Chapter 552: Queen's Funeral
Late at night, the lights inside and outside Fengyi Palace were brightly lit.
Yan Xiuyun and a dozen concubines were waiting outside Dong Lanxin's bedroom. When they saw the door was opened, they immediately surrounded it.
"How is the queen?" Yan Xiuyun asked anxiously.
The imperial physician who came out sighed.
"Your Majesty, the Queen is in a state of being poisoned. The poison takes effect very quickly and has already penetrated into her lungs...
Please, Your Majesty and the Crown Prince... make preparations early."
"Poisoned?" Yan Xiuyun was shocked, and the other concubines also changed color when they heard it.
The imperial physician hesitated for a moment, a puzzled look on his face.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for my incompetence. I have never heard of the poison that the Queen was poisoned with. Now I can only conclude that it entered the body through food. As for other things..."
The imperial physician shook his head.
"Your Majesty, please hurry up and see the Queen for the last time..."
"Mother, I want to see you!" Yan Ning cried and rushed into the room, but was held tightly by two little eunuchs.
Yan Xiuyun frowned and shook his head at the two eunuchs, who then let go and allowed Yan Ning to rush in.
Yan Xiuyun also walked in quickly.
Qin Yuwei and the others wanted to go in and take a look, but the imperial physician advised them:
"As Her Majesty lay dying, She only wanted to say a few words to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty. The other Majesties should stay..."
Qin Yuwei stood outside the door, her thoughts a little confused.
how so?
This family dinner was prepared by myself and Li Yao. If Dong Lanxin was poisoned by the food, we two would be to blame.
Could it be that Li Yao had framed him?
This thought flashed through her mind, and she subconsciously looked at Li Yao, only to find that she was also staring at her with the same eyes.
No, it doesn't look like Li Yao.
At this moment, Yan Ning's heart-wrenching cry suddenly came from the room.
The door was opened again, and Yan Xiuyun walked out with a pale face.
"The queen... passed away."
…
The news of Dong Lanxin's death was like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart.
Yan Xiuyun put away his sadness and immediately ordered a thorough inspection of all food and utensils for today's family dinner. He also ordered the scene to be sealed off and no one was allowed to leave.
Li Yao was kneeling in front of Yan Xiuyun, explaining over and over again that she knew nothing.
But Yan Xiuyun obviously had no intention of listening to her.
Qin Yuwei was much calmer. She stood silently by the side, waiting for the results of the thorough investigation.
She also wanted to know the truth.
The Eight Treasures Salmon Soup appeared in her mind again. For some reason, she always felt that the appearance of this salmon soup was indescribably strange.
But if this soup is poisonous... Dong Lanxin clearly gave half a bowl to Yan Ning, so why didn't Yan Ning feel anything unusual after eating it?
Also, Qin Yuwei remembered the last words Dong Lanxin said to her alone today.
She said she wanted to give herself a big gift today.
What does she mean?
Could it be related to what just happened?
A series of questions popped up in Qin Yuwei's mind, but she couldn't find any clues.
After more than an hour, a guard came to report:
"Your Majesty, all food and drink today has been checked, and nothing poisonous has been found."
"Didn't find it?" Yan Xiuyun's eyebrows were furrowed even tighter.
"Your Majesty." Qin Yuwei walked forward and said.
"The Queen was poisoned at a family banquet, and I am to blame for this. I hope the mastermind will be caught soon, and I can be cleared of all charges and avenge the Queen.
Since the imperial physician said that the poison entered through the mouth, I suggest that all the food and drink utensils for today's banquet be temporarily sealed for further inspection."
Yan Xiuyun nodded. As it was a cold day, it would be okay to seal all the food for a few days.
At present, concubines from various palaces and hundreds of palace people who participated in the preparation of the banquet gathered here. The imperial doctors and guards could not find any clues for the time being, and they could not just waste time like this.
Yan Xiuyun ordered the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice to immediately investigate the case, and then asked everyone to go back temporarily and wait for summons at any time, and sealed off the harem, not allowing anyone to enter or leave.
Yan Ning's crying hasn't stopped yet.
It is hard to imagine what a blow it was for an eight-year-old child to watch his mother die in front of his own eyes.
All the concubines felt sorry when they heard the crying.
Qin Yuwei softly asked Yan Xiuyun whether she could take the prince back to Changyu Palace first.
The other concubines had no objection when they heard this. After all, everyone knew that the Imperial Concubine was on good terms with the Queen, and the Crown Prince was also very familiar with Changyu Palace. It was reasonable for Qin Yuwei to take care of the Crown Prince temporarily.
Yan Xiuyun glanced at Qin Yuwei, and that look made Qin Yuwei a little confused.
"Noble Concubine Rong." Yan Xiuyun suddenly said, "The Crown Prince will be temporarily placed in your Fangmiao Terrace for the next few days."
"Your Majesty?" Li Yaowan had never expected that Yan Xiuyun would hand the prince over to her, and she was unable to react for a moment.
Yan Ning was lying beside Dong Lanxin's cold body, refusing to leave.
Under Yan Xiuyun's instructions, several guards worked together to finally carry Yan Ning out.
Yan Ning waved his hands and feet wildly, shouting "Let me go" on the guard's back, and was sent all the way to Li Yao's residence.
…
When Qin Yuwei returned to Changyu Palace, the sky was already turning slightly pale.
She had no desire to sleep and stood silently by the railing thinking about what had happened today.
Biyu walked up to her and said softly:
"Your Majesty, I just heard that people from the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple have entered the palace and are investigating the scene."
Qin Yuwei glanced sideways and asked, "Who is the lord coming from the Dali Temple?"
"The Queen's funeral is a big event, so naturally the Dali Temple's Zhong Siqing and Chang Shaoqing are here."
Qin Yuwei breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that Chang Yunxiao was there too.
If there is only one person who can find out the real cause of Dong Lanxin's death, that person must be Yunxiao.
Qin Yuwei returned to the crime scene in the Imperial Garden again, which had been completely blocked off by the guards.
"Is Dali Temple Shaoqing Chang Yunxiao in there? I need to see him for something." Qin Yuwei said to the head guard.
The guard knew her identity and did not dare to neglect her. He quickly entered the imperial garden to meet Yunxiao, but soon turned back.
“Your Highness, Chang Shaoqing said that the truth has not yet been ascertained. As the organizer of this palace banquet, your status is sensitive at this time.
If he meets the Empress in private, it may have an impact on her.
Chang Shaoqing said that the Dali Temple will ask the ladies in the palace to question them tomorrow."
Qin Yuwei nodded, understanding Chang Yunxiao's concerns, and did not insist.
She turned to leave, and just as she passed a corner, she suddenly heard a female voice calling her "Empress Concubine".
She stopped and looked, and it turned out to be Dong Zhu, the palace maid beside Dong Lanxin.
Qin Yuwei was a little surprised. Looking at Dong Zhu's expression, it seemed that he was waiting for her here specially.
Sure enough, Dong Zhu whispered that he had something to tell her.
Qin Yuwei glanced around. This place was some distance away from the Imperial Garden and no one noticed this place, so she took Dongzhu to the back of a rockery, while Biyu stayed outside to take a walk.
Behind the rockery, Dong Zhu suddenly knelt in front of Qin Yuwei.
Qin Yuwei narrowed her eyes slightly, keenly aware of something, and asked:
"What happened to the Queen's death?"
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