Chapter 27: Playing the long game

With the cooperation of the emperor and the empress, the empress dowager acted decisively and within three days, she found many problematic people.

The Ministry of Punishment was overcrowded.

Everyone in the palace felt insecure for a while.

Ji Yunshu went to pay her respects early in the morning and saw that the empress dowager looked exhausted. She asked with some concern, "Aunt, did you not sleep well? Do you feel unwell somewhere? Should we ask the imperial physician to come and see you?"

The Queen Mother rubbed her forehead and said, "I've been busy these past few days and I'm a little tired. I'm getting old after all, and I'm not as capable as I used to be."

Ji Yunshu poured a cup of tea and handed it to the Queen Mother. He gently massaged her solar plexus and said, "This has nothing to do with age. It's just that you're overworked. There are so many people in this palace, and there's so much going on every day. I mean, why are you worrying so much? If you have time, why not just rest and take care of yourself? Wouldn't it be better to live a long life?"

The empress dowager was a little stunned when she heard this. She was born into a military family and became the queen directly after entering the palace because of her family background. She gave birth to a son within a few years. Her position was stable and her family was powerful, so the struggles in the harem did not often affect her.

So even at this age, her personality still retains her original straightforwardness.

If she disliked the Queen, she would show it on her face, but that was all. She had never really done anything to hurt the Queen.

But that day, the queen found something wrong with the tea and suspected her, which really chilled her.

Ji Yunshu was right. Although she was wholeheartedly doing it for her son, she saw her son drifting further and further away from her over the years.

If something happens to the queen and the baby in her womb this time, there will probably not be much mother-child love left between them.

After figuring this out, the Queen Mother also felt somewhat discouraged. "I have been meddling too much these past few years. Not only am I exhausted, but I've also earned the dissatisfaction of others. In a few days, I will hand over all palace affairs to the Queen. There's nothing wrong with being an idler enjoying wealth and luxury in Ningshou Palace."

As she said this, her eyes casually swept over the several palace maids standing not far away.

If it weren't for this big fight, she wouldn't have known that there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers in her palace.

Ji Yunshu smiled and said, "That's great. I'll come to the palace to see you when I'm free."

The Queen Mother glanced at her sideways and said, "You little rascal, you only know how to deceive me and make me happy. Don't you know that you have been unable to endure these days and have wanted to leave the palace long ago?"

Ji Yunshu refused to admit it, chewing on the delicious snacks made by the imperial court and said, "How could I have that? Aunt, here, you can get whatever you want. I wish I could stay with you forever."

She didn't like the open and secret struggles in the palace, but the Empress Dowager's palace was at least a little quieter.

And with the Queen Mother protecting her, no one dared to disrespect her.

Living a life of idleness and waiting for death is exactly the life she has always dreamed of.

The Queen Mother said helplessly: "You are already married, why do you always speak like a child?"

As the two were talking, Nanny Wen came in to reply, her usually stern face becoming even colder and harder.

Ji Yunshu knew at a glance that things might not go smoothly.

As expected, Nanny Wen knelt before the Queen Mother and said, "This old servant is guilty. Several people who were found to be related have not confessed a word and have all died in the Ministry of Punishment."

The Queen Mother flew into a rage upon hearing this: "How can someone die after being sent to the Ministry of Punishment? Is the Ministry of Punishment so useless now?"

Ji Yunshu quickly supported the Queen Mother's back and comforted her: "Aunt, don't be angry. Let's listen to what Nanny Wen has to say first."

The other party must be quite powerful as they dared to attack the Queen in the Empress Dowager's palace.

It's not surprising that someone could be silenced in the Ministry of Punishment.

Nanny Wen bowed and said, "I have already checked. The person on duty at the Ministry of Punishment last night was Chen Nan."

The Queen Mother was stunned for a moment before asking, "What did he say?"

Ji Yunshu also remembered that Chen Nan was from the Ji family.

Chen Nan is an orphan without parents. Because of his bravery in combat, he is highly valued by General Ji.

Later, he married a girl from a branch of the Ji family and stayed in the capital.

Now he works in the Yulin Guard.

Nanny Wen said, "He came to apologize early this morning, saying that Sister Wei was unwell last night, so he went back home, but he didn't expect someone to take advantage of him."

Sister Wei, whose real name is Ji Yunwei, is the daughter of Ji Yunshu’s distant cousin and the wife of Chen Nan.

Leaving one's post without permission is a serious crime, not to mention that something happened during this period.

The Queen Mother said directly: "First, lock him up and interrogate him. If it has nothing to do with him, he will be dismissed according to the rules."

Ji Yunshu shook his head: "Aunt, just look at the people who died in the past few days and you will know how meticulous and vicious the people behind this are. If there is any real connection, it is probably impossible to find out. It is better to investigate and if there is nothing wrong, just give him 30 strokes of the cane and let him stay in office. After all, he is a member of our Ji family, so we should show some mercy."

The Queen Mother frowned. "Because of him, all the suspects died in the Ministry of Punishment, and the clues to this case are gone. If we let him go, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the Emperor."

Ji Yunshu said, "Aunt, what I mean is, to play the long game and catch the big fish, you must inform the Emperor and hand this person over to him, so that he can supervise him in the future. However, it's best for you to openly argue with the Emperor to protect him."

It was such a coincidence that Ji Yunshu didn't believe in it, so she felt that Chen Nan was not innocent.

This is currently the only known clue in the case of the Queen being drugged.

Based on the other party's caution, she felt that there were only two possible outcomes.

If the other party wants to protect Chen Nan, then they will definitely not be able to find out anything.

If he doesn't want to protect it, then Chen Nan will be dead just like everyone else.

But if this person can be used well, there may be unexpected gains.

The Queen Mother also understood her meaning and after a moment's deliberation, she said, "Let's do as you say. Someone has the audacity to target the Queen and the prince in her womb. Now that it has implicated the Ji family, we can't just let them go."

Ji Yunshu was relieved to see that the empress dowager listened to her advice.

This matter was not entirely fruitless. The Queen Mother thoroughly sorted out the harem and eliminated many hidden dangers.

I heard that the emperor also took the opportunity to clean out a lot of people around him.

It's easy to imagine that many of them are spies sent by others.

Ji Yunshu has always been worried about the emperor being poisoned. In this way, the emperor should be safe for the time being.

The queen also gave birth to a legitimate son.

Everything in the palace is different from what is in the book.

By the time things came to an end, Ji Yunshu had already lived in the palace for five or six days. When she asked to leave the palace, the empress dowager did not force her to stay, but packed a bunch of food and daily necessities for her to take out of the palace.

Ji Yunshu was moved and hugged the Queen Mother's arm and said coquettishly: "Aunt, I will miss you when I leave the palace."

The Queen Mother caressed her temples lovingly, gathered the loose hair on her forehead, and advised, "Auntie is fine, don't worry about her. Just live your life well. If you've been wronged, tell me, okay?"

Ji Yunshu smiled and said, "Everyone knows that I have my aunt in charge. How could anyone dare to let me suffer any injustice? Don't worry, aunt. I will be fine."

The Queen Mother said, "In a few days, the Marquis of Changxing will go to the Duke of Wei's mansion to propose marriage for the second son of Zhao. Yuan Min is a spoiled girl with a spoiled personality. She also has the title of Princess, which means she is higher in status than you. Your mother-in-law is also not an easy person to deal with. How can I feel at ease with her?"