Chapter 683 The Truth Behind the Empress Dowager's Death
They have examined and confirmed the poisoning of the Empress Dowager repeatedly, but they still cannot find the cause.
However, after a simple examination, Mu Jin quickly came to a conclusion.
Although the Empress Dowager died from poisoning, it was not entirely due to poisoning.
It turned out that the Empress Dowager was furious and restless after having a big argument with Li Sanqi.
So they asked the Imperial Medical Academy to prescribe a calming and soothing formula.
The recipe itself is not problematic; the key issue is that the medicinal properties of several herbs in the recipe happen to interact with those of another herb in the spices, which inadvertently transforms it into a poison.
If this poison can be detected within twenty-four hours, it can be neutralized in time.
However, if the poison is left for more than 24 hours, it can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause death.
Finally, Mu Jin smelled the scents on everyone present and confirmed that the medicine hidden in the spices came from the incense that Liu Huifei used to scent her clothes.
This result left everyone speechless.
Therefore, was the Empress Dowager's death not a conspiracy, but a coincidence?
Faced with this result, Li Sanqi was utterly shocked, and Emperor Xiaozhao was also stunned for a long time.
Is it really just a coincidence?
Emperor Xiaozhao did not believe it.
Therefore, Consort Liu was demoted from the first-rank Consort Hui to the third-rank Jieyu, a dramatic drop in status.
The King of Qi was also fined a year's salary as a minor punishment.
The Empress Dowager's death thus came to a dramatic end.
After this incident, it was clear to everyone that Consort Liu and Prince Qi were doomed.
Those who were initially observing gradually began to gravitate towards the King of Chu.
The ascension of the King of Chu to the throne was widely expected.
When Mu Jin left the palace, she was given a reward, and Qiao Jingyao was granted a decree that he would be reinstated to his original position without having to observe mourning.
When Mu Jin returned home, Zhou sent a message to the Qiao family and immediately ordered people to chase after the procession that was escorting the spirit back to its hometown.
Fortunately, the large group, carrying Mrs. Qiao's coffin, did not move very fast.
They were caught up within two days.
So, a few days later, Qiao Jingyao returned to the capital.
The reason Mu Jin received these rewards was naturally because she was able to cure Emperor Xiaozhao's strange illness.
After the cause of the Empress Dowager's death was determined that day, Emperor Xiaozhao summoned Mu Jin alone.
After examining the patient, Mu Jin frankly stated that the ailment was minor and could be cured.
Emperor Xiaozhao was overjoyed and immediately rewarded Mu Jin handsomely.
The next steps involved announcing the Empress Dowager's death, formulating her funeral arrangements, and notifying various households to come to the palace to offer condolences.
After the Empress Dowager passed away, Emperor Xiaozhao issued an edict ordering that all civil and military officials wear mourning clothes and perform their duties during this period. Banquets, singing and dancing, and all entertainment activities were prohibited.
The Qiao family naturally followed the imperial decrees in everything they did.
In addition, Qiao Qinghe was already in mourning for Old Madam Qiao, and everyone in the household had prepared mourning clothes well in advance.
At this time, with the news of mourning for the Empress Dowager, the Qiao family was much more at ease.
Unlike other mansions, where people often have to hastily find plain-colored cloth from the storeroom to make clothes at the last minute, this place is different.
Many households lacked plain-colored fabrics and had to go out of their homes to purchase them.
Suddenly, the prices of plain-colored fabrics in major fabric shops all rose.
Seeing the accounts had increased significantly this month, Qiao Qinghe couldn't help but glance at He Rui in surprise.
Because of the imperial decree, many shops lost money this month, but the shops under her name did not lose any money at all; on the contrary, they made a lot of money.
He Rui explained with a smile, "Before the Empress Dowager passed away, I sent people to purchase a lot of plain-colored fabrics, and also transferred a batch of fabrics from a neighboring prefecture to the capital."
"The rouge shop has also added several new products that can help people with radiant complexions easily create a tired look."
"besides……"
Qiao Qinghe smiled. "You're quite quick-witted. But..."
Qiao Qinghe frowned, grasping the key point in He Rui's words, "You said you started buying plain-colored fabrics before the Empress Dowager passed away?"
What's going on?
He Rui dared not hide the truth and quickly said, "It was Miss Wenxiu who reminded me about purchasing plain-colored fabric in advance."
"Half a month before the Empress Dowager passed away, Miss Wenxiu suddenly approached me, took out a sum of money, and asked me to help her purchase plain-colored fabric."
She also suggested that I buy more to keep on hand.
"Although I felt something was amiss, I thought that since Miss Wenxiu came from the manor, she shouldn't be a threat to the Qiao family."
"Besides, it's just buying some plain-colored fabrics to keep on hand, so even if we can't sell them, we won't lose much money."
"So I agreed to do it, and while I was shopping for Miss Wenxiu, I also bought quite a lot of things."
"Who would have thought that not long after, the Empress Dowager would pass away..."
Qiao Qinghe could no longer hear what He Rui was saying.
She had only one thought in her mind: Wenxiu must have known something beforehand.
Wenxiu is someone who works for Li Sanqi.
So, the Empress Dowager's death was orchestrated by Li Sanqi!?
On the day the news of the Empress Dowager's death arrived, she sensed something unusual.
However, after Mu Jin left the palace, she learned that it was all a coincidence.
It wasn't the work of Consort Liu and the King of Qi, nor was it the work of the King of Chu and the Queen; it was all a coincidence.
The news from Madam Zheng's side also confirmed this.
Although I still have some disbelief, the result is good in the end.
At least for the time being, Consort Liu and Prince Qi's mansion will not come to her again to ask for the child.
Therefore, she forcibly suppressed that bad thought in her heart.
But at this moment, He Rui's words undoubtedly confirmed the unease in her heart.
Then think back to the day the news of the Empress Dowager's death arrived...
Qiao Qinghe's face gradually darkened. "You may leave."
"Yes," He Rui replied and left.
"Go and summon Wei Jia."
Ah Shuang hurriedly went out to call for help.
Before long, Wei Jia arrived.
Qiao Qinghe didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Did you already know what happened to the Empress Dowager?"
Wei Jia paused for a moment, then immediately shook her head in denial: "Mother has misunderstood. I was unaware of it beforehand."
Qiao Qinghe frowned at Wei Jia: "You didn't know beforehand. How did you try to distract me that day?"
Wei Jia gave a wry smile before saying, "I only vaguely guessed the Seventh Princess's plan. But without confirmation, I dared not speak rashly. It wasn't until the news of the Empress Dowager's death that my guess was confirmed."
"The reason I kept distracting my mother that day was that I didn't want her to delve too deeply into the Empress Dowager's death, which would create a rift between her and the Seventh Princess."
“I know that Mother has always been soft-hearted, and the Empress Dowager has been kind to Mother. If Mother finds out that the Seventh Princess was responsible for the Empress Dowager’s death, she will probably be angry and it may even shake Mother’s determination to support the Seventh Princess.”
"But we're already on the Seventh Princess's ship."
"The Marquis of Enping's mansion, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and even the Marquis of Yongning's mansion, who all trusted and followed their mother, had also implicitly accepted the Seventh Princess."
"If at this time, your mother's mind changes... this is a matter of great importance, and a single move could affect the whole situation."
"Please reconsider, Mother."
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