Just as they were speaking, suddenly an unusual sound ca from outside the door, a soft knock three tis followed by a louder one. The Emperor looked towards Chief Chang: "You go." This was a secret signal used by the eunuchs. On days when the master was busy and it wasn’t suitable to knock directly, they would use this coded knock. Those close to the master, such as eunuchs and palace maids, would hear it and co out to inquire, making a judgent before reporting the situation to the master.
"Yes." Chief Chang acknowledged, slowly retreating to the door and opening it to leave.
The Emperor unfolded the map by his side, and Shen Ji noticed it and went over to help. The two of them spread out the map showing the territories of Miaojiang and Yunnan and Guizhou, then gestured for Fourth Master Xiao to co over. As Fourth Master Xiao approached, the Emperor pointed to a spot on the map and asked, "...How confident are you?"
Fourth Master Xiao traced a line with his finger on the map, and replied in a deep, steady voice, "Eighty percent!"
The Emperor’s expression relaxed, and he nodded slightly, saying, "If this succeeds..." He looked at Fourth Master Xiao and smiled, "Whatever reward you desire, I will grant it."
"Fourth Brother!" Shen Ji, seeing the Emperor in good spirits, was the first to laugh, "Fourth Sister-in-law is about to give birth, surely you should request a position or reward from the Emperor."
The Emperor smiled warmly at Fourth Master Xiao, who lowered his head and cupped his hands in salute, "I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness!" He did not say what reward he desired.
Since the matter was not yet accomplished, discussing rewards was premature. The Emperor only ntioned it in passing, and Shen Ji did not pursue the topic further. The three of them continued discussing the Miaojiang territories, saying much, and as the conversation reached an exciting point, the Emperor took a brush dipped in cinnabar and wrote and drew on the map, leaving it looking "completely transford" by the ti they finished.
Outside the door, Chief Chang listened until the conversation inside had co to a pause, noting the Emperor seed in a good mood. He carefully pushed the door open and ca in, taking the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, the Princess Rong..." The Emperor’s smile froze, and even Fourth Master Xiao and Shen Ji looked at him. Chief Chang wiped the sweat from his forehead and unavoidable reported, "Princess Rong and the little prince, they suddenly died!"
"What!" The Emperor’s brow furrowed, his icy voice revealing anger, "How did they die suddenly? Where’s the Imperial Physician, have they examined properly?"
Chief Chang did not dare to lift his head, wishing he could place his head on the back of his feet: "They examined, but could not find the cause of death. The Imperial Physicians said it was a rare poison, but what kind of poison is still under investigation!" He paused, perceptively adding, "...No pulse, no breath!"
Poisoned to death? Poisoned right under his nose?
With a bang, the tea cup on the Imperial desk shattered at Chief Chang’s feet, splashing tea everywhere: "Such audacity, to commit murder in the Imperial Palace." He clasped his hands behind his back and paced back and forth in the Imperial Study Room, appearing agitated, "How is the Empress Dowager, is she alright?"
"The Empress Dowager hasn’t been inford yet; they only said Princess Rong and the little prince returned to the Prince Mansion." The Emperor nodded, pointing at Chief Chang and said, "This matter must not be leaked... the Empress, has she been inford?"
"She has already gone," Chief Chang replied carefully.
The Emperor instructed him, "Go tell the Empress to take people and surround Cian Palace, no one is allowed to enter or leave!"
Chief Chang acknowledged and slowly retreated out. Shen Ji frowned in confusion, "This matter is very strange, who would target Princess Rong?"
Neither Prince Rong, the Min Family, nor the Empress Dowager had a reason to do it. Princess Rong and the little prince were the balancing chips for all three sides, and no one would be foolish enough to throw away their own chips!
Chief Chang went all the way out, leading the eunuchs directly to Cian Palace. The Empress was already sitting in the main hall, with a group of palace maids and eunuchs kneeling below. Chief Chang walked over in small steps, signaling Nanny Mao to co out. The two stood under the veranda to speak, and Chief Chang relayed the Emperor’s instructions to her. Nanny Mao acknowledged, "The Empress has already summoned Lord Shi; he should be arriving shortly!"
"That’s good, it seems like the Emperor and our Empress have thought alike." Chief Chang smiled faintly, his head peeking slightly into the palace. He pulled Nanny Mao to step back further, asking quietly, "Are they truly dead?"
Nanny Mao nodded, frowning, "They look like they’re asleep, but there’s no pulse or breath. If you say Princess Rong is pretending, but the little prince is still so young and knows nothing of these things, yet there’s not a single breath or pulse either..."
That’s right, an adult could pretend, but how could a child pretend? Chief Chang thought about it and asked, "And the poison, they still haven’t identified it?"
With so many Imperial Physicians in the palace, skilled and well-read, it’s odd that none of them have encountered this kind of poison before! Isn’t this too strange?
Nanny Mao also looked puzzled. In her years in the palace, she had seen many major upheavals and the various ans the masters employed to vie for favor. She had encountered no small amount of poisons. Yet even with these seasoned Imperial Physicians...
The result was just that; no one knew what poison it was.
"Would you like to go and have a look? The bodies are still in the side hall." Nanny Mao asked. Chief Chang thought for a mont, looked around, curious yet considering he couldn’t answer if the Emperor inquired later, so he said, "I’ll go pay my respects to Princess Rong and the little prince, and burn so incense."
Saying this, he followed Nanny Mao and turned to the side hall. Outside, guards were already stationed, and palace maids and eunuchs were also in place. Chief Chang stepped in with large strides, seeing a large bed behind a curtain in the side hall. Princess Rong, in a hibiscus-colored palace gown, lay there serenely, and the seven-month-old little prince lay by her side. Chief Chang did not approach but looked from a distance, feeling they seed asleep, with a flush still on their faces!
He felt a shiver inside, quickly accepted the lit incense stick, and placed it in the makeshift incense burner before retreating with Nanny Mao.
"Prince Rong?" Xiqiu asked in surprise, "The Emperor summoned Prince Rong to the palace?"
Tiancheng nodded, "He just entered the palace." Xiqiu held the tea cup, looking pensive. Ruan Jingliu was equally stunned, looking at Xiqiu and saying, "It seems, whether or not the Min Family’s incident is true, the Emperor’s stance is quite clear."
Xiqiu nodded, thinking with Prince Rong summoned to the palace, he probably wouldn’t co out again. How unfortunate, Princess Rong and her young child, an innocent child...
Ruan Jingliu stayed for dinner in the mansion, talked with Xiqiu, and listened to Min playing a lody. Only then did Fourth Master Xiao return slowly. Seeing Ruan Jingliu in the room, he paused, and Ruan Jingliu stood up, saying, "The Great Governor has returned, I was waiting for you!"
Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow, seemingly aware of sothing. He stopped at the door, and looking at Xiqiu, nodded and said, "Then I’ll see Nurse Zhang out."
Xiqiu said nothing, and accompanied Ruan Jingliu and Fourth Master Xiao to the door.
As they walked, Ruan Jingliu said, "I wonder if Fourth Master has found the person." Fourth Master Xiao shook his head, replying, "I’m afraid the other party is deliberately avoiding us, it will likely take more ti."
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