After going through several thick volumes of the "Daily Records of the Queen", Song Jinyu always felt that these five years were of crucial importance, for during this period, the rift between the emperor and the queen had deepened.
"A stunning palace maid..."
"After that palace maid disappeared, the relationship between the emperor and the queen went sour." Looking at Zhongli Mingye, she said, "This is definitely worth looking into."
Song Jinyu thought for a moment. "A beautiful woman usually has more ideas than an ordinary person, especially a palace maid." It was impossible for her to remain a low - key maid until she was released from the palace at the age of twenty - five.
Disappeared? She was probably disposed of by the queen. After all, such a stunning beauty could easily be lured by fame and fortune.
But,
The queen was clearly falling out of favor. Why didn't she give the palace maid to the emperor as a favor?
Maybe the palace maid refused. After all, not everyone was after glory and wealth. "Naturally, we need to investigate. You and I think alike," Zhongli Mingye said.
However, he had another possible scenario in mind.
"My lord, the queen is awake!"
"But she seems to be out of her wits."
The two exchanged a glance and immediately headed into the palace.
Although the crown prince, Zhongli Chengze, had often acted recklessly, at this moment, he played the role of a filial son quite well. Princess Xianya was also attending to the queen. On the surface, it seemed a scene of parental kindness and filial piety, but in reality, it was full of intrigues.
Although the emperor detested the queen, seeing her in a daze now was rather pitiful. After all, they had been married for thirty years, and the affection they once had was not fake.
However, Ming Ruyi had not yet explained her intention to harm the queen, and the empress dowager was still kneeling in the ancestral shrine. The emperor was in a dilemma. Although he wanted to get rid of Ming Ruyi, he couldn't do it at this moment.
If anything happened to the empress dowager, the emperor would probably be stigmatized as a patricide and a fraternal killer. "Ye'er, have you made any progress?"
"Your son is still investigating thoroughly. Please give your son some time, Father."
"Chengze, you should go to the mansion of the Duke of Fuguogong when you have time..." What he meant was that the crown prince should bring back Chen Mingzhu, or else the royal family would become an even bigger laughingstock. Zhongli Xianya was shivering. Although she had the title of the eldest princess, she was still scared.
The emperor saw this and felt heart - broken. His eldest granddaughter was being treated so badly.
After a long while,
The crown prince, Zhongli Chengze, finally agreed to the imperial order. It was obvious to everyone that he was reluctant.
The emperor's face darkened. Seeing that none of his sons were worry - free, he said, "Bring her back and immediately put her under house arrest for three months."
"As the crown princess, it's only natural for her to teach her daughter. But if she harms the descendants of the royal family under the guise of teaching, she will be severely punished."
"Blame the Duke of Fuguogong's mansion for failing to educate their daughter properly."
In the mansion of the Duke of Fuguogong,
When Chen Mingzhu saw the cold - faced crown prince, her heart ached. The punches that day had rained down on her like a storm. He had shown no mercy at all, and now he was still cold - faced. It seemed that bringing her back to the Eastern Palace was not the crown prince's intention.
Just as she was about to refuse, several maids from the Eastern Palace came in to "invite" her.
Chen Jiacai's eyes shot out a terrifying light. His daughter, who was originally a noble lady, was now being so neglected by the crown prince. "Your Highness, could you please let my daughter recover from her injuries at home before going back to the Eastern Palace?"
Unfortunately, he was just a court official. "Your Grace need not worry. There are imperial physicians in the Eastern Palace, and they will surely treat the crown princess."
Watching Chen Mingzhu being taken away, the Duke of Fuguogong felt cold in his heart. He was afraid that this time when Chen Mingzhu went back, things would not bode well for her. Although she should be punished for "abusing" the descendants of the royal family, the emperor had not charged her with this crime. Yet the crown prince treated her like this.
It was a foregone conclusion that his daughter had fallen out of favor!
It was truly hateful!
"It seems that because of the queen's injury, the emperor is more tolerant of the crown prince,"
"After all, he is the emperor's eldest son." Song Jinyu had seen Zhongli Xianya today and felt that the girl was as patient as the former crown princess.
"The crown prince has probably broken with the Duke of Fuguogong's mansion."
From a parent's perspective, no one wanted to see their daughter being beaten. Zhongli Mingye sighed. "All the noble ladies in the capital are the pearls of their families."
"They've been spoiled to the point of being insolent. If there are reasonable elders in the family to teach them, it would be better."
Not wanting to talk about the turmoil in the crown prince's mansion anymore, Zhongli Mingye told Song Jinyu another piece of news about the stunning palace maid. "After she was taken in by Father, she died of illness not long after."
Song Jinyu stopped turning the pages of the book and thought for a moment. "That's not a valid reason for her death. After all..."
The queen would not have let her show herself in front of the emperor without a plan. "Alas... what should we do?"
"My beloved concubine is so smart. I'll have less fun in the future." Song Jinyu glared at him angrily. How could he still flirt with her at this time?
Looking at her bright eyes, Zhongli Mingye resisted the urge to tease her further. "You're right. What really made the queen want to kill her was..."
"The crown prince!"
Song Jinyu fell silent. The truth about the palace maid's death that she heard from Zhongli Mingye really made her feel that the palace was like a living hell. "He's so disgusting!" Not only the crown prince, but also the queen.
"Father was just about to confer a title on the palace maid when he suddenly learned that she had died of illness."
"There are no secrets that can be kept in the palace."
The palace maid, having been favored by the emperor, thought she might rise to great heights. However, the crown prince also had his eye on her. He forced himself on the palace maid while visiting the queen.
Of course, he didn't know that the emperor had favored the palace maid the night before. At the same time, the queen also discovered this.
The queen originally wanted to use the stunning palace maid to regain the emperor's favor, but her good - for - nothing son had done such a beastly thing. Zhongli Mingye didn't need to say the rest. Song Jinyu understood! "Those who start such evils shall have no descendants! It's truly hateful!"
The royal family might seem glorious on the surface, but in fact, it was full of hidden filth.
"Then let's investigate the people who had contact with this palace maid."
"The palace is heavily guarded. It's impossible for an ordinary person to harm someone in the royal family."
Zhongli Mingye thought for a moment and suddenly looked at Song Jinyu. "Let's stop here. I will clear Uncle of his suspicion, but you... don't investigate anymore."
Seeing her dissatisfaction, Zhongli Mingye put his arm around her. "This matter is of great importance. One wrong step, and we'll be in deep trouble."
Just as they were still discussing, someone rushed in. "My lord, my lady, the queen has passed away!"
The mother of the nation had suddenly died.
Zhongli Mingye and Song Jinyu changed into their formal clothes and immediately went into the palace.
Deep in the palace at this moment, someone was burning paper. "Sister, the chief culprit who killed you is already dead!"
"Next, it's his turn!"
A hint of cruelty flashed across the beautiful face. As the autumn wind blew, the ashes of the burning paper danced in the air. The little eunuch behind her looked determined, which was quite moving.
As soon as they entered, they could hear the continuous sobbing in the palace.
How much of it was genuine and how much was fake? The crying of the crown prince and the eldest princess was definitely real.
The emperor's face looked even more gloomy. Now that the queen was dead, it would be even more difficult to clear Ming Ruyi's suspicion for the time being.
Originally, they had hoped that the queen would name the real culprit after waking up. Who would have thought that although she did wake up, she was out of her wits.
Now she had passed away.