Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 787 - 739: Investigate the Reason

Mu Yuanxiu and Pei Shenyan left Fengyi Palace and followed Mr. Gao to see Li Can, just as Empress Cui learned of the situation.

But just after the palace maid reported, someone else came to inform her that the Emperor had passed away.

Empress Cui was unsure whether they had been with the Emperor just moments before.

She was rendered speechless by Princess Consort Yu Wen’s aggressive questioning, not knowing how to respond.

"Why isn’t the Empress answering?" Princess Consort Yu Wen questioned sharply again, "Is the Empress intentionally protecting those two?"

"Empress, where are they?" The Empress Dowager also looked at Empress Cui and asked sharply.

How could Empress Cui know where they went?

If she answered that they went with Mr. Gao, then the Empress Dowager would suspect they harmed the Emperor. If she said she didn’t know where they were, it might seem like she’s hiding them.

Empress Cui became anxious and uneasy.

"Don’t panic, Your Majesty, first ask the Imperial Physician about the cause of the Emperor’s death." The Chief Palace Maid, who came with Empress Cui, quietly reminded her from behind.

Just earlier, Li Yuwen and Li Yuzhu were chatting with Empress Cui when someone suddenly came from Tianming Palace, saying something had happened to the Emperor.

Li Yuwen, worried that Empress Cui would suffer losses, subtly reminded the Chief Palace Maid by her side to stay vigilant and remind Empress Cui timely.

This reminder calmed Empress Cui slightly.

The Emperor had been seriously ill for half a year, and the Imperial Physician also said he might not survive the summer. That he died at this moment was unrelated to others.

Thinking this, she said loudly, "What did the Emperor die of? Was it murder or illness? Has the Imperial Physician investigated clearly?"

"Imperial Physician?" The Empress Dowager shouted towards the Dean.

The Dean of the Imperial Hospital approached with trembling steps and bowed to reply, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager and Empress, the Emperor... the Emperor died of poisoning."

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath, her face turning pale, and shivered as she asked, "What poison?"

"It was... it was arsenic..."

"Empress Dowager, please see clearly, it must be the people brought into the palace by the Empress who poisoned the Emperor. Empress Dowager, the Emperor was so young and childless, leaving us so early; he must be unwilling. Empress Dowager, you must seek justice for the Emperor!" Princess Consort Yu Wen wailed, moving forward in kneeling steps to cry at the Empress Dowager’s feet.

Once she started crying, others followed.

Whether they were crying for the Emperor or themselves was unknown.

The Emperor’s sudden death, in a fit of the Empress Dowager’s rage, someone would surely be implicated and executed.

No one wanted to die.

"Ar...senic?" The Empress Dowager trembled with anger and said, "Mr. Gao, lock down all the palace gates and quickly summon Prince Xiangyang to investigate this matter thoroughly!"

As she spoke, she fiercely glared at Empress Cui.

Empress Cui bowed her head and also said, "Empress Dowager, I am willing to assist you in investigating the matter of the arsenic."

Princess Consort Yu Wen looked at her with a mocking expression, "Is the Empress trying to use this opportunity to cover for someone?"

Empress Cui returned her gaze, coldly saying, "Does the Consort have evidence that there’s an issue with the people I invited to the palace?"

"I didn’t say that." Princess Consort Yu Wen said with a slight smirk.

"Empress, since you don’t know where your guests have gone, I will find them for you," the Empress Dowager commanded to those nearby, "Someone, quickly bring the Empress’s guests here!"

"Yes, Empress Dowager!"

The hall was in chaos, with some searching for people, others crying mournfully.

Before Prince Xiangyang was summoned to the palace, Mu Yuanxiu and Pei Shenyan were already found.

Mu Yuanxiu carried Pei Shenyan, heading towards the Empress Palace, but he walked slowly because he was carrying someone, resting from time to time.

The little eunuch leading the way didn’t dare to rush him, allowing him to rest.

As it turned out, before they reached the Empress Palace, the people from Tianming Palace had found them.

"The Empress Dowager summons the Empress’s guests to Tianming Palace to respond; hurry, or heads will roll if late." The panting little eunuch who delivered the message was drenched in sweat.

The leading little eunuch asked, puzzled, "Why is the Empress Dowager in Tianming Palace? What’s happened?"

"Something... something major, the Emperor has died." The messenger eunuch waved his hand, urging, "You should hurry, the Empress Dowager is angry, demanding to know who visited Tianming Palace, everyone saw you two go; the Empress Dowager is in a hurry to find you."

The leading eunuch blinked, "But they didn’t see the Emperor, why does the Empress Dowager want to question them?"

The messenger eunuch said, "How would I know? Just hurry up."

He urged them quickly; the Emperor’s death was a grave matter.

The guiding eunuch led Mu Yuanxiu and Pei Shenyan back in a hurry.

Mu Yuanxiu sighed while running, "My brother-in-law is still unconscious; if this is delayed, let’s hope nothing happens to him."

"Young man, if you’re late, not only Pei Wulang won’t survive, you might also lose your life! Hurry now, stop dawdling."

Both eunuchs urged Mu Yuanxiu to move faster.

This time, Mu Yuanxiu didn’t rest, pressing forward with all his strength.

Just as he reached the steps outside Tianming Palace, he heard muffled wailing inside the hall.

The little eunuch who came with him grew paler and paler, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and ran into the hall first.

Mu Yuanxiu, carrying Pei Shenyan, climbed the steps and followed him in.

"Empress Dowager, the people have been brought," the messenger eunuch presented Mu Yuanxiu to the Empress Dowager.

Mu Yuanxiu, with Pei Shenyan on his back, bowed to the Empress Dowager, "Li Yuanxiu greets the Empress Dowager; long may your fortunes flourish."

The Empress Dowager glanced at Pei Shenyan on his back, "What is this about?"

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, just now Mr. Gao brought Pei Wulang and myself to see the Emperor. Unexpectedly, we didn’t see the Emperor, and Pei Wulang suddenly fainted. Wulang has had heart problems since he was young, which cannot be delayed, or there could be fatal consequences. So, I left carrying him to see a doctor, but halfway through, I heard that the Empress Dowager called for us, so I came back."

The Empress Dowager squinted at Mr. Gao, "What’s this about?"

Mr. Gao responded, "Empress Dowager, they didn’t see the Emperor; just as they arrived in the hall, Pei Wulang fainted."

He didn’t dare tell a lie.

If the Empress Dowager blamed these two, he, as the messenger, would also be implicated.

The best story was that these two didn’t see the Emperor and had nothing to do with his poisoning; thus, he had no connection either.

Empress Cui was worried something might happen to Pei Shenyan in the palace, making it difficult to answer to Li Yuwen.

She addressed the Dean of the Imperial Hospital, "Dean Liu, quickly check on Pei Wulang’s condition; after he wakes, we can question him about what happened."

"Treat Pei Wulang immediately!" The Empress Dowager ordered.

The Dean, along with two Imperial Physicians, approached Pei Shenyan.

They found that indeed Pei Shenyan had fainted due to heart problems.

The pulse was weak, breathing short and slow.

Dean Liu took out smelling salts and placed them under Pei Shenyan’s nose.

Soon enough, Pei Shenyan woke up.

He had a bewildered look, "What happened? Where am I?"