Sinister Aura and Deadly Intent

He opened the oil-paper packet, revealing a talisman inscribed with the birth dates of Grace and Lena, along with sinister black runes.

"This is the 'Mother-Child Curse Talisman' that made them sick," Leon Zane explained, showing Minister Zhuo Grace's casual handiwork. "Looks like it's been buried here for a while—about half a year to a year, I'd say."

Minister Zhuo couldn’t make sense of the runes, but just one look at the talisman made him feel its evil energy and murderous intent.

Who could’ve done this?

Who wanted to harm his wife and daughter?

Minister Zhuo was silent for a moment before asking, "Imperial Advisor, now that we’ve found the talisman, what should we do?"

"Simple. Burn the talisman and they’ll recover," Leon Zane replied, lighting it up and reducing it to ashes.

Bianca Whitefan fed Grace and Lena the antidote she’d prepared in advance. By dawn the next day, both women woke up one after the other.

Minister Zhuo was finally able to relax.

At the same time, he was absolutely furious.

He personally detained all the servants from Forget-Worry Pavilion to investigate who had buried the talisman.

At that moment, Nanny provided a clue.

She said the tree had been planted about half a year ago—maybe that’s when the talisman was buried.

"...Back then, the old madam ordered the guards to dig up Forget-Worry Pavilion looking for the antlered snake for Miss Queenie to compete in the martial contest. The guards dug three feet deep and ruined the garden. Afterwards, the old madam had people replant the flowers and trees."

After a pause, Nanny said, "That tree was planted then. I remember it was the newly appointed Supervisor of Flowers and Plants who planted it himself."

"Supervisor of Flowers and Plants? Who?" Minister Zhuo asked.

"His name is Miles. He was 'specially' promoted by Lady Blue Moon at the time," Nanny replied.

Everyone knew this was true.

Back then, Miles said Madam Wan was fit to be a wife and Lena fit to be a concubine, so Grace Wan promoted him to Supervisor of Flowers and Plants.

Minister Zhuo paused, then called out, "Guards!"

"Here!" the head guard answered.

"Take Miles to the guard camp and get the truth out of him—no matter what!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

In the back garden of the Prime Minister's Residence.

Two young gardeners huddled together, faces full of panic.

Gardener A: "We were the ones who actually planted the tree. Do you think they'll arrest us too?"

"No idea!" Gardener B trembled. "What are we going to do? What do we do?"

Gardener A: "We only planted a tree! I swear I didn’t see anyone bury anything!"

"Yeah! Where did that cursed talisman even come from?"

"I heard the guard camp’s torture chamber is full of all kinds of instruments. I’m terrified!"

"What kind of instruments?"

"Whips with barbs—they rip off flesh with every lash. And they even coat the whips with chili water."

"Ah..."

"And pulling out fingernails—using pliers to rip them off, piece by piece..."

"Ah!"

"And red-hot iron blocks pressed against your skin—imagine the pain!"

"...How about this—if they ask us, we’ll just say Supervisor Miles didn’t let us near the tree. He planted it himself."

"Perfect! That’s what we’ll say!"

...

Supervisor Miles was arrested, and all the gardeners who helped plant the tree were taken away too.

The gardeners all said in unison that Miles planted the tree himself and ordered them not to come near.

Miles denied everything, which only earned him harsher punishment.

Eventually, Miles couldn’t stand the torture anymore and confessed.

He claimed Lady Blue Moon ordered him to do it.