Everyone in the Cining Palace, from the maids who served the guests to the palace maids who cleaned the palace, were arrested and taken to the Ministry of Punishment for torture.
Everyone who was crying at the funeral was shocked and surprised.
"What happened?"
Everyone is asking.
Many people feel inexplicably panicked and uneasy!
"Why are you arresting people from the Cining Palace?"
"Could it be related to the Queen Mother's death?"
All kinds of speculations and discussions are rampant.
Emperor Wende never showed up.
Only Chang En came forward and announced the emperor's will: the funeral should proceed as usual and no rumors or trouble should be spread.
The crowd had no choice but to continue crying.
However, no one was paying attention to this, everyone was absent-minded, and the sound of crying was much quieter.
Under normal circumstances, no one would dare to do this.
Now is an extraordinary period, and no one cares whether people's attitude in crying for the dead is pious enough.
Gu Jiu was able to catch his breath.
Her sixth sense never fails.
The ominous premonition was finally confirmed; there was something fishy about Empress Dowager Xiao's death.
Gu Jiu frowned slightly.
She took Empress Dowager Xiao's pulse several times, and found only common heart disease, and no other problems.
How did the palace discover that there was something strange about Empress Dowager Xiao’s death?
Gu Jiu looked towards the mourning hall, and the problem must be with the corpse.
Someone discovered something wrong with Empress Dowager Xiao's body.
Gu Jiu stood up and walked towards the mourning hall.
…
All the concubines in the harem were in a panic.
The princes were also very uneasy.
Taking advantage of the break, everyone tried their best to find out the truth.
Madam Xiao found Xiao Zhaoyi and asked, "What's going on? I heard that everyone in the Cining Palace has been arrested? Even the elderly people around the Empress Dowager were not spared."
Xiao Zhaoyi's face was serious. "Don't panic, mother. I will find out everything about this matter. I think it's related to the death of the Empress Dowager."
Madam Xiao's face turned pale. "Didn't the Empress Dowager die of illness? Is there something fishy going on?"
"It's too early to say anything now. Mother must tell Father that it's better to be still than to act. Let's wait and see what happens before making any plans."
Madam Xiao's face was pale as she nodded repeatedly. "I'll go find your father right now and tell him not to act rashly. You should also get the news as soon as possible. If there is something fishy about the Empress Dowager's death, you must send the news to the Xiao family as soon as possible."
Xiao Zhaoyi agreed, "I will."
After watching Madam Xiao leave, Xiao Zhaoyi prepared to return to the harem.
Matters in the harem should be resolved in the harem.
"Where are you going?" Xiao Qin'er blocked Xiao Zhaoyi's way.
Xiao Zhaoyi had a gloomy face. "Sister, is there something wrong? I don't have time to argue with you right now. If you have nothing to do, please get out of the way."
"Are you going to inquire about the Empress Dowager?"
"You know, but you still ask?"
"Can you find out?"
Xiao Zhaoyi looked at Xiao Qin'er with a strange expression, "Sister, are you asking for peace?"
Xiao Qin'er's expression twisted instantly. "I hope you can really find out the truth."
Xiao Zhaoyi sneered, "Sister, you've finally made progress. Congratulations. Now you've finally realized that without the Queen Mother, I'm the only one you can rely on in the palace. So, be polite to me from now on."
Xiao Qin'er silently made way and watched Xiao Zhaoyi leave.
…
The princes and concubines went to Xingqing Palace to ask for an audience with Emperor Wende.
Emperor Wende never met with them.
Empress Pei frowned and asked Chang En, "Your Majesty, won't you even see me?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. His Majesty said he will not see anyone."
Empress Pei was furious. "Tell me, what's the situation with His Majesty now? I heard that His Majesty drank some wine last night. Is His Majesty okay?"
Chang En bowed and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. His Majesty is in good health. Please go back. When His Majesty is willing to see everyone, I will send someone to inform you."
Empress Pei was helpless and had to leave.
By the way, the two brothers Liu Zhao and Liu Yi were also invited.
Liu Zhao was not willing to go to Weiyang Palace at this time, as it would be a waste of time.
Empress Pei was very dissatisfied, "Don't you even listen to what I say?"
Liu Zhao glanced at the people around him and thought, well, in front of everyone, he still had to give his mother some face.
The mother and her two children returned to Weiyang Palace.
Empress Pei was restless and anxious. "There must be something fishy about the Queen Mother's death, otherwise His Majesty wouldn't have suddenly ordered the arrest of everyone in the Cining Palace."
"Why didn't the imperial physician notice it before?" Liu Yi was puzzled.
Empress Pei looked at Liu Zhao and asked, "Boss, do you have any news?"
Liu Zhao said indifferently, "Wait until the Ministry of Punishment has examined everyone and everything will be clear."
"I'm afraid the person will be gone before we can find out the truth." Empress Pei was very skeptical about the ability of the Ministry of Punishment.
Anyone who dares to kill the Empress Dowager would definitely have prepared a way out.
…
Gu Jiu came to the mourning hall.
She said to the palace attendant guarding the mourning hall, "I want to burn a stick of incense for the Empress Dowager!"
"Madam, please come this way!"
Light three incense sticks, bow once, and insert them into the incense burner.
Then she added, "I want to take one last look at the Queen Mother."
The palace maid looked hesitant.
Gu Jiu asked, "Isn't it possible? As the wife of the eldest grandson of the royal family, don't I have the right to see the Queen Mother for the last time?"
"Madam, you misunderstood. Madam, please go ahead and don't get too close."
"This lady knows."
Gu Jiu stood in front of the coffin, looking at Empress Dowager Xiao's body, and asked, "Has anyone come to visit the Empress Dowager in the past two days?"
The palace attendant, unsuspecting, spoke honestly, "Your Majesty, the ladies, the princes, and the officials from the Imperial Observatory. By the way, Lord Lu arrived early this morning, just as the palace gates opened. Like Madam, he requested a final glimpse of the Empress Dowager."
"Which Lord Lu?"
"Lord Attendant Lu!"
Emperor Wende’s trusted advisor and counselor, Minister Lu!
It’s him, it’s indeed him.
Gu Jiu then asked, "You said an official from the Imperial Observatory came here. Do you remember which official it was?"
"Master Ren of the Imperial Observatory, please come over with a few of your subordinates."
Renqiu was introduced by Lu Shizhong, and it was said that Renqiu lived in Lu's mansion.
If Renqiu discovered any problems, he would definitely tell Minister Lu.
Minister Lu entered the palace early in the morning as soon as the palace gate opened. It was obviously not a whim, but a deliberate attempt to confirm the truth before everyone entered the palace.
He asked to see the Queen Mother for the last time, as there must be obvious evidence left on her body, and he needed to verify it.
"Is this where Minister Lu stands?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Two steps away from the coffin, what could Minister Lu discover from this position?
Gu Jiu widened his eyes, not daring to miss a single detail.
Suddenly, her pupils contracted.
Why are Empress Dowager Xiao’s fingernails pink?
He was clearly normal when he was buried.
When Empress Dowager Xiao was buried, Gu Jiu was in the Cining Palace.
She remembered it clearly, everything was normal at that time.
Empress Dowager Xiao died of normal illness!
Because Empress Dowager Xiao was seriously ill, just in case, Gu Jiu and the children lived in the palace during this period.
Upon learning the news of Empress Dowager Xiao's death, she rushed to the palace immediately.
She still remembers many details clearly.
Gu Jiu took a deep breath, suppressed the surprise and doubts in his heart, and left the coffin.
She pretended to be unwell, holding her chest as she walked out of the mourning hall.
"Is everything alright, ma'am?"
Gu Jiu shook his head. "It's okay. I didn't eat anything this morning, so I feel a little weak. By the way, did Minister Lu say anything after visiting the Empress Dowager?"
"No! Minister Lu paid a last visit to the Empress Dowager and then left."
"Thank you for your hard work!"
Gu Jiu walked out of the mourning hall.
The maid Aqing was very worried, "Is Madam okay?"
"It's okay! Ask Zhao Minfa to come see me."
"I will help Madam back to the wing room to rest first."
Zhao Minfa hurried to the wing room.
Gu Jiu originally wanted to ask Zhao Minfa to pass the message to Liu Zhao, but after thinking about it, he changed his mind.
"Call Qian Fu here, I have something to tell him."
"I'll go right away."
"Hurry up! I have something important to discuss with him."
"I know."
Zhao Minfa left in a hurry.
Gu Jiu took a deep breath, his chest felt a little stuffy and uncomfortable.
She rubbed her chest, picked up the teacup and took a sip.
"Is Madam worried?" the maid Aqing asked cautiously.
Gu Jiu smiled bitterly, "I'm a little worried. I hope everything is okay!"
He was able to hide it from everyone and poisoned Empress Dowager Xiao without anyone noticing, and even the imperial physician couldn't detect it.
I have to admit that the person who poisoned someone is very powerful, and the poison is even more powerful.
What kind of poison is it that can’t be detected when a person is alive?
Anyway, Gu Jiu had never heard of it.
She had to admit that in this era, there were more talented people than she had imagined.
When Qian Fu got the news, he didn't dare to delay and hurried to see Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu was afraid that the news would leak out, so he ordered all his servants to leave.
Only she and Qian Fu were left in the room.
"The Queen Mother is poisoned!"
As soon as Gu Jiu opened his mouth, his words were earth-shattering!
Qian Fu's face was solemn. "Madam, are you sure?"
Gu Jiu said: "I was at the scene when the Queen Mother was buried. Everything was normal at that time. But now, three days after the Queen Mother's death, her nails have turned pink. This is a typical sign of poisoning.
In addition, Minister Lu rushed into the palace early in the morning when the palace gate just opened, before anyone else, and specifically asked to see the empress dowager for the last time.
It was obvious that Minister Lu had discovered something and told His Majesty about it, which led to everyone in the Cining Palace being arrested and interrogated by the Ministry of Punishment.
As for where Minister Lu got the news, I suspect he heard it from the Imperial Observatory's Director Ren. Director Ren's knowledge is quite diverse, and I'm not surprised he knows poisons and medicine.
Qian Fu's expression was serious. "I will inform His Highness of the news in time. I will personally go to see the Empress Dowager."
"Don't draw attention to yourself! There's a lot of unrest in the palace right now, be careful not to get implicated."
"Thank you for your concern, Madam. I understand. Do you have any other instructions?"
"Tell His Highness to be safe and be careful. It doesn't matter if we can't find the truth. What matters is the safety of our family."
"I understand! I will tell His Highness the truth."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
