The emperor never expected that Consort Hui would poison him.
Aside from his dissatisfaction with the Fourth Prince and Consort Hui's family, he had always perceived Consort Hui as gentle and kind, but little did he know that she was a vicious and venomous woman behind his back.
The royal family had special secret guards for interrogation, so even though Consort Hui didn't talk at first, she was eventually pried open.
However, she didn't say that it was sent by the Fourth Prince, but instead put all the blame on herself.
She claimed that she poisoned the emperor to avenge her family.
The emperor, of course, did not believe this.
Qingyou, disguised as the Taoist priest Qingfeng, gave the emperor a few pills that would temporarily numb his brain and make him speak the truth.
After the emperor ordered his bodyguard Consort Hui to swallow the medicine, he also dragged out the fourth prince and Shi Lingqiao.
Looking at the records of the secret guards' interrogation, the emperor was completely astonished.
He looked at Qingyou and asked, "Taoist Master, is there such a thing as a soul leaving its body and possessing another body in this world?"
Upon hearing his question, Qingyou guessed that Consort Hui also knew that Shi Lingqiao was her niece, which was likely told to her by the Fourth Prince.
After taking the medicine she prepared, he couldn't help but blurt it out when questioned by the guards.
Qingyou looked at the emperor and replied, "It is true that soul possession can occur, but it is extremely rare." (cascoo.net)
"This is something that goes against the laws of nature, so it is something that is only seen once every hundred years."
If this small world hadn't experienced a tremor, Shi Lingqiao wouldn't have had the opportunity to be reborn as someone else.
Upon hearing this, the emperor breathed a sigh of relief.
If there were many cases of spirits leaving their bodies and possessing others, it would create chaos and be very detrimental to the imperial court.
It's clear that this person who is possessed by a departed soul possesses some kind of mysterious skill.
If it weren't for Master Qingfeng, the poison in him and the Crown Prince would never have been detected.
That Shi Lingqiao is quite something.
He thought for a moment and asked, "Taoist Master, can you tell who is possessed by a departed soul?"
Qingyou nodded and said, "As long as I see the person, I can tell."
So the emperor entrusted her to help check if there was anything wrong with Shi Lingqiao.
They had already come up with an excuse to go to the Duke's mansion: to see the eldest princess for medical treatment.
Qingyou naturally did not refuse and went to the Duke's mansion the next day.
Huo Xingchen took Qingyou, who was disguised as Daoist Qingfeng, directly to Huo Jiwen's courtyard.
Huo Jiwen and Shi Lingqiao were drinking tea and talking at that moment.
Several days passed, and since neither of their parents made any move, they both felt much more relaxed.
Suddenly, Huo Jiwen was startled to see his father walk in with a Taoist priest.
Immediately, Shi Lingqiao and he stood up and bowed.
Huo Xingchen ignored the two and said to Qingyou, "Please take a look, Daoist, and see if there is any poison hidden here that could harm my wife."
Hearing him say that, Huo Jiwen and Shi Lingqiao both felt a pang of unease.
Shi Lingqiao quickly gave Huo Jiwen a look.
She couldn't let anyone search the courtyard, so she had deliberately built a dark room in one of the guest rooms in the courtyard, where she kept some medicinal herbs and prepared medicines.
If we get caught, we'll be in big trouble.
Others may not be able to find it, but I've heard that this Master Qingfeng is incredibly powerful.
Huo Jiwen received the look she gave him and a bad feeling arose in his heart.
Shi Lingqiao must have left something in their yard that she shouldn't have.
So, trembling with fear, he looked at his father and asked, "Father, what do you mean by this?"
He suppressed his guilt and instead put on a hurt and angry expression, "You suspect me of poisoning Mother? How could I do such a thing?"
Huo Xingchen glanced at him and said coldly, "If you didn't do it, then why be afraid of being searched?"
"Isn't that a sign that you're feeling guilty?"
He was too lazy to argue with Huo Jiwen and ordered his guards, "Keep an eye on the young master and this woman, and don't let them leave this room."
The guards only obeyed the Duke's orders, "Yes!"
Seeing this, Huo Jiwen panicked and deliberately started making a scene.
But Huo Xingchen and Qingyou had already left the room to search.
Huo Jiwen and Shi Lingqiao were extremely anxious and wanted to go out of the house to hide, but they were blocked and monitored by the guards. They had no way to go out, let alone discuss what to do next.
Qingyou had been watching Shi Lingqiao for a long time, so she naturally knew the secret of the other party in this courtyard.
They quickly led their men to the dark room and packed up all the medicinal herbs and prepared medicine inside.
Then she picked up two of the bottles, opened them, smelled them, and said to the imperial guards who had come to accompany her, "These two bottles are problematic."
"This bottle contains the poison that the lady was given."
She didn't mention the other bottle, but everyone understood—it contained poison that had been administered to the emperor.
Then she found two more types of incense, "the same ones that were found in the Eastern Palace."
Huo Xingchen pretended to have a bad expression and said, "That unfilial son is a beast. He even harmed his own mother."
"Taoist priest, give me this poison. I need to take care of some family matters. Take everything else with you to the palace."
This evidence, of course, had to be sent to the palace for the emperor.
Qingyou nodded, "Okay!"
She returned to the palace with the Dragon Guards, while Huo Xingchen went to the main room.
Upon seeing the medicine bottle in his hand, Shi Lingqiao's expression changed.
Seeing her like this, Huo Jiwen panicked even more.
"You beast, you actually conspired with this woman to poison your mother. All the good your mother has done for you over the years has been wasted."
Huo Jiwen immediately retorted, "Father, I didn't. How could I possibly poison Mother? You've misunderstood."
He was interrupted by Huo Xingchen before he could finish speaking.
He shook the medicine bottle in his hand and said, "No need for further explanation. I only believe the evidence in my hand."
He said angrily, "Take your woman and get out of the Duke's mansion. I will have your name removed from the clan."
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