Chapter 740: Chapter 740: Strategy and Identification

Fengming Palace.

Rong Si was eating the chilled fruit box sent by Nianxi, with a faint smile on her face.

"That girl is actually quite good, filial and steady. Ah, it’s a pity Mu’er doesn’t fancy her."

Rong Si was very wistful.

Nianxi had been with her since childhood, and she had feelings for her. She truly wished the two could be together.

However, Li Qingmu said that the Duke Zhen behind Nianxi was too powerful, which was not conducive to consolidating imperial power. She could give Nianxi the honor of being the Empress, but couldn’t give her favor, or else the foreign relatives would certainly become overbearing.

Rong Si thought this made a lot of sense, and there was no other way.

"Your Highness, this marriage all depends on fate, we can only say that Your Majesty and the Empress have no fate."

Yin Li stepped forward and said respectfully.

Rong Si nodded slightly, "Ah, perhaps there really is no fate!"

Speaking of this, she couldn’t help but think of her days living in the Dazhou Palace, that man...

Her gaze became dazed for a moment but immediately returned to clarity.

She mustn’t have feelings, mustn’t cling to them; otherwise, it would be endless misery!

"Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Nianxi these days. Perhaps I should go and see her. Yin Li..."

"Princess!"

Just as Rong Si was getting up to go to Kunyue Palace, a palace maid suddenly rushed in and saluted, "Princess, there was an incident at Zhaoming Palace. They say there was a problem with the chilled fruit box sent by the Empress, and eating it could cause a miscarriage."

Rong Si was fond of children, especially since this child was her son’s child.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have bestowed so many gifts upon finding out Long Yue was pregnant.

So, upon hearing the palace maid’s report, Rong Si was immediately enraged.

"Hmph, someone intends to kill with a borrowed knife!"

True to her nature, Rong Si, like Li Qingmu, immediately thought someone intended to harm Long Yue through the Empress, putting the blame on the Empress.

"Let’s go to Zhaoming Palace!"

With such an incident, the Empress surely wouldn’t remain idle, and would definitely be at Zhaoming Palace at this moment.

Rong Si headed to Zhaoming Palace accompanied by Yin Li, and upon arrival, she saw in a corner of the courtyard a female dog lying there tragically, blood still flowing, though somewhat dried.

The dog was already lifeless, presumably very dead.

Rong Si’s eyes turned cold.

Although it was just a dog, if the problematic fruit had been eaten by Ming Fei, it might have resulted in two deaths!

Initially, Rong Si didn’t think much of Ming Fei.

It wasn’t that she disliked her, but she thought a woman of rural origin, a maid’s daughter, was not worthy of her son.

No matter what, Li Qingmu was her own son, and a mother’s affection is very deep.

However, since last time by the lotus pond, when Long Yue was punished, her unyielding demeanor moved her.

This was an interesting woman, barely worthy in her eyes.

Though of humble origins, her child would be exceptional!

That child, Rong Si was much anticipating.

But now, that unborn child was nearly murdered, and Rong Si was furious.

She saw Nianxi, who also saw her, and quickly came forward to salute and ask for her well-being.

"Princess, this concubine has done nothing to harm Ming Fei!"

Nianxi said seriously.

Rong Si nodded slightly, "I know, there’s something fishy in this."

She walked toward the kneeling palace maids and looked at Li Qingmu, whose expression was cold, "Emperor, have you found anything?"

Li Qingmu turned his head and looked at Long Yue, saying lightly, "She is investigating."

So, no results yet?

Rong Si frowned slightly, letting this country girl investigate? What could she uncover? However, since she wanted to investigate, let her do it!

By this time, the sky had darkened, not as hot as before, and Rong Si went to a nearby pavilion, where Yin Li ordered for tea and snacks, watching while eating.

In the courtyard, Long Yue had already changed to a beautiful woman’s chair; lying on the ground at night was too chilly and inappropriate.

She lazily watched those palace maids, saying, "Speak up, Princess is here. She will surely ensure no innocent person is wronged, nor would she let any evil person go!"

These words subtly flattered Rong Si, who smiled contentedly, slowly eating a grape she picked up.

"Lady Ming Fei, we were really just properly delivering the fruit boxes, didn’t do anything scary?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Yes, delivering as instructed..."

"Do you think I said it was you who tampered with it?"

Long Yue’s expression cooled, sternly looking at these people, "What I asked was, did you encounter anything or anyone unusual on the way?"

"This..."

The women paused, trying hard to remember what had happened earlier.

Suddenly, someone said, "Lady Ming Fei, this slave... It seemed this slave met someone earlier, she bumped into this slave’s fruit box..."

"Who?"

"This slave doesn’t know... At the time, this slave was in a hurry to deliver things, didn’t look..."

The palace maid, realizing there might have been an issue with the fruit box she delivered, was immediately frightened, her face pale and trembling, looking pitifully at Long Yue.

Long Yue said calmly, "Where did you bump into her?"

"In... It seemed like in the garden in front."

"Are you sure? If not, think carefully!"

"Reporting to Lady Ming Fei, this slave is sure, it was over there!"

The palace maid said resolutely.

"Good!" Long Yue rose abruptly, saying loudly, "Everyone who went to Jin Garden today, bring them all here, check one by one!"

"Yes!"

The guards responded, departing with swords to grab people. Nianxi looked over towards Long Yue, "Lady Ming Fei, what if the maid who tampered with it has run away? Or, if she wasn’t even a palace maid? How do you propose to investigate?"

Long Yue smiled, "That’s something the Empress need not worry about."

"You..."

Nianxi felt her good intentions were disregarded, feeling quite frustrated, snorted coldly, and sat down again.

"Lady Ming Fei, we’re innocent oh lady..."

"Please spare us, lady!"

A total of thirty-five palace maids were brought over, kneeling neatly before Long Yue, crying and pleading, kowtowing desperately.

To be accused of harming the heir was a grave crime, once solidified, it would lead to execution of one’s entire clan, a fate they could not bear.

Long Yue ignored their cries, only letting another five palace maids and a female official step forward to identify.

"Look carefully, don’t make a mistake, if you can’t identify, I will hold you accountable!"

"Lady..."

The women glanced at Long Yue with a sad expression.

But there was no choice, after all, she was the master, whatever she said, they had to obey.

They examined one by one, but the more these palace maids looked, the more hopeless they felt.

Not this one, not this one, none of them!

"Lady Ming Fei, no, it’s none of these people, that person isn’t here!"

The female official looked up and spoke, her voice laced with tears.

The charge of harming the heir was so grave that even dying ten times wouldn’t suffice for it!

Long Yue smiled, she said nothing, merely instructed them to continue the identification.

In actuality, her gaze was constantly scanning the surroundings.

All of a sudden, she noticed a woman hiding behind the artificial mountain, sneakily doing something, and immediately signaled to someone beside her.

Her subordinate understood, stealthily making their way toward the artificial mountain.