Her words, full of thinly veiled sarcasm, were anything but polite. Lu Momo’s expression stiffened as she lowered her head slightly. “His Majesty is furious about County Princess Muhua’s poisoning. Her Majesty the Empress has been investigating the matter since early morning. Just half an hour ago, she left Kunde Palace to report to His Majesty. However, before leaving, Her Majesty instructed this old servant to summon Miss Duan for questioning, as County Princess Muhua had eaten food from her table last night. This was merely to clarify the situation.”
“Yet somehow, things have escalated to such a degree. No matter how skilled Miss Duan may be, she cannot simply engage in bloodshed within Kunde Palace. Once Her Majesty returns, this old servant will struggle to explain what has transpired.”
Hearing Lu Momo twist the truth, Mingxi was now certain that the Empress was deeply involved in this matter.
“What a loyal servant!” Consort Shu’s face turned cold. “Since Lu Momo insists on handling things this way, then let us go before His Majesty and confront the Empress directly.”
With that, Consort Shu took Mingxi by the hand and strode out.
Lu Momo’s face darkened, and she quickly spoke up, “Niang Niang, I’m afraid you must leave these people behind. Her Majesty the Empress will want to question them when she returns.”
“Leave them behind? We’re afraid they might lose their lives!” Consort Shu glared at Lu Momo. “Once they’re dead, you’ll just blame Mingxi for murder, what a clever plan!”
She then looked at Hu Momo. “Take them away and get the Imperial doctor to treat them properly. I want them alive; otherwise, we won’t be able to explain what happened today!”
Lu Momo immediately stepped forward to stop her. “Consort Shu, the Empress has given orders. If I allow you to take them away, it would be dereliction of duty. I ask Your Majesty to show mercy and leave them here.”
“You filthy servant, how dare you threaten me!” Consort Shu kicked Lu Momo to the ground.
Lu Momo fell, feeling sharp pain in her ribs and nearly lost her breath. She didn’t expect Consort Shu to be so bold and reckless. Before she could catch her breath, Consort Shu had already led her group away.
Lu Momo climbed up, gasping for air, grinding her teeth, and said, “What are you standing around for? You useless fools, hurry and report to the Empress.”
Once outside of Kunde Palace, Consort Shu looked at Mingxi and asked, “Are you injured?”
Mingxi shook her head. “Your Majesty came in time.”
Consort Shu thought of what she had seen earlier and couldn’t help but twitch her mouth. Her daughter-in-law was quite capable. Three burly women from the Imperial Punishment Department had their heads split open, and one was now under her foot.
Her son was also skilled, and now she wondered who would win if he fought Mingxi.
She should light a candle for her son. The wife he picked was like a tigress, and he’d just have to put up with it.
“I didn’t expect that Kunde Palace would dare to summon you for interrogation,” Consort Shu frowned. “The Empress usually acts cautiously, it’s my negligence.”
No one would have expected someone so calm and steady to suddenly make such a move.
Mingxi thought about Consort Shu’s words, then suddenly said, “Niang Niang, do you think the Empress is so eager to frame me because she knows who poisoned the food and is trying to protect that person?”
Consort Shu paused, then glanced at Mingxi. “That makes some sense. This is not the place to discuss it, let’s talk later.”
The group headed back to Cuiwei Palace. While Consort Shu had someone send a message to the Emperor, she also ordered Hu Momo to guard the interrogators from the Imperial Punishment Department, making sure they didn’t commit suicide out of guilt. She wanted to keep them alive to clarify everything later and also sent for the Imperial doctor to treat their wounds.
At least, they should change their clothes and tend to their injuries, so when they report to the Emperor, they won’t appear too pitiful and give the wrong impression of Mingxi.
After dealing with these matters, Consort Shu finally sighed in relief. Mingxi had already been cleaned up, changed, and had her hair done. She looked neat and composed.
Consort Shu looked at Mingxi’s cloud-shaped hairdo, smiling approvingly at the maid who styled her hair.
When the Emperor saw this gentle and refined Mingxi, even if he knew she was skilled in martial arts, he wouldn’t think she was too intimidating or lost her feminine grace.
Consort Shu had Mingxi sit beside her and said softly, “The matter from last night hasn’t been clarified, and now the issue with County Princess Muhua has surfaced. Thankfully, you and Muchen are both fine, otherwise I would’ve…”
Mingxi saw the concern in Consort Shu’s eyes and softened her voice. “Niang Niang, please don’t worry. It was a close call last night, but Wangye is very skilled, and with the protection of Guard Qi and others, we managed to escape safely.”
Consort Shu looked at Mingxi and asked, “What do you think about last night? When the Emperor summons you later, be sure to speak clearly, don’t make any mistakes.”
Mingxi’s expression became serious. After a pause, she spoke, “I suspect the assassination last night was aimed at me, and Wangye was just involved because of me.”
“Explain further,” Consort Shu said solemnly.
“Wangye sent me home, and after we left the palace, that’s when others found out. The assassins were waiting on my route back to the mansion, so the attack must have been aimed at me.”
Consort Shu looked at Mingxi and asked, “How do you know Wangye wasn’t ambushed on his way back to the mansion?”
Mingxi was taken aback, then exclaimed, “Could there have been an ambush?”
Consort Shu nodded. “This morning, Muchen sent a message. Chen Xiao and his men investigated and found signs of an ambush on the road to Wangye’s mansion. However, the attackers retreated without striking. This is rather puzzling.”
Mingxi thought for a moment and said, “When we were attacked, the patrol soldiers were nowhere to be seen. It was only after my driver risked his life to find them that they came to our aid.”
Consort Shu’s expression darkened. “So, this attack must have been carefully planned, they waited until everything was in place before making a move on you.”
Mingxi nodded. “But I really don’t understand who would go to such lengths to assassinate me.”
“Yes, neither do I. But as long as we keep investigating, we’ll find out who’s behind it,” Consort Shu said. “You suspected the Empress knew who poisoned the food, and I think that’s very likely. But I wonder if there’s any connection between these two incidents.”
Mingxi wasn’t sure either. She lowered her head, thinking deeply, before finally speaking, “The poisoning of County Princess Muhua must be connected. The poisoned dish appeared on both my and Wangye’s dining table. It’s hard to say if it was aimed at me, Wangye, or both of us.”
The same dish was on one table, so either of them could have eaten it.
Consort Shu’s face turned grim. Over the years, her son had grown up, and she had tried to protect his reputation by avoiding conflicts with the Empress. But perhaps the Empress had forgotten who she truly was.
If her suspicions were correct, the person who poisoned the food was likely someone the Empress was trying to protect—someone very close to her, which is why she took extreme measures to have Mingxi brought into the palace for interrogation.
The Empress likely wanted to secure the upper hand, using Mingxi as a scapegoat.
Did the Empress truly believe that just because Mingxi was merely a young lady from the Marquis Manor—engaged to her son but not yet married—she would be unwilling to protect her?
How laughable. She was judging others by her own selfish mindset.
