Qiu Yi stopped and turned around to see Qi Mingsen. Qi Mingsen recognized her at a glance as the Empress's personal maid.
Qi Mingsen stepped forward, his sharp gaze falling on what she was holding in her hand.
"Greetings, Commander Qi," Qiu Yi said, her posture slightly flustered.
"You are the Empress's personal maid."
"Yes."
"What are you holding in your hand?" Qi Mingsen asked sternly.
Qiu Yi tightened her grip and respectfully replied, "This is what Her Majesty the Empress instructed me to deliver to Cining Palace for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Qi Mingsen narrowed his eyes slightly, "What is that?"
"This servant does not know."
Qi Mingsen's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through Qiu Yi as he asked in a chilling tone, "You don't know?"
How could Qi Mingsen's eyes escape her helpless and frightened expression?
To date, not only has the doll not been found, but all the aromatherapy fuels have been checked and no problems have been found.
Now that the harem is completely sealed off, it's impossible for anyone to send the item out, so it must still be hidden inside the harem.
"Now all suspicious items in the palace must be handed over for inspection. Bring them here."
Qi Mingsen spoke in a commanding tone.
Qiu Yi glanced at Qi Mingsen with trembling eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she dared not disobey, stepped forward, and handed the items to Qi Mingsen.
Qi Mingsen reached out and took the package. He opened it and found that it contained incense ash wrapped in paper.
"This is what the Empress asked you to give to the Empress Dowager?!" The sharp questioning tone made Qiu Yi's face turn pale.
"Yes...yes, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been having trouble sleeping lately. This incense ash has a calming and sleep-inducing effect. Her Majesty the Empress instructed me to deliver it to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Whether it has a calming effect or not, we'll know after the test," Qi Mingsen said coldly, then ordered, "Take her away."
Inside the Phoenix Palace.
The Empress kept Consort Li and Consort Ling chatting.
Not long after.
News of Qiu Yi being taken away by the Imperial Guards reached Fengyi Palace.
"I hope nothing bad will happen?" Consort Ling asked worriedly.
The Empress remained silent and did not answer Consort Ling's question. She said, "If there is nothing else, you may return to the palace first."
Consort Li and Consort Ling did not intend to stay any longer and subsequently left Fengyi Palace.
The Empress watched the two figures leave, her face growing increasingly gloomy.
On their way back.
Consort Li couldn't help but feel worried, and whispered, "The incense ash in Qiu Yi's hand is really..."
For some reason, the Empress's words and the look in her eyes just now made her feel that the Empress was doubting her.
Consort Ling was suspicious and felt that things were not so simple. "But if not, why would Qiu Yi be so anxious? Why would the Empress allow Qiu Yi to be secretly sent out of the palace and resolutely refuse to let anyone else send her? Sending her to the Empress Dowager is probably just an excuse."
"But when Her Majesty the Empress heard that Qiu Yi had been taken away, she did not seem very worried or anxious."
Consort Ling suddenly stopped, her eyes darkening as she spoke, “If the Empress’s emotions were written all over her face, she wouldn’t be able to sit on the throne. But the Empress will definitely not sit idly by and let Qi Mingsen investigate. She will definitely send people to investigate secretly. The fact that the doll wasn’t found means that the Empress probably discovered it a long time ago and hid it.”
As he spoke.
She suddenly thought of something.
"Don't you think there's something off about what the Empress just said to you?"
Consort Li frowned in thought, "Indeed, I did feel uneasy listening to those few words the Empress exchanged with me back then."
"You were framed by Consort Rong and suffered a miscarriage back then. The Empress must have known this very well. It seems that this time, Consort Rong's miscarriage has made her suspect you."
When Consort Li thought of the child she had lost, a look of grief and hatred welled up in her eyes.
"Go back right now and check carefully again. We can't let anyone find any evidence," Consort Ling suddenly said.
Consort Li hummed in agreement and turned to leave when Consort Ling suddenly called out to her, "Wait."
As Consort Ling spoke, she walked to Consort Li's side and whispered in her ear, "If Her Majesty the Empress really finds out something and sends you to the Phoenix Palace, you should..."
Lingfei lowered her head and whispered in her ear.
Upon hearing this, Consort Li's face suddenly darkened.
"Prepare for the worst, just in case. From the moment you decided to avenge your child, you had no way out," Ling Fei said in a chilling voice.
Consort Li looked up at her and said in a deep voice, "I know."
Consort Li left quickly.
Seeing her retreating figure, Consort Ling gestured to the maid beside her, signaling her to secretly follow behind.
The palace maid replied, "Yes."
The palace maid quietly followed behind Consort Li.
On her way back to the palace, Consort Li was slightly surprised when she encountered someone walking towards her.
Mu Chenshuang walked straight toward Consort Li.
"Greetings, Princess Weiyang," Consort Li bowed.
Mu Chenshuang said calmly, "No need for such formalities, Consort Li."
Consort Li looked up at Mu Chenshuang and asked with a smile, "Why is Princess Weiyang here?"
"Naturally, we've come to clear Her Majesty the Empress's name."
Upon hearing this, Consort Li's heart trembled violently. She forced herself to remain calm and asked in confusion, "What can Princess Weiyang possibly find out here? The Imperial Guards are conducting a thorough investigation right now. Princess Weiyang's casual movements might cause unnecessary trouble."
The direction she came from was the palace where she and the other noble ladies lived. It seems that Consort Ling guessed correctly, but she didn't expect it to be Mu Chenshuang who came to investigate.
"His Majesty has granted me permission to move freely within this palace, so there's nothing to trouble me with."
Consort Li smiled and said, "That's true. Then I won't disturb Princess Weiyang any longer. I'll take my leave now."
Consort Li curtsied and had just taken a step to Mu Chenshuang's side when she suddenly said, "Consort Li, please come with me to Fengyi Palace to meet Her Majesty the Empress."
The words were spoken in an instant.
Consort Li stopped abruptly, her body stiffening. She instinctively clenched her fingers, her trembling eyes revealing her unease. She tried her best to control her emotions and turned to look at Mu Chen Shuang, "I just returned from Fengyi Palace, so it's inconvenient for me to go there again."
Mu Chenshuang glanced at her sideways, her dark and deep gaze seemingly trying to see right through her. This look made Consort Li's heart clench.
"Consort Li, please come with me."
Mu Chenshuang didn't give Consort Li a chance to refuse, coldly withdrawing her gaze and taking a step forward.
Consort Li had no choice but to leave with Mu Chenshuang, unable to refuse.
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