But when he brought the sachet closer and took a careful sniff, he was instantly horrified: "Your Majesty, the fabric used in this sachet smells of musk!"
The atmosphere turned cold. Emperor Chongde stared at the sachet, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes: "Where did this sachet come from?"
Consort Li looked at it several times, a hint of surprise in her eyes: "This material looks like Yun brocade."
Because of her favor with the emperor, everything Consort Rou used was exquisite, even a small sachet had an extraordinary origin.
The palace maid suddenly remembered something, her eyes widened, her face drained of color, and she stammered, "This brocade... was a gift from Her Majesty the Empress!"
The moment the palace maid uttered those words, the atmosphere in the hall became extremely quiet.
Shen Tangning's gaze turned cold, and a surge of anger rose uncontrollably within her.
Even though her aunt had made such concessions, these people still wouldn't let her go!
In the ensuing silence, Crown Prince Yan Huai chuckled softly: "What does this prove?"
The candlelight flickered behind him, casting a hazy glow. He raised his gentle, jade-like face and said, "Even if this brocade was a gift from the Empress Dowager, who can say for sure how many people it passed through in the process?"
His calm and composed demeanor made everyone unconsciously calm down.
Yes, if the Empress really used what she bestowed upon people to harm them, wouldn't that be incredibly foolish?
Emperor Chongde glanced at the Crown Prince, his expression unreadable: "Indeed, this is insufficient evidence. Investigate who handled the Yun brocade!"
Eunuch Fu quickly turned around to relay the order.
The crowd below still stood awkwardly. Emperor Chongde pressed his temple, suppressing his emotions: "Disperse, everyone."
Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Tangning noticed a palace maid looking anxious, her hands awkwardly tucked into her sleeves, about to walk towards the door, her behavior quite suspicious.
She had a good memory and suddenly remembered that the palace maid had just poured tea for Consort Rou. This was nothing unusual, but perhaps because she had been paying extra attention to Consort Rou today, she remembered even these minor details clearly.
"etc."
A clear female voice suddenly rang out, and everyone looked over in surprise, their eyes filled with shock. Even Emperor Chongde frowned and looked over.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Shen Tangning stepped forward and curtsied to the emperor, whose face was not good. Her words were also surprising: "Your Majesty, I have a way to determine who the murderer is."
She didn't want to get involved in this matter, but the other party had schemed against her aunt.
As soon as Shen Tangning said that, someone gasped.
Everyone shared the same thought: even if she wanted to make a contribution, she should consider the occasion!
Didn't you see how grim His Majesty's face was? She's made such a bold statement; what if they can't find the murderer? It's fine if she suffers herself, but she shouldn't drag them down with her!
Emperor Chongde gazed at Shen Tangning with a deep, dark look in his eyes: "Fine, then tell me."
Yan Huai looked in the direction of Shen Tangning, frowned slightly, and then quickly relaxed his brows as if he had thought of something.
Shen Tangning approached the imperial physician and asked gently, "Would you please allow me to take a look at this sachet?"
The imperial physician naturally wouldn't refuse and carefully presented it to her.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she took the sachet, smelled it, and her brows furrowed slightly. She then respectfully addressed Emperor Chongde:
"Your Majesty, the item given to Consort Rou for her miscarriage was not this sachet."
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