"Even now, they still arbitrarily implicate others."
Emperor Jingyuan snorted coldly.
"If it was truly Jiang Wan who did it, why would she risk her life to save me?"
The scene inside was so dangerous that if Jiang Wan hadn't risked her life to shield him, he would have been seriously injured, if not killed.
Emperor Jingyuan did not believe a single word of what Song Ziyu said.
"Guards, take Yuan Shi and Song Ziyu to the Ministry of Justice prison and lock them up separately!"
"As for the remaining Phantom Moon Cult members, torture them severely and make them tell the truth!"
Guards immediately came and dragged them all away.
Despite the pleas of Song Ziyu and Lady Yuan, Emperor Jingyuan remained unmoved.
The wrath of an emperor is as powerful as thunder.
Moreover, the Miao witchcraft and the Illusion Moon Cult involved by the Song family are all things that Emperor Jingyuan finds offensive.
Looking at the mess in the hall, Imperial Physician Jin sighed silently.
If the case is true, then the illustrious Song family army and the Chengping General's Mansion, passed down through generations, will truly collapse overnight.
The Great Yong Dynasty already lacked military generals, it's a real pity...
Emperor Jingyuan was clearly also feeling sentimental at this moment. He sat wearily on the dragon throne, pressing his brow, his face deep in thought.
"His Majesty."
Just then, Song Yu walked in from outside the hall.
The young man had clear features and a dignified bearing.
"The palace has been thoroughly searched. Tonight, the Song family army and the Imperial Guard will be on guard together. Your Majesty and the Empress can rest easy."
Physician Jin felt a slight stirring in his heart.
Fortunately, he almost forgot.
The Song family has a successor; the Song family still has Song Yu.
He rose to fame at a young age, a man of exceptional talent and character.
With him around, the Song family's military spirit remains, and the General's Mansion will not easily crumble.
The perilous Mid-Autumn Festival night has finally come to an end.
Pei Tang helped Emperor Jingyuan and the Empress back to their palace to rest, while Jiang Wan also escorted Aunt Ru to the outside of Pixiang Palace.
After a night of terror, Aunt Ru's legs were weak, and her hands, which were holding Song Zhao, were ice-cold with fear.
She never expected that the powder she put in Song Ziyu's cup would cause such a big incident.
With Song Ziyu and Madam Yuan both imprisoned, what will become of the General's Mansion from now on...?
"Are you scared?" Jiang Wan asked.
Aunt Ru looked up and met those clear, bright eyes, and suddenly felt calm.
Yes, Song Ziyu, such a heartless and ungrateful person, was never her support.
With the lady around, the general's mansion will not fall.
She's nothing to be afraid of.
Aunt Ru hugged Song Zhao tightly and whispered, "Something terrible has happened in the manor. I will go back now to guard the inner quarters for you and wait for you to come home."
Jiang Wan nodded with satisfaction.
Looking back at the distraught Gu Yurong, she whispered, "Tell Steward Zhao that we don't need to keep too close an eye on the main courtyard. If Gu Yurong wants to go out, let her go."
Aunt Ru asked, puzzled, "Isn't Madam afraid she'll run away?"
Jiang Wan smiled gently.
Bi Yuan is still imprisoned at Luhetang.
Emperor Jingyuan suspected that the old lady was colluding with traitors. The Imperial Guards would soon seal off Luhetang and imprison everyone in the courtyard, including Bi Yuan.
Bi Yuan believed that he and Gu Yurong cherished each other and were wholeheartedly thinking about her and her son, so he kept his mouth shut until now.
Only when disaster strikes and everyone flees for their lives can one see the true colors of others.
Bi Yuan must know a lot about Gu Yurong's secrets.
This might include the Song family's past, and her mother's past.
Regardless, Bi Yuan is crucial.
"There's a man named Bi Yuan being held captive in the woodshed of Luhe Hall. You must ride back to the manor quickly and move him to your courtyard before the Imperial Guards make a move," Jiang Wan instructed. "Be careful not to let Gu Yurong find out."
Aunt Ru nodded immediately.
She knew that a mysterious man had been imprisoned in Luhetang.
Having received her instructions, she hurriedly left with Song Zhao in her arms.
Jiang Wan stood on the stone steps, not moving for a moment.
There was something else she was keeping to herself.
As night deepened, she looked around.
The Hall of Fragrant Breeze is located in the center of the Imperial Garden, surrounded by lush trees, which appear shadowy in the night.
She summoned a passing eunuch: "Have you found the palace maid who attempted assassination in the inner palace today?"
The eunuch shook his head: "His Majesty has sent two teams of Imperial Guards to search the area, and has also summoned all the palace maids on duty tonight to the Directorate of Ceremonial, saying that he will check them one by one."
Jiang Wan hummed in agreement, but her brows furrowed slightly.
"Where is Song Yu?" she asked again.
The eunuch smiled and said, "General Song is trusted by His Majesty and has been specially assigned to guard the imperial bedchamber. He probably won't be able to leave tonight. If Madam wishes to return home, I will arrange a carriage for you right away."
Jiang Wan thanked him, then turned and headed towards the kitchen.
He came out a moment later, carrying a pot of Solomon's Seal and Lily Soup.
She brought the soup to the emperor's bedchamber, where Emperor Jingyuan and the empress were still awake.
"Polygonatum odoratum soothes the nerves, while lily calms the mind and relieves restlessness; they can help His Majesty and His Majesty sleep peacefully."
"You're so thoughtful." When the Empress saw it was her, she quickly had the eunuch take away the food box and patted her hand, saying, "A-Wan, you were also frightened tonight, go back and rest early."
Jiang Wan said, "I heard that Your Majesty is searching for the escaped assassin. I was closest to her at the time, and I saw her appearance and figure more clearly than the guards. If Your Majesty allows, I would like to go to the Directorate of Ceremonial to help identify her."
Emperor Jingyuan drank the lily soup, his mind calmed down considerably, and nodded upon hearing this.
Jiang Wan bowed and took her leave, then quickly went to the Directorate of Ceremonial.
Just as the little eunuch said, all the palace maids who had appeared near the Pixiang Palace tonight were gathered in front of the courtyard.
Hearing that Jiang Wan had come on the emperor's orders, the guards made way for her and asked her to come forward to identify her.
Jiang Wan carried a lantern and slowly walked forward.
She remembered that the palace maid was wearing a cherry-pink palace dress meant for close attendants, was slightly tall, had tanned skin, and had almond-shaped eyes.
The palace maids stood bowing, and Jiang Wan looked them over one by one.
Soon, her gaze fell on a palace maid in the last row, whose head was slightly lowered.
Jiang Wan's eyes flickered.
Although she had changed her clothes and hairstyle, Jiang Wan recognized her at a glance as the palace maid who had attempted the assassination that night.
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