Chapter 11 Where is Qingwu?

At this hour, the emperor should be in the Hall of Diligent Governance, receiving his ministers and reviewing memorials. His special visit must be because he has learned of the prince's drowning.

Logically, everyone should go to the main hall to discuss matters.

But now anyone could see that the emperor, sitting in the main seat, was in a bad mood, and no one dared to mention moving the emperor's residence.

The Empress Dowager sat beside the Emperor.

With a worried expression, he said, "How could Yuan Heng have fallen into the water for no reason? Is someone trying to harm the imperial heir? This matter must be thoroughly investigated!"

"The Empress Dowager is right, a thorough investigation is necessary," Emperor Wusu said calmly.

But the icy glint in his eyes seemed to pierce through everyone present.

"Li Yuzong, bring in the palace servants who are looking after the prince."

Within moments, a dozen or so palace maids, eunuchs, and nannies arrived at the palace gate.

Chief Steward Li bowed his head and walked to the emperor's seat to report, saying respectfully, "Your Majesty, the people have been brought over."

Emperor Wusu, Zhao Mingyan, surveyed the people kneeling on the ground.

"The prince fell into the water, and no one accompanied him."

There were no harsh words or stern expressions, yet he inexplicably instilled fear in people.

The emperor had barely uttered a word when a frivolous eunuch, shaking his leg, wet his pants.

Li Yuzong gestured to his men to quickly remove the person from the room, lest they offend the emperor's eyes.

It's no wonder that person had a weak mentality. The new emperor had fought his way up from the battlefield, and the path to becoming an emperor was paved with piles of white bones.

In recent years, his image as a diligent and people-loving official has become deeply ingrained in people's hearts. Moreover, because he has a handsome and unparalleled face, people have almost forgotten that he has this demeanor.

He hadn't shown such a terrifying appearance in a long time.

An aura of slaughter instantly filled the entire palace.

Ji Qingwu shivered behind the screen, wrapped her arms around herself, and hugged herself tightly.

She couldn't see the expression on the Northern Li emperor's face, but she could feel the chilling atmosphere in the same space. Plus, her undergarments were still damp, and goosebumps rose all over her body.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; this saying is indeed true.

The Empress Dowager remained relatively calm: "Your Majesty, these palace servants have failed in their duties and should be punished. However, Yuan Heng was raised by Consort Wei. Now that the prince has encountered trouble, why has she, his mother, not appeared yet?"

Consort Wei received the news late and is on her way.

Seeing that the Emperor did not intend to take his anger out on Consort Wei, the Empress Dowager frowned and said, "Yuan Heng was carried back to Cining Palace. He was covered in dirt and was shivering in the wind. His little face was pale. I felt so sorry for him."

Yuan Heng sat quietly to the side.

The emperor looked at him, his voice devoid of any comfort, but instead carrying a questioning tone.

"Yuan Heng, why did you fall into the water?"

Emperor Wusu had been on the throne for three years, and none of his concubines had given birth to a son.

However, the emperor did not favor him too much, and he was ruthless in punishing him for his mistakes, so Yuan Heng did not develop an arrogant and domineering personality.

The four-year-old child spoke clearly: "Your Majesty, after school, I passed by Taiye Pond and heard a puppy barking in the grass. I sent my servants to check, and then I accidentally fell into the water on the bank."

Emperor Wusu nodded, his eyes turning cold. "Where is this inner circle?"

Before anyone could answer, a woman's pleasant voice came from the doorway.

"Your Majesty, I have found Xiao Quanzi's body."

Consort Wei, dressed in a misty blue gauze palace dress with scattered flowers and adorned with a golden hairpin, entered with two maids.

"Your Majesty, I have met you. ... Empress Dowager, I have met you."

Consort Wei curtsied. With her bright eyes and white teeth, she was a rare and beautiful woman, worthy of being the emperor's favorite concubine.

After obtaining the emperor's permission, she went to the young prince.

She said softly, "Yuanheng, your mother is late."

Seeing her demeanor, the Empress Dowager said angrily, "Consort Wei, it seems you've been so late, keeping me and the Emperor waiting. Did you go off to investigate a case as a judge?"

Not only did men pursue power, but the women in the imperial harem also fought tooth and nail for control of the six palaces.

The Empress Dowager had never been an empress; she only enjoyed such a prestigious position thanks to her stepson. Once she tasted the power, she was reluctant to let go. Seeing Wei Liru rise from a Noble Lady to a Consort, and her ascension to the Empress's position seemed imminent, how could she not be wary?

It was no secret in the palace that Consort Wei and the Empress Dowager were at odds.

Wei Liru said in surprise, "Your Majesty, please don't tease me. I was very worried about the safety of the young prince. I was extremely anxious. On my way here, I passed by Taiye Pond and had someone search it."

By the way?

The Empress Dowager sneered inwardly; this was her way of finding a way to break the deadlock.

The Emperor's only son has met with misfortune, and she, as his mother, cannot escape blame.

Emperor Wusu remained unmoved, not taking the rivalry between the two seriously.

"Tell me, what did you find?"

"Besides the corpses in the small circle, I have made an even bigger discovery." Consort Wei looked at the emperor hesitantly, "Your Majesty, there is a lot of moss on the steps by the lake."

Prince Yong thought Consort Wei was making a fuss over nothing and scoffed, "There has been a lot of rain this year, so it's normal for some moss and algae to grow by the lake after the rain. Consort Wei, you must have never even seen moss before, right?"

Consort Wei ignored Prince Yong's sarcastic words and looked at Emperor Wu Su with her watery eyes.

"However, it just so happens that my maid Bitao is from Chaonan and recognizes that this type of moss is only found in her hometown. The sudden appearance of Chaonan moss in the palace, coupled with Yuanheng's accidental slip into the lake, makes me think a lot."

These words clearly implied that there was something wrong with the moss and that the prince had been secretly murdered.

Since Consort Wei dared to expose this in public, the person behind it must have nothing to do with her. Now that this clue has been revealed, if the person behind it still can't be found, it means the Imperial Household Department has failed in its duties.

The Grand Eunuch Li Yuzong immediately bowed and withdrew from the palace to begin the investigation.

The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened. Consort Wei was clever; she first investigated the reason why the prince fell into the water, which could be considered as making amends for her mistake.

But how could the Empress Dowager let it go so easily? "Your Majesty, no matter what, Yuan Heng almost lost his life because of this. Our Northern Li royal family only has this one heir. This matter must not be dealt with lightly. All those involved must be severely punished."

Emperor Wusu asked, "What does the Empress Dowager think?"

“The palace servants who serve the prince will be penalized with a year's salary and punished with twenty strokes of the cane. Consort Wei is responsible for raising the prince. Since the prince almost got into serious trouble, she was not careful enough in her upbringing, so she should also be confined to her quarters for three months. In addition, should we consider moving Yuan Heng to a more suitable palace?”

As the Empress Dowager was in charge of all affairs in the inner palace, proposing these solutions was simply part of her duties.

A slight smile appeared on the emperor's lips.

"Mother, which palace do you think is more suitable for Yuanheng?"

The Empress Dowager's gaze shifted; she couldn't simply ask for the prince to come to her.

She said indirectly, "This requires further consideration, but we can no longer keep Yuanheng in Guanju Palace. I heard that Yuanheng was rescued by someone. Who was it? I must thank them handsomely."

Shi Xi stepped forward with small steps and replied, "It is the fifth young lady of the Ji family who came to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager today. She disregarded her own safety and jumped into the lake to rescue the young prince."

Zhao Yuanheng perked up his ears; it turned out that this woman, like the Empress Dowager, was a member of the Ji family.

He didn't care which concubine's palace he was going to move to; he was more concerned about the woman's name.

The emperor said with a half-smile, "She's the Empress Dowager's niece. What a coincidence."

The Empress Dowager, as if she had just learned of this, asked, "Fifth Miss is such a kind and brave child. Where is Qingwu?"

Ji Qingwu, behind the screen: ......

She's here.