The Xuan Emperor looked hard at Ning Chen and said coldly, "Ning Chen. Do you know your offense?"

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth went up. "What offense would that be?"

The Xuan Emperor said in anger, "The one who poisoned Prince Duan is Zisu, who is at your side."

The ministers broke into an uproar, badly shaken.

Ning Chen's face was calm, and he said flatly, "Why would Zisu poison Prince Duan?"

The Xuan Emperor smiled coldly. "Ning Chen, it seems you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin. Zisu poisoned Prince Duan, and there were two reasons for it."

"First. Zisu's master, the Physician Immortal Shang Lu, died at Prince Duan's hands."

"Second. Zisu's house was broken and her family killed, and the man behind it was Prince Duan."

"Aren't those two enough to make Zisu poison Prince Duan?"

Ning Chen gave a small, contemptuous laugh. "It all stands to reason, by the sound of it. Where is the proof?"

"Good. You want proof? This emperor will give it to you... Summon Chen Zhaohan."

The eunuchs passed the summons along, call by call.

After a while Chen Zhaohan, who should have been in the cells, came up into the hall with several men behind him.

"Your subject Chen Zhaohan, acting purple coat of the Inspectorate, greets His Majesty."

"This humble commoner greets His Majesty."

The men knelt.

The Xuan Emperor said, "Chen Zhaohan, get up and speak... Tell our beloved ministers what you found."

"Your subject obeys the command."

Chen Zhaohan got to his feet and looked at Ning Chen with a sinister smile.

Then he raised his voice. "My lords, His Majesty in his wisdom saw long ago that there was something strange about Prince Duan's death, and gave me an edict to look into it in secret."

"By what my own inquiry turned up, Prince Duan did die of poison... It is a way of poisoning few men know: heart-piercing lotus ground to powder and wrapped in sticky millet. A man eats it, and it sticks inside his gut, and the poison seeps out…