Chapter 358: But I Have Nothing to Say to You
After the director of the Imperial Hospital entered and bowed to all the Noble Ladies in the room, the Emperor asked, “Have you found out if there’s anything wrong with the incense in the room?”
The director of the Imperial Hospital replied, “Reporting back to Your Majesty, the incense burned in that room is simply high-quality agarwood, the same as in the other rooms. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
Princess Changle breathed a sigh of relief again.
Fortunately, her people replaced the incense quickly, at least reducing the chance of it being discovered.
Xingnong didn’t miss Princess Changle’s relieved expression. She said, “As far as I know, some scents can cling to clothes. Imperial Physician, why not check if the scent on Minister Liang’s clothes is the same as the agarwood residue in that room?”
Upon hearing this, Liang Ting sniffed his clothes and said with surprise, “There’s still a faint fragrance!”
The Emperor nodded, “Indeed, some scents can linger on clothes. Imperial Physician, you should investigate!”
“Yes!” The director of the Imperial Hospital responded and stepped forward to examine.
Liang Ting raised his sleeve for the director of the Imperial Hospital to smell.
The director of the Imperial Hospital sniffed it, then sniffed it carefully again before saying, “Reporting back to Your Majesty, the scent on Minister Liang is not just agarwood. There’s also a faint hint of a hallucinogenic incense. This incense is non-toxic when used alone. Its aroma is light and elegant, captivating. However, when added to agarwood, it has a sleep-inducing effect. If used excessively, it can make people drowsy and even cause hallucinations.”
The Empress Dowager then said, “After servants wash clothes, they are also often scented. How can we be sure where this scent came from?”
Liang Ting said, “Reporting back to Your Majesty, this humble official dislikes having scents on his body. This humble official’s clothes are never scented.”
The Empress Dowager glanced at him coldly and said calmly, “Is that so? But even if you have a scent on you, who knows if you didn’t put it there yourself?”
Liang Ting replied, “Your Majesty is wise. This hallucinogenic incense sounds like something improper, and its source can surely be investigated! This humble official offended Princess Changle, and the responsibility for this matter cannot be shirked. However, this humble official did not do it intentionally! This humble official humbly requests Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager to instruct the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Shuntian Prefecture to jointly investigate this matter thoroughly and give Princess Changle justice.”
The Empress Dowager: “…”
Four major government agencies to investigate, is this some earth-shattering case?
Princess Changle lowered her head, her small face flushed red. She said in a low voice, feigning shame, “I used the hallucinogenic incense today.”
Implying that the scent on Liang Ting might have transferred from her. Although she didn’t explicitly say it, everyone understood!
A wave of disgust surged within Liang Ting upon hearing this.
Chu Tiankuo knew that it was impossible to get any results tonight. Since Xingqing hadn’t truly suffered any harm, he wasn’t in a hurry to uncover the truth in one night. He said, “Father Emperor, Cousin Changle has suffered such a great injustice. This matter still needs to be investigated as soon as possible. This son believes that Minister Liang is right. This matter should be handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Ministry of Justice for investigation. Only then can Cousin Changle’s innocence be restored quickly! We cannot let Cousin Changle be wronged!”
The Jin Kingdom Crown Princess said directly, “The Crown Prince’s suggestion is excellent! This way, this Princess won’t have to wait too long!”
Hearing this, Princess Changle felt anxious and looked at the Empress Dowager.
It absolutely cannot be handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard for investigation.
The Empress Dowager said calmly, “Handing it over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Ministry of Justice, and others for investigation will certainly be fast! But this matter concerns Changle’s reputation and should not be known to too many people. This Empress Dowager will personally dispatch people to investigate. There’s no need to involve the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Ministry of Justice. Alright, it’s late, this Empress Dowager is tired. You may all withdraw. As for Liang Ting, you may also return to your residence. This Empress Dowager will investigate the truth of the matter as soon as possible. Changle, you’ve been frightened. Stay in the palace tonight.”
After the Empress Dowager issued the order to leave, she rested her forehead on her hand, feigning exhaustion.
Seeing this, the Emperor could only stand up, “Mother Empress, please rest well. This son will take his leave.”
Others could only stand up and bow to take their leave as well.
After leaving the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, the Emperor said to Chu Tiankuo, “Crown Prince, escort the Jin Kingdom Crown Princess out of the palace. Everyone else, you may disperse!”
Then he left with the Empress.
Xingnong looked at the Jin Kingdom Crown Princess, “Imperial Sister-in-law, Xingqing, would you like to sit for a while at the Eastern Palace?”
Today was Xingnong and Chu Tiankuo’s wedding day, so the Jin Kingdom Crown Princess naturally wouldn’t stay any longer. She waved her hand, “No, if we don’t leave soon, your Imperial Brother will be worried!”
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Xingqing also shook her head, “I need to leave the palace, or Grandmother will be worried.”
The Jin Kingdom Crown Princess said, “Xingqing and I will leave the palace together. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her!”
Xingnong linked arms with her and Xingqing, “Let’s go then. I’ll escort you to Imperial Brother.”
The Jin Kingdom Crown Princess pulled her hand away and also removed Xingnong’s arm from around Xingqing. She pushed Xingqing into Chu Tiankuo’s arms, “Let the palace attendants lead the way. A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold! You two should hurry back and seize the spring night.”
Chu Tiankuo took the opportunity to hold her back, preventing her from actually escorting them. He summoned a young eunuch and asked him to escort the two out of the palace together with Yao Huang.
Then he took the cloak Wei Zi handed over and draped it over Xingnong, leading her back to the Eastern Palace.
~
On the way out of the palace
Shen Ruolan, Wen Ruiqing, and Liang Ting followed behind Xingqing and the Jin Kingdom Crown Princess.
The three of them kept a distance, as if they were unrelated passersby.
Liang Ting glanced at the two in surprise, but he was in no mood to care about them.
He looked at Xingqing’s back with a complicated expression. This person was originally his chosen wife, but he never expected such a thing to happen today.
This time, he was determined to marry Princess Changle.
However, he wasn’t afraid. Today, he had seen it clearly. Today’s incident must have been orchestrated by Princess Changle, and her actions today had also incurred the Emperor’s displeasure.
He observed coldly that the Emperor didn’t seem to hold the Empress Dowager in such high regard. Moreover, the Empress Dowager was old. After she was gone, Princess Changle would have no one to rely on. By then, even if she discovered his secret, she would have no one to turn to and wouldn’t dare to speak out.
Now, it seemed that this Princess Xingqing was a tough nut to crack. Not to mention the Crown Princess and the Jin Kingdom Empress behind her, she herself was sharp-tongued.
Thinking about this, Liang Ting felt a bit happy about being tricked by Princess Changle today.
Now, Princess Changle was still the Empress Dowager’s most beloved granddaughter. It would be easy for him to take advantage of this opportunity to gain some benefits.
Shen Ruolan wanted to ask Xingqing several times whether she had really pushed Princess Changle into the room and caused her to lose her innocence, but Xingqing was constantly talking to the Jin Kingdom Crown Princess, so she didn’t have the chance.
Upon exiting the palace gate, several princes of Jin Kingdom were waiting there. Seeing the two of them emerge, they immediately stepped forward and asked in unison, “Are you alright?”
The Jin Kingdom Crown Princess smiled, “We’re fine! Let’s talk about it when we get back!”
Seeing this, the Jin Kingdom Crown Prince supported her and said, “Get in the carriage first.”
Shen Ruolan seized the opportunity and said, “Xingqing, come back to the residence with Mother. I have something to say to you.”
Xingqing replied, “But I have nothing to say to you.”
Shen Ruolan: “…”
Shen Ruolan felt her heart shatter!
