Lu Ziyuan spoke up at the right moment: "Whether it's a frame-up or not, just search this palace maid's room and you'll know. One hundred taels is no small sum."
"Investigate!"
The Crown Princess ignored Ji Xin'er's sophistry and ordered someone to investigate. Soon, someone brought over a money bag, and after counting, it contained exactly one hundred taels of silver.
The Crown Princess was furious: "Yun Ni, what else do you have to say? This purse is made of the finest raw silk; my servants cannot afford such things!"
No! That's not it!
Princess Fu was also furious: "I thought you were some well-mannered young lady, but I never imagined you could do such a disgusting thing! You even dared to scheme against the royal family! It seems you have no regard for your life!"
This completely terrified Ji Xin'er. She immediately knelt down and clung to the Crown Princess's skirt, pleading, "Your Highness, Your Highness, Princess Consort of Fu, I was wrong. I was confused for a moment. Please forgive me!"
"You should be pleading for your seventh sister-in-law, not me! Why did you do this to her?"
"I was just confused for a moment! Your Highness, Princess Consort of Ling, please forgive me!"
The Ji Xin'er standing before me, weeping uncontrollably, was completely different from the person who had called her Zhong Muyu just moments before.
"Those who do evil will not live. I will have the prince handle this matter impartially, and none of them will be let off the hook."
Lu Ziyuan echoed, "Of course."
The Crown Princess rubbed her temples. "Let's leave it at that. Everyone can go back. Ji Xin'er, you stay and await your fate. As for Cai Bei..."
The Crown Princess looked at the Princess Consort of Fu, as if seeking her opinion.
Princess Fu was already furious about this matter, so how could she possibly take this little palace maid as a concubine? She quickly said, "She is an accomplice, so we should handle this matter impartially!"
This was tantamount to a death sentence, and Caibei fainted from fright.
"Let's do it that way then."
The dust settled, it was getting late, and everyone should head home.
Princess Fu said she would compensate Zhong Muyu, then took Prince Fu and left first, while Zhong Muyu and Lu Ziyuan still had to go find Su Zhirou.
At this moment, in the front hall, Su Zhirou was anxiously waiting for the results.
Ji Xin'er didn't tell her much, only that she should persuade Zhong Muyu to drink so that she could get rid of her, but she didn't know if it would work.
When she saw Lu Ziyuan and Zhong Muyu appear, her heart sank to the bottom.
However, she still greeted them with a smile: "Your Highness and Princess Consort are finally back! I've been waiting for so long! Where did Princess Consort go?"
Zhong Muyu laughed and said, "I just went to the outhouse because of an upset stomach, but I didn't expect to see such a big show. Ji Xin'er shot herself in the foot. I'm afraid she'll have a hard time from now on!"
Su Zhirou's heart skipped a beat.
"What exactly happened?!"
Zhong Muyu shook her head: "It's better not to talk about this, so as not to frighten you. In short, Ji Xin'er did something bad, and the Crown Princess wants to investigate thoroughly!"
Hearing this, Su Zhirou was also frightened. She was also an accomplice. Would the investigation lead to her?
Lu Ziyuan said, "It's getting late, let's go. Don't mention today's events to anyone, understand?"
Lu Ziyuan's words seemed to be addressed to Zhong Muyu, but in reality, they were also directed at Su Zhirou.
Su Zhirou obediently agreed, and the three of them boarded the carriage and returned to the Royal Villa.
...
They remained silent the whole way back. After returning, probably because she was too scared, Su Zhirou said she was tired and locked herself in her room, while Zhong Muyu took a cold bath.
Noticing the coolness emanating from her, Lu Ziyuan asked curiously, "Did you use cold water?"
"Yes, it's too hot, so I used cold water."
Zhong Muyu didn't want to talk to him. The drug Ji Xin'er had given her was extremely domineering and ruthless. What was most terrifying was that it contained new ingredients. She took two antidotes and took a cold shower before she felt a little better.
Otherwise, she couldn't guarantee she wouldn't sleep with Lu Ziyuan tonight. Although he was undeniably handsome, Zhong Muyu was still quite annoyed by him.
Lu Ziyuan knew she was lying to him, but he wasn't angry: "Ji Xin'er came here today because of you."
"I know she's interested in you, that's why she's always been so critical of me. Hey, Lu Ziyuan, looks like you have quite a few admirers. She's so devoted to you, why don't you consider marrying her?"
Zhong Muyu wore a mocking expression, seemingly not taking the matter to heart.
Lu Ziyuan's face turned cold: "Zhong Muyu, do you take me for someone who's easy to talk to?"
"Oh, so you're not. But whether you are or not is none of my business."
"you!"
Lu Ziyuan felt that Zhong Muyu was extremely annoying at this moment.
Zhong Muyu immediately stepped back: "Stop! Stay away from me! Let's leave it at that for today. I'm tired!"
Lu Ziyuan felt like he had been played, and he also felt that Zhong Muyu was particularly resistant to him tonight, keeping her distance from him.
The two feelings merged into an abnormal sensation, and he suddenly approached Zhong Muyu: "Aren't you worried that I might be a casual person? Why don't you try and see?"
Zhong Muyu was startled and backed away, saying, "Don't joke around!"
Do I look like someone who would joke around?
"Like this! You clearly hate me, but you still want to do that kind of thing, and you even say you're not a promiscuous person..."
At this point, Zhong Muyu's eyes darted around. Back in the East Palace, although the incense in that room had been extinguished and there was ventilation, there was still a faint smell in the room. Ji Xin'er's medicine was potent. Could Lu Ziyuan have been affected?
Thinking about it, her eyes glanced downwards somewhat unnaturally.
It seems not yet?
This subtle movement did not escape Lu Ziyuan's notice: "Are you doubting me?"
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