As everyone knows, Pei Tang loves all kinds of glass ornaments and receives many similar beaded flowers every year.
Therefore, when this item appears in a congratulatory gift, even though it is unsigned, people will only suspect that it was an oversight, and will not suspect anything else.
Emperor Jingyuan picked up the gold hairpin and examined it closely in the candlelight.
He held the delicate glass butterfly at the end of the hairpin in one hand and the gold hairpin body in the other, and twisted it with a little force.
With a "snap," the gold hairpin broke in two.
A little white powder was sprinkled out of the hollow hairpin.
Emperor Jingyuan's eyes widened slightly, and the Empress also stood up in surprise: "What is this?"
The eunuch replied, "Your Majesty, according to Physician Jin, it was under the influence of these powders that Lord Ji suddenly lost his composure."
Emperor Jingyuan asked, "Is it poisonous?"
The eunuch shook his head, not understanding why, and simply repeated Physician Jin's words.
"It is non-toxic, and ordinary people cannot even detect it, but it can drive Lord Ji insane and cause him to lose control."
Emperor Jingyuan's brows furrowed: "Send someone to investigate who made this hairpin."
The eunuch responded and left, quickly returning with the message.
"Your Majesty, according to a palace maid who served at the banquet, she saw Miss Xu from the Imperial Censorate wearing this item when she entered the palace."
"The Xu family?" Emperor Jingyuan frowned, seemingly not expecting this answer.
The Xu family has been loyal for generations and has no old grudges against Ji Rong, so why would they have the motive to do such a thing?
The Empress suddenly frowned.
"I heard that before the birthday banquet began, the maids of the Xu family inquired everywhere about the whereabouts of a hairpin. I suppose Miss Xu's hairpin was lost before the banquet started."
She analyzed.
“Your Majesty, even if the Xu family has some scheme, they wouldn’t use their own daughter’s hairpin to do it. Wouldn’t that be too foolish? Once investigated, their identities would be exposed.”
"Besides... Miss Xu is straightforward and guileless. She doesn't seem like the type to use such complicated schemes."
Emperor Jingyuan nodded: "That's what I think too."
He had heard of Xu Shu's reputation; she was spoiled and had no guile whatsoever.
Perhaps she just happened to lose her hairpin, but someone with ulterior motives picked it up and mixed it into Pei Tang's congratulatory gift.
The medicine inside the hairpin was naturally also this person's doing.
The purpose was to provoke Ji Rong in the main hall and drive him mad.
The ultimate goal... is either Pei Tang or himself.
Emperor Jingyuan's face darkened: "Before the banquet, where did Xu Shu go, and who did she contact?"
The eunuch knew this was no small matter and had already investigated the whole situation.
“After Miss Xu entered the hall, she did not leave the table except for meeting with the matriarch of the Yuan family once.”
Emperor Jingyuan's brow twitched, and he confirmed, "The Chengping General's Mansion, the Yuan family?"
"I heard that the old lady gave Miss Xu a plate of pastries, so Miss Xu went to pay her respects and even chatted with the old lady for a while. Later, the Xu family's maid went to look for the hairpin, but the old lady said she hadn't seen it and sent her away."
The eunuch said.
"The matriarch also mentioned that she had a very pleasant conversation with Xu Shu, and the people sitting next to her could hear it."
The Empress found it strange: "I remember that the General's Mansion and the Xu family had no dealings before."
It was unusual for Yuan, as an elder, to send snacks to a younger person she didn't know well.
Emperor Jingyuan also realized this problem and asked, "Who was seated at that time?"
“Madam Yuan and Madam Gu,” the eunuch said. “Madam Yuan sent Madam Jiang to the carriage to fetch the medicine, so she is not present.”
Emperor Jingyuan's expression grew even more somber, and his suspicions became more certain.
After the Ministry of Justice reviewed the case of the Tiger Tally, everyone could see the discord between the Elder's wife and Jiang Wan.
The matriarch of the elders likely had something to do, which is why she deliberately sent Jiang Wan away.
Most importantly, the status of the elder's wife...
Emperor Jingyuan closed his eyes.
Remembering the late emperor's instructions, he frowned.
"General Song made great contributions to the late emperor in unifying the country. Since I ascended the throne, I have never doubted the loyalty of the Song family."
Emperor Jingyuan's eyes were deep and intense.
He always harbored doubts about Ji Rong's illness, but he didn't investigate further because he believed the matter wouldn't affect the foundation of the nation.
Unexpectedly, the other party had such great ambitions that they dared to openly cause trouble in the main hall and threaten the safety of the royal family.
"Perhaps I've been too lenient with some people."
"Does Your Majesty suspect the Elder Lady?" the Empress couldn't help but ask.
Emperor Jingyuan kept this a secret.
Whether this was done by the Yuan family can be determined with a test.
He ordered, "Tomorrow morning, let Ji Rong return to his residence to recuperate. Imperial Physician Jin will accompany him and stay at the Ji residence to take care of Ji Rong until he recovers."
The eunuch accepted the order and immediately went to carry it out.
The next morning, Ji Huaichuan received an imperial decree ordering Ji Rong to return to his residence, which overjoyed him.
"My cousin is truly a prophet," he exclaimed to Wang.
Ji Huaichuan personally brought Ji Rong back to the mansion and arranged for the accompanying imperial physician Jin to stay in the front courtyard.
Seeing that Physician Jin was getting old, Madam Wang worried that he was overworking himself, so she specially sent more servants to take care of him, but Ji Huaichuan stopped her.
“Mother, Physician Jin prefers peace and quiet. He doesn’t need too many people around him, since he’s not here to treat patients anyway.”
Wang asked, "Then what did His Majesty send him here for?"
Ji Huaichuan narrowed his eyes, recalling Jiang Wan's instructions from last night, and whispered two words: "Monitor."
"Who are you spying on?" Wang was startled.
"Shh," Ji Huaichuan said, "We just need to keep everything as usual in our household and live our lives as normal as we do. Leave the rest to me and my cousin."
Wang became increasingly confused: "A-Wan? What does this have to do with her?"
"Mother, just listen to me."
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