Before long, all the servants in charge of the morning meal in the princess mansion had arrived.
Emperor Mingde began to interrogate them one by one and asked them to testify against each other to ensure that the whereabouts of each person could be traced.
Eunuch Wang pointed out several young eunuchs to record the confessions.
Li Xinyue also silently reasoned in her heart and thought of a few people, those in charge of the daily purchases and swill disposal in the princess mansion.
These people also had the opportunity to enter and leave the kitchen and the possibility of contacting outsiders. Moreover, since they were not responsible for the three meals in the mansion, they were more likely to have drugged the food.
Sure enough, after being intimidated a few times, these people told the truth, confirming that they had been bribed with a large sum of money by a mean - looking old woman.
But they didn't know who the old woman was.
Another person came to Li Xinyue's mind, Li Xinrong.
"She cheated in the exam just to ensure that she would get the first place and obtain Father Emperor's grace," to ask for a marriage with Murong Xiu.
Naturally, she had to get rid of Li Xinyue, her love rival, first.
"Father Emperor, could it be the doing of the old women around the Fourteenth Sister? How about asking the Fourteenth Sister to call all the rough - working old women around her and let these two people identify them on the spot? Then the truth will come to light."
Emperor Mingde nodded. "Go and call the Fourteenth here for me!"
Eunuch Wang was startled by the sudden roar. After steadying his mind, he quickly went to the queen's palace to fetch her.
Before long, Li Xinrong was dragged in. She was scolding the palace servants for their rudeness and threatening to cut off their heads. A group of rough - working old women followed behind her.
Emperor Mingde asked the two poisoners to go and identify the culprit. Soon they pointed out the old woman who had bribed them.
The old woman was so frightened that she knelt on the ground. At first, she still tried to cover up for Li Xinrong, saying that it was all her own idea. It was not until Li Xinyue pressured her and asked if she knew the serious crime of harming a princess.
"It's a crime that will lead to the execution of nine generations of the family. If you turn into an informer and tell the whole story clearly, your crime may be reduced."
Thinking of her little grandson, the old woman took a weak glance at Li Xinrong from the corner of her eye and told the truth.
Li Xinrong thought that Li Xinyue was misleading the old woman.
Li Xinyue smiled. "Then give the Fourteenth Sister a chance to prove her innocence. Go ahead."
Li Xinrong opened her mouth but couldn't say a word.
Finally, she was punished to copy The Admonitions for Women three hundred times and confined to her room for self - reflection for a month.
The queen failed to teach her daughter well. She was temporarily relieved of all the affairs in the harem and ordered to teach the Fourteenth Princess well!
The matter came to an end for the time being.
When Li Xinyue was about to leave the palace, Emperor Mingde suddenly called her back.
Emperor Mingde's lofty gaze finally fell on Young Marquis Xia and he was willing to take a closer look at him.
"Why did the young marquis come to Princess Yuanyang's mansion today? When did you two get so familiar?"
Li Xinyue twitched her eyebrows. She could tell the implication in her father's words. When she turned to look, Chu Junyi behind her had the same expression and look in his eyes.
One was looking at the young marquis and the other was looking at her.
She smacked her lips gloomily and turned her head away, ignoring them.
Chu Junyi clenched his fists tightly and silently made a note of this. He would settle the score with her tonight!
Hearing that Emperor Mingde finally mentioned him, Xia Chengjie was so excited that tears streamed down his face.
Oh, heavens! At last, someone had seen his hardships and understood his grievances.
He didn't want to miss such a good opportunity, so he poured out to Emperor Mingde all about his poor performance in the exam, being beaten by his grandfather when he got home, and the reason for coming to the princess mansion.
Emperor Mingde: …
"Alright, I know. The Marquis of Changping is really out of line. No matter what, he shouldn't beat and scold the child. The child is already so old. He should be taught well. What's the use of beating?"
Xia Chengjie nodded solemnly while shedding tears. "Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is truly wise!"
If only his father were like the emperor, he wouldn't have to be beaten.
Emperor Mingde's mouth twitched. "Alright, it's not a big deal. I'll write a letter right now and tell your father not to beat you anymore."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness!" Young Marquis Xia was so excited that he immediately bowed deeply to Emperor Mingde.
Emperor Mingde wanted to laugh but held it back. He strained so hard that he almost got an internal injury.
After that, Young Marquis Xia went with Emperor Mingde to get the emperor's personal letter.
Li Xinyue turned around and ran away, fearing that Chu Junyi would catch up and ask about her relationship with Xia Chengjie, and also afraid that he would force her to give an answer.
She was very confused and didn't want to answer this question.
However, after successfully getting rid of Chu Junyi and leaving the palace gate, before she could breathe a sigh of relief, she unexpectedly found Murong Xiu standing there.
At this hour, Murong Jia should have already gone back.
So, was he waiting for her here on purpose?
She averted her eyes guiltily and quickened her steps to get into the carriage. But Murong Xiu followed her. "Your Royal Highness, when will you be free? Let's go to the manor to have tea together."
Li Xinyue excitedly lifted the curtain of the carriage. Just then, she saw Chu Junyi coming out of the palace. He was standing far behind Murong Xiu, but his gaze was looking in this direction.
She lowered her eyes slightly and said awkwardly, "I haven't fully recovered from my cold. I probably won't go out in the next few days."
Murong Xiu had already noticed something strange. He turned around and saw Chu Junyi walking over meaningfully. "Greetings to Your Royal Highness."
Li Xinyue replied in a muffled voice, "Dispense with the courtesy."
"Then we'll do it in a few days. When Your Highness recovers from your illness, I'll send someone to pick you up."
Murong Xiu's words were as gentle as jade, but there was a hint of unyieldingness in them.
Li Xinyue nodded absent - mindedly, just hoping that he would leave quickly.
Murong Xiu wanted to say something else but finally didn't. He took a glance at Chu Junyi from the corner of his eye and then got into his own carriage.
Chu Junyi looked sideways at Li Xinyue.
Li Xinyue angrily got back into the carriage. What kind of look was that? She wasn't married to him yet!
He was being too bossy!
"I heard that a new inn has opened in the city. I'd like to invite Your Highness to go there with me."
"No."
"Then I'll come to invite you personally later!"
Li Xinyue, "…"
It was the first time in her life that she had played hard - to - get, but why did she end up with such a persistent person!
The eldest princess had countless male favorites in her backyard, yet her family was still peaceful and her marriage was harmonious. Should she say that she was just too unlucky or the eldest princess was just too lucky?
At that moment, at the corner of the inn opposite the carriage, a furtive figure was peeping over here. After confirming that it was Princess Yuanyang's carriage, the figure rushed over quickly.
Jing Bai was about to set off when the carriage was suddenly blocked. The carriage stopped abruptly, and Li Xinyue in the carriage almost fell out. Just as she was about to get angry, she heard someone calling her outside the carriage.
"Your Royal Highness!"
Li Xinyue lifted the curtain and saw a strange face. She was sure that she had never had any contact with this person before.
Just then, Young Marquis Xia came over happily, covering his buttocks. Seeing Chu Junyi there, he conveyed Emperor Mingde's order for him to enter the palace.
Chu Junyi exchanged a look with Li Xinyue.
Chu Junyi's eyes were full of confusion, while Li Xinyue was curious. In the end, neither of them asked. One started to question the strange - looking man, and the other obediently entered the palace.
The young marquis looked at the man in front of Li Xinyue's carriage with great curiosity. Before he could indulge his curiosity, he was sent away by Jing Bai.
The young marquis, "…"