Chapter 41

If this involved the Jinghou Mansion, she was afraid she would become the object of curses from all the clan members.

She slowly sat down, Gu Si just standing right in front of her, arms crossed as he stared at her, truly watching her closely.

She raised her head and asked Gu Si, "Can you tell me, what poison did the Retired Emperor ingest exactly?"

Gu Si pressed his lips tightly together, not saying a word.

Yuan Qingling knew that these palace guards, their mouths were tighter than steel, if they didn't want to speak, there was no way to pry them open.

She didn't doubt at all that the Retired Emperor was poisoned.

From the Fu Bao incident it could be seen that the Retired Emperor poked some people's eyes, there were people who wished with all their heart that he would die.

It's just, Qian Kun Palace was airtight, to add something to his food and drink, it was nearly impossible.

The possibility of poisoning his medicine was also not big, because the imperial doctors' prescribed medicines were all tested by someone, if they wanted to poison the medicine, then that person must be Eunuch Chang and Xi Mama. Xi Mama and Eunuch Chang, one of those two people watched the medicine testing, after testing the medicine, they would take it directly into the palace for the Retired Emperor to ingest.

In the three days in Qian Kun Palace, she knew this process.

If food and medicine couldn't be poisoned, then only the incense remained.

But in the palace there wasn't only the Retired Emperor alone, Eunuch Chang was always at his side, if the Retired Emperor was poisoned, Eunuch Chang would also certainly be poisoned.

And there were always eunuchs going in and out to serve him, Empress Dowager, Emperor Rui, Prince Qin always went to pay respects, putting poison in the incense burner was also very stupid behavior.

Mu Ru eunuch said the Retired Emperor lost consciousness, so who was it that informed His Majesty, and said that she had medicine to treat him?

Eunuch Chang? But Eunuch Chang also didn't see her giving medicine when she went in together with Yuwen Hao.

Other than Yuwen Hao, no one knew.

Even if Yuwen Hao wanted to say, he couldn't say it either, these past few days he hadn't even entered the palace.

Had he told other people? He didn't seem like someone who didn't know his place, he knew that as soon as this matter was investigated, he would certainly be implicated, it didn't benefit him at all.

If it wasn't someone he absolutely trusted, he wouldn't have said it.

If he didn't say it, then someone guessed.

Who paid such attention to her actions going in?

There were two people, Prince Ji and Chu Mingcui.

Prince Ji noticed whenever anyone went in, especially when Yuwen Hao went in, he would certainly prick up his ears to eavesdrop.

Could it be Chu Mingcui? Might Yuwen Hao have told Chu Mingcui before?

He should absolutely trust Chu Mingcui, they had also been together at Wenchang Tower before.

Assuming it was Chu Mingcui, she wouldn't directly tell His Majesty, she would inform the Empress.

After a few quick thoughts, she raised her head and asked Gu Si, "The Empress didn't see me give the Retired Emperor medicine, so why would His Majesty firmly believe the Empress's words?"

She stared at Gu Si.

Gu Si's eyebrows raised slightly, seeming somewhat astonished in his eyes, but in an instant, he returned to normal again, still not saying a word.

Yuan Qingling didn't need Gu Si's answer, just seeing his expression, she had already guessed.

It was the Empress who informed His Majesty, but the Empress's thoughts weren't so meticulous, so her deduction wasn't wrong, it was Chu Mingcui.

Very good, Chu Mingcui!

Every cell in Yuan Qingling's body turned icy cold.

This was a place where people devoured each other.

Prince Chu's Residence

After Yuan Qingling was brought into the palace, Tang Yang immediately went down to tell Yuwen Hao.

After hearing about this matter, Yuwen Hao's complexion had remained very ugly the entire time, as if he had suffered a major blow.

When it reached the hour of Shen [3-5 pm], and there still wasn't any news from the palace, he ordered Tang Yang to prepare a sedan chair, he wanted to go to the palace.

Tang Yang advised: "Your Highness's injuries are too severe, it's not suitable to go to the palace."

"No need to waste words."

"Your Highness, the situation is precarious, it's better to keep observing for now." Tang Yang said.

"By continuing to observe, will the situation reverse?" Yuwen Hao coldly said.

"It won't, but at least we'll know how to respond." Tang Yang sighed, "Right now Your Highness is truly unsuitable to charge forward into the limelight, Your Highness is heavily injured, by not going to the palace to explain, His Majesty will also understand, but if Your Highness drags your gravely injured body to go to the palace, it will instead make His Majesty feel that Your Highness deliberately used a show of suffering to demonstrate your innocence."

"Xu Yi, prepare a sedan chair." Yuwen Hao directly ordered Xu Yi.

Xu Yi looked at Tang Yang in difficulty, His Highness's injuries were so severe he couldn't even get out of bed, how could he go to the palace?

"Your Highness, please think thrice!" Tang Yang said in a deep voice.

How could Yuwen Hao not have thought it over thrice? He had thought it over more than thirty times already.

From the moment Mu Ru eunuch took Yuan Qingling away, his brain hadn't stopped running scenarios.

He had thought over many arguments, but no matter which argument, there was no way for him to completely absolve himself of involvement.

And the worst possibility he could think of was that Yuan Qingling would frame him as the mastermind in order to free herself.

Yuan Qingling absolutely could do this. Over this past year, her life in the Prince's residence hadn't been satisfactory, in order to survive, betraying him wasn't out of the question.

If it were him, he probably would also do the same.

After all, they didn't even have the bonds of husband and wife between them.

When Yuwen Hao was about to prepare to enter the palace, the gatekeeper hurriedly came to report: "Your Highness, Lord Wu from Jingzhao Prefecture has come with people."

Tang Yang's expression quickly changed, "He must have captured the assassin who tried to kill Your Highness."

Xu Yi's expression brightened, "That would be great."

Yuwen Hao's heart, however, sank down.

He had some ominous premonition in his heart.

Lord Wu brought the yamen runners from Jingzhao Prefecture over, six yamen runners stood at the entrance, and Lord Wu came into the room.

Tang Yang asked: "Lord Wu, have you found the assassin who tried to kill His Highness?"

Lord Wu nodded, "That's right, we did find him."

He stepped forward and bowed with hands clasped, "This humble official pays respects to Your Highness."

"No need for courtesy!" Yuwen Hao looked at him, "Did the murderer confess?"

Lord Wu looked straight at Yuwen Hao, "He confessed. This time I have come on imperial orders."

Tang Yang's expression changed slightly, "Come on imperial orders?"

"That's right. At first the assassin admitted he was sent by Prince Qi. But after torture, the assassin changed his confession and said the assassin was sent by Your Highness Prince Chu." Lord Wu said heavily.

Xu Yi immediately said: "Preposterous! His Highness sending an assassin to kill himself? There is nothing so foolish under heaven!"

Yuwen Hao calmly asked: "Did the assassin commit suicide?"

"As Your Highness expected, after confessing, the assassin bit down poison and killed himself."

Yuwen Hao faintly smiled.

Unable to withstand torture, confessing he was the mastermind behind it all before biting poison to commit suicide, it was illogical, but he had died without anything to prove it false.

"His Majesty asked this humble official to come ask Your Highness one thing, was what the assassin said true or not?" Lord Wu said.

Yuwen Hao slowly shook his head, "It wasn't, I never did that."

Lord Wu said: "Since that is the case, this humble official will return to the palace to report. It would be best if Your Highness does not leave the capital these next few days."

"I want to go to the palace." Yuwen Hao said.

"Your Highness, the princes may not enter the palace without an imperial decree." Lord Wu said.

Yuwen Hao's body slowly sank down, "I understand, see Lord Wu out."

Tang Yang bent down, "May Lord Wu depart slowly."

Lord Wu nodded, bowed towards Yuwen Hao with hands clasped, "This humble official bids farewell!"

He retreated two steps, turned around, and left, taking the yamen runners outside with him.

Tang Yang was silent for a moment, then said: "Your Highness, the enemy operates in the dark, it would be unwise to act rashly now."

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