Everyone thought Lanqin was laughing because she was worried about Hongli and her mind was in turmoil, even the Fourth Prince thought so.
Consort Nian, however, was unwilling to let go of any opportunity to deal with Lanqin. She demanded that the Fourth Prince severely punish Lanqin: "Your Majesty, you cannot just believe Consort Xi's one-sided story and come to Yikun Palace to suspect me! I am innocent. My brother is guarding and expanding the territory for Your Majesty, my maternal family is protecting Your Majesty, and I am loyal and devoted to Your Majesty... Now Consort Xi is talking nonsense in my palace, which is really too much."
Consort Nian went so far as to invoke the Nian family's name to threaten the Fourth Prince. Sure enough, the Fourth Prince frowned, but he couldn't refute Consort Nian's words.
Lanqin gave a bitter smile and said, "Your Majesty, I understand your difficulties, but I have no choice. Hongli is my flesh and blood! He is my and Your Majesty's child... I suspect that the person who delivered the message to the prince was not a eunuch, but a woman disguised as a eunuch. That's why Xiao Guizi has not been able to find him."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned and began whispering among themselves, exchanging surprised glances.
"Haha, Consort Xi, do you think you've gone mad? You can impersonate someone, but what about your voice?" Consort Nian was so panicked that she almost cried out, but she had to remain calm on the surface.
The Fourth Prince's vision blurred, and he couldn't hear anything Consort Nian was saying. His mind was filled with replays of his time with Lanqin. Hearing the second half of Lanqin's sentence, he was startled. However, he also seemed to hope that what Lanqin said was true. So, the Fourth Prince gritted his teeth and said to Consort Nian, "Consort, as long as you haven't done anything, you don't need to be investigated! Since there are still no results this time, Consort Xi can be demoted."
Lanqin's heart finally settled down, while Consort Nian stared at the ground in horror, so nervous that she could hardly control herself.
The Fourth Prince ordered Eunuch Duo from the Imperial Household Department to quickly gather all the female officials and maids of Yikun Palace at Yikun Palace, and then bring Xiao Guizi there for identification.
Seeing Lanqin's appearance, Xiao Guizi naturally guessed how much effort Lanqin had put in to secure this opportunity, and dared not be negligent in the slightest. However, when he learned that he was about to identify a woman, Xiao Guizi hesitated.
Lanqin approached and whispered to Xiaoguizi, "You don't need to worry about gender. Just remember what the man who took Hongli away looked like that day. It's not difficult to disguise yourself as a man to avoid suspicion. Hongli's life is in your hands. Don't let me down..."
Xiao Guizi nodded solemnly and, under everyone's watchful eyes, carefully recalled and eliminated each possibility one by one.
Consort Nian was helped to sit up by Bai Zhi. Despite her fear, she held Bai Zhi's hand tightly, but dared not look at the crowd.
Bai Zhi, subtly hinted at by Consort Nian, was also terrified and unsure of what to do, especially after seeing all the palace maids being summoned to the front hall, which made her even more flustered. Their eyes met, and Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow, causing the man to lower his head and shrink back slightly. Xiao Gui Zi also moved closer, making Consort Nian's heart leap into her throat.
“You… look so familiar…” Xiao Guizi stopped in front of the palace maid in the third row, who was dressed in a purple palace dress.
Seeing this, the palace maid lowered her head deeply, not daring to move. "Yes! It was you… The person from that day bore a striking resemblance to you in both height and appearance, except one was a eunuch and the other a palace maid…"
Lanqin quickly stepped forward, and Xiao Guizi hesitated before pointing at the palace maid and saying to Lanqin, "Your Highness, she looks very similar to the eunuch who took Hongli away that day..."
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