Chapter 11 Where is Qingwu?
At this time, the emperor should be in the Qinzheng Hall summoning his ministers and reviewing memorials. The emperor came here specially because he naturally learned that the prince had fallen into the water.
Logically speaking, everyone should go to the main hall to discuss matters.
But now everyone could see that the emperor sitting on the main throne was in a bad mood, and no one dared to mention moving.
The Queen Mother sat next to the Emperor.
With a worried look on his face, he said, "How could Yuan Heng fall into the water for no reason? Is there someone trying to murder the heir to the throne? This matter must be investigated carefully!"
"Your Majesty Mother is right. We need to conduct a thorough investigation." Emperor Wu Su said in a light tone.
But the ice in his eyes seemed to pierce through everyone present.
"Li Yuzong, bring in the palace servant who is taking care of the prince."
In a moment, more than a dozen palace maids, eunuchs, and wet nurses were brought to the palace gate.
Li Zongguan lowered his head and walked to the emperor's side to answer, saying respectfully: "Your Majesty, the people have been brought here."
Emperor Wu Su Zhao Mingyan glanced at the people kneeling on the ground.
"The prince fell into the water, and there was no one with him."
There is no harshness in the words, but it makes people frightened for no reason.
As soon as the emperor said this, an eunuch who was not restrained by sex started to tremble and wet his pants.
Li Yuzong signaled his men with his eyes to quickly drag the man away to avoid offending the emperor.
It’s no wonder that person has a weak psychological endurance. The new emperor has conquered all the way through the battlefield, and the road to becoming an emperor is filled with tons of bones.
In recent years, his image of being diligent and caring for the people has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Also, because he has a handsome face that is unparalleled in the world, people almost forget that he has this demeanor.
He hasn't looked so terrifying for a long time.
The murderous aura immediately filled the entire palace.
Ji Qingwu shivered behind the screen, she crossed her arms and hugged herself tightly.
She couldn't see the expression of the Northern Li Emperor, but she could feel the solemn atmosphere as they were in the same space. In addition, her underwear was still wet, so she got goose bumps all over her body.
Serving the king is like serving a tiger, and this is true.
The Queen Mother remained calm, "Your Majesty, these palace servants did not fulfill their duties and should be punished. However, Yuan Heng was raised by Concubine Wei. When something happened to the prince, why hasn't she, the mother, shown up yet?"
Concubine Wei received the news late and was on her way.
Seeing that the emperor had no intention of taking his anger out on Concubine Wei, the empress dowager frowned and said, "Yuan Heng was carried back to the Cining Palace. He was dirty and shivering in the wind. His face was pale. I felt so sorry for him when I saw him."
Yuan Heng sat quietly aside.
The emperor looked at him, his voice not soothing but questioning.
"Yuan Heng, why did you fall into the water?"
Emperor Wu Su had been on the throne for three years, and the concubines in the harem had no children, leaving him only this one prince.
But the emperor did not dote on him too much and was ruthless in punishing him when he made mistakes, so Yuan Heng did not develop an arrogant and domineering character.
The four-year-old child spoke clearly, "Reporting to the Emperor, Father, after school, I passed by Taiye Lake and heard a puppy barking in the grass, so I asked the people around me to check. Then I accidentally fell into the water on the shore."
Emperor Wu Su nodded, his eyes turned cold, "Where is the small circle?"
Before I could answer, a woman's pleasant voice came from the door.
"Your Majesty, I have found the bodies of the little circle."
Concubine Wei, wearing a misty blue gauze palace skirt with scattered flowers and a golden hairpin on her head, walked in with two maids.
"I greet your Majesty and the Queen Mother."
Concubine Wei knelt and saluted. She had a pair of bright eyes, white teeth, and a lively look. She was a rare and beautiful woman, worthy of being the emperor's favorite concubine.
After getting the emperor's permission, she came before the little prince.
She said softly, "Yuan Heng, mother is late."
Seeing her demeanor, the Queen Mother said angrily, "Concubine Wei, you are so late that I and the Emperor have to wait for you. Are you acting as a judge investigating a case?"
Not only do men pursue power, but the women in the harem also fight for the power to hold the six palaces.
The Queen Mother had never been a Queen, and she enjoyed such honor because of her stepson. After she had a taste of power, she was reluctant to let it go. Seeing that Wei Liru was promoted from a noble lady to a concubine, and it was just around the corner for her to become the Queen, how could she not be on guard?
It was no secret in the palace that Concubine Wei and the Queen Mother were not on good terms.
Wei Liru said in surprise: "Don't tease me, Queen Mother. I am worried about the safety of the young prince. I was very anxious. When I passed by Taiye Lake on my way here, I asked someone to search it."
By the way?
The Queen Mother sneered in her heart, thinking that she was trying to find a way out of the impasse.
Something has happened to His Majesty's only prince, and she, as his mother, cannot escape the blame.
Emperor Wu Su's expression did not change, and he did not take the argument between the two seriously.
"Tell me what you found."
"In addition to the corpses in the small circle, I have made a bigger discovery." Concubine Wei looked at the emperor hesitantly, "Your Majesty, there is a lot of moss on the steps by the lake."
Prince Yong thought Concubine Wei was making a fuss and sneered, "There has been a lot of rain this year, so it's normal for moss and algae to grow on the lakeside after the rain. Concubine Wei can't have never seen moss before."
Concubine Wei ignored Prince Yong's sarcastic words and looked at Emperor Wu Su with her watery eyes.
"It just so happens that my maid, Bi Tao, is from Chaonan. She recognized this type of moss as being found only in her hometown. This Chaonan moss suddenly appeared in the palace, and Yuan Heng accidentally slipped into the lake, which made me think too much."
This statement has already made it clear that there is something wrong with Qingtai and the prince was assassinated.
Concubine Wei dared to expose it in public, so the person behind it must have nothing to do with her. This clue has been thrown out, and if the person behind it cannot be found, it means that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is not doing its job well.
The chief eunuch Li Yuzong immediately bowed and left the hall to start investigating.
The Queen Mother's eyes darkened. Concubine Wei was a smart woman. She went to investigate the reason why the prince fell into the water first. This could be considered as making up for her mistake.
But how could the Queen Mother let him off so easily? "Your Majesty, no matter what, Yuan Heng almost died because of this. We only have one heir in the Beili royal family. We must not let this matter go lightly. All those involved must be severely punished."
Emperor Wu Su asked, "What do you think, mother?"
"The palace servants who served the prince will be fined one year's salary and given twenty strokes of the cane. Concubine Wei is responsible for educating the prince. The prince almost got into trouble because she was not careful enough in raising him. She will also be confined to her house for three months. In addition, should we consider moving Yuan Heng to a more suitable palace to live in?"
The Queen Mother is in charge of all matters in the harem, so proposing these solutions is part of her job.
The emperor's lips curled up into a smile.
"Mother, which palace do you think is more suitable for Yuan Heng?"
The Queen Mother turned her eyes away. She couldn't just ask the prince to come to her.
He said in a roundabout way: "This still needs to be considered in the long run, but Yuan Heng can no longer be kept in Guanju Palace. I heard that Yuan Heng was rescued by someone. Who was it? I must reward him handsomely."
Shi Xi stepped forward and replied, "It was the fifth young lady of the Ji family who came to pay respects to the Queen Mother today. She jumped into the lake to save the young prince without caring about her own safety."
Zhao Yuanheng pricked up his ears. It turned out that this woman, like the empress dowager, was a member of the Ji family.
He didn't care which palace he would move to. Compared to that, he cared more about the woman's name.
The emperor said with a half-smile, "She is the niece of the Empress Dowager. What a coincidence."
The Queen Mother seemed to have just learned about it and asked, "The Fifth Miss is such a kind and brave child. Where is Qingwu?"
Ji Qingwu behind the screen:......
She is here.
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