Chapter 80: Confusing and Bewildering

Confusing and Bewildering

Empress Duan's mind was naturally more far-reaching than the Prince of Yun, Yin Fengjin's. So, as soon as Empress Duan's words fell, Yin Fengjin also became nervous. But before Yin Fengjin could speak, Concubine Li, sitting beside Empress Duan, spoke first.

"Then Empress, what should we do?! Could it be that the Emperor will blame Jin'er? No, this won't do, Empress, you must uphold justice for our Jin'er!"

Concubine Li was Yin Fengjin's mother. When she entered the palace, she was bestowed the title "Li" by the Emperor because of her beauty and plumpness. Yin Fengjin was Concubine Li's only son, so she naturally wanted to protect him.

But at this moment, hearing Concubine Li's words, Empress Duan glanced at her and pursed her lips.

"Do you think I don't know that?! Otherwise, why would I be here talking nonsense with you?"

Empress Duan was a bit impatient. For a time, the room fell into an eerie silence. But not long after, the Crown Prince, Yin Fenghan, who had been standing beside them without speaking, said softly,

"Actually, regarding today's matter, Mother and Concubine Li don't need to be too anxious. I think the situation is not that serious."

The Crown Prince, Yin Fenghan, spoke suddenly, and his words stunned the people present. Empress Duan raised her eyebrows.

"Han'er, what do you mean?"

"Nothing, Mother. I just think that although what Mother said just now is correct, in fact, it is not the case."

Looking at Empress Duan, Yin Fenghan curled his lips into a smile.

"Mother, think about it: it is true that Fengjin went to toast Yin Fengzhan in the Jufeng Tang today, and it is also true that the Princess Consort of Chen fainted after drinking the wine. But Mother, think about it: if Fengjin really wanted to poison Yin Fengzhan but accidentally caused the Princess Consort of Chen, Nie Jinxuan, to be poisoned, why would he do it in the Jufeng Tang?!"

"After all, although Father and Mother had already left the banquet, there were still many people there. And even if Fengjin wanted to poison him, why choose to do it in front of everyone?! So, based on this point alone, Father will believe that Fengjin is innocent!"

The Crown Prince, Yin Fenghan, spoke reasonably, so upon hearing this explanation, Empress Duan and the others breathed a sigh of relief. But at this moment, Yin Fenghan narrowed his narrow eyes and changed the subject.

"However, because of this, it makes me feel even more strange... Mother, think about it: the Princess Consort of Chen was poisoned in public, and it became known to everyone. And because of this, although Fengjin can clear his name and make Father believe Fengjin is innocent, on the contrary, it will also make people question... So, in my opinion, this matter is not as simple as it appears on the surface!"

The Crown Prince, Yin Fenghan's face was slightly gloomy. His narrowed eyes were filled with deep thought...

Yin Fenghan stopped speaking. For a time, the room fell into silence again. Empress Duan was also a shrewd person. As soon as she heard Yin Fenghan say this, she naturally understood his meaning and narrowed her eyes.

"Hmm, Han'er is right, the situation is indeed like this... So, the key to the matter now is: who is the real poisoner? And what is this person's purpose!"

Empress Duan pointed out the key point. Hearing this, Concubine Li bit her lip hatefully, while the Prince of Yun, Yin Fengjin, smiled coldly after a moment of silence.

"Right... I want to see who is playing tricks behind my back! If I find out who this person is, I will never spare them!"

That night, Empress Duan and the others didn't sleep well because of Nie Jinxuan's poisoning. And the result was just as Yin Fenghan and Empress Duan had expected: the next day, various rumors about why the Princess Consort of Chen was poisoned spread everywhere.

After all, the Prince of Yun, Yin Fengjin, had always been in the Crown Prince's faction, so now that something had happened, it naturally couldn't just be Yin Fengjin's business alone. Once this matter involved the Crown Prince, all kinds of questions about the struggle between the two factions, the purpose of the poisoning, and so on, were all brought up!

Even the Emperor heard the news. Therefore, the next morning, while having breakfast, the Emperor brought it up.

"Gao Caiyong, how is the one in the Fourth's house?"

The Emperor asked without looking up, his low tone revealing no joy or anger. But hearing this, Gao Caiyong, who was serving the Emperor, paused, handed the silver chopsticks to the palace servant beside him, and stepped forward to the Emperor's side.

"Reporting to the Emperor, she hasn't woken up yet. But the imperial physician said there should be no major problem."

Gao Caiyong answered in a soft voice. After speaking, he glanced at the Emperor. Then he saw the Emperor nod.

"Hmm, it's good that there's no major problem. The one in the Fourth's house is capable. If something really happened to her, I would truly feel a pity."

The Emperor spoke to himself as if they were chatting about daily life. But after saying this, he paused, put down the exquisitely crafted silver chopsticks, and seeing this, Gao Caiyong hurriedly handed over a wet towel with both hands.

Afterward, while the Emperor wiped his hands with the wet towel, he continued,

"Then has the real culprit been found?"

"Reporting to the Emperor, not yet."

"Then I heard before that it was the Third who did it, what is going on?"

"This servant is not very clear. However, it is said that the Princess Consort of Chen was poisoned and fainted after drinking the wine toasted by the Prince of Yun. That is why some people say it was the Prince of Yun who poisoned her."

"Then you mean the real culprit is not the Third?"

"Emperor, please calm your anger, this servant does not dare to speak recklessly."

Gao Caiyong stepped back and bowed his head. Seeing this, the Emperor turned his gaze and said,

"Alright, I know what you mean. But you are right, in front of everyone, the Third is not that stupid!"

As he spoke, the Emperor sighed, but then a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"But if this matter was not done by the Third, then who could it be? And what is the purpose?... But, forget it, since such a thing has happened, I will go to the front courtyard to see how the one in the Fourth's house is doing!"

The Emperor said to himself, stood up, and walked out directly.

The Emperor's visit to the front courtyard to see Nie Jinxuan surprised everyone. But after a brief daze, everyone in the room hurried forward to bow.

After a simple bow and greeting, the Emperor walked to the bedside, looked at Nie Jinxuan, who was still unconscious, and asked in a low voice,

"Did the imperial physician say when she will wake up?"

"Reporting to Father, it should be around noon or afternoon."

"Hmm."

Listening to Yin Fengzhan's answer, the Emperor nodded slightly. Then, after taking two steps back, he scanned the surroundings and asked in a low voice,

"Regarding the murderer, are there any clues?"

"This son has already sent people to investigate, but there are no clues yet."

"Hmm, but I heard that at the time, the one in the Fourth's house fainted after drinking the wine toasted by the Third. How do you see this, Fourth?"

The Emperor spoke in his usual low voice, but after speaking, he looked at Yin Fengzhan, who was standing in front of him. At this moment, Yin Fengzhan pursed his lips and replied with an unmoving expression,

"Reporting to Father, the situation was indeed like that, but this son does not believe that this matter was done by the Third Brother!"

"Oh? How so?"

"Reporting to Father, because although the Third Brother is not very harmonious with this son on weekdays, he would not do such a thing as poisoning, and it was poisoning in public. So this son believes that rather than saying it was done by the Third Brother, it is better to say that someone had ulterior motives and deliberately provoked the conflict between this son and the Third Brother."

Whether outside or in the residence, Yin Fengzhan was a man of few words. But every word he said was sharp and direct. So, hearing Yin Fengzhan say this, the Emperor's eyebrows moved, and he laughed softly.

"Good! I am very gratified that you can think this way."

Nodding to Yin Fengzhan again, the Emperor turned to Gao Caiyong behind him and said,

"Order it down, have someone send some supplements to the one in the Fourth's house later, it can be considered my intention."

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Father."

Gao Caiyong accepted the order, and Yin Fengzhan bowed his head to thank him. Hearing this, the Emperor smiled again, turned to look at Yin Fengzhan, and continued,

"As for the investigation of the murderer, I will leave it to you, Fourth."

"Yes."

"Hmm, take good care of her."

After giving Yin Fengzhan one last instruction, the Emperor walked out of the room directly.

The Emperor left. In the blink of an eye, only Yin Fengzhan, Xiao Xiu, and the other servants taking care of Nie Jinxuan remained in the room.

"Go down."

Yin Fengzhan spoke suddenly. Hearing this, Xiao Xiu and the other servants were startled, but they hurried out. After Xiao Xiu and the others left, Yin Fengzhan walked to the bedside, sat down, and looked at Nie Jinxuan, who was still lying on the bed without moving.

The room was quiet. At this moment, Yin Fengzhan, sitting by the bed, couldn't help but slowly raise his hand and gently stroke Nie Jinxuan's face.

But the moment Yin Fengzhan's hand touched her delicate skin, Nie Jinxuan's eyelashes trembled slightly!

Instantly, Yin Fengzhan's eyes flashed, and he immediately withdrew his hand. A moment after he withdrew his hand, Nie Jinxuan, lying on the bed, slowly opened her eyes...

Nie Jinxuan had woken up!

Seeing this, Yin Fengzhan pursed his lips and said in a low voice,

"Awake?"

Yin Fengzhan's voice was still low, but perhaps because she had been unconscious for too long, Nie Jinxuan was stunned for a moment. But after a moment, her eyes shifted, and she met Yin Fengzhan's gaze. Nie Jinxuan finally recovered.

But the moment she recovered, Nie Jinxuan's eyes flashed sharply, and she smiled coldly.

"Yes, I'm awake, so you must be very unhappy!"