The queen has four sons and six daughters, and she can call the wind and rain

After the greetings were over, a crowd of people escorted Concubine An away, but Yun Zhining didn't care at all and ordered people to close the Qingning Palace. Luo Su also made the white sugar frosting cake and came in with the finished product and the raw materials.

"My lady, everything is ready, please take a look."

"it is good."

The materials for making white sugar frosting cake are very simple, including flour, lard, white sugar, frosting sugar and some other ingredients. Yun Zhining checked them one by one and found no problems.

"Xiao Kui, go out and see what Lily is doing now. If she's okay, ask her to come in."

Lily came in soon.

"My lady, what do you want me to do?"

"Come and take a look. Is it possible that these things may have some food incompatibility reaction?"

Lily checked them one by one and shook her head.

"Don't worry, madam. These things are not incompatible with food. However,..."

"Sometimes the frosting gets mixed up with something and something deadly can happen."

"For example, ..."

"There is a medicine called corn poppy. The powder is similar to icing sugar and it is easy to confuse them."

"Once you accidentally ingest it, you will be unable to sleep all day, you will be in a trance, have hallucinations, become crazy, and even see things that ordinary people cannot see..."

"etc,……"

Before she could finish her words, Yun Zhining's expression changed drastically.

"If I remember correctly, the symptoms that Royal Concubine Hyomin suffered before her death were very similar to what you described."

"Could it be that she was poisoned by Poppy?"

Lily looked gloomy.

"Probably."

"The Imperial Noble Consort Xiaomin has been ill for many years and has been taking medicine all the time. If someone had the intention to harm her, it wouldn't be difficult to deliberately replace the icing sugar for the white sugar icing cake with poppy."

"However, poppy is a very rare commodity. If others want to obtain it, they either have to get it from outside the palace or from the Imperial Hospital."

"The people who poisoned him are none other than those people in Xuanhua Palace. If we investigate carefully, we will eventually find clues."

"Your Majesty, what you said makes sense. So what should we do now?"

"Of course, ..."

"Xiao Kui, bring me a pen, ink, paper and inkstone. I want to write a letter to the emperor."

In the imperial study, Qi Yejing had just come off court and had breakfast. He was about to start handling government affairs when he saw Dong Ling coming in with a heavy expression on his face.

"Your Majesty, Xiao Kui just sent you a letter saying it was written by the Imperial Concubine and asked you to read it immediately."

"What kind of love letter is this Aning writing to me?"

Qi Yejing opened it with a smile, but after just one look, his face turned cold.

"Dongling, summon General Qi to the palace immediately."

"Yes."

On the way back home that day, General Qi encountered a frightened horse. After he heroically saved the beauty, he fell in love with Madam An at first sight. So every day after court, he would look for opportunities to get close to Madam An. Madam An was not stupid and immediately understood his thoughts.

She also had a good impression of General Qi. In addition, Noble Consort Xiaomin had a very good relationship with Yun Zhining, and after her death, she gave so many good things to Xiao Putao. General Qi also respected her very much and treated Yun An like a brother, so she was also happy to be close to the father and son of the Qi family.

However, they have known each other for too short a time, so there is no way to lift the veil for the time being.

When Dongling conveyed the imperial edict, General Qi was about to go find Madam An, but when he learned that the emperor had summoned him, he immediately turned around and went back to the palace.

"Your humble servant greets His Majesty. I wonder why Your Majesty summoned me to the palace?"

Qi Yejing did not say anything, but handed Yun Zhining's letter to General Qi. General Qi's face changed drastically after reading it.

"poppy!"

"Didn't this thing disappear after Concubine Li died? Why did it suddenly appear?"

"And use it on Ayao!"

"Who on earth is so cruel to do such a cruel thing to Ah Yao?"

"A Ning didn't say it in the letter, but she has pointed us in a direction. Ask Xiao Qi to investigate outside the palace to see if anyone in the palace bought medicine outside the palace three months before A Yao's death seven years ago. I will ask Dong Ling to investigate the matter at the Imperial Hospital."

"We already have clues. I believe it won't be long before we can find the truth."

General Qi nodded and was about to say something when he realized what was happening.

"No, Xiao Qi and Dong Ling have done all the work, so what should I do?"

"Have you forgotten what I told you before?"

Qi Yejing glared at him and said unhappily.

"How is your progress now? Do you have the confidence to take down Madam An?"

Speaking of this, General Qi felt a little guilty.

"Madam An was indeed conquered by my heroic figure, but she had been oppressed by Yun for too long, so she still doesn't dare to trust men and won't give her heart to me easily."

"I don't care. Anyway, I must hear good news within a month. Otherwise, you will come to me with your head."

General Qi gritted his teeth.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will definitely complete the task."

"Okay, it's okay, you can go back."

"Wei Chen retire."

The affairs of the harem were handed over to Concubine Xian and Concubine An, the investigation was given to Qi Yejing, the affairs of Qingning Palace were in charge of Xiao Pu Tao, the Sixth Princess and the Seventh Princess were in charge of Wan'er, Xiao Jiu was taken care of by Nanny Qi and Lily, and Yun Zhining only needed to eat and drink well and take care of her pregnancy, and play mahjong with the little palace maids when she was free and listen to their gossip. Half a month passed quickly.

There was peace inside Qingning Palace, but outside it was like fire and water.

The fourth princess and the fifth princess are of similar age, have the same hobbies, and have loved to compete and fight since childhood.

In the past, Concubine Feng followed behind Yun Zhining and helped her. Although Concubine An had a high position, she did not hold power in the palace, so everyone in the palace sided with the Fifth Princess.

But half a month ago, Yun Zhining found out that she was pregnant and in order to take care of the baby, she handed over the power of the harem to Concubine Xian and Concubine An. Although Concubine Feng's job did not change, Concubine An was now over her head.

Yun Zhining also revealed that the emperor wanted to make Concubine An the queen. Then the fourth princess would be the eldest princess. People in the palace would naturally know who they should support and who they should not support.

The season is about to change, and the Fashion Bureau has rushed out a batch of summer clothes and asked Little Grape to take the princesses to choose.

Everything was fine before and after, except for the fourth and fifth princesses.

The fifth princess fell in love with the green skirt with rippling water patterns at first sight. The skirt was made of silk, and it was light and cool to wear. She liked it very much.

But the fourth princess spoke first.

"Aunt Qingqing, I want this skirt. Please send someone to deliver it to Linghua Palace later."

"no!"

Seeing that the skirt she liked was snatched away by the Fourth Princess, the Fifth Princess immediately spoke out in objection.

"Fourth sister, I was the first one to see this dress, so it should belong to me."

"Since Fifth Sister likes this skirt, why don't you say anything?"

"It's not that I didn't speak, it's just that I spoke too late."

"Yes, since you know that you spoke too late, you should understand the principle of first come first served."

"This time, I was the one who spoke first, so the dress should belong to me."

"But,……"

Seeing the Fourth Princess being so aggressive, the Fifth Princess' eyes couldn't help but turn red.

"You are the elder sister and I am the younger sister, so you should give in to me."

"Yes, I am the elder sister and you are the younger sister. I should carry forward the fine tradition of Kong Rong giving away the pear and give this skirt to you. But if I remember correctly, Kong Rong not only gave the bigger pear to his younger brother, but also gave the bigger pear to his older brother."

"Since Fifth Sister understands the principle of Kong Rong giving up his pears, she will definitely give this skirt to Fourth Sister, right?"

"The word 'filial piety' doesn't just mean that older children should give way to younger children, younger children should also be respectful to older children. Big sister, do you think I'm right?"

Little Grape frowned slightly, but nodded slowly.

"Fourth sister, what you said makes sense."

"Xiao Wu, it was indeed your fourth sister who spoke first this time, so this aquamarine skirt with rippling water patterns should belong to your fourth sister."

The fifth princess' mouth instantly deflated and tears welled up in her eyes.

The fourth princess raised her eyebrows and smiled triumphantly.

"Big sister, you are the most fair and just. No wonder my father and the royal grandmothers like you the most."

"Okay, now that you've made your choice, let's go back."

The princesses bowed slightly, turned around and left. Only the Fifth Princess and the Little Grape sisters were left in the main hall.

Seeing that everyone present was on good terms with her, the Fifth Princess could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

"Big sister, I was the one who saw that aquamarine skirt with rippling water patterns first, why did you give it to Fourth Sister?"

"Because she was the first to speak, and you were a step late, you could only watch the things fall into the hands of others."

"No, it's you who is biased. You know that the fourth sister will soon become the eldest princess, so you want to please her."

"You don't love me anymore. I'm no longer in your heart. Wuuwuwu!"

Little Grape was not angry, but the Sixth Princess kicked her in anger.

"How could Empress Feng, who is such a cunning person, give birth to a fool like you? Did you inherit your father's genes?"

"Impossible. Father is also very cunning. He would never cry so ungracefully after falling into someone else's trap."

"Who do you look like?"

Little Grape and the others couldn't help themselves and set their eyes on the Sixth Princess.

The Sixth Princess suddenly felt a little nervous.

"Big sister, third sister, seventh sister, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Do you think I'm as stupid as my fifth sister?"

The Seventh Princess glared at her and said unhappily.

"The fact that you can ask this question proves that you are not much smarter than your fifth sister."

"Nonsense! I was brought up by Empress Xiaoci herself. How dare you say that I am not smart? Believe it or not, I will go to Xiaohe Palace later and complain to Empress Xiaoci. I will let Empress Xiaoci punish you severely."

The seventh princess laughed.

"Fifth sister didn't inherit Empress Feng's cunningness, nor did she inherit our father's slyness. So who do you think she inherited from?"

The Sixth Princess suddenly had an epiphany and spoke in a much lower voice.

"She inherited it..."

"Grandmother Xiaoci?"

The Seventh Princess did not respond, but her eyes gave the answer.

"Oh no!"

The Sixth Princess let out a long cry towards the sky.

"Oh my God, why are you so cruel to me?"

"Why are you so cruel to me?"

"Why are you so cruel to me?"

"Are you going to be so cruel to me?"

"So cruel to me?"

"Am I so cruel?"

"So cruel?"

"How cruel?"

"cruel?"

"Tolerate?"

"shut up!"

Little Grape, Wan'er and the Seventh Princess all stretched out their fists and hit the Sixth Princess on the head.

The Sixth Princess finally stopped howling.

She calmed down, and the Fifth Princess started acting up again.

"Big sister, I really like that aquamarine skirt with rippling water patterns, but now that skirt has been taken away by fourth sister. I am really, really sad."

"Shut up!"

Little Grape finally understood how Yun Zhining felt every time she saw the Sixth Princess committing a crime again.

I really want to explode with rage.

"Qingqing, take out the things!"

If this guy keeps yelling, she will really hit him.

Qingqing received the order and immediately took out the skirt that she had prepared in advance.

The skirt in Qingqing's hand is very similar to the green skirt with rippling water patterns that the fourth princess had just taken away. However, it is not a complete skirt, but consists of a top and a skirt, and can be matched with other tops and skirts at will.

Moreover, the material is better than the dress that the fourth princess took away.

The workmanship is also better than the dress that the fourth princess took away.

If the Fourth Princess saw this, she would be so angry that she would die.

When the fifth princess saw it, she was also very surprised.

"Big sister, what's going on?"

Why on earth would Aunt Qingqing take out a skirt that was even prettier than the one that Fourth Sister just took away?

"When mother handed over the power of the harem to Concubine An, she guessed that the people in the harem would flatter the powerful and bully you, so when she was rushing to make summer clothes, she told Miss Qingqing to make an extra dress and take out the good one first. After the fourth princess took it away, she would take out the better one."

"The fourth princess has already taken one, so she has no reason to covet yours."

The fifth princess suddenly realized.

"The Imperial Concubine is really amazing. She slapped Fourth Sister in the face without any effort."

"When summer comes in a few days, I will wear this dress and go in front of Fourth Sister. I guarantee that Fourth Sister will be pissed to death."

The Sixth Princess poked the Fifth Princess' face and said unhappily.

"Don't worry about having fun yet, learn from your mother's methods!"

"Qi Yeshi, I am your sister. You are being disrespectful. Be careful or I will report you to the Imperial Concubine."

"Come on, she's my own mother. No matter how much I love you, I can't possibly hit me because of you."

"Ahhh, Qi Yeshi, I'm going to beat you to death, I'm going to beat you to death!"

As summer approached and the weather got hotter, Yun Zhining's appetite became worse and worse. She ate a lot every day, but as soon as she started eating, she couldn't stop for a while and vomited it all out, even the bile.

She lay in bed, her face pale, her lips bitter, and she was very weak.

Little Grape saw it and felt pain in his heart.

"Mom, is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Silly Grape, pregnant women always have to go through this, and no one else can replace them."

"If you really want to help mother, then keep Xiaoliu under control and don't let her get into trouble. Otherwise, given mother's current situation, there's no way for her to help her deal with the aftermath."

"Don't worry, mother. I will definitely keep an eye on Xiaoliu. If she dares to go out and cause trouble at this critical moment, you don't need to do anything. I will break her legs first."