An Qingran's mind went blank in an instant.
Not thinking about anything else, just kissing him back, at this moment, the two of them hugging each other, that was all.
It was only when the guards were checking at the palace gate that Dongfang Jin let her go: "Go back and complete the task assigned by your mother-in-law, okay?"
An Qingran just remembered that he was answering the question just now. If she didn't answer it well, she didn't know what kind of strange questions would arise, so she just turned her head away and smiled restrainedly.
That night, he tried really hard. An Qingran was helpless but couldn't refuse.
The Queen Mother is ill.
Refuse any visitation.
Dongfang Jin and An Qingran were rejected at the gate of Feng Palace and they returned home disappointed.
I originally wanted to go in and ask her indirectly, but it seems that the Queen Mother really doesn't plan to see anyone, and I don't know how long she will be "sick".
Dongfang Jin was silent, and An Qingran also walked quietly beside him. Just after taking two steps, he saw a man in a yellow robe approaching him hurriedly. When Dongfang Jin saw him, he immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, uncle."
It turned out that this person was none other than Prince Shou. He was startled when he saw them: "Oh, it's the Crown Prince and his wife. Are you here to see the Queen Mother?"
"The Emperor's uncle is here to see the Empress Dowager as well, right?" Dongfang Jin smiled indifferently.
"I heard that the Queen Mother was ill, so I came to see her."
"Then please come in, uncle." Dongfang Jin stepped aside. Prince Shou seemed very anxious and did not say anything polite. He walked straight over.
An Qingran walked forward without caring. After a few steps and turning a corner, Dongfang Jin grabbed her hand. An Qingran looked at his eyes and understood. She stopped and looked back, only to see that Prince Shou was not driven back as they had imagined, but walked in happily.
The two looked at each other, with curiosity in their eyes. It seemed that the Queen Mother didn't want to see them.
"Strange, the Queen Mother has already refused all the princes and ministers to visit her, so why did Prince Shou go in directly?"
"Prince Shou was also raised by the Queen Mother, so he is naturally different from others." Dongfang Jin shook his head and held An Qingran's hand. "Let's go. Since you don't want to see us, let's go back."
An Qingran didn't say anything, but she had been thinking about a possibility in her mind. However, it was too bold to propose this possibility, so she was hesitant for a moment and didn't dare to speak.
Dongfang Jin was familiar with her current expression, but he couldn't help but lower his voice: "Have you thought of something again?"
"It's a very scary hypothesis." An Qingran looked at the road next to him and saw that there was no one there. Then he leaned over and said, "Why don't we observe for a few more days and I'll tell you."
For several days in a row, Prince Shou did frequently go in and out of the Empress Dowager's palace. Every time he visited, he brought the Empress Dowager's favorite food, and no one stopped him at the door.
As for other people, the empress dowager still refused outright. Even her former favorite Concubine Shu was also turned away, not to mention concubines and royal grandchildren. When Dongfang Jin came to ask about her well-being this time, was her assumption still there?
An Qingran looked unhappy: "Of course, and this assumption is even stronger."
"Speak, Qingqing."
An Qing looked at Dongfang Jin with embarrassment in her eyes. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "I have a feeling that Prince Shou is the Queen Mother's biological son, but the Emperor is not."
"What?" Dongfang Jin jumped in shock, a gleam in her beautiful eyes, "Prince Shou is the son of Concubine Xie. He entrusted his son to the Queen Mother before his death. This is known to everyone in the court. If the Queen Mother treated him like her own son, everyone would believe it. But to say that he is..."
He stopped here, his voice became much weaker, and he sat down beside An Qingran dejectedly: "But if this is true, then all the doubts have a reasonable explanation, but father..."
"Yes, if it is true, then my father is the son of Concubine Xie. If this matter gets out, Dongze will be unstable and the people will be in chaos." An Qingran's voice became much weaker. She could make such an assumption after thinking about it for many days. She felt that if it was true, it was reasonable, just like why her grandmother always liked her second uncle but not her father.
Furthermore, she believed that there was no mother in the world who did not love her son.
That's why she dared to make such an assumption.
Dongfang Jin held her hand tightly for a moment, then released it. "Okay, since Qingqing has this idea, we have to speed up the investigation. Now that I think about it, we can definitely find the people who served Concubine Xie back then. If it is really as you assumed, the Queen Mother must not have known this news before my father ascended the throne, so it is very likely that Concubine Xie's people are still alive."
Having said that, he strode out.
Looking at his floating figure, An Qingran sat there and let out a long breath: "Ren Dong, is Xiao Ju assigned to be on duty in Shangchun Palace, which is not far from the Queen Mother's bedroom?"
Honeysuckle came forward and said, "My princess, that's right."
"Okay, tell her to keep her eyes open and see if there are any other people entering or leaving the Empress Dowager's palace recently." An Qingran ordered in a low voice.
Honeysuckle nodded, and then asked softly, "Crown Princess, do the people assigned to other places have any missions?"
"Not yet. Just let them do their job well. When we need them, we will find them naturally."
Rendong took the order and went out. At the same time, she couldn't help but secretly admire the Crown Princess. At the same time, she deliberately drove out all the people in the palace while cleaning up the spies planted around the Queen Mother. In fact, the Crown Princess had secretly selected the people she trusted, promised them a large sum of money, and scattered them around the palace, letting them lurk and wait for tasks at any time. If they had any major discoveries, they could come back to report.
The more Honeysuckle thought about it, the more she admired him. She would not have thought of these things herself.
Xiao Ju quickly brought back the news that during the half month that the Empress Dowager was ill, the Emperor requested to see her but was turned away once. All other people were also turned away. The only ones who went in to visit her were Prince Shou and Prince Dongfang Run.
After hearing this, An Qingran didn't say anything for a long time, but a hint of joy appeared on his face: It seems that even the oldest fox will lose his vigilance sometimes.
***
Phoenix Palace.
The Queen Mother walked in the room, holding her waist, and said to the nanny beside her: "You said my body hurts so much, especially on a rainy day like this."
"Queen Mother, I will go get you a royal physician."
"If they had a way, I wouldn't be in so much pain now." The Queen Mother smiled bitterly and sat on the imperial concubine's couch, looking at Aunt Rong: "You said that I am so old and still worrying about this. Why is my life so miserable?"
"Empress Dowager, this is not your fault. You are a kind person. The only fault is that Concubine Xie, who is so treacherous and ambitious." When Aunt Rong said this, her voice lowered and she handed over a cup of tea, "Empress Dowager, please calm down."
"Why should I be so angry? Look at Prince Shou. His temper really makes me anxious. And Dongfang Run, he has such a temper. What's wrong with him? He doesn't take anything to heart. How can I count on them?" The Queen Mother reached out and hit her lower back again.
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