After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 870 - 866: Interrogation

The poison sent by the Empress Dowager and the Empress for Princess Qi’s consumption was meticulously examined by Su Jin and the Imperial Physician.

Some bottles were empty, but they still contained residues, which did not hinder the investigation.

Su Jin confirmed that the poisons were not highly toxic; they were relatively mild. Even if the Gu Worm couldn’t neutralize them, they wouldn’t cause Princess Qi’s sudden death in a short time.

Princess Qi did not commit suicide by poisoning but was murdered.

The meals and drinking water provided by the prison guards were consumed together by Mo Chengxian and Princess Qi.

The Second Prince was not under suspicion, and naturally, the prison guards were cleared as well.

This case is difficult to solve in a short period, and Su Jin, feeling exhausted, returned to the Prince Mansion.

Phoenix Palace.

The Empress reclined on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch, her expression cold and her eyes filled with inscrutable emotions.

Nanny Zhou stepped in, waved her hand to dismiss the attendants.

The Empress glanced at her and asked, "What have you found out about Princess Qi’s death?"

Nanny Zhou shook her head, "The Princess Consort Zhenbei went to the Ministry of Justice Prison and even summoned the Heir of Marquis Jing Country’s wife there. They extracted a Gu Worm from Princess Qi’s body, suspecting that she was poisoned to death, even suspecting the Second Prince."

The Empress frowned.

Nanny Zhou continued, "However, Princess Chengxian stated that the food brought by the Second Prince was eaten by both her and Princess Qi, which exonerates the Second Prince."

The Empress laughed coldly but said nothing.

At this moment, a palace maid entered and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager summons you to Yongning Palace."

The Empress did not speak, but Nanny Zhou replied, "Just say that Her Majesty is unwell and convey it to the Empress Dowager."

The palace maid looked up at the Empress, who said, "Help me up."

Nanny Zhou said, "Why bother, Your Majesty...?"

The Empress rose from the Imperial Concubine’s Couch and said, "It’s time to see the Empress Dowager."

Since the death of Princess Shouning, the Empress rarely visited Yongning Palace.

The Empress Dowager did call for her a few times.

The Empress refused, citing ill health.

The Empress Dowager knew she was unwilling to meet, but now sending someone again implied that it was a must.

Feeling cheerful today, why not go see the Empress Dowager?

Yongning Palace.

The Empress hadn’t been here for a while and felt that Yongning Palace was much quieter than before.

Indeed.

Prince Qi had fled, and Duke Chong had lost his power.

Which concubine in the harem would dare to curry favor with the Empress Dowager now, risking being eye-catching to the Emperor?

Fewer visitors naturally meant it became quieter.

The Empress stepped into the hall, hearing a palace maid announce, "Empress Dowager, the Empress has arrived."

Then came the sound of the Empress Dowager coughing.

The Empress approached as the Empress Dowager’s gaze turned icy cold like frost.

The colder the Empress Dowager was, the more pleased the Empress felt.

This joy was unhidden, a stark contrast to her previous panic-stricken escape from Yongning Palace.

The Empress bowed respectfully to greet the Empress Dowager.

Though her attitude remained courteous, the Empress Dowager’s face showed no joy, only anger.

The question she wanted to ask had already been answered by the expression on the Empress’s face.

Internally boiling with anger, the Empress Dowager’s cough worsened.

The palace maids wanted to summon the Imperial Physician, but the Empress Dowager raised her hand and said, "Leave me alone!"

Frightened and anxious, the palace maids did not dare disobey, quickly bowing and withdrawing.

Inside the bedroom, only the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Nanny Zhou remained.

Nanny Li was absent.

On the day Princess Qi was treated, Su Jin forced the Empress Dowager to have Nanny Li flogged with forty strokes. Being aged and under Eunuch Fu’s strict supervision, she barely survived half-dead.

Even after many days of recuperation, she was still unable to serve the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager looked at the Empress and asked coldly, "Why did you do this?!"

The Empress laughed in anger, "What is the Empress Dowager implying? I do not understand."

The Empress Dowager knew the Empress was playing dumb. More clearly than anyone, the Empress Dowager clenched her hands tightly, "You used the Second Prince to poison Princess Qi!"

Her face was distorted with rage.

The Empress’s inner joy dissipated, leaving only chilliness.

She could never forget the cold look on the Empress Dowager’s face the day her daughter had the accident.

Thinking of her own daughter, the Empress’s heart felt as if it were being cut with a knife, and she grew even colder, "If the Empress Dowager suspects me, why not directly speak to the Emperor and abolish my position?"

"You!" The Empress Dowager nearly ground her silver teeth to pieces.

"I have been Empress for so many years, yet I have never done anything I truly wanted," the Empress said with a cold smile.

"For so many years, I’ve been too obedient, to the point the Empress Dowager forgot I am still a person." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Princess Shouning was her untouchable weakness.

Whoever mistreated Princess Shouning would be remembered by the Empress for life.

Even if Princess Shouning died saving Prince NanAn, the Empress Dowager’s intention to marry Princess Shouning off was a thorn in the Empress’s heart.

Regardless of the final outcome, such thoughts and plans should never have existed!

Everyone could disregard her thoughts and do as they pleased, so why should she always put others first?

The Empress Dowager didn’t expect wanting to send Princess Shouning for marriage would injure the Empress so deeply, "Your enemy is not I!" the Empress Dowager said.

"For years, I’ve fostered a thankless wolf!"

A thankless wolf?

The Empress laughed, "Yes, I think the same as the Empress Dowager; I also fear years of effort have supported a thankless wolf."

The Empress Dowager’s face stiffened.

The Empress looked at the bright red polish on her nails, "Since it’s given to me, it should wholly belong to me."

"I don’t wish for constant reminders that I’m merely preparing the way for others."

Throwing down these words, the Empress turned and left.

The Empress Dowager was filled with regret and anguish.

...

The death of Princess Qi became a mysterious case.

However, the case caused little stir.

Prince Qi had fled, Duke Chong was hunted, and Duke Chong’s faction was careful these days, fearing any mistake would give the Emperor grounds to punish them.

They could barely protect themselves, let alone stand up for Princess Qi. Only someone tired of living would think of such a thing.

The court remained calm, and no one voiced opinions on how Princess Qi’s funeral should be handled, with only the Empress Dowager fussing.

Although Princess Qi died in the Ministry of Justice Prison, her title was not revoked. She was still the Princess of Daqi and should be buried with royal honors.

Besides the funeral, the Empress Dowager wanted to bring Mo Chengxian into the palace to accompany her.

Neither request was granted by the Emperor.

On the day at Qingyun Mountain, the assassins sent by Prince Qi nearly took the Emperor’s life.

Xie Jingchen reported this truthfully to the Emperor.

To stabilize Prince Qi, they didn’t arrest him immediately, but in the end, Prince Qi still escaped.

The crime Prince Qi committed warranted capital punishment without pardon, and as his spouse, how could Princess Qi be spared?

Someone who should have been executed publicly, dying in the Ministry of Justice Prison was a blessing, leaving an intact body. How could she be buried with royal honors?

Moreover, all personnel from Prince Qi Mansion were under watch. Conducting Princess Qi’s funeral would necessitate their release.

Once released, who knows what might transpire.

Finally, after ministerial discussions, it was decided to temporarily store Princess Qi’s body in Yizhuang until Prince Qi returned to the capital and the matter was clarified before burial.

As for Mo Chengxian, she, along with Princess Duanhui’s family, went to guard the Imperial Mausoleum.