The palace maid in green, shivering, knelt on the ground, her whole body soaked.
The one-eyed man's clothes had been cut into strips, and his exposed skin was covered in wounds.
What shocked the Empress Dowager even more was that the one-eyed man was on his deathbed, barely clinging to life.
How did he get injured like this?
The Empress Dowager glared angrily at the guard named "Canfeng".
Yuan Yao's...personal bodyguard?
Was it left to Yuan Yao by the Ninth Prince?
Why didn't she know that Yuan Yao had someone by her side before?
A series of questions left the Empress Dowager unable to recover for a long time.
At this moment, the emperor spoke in a cold voice: "Both of these people poisoned you?"
Canfeng replied, "Your Majesty, I was hiding in the shadows of Plum Blossom Courtyard when I saw this one-eyed man sneak into the courtyard and, taking advantage of everyone's inattention, poison the desserts and have the palace maid bring them out."
My subordinate fought with him and realized that this man possessed profound skill, especially in lightness of movement and concealment.
Assassins have even entered the palace to poison people! This is outrageous!
The emperor roared, "Guards, seize this assassin!"
Soon, four imperial guards, swords in hand and ropes in hand, rushed into the hall and bound the one-eyed man.
Looking at the person on the ground who couldn't move, the Empress Dowager clenched her fists, almost grinding her teeth to powder.
Today, Hei Ji shouldn't be in the palace at all!
How could he have been arrested in the palace?
Could it be... that he was brought into the palace?
That must be it!
Yuan Yao nestled in the emperor's arms, her face swollen on one side, looking at Canfeng.
Just then, Canfeng also looked over at him.
Upon seeing the slap mark on her face, Canfeng, whose face was half-covered by the mask, paused for a moment, then pursed his lips, his face full of worry.
Yuan Yao shook her head at him almost imperceptibly.
Canfeng withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, frowned deeply, and his eyes reddened.
The emperor hugged Yuan Yao tightly, raised his foot, and kicked the one-eyed man: "Dead?"
Canfeng replied, "Your Majesty, the man is not dead. After he was discovered, he tried to poison me, so I used too much force."
However, even if he didn't die, he wouldn't live much longer.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager, with her hands hanging down and her fists slightly clenched beneath her wide and ornate sleeves, said, "Since you say this person poisoned you, why did you have to use such a heavy hand on him?"
You've almost beaten him to death; how are you supposed to interrogate him now?
Upon hearing this, Canfeng frowned.
The emperor flicked his sleeves impatiently and said, "According to the Empress Dowager, the person has already been poisoned at the birthday banquet. Are we supposed to politely invite him over and treat him to good food and drink?"
The Empress Dowager pursed her red lips, forcing a smile: "That's not what I meant..."
Yuan Yao noticed that the Empress Dowager's eyes were red.
The hands hanging down under the sleeves, the nails were probably digging into the flesh.
It seems that this one-eyed man holds a significant place in the Empress Dowager's heart!
If only I had known then what I know now!
Does it feel good to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot?
Yuan Yao pointed at the palace maid in green and asked in a childish voice, "Canfeng, what's the deal with this palace maid?"
Upon hearing her speak, Canfeng hurriedly said, "This palace maid is impersonating a food-serving maid, moving around the birthday banquet..."
My subordinates inquired with other palace servants, and they all said they did not recognize her.
Before Yuan Yao could speak, the Empress exclaimed, "Such a thing has happened?"
The palace servants at today's birthday banquet were all handpicked by her people...
How could assassins move freely among the palace servants?
The Empress's face turned somewhat pale, but as the Empress, she had to remain composed and maintain her composure.
The Empress walked over to the palace maid, beckoned, and called Ji Xiang over: "Come and take a look at this palace maid, do you remember her?"
Ji Xiang hurried over, pinched the palace maid's chin, looked her over, and shook her head seriously: "Your Highness, this servant has never seen this person before."
That's a real assassin!
The emperor was furious: "Guards, seize this palace maid!"
Immediately, the trembling palace maid was bound and lifted up by the Imperial Guards.
"Waaah..." The palace maid struggled desperately and sobbed.
The emperor looked at Jiang Lanyue: "Lanyue, look at this palace maid, does she look familiar?"
Jiang Lanyue was being supported by someone; she had just been detoxified, and her complexion wasn't very good.
For a moment, she was unsure what the emperor meant.
Biting her lip, Jiang Lanyue glanced timidly at the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager clenched her fists and spoke kindly: "Lan Yue, does your father mean that this palace maid is the one who served you the milk custard just now?"
Jiang Lanyue withdrew her gaze from the Empress Dowager's face and glanced at Yuan Yao.
As if recalling a memory, after a long while, she looked at the palace maid and asked with tearful eyes, "Why...why did you harm me?"
"Waaah..." The palace maid opened her eyes wide and struggled with all her might.
Helpless, she couldn't utter a single word.
So, he was mute?
It is absolutely impossible for palace servants to be deaf or mute!
How did this palace maid manage to sneak into the palace today?
They'll stop at nothing to harm her!
Two lines of tears slid down Jiang Lanyue's cheeks.
With a pale face, she timidly questioned, "Yue'er asks herself, I have no value that makes me worth being harmed."
But why did you poison me?
Do you know how much I feel guilty towards my little sister Yao'er because of what you did?
Just now... I actually thought she was trying to poison me..."
As she spoke, Jiang Lanyue began to sob softly.
Yuan Yao: "???"
She was called out for no reason at all!
Yuan Yao clutched the emperor's robe, her eyes gleaming with grievance: "Your Majesty, Yao'er did not poison Princess Lan Yue."
When that bowl of milk and egg custard was brought over, Yao'er had just parted ways with the Second Prince and was watching the fish in the garden with Prince Yun Chan…
"Of course I know it wasn't you." The emperor raised his hand, patted her head, and said to Jiang Lanyue, "These two villains must have poisoned you to frame Yuan Yao."
"With so many people, why did the criminals only target you and not anyone else? You should reflect on that."
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Jiang Lanyue's face showed shock.
But soon, she lowered her head and said in a trembling voice, "Father is right. When Yue'er returns, she will definitely reflect on her actions..."
Clearly, it was she who was poisoned, and she was the one who should be pitied. However, her biological father, the Emperor, only had Yuan Yao in his heart and eyes!
Yuan Yao, Yuan Yao...
Why is it that, apart from the Empress Dowager, everyone's eyes are only on Yuan Yao!
Yuan Yao is just a three-year-old toddler, what's so good about her?
Do they really think Yuan Yao is that good?
In what way is she inferior to Yuan Yao?!
What a blunder today!
She didn't hesitate to harm her body, even resorting to poisoning methods, but Yuan Yao only received a slap in the face!
In Jiang Lanyue's lowered eyes, besides tears, there was also a deep hatred and jealousy...
"Yue'er." The Empress Dowager's voice came from above her head.
Jiang Lanyue looked up, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "Grandmother..."
All the grievances in my heart were evident in my eyes.
The Empress Dowager had someone help her up, touched her hand, and said kindly, "You are a smart child. You have a long future ahead of you. You can correct any mistakes you make."
"Your father is so worried about Princess Yuanyao because the Ninth Prince is busy working for her..."
Jiang Lanyue opened her mouth.
The Empress Dowager meant that she was still young and had countless opportunities to bring down Yuan Yao.
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