Chapter 116 There is no such person as Mu Sheng

"Your Majesty, while interrogating those who had access to the food, I discovered that Fuzi's behavior was a little strange. I found this in her room."

When Zhou Ninghai came in, he pulled Fuzi beside him in as well, and carefully reported to Nian Shilan what he had just discovered, while handing over the thing in his hand.

Nian Shilan looked at the things Zhou Ninghai said were found from Fuzi's residence.

This is a very delicately crafted bracelet, far from something an ordinary palace maid should have.

"Tell me, what's going on?"

There was no sign of anything unusual on Nian Shilan's face. She asked Fuzi in a calm tone, but Fuzi felt a strong chill coming towards her.

She was extremely panicked, thinking that all her previous actions had been discovered, and she was so scared that she immediately collapsed to the ground.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I really didn't mean to hide anything. I really like Mu Sheng. He is really good to me. This bracelet was given to me by him. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Mu Sheng? But he is someone from this palace?"

Nian Shilan was very unfamiliar with this name. If she guessed correctly, this person was definitely not from her palace.

"Your Highness, he is in the Imperial Kitchen. I used to go there to get something, and that's how I got to know him. I really haven't done anything else for him. Please, Your Highness, have mercy on me."

Nian Shilan was given a headache by her crying. She frowned. Although this maid kept herself completely out of this matter, for Nian Shilan now, she did not believe that anyone was innocent. Moreover, even if what this maid said was that her things were given to her by someone else, how could a servant in the imperial kitchen own such things?

"Your Majesty, I've found out. This Fuzi received water chestnut powder from the imperial kitchen a few days ago. I just asked Imperial Physicians Wen and Jiang to check it out. They found that the water chestnut powder was mixed with cassava flour."

Just then Songzhi walked in from outside. She whispered something in Nian Shilan's ear, which immediately made Nian Shilan look as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

This water chestnut flour and cassava flour are very similar in appearance, and it is difficult for ordinary people to distinguish them. It seems that the person behind the scenes is taking advantage of this cleverness to make a fuss.

"Fuzi, you still haven't told the truth? Tell me, who ordered you to do this?"

Nian Shilan slammed the table hard, and her eyes like sharp swords swept over Fu Zi in front of her.

Others may not be able to recognize the difference between water chestnut flour and tapioca flour, but this Fuzi is carefully selected and placed in the small kitchen, and there is no way she would make such a mistake in identifying the ingredients.

Fuzi didn't understand what Nian Shilan said. In her heart, she had already told him everything she had hidden.

"My Lady, I have explained everything clearly. I was afraid before so I didn't dare to tell you about what happened with Mu Sheng."

"I didn't originally want to accept this gift from Mu Sheng, but he kept telling me that it was a token of his love for me. He said that it would be useless for him to keep the bracelet. After a few times, I finally gave in."

She originally thought that he really liked her and that was why he gave her such a valuable gift. Moreover, after knowing each other for such a long time, he had never privately inquired about the affairs of the Yikun Palace, so Fuzi gradually let down her guard against him.

But now that she thought about it, he must have had ulterior motives when he first approached her, but she didn't notice it at all at that time.

"Zhou Ninghai, go and bring over the Imperial Kitchen's steward and this man called Mu Sheng."

Nian Shilan didn't even give Fuzi a glance. She directly ordered Zhou Ninghai to go to the imperial kitchen to find someone.

Regardless of whether Fu Zi was used by others, she was not innocent. The people in her palace were all strictly trained, but they were so easily used by others. This is extremely stupid.

Nian Shilan looked at Fu Zi who was kneeling on the ground with a gloomy face. No matter whether what she said now was true or false, she could not escape the responsibility.

After a while, Zhou Ninghai came with the steward of the imperial kitchen, but there was no one else behind him.

"Your Majesty, according to the Imperial Kitchen's chief steward, there is no one named Mu Sheng there."

"Yes, Madam, I would never dare to lie about such a thing. If you don't believe me, you can go to the imperial kitchen and ask anyone. I have never seen anyone named Mu Sheng there."

The chief steward of the imperial kitchen was also extremely frightened at this time. He had been in the imperial kitchen for so many years and he knew very well how ruthless Nian Shilan was towards those who made mistakes. If there really was a problem with one of his people, then his position as chief steward would be over.

"Impossible, impossible. He did say his name was Mu Sheng, and every time I went to the Imperial Kitchen, he was there at the same time. If he wasn't from the Imperial Kitchen, where else could he be from?"

Before Nian Shilan could say anything, Fu Zi, who was kneeling beside her, couldn't help but scream. This was the only chance to prove her innocence. How could this person not be there now? What should she do?

"If your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can have this maid accompany me to the Imperial Kitchen to check. I have just asked everyone in the Imperial Kitchen to stay there. We will know for sure if this person is there."

After hearing what the steward said, Nian Shilan thought for a while, then gave Zhou Ninghai a look. Zhou Ninghai immediately dragged Fuzi from the ground and went with the steward of the imperial kitchen.

"My lady, would you like to have some tea first?"

Songzhi looked at Nian Shilan's frown, walked forward and gently massaged both sides of her forehead.

"Songzhi, when do you think these days will end?"

Nian Shilan really felt very tired. She just hoped to live a peaceful life. However, she was in the harem. Even though she was now a noble concubine, there were many things that she could not stay out of.

"Your Highness, everything will be fine. I still want to accompany you to watch the princess grow up and see her off to get married. By then, you will definitely be reluctant to let her go. Then, I will accompany you and talk to you all day long, and I will definitely not let you feel lonely."

"You, with your little mouth, are always good at making me happy."

Nian Shilan reached out and touched Songzhi's forehead, and the depression in her heart seemed to dissipate a little.

However, when she thought of the annoying things in front of her, she felt uneasy again.

"Your Majesty, there is indeed no Mu Sheng that Fuzi mentioned in the imperial kitchen."

After a while, Zhou Ninghai brought Fuzi back to Yiku Palace.

However, this time, Zhou Ninghai's words were within Nian Shilan's expectations. Since the other party dared to poison Shuhe's pastries so blatantly, he must have made a foolproof plan. If what Fuzi said was correct, then Mu Sheng must have known about it when Fuzi went to the imperial kitchen, and then waited in the imperial kitchen in advance.

"Fuzi, what are the special characteristics of Mu Sheng? You must tell him everything you know. He is the key to clearing your suspicion. Your family is still in the Nian Mansion, right?"

Fuzi knew very well what Nian Shilan said. At this time, she also realized the seriousness of the matter. As a slave, she could not bear the heavy responsibility of murdering the royal heir. Therefore, even without Nian Shilan's threat, she could not hide anything at this time.

"I've noticed before that Mu Sheng's little finger is shorter than that of an average person. I was very curious, but I was afraid that asking would make Mu Sheng sad, so I pretended not to know."

Fuzi thought about it for a long time. Everything else about Mu Sheng looked like an ordinary person, but this finger left a particularly deep impression on her.

"Alright, Zhou Ninghai, take him down and keep him safe. If anything goes wrong, you'll pay with your own life."

When Fuzi heard that Nian Shilan still wanted to lock her up, she was so scared that she cried loudly.

"My Lady, I am truly wronged. Please forgive me, Lady."

"Your Majesty..."