Who put the yellow robe on me?

General Zhong Wenbin, Prime Minister He, Sixteenth Prince Jiang Chen and Imperial Censor Shi Baixia, the four of them followed the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict and hurried to Emperor Liang's bedroom.

The eunuch Deng, who delivered the imperial edict, was wearing a blue cloth official uniform. He walked in front, and General Zhong Wenbin and others followed slowly along the stone path in the palace.

Suddenly, Grand Chancellor He Wendao whispered to the eunuch delivering the imperial edict, "Eunuch Deng, please go ahead and we will follow closely."

Prime Minister He's tone showed the composure gained from years of officialdom, but also revealed his urgent concern for the affairs within the Emperor's bedroom.

The eunuch Deng, who delivered the imperial edict, quickly responded, "Prime Minister He, please don't make His Majesty wait too long, or else it will embarrass me."

He glanced sideways at Prime Minister He, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

Prime Minister He smiled and said, "Of course, of course!" There was a hint of sophistication in his smile.

Eunuch Deng looked at the four people beside him and realized that they all seemed to have their own concerns, and each of them revealed anxiety and heaviness between their brows.

So he quickened his pace and hurried forward, leaving behind a thin shadow that gradually went away.

The four of them continued to move forward one after the other.

The Prime Minister and General Zhong Wenbin walked side by side, and following closely behind them were the dark-skinned Sixteenth Prince Jiang Chen and Shi Baixia from the Imperial Hospital.

Along the way, traces of rain remained on the stone pavement, and the air was mixed with the fragrance of soil and flowers, adding a touch of dreamlike tranquility to the tense atmosphere.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Prime Minister He suddenly stopped and looked up at the guards patrolling around the palace, as if he was measuring whether the distance in front of him was enough for their conversation to go unheard.

The general looked at Prime Minister He and whispered, "Prime Minister, did you deliberately send the eunuch away to deliver the decree? Does he have something to say?"

Prime Minister He did not answer immediately. Instead, he exchanged glances with the general, then turned to look at Shi Baixia, who was following closely behind him. His voice carried a command that could not be ignored: "Master Shi!"

That call seemed to break the silence, causing Shi Baixia's expression to change drastically. A trace of surprise and alertness flashed in his eyes. He hurriedly asked, "What are Prime Minister He's instructions?"

Prime Minister He said in a low voice, "We've been in Wanhe Hall for the past few days, and the civil and military officials have been discussing it. There's a lot of noise and discussion. I have something I want to ask you, but I haven't had the chance."

His words revealed deep concern and keen observation of the changing situation, as if every word was as heavy as Mount Tai, falling on Shi Baixia's heart.

Sixteenth Prince Jiang Chen, standing nearby, frowned slightly upon hearing Prime Minister He's words, secretly wondering what secret Prime Minister He was about to ask. However, he didn't interrupt, simply staring silently ahead.

Suddenly, General Zhong Wenbin saw that Prime Minister He was hesitant to speak, and could not help but break the silence. He asked half-jokingly: "Prime Minister He, do we need to step aside? Are you trying to show off your skills in front of us?" There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but he did not lose the dignity of a military commander.

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister He smiled faintly, his tone full of calmness: "General, there is no need for that. Although this matter may be unbearable for others to hear, it is acceptable to you, General."

There seemed to be a secret tacit understanding between his words and those of General Zhong Wenbin, which made people feel excited.

In a flash, Prime Minister He's gaze fell on Shi Baixia, and his tone became more serious: "Master Shi! When Concubine De was finally taken away, she kept crying out that she was wronged and said there was something wrong with the water! I want to ask, did you draw this water... yourself?"

As soon as the words fell, the air seemed to freeze in an instant, as if only the echo of this question remained between heaven and earth.

Hearing these words, the Sixteenth Prince Jiang Chen's heart suddenly tightened, and a trace of suspicion flashed between his brows. He did not expect that Prime Minister He was so meticulous that he could actually catch clues from Concubine De's mouth.

Shi Baixia's eyelids twitched at first, but then he tried to calm down and replied in a steady voice, "Master He, I drew these two bowls of water from the well in the backyard of the Imperial Hospital. I used the same bucket to pour them into two white jade bowls. There is absolutely no impurities, so there is definitely no problem."

At this moment, General Zhong Wenbin seemed to suddenly blurt out: "Did you meet anyone else in the meantime?" There seemed to be a bit of nonchalant curiosity in his tone, as if the question was just a casual remark.

When Shi Baixia heard this, the expression on his face froze instantly and he was slightly stunned, as if he was wondering if there were any details that he had not noticed.

Seeing that Shi Baixia hesitated and remained silent, Prime Minister He continued to ask, "Sir Shi?" There was a hint of anxiety and expectation in his voice.

Shi Baixia paused for a moment, then whispered, "Sir He...we did meet two people in the middle." His voice gradually became lower.

A sharp look flashed in Prime Minister He's eyes, and he immediately asked, "Who... is it?" His eyes were full of determination to ask.

Shi Baixia's eyes flickered as he replied in a low voice, "On my way back, I ran into Miss He Xiaowei. She was accompanying the Thirteenth Princess Jiang Sirou to the Imperial Hospital to get medicine."

Before he finished speaking, Prime Minister He's expression suddenly changed, with a hint of disbelief and surprise in his eyes: "Xiao Wei'er?"

His voice was low and a little surprised, as if this discovery had disrupted his original plan.

Shi Baixia nodded hurriedly and said, "Yes, Miss He did ask me about the origins of these two bowls of water, and she asked quite carefully. I answered her truthfully, but...but..."

He paused, a hint of hesitation in his eyes, as if he was hiding some key detail.

Upon seeing this, the sixteenth prince Jiang Chen felt his heart tighten and he hurriedly asked, "But what? Tell me quickly!" There was obvious anxiety in his voice.

Shi Baixia took a deep breath and finally whispered, "But... after I described the appearance of the two Sixteenth Princes in detail, the Thirteenth Princess's face suddenly changed drastically and she began to tremble uncontrollably."

His words were full of helplessness and surprise, as if the scene at that moment was deeply engraved in his memory.

Prime Minister He raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "What happened next?" The air was filled with tension, and everyone held their breath, waiting for Shi Baixia's further explanation.

Shi Baixia continued, "Afterwards, I immediately placed the Thirteenth Princess in the Imperial Hospital and arranged for her to rest and recuperate. After she took a dose of the decoction carefully prepared by an old Chinese doctor, I hurried back to Wanhe Hall."

Although his voice was calm, it was filled with the heaviness of the unusual journey he had just experienced.

Seeing this, General Zhong Wenbin asked, "Prime Minister, what's wrong?" There was a hint of curiosity and anxiety in his voice, as if he was worried that there was a bigger secret behind this matter.

Prime Minister He turned his head and looked firmly at the Sixteenth Prince Jiang Chen, his tone full of expectation and temptation: "Sixteenth Prince, what do you think?"

His words seemed to carry an invisible sword, striking directly at the deepest secrets in Jiang Chen's heart.