Although Lianxia is usually a bit eccentric, she is indeed very reliable when it matters.
In less than an hour, she brought back all the information that Jian Yang wanted to know.
"Your Majesty, the imperial physician says this medicine is called 'Hundred Days of Sorrow.' Those who take this medicine will experience short-term lethargy and constant drowsiness. If they take it for a hundred days, they will die."
Got it, it's a slow-acting poison!
“This servant sent people to investigate everyone who had handled bird’s nest, and finally found out that during the bird’s nest making process, Liu Zhi from Tangli Palace had been in the imperial kitchen.”
"Who is in charge of Tangli Palace?"
Lianxia: "Your Majesty, it is Consort Wan."
"So it was her." Jian Yang looked enlightened.
In her memory, Consort Wan came from a prominent family, being the eldest daughter of the Shen family, one of the four great families.
He was usually aloof and did not like to form cliques, and he was neither servile nor arrogant towards the Empress.
To be honest, Jian Yang had a pretty good impression of her.
Therefore, she never expected that the person who poisoned her was Consort Wan!
"Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Jian Yang asked calmly, confirming once again.
Lianxia knelt down in front of her with a thud: "Your Majesty, this servant would never dare to deceive you on this matter."
Jian Yang pulled her up: "Don't keep kneeling down, I'm not blaming you."
Now that we have a clue, the next step is simply to wait for the fish to take the bait.
Soon, news of the Empress's poor health spread throughout the palace once again!
If the Empress is unwell, it is only natural for the concubines to come and inquire after her well-being.
After Jian Yang saw off the eighth group of people, Wan Fei finally arrived.
Consort Wan was as aloof as ever, with a cold and distant air about her.
Upon seeing her, Jian Yang immediately pretended to be suffering from a hundred-day-old poison and called her over.
"My dear Consort Wan," said Actress Jian Yang weakly, "I fear my days are numbered."
Consort Wan frowned upon hearing this: "Your Majesty the Empress is blessed with great fortune. It's best not to say such unlucky things again."
"I was thinking, when I pass away one day, would it be alright to pass the Empress's position to my younger sister?"
Consort Wan was taken aback at first, then immediately knelt down in front of Jian Yang: "Your Majesty, I am incompetent and cannot shoulder such a great responsibility. Moreover, my father and brothers are greedy for power and position, which I find extremely disgusting. I am too busy trying to escape the world to go against my own heart."
Ah, this...
Jian Yang was completely stumped.
After Consort Wan left, she jumped out of bed and began to huddle together with Lianxia and Xiqiu to discuss the matter.
"You all saw it just now, Consort Wan's demeanor didn't seem like she was faking it, did it?"
Lianxia and Xiqiu shook their heads in unison: "It doesn't seem like it."
"So, I think there must be some misunderstanding here."
"But Your Highness, that willow branch belongs to the head maid in Consort Wan's palace."
This also means that apart from Consort Wan's orders, basically no one can command her.
Jian Yang rested her chin on her hand, looking worried.
Based on her experience in judging people over two lifetimes, this Consort Wan certainly doesn't seem like a skilled actress.
Moreover, no matter how powerful the four major families in the capital are, they are not as powerful as Chen Jiaqiang, who holds military power.
Even if the Empress's position were to become vacant, it wouldn't be Consort Wan's turn to sit on it.
But as Lianxia said, the palace maid who poisoned the empress was Consort Wan's close attendant. Without her orders, a palace maid would never dare to take such a great risk to harm the empress.
Because it's really not worth it.
Jian Yang tried hard to recall if the original owner of this body had ever had a grudge against this willow branch, but after racking her brains, she still couldn't think of any connection between the two.
She was immediately at her wit's end.
Just as she was becoming increasingly agitated, a palace servant came to announce that the emperor had come to visit her.
Her eyes lit up immediately.
Yes, if she can't solve a problem, she can simply pass it on to the emperor!
So when Zhou Jingzhi entered the Weiyang Palace's sleeping quarters, he saw Jian Yang staring at him pitifully with her big, watery eyes.
Zhou Jingzhi was taken aback, and suddenly felt a tenderness in his heart.
"I've heard that the Empress has fallen ill again?"
Jian Yang shook her head and said, "Your Majesty, someone wants to harm me, sob sob sob."
Then Jian Yang recounted in detail to the emperor how she had almost eaten poisonous bird's nest.
"Your Majesty, you must do justice for me." Jian Yang was on the verge of tears.
Zhou Jingzhi comforted her for a few moments and promised, "Empress, rest assured that you will thoroughly investigate this matter. I will delegate all authority to you to ensure that you have no worries."
Jian Yang: "???"
Why did this guy pass the buck back to her again?
Even the national football team players can't play football as well as him!
She gave a forced smile and chuckled twice, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your trust!"
After seeing the emperor off, Jian Yang slumped on the chaise lounge, sighing repeatedly.
Relying on mountains may lead to their collapse, relying on people may lead to their departure, but relying on oneself is the most reliable option.
Although she couldn't be sure whether Consort Wan had given her the Hundred Days of Sorrow, this matter couldn't be left unresolved.
Even if it costs us our lives, we must thoroughly investigate this matter and find the mastermind behind it.
She didn't want to lose her life before she even resigned.
Since the emperor has entrusted her with full responsibility for this matter, she will certainly investigate it thoroughly.
She wanted to see who was wasting their good life and constantly plotting trouble!
"Tell me, how did this poison get into the palace?"
Jian Yang slowly popped grapes into her mouth.
Ugh, it's a bit sour.
She pushed the grapes aside with a look of disgust and began to eat the sliced pear.
"Your Majesty," Xiqiu said, "First, we must rule out the eunuchs and maids in the palace. We people usually have no chance to leave the palace. But it can't be the Imperial Pharmacy either. The medicinal materials in the Imperial Pharmacy are all registered, and we can check them."
Lianxia nodded in agreement, "It couldn't be ministers either, as they wouldn't have access to the palace eunuchs."
Jian Yang thought for a moment: "Is it possible that the imperial physician smuggled poison from outside and then handed it to the concubine under the guise of treating her?"
“That’s absolutely impossible! The imperial physicians are crucial to the safety of the Emperor and the Empress. They are strictly checked every day before entering the palace. The same applies to the imperial kitchen.”
These two departments are the only two that have access to the outside world.
It seems that this lead has also gone cold.
Jian Yang continued to work her brain cells while munching on a pear.
Suddenly, she stopped chewing, her expression turning solemn. "The guards in the palace, are they ever checked daily?"
Upon hearing this, Lianxia and Xiqiu looked at each other simultaneously and nodded emphatically.
“That’s right. These guards are only responsible for questioning others, but no one ever questions them.”
"Moreover, these guards rotate every seven days, and they are free to enter and leave the palace once every seven days."
Jian Yang sat up straight and instructed, "Alright, let's start by investigating the palace guards!"
I have no idea who is in charge of this security system, how could it have such a huge loophole!
Jian Yang immediately felt a pang of anxiety for the safety of the emperor and herself!
After three days of investigation, Jian Yang indeed discovered something amiss.
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