The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

"Jin Shou, stand up and speak."

Fei Wan's investigation of the case begins tonight.

The emperor left after making his arrangements. He was very busy, and since it was already night, he still had to discuss state affairs with his ministers. Concubine Xian also left with mixed feelings, apparently still needing to process the fact that her power had been divided.

Fei Wan did not leave, but stayed in Concubine Shun's palace. She arrested all the people who served the meal tonight and questioned them one by one.

The last person to be questioned was the eunuch Jin Shou, the steward of the imperial kitchen.

As soon as he entered the door, he knelt down and cried bitterly, thanking Feiwan and Zhishu for saving his life.

"Thank you, Miss Zhao and Miss Ying, for your intercession. We were spared from the torture chamber. I will remember your great kindness for the rest of my life. Woo woo woo..."

Fei Wan called him to his feet. "Eunuch Jin has always served me diligently, his words are pleasing, and I enjoy listening to them. He is clever and I enjoy using him. This time, if you truly wish to repay his kindness, then find out who added something to Ying Xuanshi's dish."

Jin Shou was stunned.

Feeling that Fei Wan's tone was not right, he looked up and immediately met Fei Wan's extremely oppressive gaze, which made him startled.

"My lady, this... this might be a little difficult..."

Xiao Linzi, standing beside him, said coldly, "If you don't want to, just say so. You're not the only one serving in the kitchen, and you're not the only one serving dinner tonight who's clever. If the young lady orders someone else to do it, don't regret it later. The next time His Majesty sends someone from the kitchen to the palace for trial, the young lady may not be able to stop him."

"...I, I understand!" Jin Shou wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Fei Wan said, "I understand. Now get to work. I want you to find the person within two days, and don't alert the enemy."

"I will definitely do it!"

Fei Wan asked him, "You're going to do it? How can you guarantee that?"

Jin Shou said with a cold sweat, "I will go back and keep quiet, saying that I have cleared myself of suspicion. It's not the kitchen's fault, but someone in Concubine Shun's palace. I will be relaxed on the outside, but tight-lipped on the inside. I will secretly monitor everyone in the kitchen with my trusted confidants. Everyone who is related to tonight's meal, as well as those who usually provide meals for Lady Ying, will be closely monitored. If anyone has any problems, don't alarm them first, but quietly report to Lady Ying and wait for her instructions."

Fei Wan listened and nodded slightly: "You are indeed smart. It is the right thing to use your intelligence for this. Just do your job properly. If you do it well, I will not treat you unfairly. But if you don't do it well..."

"I will do my best! I will definitely do it!"

Jin Shou kowtowed.

Xiao Linzi sent him away.

Xiang Yi whispered, "He's quite clever. He figured it out so quickly."

If he refused to accept this mission today, no matter who ultimately attacked Lady Sakura, and it was discovered, he, as a steward and also a waiter, would be held responsible for dereliction of duty, and his position as steward would be a thing of the past. If he disobeyed and offended Lady Zhao, and was brought to trial for his incompetence, no one would plead for him. If Lady Sakura's pregnancy was not saved, and His Majesty took His Majesty's wrath out on him, his survival would be uncertain.

So he must do this job, and he must do it well.

Fei Wan nodded: "Jin Shou is a smart man. I have been observing him for some time, so I handed this matter over to him."

Xiang Yi thought for a moment and said, "But... putting aside what happened tonight, what if he was the one who usually added food to Lady Ying in the kitchen?"

Xiao Linzi returned and said with a smile, "The young master has already thought of this and has instructed Dongbao to have a spy in the kitchen secretly keep an eye on Jinshou. If he's innocent, we can use him to investigate the case. If he's a suspect, we can catch him."

Xiang Yi smiled and said, "My lady is really thoughtful."

"You've thought of this, haven't you?" Fei Wan smiled at her. "You're alert and sharp, which makes me feel at ease."

Xiangyi smiled and her eyes lit up when she was praised.

Xiao Linzi teased Jin Shou, "If he were innocent, he'd probably be upset too. He's been fawning over Zhao Ronghua for a while now, and besides the generous reward, he hasn't received any other benefits yet, and now he's been given a dangerous mission."

Xiang Yi smiled upon hearing this: "Although it's dangerous, it's also an opportunity. If this matter is handled well and he is innocent, then our young master can use him with confidence in the future. With the young master's favor, as long as he works hard for the young master, is there any fear that he won't have a bright future?"

Xiao Linzi said, "When I sent him out just now, I deliberately told him that there are four stewards in the kitchen, but only one in charge. Maybe the eunuch still has a chance to move up. He was a little excited when he heard that."

Fei Wan praised: "You did a great job."

Give a slap in the face and a date.

There is not only pressure, but also motivation, so Jin Shou is willing to be driven.

This is coercion and inducement.

Many things in the world can only be accomplished in this way.

Xiao Linzi laughed and said, "It's all thanks to the young bishop."

Fei Wan said, "Ever since I was promoted to Ronghua and moved to Chunxi Palace, I haven't promoted you guys yet. There's no rush, though. I think after you come to visit my parents, I'll be promoted and have more people around me. By then, you'll have to take care of my subordinates."

Xiao Linzi and Xiangyi both frowned and agreed.

Late at night.

After Fei Wan briefly interrogated a few palace maids, she pretended to be gone and then said goodbye and returned to Chunxi Palace.

The interrogation tonight was all a show. The key was to take the opportunity to reach into the kitchen and investigate to see who was preparing the red water chestnuts with added ingredients for Zhishu.

Another purpose is to see if Zhishu "sees blood" and who in the palace will be anxious and who will move abnormally.

The person who set up this trap probably didn't do it just to frame Zhishu, he must have other plans.

What could it be?

The slightly cool evening breeze blew on my body, and the palace lanterns were dim yellow, standing one after another, illuminating the winding bluestone road.

On a quiet night in late summer and early autumn, the night fog rose up and enveloped the entire palace city. The flying eaves and brackets of the palace gardens near and far and the twinkling lights were all immersed in the fog and could not be seen clearly.

Just like this unknown and strange situation.

"My lady, the hot water is ready. Do you want to rest now?"

"Ah."

Fei Wan returned to her own palace, gathered her thoughts, took a bath and went to bed.

After soaking in hot water, I feel refreshed and my thoughts become clearer.

There was nothing to worry about, and nothing to be afraid of. The emperor had entrusted her with the responsibility of assisting the virtuous concubine and had given her the honor of visiting her parents. She just had to make good use of the opportunity.

Zhishu's pregnancy was just a minor issue. There were many more and greater dangers waiting for her in the future.

If you have a goal in mind, you can be invincible.

Had a good sleep.

It seems that in the dark, people with strong determination will always be favored.

I woke up the next morning and just finished washing up when I received good news.

"My lady, the steward Jin Shou from the kitchen has come to deliver breakfast personally. He said you were tired yesterday, so he specially prepared a bowl of snow frog and white fungus soup for you."

"Send him in."

Fei Wan sat on the colorful rose chair in the main hall, with a solemn demeanor, and smiled at Jin Shou who knelt as soon as he entered the door.

"Eunuch Jin looks very happy. I guess there's some clue about it?"