Based on the Empress's expression, Xie Tingzhou judged that the latter was more likely.
Of all the suspects, the only ones who could have obtained the medicine from the late emperor were the Grand Princess and his aunt, Princess Kangle, who was also the late emperor's younger sister.
"Your Majesty, the prince I saw back then was indeed shot in the heart."
If His Highness's heart hadn't been positioned slightly off-center, Her Majesty's arrow would have already taken his life.
Xie Tingzhou remained calm. "Moreover, when His Highness fled to the border, he was only protected by a group of teenagers."
The rest were killed by the men brought by the Commander of the Martial Virtue Division and the leader of the Phoenix Palace Guards.
One of them carried the Empress's token, and the other carried her midnight watch; how could His Highness dare return to the palace if the Empress ordered him to do so?
Xie Tingzhou deliberately mentioned again that everyone in the Eastern Palace had been killed, and this time the Empress finally took note of his words.
He exclaimed in shock, "Meng Tonghe is gone too?"
That was the most capable person by the Crown Prince's side.
Looking at her expression, Xie Tingzhou had already confirmed something.
Those who assassinated him back then were indeed not sent by the Empress, otherwise the Empress would have known that Meng Tonghe was already dead.
That night, he deliberately had Ye Zhen appear disguised as Meng Tonghe, partly as a test.
Xie Tingzhou shook his head. "This humble subject has never met Commander Meng. Your Highness told me that they all died protecting him."
Although it was confirmed that those things were not done by the Empress, nothing is absolute. They had been separated for many years, and Xie Tingzhou could not be sure that the Empress would blame the Marquis's family for concealing the truth in the future.
Therefore, he does not intend to reveal his identity as the crown prince for the time being, and that is all he can say.
When the Empress asked him other questions, he pretended not to know.
After staying at Fengyi Palace for a while, Xie Tingzhou left the palace under the pretext of looking for the old princess.
As soon as he left, the Empress had the Emperor summoned and told him what Xie Tingzhou had said.
“When I was still the Crown Princess, Li Mo followed me and was loyal to me for many years. I never expected that he would hunt down the Crown Prince behind my back.”
No wonder Zhao'er refused to go home, disregarding the danger, and even stormed the palace in broad daylight to kill Li Mo. It was all my foolishness.
Li Mo is the head of the guards at Fengyi Palace.
The Empress's eyes were red. "I can't even imagine how much suffering Zhao'er has endured all these years. Xie Tingzhou said that he only has some half-grown children left by his side."
How can a group of children protect the prince?
The emperor's face also turned serious upon hearing this.
Li Mo risked his life for the Empress on many occasions and was a close confidant of hers. He was also the one who promoted the Commander of the Martial Virtue Division.
Both of his trusted confidants betrayed him, demonstrating his utter incompetence as emperor and his dereliction of duty as a father.
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