Chapter 103 If it can’t be the Su family, it can only be the Shen family!
The imperial guards were sent out of the palace to search for the person very quickly.
In less than half an hour, the person had already returned.
During this period, Su Meiren tried to speak several times, but was interrupted by Huo Jinchi every time. He did not say that he suspected her, but only said that he would talk to her after finding Qiu Ming.
When Xu An came back, his face was a little ugly, and he said to Huo Jinchi: "Your Majesty, the person has not been found."
These words instantly relaxed Su Meiren, who had been worried all the time. She was really worried that her father and brother were not quick enough and did not handle the matter cleanly enough.
She glanced at Shen Danying with cold eyes. Without Qiu Ming who could directly threaten her, she wanted to see how Shen Danying could get away.
"When the imperial guards arrived at the Qingyuan Taoist Temple, it was already empty. The abbot of the temple has been brought in. Does the emperor want to ask questions?" Xu An continued.
Hawking nodded.
The abbot of the Taoist temple was brought up quickly. He looked middle-aged, with a long flowing beard, and had the appearance of an immortal.
"I am honored to see the Emperor, the Empress, and other distinguished guests." He did not show any sign of panic when meeting the Emperor, and he bowed with neither arrogance nor servility.
Huo Jinchi raised his hand and said, "Master, there is no need to be so polite. I asked you to come here to ask you something about Taoist Nun Qiu Ming. Please tell me the truth."
"I will tell you everything I know." The abbot bowed again and said, "I already know that the person the saint is looking for is Qiu Ming. But Qiu Ming is not from this temple."
"Is Taoist nun Qiu Ming a member of the temple? Where is she now?"
"That Qiu Ming is not from our temple, but a fellow monk who stayed in our temple. Two days ago, she suddenly asked for leave from me and said she wanted to go out to travel. This is a common thing for people who travel, and I didn't take it seriously. I didn't ask her where she was going, and she didn't have much contact with people in the temple, so I'm afraid no one knows her whereabouts."
"Two days ago?" Huo Jinchi narrowed his eyes. The time point was obviously after Xiang Yun succeeded. It was such a coincidence that it was hard not to be suspicious.
He then asked, "Does the Taoist priest know who she usually interacts with?"
The host hesitated for a moment before saying, "Qiu Ming seems to be very busy on weekdays and is often not in the temple. I haven't seen anyone come to the temple to look for her."
It seems that even the people in Qingyuan Temple were not aware of her entering the palace.
So it is even more strange that Su Meiren did not find her through Qingyuan Temple.
Although Qingyuan Temple is a little bit declining nowadays, the founding emperor was a devout Taoist and it was once a royal Taoist temple. If one wants to find a Taoist priest to perform a ritual, Qingyuan Temple is the first choice.
How could Lady Su, who had lived in the palace for a long time, know a Taoist nun who had just arrived at Qingyuan Temple and stayed there?
No matter how you look at it, this matter seems weird in every way.
Hawking Chi looked at Su Meiren with increasingly fierce eyes.
Not only did he hear something wrong, the Queen and Shen Danying naturally also heard something strange about this matter.
Although the queen did not speak, her expression was cold as she looked at Su Meiren.
The previous dynasty’s struggles were the previous dynasty’s struggles, but the empress dowager still valued the emperor’s offspring. After the incident with Concubine Su, she had repeatedly told her that Concubine Liu’s pregnancy must not be lost.
As a result, just after she left the palace, something happened to Concubine Liu. If it was really the Su family, whom she still relied on, who was responsible, the empress could already imagine how furious the queen mother would be.
The queen gritted her teeth secretly, she was so bold!
Shen Danying became more and more determined in her heart. She looked at Xiangyun at her feet, and in addition to pain, there was also scrutiny in her eyes.
She couldn't understand why. Concubine Su was now completely suppressed by her in the palace and couldn't even raise her head. What kind of chips would she have to use to buy Xiangyun?
Yun Qin is more sensitive than her.
From the beginning to the end, she felt that all of this was operated by the Su family outside the palace, and Concubine Su was just an executor. If that was the case, then Xiang Yun must have been bribed by them outside the palace.
Yunqin glanced at Xiangyun who had been shouting "Help" from beginning to end, and suddenly an idea flashed in her mind. What if it was not bribery but a threat?
She raised her eyes to glance at Shen Danying, then quickly looked away and pursed her lips.
Although Yun Qin wanted to help Shen Da Ying, she knew very well that her current status meant she absolutely could not say such things.
She took a deep breath and told herself to be patient. Just like before, she had to find an opportunity to speak.
"Do you have anything else to tell me about Qiu Ming?"
Huo Jinchi actually knew in his heart that Qiu Ming had probably been silenced long ago, and the Taoist temple probably wouldn't be able to get anything out of him.
Sure enough, the abbot hesitated for a while and shook his head slightly.
"That's fine. Please tell me what Qiu Ming looks like, so that the artist can draw him."
"yes."
The abbot never asked any further questions about the matter and then left with the eunuch.
Huo Jinchi then instructed Xu An, "Wait until the painter finishes drawing the portrait, and immediately issue a warrant to arrest the person. We must find him!"
"I understand."
Seeing that the emperor was determined to catch Qiu Ming, Concubine Su felt a little nervous again.
She gritted her teeth secretly. As long as Shen Danying was convicted, there would be no need to look for Qiu Ming, and she would be able to get rid of suspicion!
Thinking of this, Su Meiren looked at Hawking Chi with a puzzled and innocent look, and said aggrievedly:
"Your Majesty, I really don't understand why you are wasting time looking for Qiu Ming. Shouldn't you first deal with Shen Danying's intention to harm Concubine Liu and the dragon fetus in her belly?"
At this time, Shen Danying had already calmed down. He looked at Lady Su and curled the corners of his lips coldly.
"I was just about to ask you, why didn't you invite so many Taoist priests with profound Taoist skills in Qingyuan Temple, but instead invited a wandering Taoist nun who is just a guest in the temple and has no reputation?"
Lady Su was choked by the question. She knew that she must not bring up the Su family, so she said reluctantly, "Who knew that she was just a Taoist nun? When I asked people to look for her in the temple, it was she who recommended herself. I didn't know these things, so I believed her."
Although what she said was nonsense in a hurry, it was surprisingly reasonable. After all, she was a fool who could do such a thing.
The Queen suddenly opened her mouth and admonished: "You are too foolish. How dare you lead someone who knows nothing about the matter into the palace!"
Although she said it was a warning, her words implied that she had no idea about Qiu Ming's background, and it was obvious that she was trying to excuse her.
Regardless of whether this was done by the Su family or not, it could not have been done by the Su family!
If it’s not the Su family, then it can only be the Shen family!
The Queen had already made up her mind to pin the blame on Shen Danying, so she would naturally speak up for Lady Su.
When Concubine Su heard the empress speak, she looked at her and immediately understood what she meant. She immediately raised her handkerchief and started to cry, "I was too impatient. I didn't know I was deceived. And because of me, the emperor suspected me. I am really wronged!"
Seeing her like this, Shen Danying felt so angry that his teeth were itching. Since this Taoist nun could not be found for the time being, the only clue now was Xiangyun.
"Xiangyun, do you have anything to say?"