"I'll leave this matter to you, Consort Lan. You must find out exactly why I was poisoned."

"Your Majesty, I obey." Consort Lan was no longer as cheerful as usual; instead, she had a serious expression.

She also didn't believe that Sang Ruo would do such a thing; there were too many twists and turns in the harem.

As soon as she finished speaking, Consort Han couldn't sit still any longer: "Empress Dowager, everyone knows that Consort Lan and the Imperial Concubine have always been on good terms. How could the Empress Dowager make such an arrangement..."

"Outrageous!" The Empress Dowager frowned deeply. "This is something I ordered her to investigate! Do you think I would cover it up?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not." Consort Han lowered her head, but there was no hint of reluctance in her tone: "Your Majesty, I believe that since Your Majesty is the Empress, it is more appropriate to leave this matter to Your Majesty."

After she finished speaking, Consort Hui, who hadn't said a word, spoke up: "Sister, what you said is wrong. Does that mean the Empress Dowager should also listen to the Empress? Besides, the Empress is currently under punishment, so it's even more inappropriate for her to do so."

Han Ying was speechless after being rebuked by her. She glanced at Consort Hui without leaving a trace and then silently sat back down.

Consort Hui gave her a defiant look. The discord between the Empress and Consort Lan was practically an open secret, and she had always followed Consort Lan's lead, so naturally she wasn't afraid of Consort Han.

"Alright, what's all this arguing about in front of the Empress Dowager?" Consort Lan looked at everyone with an air of authority. Although she was usually jovial and easygoing, she was quite serious when she got down to business.

"The Empress Dowager is also tired. All of you ladies may leave. Consort Gui and Miss Sang will be confined to Jinghe Palace for now. We will decide how to deal with them after this matter is investigated."

After she finished speaking, she curtsied to the Empress Dowager and said, "Your Majesty, I take my leave."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand without speaking. The excruciating itching on her hand made her even more uncomfortable. At this moment, listening to their arguing, she just wanted them to leave as soon as possible.

"Noble Consort, Miss Sang, let's go." Consort Lan stood in front of the two and said.

She deliberately took the person away in front of everyone to avoid anyone saying behind her back that she was protecting the two of them. Even if she really was protecting them, she couldn't make it too obvious.

Sang Ruo nodded and together with Sang Jiang curtsied to the Empress Dowager: "Your Majesty, we take our leave."

After they finished speaking, the three of them left one after another.

Seeing that the main character had left, the other concubines also left one after another.

After leaving the Empress Dowager's palace, Consort Lan was even more convinced that the two sisters were not responsible for the incident when she saw their calm expressions. After all, who would be foolish enough to poison something they had prepared?

Thinking this, she smiled and looked at Sang Ruo: "Sister, don't worry. I will find out the truth and clear your and the Fourth Miss's names."

Her smile always seemed just right—any more and it would be obsequious, any less and it would be aloof.

It always gives people the feeling that they have a good relationship with her, but it's not really that good.

Sang Ruo smiled and said, "Then I thank you, sister." As she spoke, she caught a glimpse of Han Yingying, who was walking out with a dark expression, and changed the subject, looking directly at Han Yingying and continuing, "However, I believe that the innocent are innocent, and everything must be based on evidence, not just words spoken with red teeth and white teeth, right, Han Yingying?"

Han Yingying was already choked up, and Sang Ruo's words made her already dark face even darker.

She forced a smile and said, "Sister is right. It's not that you did the best, but I'm afraid some people are just struggling in their death throes."

Without waiting for anyone to say anything, she curtsied to them and said, "Your Majesty, I take my leave."

As soon as Han Ying turned around, her eyes were filled with gloom. Her hands, hanging by her sides, were clenched into fists, and her teeth were grinding together.