The capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty was considered the most prosperous place in the world. There were many people who had spare money and were willing to donate. There were quite a few charity halls, some run by the government, some by aristocratic families, and some small-scale charity halls whose owners were not even known.

Zhu Duohuan's wife was born in a small charity whose owner was unknown. The charity was burned down many years ago, and the orphans in the charity were either dead or missing.

Han Ran made every effort to investigate Zhu Duohuan and his wife. After many interviews, he found out that Zhu Duohuan's wife was an adopted daughter, and her origin was that charity hall.

As the investigation deepened, Han discovered that the charity had been funded by a mysterious person. To his surprise, the mysterious person seemed to have a complex connection with the palace.

Han Ran stared at the investigation results in a daze and rubbed his face hard: I can't investigate any further.

He is the commander of Jinlin Guard, the eyes and ears of the emperor. No matter what he finds out, it should not be kept secret.

This is the foundation of his life.

But if such investigation results are submitted to the emperor, he will be furious.

After hesitating for many days, Han Ran still went to the palace to report.

By this time, a new auspicious day had been set, and the incident of the heavenly dog ​​swallowing the sun had become a thorn in Emperor Jingming's mind. He could not sleep if there was no result on that day.

I was lucky enough to escape the first time, but what if something goes wrong again? The Great Zhou can't afford to go through so many twists and turns.

"What did you find out?"

Han Ran looked solemn as he presented a memorial.

Pan Hai took it with both hands and presented it to Emperor Jingming.

Emperor Jingming opened the memorial and took a quick look at it, his expression suddenly changed.

Han Ran quickly lowered his head, his palms oozing with sweat.

Emperor Jingming glanced at Han Ran coldly and threw the memorial at his feet.

The letter hit the golden brick, making a sound that was neither light nor heavy, but it was like a heavy hammer hitting the heart, causing a shock all over the body.

Han Ran knelt down on one knee silently.

Emperor Jingming held the table with his hands, his face turning pale, and asked slowly and slowly, "Is this the result of your investigation?"

Han Ran lowered his head and said one word honestly: "Yes."

"That charity that was opened more than 20 years ago has connections with the palace. Are you telling me that there is a problem with the Empress Dowager?" Emperor Jingming twisted the word "Empress Dowager" on his tongue before he uttered it.

He had never imagined that one day such a secret investigation would be related to the Queen Mother, and it was almost difficult for him to ask this question.

Emperor Jingming's questioning was like a mountain pressing down on Han Ran, causing him to bend over.

Han Ran gritted his teeth and tried to calm himself down: "I dare not make any guesses. I am only responsible for summarizing what I have seen and heard and presenting it to you."

Han Ran was somewhat surprised.

Although the investigation details were recorded in the memorial, the noble in the palace did not point out that it was the empress dowager, but the emperor blurted it out. What does this prove?

So many things have happened in the past two years. Has the Emperor already begun to doubt the Empress Dowager without realizing it?

Han Ran thought about all this but didn't dare show any expression on his face. He just waited patiently for Emperor Jingming to explode.

Emperor Jingming blew his beard and glared at Han Ran who was kneeling below him. After a while, he snorted angrily: "Jinlin Guard is becoming more and more useless. Go back and continue investigating!"

Han Ran was as if he had been pardoned: "I will take my leave."

Seeing Han Ran fleeing in panic, Emperor Jingming became even angrier.

None of them are good people. When Jinlinwei was asked to investigate the Five Senses Lingtailang, he actually found the Empress Dowager?

Emperor Jingming walked over in anger unconsciously and kicked the memorial that he had thrown on the ground.

The paper was kicked and turned over several times.

Emperor Jingming glanced at Pan Hai, and seeing that he didn't move, he said with a dark face: "Why don't you pick it up!"

He was the one who threw the paper, does he want him to pick it up himself?

This Pan Hai is not as smart as he was when he was young now that he is older. He is really a muddleheaded old man.

Pan Hai hurriedly picked up the memorial, brushed off the dust with his sleeve, and presented it to Emperor Jingming.

Emperor Jingming took it reluctantly and said unhappily, "Go out. I want to be alone."

Pan Hai secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly left Yu's study.

He knew that the emperor needed some quiet time.

The room fell silent, and Emperor Jingming was lost in thought, holding the memorial.

The charity was opened more than 20 years ago, but now Zhu Duohuan, who almost pushed the new prince into eternal damnation, is linked to the charity.

In other words, the person behind the plot against Lao Qi is still able to control those orphans today, more than 20 years after opening the charity.

Who has such great ability?

More than 20 years ago, the Empress had not even entered the palace.

Emperor Jingming held the memorial in his hand with a heavy expression.

If there is really someone in the palace who can do this, it is probably only - a familiar figure flashed across Emperor Jingming's mind, causing his heart to ache.

Could it be that all this is really related to the Queen Mother?

Impossible, there is absolutely no reason for the Queen Mother to do this.

Emperor Jingming put away the memorial and walked out of Yu's study. Unknowingly, he walked to the outside of Cining Palace and stayed there for a long time.

Pan Hai asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, do you want to report this?"

"No need." Emperor Jingming finally gave up the idea of ​​meeting the empress dowager and turned to walk towards Kunning Palace.

Still without any further communication, Emperor Jingming led Pan Hai in.

The queen is eating again.

This time, we ate peaches instead of grapes.

A bag of juicy sweet peaches was cut into small pieces of even size and put into the empress's mouth by a palace maid using a silver toothpick. She could eat one piece at a time without even a lick of lip balm getting on her.

Emperor Jingming's gaze paused on the peach, and his face turned slightly darker.

When he was not around, did the Queen eat snacks all the time?

He is full of worries and his hair has turned white, and this is how the queen treats him?

Emperor Jingming was so jealous that he even forgot to speak.

The queen came forward and said, "Why didn't you let anyone know that the emperor is coming? I'll go and greet you--"

Emperor Jingming twitched his lips, ate two pieces of peach in a row, and signaled the palace servants to leave.

"How is Fuqing doing lately?"

When Princess Fuqing was mentioned, the Queen's mood fell. She smiled bitterly and said, "That girl is sentimental. She fell ill because of the Fourteenth Princess's matter and has not eaten properly until now. I can't persuade her to stop..."

"Do you have a suitable candidate? Fuqing is getting old, it's time for him to get married."

The Empress was stunned: "Didn't the Emperor say before that he would find out the person who harmed Fuqing before discussing her marriage?"

"Choose a good consort first, so as not to delay her."

The queen frowned slightly.

The emperor suddenly became concerned about Fuqing's marriage, and there must be a reason for it.

Seeing the empress's hesitation, Emperor Jingming smiled and said, "The Autumn Examination is coming soon. If the empress doesn't have a favorite candidate, why not pay attention to the Autumn Examination and the Spring Examination to see if there are any suitable young men."

At this point, the Queen simply smiled and said, "If you want to talk about a young man who is very talented, why bother waiting for the autumn and spring examinations? I heard that the son of Lord Zhen, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, who won the top three places in the imperial examination, has not yet married. Your Majesty, what do you think of marrying him to our Fuqing as a consort?"

When Emperor Jingming heard what the empress said, he ate a peach and started thinking.

Great Zhou Xiangrui becomes Fuqing's consort? This proposal seems good.