They assumed that Lu Yinghong was behind the Jade Bone Regenerating Cream. Little did they know, she was also a victim.

After eliminating all impossible options, the remaining answer, no matter how absurd, is the final choice.

Back in the side hall, Song Yaozhu rubbed her throbbing temples.

"I never expected it to be Consort Shu." Song Yaozhu murmured, pursing her lips.

Consort Shu was a little girl she had rescued on the road during the war. She was so thin and pale from hunger that her father was going to sell her for five catties of coarse rice and half a catty of white sugar.

Having witnessed this, she naturally couldn't stand idly by, so she rescued the girl and named her Tang Shuang, hoping that her future days would be as sweet as icing sugar.

Unfortunately, she herself was like this icing sugar, a mixture of honey and poison.

Knowing that Xie Wanqing and Yuwen Wuji were not ordinary people, she begged them to let her stay. She was willing to be Xie Wanqing's maid and serve her.

Xie Wanqing naturally had no shortage of maids. She took pity on her and took her in, teaching her to read and write, and to understand reason and affairs.

Tang Shuang was a very strong-willed woman with a strong learning ability. In just over a year, she became a female official in front of Song Yaozhu.

Later, when the Great Chen Kingdom was established, she appeared on Yuwen Wuji's bed.

It would be a lie for Xie Wanqing to say she wasn't sad and angry. However, for the sake of appearances, she still granted her the title of concubine. After learning that she was pregnant, she took meticulous care of her unborn child.

She tried her best to be the eldest sister, but little did she know, she was a venomous snake. A venomous snake that would bite to death the very person who brought her home to warm her body.

"Granny Qin, the Princess has been sitting alone all afternoon." Caijin looked at Song Yaozhu, who was sitting alone in front of the dressing table, with a worried tone.

"The princess has something on her mind; let her have some peace and quiet."

Seeing her slightly hunched back, Granny Qin was also worried. Excessive worry, extreme joy, or extreme sorrow are all bad things during pregnancy. This state of mind, Princess, might harm her health.

Song Yaozhu remained silent for a long time, recalling her memories of being with Tang Shuang. Looking back now, she realized that everything had a traceable origin.

In her youth, Tang Shuang made no attempt to hide her ambition; her eyes were filled with desire. Unlike now, she has matured and is better at concealing her ambition.

Song Yaozhu clenched her fingers, thinking of the first palace banquet she attended after her rebirth, and the panicked look on Consort Shu's face when she saw her.

Perhaps, at that moment, she had already recognized herself. She had imitated her every smile and gesture, and knew her own habits best, so her panic at that time was not fake; she was genuinely shocked that a dead person would appear in front of her.

"I can't believe I made such a big mistake."

She had long been exposed to Tang Shuang, but Tang Shuang hadn't made a move against her because she was controlled by Gao Ping. How could someone like Gao Ping allow another man's son to compete with her son?

It seems her life isn't easy either.

She watched from the sidelines as the tigers fought, and only after she dealt with Gao Ping, a formidable rival, did she slowly step out from behind the scenes and into the limelight.

Ah, she had become a pawn in Tang's hands.

She was adept at humbling herself and using her vulnerability to disguise herself. In her past life, Xie Wanqing died because of her feigned weakness; in this life, Song Yaozhu must not fall into the same trap.

Taking a deep breath, Song Yaozhu had already composed herself.

She really shouldn't have risked her life. Song Yaozhu gave her a second life, and she should cherish it.

"Granny Qin, let's go say goodbye to the Imperial Noble Consort."

————

Inside the Qiankun Palace, Jiang Peiwang returned, covered in dust, to report that they had failed to catch the assassin.

Yuwen Wuji seemed to have begun to accept the incompetence of his subordinates, and he waved his hand.

"How is the Crown Prince doing?"

"Everything is fine with the Crown Prince. The Imperial Guard squad has captured the Yunzhou Prefect and his family who fled and is escorting them back to the capital."

The Yunzhou prefect's family was doomed to die.

Yuwen Wuji wasn't really concerned about that; he was more interested in whether there was any movement from the Prince of Yan. He sent out the Imperial Guards to monitor the Prince of Yan.

"When Princess Yongle got married, Prince Xiaoyao and his wife were assassinated. Go and find out who did it."

It's possible that the assassins he encountered were related to this group.

Yuwen Wuji was extremely annoyed. The death of a concubine in the harem was tantamount to trampling on his imperial dignity.

Now that you dare to kill a concubine silently, who knows if you'll be next?

When Jiang Peiwang withdrew after receiving the order, he happened to run into Prince Xuan, who was entering the palace. The two merely nodded to each other, and both saw weariness in each other's eyes.

Perhaps, things would be easier for them if they had a different emperor?

"Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, pay my respects!"

When Prince Xuan entered the palace, he learned of what had happened in the harem from the eunuchs. The Emperor had ordered him to investigate the affairs of his harem; would his younger brother not live much longer?

Yuwen Wuji recounted the death of Consort De, saying, "I will give you three days to thoroughly investigate who killed Consort De."

King Xuan had no choice but to accept the decree.

However, the servants in Consort De's palace insisted that Consort De had committed suicide.

"Her Majesty was born with poor health. One year, she was forced to kneel in the snow by the disgraced Consort Gao. Since then, the cold has seeped into her body, rendering her unable to conceive again. Her Majesty could not bear such a blow, so..."

"The ingredients for Jade Bone Regenerating Ointment are expensive. How did she obtain them?"

"Her Majesty enjoys tending to flowers and plants, so there is a small flower garden in our palace where she grows medicinal herbs."

"Where did the proceeds from her illegal sale of the Jade Bone Regenerating Cream go?"

"Your Highness's family has fallen on hard times, and I've given all the money to support them!"

"Why does the Jade Bone Regenerating Ointment from the Imperial Hospital also contain these ingredients?"

"This servant does not know. This servant is not in charge of this area. The Imperial Hospital has always been managed by Your Majesty."

King Xuan's headache worsened, which meant that there were also people with ulterior motives in the Imperial Hospital, and he had to offend the imperial physicians!

These days, who doesn't get a headache or fever sometimes? If he offends the imperial physician, who will dare to prescribe medicine for him when he gets sick in the future?

Even if you kill yourself, no one can find fault with you!

King Xuan covered his face, silently shedding tears.

Just then, a cluster of fiery red came into view.

"Why is my royal sister here?" Prince Xuan took a few deep breaths, touched his face, and tried to wipe away the fatigue on his face.

“When I was young, I also lived in Consort De’s palace for a while. Now that she died under mysterious circumstances, I have to come and see for myself.”

King Xuan sighed, "I guess she's just unlucky. None of the people around her are her own people."

These servants and maids clearly had memorized their testimonies beforehand.

None of his servants were trusted confidants; no wonder he died under mysterious circumstances.

"Your Majesty, when will the case be closed? I want Consort De to be laid to rest as soon as possible."

When Xuan Wang's weary eyes met Yuwen Xian's gaze, his heart suddenly tightened, and an indescribable emotion welled up inside him.