Qi Mingxuan's injuries were gradually healing, but Xiao Chengyu keenly sensed that the enemy lurking in the shadows was far more troublesome than he had imagined.

That morning, while she was reviewing the palace accounts, she suddenly noticed something unusual—the record of last year's purchase of Tian Shan snow lotus had been altered. Where it was originally recorded as "three plants entered into storage," the ink had been noticeably faded, and it had been changed to "two plants entered into storage."

"Summon the steward of the Imperial Household Department," Xiao Chengyu said in a deep voice.

The steward arrived trembling with fear, and upon seeing the ledger, his face turned ashen: "Your Highness, please understand! This...this must be a clerical error..."

"A typo?" Xiao Chengyu sneered. "Last year, Father's old illness relapsed, and the Imperial Hospital clearly used two snow lotuses. If only two were put into storage, where did the remaining ones come from? Tell me! Where did the other one go?"

The steward knelt down with a thud: "This servant...this servant did not know..."

Just as the stalemate was at hand, Qi Mingxuan slowly entered. His injuries had not yet healed, and his face was still pale, but his eyes were as sharp as ever: "Your Highness need not ask him. I have already investigated, and the person who handled the missing snow lotus was... Liu Zhijie."

Xiao Chengyu's heart skipped a beat: "It really is related to him!" She immediately stood up, "I'll go report to Father..."

"Wait a minute." Qi Mingxuan stopped her. "Since Liu Zhijie dared to do this, he must have a backup plan. Why don't we..." He lowered his voice, "and turn the tables on him."

Three days later, news spread from the palace: the poison in Consort Qi was still not cleared, and he urgently needed Tian Shan snow lotus as an antidote. However, the palace's stock was exhausted, and His Majesty had already dispatched someone on horseback to the Northern Barbarians to request it.

The news sent shockwaves through all sides.

That night, a dark figure stealthily sneaked into the Imperial Medical Bureau's medicine storeroom. Just as he opened the jade box containing the treasured snow lotus, the lights suddenly blazed on!

"Minister Liu, how have you been?" Xiao Chengyu stepped out from behind the screen, followed by Qi Mingxuan and the Imperial Guards.

Liu Zhijie's face turned deathly pale, but he forced himself to remain calm: "What does Your Highness mean by this? I merely..."

"Just here to steal the imperial medicinal herbs?" Qi Mingxuan said coldly, "Or do you want to confirm whether the evidence of your crime of switching the herbs back then still exists?"

Liu Zhijie suddenly looked up, a look of horror flashing in his eyes.

Xiao Chengyu opened the jade box and took out the "snow lotus" inside: "Back then, you replaced the imperial Tianshan snow lotus with ordinary snow lotus. The genuine one has long since flowed into the black market, and the money obtained was used to collude with the Northern Di. Am I right?"

With the evidence irrefutable, Liu Zhijie collapsed to the ground, utterly dejected: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty confesses..."

However, during the escort, Liu Zhijie suddenly sprang into action, smashing through the guards and rushing straight at Xiao Chengyu: "The Gu family will not have died in vain!"

Qi Mingxuan shielded Xiao Chengyu behind him in time, then pierced Liu Zhijie's shoulder with his sword. Unexpectedly, Liu Zhijie grinned maliciously and bit through the poison sac in his mouth, instantly bleeding from all seven orifices and dying!

"Suicide by poison..." Qi Mingxuan frowned, "Just like the assassin that day."

Xiao Chengyu was still shaken: "Before he died, he said... the Gu family wouldn't have died in vain. Could it be that the Gu family still has remnants?"

Qi Mingxuan's gaze was deep: "I'm afraid it's not just about the remnants."

The death of Liu Zhijie caused a huge uproar. Officials in the court who were connected with the Gu and Liu families were all in danger, and a climate of fear and unease prevailed.

That day, Xiao Chengyu went to visit Qin Sang and found Xin Rui clumsily feeding her medicine.

"Cough cough..." Qin Sang choked, her face turning red. "I'll do it myself..."

Xin Rui was sweating profusely with anxiety: "Don't move! The imperial physician said you need to rest!" As he spoke, he fed her another spoonful of medicine, but ended up spilling half a bowl.

Xiao Chengyu couldn't help but chuckle: "Cousin Rui, let the palace maids do it."

Xin Rui then noticed her arrival, his handsome face flushing red: "Princess Yu... what brings you here?"

Qin Sang struggled to curtsy, but Xiao Chengyu pressed her down: "Lie down properly. Is your injury any better?"

"Thank you for your concern, Princess. I'm much better now." Qin Sang smiled, but then suddenly frowned. "It's just that I've been feeling like someone's been watching me all this time..."

Xin Rui immediately tensed up: "Could you see what it looked like?"

Qin Sang shook her head: "Every time I turn around, there's no one there. Maybe it's just my imagination."

Xiao Chengyu and Qi Mingxuan, who arrived shortly after, exchanged a knowing glance. It seemed the other side had begun monitoring everyone connected to them.

After leaving Qin Sang's place, the two met Xie Ling'er. She was now Xiao Chengyu's lady-in-waiting, and her complexion had improved considerably. She was carrying an account book as she approached.

"Your Highness, Consort," Xie Ling'er bowed, "These are the expenses for each palace this month. Please take a look."

Xiao Chengyu took the account book and casually asked, "Are you getting used to life in the palace?"

Xie Ling'er said gratefully, "Thanks to Your Highness's care, everything is fine. It's just that..." She hesitated for a moment, "Recently, there have been some unfamiliar eunuchs loitering around nearby, and they stammer when I ask them questions."

Another anomaly! Alarm bells rang in Xiao Chengyu's mind.

That night, she and Qi Mingxuan secretly met with Xiao Xun to report their discoveries over the past few days.

After listening, Xiao Xun pondered for a long time: "I have long suspected that there are spies in the palace. The reason I have remained inactive is to play the long game and catch the big fish." He looked at Qi Mingxuan, "Mingxuan, I want you to investigate secretly and find out who is behind this."

Qi Mingxuan accepted the order: "Your subject will certainly not fail in your mission."

The investigation was conducted in secret. Qi Mingxuan took advantage of his position in the Hanlin Academy to review a large number of files; Xiao Chengyu, on the other hand, used his connections in the inner palace to secretly investigate suspicious individuals.

Three days later, Qi Mingxuan brought a startling discovery: "While reviewing the Gu family's case files, I discovered that Gu Nianzhi may have a twin brother!"

Xiao Chengyu was shocked: "How is this possible? I've never heard of such a thing..."

"According to the records, Madam Gu gave birth to twins, one of whom was weak and was sent to Jiangnan to recuperate, but died soon after." Qi Mingxuan's expression was solemn. "But I have discovered that the child may not have died, but was secretly raised by the Gu family..."

Just then, a secret guard urgently reported: a mysterious signal smoke has been spotted near the Cold Palace!

The two immediately rushed to the Cold Palace. There, in the abandoned palace, a man in black was burning letters. Seeing someone approaching, he quickly scaled the wall and fled!

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