Chapter 655: Death
Large basins of blood were brought out from the side hall, and palace maids and eunuchs were kneeling on the ground outside.
Qian Qiyue was tied up and thrown aside, with pale-faced Zhou Yuchang and Fu Jinrou beside her. Imperial doctors were also coming in and out on the other side, and it seemed that someone else was injured besides the prince.
"Sister Qian!"
Tang Ning saw blood on Qian Qiyue's face and something stuffed in her mouth, so she hurriedly tried to get closer, but as soon as she stepped forward, the guards blocked her.
When Liu Tong'en saw her, his expression was cold and indifferent: "Princess Xiangning, please step back. This woman is plotting to murder the Crown Prince. No one else is allowed to approach!"
Tang Ning's face looked grim.
Concubine Zhao stepped forward and said, "Commander Liu."
When Liu Tongen saw Concubine Zhao Gui, his expression calmed down a bit: "Greetings, Her Majesty Concubine Zhao Gui."
Concubine Zhao said in a deep voice, "What happened? Miss Qian was ordered to enter the palace to attend to the sick. Why would she plot to murder the Crown Prince?"
Liu Tong'en said, "I don't know either, but the Crown Prince was seriously injured, and someone saw the Qian family girl hurting him."
Yu Yanfeng stood aside. Seeing Tang Ning pursing her lips as she looked at Qian Qiyue, he spoke up, "The details of what happened haven't been clarified yet. I just asked around, and it turns out a maid on duty in Shoukang Palace heard a scream outside a side hall at the back, and then saw the Crown Prince fall out covered in blood."
"The palace door was wide open at the time, and Miss Qian was inside, holding the weapon that had injured the Crown Prince."
Tang Ning's heart sank when he heard this. There was a murder weapon and witnesses, which clearly meant that they wanted to kill Qian Qiyue.
Yu Yanfeng continued, "Those two palace maids saw Miss Qian injure the Crown Prince with their own eyes. Miss Fu and Miss Zhou were also there."
"Where is the wife of Marquis Wenxin?" Tang Ning suddenly spoke.
Madam Cao had said before that Qian Qiyue went out with the wife of Marquis Wenxin.
Yu Yanfeng paused and said, "Marquis Wenxin's wife was also injured and is also unconscious in the hall. She is currently being treated by the imperial physician."
Everyone's expression changed. How come even the wife of Marquis Wenxin was injured? They couldn't help but look at Qian Qiyue, Zhou Yuchang and the other two who were awake, their eyes full of surprise and suspicion.
What on earth had happened? How did it become like this?
The prince was injured and the wife of Marquis Wenxin was in a coma, and the news could not be concealed at all.
Just moments after Tang Ning and the others arrived, Nanny Ran hurried over with her people.
"Commander Liu, the Empress Dowager has ordered you to bring the man to the rear palace. She will personally interrogate him."
Liu Tongen nodded: "Yes."
Nanny Ran continued, "Your Highness, Your Highness, and all the ladies, today's banquet is over. The Queen Mother has granted you permission to leave first."
Concubine Zhao quickly spoke up, "How can this be possible? I am deeply worried about the Crown Prince's misfortune. Moreover, the fact that Miss Qian injured someone is a serious matter. Please, Your Majesty, allow me and others to attend the trial."
Tang Ning also said in a cold voice: "Sister Qian has always abided by the palace rules when she entered the palace to attend to the sick. She would never hurt the Crown Prince without reason. I have been in the same room with Sister Qian for a while, and her affairs are even more hidden from me. Moreover, so many people have heard what happened today, so there is no need to cover it up. Since the Queen Mother wants to interrogate her, let us accompany her."
Nanny Ran frowned: "The Empress Dowager asked you to leave the palace first..."
"Since we are all attending to the sick, why do you let us go first? The Crown Prince's life or death is unknown. Although Sister Qian is implicated in the case, there may be misunderstandings. Is the Empress Dowager so sure that she was the one who caused the injury and not someone else's instructions?"
Tang Ning lost his usual modesty and spoke with a hint of coldness: "Is there something that the Queen Mother doesn't want others to hear?"
"How dare you!" Nanny Ran shouted, "How dare you make unwarranted assumptions about the Empress Dowager?!"
Tang Ning looked back without the slightest fear: "Your Highness dare not. I simply feel that since the incident occurred in Shoukang Palace, everyone in Shoukang Palace should be present today to prevent gossip from spreading after the Empress Dowager's interrogation, which would damage the Empress Dowager's reputation."
Nanny Ran looked unhappy, and no one else dared to speak.
Seeing Tang Ning refusing to retreat, Yu Yanfeng suddenly spoke up, "Madam Ran, the Qian family's daughter suddenly injured someone, and the Wenxin Marquisate and the Fu family are also involved. They have connections with the person who entered the palace to tend to the patient. It is indeed inappropriate to let others leave before the truth is found out."
Concubine Zhao also said, "What Commander Yu said makes sense. Miss Qian has always been straightforward. If she is being instigated and used, or if there is a misunderstanding, it would be better to call everyone over. If there is anything, we can ask them on the spot. What do you think, Madam Ran?"
Nanny Ran listened to what the two of them said, and seeing Tang Ning looking at her coldly, she hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Okay, then everyone come together."
Qian Qiyue was almost lifted up by the guards. Tang Ning saw that she seemed to be injured. She was in so much pain when walking that her face turned pale and her forehead was covered in cold sweat. Zhou Yuchang also had some difficulty in walking. She hung her head and her lips were pale.
Fu Jinrou followed the two of them. When Tang Ning looked over, she subconsciously avoided him. Her eyes, which did not dare to look directly at him, revealed a sense of guilt.
"Tang Ning..." Rong Yue lowered her voice: "Don't be impulsive."
She could see Tang Ning's taut jaw and gloomy face.
Tang Ning pursed her lips: "I know."
At this moment, impulsiveness would be of no use and would only harm Qian Qiyue and the others. She glanced at Yu Yanfeng who was walking by and whispered, "Commander Yu."
"Princess."
"I wonder how the wife of Marquis Wenxin is doing?"
Yu Yanfeng stopped beside her. "Marquis Wenxin's wife isn't seriously injured, but she remains unconscious. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is seriously injured. All the doctors on duty at the Imperial Medical Bureau have been summoned, and someone has also sent a message to Eunuch Feng to inform His Majesty."
Tang Ning paused and lowered his eyes.
There are Imperial Physicians Jiang and Sun in the Imperial Medical Bureau, and Feng Lai is also by Emperor An's side. No matter who they are, they will try their best to send a message out of the palace to inform my brother.
Someone in front was looking over here, and Tang Ning didn't dare to ask more questions, for fear that others would notice that something was wrong with Yu Yanfeng, so he just said:
"Commander Yu, my aunt and Marquis Wenxin's wife have been friends for many years. She is now unconscious, and my aunt is very worried. Could you please send two people to protect my aunt and Marquis Wenxin's wife?"
Yu Yanfeng nodded: "Of course."
He turned around and gave orders, and two guards stayed behind.
Tang Ning then turned around and took Rong Yue's hand: "Aunt, I don't know what's going on with Aunt Jun. Yu Chang has been taken away again. Since you're worried about her, you can stay and take care of her. I'll go over to the Empress Dowager."
Tang Ning squeezed Rong Yue's palm hard while speaking:
"Such a big thing happened in the palace. I don't know who hurt Aunt Jun. I always feel that Shoukang Palace makes people feel uneasy."
"Yuejian, you and Shilan stay here with your aunt. You must stay by her side and guard her and the wife of Marquis Wenxin."
Yue Jian was stunned for a moment, and saw that although Tang Ning was talking about the wife of Marquis Wenxin, her eyes were on where the prince was, and her face changed slightly.
The girl was worried that someone would take advantage of the opportunity to kill the prince...
Rong Yue felt the strength in her hand and suddenly understood what Tang Ning meant. She swallowed back the words she was about to refuse and said, "I will accompany Yu Jun. Yue Jian and the others will also guard this side. As for the Empress Dowager, you must be careful."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
