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

When Queen Yan heard this, she was stunned and frowned slightly.

Linglong quickly reminded: "My Lady, don't frown. Frowning too much will cause wrinkles."

Queen Yan relaxed her brows, took the jade roller that Linglong immediately handed over, rolled it on her forehead to smooth her skin.

The cool warmth of the jade calmed her nerves and helped her to maintain her composure.

He sneered softly, "If she really did hide in front of the emperor, that would be even better. It would save us a lot of trouble."

Linglong thought about it and couldn't help laughing: "That's right, we want to catch her red-handed. Since we didn't catch her in the pharmacy, it's the same if we catch her in Chenqian Palace. This way, her crime will be even greater!"

Linglong originally regretted that she was so confident of victory when she was in the imperial pharmacy that she shouted in advance and scared He Shuangying away.

At that time, he only wanted the person on duty in front of the Imperial Pharmacy to come over after hearing the noise, so that more people could see He Shuangying's true face and spread the scandal quickly.

As long as more people watched the arrest process, the criminal would be caught red-handed, and it would be a foregone conclusion. It would not be easy for the emperor to let He go.

So that it won’t end up like last time and the time before that.

But who knew that He Shuangying would be so desperate that she would do something desperate.

What's more, I didn't expect that He Shuangying could squeeze out of such a narrow gap in the wall behind the house in the backyard of the pharmacy. Could it be a snake?

Now it's a blessing in disguise. If He Shuangying escapes and really takes the risk to win and go to the emperor to show her seductive charm...

That really caught him in the act!

"Then, Madam, I will arrange for someone to go to the Imperial Palace to inquire about the situation."

"Well, go ahead," Empress Yan instructed again, "Don't alarm His Majesty. Also, don't slack off in the search elsewhere."

Linglong agreed and went down.

The people sent by Fengming Palace secretly searched and arrested people in various places in the palace. Although they did not cause a big commotion, they also alarmed many people in the palace.

In Chunxi Palace, Fei Wan was still dozing off.

Because the development of the situation was as expected, Xiangyi did not disturb Feiwan after receiving the news, but directly arranged and carried out the plan.

This seemingly peaceful night is actually full of undercurrents.

It's midnight.

The night grew deeper and colder. Empress Yan received the latest news and was certain that He Shuangying was in Chenqian Palace, so she ordered the withdrawal of the search forces.

Sitting in the inner hall, she wondered whether she should report everything to the emperor now.

Or should we wait?

Linglong made suggestions cautiously.

"Your Majesty, Chen Qian Palace has already called for water twice, but the lights haven't been turned off yet. Perhaps..."

Maybe there will be a third time.

"Why don't you wait a little longer, Your Majesty, and let He use all her tricks to your heart's content? Then, expose her and your majesty will be more alert. As for your majesty's health... we'll send some more nourishing soup to Chenqian Palace later..."

Linglong was embarrassed to say it so obviously.

But Empress Yan shook her head: "I'm not worried about His Majesty's health. He doesn't take care of his own body, why should I worry about it? It's just..."

Queen Yan felt a little worried.

I feel like there's something wrong with the whole thing.

But I can’t say exactly where.

She hesitated and did not go to the emperor immediately, just to sort out her thoughts.

But before she could figure it out, another senior palace maid suddenly hurried in from outside, wearing a chill from the night, and didn't even bother to warm herself before approaching.

"Empress, the eunuch in the pharmacy who's locked up in the back, he... he suddenly..."

Empress Yan said sternly, "What's wrong? Tell me!"

"He died suddenly..."

Queen Yan was surprised.

Ask how he died.

"My Lady, the guards said he seemed to have been poisoned. His face was all blue and purple, and there was white foam at the mouth."

Linglong was afraid of scaring her master, so she quickly scolded him, "Why are you saying this in front of the Queen? Did you just find out?"

"Yes, they just discovered it. They said that when Sister Linglong went to see the eunuch two quarters of an hour ago, he was still alive, but when they went in to check just now, he was dead. They reported it quickly and are waiting outside the hall. They can come in and report the details at any time."

Empress Yan said, "Why report so much detail? Linglong, go and see for yourself and investigate thoroughly."

Linglong was shocked and said, "...Your Majesty, something is wrong. I didn't go to the prisoner's room two quarters of an hour ago. In fact, I haven't set foot there since I finished asking for his confession!"

The head maid hurriedly said, "But the eunuchs who were guarding that man told me exactly that. I came in and reported back exactly what they said. I didn't hear or say anything wrong."

Linglong did not dare to delay and hurried out to investigate the situation.

Not long after, he came back with a look of horror on his face.

"How is that possible? How could there be someone in Fengming Palace who looks just like me? Your Majesty, not only did the eunuchs guarding the pharmacy witness this, but several palace servants on duty in the backyard also said they saw me, draped in a cloak, walking from the front yard through the corridor, all the way to the utility rooms where the prisoners are held. The eunuchs even saw my face and spoke to me. But your Majesty, you know, I was always by your side. At most, I would go out to the corridor to give instructions. How could I have the time to go to the utility rooms in the backyard?"

So who was that person who looked like her, dressed the same as her, ran into the utility room and said that the Queen had something to ask the suspect, went into the room and stayed alone with the suspect for a while before coming out?

Queen Yan's expression was solemn: "Someone is pretending to be you."

Linglong was puzzled: "Tonight, our Fengming Palace only has people sent out to search and arrest, and no one came in from outside. Could it be that someone in our palace is causing trouble?"

She is in charge of Fengming Palace, and normally no one can disguise themselves as her.

There wasn't even a palace maid who was of similar stature and appearance to her.

Besides, she was always on high alert and didn't notice anyone was wrong.

"Your Majesty! I'll call everyone in the palace and search every room! This person disguised himself as a servant, so there must be traces. I don't believe we can't find him!"

Empress Yan raised her hand to stop him and asked, "Is the eunuch in the pharmacy sure he's dead?"

"Yes, madam. I have examined him. He died of poisoning. He died not long ago. His body is still warm."

Queen Yan slowly stood up and said, "Let's go to Chenqian Palace."

"Empress? This..."

Linglong was puzzled.

Originally, the eunuch in the pharmacy was a witness. He sold banned drugs to He Shuangying and also gave a confession, which was strong evidence to deal with He Shuangying.

But he died in Fengming Palace, and things became unclear.

If she goes directly to the Imperial Court at this time, and He Shuangying refuses to admit her guilt and even bites back, the Empress will be in a very passive position.

She advised her master to calm down.

Empress Yan said, "I am very calm! We must explain the current situation to His Majesty as soon as possible! Think about it, with just a seductress like He Shuangying, would she have the ability to reach out and kill people in Fengming Palace? If she was so capable, why would she buy banned drugs? She would have ascended to power long ago."

Linglong bit her lip.

Yes!

Since no outsiders had entered tonight, it was most likely someone from within Fengming Palace was causing trouble. However, she usually kept Fengming Palace under strict control, so how could someone be so well hidden?

Even if there is, would such a capable person work hard for He Shuangying?

"So, Madam, you suspect...?"

"I don't know who to suspect, but I've long felt something was amiss! It's important to go and see His Majesty."

Queen Yan was confused for a moment.

But her intuition told her that this matter could not be delayed.

The phoenix carriage headed to Chenqian Palace late at night.

Two rows of lanterns illuminated the bluestone palace road brightly.

On the way, Empress Yan ordered, "Go to Chunxi Palace and inform Consort Zhao. If she can hold on, please invite her to come with you to the Imperial Court!"