Chapter 753: Chapter 753: Keep Her Alive and Follow the Trail!

Finding poisonous insects in the mooncake really disgusted everyone present, and Rong Si’s face was even more livid.

Although such a minor incident wouldn’t affect their mother-son relationship, grievances often accumulate from little things.

Rong Si had seen many storms and waves; what couldn’t she see through?

She immediately ordered an investigation, and everyone here was forbidden to leave. If anyone dared to leave, they would be detained directly.

Under Rong Si’s intimidation, no one dared to move an inch.

"Ming Fei, remember your brother can trace people by scent, can he find out who tampered with this mooncake?"

"This... It’s difficult to say, given how many people have handled the mooncakes; anyone could have done it. But we can call You’er to have a look!"

"Alright!"

Immediately, You’er was brought over by Lu Zhi.

"Ah!"

You’er had been living quite well with the Imperial Army these days. After all, being recommended by Rong Si, even if he couldn’t speak, no one dared to belittle him.

Moreover, You’er was extremely agile. Even before learning martial arts, his skills made many despair. Now as he learns, his Qinggong is absolutely first-rate.

He came to Long Yue’s side, called out to Long Yue, and then saluted Rong Si and Li Qingmu.

"You’er, take a look at who handled this mooncake?"

Anyone who handled it was a suspect. Rong Si planned to carefully investigate everyone who had contact with it.

You’er took the mooncake and sniffed it lightly, then glanced around the surroundings, swept his gaze over, and pointed to several people.

All were serving palace maids.

Anyone pointed at was terrified and fell to their knees to plead for mercy.

Rong Si frowned slightly; among them were her people, especially Yin Li!

Yin Li was her absolute confidant and could never betray her, nor do something so disgusting.

Rong Si lightly shook her head; too many people had handled this incident, making it hard to investigate quickly.

"Forget it, everyone disperse!"

Rong Si waved her hand, and the family banquet ended in displeasure.

Li Qingmu didn’t return with Long Yue, and Yang Shiqi looked at Li Qingmu with pitiable eyes, so he had to reluctantly visit Princess Consort Jing.

Long Yue gave him a reassuring look and returned to her own sleeping quarters, but found a tail following her.

It was You’er!

Long Yue was speechless; this boy running to the harem at night wasn’t afraid of getting caught?

Once charged with secretly visiting the harem, his head would definitely roll!

"Go back!"

Long Yue said coldly.

"Ah!"

You’er cried out and shook his head.

"The harem can’t be entered casually, hurry back!"

Long Yue urged again, yet You’er stubbornly shook his head.

Long Yue was helpless and had to take him back.

"Yu Zhu, go outside and keep watch."

Long Yue didn’t fully trust this imposter, Yu Zhu, but until she figured out who she really was, she had to put on a show.

Yu Zhu went outside to watch as ordered.

Long Yue brought You’er into the main hall and asked why he came over.

You’er pointed to Long Yue’s sleeve, and only then did Long Yue remember that she had a mooncake in her sleeve, which should also have insects.

She took the mooncake out and broke it open; sure enough, there were three tiny insects inside. Though dead, the surrounding filling had turned black.

The toxicity of these insects wasn’t small!

"Ah!"

You’er pointed again at the mooncake, this time at the insects, then pointed outside, where Yu Zhu was standing.

Long Yue narrowed her eyes, a cold flash in her eyes; You’er was telling her that Yu Zhu placed the poisonous insects in the mooncake!

Long Yue looked at You’er with appreciation, giving a thumbs-up for not directly singling out Yu Zhu.

It’s not that Long Yue wanted to protect Yu Zhu, but this was a matter between master and servant; outsiders shouldn’t interfere.

Moreover, she already knew there was something wrong with this Yu Zhu, and only by keeping her could she find the actual mastermind behind it!

"Go back, sister’s fine!"

Long Yue urged You’er to hurry back; she already had preparations in place and wasn’t afraid of Yu Zhu causing trouble.

Besides, after this incident, this "Yu Zhu" would behave more.

You’er hesitated a moment, gestured again in Yu Zhu’s direction, and then left.

Zhi Jin stood outside; being far away, and since Long Yue and You’er deliberately lowered their voices, she couldn’t hear them. However, Zhi Jin pondered whether she should have someone come and catch them in the act, seeing You’er was so slow to come out?

This wretch, was she pretending illness to gain the Emperor’s favor deliberately?

Zhi Jin regretted that Long Yue hadn’t eaten the poisonous insects deeply; at least if they didn’t kill her, they could disgust her, right?

...

Fengming Palace.

Li Qingmu came to find Rong Si after returning from Jingshu Palace.

Rong Si was about to speak when Li Qingmu interrupted, saying, "Mother, there’s no need to explain. I know this has nothing to do with you; someone wants to drive a wedge between us!"

Rong Si nodded, looking at him with gratification: "Indeed, my son is understanding. This matter seems odd; we must find a way to catch the person behind it!"

"Mother, there’s actually something I encountered earlier that I’ve been puzzled about."

"Oh? Tell me about it!"

Li Qingmu then detailed the incident where he saw a shadow.

Rong Si’s elegant brows furrowed, asking, "Are you sure you didn’t see wrong?"

"I also thought I might have been mistaken, but after careful thought, someone definitely passed by; they were just too fast to see clearly!"

Pausing, Li Qingmu said, "Mother, in the palace, who could have such speed?"

Rong Si fell into contemplation.

As a mother, she knew very well the true caliber of her son. Li Qingmu’s martial arts progress was astonishingly rapid, potentially surpassing her, and he only caught a glimpse of the other’s shadow?

This alone proved how formidable the opponent’s martial arts were; how would they compare to the State Preceptor?

"There are, however, more than three people in the palace with such prowess! Your mother, Elder Chen, and the State Preceptor; as for outside the palace... quite a few at Qixing Pavilion." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Qixing Pavilion?

Li Qingmu was momentarily stunned; why was it this organization again?

Previously in Dazhou, he had been assassinated several times by this group, and later in Beifeng Forest too.

What exactly does this organization want? Are they against him?

Yet Li Qingmu remembered; he hadn’t wronged them at all, had he?

"Qixing Pavilion..." Li Qingmu asked, "Mother, what exactly is this organization? Where are they located?"

"Unknown." Rong Si shook her head. "This organization is very mysterious, similar to Bailing Valley, with members whose martial arts are astonishingly high... Those people seem very opposed to us, the Rong Imperial Family."

Oh?

Li Qingmu was surprised: "Mother, do you mean there are clues?"

Historical grudge?

If so, then his repeated assassination attempts make sense.

Rong Si slowly spoke, revealing a shocking secret, "The Grand Ancestor Emperor, namely my father, died at the hands of Tianxing Pavilion!"