Chapter 17 The Unreasonable Nie Family

"Yes, as far as I know, it was a small jar of wine. Father only drank one glass, and the rest was drunk by the Princess and Prince Consort Xiao. If they are not the murderers, there is no possibility that the wine was poisoned, or that they took the antidote beforehand or afterward. So the poison must have been put into the wine glass, or after they left, Father consumed other food or tea. In this case, it is obvious that the poison was put in by someone in the palace.

"Sister, is the wine glass father used still there?" Zhao Shiqing asked.

Zhao Yunnuan smiled bitterly, "My father's attack occurred about an hour after the banquet. In that time, the cups and plates had been washed clean. However, my father's personal attendants are still imprisoned in the dungeon. Let's go back and investigate further."

The two sisters left as soon as they said they would, and when Xiao Su walked out of the Observatory, they were nowhere to be seen.

People in Wisteria Villa said that the eldest princess and the second young lady had returned to the palace.

Xiao Su snorted, "Impolite Zhao Xiaosi, he left without even saying hello."

He also wants to go back to Qingquan. He can't help here now, and in Qingquan, there is a traitor waiting for him to deal with.

However, now he has to go to Prince Liang's Mansion to express condolences on behalf of the Xiao family.

However, he had to keep his mouth shut after he returned. His eldest brother said that no one except the Fifth Old Master could tell that he was still alive.

Originally, Xiao Zhen didn't want to tell the Fifth Old Master, but Prince Consort Xiao was worried that if the news of Xiao Zhen's death reached Qingquan, the Fifth Old Master would not be able to bear it, after all, he was an old man.

Because of the Jinbao incident, Xiao Su now doubts everything. He feels that even the people around the Fifth Old Master are not safe. So on the way back to Qingquan, he thought all the way that a big purge must be carried out. He doesn't believe that he is the only one who is wronged in the entire Xiao family and has raised a dog slave who betrays his master.

Seeing that Zhao Shiqing and her sister had already left, Xiao Su had no choice but to go to Liangdu alone. He did not bring any followers, so he had to go and purchase the silk gifts himself.

Let’s put Xiao Su aside and just talk about Zhao Yunnuan and Zhao Shiqing.

The two sisters returned to the palace. As soon as they entered the second gate, a maid came running over and put on loose mourning clothes over their plain clothes.

When they entered the mourning hall, they were already dressed in heavy mourning.

Most common folk would keep the body for seven days, but Prince Liang was a prince, so he had to wait for the people sent by the emperor to arrive before he could be buried. If it was less than a month, then the body would be kept for a month.

The journey is long, and currently only officials and their families at all levels in Liang, as well as some nearby aristocratic families, have come to pay their respects. Several princes in the vassal states and officials in Beijing have either not received the news yet, or the people they sent are still on the way.

Zhao Yunnuan and Zhao Shiqing walked into the mourning hall and had just offered incense to King Liang when the maidservant beside Nie came over and said that the princess asked them to come over.

The two of them headed to Suining Palace. On the way, Zhao Yunnuan said to Zhao Shiqing, "We'll leave the palace one after another. Second Aunt will definitely gossip about us in front of Mother. No matter what Mother says later, don't say a word. I'll take care of everything."

Zhao Shiqing nodded in agreement.

Arriving at Suining Palace, Zhao Yunnuan met Princess Nie of Prince Liang. Just as she had guessed, Nie looked haggard, like a dodder flower that has lost its support. She cried, "You're my elder sister, and at such an important time, you weren't here, leaving your brother to face all those friends and relatives alone. You've always been sensible, but what's wrong with you today? You're really worrying."

Zhao Yunnuan said, "The Princess and Prince Consort Xiao are still in the villa. I can't just leave them there. Besides, Prince Consort Xiao is still sick, so I sent some medicinal herbs over."

There were some things Zhao Yunnuan didn't want to tell Nie. If Nie knew, Nie Qionghua would also know.

Zhao Yunnuan simply changed the subject. She looked around and saw that Nie Qionghua, for once, was not with Nie. Zhao Yunnuan asked, "Second Aunt isn't here?"

Nie wiped her tears and said angrily, "She has been busy these past few days and has worked very hard. She felt unwell today and just had a doctor check her out. She is now lying in the room."

Nie wanted to rant a few more times, but Zhao Yunnuan had already pulled Zhao Shiqing to her feet. "The King of Chu's brother-in-law is here. I saw him talking to my second brother."

Nie's face changed. "What brother-in-law? Think about Fan Chong. His sister-in-law is just a concubine of the King of Chu, not even a concubine. But he keeps saying he's the King of Chu's brother-in-law. I'm afraid the King of Chu doesn't even know who he is. Go and take a look. Don't let him corrupt your brother."

As expected, anyone who might corrupt Zhao Tingxuan, even Nie, who always respected the rules, became sarcastic in his words.

Zhao Yunnuan and Zhao Shiqing hurriedly bowed, and Nie urged them: "Go quickly, your brother is tired all day, let him come to me."

Zhao Yunnuan and Zhao Shiqing walked out of Suining Palace. Zhao Shiqing blinked mischievously: "Sister, you are still worried that mother will scold me. She didn't even notice my existence."

Zhao Yunnuan patted her hands and said softly, "Don't take it to heart. What if she saw you? What if she didn't see you? She did see me, but listen to what she said."

Zhao Shiqing didn't believe that Nie didn't know that Zhao Yunnuan had left the house for something.

Nie came from a prominent family and had been a princess for so many years, it was impossible that she knew nothing.

But she obviously knew everything and understood everything, yet she still called her sister over to scold her. I don't know if she was just bored or not.

Zhao Shiqing said, "Sister, why do I feel like Mother is harder to get close to than before?"

In fact, Zhao Shiqing wanted to say "even more unreasonable", but she was Zhao Yunnuan's biological mother after all. There were some things Zhao Yunnuan could say but she couldn't.

Zhao Yunnuan sighed, "Ever since my father passed away, she's been finding fault with me almost every day, trying to outdo me in everything. But now the palace can't do without me, so she wants to scold me, but doesn't dare to provoke me, fearing that I'll just ignore her."

The two sisters talked and returned to the mourning hall.

Second Young Master Zhao Tingxuan wasn't in the mourning hall. Zhao Shiqing remembered what Zhao Yunnuan had just said and asked, "That guy named Fan Chong, besides claiming to be the brother-in-law of the King of Chu, isn't he also a bad person?"

If this were not the case, why would Nie worry that Fan Chong would corrupt Zhao Tingxuan?

Zhao Yunnuan said, "This man loves to take Five Stones Powder. He's usually unruly and often walks around the city bare-chested. Once, when he came to the palace, it was already late autumn, and he was wearing only an outer shirt, not even an inner garment. When he raised his hand, most of his chest was exposed. My mother and my second aunt happened to see him and almost kicked him out."

Zhao Shiqing frowned: "Second brother has a close relationship with him?"

Zhao Yunnuan lowered her voice and said, "Axuan and him are just casual acquaintances. I just said that to divert Mother's attention."

This is a mourning hall, Zhao Shiqing could only force herself not to laugh. Her sister still had many ways to deal with her mother.

(Turn back, there is another chapter)