell you first to save you from being afraid." Duanmu Chen said, "This medicine is called Zhenxin Dan. If a person who takes it tells a lie, his body will tremble. The medicine is only effective for half an hour. It will be solved when it is too late.”

Situ Yao looked a little hurt, "The emperor doesn't trust me...is it because of what happened last night?"

"It has something to do with what happened last night, but it's not entirely true. I have been thinking about you lately, and my mother has noticed it. This is the first time in my life that I have been so concerned about a woman." Duanmu Chen held Situ Yao in his hands. hand, "I am the emperor, I just want to have a close friend with whom I can talk about anything. Do you understand my painstaking efforts?"

Situ Yao frowned and nodded, "I understand. It's just that the medicine is so magical?"

Duanmu Chen nodded affirmatively, "I saw Chang'an try the medicine with my own eyes in Su Mansion. It will be fine. I'm telling you in advance, I just hope you don't panic and answer my next questions calmly."

With that said, Duanmu Chen picked up the tea cup again and handed it to Situ Yao, "Drink it."

Situ Yao narrowed her eyes, took it, held it with both hands, and asked again, "Is the Emperor sure that this medicine is harmless to the fetus?"

Duanmu Chen nodded, "Of course, I asked Su Liang specifically."

Situ Yao lowered his head, sighed softly, and began to drink the warm water in the cup. She confirmed that Youxi only happened a few days ago, and she has not had tea since then. Duanmu Chen poured this cup for her personally.

Situ Yao did not notice any peculiar smell in the water he drank. But she knew that some high-end drugs become colorless and odorless when dissolved in water. She also believed that Su Liang's medical skills could make such a thing. She just didn't know what Duanmu Chen was going to ask her...

The teacup returned to the table. In the quiet space, the bottom of the cup briefly collided with the tabletop, making a particularly clear sound.

"Whatever your Majesty wants to ask, just ask." Situ Yao said.

"Look up and look into my eyes." Duanmu Chen's tone was obviously becoming gentler, but it also carried an unquestionable intimidation.

Situ Yao then raised her head and looked at Duanmu Chen, with crystal water shining in the corners of her eyes.

Duanmu Chen will not be soft-hearted. The more he found that he cared about Situ Yao, the more he needed to confirm whether this woman was trustworthy as soon as possible.

As for changing the name Gu Ling gave to this "medicine", it was necessary. The original name was so weird.

The so-called efficacy of Duanmu Chen has also changed. Because he thought that Situ Yao was pregnant and if he told her that she would die if she lied, she might guess that Duanmu Chen was scaring her and it was not true.

"Do you like..." Duanmu Chen paused, "Gu Ling?"

Situ Yao was stunned.

Anyone would think that Duanmu Chen would ask Situ Yao if she really liked him, but unexpectedly he asked her if she liked Gu Ling.

After Situ Yao was surprised, she shook her head calmly, "I don't like it."

"I'm not asking about the love between men and women, but I want to know what you think of Gu Ling himself and his cousin," Duanmu Chen said.

He had never doubted that Situ Yao liked Gu Ling, and that was not what he was asking about at the moment.

Situ Yao frowned, thought for a moment, sighed first, and then shook her head, "I don't like it."

"Why?" Duanmu Chen asked.

Situ Yao sighed again, "Cousin Gu Ling never took Situ's people seriously, let alone treated me as a sister."

Duanmu Chen nodded. It's true. It's just that Situ Yao mentioned Gu Ling before that it was not like this. But that's normal. They are actually irrelevant people, and it's okay to say some polite words for face.

Then, Duanmu Chen asked again, "You have said more than once that you admire Su Liang and like her very much. Is it true?"

As soon as the voice fell, Situ Yao's fingers grabbed her sleeve. This was something Duanmu Chen had discovered long ago, and she subconsciously moved when she was nervous.

"I..." Situ Yao lowered her head again, and she, who always understood etiquette the most, forgot to call herself a concubine, "I don't like my cousin's wife either..."

"Why?" Duanmu Chen's eyes dimmed.

"She...she..." Situ Yao obviously didn't want to say the next words, "She always looks so high and mighty, as if everyone has to revolve around her, she is always right, and being different from her is definitely wrong."

After Situ Yao finished speaking, she seemed to regret it a little, and wanted to explain, but she hesitated.

Perhaps it was because of "not lying" that she couldn't say some polite and false words to hide her true thoughts.

The gentleness in Duanmu Chen's eyes was a bit fake, and now even the fakeness was gone. He asked Situ Yao, "Has Su Liang offended you?"

Situ Yao didn't answer directly, "Her master arrested me and threatened my grandfather."

"That's because Situ Jing arrested her at that time."

"That was done by Situ Jing, and it has nothing to do with me."

"Arresting you was her master's intention, and she didn't know it at the time."

"If it weren't for Su Liang, many things wouldn't be like this now!"

After Situ Yao blurted out, she looked flustered and hurriedly lowered her head to cover up. Under the influence of "drugs", she kept hinting that she must tell the truth and not lie. Duanmu Chen was quite aggressive just now. Situ Yao was no match for him in psychological warfare.

Duanmu Chen looked indifferent, "What are you dissatisfied with now? Do you hope that no one will stop your grandfather from unifying the world?"

"I..." Situ Yao wanted to refute, but she didn't dare to say it. Her face showed a strange red, as if the ice that kept calm in her heart and the anger that had been hidden for a long time were colliding fiercely.

And not daring to answer is a definite answer in itself.

"That's my grandfather." Situ Yao whispered with a bit of crying.

"Your grandfather killed his son Situ Han. What do you think of the comparison?" Duanmu Chen asked.

Situ Yao was silent for a moment, "The throne has always been like this. Originally, that position was given to him by my grandfather."

"For the throne, it is right for father and son to kill each other?" Duanmu Chen asked.

"Didn't the emperor also..." Situ Yao spoke faster than she thought, and her face turned pale when she realized what she had said.

Duanmu Chen smiled, "Yes. I snatched the throne from my father, but at least my father is still alive. And it has always been said that even a tiger will not eat its own cubs. Your grandfather has only revealed his true colors. Have you ever thought about abandoning the Situ family and being loyal to me?"

Situ Yao was silent for a longer time this time, but still answered Duanmu Chen's question, "If the Situ family of Liang is not good, I will not have a good life either."

"Huh..." Duanmu Chen sighed inaudibly, "You are already pregnant with my child, but you don't know me at all."

After saying that, Duanmu Chen stood up, "Let's stop here." Then he walked out.

Situ Yao sat in a daze. She seemed to be in a dream, her mind was blank for a moment, she didn't know what happened, what she had just said, what kind of medicine...

Situ Yao looked at the teacup on the table, she spoke, hesitantly, "I really like Su Liang."

This was a lie, but there was nothing wrong with her body. She looked at her arm, which was hanging steadily without trembling.

The so-called interesting medicine... Situ Yao's face turned pale instantly!

...

Duanmu Chen went to the Imperial Garden again and walked slowly by the lake with Chang'an.

He never asked Situ Yao about her feelings for him from beginning to end, but there was no need to ask.

On the way back to the palace from Su Mansion, Duanmu Chen kept thinking about what he should ask and what he wanted to know.

When he entered the palace, he thought of the answer. He didn't actually want to hear Situ Yao say that she loved him, because of his position. Because they had been married for only more than a month, how could they have such deep feelings.

He wanted to know what kind of person this woman who made him a little moved was, and whether she was worthy of his love.

And asking Situ Yao about her views on Gu Ling and Su Liang was because Duanmu Chen wanted to use this to judge her character and sense of right and wrong.

Because from Duanmu Chen's perspective and the factual level, Gu Ling and Su Liang had not done anything to hurt Situ Yao. When Situ Yao was captured by Lao Bai and Lao Mu, it was just a countermeasure. At that time, Su Liang was captured by Qiu Cong. Situ Jing was still a good grandson of Situ Xie. He was happy when he knew that Su Liang was captured.

Even if Situ Yao didn't know what happened before, she should know the reason afterwards. But she blamed Su Liang for this, which was unreasonable.

From Situ Yao's tone, it is not difficult to hear that she was jealous of Su Liang, as if Su Liang's excellence was a mistake. She said that Su Liang was high above, as if he was always right. But the fact is that Su Liang was indeed right. Only those who did something wrong would want to reverse black and white.

And Situ Yao had infinite tolerance and understanding for her grandfather. No matter how many evil things he did, she would just say "it has always been like this".

Situ Yao believed that the Situ family of Liang State was her eternal support. As long as the Situ family was strong, Duanmu Chen would treat her well.

Duanmu Chen just thought it was ridiculous. He chose to marry for the sake of the overall situation, but after she really became his woman, he did not want the harem to participate in any political affairs, and his attitude towards these women had nothing to do with the so-called overall situation. Because when the marriage was successful, the meaning of the marriage itself was over.

"It's a pity for the bun made by Gu Ling." Duanmu Chen suddenly spoke.

Chang'an listened silently.

"Go to the Su Mansion and ask for another one." Duanmu Chen said.

Chang'an asked weakly, "Only... one?"

"More is better." Duanmu Chen smiled, "I'll ask my mother to taste it."

Chang'an responded, thinking that this was a good reason.

"Tell Su Liang that her magic medicine is very effective, thank Gu Ling for me." Duanmu Chen said.

Changan: ...Mrs. Gu's medicine is very effective, but she has to thank Marquis Gu? I don't understand.

After Changan left, Duanmu Chen also left the Imperial Garden. He felt that he had been too idle recently, and it was outrageous to think about all those things for a woman who was only good-looking but had bad character. He should plan carefully how to destroy Liang State.

...

Su Liang and Gu Ling met Changan again, and heard him relay Duanmu Chen's words, and knew that the matter was over.

A "medicine" used for lie detection. If Situ Yao said the truth and satisfied Duanmu Chen, he would doubt whether she had seen through the scam.

Only when Duanmu Chen unexpectedly gave a "bad answer" was it worth him to sigh at the good effect of the medicine.

Su Liang was not surprised by this result. It's not that she thinks that the granddaughter taught by Situ Xie must be the same as him. Gu Ling's mother is Situ Xie's daughter, and she is not of that kind. It's just that in the past, Su Liang always felt that Situ Yao was too perfect to be real. In other words, she couldn't see her sincerity.

This is also the reason why Gu Ling and Su Liang only treat Situ Yao as a member of the Situ family.

When Duanmu Chen came to Su Liang to say those things, it meant that Situ Yao had not successfully disguised herself in front of him. Today was just to make some things more certain.

The buns were gone, and Su Liang asked Chang'an to take away a box of jujube flower cakes made by Gu Ling.

After Chang'an left, Su Liang asked Gu Ling, "Do you think Duanmu Chen will meet the person he truly loves in this life?"

Gu Ling thought about it and said, "I didn't think so at first. But after this incident, maybe."

Duanmu Chen is changing from a standard member of the royal family to a normal person. If he were the old him, he would not have the distress of coming to Su Liang today.

...

Duanmu Chen did not banish Situ Yao to the cold palace, nor did he restrict her from moving around in the harem. He was still gentle when they met, but he did not spend the night with her again at night, saying that it was inconvenient because she was pregnant.

Situ Yao cried in front of the Queen Mother Xiao, saying that she had said the wrong thing. She didn't know what happened at that time, as if someone was controlling her.

Xiao only comforted her, but didn't say anything to help her explain, and advised her to take good care of the baby.

As for the servants that Situ Yao brought with her as a dowry, they had all been replaced by Duanmu Chen, including the nanny who had served her since she was a child and she begged to stay.

...

Yaocheng, Liangguo.

The bounty issued by Situ Xie has not yet had any results. He just received the news that Duanmu Chen also issued a bounty for Situ Jing's head.

When the news arrived, Situ Jing was also present, and his face suddenly changed.

"Grandfather, what should we do?" Situ Jing said with a gloomy face. No matter how high the walls of the palace are, they can't stop some people with high martial arts skills from flying into the sky and hiding in the ground. The fact that the bounty order of Liangguo has not yet had any results means that it is not easy to kill Qiu Jing. And Situ Jing knows that the strength of Qiu Cong and Qiu Jing's grandfather and grandson is extremely strong.

Situ Xie stared, "This must be the idea that Su Liang and Gu Ling gave to Duanmu Chen."

Situ Jing said bitterly, "If I had known this, I should have found a way to get rid of them!"

Situ Xie shook his head, "No one can predict the future. Come on, bring Liang Zhen here!"

Situ Jing frowned, and for a moment he couldn't remember who Liang Zhen was.

Soon, an old man was dragged in by two guards. The old man was not tall, with gray hair and beard, and blurred eyes, obviously drugged.

Situ Jing remembered that this man was originally from Liang, and had received favors from Situ Ning. After the Gu family got into trouble, he followed Gu Ling and later returned to Liang.

Then, Situ Xie threw out a piece of paper, ordered the guard to pick it up, cut Liang Zhen's hand with a knife, pressed his hand, and left a bloody handprint on the paper.

The paper returned to Situ Xie's hand, and he looked at it coldly, "Send this to my good grandson, and tell him that if you want Liang Zhen's family to survive, ask Duanmu Chen to cancel the bounty order and then send Situ Jing's head over!"

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