These words directly targeted Chi Yan, who was in charge of security.
Shen Tangning's gaze tightened slightly, and her eyes darkened as she looked at Consort Li. She then turned to look at Chi Yan, her eyes filled with worry.
Before Chi Yan could respond, someone coughed weakly twice: "Your Highness, you are mistaken. Not to mention that it is already dark and visibility is poor, those on night duty are bound to be negligent. If someone harbors malicious intentions and wants to deceive everyone, how can it be easily prevented?"
The speaker was none other than Crown Prince Yan Huai. He slightly raised his eyes, his brows furrowed, and spoke with a resounding tone.
Consort Li opened her mouth, then slightly curled her lips: "What His Highness the Crown Prince said makes sense."
Soon, the search party returned with a grave expression: "Your Majesty, we found that the insect repellent powder outside Consort Rou's tent had been damaged, but the rest of the tents were intact."
Considering the abundance of mosquitoes and other insects in the desolate mountains, they would sprinkle insect repellent powder around their campsites in advance. This powder is highly irritating, and snakes often avoid it as well.
It didn't rain today, but the powder outside Consort Rou's tent mysteriously disappeared, which was obviously done on purpose.
Upon hearing this, Consort Rou's face turned deathly pale, and she swayed as if she were about to faint. Leaning against the palace maid beside her, she managed to compose herself, but her eyes were filled with sorrow: "Your Majesty, it is clear that someone wants me dead!"
Emperor Chongde frowned, took her hand, and gave her a reassuring look: "I will definitely give you justice."
This scene caught Li Fei's eye, and she unconsciously clenched her fingertips until a sharp pain shot through her nails, bringing her back to her senses.
Consort Rou lowered her head and wept silently, her voice trembling with sobs: "I have always kept a low profile. I don't know who I offended that would allow them to resort to such a vicious act? If it doesn't work once, who knows if it will happen a second time?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Li's face twisted slightly, and sparks seemed to fly from her eyes: What did Consort Rou mean by this?
Everyone knows that the two of them have been at odds lately, fighting to the death in the harem. By saying this on purpose, isn't she obviously trying to shift the suspicion onto herself?
She glanced at Emperor Chongde with a hint of panic; his features were hidden in shadow, making them appear somewhat obscure. After a long silence, he coldly questioned:
"After dark, who approached Consort Rou's tent?"
The guard stepped forward and cautiously replied:
"Your Majesty, this servant is responsible for guarding Consort Rou's residence. This servant remembers that after dark, besides the people serving Consort Rou, there were several guards on night duty, Eunuch Youfu, and... the Chamberlain from His Highness the Crown Prince's side who approached the Consort's tent."
Eunuch Fu never expected that he would be involved, but he didn't panic. He calmly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it is true. This servant was ordered by Your Majesty to deliver a plate of grapes to Consort Rou."
Emperor Chongde recalled this matter and nodded.
What about the crown prince?
All eyes turned to the Crown Prince. Under the scrutiny of various gazes, Yan Huai said calmly, "Wei Zhanshi, you explain."
The young man stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with composure and grace, “Your Majesty, I am here to discuss the danger I encountered at the hunting grounds today with His Highness the Crown Prince, and also to inquire about His Highness’s injuries.”
He paused slightly, then continued calmly, "It was already dark at the time, and His Highness the Crown Prince and Consort Rou's tents were very close together and looked almost identical. I almost mistook one for the other, so I lingered outside Consort Rou's tent for a very short time."
Did they mistake the camp for someone else?
Everyone couldn't help but look over. The Crown Prince and Consort Rou's tents were indeed next to each other, but to say that they were admitting their mistakes seemed a bit far-fetched.
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