The thunder was deafening.

The rain poured down in torrents.

Zhu Yu lit a stick of sandalwood incense and placed it next to Zhao Yuancheng's hand, whispering, "Your Majesty, Concubine Wan is kneeling outside Qingning Palace as punishment."

"Do you know what's going on?"

Zhu Yu pondered, "I heard that Concubine Wan learned that the Empress Dowager couldn't eat, so she went to the Imperial Food Bureau to make some easy-to-eat cakes as a tribute to the Empress Dowager. Later, Concubine Zhaoyi also arrived, and the two of them had an argument. Concubine Zhaoyi slapped Concubine Wan and made her kneel at the palace gate for two full hours before allowing her to get up."

Zhao Yuancheng didn't even look up. He just raised his hand, dipped it in some ink, and sneered, "They're all idiots."

Zhu Yu didn't dare to answer this.

Zhao Yuancheng asked again, "How is the investigation going?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. It was all due to my incompetence. When Xiao Dezi rushed out of the palace, the Wang family suddenly caught fire, and all fifteen members of the family perished in the flames. Even Imperial Physician Wang was robbed on his way home, and his head and body were separated."

"You're quick to act." Zhao Yuancheng snorted coldly, "Any other clues?"

"The two female doctors who were in charge of the Empress's diet at Huayang Palace that day are now dead. This means all leads are lost. However, I have already ordered someone to secretly check the Empress's pulse record, hoping to find something."

"Remember, no matter what you find out, don't make it public, and don't let anyone know."

“Yeah.”

Zhao Yuancheng had just taken a sip of tea when a palace maid came in with a report: "Your Majesty, someone from Qingning Palace just reported that Concubine Wan has fainted. Concubine Wei has called in the imperial physician, who says she is pregnant but has suffered from the heat and rain. She might have a miscarriage. Concubine Wei would like you to come and see her."

After hearing this, Zhu Yu subconsciously glanced at Zhao Yuancheng, but the emperor did not move, as if he didn't hear it.

I was about to wave my hand to signal the palace maid to leave first, but then I heard Zhao Yuancheng say calmly, "Go to Qingning Palace."

When Xi Zhaoyi learned that Wanpin had fainted after being punished by her to kneel, she said something pretentious. Then the palace maid came in immediately to report that Wanpin was pregnant, but had suffered from heatstroke due to the punishment of kneeling and might not be able to keep the child. She immediately panicked.

"how so?"

Qiancao was also panicked. "Since we have received the news, the Queen must also know it. In any case, we should go to Qingning Palace first."

"If Wanpin's child is lost, won't it be our fault? Will the Emperor blame me?"

"No one knew Wanpin was pregnant. Besides, it was Wanpin who committed the crime first. It's understandable that you punish her. Nothing will happen."

Xi Zhaoyi swallowed hard and said bitterly, "She did this on purpose!"

"My Lady, there's no point in talking about this right now. Let's go take a look first."

Zhao Yuancheng and Xi Zhaoyi met unexpectedly at the gate of Qingning Palace.

After getting off the sedan chair, Xi Zhaoyi hurried forward to pay her respects, her whole face showing panic, but Zhao Yuancheng didn't even look at her and walked straight towards the inner hall.

Seeing this, Xi Zhaoyi's face was full of grievance, "It wasn't me who caused Concubine Wan's miscarriage, why is the emperor glaring at me?"

Rubiaceae whispered, "My Lady, please keep your voice down."

After the two entered, they ran into palace maids carrying basins of blood. Concubine Xi's heart began to rise again. "Could she have really had a miscarriage?"

Inside the bedroom, Zhao Yuancheng did not step forward, but asked the imperial physician through the screen, "How is Concubine Wan?"

"In reply to the emperor, although the queen showed signs of miscarriage, her condition has stabilized now. As long as she rests well, she will be fine."

Lady Wei covered her chest and chanted the Buddha's name, "Amitabha, this really scared me."

Xi Zhaoyi muttered quietly, "I was saying, how can you have a miscarriage just by kneeling? That's too hypocritical."

Zhao Yuancheng looked at her unhappily when he heard this, "What did you say?"

Xi Zhaoyi trembled and forced a smile, saying, "Your Highness, Your Highness is saying, I'm glad Wanpin is okay, I'm glad she's okay."

"Although Wanpin is fine, you can't escape responsibility for what happened today. From today on, you have to go back and copy the Buddhist scriptures a hundred times. Don't hang around here for no reason!"

Xi Zhaoyi was stunned and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong, and I really didn't know that Wanpin was pregnant. If I had known in advance, I would not have made her kneel as punishment."

"Get out now, or you'll bother me."

But before Xi Zhaoyi could figure out what was going on, she saw Zhu Yu walk in in a panic, "Your Majesty, someone from Huayang Palace just came to report that the Imperial Concubine has been poisoned."

"What?"

After hearing this, Zhao Yuancheng's face suddenly changed and he walked out like the wind in an instant.

The rain outside was getting heavier. Zhu Yu walked hurriedly with an umbrella, comforting her, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. The imperial physician has already gone. Your Majesty is blessed by heaven, so she will be fine."

But just after leaving the gate of Qingning Palace, Zhao Yuancheng suddenly stopped, turned his head and looked at Zhu Yu with a serious look.

Those inky pupils were filled with blood and gore.

Zhu Yu couldn't hold on any longer, his legs went weak and he almost fell to the ground.

"You don't need to investigate the Queen's miscarriage. Just send Xia He to the torture chamber. I don't believe it's Xia He's stubborn words or the torture instruments in the torture chamber that are stronger."

Zhu Yu trembled and said, "Yes, I will go immediately."

Xi Zhaoyi also came out and sighed, "What did Zhu Yu just say? Is Concubine Yi poisoned?"

"Yes, that seems to be what they say."

Xi Zhaoyi's eyes were filled with excitement: "Let's go and see the excitement."

Qiancao quickly pulled her aside and advised, "Forget it. Didn't the Emperor just order you to stay at home? If you keep trying to get closer, you'll only make the Emperor even more unhappy."

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