Mu Chenshuang did not explain further, but simply said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I have already taken care of it."
Shen Biyun breathed a sigh of relief, her tense expression easing. She then looked up at the outside of the palace and suddenly laughed out loud, but the laughter sounded so tragic and ironic.
"The Emperor's doting on Qi Rong has truly reached a point where there is no limit."
Mu Chenshuang comforted her, saying, "Emperors are inherently ruthless, especially now. Your Majesty, what you should do most is to consolidate your position and not put yourself in a dangerous situation, giving others an opportunity to take advantage of you."
Shen Biyun withdrew her gaze, looked at Mu Chenshuang, and said, "Shuang'er, you are truly making me look at you in a new light. Your rationality and composure make me feel ashamed of myself."
Mu Chenshuang replied calmly, "Your Majesty flatters me. It's hard to guarantee that nothing would have happened if such a thing happened to anyone."
She could see the Empress's affection for the Emperor, but the Emperor had no eyes for her. As the head of the harem, she could only watch helplessly as her husband favored other concubines and kept bringing young women into the palace. She could not utter a single complaint.
It would be best for an empress to be ruthless; once she develops feelings, she will be the only one to suffer.
As Mu Chenshuang thought of this, no one knew what she was thinking, but a faint, unnoticed glint flashed in her eyes.
Shen Biyun turned and walked towards the inner hall. Her personal maid stepped forward to support her, and Mu Chenshuang and Shen Nanzhi followed.
They arrived at the inner hall.
Shen Biyun looked inside the palace, which was full of signs of searching. Even the flower pots inside the palace had been searched. It seemed that the entire Fengyi Palace had been turned upside down.
"So this is a carefully laid trap. Shuang'er, have you found the doll?"
Mu Chenshuang walked forward and stood in front of a crabapple tree, explaining, "The doll is hidden under this flowerpot."
Mu Chenshuang walked up to Shen Biyun, reached into her sleeve and took out the doll, which was still covered in mud and water stains.
The doll clearly bore the name Qi Rong, and silver needles were inserted into it.
Shen Biyun's expression turned quite ugly as she looked at the doll in Mu Chenshuang's hand.
"Shuang'er, how did you figure out that the doll was hidden under the flowerpot?"
Mu Chenshuang put the doll back into her sleeve and explained, "This begonia flower is closest to the incense burner. It is watered every day, so there should be some soil seeping out from the bottom. However, the bottom of this begonia flower is too clean compared to the bottom of other flower pots. It just so happens that the bottom of this flower pot is shaped to curve upwards, so this is the most suitable place to put the doll. It is difficult to find that there is something hidden at the bottom."
As Mu Chenshuang spoke, she looked at Qiu Yi, the Empress's personal maid, and asked, "When were these crabapple blossoms delivered?"
Qiu Yi replied, "This was sent by someone from the Imperial Household Department a couple of days ago."
Shen Nanzhi said with a solemn expression, "The fact that the other party was able to send these two items to Fengyi Palace without anyone noticing means that the Imperial Household Department already had their people there."
Shen Biyun frowned deeply. "But if it were Consort Li, she would have no power or influence in the palace and would not be favored by the Emperor. It would be impossible for her to cultivate her own people in the Imperial Household Department."
She couldn't figure out why Consort Li would frame her.
"Perhaps Consort Li is just a pawn."
These words were spoken.
Shen Biyun stared at Mu Chenshuang in astonishment.
Mu Chenshuang continued, "It's probably too late to investigate at the Imperial Household Department now. The only way is to lure them out and find the real mastermind."
"Then Shuang'er, what do you think we should do?"
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