Hearing Emperor Jingming’s question, the Dowager Empress closed her eyes briefly before slowly opening them, a cold light flickering in her gaze. “I’ve heard about Fuqing’s incident.”
Emperor Jingming froze, involuntarily glancing at the Empress.
The Empress shook her head almost imperceptibly.
Of course, she wouldn’t have said anything to the Dowager Empress, and the Emperor, clearly fearing the Dowager’s concern, wouldn’t have mentioned it either.
The Dowager Empress sighed. “Such a major event happened to Fuqing during the Lantern Festival, yet you kept it from me. Thankfully, I heard about it from Fourteen, otherwise I’d still be in the dark…”
Emperor Jingming’s face darkened slightly. “That girl Fourteen, she’s so talkative!”
The Dowager Empress glared at Emperor Jingming. “Why blame Fourteen? I’m not senile yet. Something like this happens, and you don’t say a word – are you treating me like I’m already dead?”
Her words left Emperor Jingming speechless, his expression sheepish.
The Dowager Empress sighed. “Just thinking about the suffering Fuqing endured, and then coming to pay respects to me the next day as if nothing happened… it breaks my heart…”
Emperor Jingming could only admit his fault. “It’s my mistake, Mother. I should have informed you.”
The Dowager Empress sighed again. “I understand Your Majesty’s consideration for me.”
“Then about Madam Ping—”
The Dowager Empress’s eyes turned cold. “When I heard that Fuqing was harmed by her maid Qingdai, I felt something was amiss—”
“Mother felt something was wrong?”
The Dowager Empress looked at Emperor Jingming and nodded slightly. “Qingdai has served Fuqing for years. How could she easily develop intentions to harm her mistress? For her to do such a thing, it’s highly likely related to someone she’s been in contact with recently. Thinking it over, I realized the person that wretched maid had the most contact with was Madam Ping from my palace—”
At this point, the Dowager Empress’s face turned grim, tinged with anger. “Yesterday, I tried to probe Madam Ping with a few words but didn’t discover anything. I thought it best not to alert her and planned to investigate quietly. Who would have thought she’d hang herself in the west room today…”
The Dowager Empress closed her eyes, her lips trembling slightly. “This wretched servant deliberately died in front of me, probably intending to take her secrets to the grave while not letting me have peace!”
Emperor Jingming slapped the edge of the bed. “That wretched woman!”
The Dowager Empress, accustomed to luxury and advanced in years, would naturally be shocked at suddenly seeing a hanging corpse.
The Empress, meanwhile, furrowed her brow slightly.
If Madam Ping was connected to Qingdai, and now Madam Ping was dead, didn’t that mean this lead was lost?
She couldn’t help but glance at Yu Jin from the corner of her eye.
Yu Jin’s face remained expressionless, revealing nothing.
The Empress sighed inwardly and lowered her gaze, squeezing Princess Fuqing’s hand tightly.
“Mother has been frightened. It’s all my fault. If we had investigated this wretched servant earlier, today’s events wouldn’t have happened,” Emperor Jingming said, blaming himself.
Although Pan Hai had discovered information about Madam Ping, out of consideration for the Dowager Empress’s face and to avoid alerting the suspects too early, they had planned to investigate quietly. Who would have thought Madam Ping would die just because the Dowager Empress tried to probe her…
A sense of frustration welled up in Emperor Jingming’s heart.
The enemy was too cunning, leaving them no way to proceed and impossible to guard against.
Seeing the Dowager Empress’s poor complexion, Emperor Jingming said gently, “Mother, please rest well. I will handle Madam Ping’s matter thoroughly.”
The Dowager Empress nodded slightly, reaching out to grasp Emperor Jingming’s hand. “You must find out why Madam Ping harmed Fuqing. Otherwise, I won’t be at ease.”
“Don’t worry, Mother. I will investigate.”
After comforting the Dowager Empress, Emperor Jingming exchanged a glance with the Empress, and they left the Dowager’s chambers together.
The Imperial Physician waiting outside quickly paid his respects to the imperial couple.
Emperor Jingming impatiently waved his hand. “How is the Dowager Empress’s condition?”
The Imperial Physician bowed his head and replied, “The Dowager Empress fainted due to severe shock… I have prescribed medicine to calm her nerves. After a few doses of the decoction, she should improve. However—”
“However, what?” Emperor Jingming asked urgently.
“Given the Dowager Empress’s advanced age, great joy, great sorrow, great anger, and great shock are all to be avoided. She should maintain a calm and peaceful state of mind…”
Emperor Jingming nodded slowly. “I understand. Physician, please take the utmost care of the Dowager Empress.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The Imperial Physician bowed and stepped aside.
Emperor Jingming nodded slightly to the Empress and walked out of Cining Palace.
It was noon, and although the spring sun wasn’t particularly warm, it felt just right on one’s skin. However, Emperor Jingming couldn’t feel this comfort; his heart was heavy.
“Would Your Majesty like to return to Kunning Palace to finish the meal?” the Empress asked with concern.
The family meal had been interrupted.
Emperor Jingming shook his head. “No need. I’ll return to Yangxin Hall.”
He glanced at Yu Jin and Jiang Si, then sighed. “You two should head back early as well.”
With the Emperor’s words, Yu Jin and Jiang Si naturally couldn’t follow the Empress back to Kunning Palace, so they immediately left the palace.
Emperor Jingming returned to Yangxin Hall, his mind burdened with worries.
A fat cat passed by his feet. He reached down to scoop it up, placing it on his knee and absent-mindedly stroking its fur.
The cat protested a couple of times but, perhaps sensing its master’s poor mood, eventually settled down, closing its eyes and allowing the petting.
After stroking Jixiang’s fur several dozen times, Emperor Jingming finally spoke. “Pan Hai—”
“This servant is here.”
“Continue investigating Madam Ping’s matter, but remember not to trouble the Dowager Empress.”
“This servant understands.”
Emperor Jingming unconsciously tapped Jixiang’s head with his finger.
Why did Madam Ping want to harm Fuqing? Was it of her own volition, or was there someone else behind it?
If there truly was a mastermind, what was their relationship with Madam Duo? Perhaps the person behind Madam Ping was the already deceased Madam Duo, and Madam Ping’s actions against Fuqing were merely fulfilling Madam Duo’s last wishes…
Emperor Jingming’s thoughts wandered until he heard a cat’s meow. Looking down, he saw Jixiang struggling to get up, finally unable to endure anymore and jumping off his lap to run away.
The fat cat stopped at a distance, angrily meowing at Emperor Jingming.
If the master had continued tapping, it would have been knocked unconscious!
Indeed, people always push their luck. How careless of it is to let this happen.
Jixiang meowed indignantly a few more times before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Emperor Jingming opened his mouth, then shook his head.
Terrible, he had inadvertently treated Jixiang’s head like the white jade paperweight on his desk… It seemed he wouldn’t be able to do that again in the future.
Feeling dejected and regretful, Emperor Jingming glared at Pan Hai. “Why are you still here?”
The scolded old eunuch left, rolling his eyes and grumbling inwardly: After serving the Emperor for decades, to be outranked by a cat – life was truly becoming unbearable.
The Empress, who had returned to Kunning Palace, was equally disheartened.
With Madam Ping’s death, the investigation into Fuqing’s incident at Xuande Tower would likely reach a deadlock, making no progress.
Princess Fuqing remained silent as well.
Noticing her daughter’s unusual behavior, the Empress stroked her hair. “What are you thinking about?”
Princess Fuqing spoke softly, “Royal Grandmother fainted today, and it was because of my affair—”
“Silly girl, don’t blame yourself. What happened to you was ultimately aimed at me and your father… Alright, go rest now.”
As soon as Princess Fuqing left, the Empress’s face turned cold. She ordered someone to summon the Fourteenth Princess.