"Tell me quickly, what have you found out?" Xia Zhengqi had a cold face.
On the day the Queen's carriage had an accident, the eunuch Li San, who was in charge of feeding the horses, left the palace on business and never returned. Rumors abounded in the palace that Li San had heard of the Queen's carriage accident and, fearing punishment, had taken the opportunity to flee.
【Ahhh, I finally found it! 】
Xia Miaoyuan babbled excitedly twice, then immediately shut up and listened quietly.
"I have found out that Li San has a fellow villager who runs a carriage and horse business in the capital. Before the accident, Li San had made an appointment with his fellow villager to hire his carriage to go back to his hometown, and even paid a deposit. The time they agreed on was the day when the Empress had the accident." Debao's face was solemn.
"But on the day of the incident, the fellow villager didn't wait for Li San. We followed this clue and searched repeatedly on the road to the carriage and horse shop, and found Li San's body. He must have been stabbed to death with two knives and buried on the spot by the roadside."
Although the book doesn't detail this, it's easy to tell that the Jiang family must have promised Li San a sum of money after the mission was completed, allowing him to escape. However, Li San was silenced after the mission was completed.
[Tsk tsk tsk, people like Li San are both pitiful and hateful.]
Xia Miaoyuan lay on the couch, playing with her hands leisurely and muttering to herself.
Xia Zhengqi lowered his head in thought and asked, "Have you found any physical evidence?"
"Li San has a small packet of medicinal powder on him. I have asked someone to test it. They said it is a medicine produced in the Western Regions. Taking a small amount occasionally can refresh the mind, but taking it continuously will cause hallucinations and even madness." Debao took out a small ceramic bottle from his body, wrapped it with a handkerchief, and presented it to Xia Zhengqi with both hands.
This makes sense. After the Empress Dowager and Concubine Jiang devised the poisonous plot, Grand Tutor Jiang found the madness drug outside the palace. Then, Concubine Jiang bribed Li San to drug the horse. The Empress's horse was actually fed this drug.
For some unknown reason, Li San left the remaining powder behind. Was he leaving himself a way out?
Xia Miaoyuan opened his bright eyes and fell into deep thought.
"Okay, you leave first. I want to be alone." Xia Zhengqi ordered with a cold face.
[Alas, what a pity, what a pity. With only this little physical evidence, I wonder if the Emperor has considered the Jiang family. Perhaps he didn't even realize that the Jiang family was behind this.]
Xia Miaoyuan pouted.
Xia Zhengqi held the small porcelain bottle tightly and felt cold all over.
The Queen Mother and Concubine Jiang set up a vicious plot, and Grand Tutor Jiang was in charge of buying the medicine. What a vicious Jiang family!
He deliberately plotted to harm the queen in order to help Jiang Qiqiu become the queen.
What happens next? He plots to murder the crown prince and make Jiang Qiqiu's fifth son the crown prince.
Although the Queen Mother was his stepmother, he had always treated her as his biological mother and treated her sincerely for more than 30 years.
How could the queen mother whom I have called my mother for more than 30 years be so cruel?
Xia Zhengqi was so angry that his face turned blue and his teeth were clenched tightly.
He thought of his daughter's previous words, that Grand Tutor Jiang almost controlled the court, and the Minister of War and the Minister of Revenue were all his people.
Oh my God, is Grand Tutor Jiang’s plan... the entire Great Xia Empire?
Xia Zhengqi broke out in a cold sweat and didn't dare to think about it anymore.
Emperor Daddy, what's wrong with you? Are you too tired?
Xia Miaoyuan blinked her big eyes, looked at the emperor with concern, and babbled.
The tender voice of a baby brought Xia Zhengqi back to his senses. He looked down at his daughter's clear eyes, hugged her tightly, and said word by word, "Don't worry, Miao'er. Daddy will track down this matter to the end and won't let any bad guy go!"
[Wow, the Emperor Daddy is awesome! Long live the Emperor Daddy! The Emperor Daddy is a true man!]
Xia Zhengqi's sudden expression of determination really surprised Xia Miaoyuan.
[That's weird. Doesn't the book say the emperor is kind and gentle, but also a pushover? This doesn't quite fit.]
Xia Miaoyuan murmured.
Xia Zhengqi glanced at her and smiled triumphantly.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye it is already the day of the little princess's full moon banquet.
Early in the morning, the palace servants got up and began to prepare.
The queen specially changed into a bright yellow auspicious dress, which was embroidered with a festive pattern of birds paying homage to the phoenix. She wore a crown with a phoenix spreading its wings on her head. On the crown was a golden phoenix with its wings spread out, as if about to fly, and it was inlaid with several sparkling oriental pearls. Her face was also made up with bright makeup.
Every gesture and movement exudes nobility and dignity.
[The Queen is truly beautiful, worthy of being the Queen of Great Xia, a beauty from the Northern Frontier.]
Xia Miaoyuan lay on the bed, sucking his fingers with relish while admiring the beauty of his mother, the Queen.
When the queen was almost done dressing, the nanny also started to dress up for Xia Miaoyuan.
Take off your everyday pants and shirt and put on a mini-sized simplified palace dress.
Even though it's a dress for a baby, the craftsmanship is not sloppy at all.
This palace dress was made of bright red Shu brocade, woven with an exquisite pattern of a hundred blessings. The cuffs and hem of the skirt were adorned with small, round pearls.
Because Xia Miaoyuan's hair was still made up of fine, baby hair and could not be combed, the nanny gave her a summer gauze hat decorated with several bright colored gems.
After she was dressed, the queen took out a gold and jeweled necklace and put it on her.
[Oh, this is the necklace that the Emperor had the craftsmen make for me. It's so beautiful! I love it. I'm so happy! Ah... today is a good day...]
Xia Miaoyuan excitedly grabbed the collar with his two chubby little hands and couldn't help singing "Good Days" in his heart.
This child is really different, he has a very lively personality...
A hint of embarrassment flashed in the queen's eyes.
Everything was ready, and the sedan chair took the queen and the little princess to Shanglin Garden.
Shanglinyuan has a spacious palace, a square with a wide view, and exotic flowers and plants. It is a place specially used for holding palace banquets.
When the Queen and her entourage arrived at Shanglin Garden, the palace had already been decorated, with gorgeous tables, chairs, and carpets embroidered with exquisite patterns all neatly placed.
The guests have been sitting upright in their seats, waiting for a long time.
Because this was a grand event, the emperor invited almost all the royal relatives and nobles. In addition, officials in important positions were also invited.
When the queen walked into the main hall of Shanglinyuan holding Xia Miaoyuan, it immediately caused a commotion.
The guests stood up one after another and greeted the queen and the little princess, and either sincerely or insincerely praised the little princess for her intelligence and beauty.
[Ahhh, this is my big day! This is so exciting, huhuhuhu!]
Xia Miaoyuan's big eyes were rolling around, and he was so busy that he didn't know where to look first.
Xia Zhengqi smiled and stood up to help the queen to her seat.
At this moment, Xia Miaoyuan caught a glimpse of Concubine Jiang on her lower left. She keenly noticed that Concubine Jiang's hypocritical smile seemed to hide a sense of complacency.
[Oh no! This treacherous concubine might be planning another big move!]
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