"No, Aunt Cen has been away from the palace for more than ten years."

"It's alright, Mom has to handle it."

Huo Xiaolong had great confidence in Cen Ang. She felt that none of the people in the palace could compare to a single hair of the ladies in the brothel. They were all managed by the head maids, and the difference in the people they trained was just that great.

“I’m going back to find her now. I can’t wait any longer. The evidence will probably be burned by now. Go tell the Empress that I’m going home to call my mother over.”

"Okay, go ahead."

The little girl watched her friend disappear after tapping the ground twice, and then she went to the Empress's side and told her about it.

Wei Shuyi looked at her with a pained expression.

“It’s my fault that you’ve suffered. It’s good that Your Highness invited Aunt Cen here. I’ve witnessed her methods firsthand; she’s incredibly capable. Don’t worry, I will definitely give you an explanation.”

Cen Ang was still sorting through the list of victims from back then when a young girl suddenly slipped in through the window. The woman put down the list and poured her a glass of water.

"How old are you? Why are you in such a hurry? You didn't even leave the house today. What happened? Tell Mom."

"The little girl has been poisoned in the palace. The Empress requests your presence in the palace to investigate."

"Where is Xiangxiang? Is she alright?"

"It's nothing, it seems to be nothing now, I just had to go to the outhouse a few times."

Cen Ang nodded.

"That's fine then."

The woman loved to wear dark clothes, and in the darkness of the night, her figure was somewhat obscured. Her hair was loosely tied in a bun, with some strands draped over her shoulders. Every move Cen Ang made exuded elegance.

Of course, this doesn't apply when hitting children.

A woman in a purple dress walked into the palace with a young girl.

"I heard that someone poisoned the Empress's palace."

"Yes, and I also heard that in order to find out who poisoned him, they even invited the foster mother of the Prince of Zhenbei into the palace."

"The mother of the Prince of Zhenbei?"

"Yes, I heard she used to be the head maid in the palace, very capable, but she went to the imperial mausoleum to pray for the late emperor and just returned to the capital recently."

Inside the palace, the palace maids were all discussing this matter.

A few people huddled together, whispering to each other.

Inside the Imperial Kitchen, a female official of similar age to Cen Ang paused slightly upon hearing this, then smiled.

Summon the maidservant beside him and give the order.

"Place this on the only route to the Queen's palace."

"yes."

"Isn't your Imperial Kitchen supposed to be the most peaceful place? Why are you sending a little maid to throw things away today?"

The one speaking was the head aunt of Shangmo Palace, who was not as good as the one from Shangshi Palace.

The woman glanced at the ink in the newcomer's hand and spoke.

"Wipe the filth off your hands before you come to my place. You just threw it away too, and you're criticizing me?"

The young palace maid didn't ask what it was. There weren't many "whys" in the palace; the less you knew, the longer you could live.

Huo Xiaolong was also puzzled. The road, which was usually the cleanest, had several extra purses on it tonight for some reason, and Cen's mother was still bending down to pick them up.

They picked things up and looked at them, then burned the contents with a tinderbox.

"Mom, what are all these?" Long'er asked.

"Just some letters from old acquaintances."

Those people from back then are all doing quite well now; these few pieces of information already reveal who visited the Empress's palace today.

As for the Empress Dowager...

The old woman also heard the news that Hou Xiangxiang was safe and sound.

"How could this be? That tea..."

"I saw her drink that tea with my own eyes, Your Highness. Please investigate this matter thoroughly."

The head palace maid serving the Empress Dowager returned to report at this time.

"Your Majesty, Cen Ang has entered the palace."

Yes, since everyone who was relieved of their worries returned unharmed, the Prince of Zhenbei must have carried the antidote with him.

The old woman's hands trembled slightly as she clenched her fists tightly.

"Continue exploring."

"yes."

When Xiao Lanhua and the Empress saw Cen Ang walk in through the main gate, they immediately stood up to greet him.

"Greetings to the Empress and the Imperial Concubine."

"Aunt, there's no need for such a grand gesture."

The two men helped Cen Ang up, one on each side, and then told her what had just happened.

Da Nier placed the teacup in front of the woman, but Xiang Xiang had already identified what kind of poison it was.

"Arsenic?" Cen Ang asked.

"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress said that only the Imperial Hospital has it in the palace, but all the arsenic in the Imperial Hospital is recorded, and the pharmacy is indeed short two ounces of arsenic."

“Aunt,” Xiao Lanhua said.

"We've found out who it is, but it's not easy to capture them."

Why?

“It’s from the Empress Dowager’s palace, Aunt Cen,” the Empress said.

The Empress and the people in Xiao Lanhua's palace were not to be trifled with; they agreed to call Cen Ang over because they wanted her to give them some advice.

The matter must be done, but how to prevent the Empress Dowager from interfering is the most difficult part.

Cen Ang also wanted to see the Empress Dowager; she didn't believe that the Emperor's actions weren't orchestrated by her.

"Shall I go see the Empress Dowager? Is my name still on the old list of palace servants?"

Cen Ang, swirling his teacup, raised an eyebrow and asked the Empress.

"Yes, the roster was just rewritten a few years ago, and Aunt Cen's name is still on it."

"I would like to trouble the head maidservant of the Empress and the Imperial Concubine to come with me."

The two women turned around and gestured, and the head maid beside them followed Cen Ang to the Empress Dowager's palace.

If nothing unexpected happens, this palace should be where the Crown Princess resides.

Cen Ang immediately spotted the withered Empress Dowager. The old woman sat at the head of the table, leaning on a cane. Back then, the Empress Dowager was still a concubine. She was taken out of the palace by the Fourth Prince, Yuwen Xuan Hong, to live with him because Cen Ang's ruthless methods made it difficult for her to act in the palace.

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