Ye Qingxue was silent for a moment, then turned to look at the box on the table. She did not refute Zhuang Xin's words, but simply asked, "When will the acacia seeds arrive?"

Qiu Shen replied, "It will probably take another quarter of an hour. Lord Zhuang, please prepare the carriage for the palace. Also, send a message to the palace saying that the Princess Consort is requesting an audience, but don't mention the reason yet."

"To prevent malicious individuals from finding out that we are going to perform autopsies and tampering with the bodies in advance."

Zhuang Xin nodded and said okay, then turned and left.

When the carriage was ready, Chunqian also prepared snacks and tea and placed them on the carriage. Dongbai brought the acacia seeds.

Ye Qingxue, Zhuang Xin, Xiang Sizi, Dong Bai, and Qiu Shen set off together for the palace.

The Ninth Prince was not granted the title of Prince and had not yet left the palace to establish his own residence. At the time of the incident, he was still living in Jiayi Palace. The Emperor, pitying his young age and tragic death, ordered that his body be laid to rest in Jing'an Hall of the Imperial Palace.

If they want to perform an autopsy, they have to go to the Jing'an Hall.

When they arrived at the palace gates, they could already feel the sorrowful and oppressive atmosphere. Fortunately, Zhuang Xin had sent word in advance that it would not be difficult for them to enter the palace.

After entering the palace, Qiu Shen lowered her voice and asked, "Your Highness, since we are going to open the coffin and examine the body, should we first ask the Emperor for permission?"

Ye Qingxue nodded: "Yes."

Upon arriving outside the Zichen Palace, they had to send Eunuch Huaifu to deliver a message. However, Eunuch Huaifu said, "His Majesty was overwhelmed with grief and did not sleep all night. He has only just fallen asleep. Perhaps Your Highness should wait a little longer?"

Ye Qingxue had no choice but to wait patiently. Fortunately, Qiu Shen had brought some pastries, and since she was both weak and hungry, she could only eat a little bit.

After waiting for about an hour, until dusk, the emperor finally woke up, and Huaifu immediately summoned her to an audience.

Everyone else waited outside the hall, but Ye Qingxue went in alone. When she saw the emperor, Ye Qingxue was stunned. The emperor did look much older, and his temples were more gray.

It seems he was truly heartbroken by the death of the Ninth Prince.

"Daughter-in-law Ye pays respects to Father Emperor." Ye Qingxue bowed.

The emperor slowly told her to get up: "I heard from Huaifu that you have urgent business with me. Is it about Prince Jing? He murdered his own brother and deserves to die. If you want to plead for him, you should forget it now."

He paused, then continued, "Even if I spare him out of consideration for our father-son relationship, the people of the land will not agree. You should be grateful that Prince Jing's crimes do not implicate you."

Ye Qingxue said, "Father, if I were to plead not for Prince Jing, but for something else, would you grant my request?"

The Emperor: "..." To avoid putting himself in a difficult position, he took the initiative, but Ye Qingxue took advantage of the situation instead?

"That depends on what it is. Your requests are always very tricky and strange."

Ye Qingxue said, "Father, I thought about it all night yesterday and I still feel that the death of the Ninth Prince is very suspicious. I beg you to allow me to open the coffin and examine the body to determine the cause of the Ninth Prince's death."

The emperor was taken aback, truly not expecting that her request was so.

"How Xiao Jiu'er was killed has been testified to by Lord Cui and his guards; the cause of his death has also been determined by the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital. There is no need for an autopsy. If Princess Jing makes such a request, everyone will think that Princess Jing has ulterior motives in trying to save Prince Jing."

Ye Qingxue said, "Father, may I ask you a question? You were saddened by the passing of the Ninth Prince, and now Prince Jing is about to be executed. Aren't you sad? He is your eldest son!"

"You insolent fool!" The emperor slammed his fist on the table in anger. "Don't think that just because I've tolerated you time and again, you can be disrespectful to me!"

“I have no disrespect in my eyes, I am only stating the facts! I brought up the death of the Ninth Prince for another reason, which may be able to save your eldest son. If you cherish Prince Jing, why are you unwilling?”

The emperor was momentarily speechless.

Just as Ye Qingxue was seeing signs that the emperor was softening his stance, Consort Cui unexpectedly entered.

"Your Majesty, I would rather die than allow Ye Qingxue to open the coffin and examine the body!" Consort Cui was pale and had red eyes. She was helped in by her nanny and looked extremely weak.

Ye Qingxue frowned. She had only just entered the palace and hadn't even gone to the inner palace yet, and Consort Cui already knew that she had requested to open the coffin for an autopsy?

Choi Jae-in learned the news far too quickly.

After Cui Cairen stood still, she looked at Ye Qingxue with eyes like swords and said, "My son was killed by Yun Zhuo. There are witnesses and physical evidence. Yun Zhuo must pay for my son's life!"

"Ye Qingxue, do you want to open the coffin and examine the body now to create false evidence to prove that Yun Zhuo is not the murderer of my son? And to rescue him?"

Consort Cui suddenly knelt before the emperor, tears streaming down her face, and cried out, "Your Majesty, I will never allow Ye Qingxue to do this, unless she steps over my dead body!"