Bei Mingxuan smiled. The Queen Mother had no idea that what Chang'an said was not something she had frightened her into hearing, but something Chang'an had intended for her to hear.
In the eyes of the Queen Mother, Chang'an is still the same timid Chang'an as before.
If she knew that the real Chang'an was completely different from the Chang'an she knew, I wonder how shocked she would be.
"I think Chang'an seems a little different today than in the past." The Queen Mother said to herself.
"When he was with me, he was no different. On the contrary, when he was chatting with the Queen, he was very graceful and elegant. Chang'an's eyes, in particular, were more lively than before."
Bei Mingxuan spoke with a hint of understanding, "After all, she's a woman, so she always cares about her appearance. She used to be timid, but now she's so confident and confident, which is normal."
"That's right." The Queen Mother agreed.
"Yesterday, someone reported that Chang'an had beaten Gu Shijia at the General's Mansion, and it wasn't light. This girl finally learned to resist. I think she must have been so bullied that she couldn't stand it anymore."
"Maybe." Bei Mingxuan wanted to explain for Chang'an, "After all, she is Mr. Qingfeng's daughter. Even if outsiders say that she is so bad, how could she really become a waste?"
"Empress Dowager." Manager Li returned, "The person has entered the Imperial Study."
The Queen Mother and Bei Mingxuan exchanged a glance. "Xuan'er, I will go with you to ask the Emperor for permission. Your mother is so seriously ill, how can there be no imperial physician to treat her?"
Li, the head of the household, had been with the Empress Dowager for many years and knew what she meant with just one look. "Empress Dowager, Concubine Tong is accompanied by the Empress's people."
The Queen Mother frowned and thought for a moment, "Take this opportunity to get rid of her."
"yes."
Bei Mingxuan said nothing and followed the Queen Mother towards the imperial study.
Outside the imperial study, Eunuch De was guarding the door. When he saw Empress Dowager Bei Mingxuan, he spoke in a slightly louder voice and saluted respectfully.
The Queen Mother pretended not to know what he meant by shouting, "Xiao Dezi, why aren't you waiting inside?"
As he said this, he took a step forward and planned to go directly into the imperial study.
Eunuch De lowered his head and reminded, "Empress Dowager, the Emperor has ordered that no one should disturb you."
"How dare you!" the Queen Mother scolded. "How dare you stop me? If anything happens to Concubine Tong, you will be buried with her!"
After she finished speaking, the Queen Mother rushed directly into the Imperial Study, "Your Majesty, Concubine Tong's body..."
But before he could finish his words, he saw the emperor with a look of surprise on his face and Gu Changan kneeling on the ground.
"Mother." The Emperor came forward, "Why are you so anxious?"
The Queen Mother's face was filled with anxiety, tears welling in her eyes. "Your Majesty, do you know that Concubine Tong is not well? A maid came to report that Concubine Tong became unwell after lunch."
"Don't worry, mother. You said it was just something wrong with her body." The emperor said calmly without a trace of nervousness. "Besides, her health has always been like this, nothing serious."
"Nothing serious?" The Queen Mother said angrily, "Your Majesty, she is my niece, your cousin, and the mother of your son. We must send for a doctor to see her."
"Okay." The emperor agreed. "I'll dress the doctor in a moment. Mother, please go back first."
The Queen Mother was infuriated by the Emperor's answer. When she was about to speak, she suddenly caught a glimpse of the person kneeling on the ground. The look was slightly surprised, as if she had just noticed him.
"Who is this?"
In front of Chang'an, there was a brazier with a half-burned imperial edict in it.
The Queen Mother looked at the Emperor in confusion, "What's burning in here?"
The emperor did not speak immediately, but glanced at Bei Mingxuan.
"Your son greets His Majesty." Bei Mingxuan lowered his head, extremely respectful.
"Your Majesty, I am asking you a question."
"This is General Gu's granddaughter." The emperor was reluctant to say more.
The Queen Mother understood the Emperor's intention, but she came here for this matter.
How could he let the emperor get away with it so easily? "General Gu's granddaughter, which granddaughter? The general has three granddaughters."
As he spoke, he commanded the people kneeling on the ground, "Lift your heads and let me see you."
Gu Changan looked up and said, "Gu Changan greets the Queen Mother. Long live the Queen Mother."
"Chang'an?" The Queen Mother was surprised. "Why is it you? I never expected it."
As he spoke, he stepped forward and personally pulled Chang'an up, "Why are you here?"
Chang'an didn't say anything.
The Queen Mother turned her gaze to the Emperor and took another look at the contents of the brazier.
His eyes froze for a moment, then suddenly realized something. He looked at the emperor and asked, "The imperial edict of the Southern Kingdom's emperor?"
Chang'an remained silent.
The emperor was surprised, "Does the Queen Mother know?"
"I heard it from Xuan'er," the Queen Mother said. "I guess by now, not only the palace but even the ministers in the court know everything."
The emperor looked at Bei Mingxuan.
"Father." Bei Mingxuan explained, "Your Majesty, today when I was at the old general's house,
I heard an aunt beside Miss Chang'an mention it by chance. Besides the old general and his eldest grandson Gu Shirong, there was also the fourth prince. My eldest brother was also at the general's residence at the time, but he didn't hear it right away. I don't know if he heard about it later.
After a while, the emperor spoke, his tone serious and his eyes sharp, "I want you to forget what you have mistakenly seen.
Remember firmly that the blank imperial edict from the Southern Emperor is already in Gu Changan's hands."
"Yes." Bei Mingxuan and Gu Changan replied.
The Queen Mother's face was slightly dissatisfied. "I don't care about whether it's the Southern Kingdom or not. What I'm worried about is that my niece is Yi Tong."
"Yes." The emperor said kindly, "I will call the imperial physician right away."
"I have already summoned the imperial physician, who is already waiting outside Anxi Palace, just waiting for the emperor's approval."
"Approved." The emperor immediately called Xiao Dezi to go to Anxi Palace to inform the imperial physician.
The Queen Mother, the Emperor, and Bei Mingxuan hurried over and ordered Chang'an to accompany them.
When the group arrived at Anxi Palace, the imperial physician was already treating the patient.
The woman on the sickbed had a face paler than paper, her eyes tightly closed, and she looked completely alive.
The Queen Mother was anxious, "How?"
"Fortunately, you arrived just in time," the imperial physician sighed. "Even if you had arrived a cup of tea later, I wouldn't have been able to save him."
"What kind of illness is it that's so serious?" The emperor was a little surprised. He just hated this woman and couldn't swallow that breath, but he never thought of letting her die.
"I dare not say." The imperial physician's face was slightly panicked. "I need to check Master Tong's tableware."
"check!"
Before the emperor could speak, the queen mother was already furious.
She watched as Manager Li led his men to fetch the items, and then asked, "Doctor Liu, could you please tell me why we need to inspect the tableware and utensils when treating Concubine Tong?"
Imperial Physician Liu hesitated for a long time before he slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, I suspect Master Tong is not ill, but poisoned."
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