Shu Chengfeng took a deep breath: "Take her to the Ministry of Internal Affairs first, and bring Zhu Jin there as well, and interrogate her properly. As for Yang Li, who is with the fourth brother, don't touch him yet, wait a moment."
"Yunji hasn't slept all night, has he? Let's send someone else. If we keep using only one person, you'll be exhausted and you'll be worried," Yan Nangui said.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I am fine," Yun Ji said with a smile.
Shu Chengfeng waved his hand: "Go and rest, let someone else take your place."
After Yun Ji left, Shu Chengfeng asked Yan Nangui, "Should we summon Consort Jin now?"
"Why is Your Majesty asking me this..." Yan Nangui chuckled.
"Sigh." Shu Chengfeng sighed, "I have to admit that you see things in the harem more clearly than I do."
"Don't do that, Your Majesty should just focus on governing the country." Yan Nangui kissed him. Everyone in the Beichen Palace lowered their heads in fright.
"Isn't it strange that Consort Rong committed suicide because of just one sentence? Even if it was Consort Jin who did it, what did that sentence mean? The First Prince had a palace maid who died. Back when the witchcraft incident happened, the First Prince was originally the victim. But suddenly a palace maid died, which made His Majesty somewhat uncomfortable."
"Now that this matter has been brought up, Consort Rong must be aware of the situation. To be honest, she may not be ambitious, but she's not stupid. She must have some idea of what her son has done. Just like the Seventh Princess, even if I don't know exactly what she does every day, I still pay attention. How could I be completely unaware?"
"You mean, Consort Rong knew that the Fourth Prince was behind this? So she committed suicide?" Shu Chengfeng asked, puzzled.
"The key point is the last sentence. If you want the Fourth Prince to have a bright future, you should know what kind of mother is useful," Yan Nangui said.
"In fact, the Fourth Prince has always been very ambitious, and I'm sure you can see that. If you and I can both see it, how could Consort Rong not see it?"
"This happened in February, and at the end of May, Consort Rong committed suicide. I'm afraid she thought a lot during this time. The first three princes have all left the palace. Assuming it was indeed Consort Jin's scheme, even if Consort Rong herself didn't compete, she couldn't stop her son from not competing. Even if she wasn't competitive, wouldn't she still be interested in the position of Crown Prince? Besides, Consort Rong's lack of competitiveness was because of the Empress Dowager and the Jiang family; she knew early on that she couldn't compete for it. Later, after falling out of favor for many years, she wouldn't have another chance. It wasn't that she didn't compete from the beginning. She's different from Consort Mei Hui."
"Assuming? So, Tang'er thinks it wasn't Consort Jin? That makes sense. Even if Consort Jin were plotting something, she wouldn't expose herself so easily," Shu Chengfeng said.
“The Fourth Prince is not young anymore. If she really killed Consort Rong, even if the Fourth Prince becomes the Crown Prince and then the Emperor, will he let her go? That’s what I think. I can’t rule out the possibility that she’s just too skilled and daring,” Yan Nangui said.
Shu Chengfeng laughed first, then sighed and shook his head: "They've really grown up."
Yes, they've all grown up.
Regardless of who killed Consort Rong, at least the matter of the First Prince's maid dying was done by the Fourth Prince.
He was only ten years old at that time.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve said this. This is how it is without a crown prince. Back when you were the crown prince, you couldn’t stop the princes from getting restless. Now everyone’s in the same boat; it would be abnormal if they didn’t fight,” Yan Nangui said.
Shu Chengfeng took her hand and gently massaged it. He didn't want to say anything more.
Cui Zhu was taken to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where she was naturally subjected to torture. But little did anyone know that she was telling the truth.
When Zhu Jin from Baihua Pavilion was captured, she was terrified and trembling. She confessed everything without being asked.
They were all the same; when they took on this task, they never imagined that it would lead to the death of Consort Rong.
Soon enough, the matter was brought up Anxin, the eunuch serving Consort Jin.
Consort Jin was naturally summoned to the Beichen Palace.
The eunuch Liu then explained the details.
Consort Jin was shocked: "I am innocent! How could I have done this? It must be a frame-up. Arrest An Xin and have her tortured!"
"Your Highness, I wish I could too, but I'm so relieved. To take poison... This palace is truly terrifying," sighed Eunuch Liu.
Consort Jin was stunned: "Dead?"
"He died, but left a note before he died, saying it was your order," said Eunuch Liu.
"It wasn't me! I didn't do it! I have no grudge against Consort Rong, why would I harm her? Your Majesty, I'm innocent! An Xin must have been bribed. Even if he's dead, they can still investigate his life. I beg Your Majesty to do justice! I'm innocent!"
“This matter is indeed strange.” Yan Nangui stood up. “If you say it wasn’t you, I can believe you. But how do you explain the death of a palace maid at the Crown Prince’s residence? Don’t tell me you don’t know either.”
Consort Jin was taken aback again: "I knew nothing about this. It must have been a scheme by someone behind it. Wasn't this matter over back then?"
Shu Chengfeng looked at her for a long time: "You should go back first. The Fourth Prince is currently keeping vigil for his mother. Once it's over, I will call you all together to talk. You should also think carefully about how to respond."
Consort Jin thanked the Emperor for his kindness and then left.
Her heart was in turmoil.
"It seems I need to investigate this thoroughly to prevent any future trouble. Those who should be released should be released," Yan Nangui said.
"Are you letting people out for your coronation ceremony this year?" Shu Chengfeng frowned.
“Yes, the new empress has been enthroned. To show leniency, isn’t it a good thing to release some elderly and infirm people? It’s not like they’re being kicked out; they’re all being paid,” Yan Nangui said.
"Alright, then you do it. Don't overwork yourself. Have them help you. It would be good to thoroughly sort out the eunuchs and maids in the harem," Shu Chengfeng said.
"Hmm. Don't overthink it. Let's resolve this slowly," Yan Nangui said.
"Where are you going? Aren't you going to dine with me? I didn't go last night, and you didn't even send someone to call me," Shu Chengfeng said.
"After everything that happened yesterday, you should just stay by yourself. I'd rather you go." Yan Nangui said without a word.
"Now I'll have dinner with you."
"This emperor is not as good as he was when he was in the palace," Shu Chengfeng sighed.
"It's not as good as it used to be, but people always have to move forward. Being an empress isn't as comfortable as being a concubine back then. Those were so much better. My biggest worry every day was paying my respects. Now, even if I could excuse everyone from paying their respects, there are still noblewomen and relatives from the imperial family requesting an audience. Can I just refuse to see any of them?" Yan Nangui sighed.
The couple exchanged a glance, their smiles revealing their exhaustion.
Having a high position and great power is not necessarily a good thing.
Consort Jin returned to Liuyun Palace in a daze, knowing full well that she had been tricked this time.
But I myself am not clean.
It's a vicious cycle that we can't even reason with someone confidently; it's impossible to explain it clearly.
Now he has admitted it, that he murdered the concubine.
But if they admit to that, it would be tantamount to murdering a prince. Neither of those crimes is light.
"Your Majesty! This is too strange. Only Green Feather and I know about what we're planning. We would never betray you, even if it meant death. It must be someone from the Fourth Prince's side who leaked the information, right?" Red Silk said.
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