This way.

The Empress's bedroom.

At this moment, the Empress and the Crown Prince sat on the couch.

Ye Qingyao stood in front of the two of them, looking aggrieved; her expression suggested she had been scolded.

"Mother, how could Ye Qingcheng be the Divine Physician Ye?"

"You ask me, how would I know?"

After the Empress finished speaking, she glared angrily at Ye Qingyao, "It's all your fault, you good-for-nothing."

"Your Majesty, even Yao'er didn't know that the vile woman would actually learn such medical skills in just six years."

"Hmph, I don't know. Didn't you confidently tell me that your father, Prime Minister Ye, had arranged people in the Han Prince's Mansion long ago? Where are they now? You're such a useless piece of trash, you can't even keep an eye on one person."

Ye Qingyao was so scolded that she didn't dare to say a word.

The Crown Prince glared at her fiercely, but he still spoke up to help Ye Qingyao out of the predicament.

"Alright, Mother, things have come to this, please don't be angry anymore. What should we do now?"

"What to do? How could I possibly know what to do? Your grandmother is safe and sound, the seventh prince is also fine, and that madwoman Ye Qingcheng has returned to normal and has even become a divine physician."

Our scheme from six years ago has come to nothing; not only did it fail to harm them in the slightest, it also benefited them greatly.

"You've become a wedding dress for me? Why do you say that, Mother?"

"Have you forgotten that child?"

"child?"

"Mother, do you mean that child is the seventh prince's?"

"Otherwise what? We didn't know before that Doctor Ye was that crazy Ye Qingcheng, but now that we do, whose child could it be besides Seventh Brother's?"

"That can't be possible, right?"

“That’s right, Your Highness, it’s impossible. Six years ago, Yao’er personally watched her being sent to Liuju Courtyard. Although we don’t know how she escaped later, it’s definitely not possible that she was the Seventh Prince’s.”

"Hmph, what makes you so sure? Do you have any evidence?"

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten? That day, the Seventh Prince was also drugged, and it happened right here in the palace. The Willow Gathering Pavilion is so far away from the palace, how could they possibly be together?"

"Yes! Your Majesty, Yao'er's analysis is correct. I don't believe it either that they would have such a coincidence that night."

Upon hearing this, the Empress frowned and pondered for a while.

"So, that child isn't Seventh Brother's, but rather Ye Qingcheng's bastard child born out of wedlock?"

"That's right, Your Majesty. So what if that wretch's madness is cured? So what if she knows medicine? She was still defiled long ago."

“Okay, if that’s the case, then Ye Qingcheng deliberately brought that bastard to the Emperor, wasn’t she trying to confuse the royal bloodline?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. That wretch is doomed this time. Her crime of deceiving the emperor will likely implicate even the Seventh Prince.”

"Hmm! Very good. If that's really the case, then we've really saved ourselves a lot of trouble."

"Mother, are you planning to expose Ye Qingcheng at the birthday banquet?"

The Queen shook her head: "It's not the right time yet."

"When will that be?"

"Your father has not yet acknowledged the child's identity, and we still need to verify whether the child is Ye Qingcheng's. If it is indeed Ye Qingcheng's illegitimate child..."

"Then we will report it when your father decides to enter the child's name into the imperial register."

After hearing this, the Crown Prince nodded: "Yes! Mother is right. We really cannot act rashly before we have enough evidence."

"kindness!"

The Empress nodded, then looked at Ye Qingyao, opened her mouth, and was about to speak.

At this moment.

A palace maid hurried in.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and Your Highness the Consort."

"Yes! Get up and answer!"

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."

"How about it?"

"Your Majesty, I have seen the Seventh Prince and his wife and they have gone to the Imperial Kitchen."

"The Imperial Kitchen? What are they doing at the Imperial Kitchen?"

"This servant doesn't know either."

Upon hearing this, the Empress frowned and pondered for a while.

"Very well, I understand. You may leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After the palace maid finished speaking, she turned around and had only taken a few steps when she seemed to remember something, so she stopped and turned back.

"Oh, by the way, Your Highness, I also saw that the Seventh Princess was holding a child's hand."

"child?"

"Yes."

"Was that child about four or five years old?"

"I didn't see it clearly, but it should be similar to what you said."

"What is the Seventh Prince's attitude towards that child?"

"They don't seem very close?"

"Not very close?"

"Yes."

"Okay! You can go now!"

"Yes, this servant will take her leave."

"Mother, if what that maid said is true, does that mean that the seventh prince also knows that the child is not his?"

The crown prince asked, his brows furrowed slightly.

The Empress frowned slightly: "In that case, it should be like this."

"Mother, if that's really the case, then doesn't that mean Ye Qingcheng isn't planning on confusing our royal bloodline?"

The Empress shook her head: "Your Highness, we need to investigate this matter thoroughly."

"Yes, Mother."

"The Crown Prince's concubine."

"Yao'er, I'm here."

"Have you made any preparations for today's birthday banquet?"

"Your Majesty, Yao'er was thinking that since they went to the Imperial Kitchen, why don't we take advantage of that?"

"Use this point?"

“That’s right,” Yao’er thought. “They’re going to the imperial kitchen, probably to prepare some food. Why don’t we send someone to do it when she’s not looking…”

After hearing this, the Empress shook her head: "His Majesty attaches great importance to this birthday banquet. If there is any mishap, he will definitely investigate it thoroughly."

Besides, since Ye Qingcheng understands medicine, she must also understand medicine. If you're planning to poison me and are caught doing so, I won't be able to protect you.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingyao frowned slightly: "Does Your Highness have any methods? Please tell me what to do."

The Empress pondered for a moment.

"Never mind. Regarding the matter of the Seventeenth Prince, although the Emperor didn't say it openly, he directly had those palace maids and eunuchs beaten to death. He probably wanted to give everyone a warning."

"warn?"

"Yes! That means that at today's Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, anyone who dares to act recklessly will be severely punished without mercy."

"This... Your Highness, in that case, should we let that vile woman go today?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress glared at her: "If you can't do it secretly, why don't you do it openly?"

"Ming?"

"You, the most talented woman in the capital, are you going to live up to your reputation in vain?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingyao immediately understood and smiled, "Yes, Yao'er, I understand."

"Alright! Your Highness, you should go to the Summer Palace first! I imagine there are already quite a few noble ladies and young women enjoying the flowers in the garden."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I take my leave."

After they finished speaking, the two left the Empress's palace.

This way.

After discussing it, Consort Xuan and the Third Prince also felt it was inappropriate to do so in the palace, so they decided to drop the matter.