Reborn, I am doing involution on Jinshan

Chai Lingyun took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, I suspect this case is related to a certain important official in the court. This person holds a high position of power and is manipulating everything behind the scenes, attempting to disrupt the government and seek personal gain. However, the evidence is not conclusive enough at the moment, so I dare not make any rash conclusions."

"You're speaking in official language again. What's the meaning?" The emperor was very displeased and looked very unhappy.

Chai Lingyun gritted his teeth and said, "Even if it involves the harem, I am still investigating."

The emperor's expression grew increasingly gloomy. "Harem? Are you saying someone from my harem was involved in this?"

Everyone in the hall gasped, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. Dongfang Hao was shocked; he hadn't expected the harem to be involved. Second Prince Dongfang Ye and Fourth Prince Dongfang Ran exchanged a glance, a flicker of panic in their eyes.

Chai Lingyun lowered his head, not daring to meet the emperor's gaze. "Your Majesty, this is just a suspicion at the moment, and further investigation is needed. The harem has strict rules, and I dare not get involved lightly, for fear of alerting the enemy."

"Captain Cao has already interrogated that bitch named Liu Shuiling. She only said that she saw the contact person coming out of the tunnel in the palace every time, but she knows nothing else."

The Third Prince Dongfang Yan: "Master Chai, which location did she say for the Imperial Palace? Is there a tunnel in the Imperial Palace? Don't believe any random place she said. Don't be fooled by a woman. And every time?"

Chai Lingyun quickly explained, "Third Prince, although Liu Shuiling doesn't know the exact location, the details she described don't seem fabricated. Furthermore, I've secretly investigated and found that there is indeed an old tunnel beneath the palace, but it's been in disrepair for so long that very few people know about it."

Dongfang Ye's eyes flickered, and he coughed lightly and said, "Perhaps that woman is just talking nonsense, her memory is confused, and she is just trying to exonerate herself. How can we conclude that it is related to the harem based on her one-sided statement?"

Dongfang Hao sneered, "Second brother is so anxious to clear himself, is there something he has to hide?"

Dongfang Ye's face changed, and he was about to retort when the emperor slammed the table and said, "Be quiet! Chai Lingyun, continue investigating. No matter who is involved, get to the bottom of it."

Chai Lingyun accepted the order, his forehead covered in sweat. "Yes, I also found a lot of jewelry from her residence. As long as we find out the source of the jewelry, we will know the truth."

A cold glint flashed in the emperor's eyes. "You bold and vicious woman, how dare you stir up trouble right under my nose! No matter who is involved, I will investigate thoroughly. If anyone dares to conceal or protect anyone, I will execute all nine generations of their clan!"

Minister of Justice Chai Lingyun kowtowed quickly, "Your humble servant obeys your command! I will spare no effort to investigate this case as quickly as possible and give an explanation to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

The emperor waved his hand and said impatiently: "Step back and give me the result as soon as possible." The Minister of Justice stood up hurriedly as if he had been pardoned and walked backwards out of the hall.

After leaving the side hall, the chief eunuch Guo Defu called out to him, "Master Chai, can you please excuse me for a moment?"

Chai Lingyun nodded and walked with him to a secluded place: "Eunuch Guo, what's the matter?"

"The Emperor's confidant sent a message asking, he knows there is an escape tunnel in the Imperial Palace, and wants to know where the woman and the harem meet in that tunnel?"

Chai Lingyun's heart trembled, and after a moment's hesitation, he said, "Eunuch Guo, we haven't yet found the exact handover location. The tunnel is complex and has been in disrepair for a long time, making it extremely difficult to find. It's only been a day since the assassination attempt, so the search will take time. At present, we can only confirm that Liu Shuiling, that bitch, sneaked in to assassinate the Queen Mother. Or perhaps, her target isn't just the Queen Mother, and she's trying to kill two birds with one stone."

He didn't want to say too much, and because of the other party's identity, he responded ambiguously.

Guo Defu frowned and lowered his voice, saying, "Master Chai, this matter is of great importance. The Emperor takes it very seriously. You must hurry up and investigate. If you can find out as soon as possible, you will definitely benefit."

Chai Lingyun nodded quickly, but he was worried. He knew that there were many implications behind this, and if he accidentally touched upon the interests of certain forces, his life would be in danger.

"Well, it's my duty to do my best. Well, I have some official business to attend to. Well... let's talk next time."

At this moment, he suddenly thought of the crown prince Dongfang Hao, and perhaps he could discuss it with him. So, Chai Lingyun hurriedly said goodbye to Guo Defu and planned to go to Dongfang Hao, hoping to get some useful advice from him and uncover the truth of the harem conspiracy together.

After the Minister of Justice, Lao Chai, left, the Emperor's gaze slowly swept over the princes and said coldly, "I hope you will all fulfill your duties conscientiously and not take chances. If I discover that anyone has colluded with such a traitor, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The princes and ministers knelt on the ground and shouted: "The emperor is wise and wise, and we are loyal to him."

However, amidst this uniform shouting, a few people's eyes flickered, secretly worried, wondering where this storm would eventually push them...

The emperor snorted coldly, "No matter who is involved, we must get to the bottom of it. If anyone from the harem is truly involved in the assassination of the empress dowager, I will show no mercy."

Dongfang Hao pondered for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "Father, I think we can secretly send someone to assist Minister Chai in the investigation to speed up the process while also ensuring peace in the harem. The Empress Dowager is already old and must not suffer any more grievances."

The emperor nodded and said, "The Crown Prince is right. Secret Guard Commander Zhao Yuanling and Commander Pang Zhengxiang, listen to my orders. You must secretly assist Chai Lingyun in investigating this case. Don't make any mistakes."

Pang Zhengxiang took the order, his eyes determined. An investigation into the Empress Dowager's assassination quietly began in this seemingly peaceful palace.

At this moment, a close guard hurried in and whispered something in the emperor's ear. The emperor's expression turned even uglier: "Princess Ruiyue of Prince Gong's mansion has been poisoned. Her life or death is uncertain."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly exploded. Dongfang Hao's heart suddenly tightened, and he worried about Xiao Ruiyue's safety. Dongfang Ye and Dongfang Ran looked at each other, and a trace of imperceptible panic flashed in their eyes.

"One crisis comes another. Is the harem planning to rebel and become emperor?" He angrily threw several memorials on the table to the ground.

Dongfang Hao suppressed his inner worry and stepped forward, saying, "Father, please calm down. Getting angry right now will serve no purpose. The most urgent task is to ensure little Ruiyue's safety and to find out who in the harem is responsible. How dare they be so bold as to defy the law and repeatedly challenge the king's authority?"

Dongfang Ye also quickly agreed: "Brother is right, father, we can't let such a traitor succeed. Perhaps we can start by investigating the concubines in the harem who have had grievances with Prince Gong's Mansion. Maybe we can find some clues."

Dongfang Ran frowned slightly, and after a moment's thought, he said, "Father, it's possible that someone is deliberately framing the harem to confuse the public and disrupt our rescue plan and the situation at court. We must investigate carefully and not jump to conclusions."

"I know who it is. I will have her torn into pieces and never reborn."

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Give Lord Chai some time and we will get to the bottom of this matter." The imperial censor Dong Cheng, who loved to gossip, advised.

"Brother, it's not worth getting yourself mad at."