The Taster Who Caught the Regent's Poison novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: The Ice Cellar

"There is more," said the guard captain.

He sat on a block of ice with his bound arm in his lap, and he did not look at the Regent.

"The elder Hu has proclaimed a Ceremony of Yielding for noon tomorrow."

"The Emperor, being unwell, will drink the cup of yielding before the court and set his hand to the edict."

"And if the Emperor is not found?" the Regent said.

"Then it will be announced that he fell ill and died, and the elder Hu will take the throne for the good of the realm."

The cold crept up through Linyuan's boots.

"He has a cup ready for the boy," Linyuan said. "Whatever he calls it."

"Yes," said the captain.

They sent him to lie behind the door at the cellar mouth and listen, with a stolen quilt over his legs.

The Emperor was asleep before they put him down.

He lay on a bed of straw at the far end of the vault, thirty paces off behind the long wall of ice.

He was covered by three coats and the Regent's outer robe.

His face in the green light was the face of a child.

Linyuan went back and found Duan Shiyan sitting on the straw by the farthest block, with his arms around his knees.

He did not look like the Regent of Liang.

He looked like a man who had made up his mind.

"Linyuan."

"No."

"You have not heard it."

"I don't have to. I know your face."

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