Chapter 136 Who is the real murderer?
Everyone in the palace was silent.
[Just check it out, why are you suddenly making such a loud noise? You scared me! ]
【Vainly bragging! 】
【If you don’t know, you might think you were the one who poisoned me.】
Nian Shilan vented her dissatisfaction in her heart and glanced at the emperor. Coincidentally, the emperor also looked over, so she quickly looked away.
【Why are you looking at me? 】
【I know nothing.】
[In my previous life, Concubine Li went crazy and caused me to lose my favor. In order to make you look at me more, I had the guts to feed Wen Yi water chestnut soup mixed with cassava flour.]
[Just a little bit, and just one meal! One spoonful! Want to blame your beloved Junyuan. ]
[As a result, you ignored all the evidence and showed partiality to her in front of everyone. Later, the vicious Concubine Duan came forward to give false testimony. I failed to gain anything and ended up letting Xiao Tang from the kitchen take the blame.]
[My brother hasn't come back yet, and I haven't lost my favor, so there's really no need to do all this nonsense. ]
[The grudges of the past life are the past life. I died in the past life. You can't hold me accountable in this life, right? 】
Of course the emperor knew that the Fourth Prince's death had nothing to do with Concubine Hua Gui.
In this harem, everyone could poison the Fourth Prince except her.
Because she is the only one who knows clearly when and under what circumstances the Fourth Prince will succeed to the throne.
Compared to poisoning, encircling and protecting is a better choice.
The emperor asked her to come over tonight because he had other plans.
Nian Shilan covered her mouth with her hands and yawned cautiously, but she was still thinking:
[Whoever wants to be the emperor can be the emperor. When my brother comes back, I will ask him to hand over his military power in exchange for a reward. Then our family can retire to the mountains.]
[I have read many story books recently, and faking death and leaving the palace is a good option. ]
[Oh yeah, in her previous life, Zhen Huan went to Ganlu Temple and wanted to fake her death and leave. Wen Shichu has a drug that can help her fake her death! ]
[Go back and ask your brother to find Wen Shichu and get the fake death medicine! ]
[I want to leave this damn place! ]
[Who is eavesdropping on me? Don't think I don't know! I've spotted you! Close your ears!]
Queen: “…”
emperor:"……"
Empress: Guigeng?
Su Peisheng came in and replied, "Your Majesty, I have found out that during dinner tonight, Concubine Qi sent someone to deliver food to the Fourth Prince..."
【It's really her! 】
This made the queen a little nervous.
She was afraid that Nian Shilan would not be able to handle the situation properly and the emperor would find out something from just a few words.
Even if he did not poison directly, it would be difficult to deal with the matter if the emperor suspected that he was behind it.
The emperor frowned, waiting for Concubine Hua Gui's next words.
[The brave warrior who poisoned with his real name! ]
[Poisoned Zhen Huan with chestnut cake, poisoned Ye Lanyi with red date soup, never seen anyone so honest, to announce their family background before poisoning. ]
The queen heaved a sigh of relief: Although he is not smart, he is obedient.
[I am Li Jingyan, the Concubine Qi of Changchun Palace! This is the medicine for losing a child given by me...]
Concubine Hua Gui has indeed read too many storybooks recently.
The emperor found her a little annoying.
"...I have checked the menu for tonight in the dining room. The Longjing bamboo fungus soup and the purple dried tofu are indeed not on the menu. I have already taken the items outside the palace."
The emperor signaled Zhang Mi and others to go out and check.
The queen turned her head and looked at the emperor, "Your Majesty, I have a question..."
"You say."
"Since Concubine Qi sent food to the Fourth Prince, why didn't Aunt Zhang, who was taking care of the Fourth Prince, mention it?"
"Your Majesty, Empress, please forgive me." Nanny Zhang kowtowed repeatedly, "I am confused and old, and I forgot for a moment. I didn't mean to hide it. Besides, the Fourth Prince has always been cautious and never touches anything that is not allowed..."
What does it mean?
[He didn't eat the things that Concubine Qi sent him, right? ]
[Does that mean the murderer is someone else? ]
[Who else could it be besides Concubine Qi? ]
"…Even the food sent by the kitchen must be tested with a silver needle before it can be eaten."
【Um?】
Nian Shilan drew out the tone and expressed a great doubt.
[In other words, when the Fourth Prince ate the red bean porridge, the porridge was still not poisonous? ]
[This is strange. It was not poisonous before eating, but it was poisonous after eating. Could it be that the spoon was poisonous? ]
Aunt Zhang: "Even chopsticks and porcelain spoons had to be boiled in hot water before he picked them up."
【Forehead...】
Nian Shilan's brain power is in crisis, [……]
[Is it God's will that he die and he has to die? ]
"Cui Guo, who was beside Concubine Qi, brought something over, saying that Concubine Qi had specially ordered the small kitchen to make it. The Third Prince enjoyed the meal, so thinking of the deep love between brothers, he sent a portion to the Fourth Prince as well."
"The Fourth Prince has never been favored, and the people in the kitchen don't pay much attention to him. The share he gets is not good. The Longjing Bamboo Fungus Soup is indeed rare, and the aroma is fragrant. This old servant thought that if the Queen wanted to harm the Prince, she would definitely not dare to say that she sent it..."
[I didn't expect that Concubine Qi is so brave. 】
"Cuiguo brought the food box but did not leave immediately. She stood by and watched. I scooped a spoonful for the Fourth Prince..."
[It must be this spoon that cost him his life! ]
"But the Fourth Prince dodged it while holding the bowl..."
If you guess wrong, Nian Shilan will be upset:
[Can this old man stop panting when he talks?! ]
[I see that she was not caring enough and is still looking for excuses. Take her out and chop her off!]
Emperor and Empress: "..."
Zhang Mi and others came in, "Your Majesty, Longjing Bamboo Fungus Soup does contain Hedinghong."
"That shouldn't be the case. A drop of liquid fell from the spoon onto the back of Fourth Prince's hand, and he wiped it with a handkerchief." Aunt Zhang was puzzled. "Even if it fell into the bowl, it would be very small."
"That's it."
The imperial physician confirmed, "The red thorn is a highly poisonous substance. The amount contained in the soup is such that an adult would die on the spot if he took just a small sip."
"My brother is young. If that one drop slips into the bowl and he happens to swallow it, it will be enough to kill him."
"Okay! Concubine Qi! Very good!"
The emperor's hand fell on the table with a thud. "Her father was exiled by the previous emperor for accepting bribes. I was not angry with her, but she dared to poison my son!"
"Someone——"
The emperor's words were clear; he wanted to sentence Concubine Qi to death.
But this matter cannot be left like this.
The Queen turned around and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Qi has been with you since you were in the Qian Residence. She has always been a simple person. Why would she do this?"
The emperor raised his eyes and looked at the queen. "What the queen means is..."
[Is this hard to understand? The old lady, the Queen, means that Concubine Qi was being manipulated by someone.]
[The real culprit behind the scenes is someone else! 】
The emperor snorted.
"What I mean is, no matter if it's her or not, you should call her in for questioning. Maybe there's some hidden secret behind it."
"Hidden secret?"
The emperor moved two Buddhist beads with his thumb, and the candle flame flickered. "Someone, bring Li Jingyan to me!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As soon as Su Peisheng left the house, he sent someone to Changchun Xianguan.
The emperor did not speak again, and no one in the palace dared to speak. Nian Shilan's voice became particularly clear.