Qiu Shuang told Madam Hong to take the powder back to Ciqing Palace and find a chance to hide next to Chu Jinyao. These were all fake. Concubine Shu would not give Madam Hong a chance to turn against her or bite back. As long as Madam Hong stepped out of Kunning Palace, the people waiting in the dark would rush forward, discover the death of Empress Xiao Qi, and catch Madam Hong, the "real murderer".

Madam Hong was from the East Palace. Even if Madam Hong was not important to Chu Jinyao, it didn't matter. The madam next to the Crown Princess appeared in Kunning Palace late at night. When she was found, the Queen had already been killed, and this madam was carrying the powder that killed the Queen.

Coincidentally, it happened on the eve of the emperor's return to the palace. Even a child outside the palace could figure out the trick.

Everything was going according to Concubine Shu's plan, except for the last step, catching the thief and the stolen goods. But it was unknown where Nanny Hong found out about it. Maybe it was because Concubine Shu took so much trouble to bring her to Kunning Palace, or maybe it was because Kunning Palace was so quiet, or maybe Qiu Shuang was too sure when she said she would send her out to reunite with her niece. Nanny Hong finally realized that her last relative in this world had probably left, and she didn't have the chance to wait until tomorrow to tell Chu Jinyao that she was willing to go to the manor and spend the rest of her life quietly in the countryside.

Madam Hong even realized that she couldn't leave Kunning Palace. Once she took this step, she would bring trouble to the Crown Princess. This trouble even came for no reason. This was not a simple struggle for power in the harem. This was a deliberate murder, a ruin of reputation, and the dirtiest means in the harem. Madam Hong had seen a lot in the first half of her life, but now, she couldn't let the heroes of the entire Forbidden City, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, suffer such an unjust accusation.

So, Madam Hong used the greatest strength of her life and hit the pillar and died.

No one thought that an inconspicuous old madam would have such a subtle insight and such a strong heart. The death of Madam Hong disrupted Concubine Shu's plan, but it was not a big problem because Empress Xiao Qi was already dead.

Empress Xiao Qi was dead, so were the remaining problems still important? Who in the palace wanted Empress Xiao Qi to die the most, and who was most afraid of letting Empress Xiao Qi, who had been deprived of power, meet the emperor? Need I say it?

Soon, Qiu Shuang, a palace maid on duty in Kunning Palace, let out a shrill scream, and her scream almost startled half of the court. Concubine Shu, who seemed to have gotten up in a hurry, soon arrived at Kunning Palace. She looked panicked and unbelievable: "The Empress is dead? How is this possible!"

Chu Jinyao had already changed her clothes and was about to go to bed to read a book while waiting for Qin Yi, when she suddenly heard chaotic footsteps outside the house. When Chu Jinyao arrived at Kunning Palace, many people had already gathered inside and outside the palace.

Chu Jinyao's face was heavy. Did Empress Xiao Qi commit suicide by taking poison? Chu Jinyao didn't believe it at all. Empress Xiao Qi was not someone who would commit suicide, let alone at this time. The emperor would return to the palace soon. No matter from which angle, Empress Xiao Qi would not choose to commit suicide at this juncture.

"Crown Princess." Linglong and the others hesitated and wanted to stop Chu Jinyao. Chu Jinyao waved his hand and walked in resolutely.

Chu Jinyao had traveled between Ciqing Palace and Kunning Palace countless times, and walked on this palace road to pay respects to Empress Xiao Qi. Those days of forbearance or confrontation were still vivid in Chu Jinyao's mind, but she never expected that one day she would stand in the same position and see such a scene.

Empress Xiao Qi died in the inner chamber, poisoned, and Nanny Hong, whom she had just seen today, died tragically. Chu Jinyao only took a glance and turned her eyes away, unable to bear to watch any more.

It seemed that Concubine Shu had been standing there for a long time. When she saw Chu Jinyao, she curled her lips slightly and said, "Crown Princess, you're here."

Chu Jinyao's gaze slowly turned from the palace to Concubine Shu. She had no expression on her face, and even her eyes were cold: "Madam Shufei came so quickly. The palace gates were locked, but Concubine Shu was able to appear in Kunning Palace immediately. It seemed that Concubine Shu could sense the news herself without anyone passing it on."

Concubine Shu smiled lightly: "The Crown Princess is a busy person in charge of the inner palace. Perhaps she is too busy and even her mind is not clear. The people lying here are obviously from the Crown Princess' palace."

Chu Jinyao thought of Nanny Hong and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. Since Empress Xiao Qi was deprived of power, she had people watching her carefully. However, every day after dark, the palace gates were locked, and Kunning Palace became a closed inner court. It was inconvenient to pass news inside and outside, so Concubine Shu's people took advantage of this time to make trouble. In fact, not to mention Chu Jinyao, even Empress Xiao Qi herself did not expect that Qiu Shuang, who was well-known and valued by her, would suddenly make trouble and stab Empress Xiao Qi in the back.

"She is someone in my palace, what does that mean?" Chu Jinyao met Concubine Shu's eyes, her eyes showed no sign of weakness, "Madam Shu, do you know something? That's why you can't wait."

Concubine Shu shook her head as if disappointed, sighed softly, and said, "The Crown Princess is now of high status. You are the only one who rules the palace, and the Crown Prince has the final say outside the palace. I am just a concubine, how dare I say anything to the Crown Princess? But, Crown Princess, why do you have to kill them all? It is better to leave a way out when doing things, both for others and for yourself. Even if the Emperor is coming back soon, the Queen will... She is already in this state, and will not hinder you at all. Why do you have to let her die? "

Chu Jinyao raised her eyebrows slightly: "Why, Concubine Shu has convicted me without any evidence? You said these in front of the Queen's palace, aren't you afraid of attracting the lingering ghosts?"

Concubine Shu just smiled at this. Obviously, success was imminent. Even a patient Concubine Shu couldn't help it. She smiled at Chu Jinyao with a hint of pride: "The Queen's death, this is a matter that none of us can decide. Convict depends on the Emperor's intention."

Concubine Shu then left with her entourage. Chu Jinyao stood in the cold wind, the fluff on her hood fluttering in the wind, and she stood like this for a whole stick of incense.

From the beginning, this was a huge conspiracy.

After pulling Xiao Qi into the water, she persuaded the emperor to go to the army in person, and then the six ministries left the crown prince in vain, and finally, there was the absurd defeat.

The Xuanfu Incident was not accidental at all, it was a conspiracy carefully planned by these people.

Now that it has come to this day, she and Qin Yi can no longer stop, and Prince Su sent the emperor back to the court for the merit of welcoming him to the throne, and Concubine Shu also killed the empress on the eve of the emperor's return to the palace. After all, except for their own people, who else would know the emperor's return date so clearly? Since entering the pass, Qin Yi has always been behind in grasping the emperor's whereabouts, and now, Chu Jinyao is very sure that the emperor will definitely come back tomorrow.

Chu Jinyao let out a long breath towards the cold and clear night sky. The breath condensed into white mist in the cold wind and gradually dissipated in the gorgeous but silent Kunning Palace carvings.

On the other side, Qin Yi also opened the message sent by the secret guard.

Half a year ago, someone saw a thin scholar entering and leaving Prince Su's mansion. Later, this person disappeared. When he was seen again, he had become a military advisor in the Wala military camp.

Qin Yi clenched his fists silently, and the secret letter almost turned into powder in his palm.

The next day, the palace received news early in the morning. The emperor was eager to return to the palace, and he ordered people to rush to the palace as soon as possible, expecting to enter the palace today.

The emperor's return was nothing like his departure. Three months ago, 300,000 elite soldiers and more than 60 high-ranking officials followed the emperor through this road, but when he returned, only the emperor

was left .

When the emperor finally returned to the palace after a long absence, before he could even take a breath, he heard the news that Empress Xiao Qi had died. The emperor's eyes widened in shock, staring at the person in front of him motionlessly: "What did you say?"

The eunuch in green sweated so much that he almost dripped down his head and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress has passed away."

The emperor was stunned for a long time: "When?"

"Last night."

The emperor closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling. Last night, she had always been healthy and well, how could she pass away so strangely? Who on earth was she that she couldn't even let them see her for the last time?

When the emperor left the palace, he was indeed somewhat dissatisfied with Empress Qi, but she was his little wife whom he had indulged for more than ten years. Even if he resented her and ignored her, he never thought that one day, Empress Qi would leave before him.

The emperor paused for a long time before asking this question: "Where is she?"

The emperor stood in Kunning Palace and finally saw Empress Qi again, but this time they were separated by life and death. The concubine stood behind the emperor. She glanced at his expression calmly, raised her handkerchief to wipe her eyes, and whispered, "Your Majesty, you have just returned. You must mourn and take care of your health. If the empress is still in heaven, she would not want to see the emperor harm his health because of this."

After she finished speaking, the concubine sighed vaguely, "The empress is much younger than me. I never thought that it was such a young person like the empress who would go first."

These words touched the emperor so deeply that he became unexpectedly angry, "She died of poison. She was actually killed by poison! What is going on? Who is so bold!"

Obviously the emperor did not think that the empress had taken poison herself. All signs indicated that this was murder.

The concubine looked embarrassed but shook her head without saying anything. The emperor knew something was wrong when he saw the concubine's expression. He asked with a sullen face, "Tell me, who is it!"

Shufei sighed, and a maid behind her said timidly, "When Your Majesty hurried over, the Empress had already died. There was no outsider in Kunning Palace at that time, but..."

The maid secretly glanced at Chu Jinyao behind her, and whispered, "However, the nanny beside the Crown Princess has committed suicide out of fear of crime in Kunning Palace."

Chu Jinyao looked straight ahead without turning his eyes in any other direction. Linglong took a step forward and scolded with a serious face, "However, you are so outrageous. There is no evidence now. Who gave you the courage to disrespect ghosts and gods, slander the dead, and say that Nanny Hong committed suicide out of fear of crime?"

The maid's neck shrank after being scolded, and she lowered her head and dared not say anything. Concubine Shu glanced at the emperor's face, a smile appeared in her eyes, and then turned into grief and anger: "It's simply lawless. Who allowed you, a slave, to speak in front of His Majesty?"

"Madam Shu is really biased." Chu Jinyao took over and said, "It was your maid who made the decision without permission. When she was talking nonsense, you didn't scold her, but instead corrected her. You are rude to scold her?"

"You are talking nonsense?" Concubine Shu sneered, "Then tell me, Crown Princess, what is wrong with what I, a palace maid, said? Why did your personal nurse appear in the Queen's palace in the middle of the night? Yesterday, the Queen was poisoned, and this old slave happened to appear in Kunning Palace. In my opinion, it is most likely that she poisoned the Queen, and then she was afraid that the Emperor would come back to punish her, so she committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

"If she committed suicide out of fear of punishment, she could have taken poison and died quickly. Why did she have to hit her head against a pillar?" Chu Jinyao stared at Concubine Shu and replied, "Concubine Shu probably hasn't read many history books. Those who died by hitting their heads against a pillar were all forced to do so to show their integrity. Concubine Shu could have looked up history books or the files of the Dali Temple to see how those who really committed suicide out of fear of punishment died."

Concubine Shu was stumped by the rebuttal. Chu Jinyao had indeed accurately described the situation at the time. Generally, people who committed suicide out of fear of punishment would not choose a too painful way to die in order to achieve a quick death, and hitting their heads against a pillar was even more impossible. Concubine Shu paused briefly and quickly changed her words: "People who commit suicide out of fear of crime cannot be judged by common sense. She did it to escape the punishment of Your Majesty. As for how she died, it was just a personal choice. On the contrary, her appearance in Kunning Palace and her involvement in the death of the Empress are irreconcilable evidence."

"She appeared in Kunning Palace, so she must have been abducted. If she is suspected just because she appeared in Kunning Palace, then why doesn't Concubine Shu suspect the palace maids and servants around the Empress? In my opinion, they have been with the Empress for many years, and the Empress's food, clothing, housing and transportation are all handled by them. It should be easier for them to poison the Empress. Nanny Hong is an outsider, and she brought the poison to the Empress. The Empress is so vigilant, how could she swallow it?"

"The Empress wins people over with her virtue, how could the people around her betray her?" Concubine Shu said, "The Crown Princess cannot slander the Empress's virtue and reputation in order to exonerate the people around her."

It's a shame that Concubine Shu could say this. Did the young Empress Qi win people over with her virtue? Chu Jinyao was dismissive, but the emperor was willing to believe it. Once a person dies, all his shortcomings and mistakes disappear, and the good things he did during his lifetime are infinitely magnified.

Qiu Shuang had been listening outside the palace. When she heard this, she rubbed her eyes hard until they turned red. She knelt inside the palace and cried, "Crown Princess, you can say anything, but you can't erase my loyalty to the queen! Aunt Lan Yu was killed by the murderer for the queen. I only regret that I didn't have three heads and six arms at that time and couldn't stop the murderer and save the queen. Your Majesty, the queen was looking forward to your return when she was alive. She even asked me to comb her hair when she was dying. She was looking forward to you so much. You must do the right thing for the queen!"

The emperor asked in a hoarse voice, "Did you see that the person who did it was the old slave outside?"

"I didn't see the direct process, but when I came back from fetching water, I saw Madam Hong coming out of the main hall."

The emperor showed an angry look, and Linglong and the others panicked. They hurriedly looked at Chu Jinyao, hoping that Chu Jinyao could make up for the disadvantage. However, Chu Jinyao did not look at the emperor, but turned around and looked at Qiu Shuang: "Tell me in detail about your encounter with Madam Hong yesterday."

Qiu Shuang showed a vigilant look, and said carefully: "The queen asked to dress up at that time, so I went out to fetch water to wash my hands. Who knew that when I came back, I ran into Madam Hong. She was in a hurry and walked out with her head down. I was suspicious, so I hurried in to see the queen, but I saw ... I was shocked and angry, and immediately ran out to call for Madam Hong. Madam Hong was very surprised to see me. She wanted to trick me into coming closer so that she could poison me to death. I naturally refused, so I quickly called for people outside. Madam Hong saw that the matter was exposed, so she was desperate and hit her head against the pillar to commit suicide. Before she died, she said that now there would be no evidence, and nothing could be found out. "No evidence

, no evidence, really no evidence." After Xiao Qi, Lan Yu, Madam Hong, everyone died unwillingly.

Chu Jinyao was angry in her heart, but her mind was still very calm. Concubine Shu's eyes were full of pride and demonstration. Chu Jinyao saw it, but her heart became clearer and clearer. She slowly said, "You are lying."

These four words fell to the ground with a loud sound, and everyone was stunned. Chu Jinyao asked someone to bring something, and she continued, "If it is true as you said, you were not approached by Madam Hong, then how could your button be on her?"

Concubine Shu's face changed drastically when she saw the button, and Qiu Shuang also remembered that when she tricked Madam Hong out yesterday, Madam Hong did bump into her hard. Unexpectedly, she took a button off and hid it on her body during this time.

Qiu Shuang's eyes darted around and she said hurriedly, "I remembered it wrongly. When Madam Hong saw me, she ran over to catch me. I struggled with her for a while before I could get away. This button was pulled off by her during that time. I was so panicked yesterday that I remembered it wrongly..."

Chu Jinyao snorted coldly and turned to look at the emperor, "Your Majesty, this servant is confused and her testimony is vague. If she really experienced it, how could she remember such an important detail wrong? This can only prove that she is lying and her testimony is not credible."

Concubine Shu immediately retorted, "Why is it not credible? Because she identified the people around the Crown Princess, the Crown Princess said her testimony is not credible?"

"Concubine Shu is so firm as soon as she opens her mouth. I'm afraid she knows something that dares to attack her so wantonly."

"That's enough!" The emperor shouted, "She's gone, but you still won't let her go. Get out of here, I'll make the decision."

The author has something to say: [Queen Xiao Qi is offline]

Before Queen Xiao Qi appeared, I said that she was the minor boss in the palace struggle, because the major boss was Concubine Shu.