If someone suddenly died in the Imperial Garden, it could be attributed to a sudden illness. However, since Physician He was able to treat Empress Song, there must have been no underlying health condition.

Furthermore, nine times out of ten, people who die in the palace are murdered.

He went to treat Empress Song, but died as soon as he left Fengyi Palace. Shen Wan could hardly help but suspect that Physician He's death was related to Empress Song.

As Shen Wan was pondering this matter, Xie Jingyan called out, "Chen Feng."

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the window was pushed open, and Chen Feng slipped into the room. "What are your orders, sir?"

Xie Jingyan said, "Investigate the cause of Physician He's death, and also find out what illness Empress Song suffered from."

He clearly also suspected that Physician Xu's death was related to Empress Song.

Chen Feng accepted the order and withdrew.

It was already quite late when Chen Feng finished his investigation and reported to Xie Jingyan; it was already the next morning.

After Xie Jingyan finished his morning exercise, Chen Feng stepped forward and said, "My lord, I asked Eunuch Yuan to check, and the Empress has been feeling weak and has a poor appetite lately. She even felt nauseous this morning..."

Why do these symptoms seem so familiar?

Like...

Just as Xie Jingyan realized why it felt familiar, Chen Feng whispered, "Doesn't it look like the symptoms you had when you had morning sickness for the Princess?"

Swish.

Xie Jingyan's face suddenly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

He shot him a glare, and Chen Feng was so frightened that he almost turned and ran away.

Xie Jingyan coldly asked, "Has the cause of Physician He's death been determined?"

Chen Feng hurriedly said, "The imperial physician examined Physician He's body and found no signs of poisoning or serious injury. He suspects that he died from a sudden illness, and the body has been sent back to Physician He's residence."

Xie Jingyan said, "Have the Ministry of Justice send a coroner to examine the body."

Chen Feng quickly went to take care of this matter.

Xie Jingyan had already suspected, or even firmly believed, that Prince Cheng and Empress Song were having an affair. In addition, a few days ago, Empress Song's personal maid went out of the palace to buy abortion pills and was caught by Yinshuang. Chen Feng then replaced them with a pregnancy-preserving medicine. Now, Empress Song is showing symptoms of morning sickness again. The imperial physician He who examined her pulse died as soon as he left Fengyi Palace. If Imperial Physician He died from a sudden illness, that would be one thing. But if he died a violent death, then Empress Song probably didn't use the replaced abortion pills to harm others, but rather took them herself.

The Minister of Justice was already on Xie Jingyan's side, and the Emperor had given Xie Jingyan a token authorizing him to use personnel from the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate. To some extent, the Minister of Justice also had to listen to Xie Jingyan.

Chen Feng went to the Ministry of Justice to deliver a message, and the Minister of Justice personally led the coroner to Physician He's residence.

After finishing his morning exercise, Xie Jingyan took a shower and went back to his room to have breakfast with Shen Wan.

After breakfast, I accompanied Chen Wan for a walk in the garden. We walked there and carried her back.

Just as he reached the courtyard gate, Chen Feng appeared in a flash and reported, "Sir, the Ministry of Justice's autopsy results are in."

"The coroner found a short needle as thin as a hair in Physician He's heart. It was that short needle that took Physician He's life."

He indeed met a violent end.

Shen Wan struggled to get down, so Xie Jingyan put her down.

He said, "I need to go to the palace."

Shen Wan glanced at the sky. It was almost lunchtime. What was he still going to the palace for?

However, Shen Wan knew that Xie Jingyan disliked going to the palace and was someone who wouldn't even go when the emperor summoned him. So, she didn't stop him from going to the palace at this hour because he must have something important to do.

Before entering the palace, Xie Jingyan went to the pharmacy to get some things from Doctor Tao before riding into the palace.

By the time he arrived at the Imperial Study, it was already lunchtime, and the imperial cook brought the imperial meal into the Imperial Study.

The Emperor was surprised that Xie Jingyan would enter the palace at this hour and asked, "Have you eaten?"

"No."

"Then dine with me."

The emperor put down the memorial in his hand and prepared to get up.

Xie Jingyan said, "I have something to discuss with my father."

The Emperor, of course, knew that his son would only come to the palace with a purpose, so he said, "Let's talk while we eat."

Xie Jingyan's gaze swept across the Emperor's face and looked at Eunuch Yuan, "Send someone to Fengyi Palace and say that Father has something to discuss with the Empress."

emperor,"……"

Eunuch Yuan, "..."

These words made Yuan Gong's heart tremble.

I've seen bold people before, but I've never seen anyone as bold as Prince Ling.

The words of Prince Ling are no different from a false imperial edict, especially since they were delivered in front of the emperor.

If the Emperor were to investigate, it would be enough to cost Prince Ling his head.

The Emperor's face darkened considerably. "What do I need to discuss with the Empress?"

Xie Jingyan said, "The marriage of Princess Shouchun."

Although the Emperor could make the decision directly, Empress Song was Princess Shouchun's birth mother, and both morally and logically, the Emperor should have consulted with her.

but--

Is this something you should be worrying about?

The emperor's face flushed with anger, believing that Xie Jingyan had truly come for the marriage of Princess Shouchun.

He assigned Xie Jingyan so many tasks, but Xie Jingyan didn't take any of them. As long as the royal princesses weren't involved in marriage alliances, it wasn't considered a major matter for the court, and it wasn't Xie Jingyan's place to interfere. He even chose to enter the palace during mealtimes, which, in the emperor's eyes, was already neglecting his duties.

Xie Jingyan looked at Eunuch Yuan and said, "Send someone to deliver the message first."

Eunuch Yuan wanted to go, but he didn't dare.

Eunuch Yuan looked at the Emperor, who remained silent. Eunuch Yuan took this as tacit agreement and quickly left.

Phoenix Palace.

The palace maids placed the food on the table.

Empress Song sat on the phoenix throne. The smell of the food made her feel nauseous and uneasy.

Granny Du brought over a tray with a bowl of dark, black medicine on it.

Even if you get a little closer, you can smell the bitterness emanating from it.

Empress Song looked at the medicine placed before her eyes, her eyelids twitching violently, and she felt a sense of panic, as if something terrible was about to happen.

She clenched her fists tightly, cold sweat pouring from her palms. Her arms felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and she couldn't lift them. She didn't dare reach out to pick up the medicine.

Some medications, if taken incorrectly, can be fatal.

Du Mama said, "Your Highness, if you don't drink it now, the medicine will get cold."

Empress Song steeled her resolve, reaching for the medicine bowl. But just as she was about to drink it, there was a knock at the door. Xiao Xizi followed the palace maid in, saying, "Your Majesty, the Emperor requests your presence in the Imperial Study..."

Why would the Emperor summon her to the Imperial Study?

Empress Song grew increasingly uneasy. She asked, "Does Eunuch Xiao Xi know why His Majesty summoned me?"

As she spoke, Granny Du slipped a purse into Xiao Xizi's hand.

Xiao Xizi grinned and said, "I heard from Eunuch Yuan that it was to discuss Princess Shouchun's marriage."

Princess Shouchun had reached the age of marriage and was indeed of marriageable age.

The Crown Prince of Xiliang was assassinated and fell off a cliff and disappeared without a trace. When the news reached the capital, Empress Song wanted to find a good marriage for her daughter, Princess Shouchun. The Empress Dowager could no longer tolerate her or her two children. If Da Chu and Xiliang went to war, it would be fine if they won, but if they lost, the princess would need to be married off, and the Empress Dowager would definitely send her daughter, Princess Shouchun.

She would feel at ease if the marriage was arranged early.

Empress Song put down the medicine bowl in her hand and stood up.

Granny Du said, "This medicine..."

"We'll drink when I get back."

Unfortunately, once she left, she never had the chance to return to Fengyi Palace.