An hour later, the funeral bell tolled in the palace, and the sound could be heard throughout the imperial capital.
In the 13th year of Yongjia in the Northern Yan Dynasty, winter. Murong Jue, the third illegitimate son of Emperor Wenhui of the Northern Yan Dynasty and the heir apparent to the throne, died in the Eastern Palace at the age of only eighteen.
Du Gu Luanyue had just returned to the Fengluan Palace. After taking a bath, she heard the funeral bell.
This funeral bell would only toll when someone of extremely noble royal status passed away. She narrowed her eyes.
Aunt Meijiang came in and said in disbelief, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince was actually poisoned at the palace banquet and has passed away."
Du Gu Luanyue had just changed into a nightgown with peony patterns. She suddenly turned around, her jade eyes wide open. "What did you say?"
Aunt Meijiang sighed. "The Second Prince has been arrested by His Majesty and thrown into the imperial prison. It was the Prince of Yuzhang who personally led the troops to arrest him. Your Majesty, with the death of the Crown Prince, all our plans have been disrupted."
Du Gu Luanyue's floor - length nightgown was in a mess on the ground. She still couldn't figure it out.
"Don't you think it's very strange? The Second Prince and the Third Prince have been vying for the position of Crown Prince for a long time. But on the very first day the Third Prince became the Crown Prince, he was poisoned by the Second Prince.
Is the Second Prince that stupid? Why would he choose such a sensitive time?"
Aunt Meijiang lowered her head and pondered.
"Your Majesty does have a point. When His Majesty ordered the Prince of Yuzhang to arrest the Second Prince, he was trembling with anger. It seemed like he didn't think it through."
Du Gu Luanyue immediately said, "Help me change my clothes. I'm going to the Eastern Palace."
But then she stopped. "I just had that incident right under Murong Min's nose. Would it be strange for me to go to the Eastern Palace now?"
Su Rou came over with a cup of soothing tea and asked,
"Your Majesty, how about this? Let this servant go in your place.
Your Majesty can pretend to be ill first. The more serious the better. You can go later in the middle of the night. This servant will definitely bring back all the news from the Eastern Palace."
Du Gu Luanyue nodded. "Alright, go."
She stood under the door of the back hall of the Fengluan Palace, looking at the cold moon hidden behind the dark clouds in the sky. Her jade eyes turned cold.
What Murong Min did to her today was not for her future at all.
He was clearly afraid that the Crown Prince and the Wei family would overshadow his imperial power, so he wanted to hold a force as his eyes and arms, and then drag her into the water.
Du Gu Luanyue gradually understood that although Murong Min's attitude towards her had changed a bit, he was still heartless, cold - blooded, and had no bottom line.
In his eyes, the women in the harem were no different from playthings. Whether they were concubines of low birth or the legitimate queen, they were all the same to him.
There was full of hatred and pity in Aunt Meijiang's eyes. "Your Majesty, now that the Crown Prince has passed away, the connection between the Wei family and the Prince of Yuzhang has been completely cut off. All our plans have fallen through.
Moreover, His Majesty treated you like this. He really doesn't act like a husband at all. Is it still useful to win His Majesty's heart?"
A sly smile appeared on Du Gu Luanyue's gorgeous face. "It may be useless for me, but there is a woman who is useful. Fortunately, Concubine Xian of the Wei family once told me some very important information."
She stayed up all night, waiting for Su Rou to bring back the news.
Su Rou rushed into the brightly - lit bedroom of the Fengluan Palace. Her expression was a bit panicked and solemn.
"Your Majesty, the Eastern Palace is in a complete mess now.
The Prince of Yuzhang has requested an autopsy because the Crown Prince died suddenly, and neither the imperial physicians nor the coroners could tell what kind of poison it was.
So His Highness requests a thorough autopsy. Only by knowing what kind of poison it is can we trace the clues.
Moreover, all the people who attended the palace banquet have been locked in the Changle Hall. No one has been allowed to leave, just waiting for more clues to quickly find the poisoner.
Concubine Xian has fainted several times from crying. She is begging His Majesty to severely punish the murderer and execute the Second Prince tomorrow. She also won't allow His Highness to conduct an autopsy."
Du Gu Luanyue calculated the time. It was almost the middle of the night. In a few more hours, Murong Min would go to court. Once Murong Min left, she, as the queen, could go to the Eastern Palace.
Her voice was a bit hoarse, perhaps because she had been in the wind all night.
"Huo Wei's approach is correct. But the Crown Prince was the heir apparent. Even after his death, it's not appropriate to perform an autopsy. Concubine Xian is his mother. I can understand her.
However, it's very difficult to refine such a mysterious and strange poison. The underground workshops outside the palace that can refine poisons can be easily traced.
Huo Wei wants to find the murderer through the source of the poison. This is the fastest way."
Su Rou said with some embarrassment, "An autopsy is a great disrespect to the dead. Concubine Xian will definitely not allow it."
Du Gu Luanyue glanced at the clothes rack. "Aunt, help me change my clothes. I'm going to the Eastern Palace now. I'm also responsible for Murong Jue's matter."
The phoenix carriage quickly arrived at the Eastern Palace. She found that the Eastern Palace was full of people coming and going, and there were also the cries of Concubine Xian Wei En.
Murong Min had already left the Eastern Palace and returned to the Zichen Hall to change clothes before going to court. The matter of the Crown Prince being poisoned was likely to cause a stir in the court.
She saw Concubine Xian Wei En lying in front of the coffin.
"My son! Your mother has raised you with great hardship. You're only eighteen!
On the very first day you became the Crown Prince, you were killed by that scoundrel! Your mother will definitely avenge you, definitely!"
Du Gu Luanyue was dressed in a black robe with a white belt around her waist. Her hair was simply coiled, and her expression was solemn as she took three incense sticks. "Concubine Xian, please accept my condolences."
Huo Wei had also changed into a black robe with a white belt around his waist. His thick eyebrows were furrowed. "Concubine Xian, if you want to avenge A Jue, an autopsy is the only way.
We've investigated all the people at the palace banquet all night, including those in the imperial kitchen and the palace servants who served the wine. There's no problem at all.
I can't keep the nobles locked in the Changle Hall to maintain the crime scene forever. In a few more hours, I'll have to let them go.
Concubine Xian, please think it over. An autopsy is the only way to find clues."
Du Gu Luanyue said, "Concubine Xian, I can understand how you feel. An autopsy will take away the Crown Prince's last bit of dignity.
But the real murderer is still at large. The Crown Prince will die with regret."
Wei En was already in a daze from crying. She shouted, "No, I don't want an autopsy! Using a knife to cut open my son's body, he must be in so much pain. I don't want it!"
Du Gu Luanyue said, "Calm down and think for yourself. Do you really think it was the Second Prince who poisoned him?
No matter how stupid the Second Prince is, he wouldn't poison someone at the investiture banquet.
His Majesty just threw the Second Prince into prison out of anger for the moment.
But the Second Prince has been favored by Empress Dowager Hua since childhood. Without clear evidence pointing to him, in the end, he will just be released without charge.
But once the seven - day mourning period is over and the coffin is sealed with nails, it will be all over. We'll never know who the murderer is."
Huo Wei walked up to Wei En. His cold and stern eyebrows were tinged with frost, and there was pain in his black pupils.
"I'm responsible for A Jue's death. If I can't find the murderer, I'll never forgive myself. Shen Guilan, come here with the coroner. Conduct an autopsy!"