Aunt Jia is dead!
One morning in early February, Zhou Miao sent a little beggar to deliver a message to Gu Jiu.
Nanny Jia did not return home all night and was later found drowned in a well.
The person was dead and no external injuries were found on the body.
It seems that he committed suicide by jumping into a well.
Empress Dowager Xiao was a little sad.
"I never treated her harshly, nor did I wrong her. She was an elder by my side, and I would certainly support her and let her have a carefree old age. I can't understand why she would jump into the well and commit suicide. Did I hurt her heart without knowing it?"
"Don't think too much, mother. This is just an accident."
Empress Dowager Xiao was heartbroken and in poor health, so Emperor Wende came to visit her at the Cining Palace.
Empress Dowager Xiao sighed, "Maybe it really was an accident. My eyes are blurry now, and I can't see clearly when it gets dark. I accidentally stepped on empty air and fell. Alas, there are fewer and fewer elderly people around me."
Emperor Wende said, "I will order a proper burial for Nanny Jia. Your Majesty, don't worry."
Empress Dowager Xiao nodded and said sadly, "She is all alone, without any family, no children or nephews, not even any descendants to offer sacrifices to. How pitiful!"
Emperor Wende sighed along with Empress Dowager Xiao.
Older people are always sad when facing death.
Empress Dowager Xiao was extremely tired and fell asleep quickly.
Emperor Wende stood up and walked out of the Cining Palace.
Liu Zhao was waiting outside the palace.
Emperor Wende looked at Liu Zhao and was silent for a moment before saying, "If you brothers have time these days, come and spend more time with the Empress Dowager. When you get old, you like to be busy."
"Your Highness obeys your command! Your Majesty, is everything alright?"
"It's a bit sad. After all, the one who died was an old man who had taken care of me for decades. He will recover in a few days."
"I hope the Queen Mother is alright."
Liu Zhao followed Emperor Wende back to Xingqing Palace.
Aunt Jia's death was very strange.
Suicide?
Homicide?
Accident?
Liu Zhao first denied the accident.
Just when he was about to arrest Nanny Jia, Nanny Jia died?
This is too much of a coincidence.
Like Gu Jiu, he doesn't believe in coincidences.
There are only man-made accidents.
If coincidence is denied, the only options left are homicide and suicide.
What reason did Aunt Jia have to commit suicide?
Did she foresee the disaster in advance?
All kinds of thoughts were running through Liu Zhao's mind, and he had to deal with his father's questions at the same time.
By the evening, he returned to Xiaozhu exhausted and lay on Gu Jiu's legs, feeling depressed.
"Madame Jia is dead. She drowned."
"I know!"
Gu Jiu gently stroked his cheek, "Early this morning, Zhou Miao sent someone to deliver the news that he had committed suicide by jumping into a well."
"Do you believe she committed suicide by jumping into the well?"
"It doesn't matter whether we believe it or not. What matters is that she is dead and the clues are gone."
That's why Liu Zhao was so depressed.
If he had known this earlier, he would have ignored the risks and taken action directly in the palace and kidnapped Aunt Jia.
After Liu Zhao calmed down, Gu Jiu brought up what happened that morning. "Zhou Miao actually sent little beggars to deliver a message to me. How did he know those little beggars?"
Little did Gu Jiu know that Zhou Miao was originally a beggar from the northwest. After arriving in the capital, he entered the palace by chance and became a eunuch.
After Zhou Miao entered the palace, he did not give up his old profession.
Not only does he know the little beggar, he is also the "leader of the Beggars' Gang."
Of course, this is a title he gave himself.
He kept a group of beggars under his command to do things for him and gather information.
He couldn't leave the palace for a while, and he was anxious to deliver a message to Gu Jiu. He was afraid that Gu Jiu would say that he took the money but didn't do the job, so he asked the little beggar to deliver the message.
Liu Zhao said casually, "Rats have their own ways. There's no need to worry about these details."
Gu Jiu laughed and pinched Liu Zhao's ear. "Details determine success or failure. Do you know how many things Zhou Miao has hidden?"
"How would I know?" Liu Zhao denied it flatly.
He won't say anything.
Gu Jiu also delved into the matter. She asked, "Now that Aunt Jia is dead, what are you going to do next?"
"Dig deeper into Aunt Jia's identity. First, find out who she has been in contact with in the past six months."
After a pause, he continued, "It's better for Aunt Jia to die. Leaving her by the Empress Dowager's side always makes people worry."
Gu Jiu, however, had a bad feeling. "I have a feeling you're being too reassured. Without His Majesty's support, you'll always be a few steps behind when investigating the people in the palace."
…
Soon, Gu Jiu's words came true.
Empress Dowager Xiao suffered another heart attack and became seriously ill.
The Imperial Medical Bureau tried its best to rescue him.
For twelve hours a day, the imperial doctors took turns staying by Empress Dowager Xiao's side.
Emperor Wende was shocked, angry and worried.
Yelling at the doctors.
"Heal the Queen Mother! Otherwise, I will bury you with me!"
The imperial doctors were trembling with fear.
The Queen Mother is heartbroken and there is nothing they can do!
I can only try my best to save the Queen Mother's life.
There is no way to make the Empress Dowager recover at such an old age.
Empress Dowager Xiao's current situation is to live one day at a time and earn one day at a time.
Empress Dowager Xiao was seriously ill, and the Xiao family was the most nervous and worried.
The Xiao family was filled with gloom and sorrow.
If something happens to Empress Dowager Xiao, what will the Xiao family do next?
Can Xiao Zhaoyi be relied upon?
Can Xiao Qin'er be relied upon?
The Xiao family urgently needs a reassurance.
Mrs. Xiao decided to bring her eldest daughter-in-law to the palace to visit Empress Dowager Xiao.
Xiao Qin'er was notified the day before departure.
Ask Xiao Qin'er to enter the palace on the same day.
The family got together and worked out a plan.
This is also what the head of the Xiao family meant.
Empress Dowager Xiao, the pillar of the Xiao family, is about to fall. Before she does, the Xiao family must make a decision.
When Xiao Qin'er received the news from her mother's home, she was confused.
She agreed to Liu Yi's request and claimed to be ill and would not enter the palace.
Now that Empress Dowager Xiao is seriously ill and her family is in trouble, she must go to the palace.
How should she talk to Liu Yi?
She hesitated and delayed.
She didn't mention this matter to Liu Yi until just before going to bed.
Liu Yi was silent for a long time.
Xiao Qin'er was filled with anxiety, "If you don't agree, I won't enter the palace tomorrow."
Liu Yi looked at her and said, "No, you must go to the palace tomorrow. But you must promise me not to argue with Xiao Zhaoyi."
Xiao Qin'er nodded repeatedly, a look of surprise on her face. "I promise, I will stay away from her. No matter what she says, I will restrain myself. I will never conflict with her."
"I hope you can keep your word. You must remember, if anything happens tomorrow, the Empress Dowager will not be able to protect you. Father will behead you two sisters!"
Xiao Qin'er shuddered, "I remember! I promise nothing will happen!"
"That's better."
…
The next morning, Xiao Qin'er dressed neatly and took a carriage to the palace.
Inside the Cining Palace, the palace maids all had solemn expressions, their words and actions were cautious, their eyes revealed despair and resignation, as well as a faint struggle.
If Empress Dowager Xiao passed away, how many people in the Cining Palace would survive?
Will Your Majesty order that everyone in the Cining Palace be buried with him?
So scary!
Infected by this atmosphere, Xiao Qin'er tensed up all over.
She walked into the bedroom and saw Xiao Zhaoyi sitting by the bed serving medicine.
"My sister is here!"
Xiao Zhaoyi greeted her with a tired look, her eyes bloodshot.
"Qin'er is finally here." Madam Xiao stepped forward and took Xiao Qin'er's hand. "Why are you so late?"
Xiao Qin'er said nervously, "I was delayed for a while when I went out. How is the Queen Mother?"
"It's very bad! I've been in pain all night and just fell asleep. Your sister has been waiting by the Queen Mother's bedside all night. Let's go to the side hall to talk and don't disturb the Queen Mother's rest."
Xiao Qin'er nodded and followed Madam Xiao to the side hall.
A moment later, Xiao Zhaoyi also came to the side hall.
All the palace maids were sent out.
In the side hall, there were only three people, mother and daughter.
Xiao Zhaoyi sat down on a chair, rubbing her brows, looking very tired. Her eyes were gloomy.
Madam Xiao said anxiously, "The whole family is worried about the Queen Mother's safety. If anything happens to her, we'll have to decide what to do next. Of course, everyone hopes that the Queen Mother will be safe. But we also have to be prepared for the worst."
Xiao Zhaoyi asked softly, "What did father say?"
"Your father meant that after the Queen Mother passed away, the Xiao family should support His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince."
"inappropriate!"
Xiao Zhaoyi objected immediately, "The Fourth Prince has Liu Zhao standing behind him. The Xiao family cannot openly support the Fourth Prince, as this will only lead to His Majesty's resentment and suppression. Even if support is necessary, it should be for the First Prince."
"Are you crazy?" Xiao Qin'er stared at Xiao Zhaoyi. "Liu Zhao doesn't care about the Xiao family at all."
Xiao Zhaoyi sneered, "It's better not to care. The less involved, the less danger there is. Mother, go back and tell father that no matter what the Queen Mother decides, the Xiao family must not act rashly. The Xiao family must not actively participate in the struggle for the throne. The Xiao family must stick to their previous attitude and support whoever becomes emperor. The Xiao family is loyal and only loyal to the emperor."
Madam Xiao was a little confused. "Are you really not going to choose the Fourth Prince? He's the Queen's legitimate son."
Xiao Zhaoyi sneered, "He's not the only legitimate son of the Queen. Besides, the Queen's legitimate son doesn't necessarily have much of a chance of winning; he's more like a target."
Xiao Qin'er smiled coldly, "If you don't support your cousin, do you think you will support your son?"
Xiao Zhaoyi rolled her eyes in disgust, "Sister, you have such a small brain. How did you survive to this day? I'm really curious."
I said, the Xiao family does not support the Fourth Prince, nor the Ninth Prince. The Xiao family has no position, the Xiao family is just the emperor's ministers, sister, do you understand?
Or are you really that anxious, eager to see Liu Yi take the throne? Are you truly not afraid of death? Liu Zhao knew how to be a lone minister and gain His Majesty's trust, yet you are pushing Liu Yi to his death. I would like to ask you, what are your intentions? Are you trying to murder your husband?"
"You're talking nonsense! Don't even think about slandering me! You bitch..."
"What are you talking about? Sister, please finish what you are saying."
Xiao Zhaoyi looked at Xiao Qin'er with a half-smile.
Xiao Qin'er was furious. Seeing Xiao Zhaoyi's smug smile, she felt the urge to tear her face apart.
She took a series of deep breaths, constantly reminding herself in her heart not to cause trouble and not to be fooled.
But my heart is about to explode!
"What's wrong with you sisters? Why do you act like enemies?" Mrs. Xiao was dumbfounded.
In her mind, how could two daughters who loved each other become enemies?
Xiao Zhaoyi chuckled and said lightly, "I forgot to tell mother that my sister has always treated me like a piece of trash. So I can only treat my sister as an enemy."
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