Chapter 49 Hint

Seeing Qiandeng coming, the Queen ordered everyone to leave and smiled slightly: "Lingling, come and take a look at this hairpin."

Qiandeng took it respectfully, took a quick look at the structure of the phoenix hairpin, then grabbed the bird's beak and pulled it off.

The beak, as slender as a needle, was hollow in the middle, connected to the phoenix's crest. Qian Deng lifted the crest and saw a small hollow ball hidden underneath. There were still some black marks in the middle, which clearly could be used to hide poison.

The Queen lowered her eyes and looked at the black mark, a mocking smile on her face: "Since you presented me with that blueprint, you must have known about the past between Zhao Liangdi and me."

Qiandeng reassembled the disassembled phoenix hairpin and respectfully placed it back on the table: "Yes, Lingling is deeply grateful for the Queen's love for the Crown Prince."

The Queen's fingers gently stroked the needle-thin beak, and she whispered, "When I saw your drawings, I suddenly remembered that the Crown Prince had a wet nurse. After the Crown Prince's accident, the Eastern Palace searched but could not find the murder weapon or poison, so she and the others were sent back to their hometown. She once wore a phoenix hairpin like this one, and its peculiar design left a lasting impression. Now, I have sent people to find her and the hairpin, and I have confirmed that Zhao Liangdi paid a large bribe to give her this silver hairpin to clear the way for her son. As for the origin of this hairpin... Oh, it's from the drawings that Princess Gaoguo's Mansion provided to the silver shop."

The Queen's fingertips pressed on a corner of the drawing. It was clearly marked in tiny calligraphy that the order was placed by Princess Gao's Mansion, and the time was exactly eighteen years ago when the prince was just born.

"Concubine Zhao Liang wasn't as favored by the Emperor as I was at that time, but her son was born two months earlier than my Yan'er. It seems that Princess Gao was betting on that child from the beginning." The Empress smiled faintly, her voice calm and steady. "Unfortunately, that child was unlucky and died young, taking his mother with him. And then, look, after Yan'er became the Emperor's only grandson, didn't the Grand Princess ask the late Emperor to grant her daughter in marriage to Yan'er?"

Qiandeng listened silently with his head down, not daring to respond.

"So, Lingling, you have resolved a long-standing worry of mine. I should thank you sincerely."

Qian Deng kowtowed and replied, "Lingling dared not. It was because Her Majesty the Queen's sincerity moved the heavens, and it was also because of His Majesty the Crown Prince's good fortune that he was able to safely survive the disaster."

The Queen smiled with great satisfaction, threw the phoenix hairpin and the blueprint back into the box, and said, "My dear child, you should also take credit for your achievements. During the palace coup and the military riot last year, your Bai family has always been dedicated to the Crown Prince. By the way, how are your father and grandfather's former subordinates doing now?"

Hearing the Queen bring up this matter, Qian Deng immediately replied, "Yes. The soldiers who followed my grandfather back then are still led by my grandfather's old subordinates, holding the banner of King Changhua and obeying my grandfather's orders."

"Oh... I heard the court is discussing mobilizing troops?"

"Yes, Lingling is also aware of this. Although the court changed generals and mobilized troops to curb arrogant warlords, my grandfather's veterans only have 862 soldiers left. They are currently incorporated into the Imperial Guard to assist in the security of the capital and are under the control of the Imperial Guard. Their number is not large. I hope the court will consider our old friendship and allow my father and grandfather's banner to continue to exist in the world and not ban it for the time being."

"Alas, you foolish child, do you think you can preserve the glory of your ancestors with your obsession?" The Queen sighed. "This matter was initiated by Princess Gao and her faction, and the Emperor, mindful of their past, has implemented the policy. But your father and grandfather sacrificed his life for the country, and the court will certainly take his remaining subordinates into consideration. You need not worry."

After Qiandeng bowed in thanks, the Queen asked, "How is the progress on Princess Gao's case?"

Qian Deng knew they had been summoned to the palace today for this very matter. The Queen, naturally aware of the key, replied, "The Three Judges believe Prince Mingjiu is a suspect because he is carrying the gold foil and pearl flower that Princess Gao wore on the day of her misfortune. However, Prince Mingjiu refuses to acknowledge the crime, and the situation is now at a stalemate."

The Queen asked thoughtfully, "What about you? Do you hope that Prince Songjiu is the murderer, or do you hope that he is not?"

Qian Deng didn't understand what he meant and could only say, "Ling Ling only hopes to find out the truth, not let the murderer go unpunished, and not let the good people suffer injustice."

"Well said. You're still young, so you should be so sharp." The Queen sneered and said slowly, "But if you were the Princess of the Tang Dynasty, you should look at the problem from a higher and broader perspective."

Qian Deng bowed his head and listened to the instruction: "Your Majesty, please explain clearly."

"For some things, a good outcome isn't determined by the truth. What matters is whether we can achieve the greatest benefit, whether we can benefit more people, and whether we can benefit the Tang Dynasty."

Qiandeng pursed her lips silently and did not answer.

Seeing her like this, the Queen waved her hand and said, "You may proceed to Qinghui Pavilion first. As for your grandfather's subordinates, the court will naturally consider them carefully and will never let the descendants of loyal and righteous people lose hope."

After Qiandeng thanked her and left, her figure disappeared under the palace foundation. The queen suppressed her smile and looked solemnly outside the Daming Palace: "Is the prince here?"

The palace servants quickly replied: "Yes, His Highness has entered the palace."

"Call him over."

The front and back halls were not far away, and the prince soon arrived. The queen knew that he was going to attend the trial today, so she said directly, "Just now, Lingling came."

Upon hearing this, the prince looked up at her, waiting for what happened next.

"It's about transferring generals. Lingling requests that the court not disband the old troops of Prince Changhua and maintain the current formation."

The Crown Prince said, "I agree with this. The Bai family army has always been loyal and strict in their command. Since the death of Prince Changhua, they have been incorporated into the Imperial Guard. There are less than a thousand of them now, so there is really no need to disperse them further."

The Queen nodded, but then asked something else: "The Ji family, who once served under Prince Changhua, now leads the army. And it seems the Ji family's son is also one of Lingling's potential husband candidates? Could it be that... Lingling already has a husband in mind?"

The prince's eyes dimmed slightly, and he said softly, "Lingling has his own choice in this matter. Just wait and see the result."

The Queen sipped her tea and said calmly, "I am very relieved that you can think this way."

The prince hesitated for a moment and asked, "Does the Queen Mother know that the Grand Princess died with her eyes open?"

"I know. Now the news has spread in the capital. Everyone says that she is like this because she has unfulfilled wishes in her lifetime." The queen sneered in her heart, but only sighed in front of her son.

"Changyi came to see me, weeping bitterly. The maidservant in her house said..." The prince clenched the teacup in his hand, his voice hoarse, "My aunt is obsessed with her daughter's marriage. If she wants to rest in peace, Changyi must be able to marry smoothly."

The Queen smiled and said calmly, "What a good daughter you are."

The prince pursed his lips, seemingly oblivious to the sarcasm in the queen's words. "I think we can't let my aunt be buried with her eyes open."

"That's fine. Your marriage to Changyi was ordered by the late emperor. No matter how long it takes, the wedding will take place. Now that Changyi has asked for a filial marriage, whether the wedding is complete and decent is her own choice. She can't blame anyone else."

The prince said, "In an emergency, we must make decisions based on discretion. Changyi knows what is important and what is not."

"Then let the Crown Prince's Counselor come over and discuss this with the Inner Palace Bureau first."

Seeing that the Empress didn't even know about the imperial court and the temples, the Crown Prince hesitated and asked, "Shouldn't we first check the Zongzheng, Taichang, and Guanglu Temples?"

"Those old guys are just making trouble. Now you're about to go on a border inspection tour. If you start arguing with them, you won't have enough time for your aunt's funeral." The Queen sipped her tea and said leisurely, "I think the Princess House just wants to see the Crown Princess become the Crown Princess. Now let's fulfill the eldest princess's wish and let Changyi get married as soon as possible, without all the complicated rituals. Let her enter the Eastern Palace as soon as possible, so that your aunt can rest in peace. The most important thing is."

The Crown Prince was still hesitant, but the Queen raised her hand, signaling she had made up her mind. "Go ahead and thoroughly investigate the case of Princess Gao. I've already mentioned this to Lingling, and you must steer the course and ensure we achieve the outcome the court most desires."