Su Peisheng had been at the Imperial Household Department checking the palace entry records for over an hour. The Fourth Prince had been keeping a gloomy face and remained silent. Knowing the Fourth Prince's personality, Madam Nian naturally didn't dare to cause trouble, but instead stared fiercely at Lanqin with her phoenix eyes.
Although Lanqin wasn't sure if she could find any clues, her sixth sense told her that Consort Nian was definitely involved in this matter, not only because of Xueying's tip-off, but also because Lanqin understood women's hearts.
Su Peisheng rushed back in a hurry, and was about to kneel down to pay his respects when the Fourth Prince interrupted him with a hand gesture, saying impatiently, "No need for that. Quickly report to me what you've found out..."
Lan Qin's heart tightened, hoping that Su Peisheng could bring good news, even if it was just a tiny clue about the source of the poison.
Bai Zhi, standing behind Consort Nian, turned pale and stood rooted to the spot, too nervous to breathe.
Su Peisheng glanced around before replying, "Your Majesty, I have checked all the people who have entered and left the palace in the past few days, and there are indeed no people from Yikun Palace!"
"Impossible!" Lanqin blurted out, and asked anxiously, "Eunuch Su, have you investigated carefully? How could there be no one from Yikun Palace? This is impossible!"
Su Peisheng glanced at the Fourth Prince tentatively and answered cautiously, "Your Highness, I have indeed checked everything, and no one from Yikun Palace has entered or left the palace."
Lanqin persisted: "Could there be cases of people entering and leaving the palace without registering? The palace is enormous; it's not impossible for someone to sneak out. Eunuch Su, please investigate further..."
Su Peisheng bowed to Lanqin with difficulty and advised, "Your Highness, please calm down. Everyone who enters or leaves the palace must be registered. Even if they are not registered, there will be records of which palace is missing or who is missing on which day. Your Highness, this servant has really checked very carefully."
Seeing this, Lady Nian immediately feigned grievance and wept, "Your Majesty! Can you believe me now? You have thoroughly searched my Yikun Palace, and Your Majesty has carefully investigated everyone in the palace. I am innocent! No one in my palace has ever left, much less brought any poison into the palace. Your Majesty, you must do justice for me this time..."
The Fourth Prince comforted Consort Nian, saying softly, "I understand that Consort Nian has been wronged..."
Consort Nian pointed at Lanqin and said to the Fourth Prince, "Your Majesty, have you seen clearly? Someone deliberately framed me! Misleading Your Majesty into suspecting me..."
Lanqin took a few steps back, shook her head, and kept thinking, how could this happen, how could this happen...
Just as the Fourth Master was about to speak, Lanqin shifted her gaze away from Baizhi.
Lanqin choked up and said, "Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty to gather all the female officials and maids of Yikun Palace so that Xiao Guizi can identify them one last time."
Consort Nian was furious and angrily rebuked, "Consort Xi! I have already given you a chance out of respect for the Emperor, yet you still dare to spread rumors and incite the Emperor to investigate me! What are your true intentions?"
Fourth Master watched helplessly as Lanqin was humiliated, but there was indeed no evidence. Even if he wanted to protect Lanqin, how could he possibly side with her under such circumstances?
Just when everyone thought that the Fourth Prince would surely reprimand Consort Xi, Lanqin suddenly laughed. Her laughter drew everyone's attention.
"Qin'er, why are you laughing?" Fourth Master asked worriedly.
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