Seizing the throne, abolishing the adopted son, the imperial concubine rose to prominence

"Empress, the eldest prince's sudden diarrhea today was not accidental. The imperial physician has confirmed that it was caused by the lotus root starch and osmanthus cake sent by Lin Cainu."

"This lotus root powder and osmanthus cake contains cold grass powder. The emperor was about to summon Lin Cainu for questioning, but the imperial physician diagnosed that Lin Cainu had also consumed this lotus root powder and osmanthus cake, and a large amount. When the eunuch went to tell the emperor, she was already suffering from severe abdominal pain."

Cao Zhong had just received a report from his apprentice.

After the imperial physician's diagnosis, Lin Cainv heard that something had happened to the eldest prince. Despite her own abdominal pain, she insisted on having the palace maids support her to go to Changchun Palace to apologize.

"Lin Cainu is usually very timid, how could she..."

The queen looked surprised and couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"Let her in."

The obvious cold anger on Xiao Heng's face seemed to have disappeared. His eyes were gloomy and his expression was difficult to tell whether he was happy or angry.

Lin Cainu was practically carried into the palace by her own maid. Once inside the palace, she brushed off her maid's hand, fell to her knees, and banged her head heavily on the ground: "I, your concubine, will die."

Gu Youning looked down coldly. Lin Cainv's hair was already wet with cold sweat, her face was as pale as paper, and she almost fell to the ground after knocking her head. Her left hand subconsciously covered her abdomen.

Anyone who sees it will know that it is not a fake gesture.

"Hurry up and be helped up by your master."

The Queen spoke with pity and then seemed to remember something. She said softly to the Emperor beside her, "Ms. Lin is in so much pain that she probably can't even speak. Let the Imperial Physician administer the medicine first before asking about today's events."

"According to the Queen's wishes."

Xiao Heng looked at the imperial physician behind him.

"I have some pills that can temporarily relieve the pain. Please give them to the talented person first."

The imperial physician who treated Lin Cainv was much younger than the imperial physician Zhang who treated her just now, but he was quite perceptive. He did not mention prescribing the right medicine at this moment, but instead wanted to relieve Lin Cainv's pain first.

This pill is really effective. Within half a minute after Lin Cainv took it, her body trembling was much less.

"Lin Cainu, what happened today?"

The queen glanced at the emperor, and after getting his tacit approval, she asked about what had happened today.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this lotus root powder and osmanthus cake was indeed made by me today. I have caused the eldest prince to suffer for it. I truly cannot redeem myself. Please punish me, Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

Lin Cainv looked like she was suffering from severe abdominal pain and her breath was barely moving when she spoke.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please understand. The ingredients for this pastry were all obtained by this servant from the Imperial Food Bureau. I swear I didn't tamper with them at all."

"Please, Concubine Gu, forgive our master this time for the great suffering he has endured."

The palace maid kneeling beside Lin Cainv kept kowtow to the ground, and the sound of kowtow was particularly clear in the hall.

"This cold grass powder is most harmful to women. I think this matter probably has nothing to do with Lin Cainu. She may have fallen into someone else's trap."

The concubines in the palace care most about offspring, and this cold grass powder is worse than poison.

Who would gamble with their offspring?

But Gu Youning knew that Lin Cainv on the earth might do this.

In her previous life, she lived in Changchun Palace and rarely saw the people in the harem, but from the occasional words of the palace servants, she could tell how fierce the fighting in the harem was.

Lin's family background is unknown, yet not only was she able to safely give birth to the emperor's eldest daughter, but both mother and daughter were able to live until Xiao Yun'an ascended the throne and enjoyed wealth and glory. Her mind must be as deep as the sea.

Lin's maid kept kowtowing to her, as if her master's life was in her hands.

Regardless of whether the incident with the cold grass powder was intentional on the part of Lin, the palace maid's words just now were clearly a hint.

Taking advantage of her weakness and grievance, Gu Youning sneered in his heart.

"Did Lin Cainu know that there was something wrong with this pastry and specially send it to Changchun Palace?"

The question tinged with anger made the hall suddenly quiet, and the palace maid who was kowtowing and begging her paused.

Gu Youning's question refuted the Queen's previous statement, but the Queen did not say anything, but just glanced at the Emperor.

Xiao Heng glanced downwards, with no intention of stopping him.

"It's all my fault. It's only right for me to complain and be angry."

Lin Cainv's weak voice rang out in the hall, but there was still no intention of defending herself in her words.

But the more she did this, the more people felt that the matter had nothing to do with her.

"If this is what you did, even a thousand deaths would be hard to atone for your sin."

Gu Youning spoke each word clearly, his eyes cold.

The hatred here made the emperor frown unconsciously.

But Gu Youning spoke again at this time: "With the Emperor and the Empress here, right and wrong will be determined. If you are innocent, why bother begging me? If you are determined, I will not give up."

"Since this ingredient comes from the Shangshi Bureau, where should we start investigating?"

The queen looked at the emperor with a questioning look.

Xiao Heng did not express his opinion immediately, but tapped his jade ring lightly on the table.

The emperor's hesitant look reminded Gu Youning of what Xiao Shengzi said during the day. Ling Shangshi, the head of the Shangshi Bureau, was very prestigious in front of the empress dowager. It was said that he had saved the empress dowager's life in the past.

The Queen Mother is the most protective of her people.

Filial piety comes first, and even an emperor would have to think about it.

"Your Majesty, if Lin Cainu is innocent, then she is just like Zheng'er, both were murdered by others."

"If it weren't for Zheng'er's love of sweet things and you spoiling him, giving him this plate of lotus root powder and osmanthus cake, I'm afraid today..."

I'm afraid it will hurt the dragon's body.

The worry in Gu Youning's eyes was not concealed at all.

Xiao Heng's eyes dimmed, and the suffocating pain just now crept into his heart again. He had just fed the cakes to Zheng'er piece by piece. If the cakes contained not the cold grass that would only cause diarrhea, but poison.

He dared not think.

"There are such harmful things in Lin Cainu's palace. I wonder if other concubines have them..."

Gu Youning looked up at the emperor, fear flashing in his eyes.

Xiao Heng sighed in his heart, and the cold and strange feeling just now gradually faded away. Ning'er was simple-minded. When she was in the Eastern Palace, she was unaware of the secret plots she had set up. She probably didn't understand the treacherous hearts of people in the harem.

"Send an order to search the palace. Send all the imperial doctors on duty tonight."

Xiao Heng ordered in a cold voice, and before Cao Zhong left, he added, "The imperial concubine has always had heart problems, so don't disturb her."

"Yes."

"The Second Prince in Guanju Palace just had a fright and has not recovered from his cold. Ask the palace servants who are searching to pay more attention."

The emperor only asked Cao Zhong to exclude Cheng'an Palace from the search, but Fengyi Palace was no exception. However, the queen did not show any jealousy or dissatisfaction on her face, and she even cared about the second prince, whom even the emperor had not thought of.

Gu Youning tightened the bright yellow robe she was wearing. The fact that the empress was praised by the emperor for being magnanimous and kind-hearted at least showed that her reputation was well-deserved.

"Help Lin Cainu back to Zhaoqing Palace."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

After being left out and kneeling on the ground in pain for all this time, Lin Cainv now looked very grateful.

However, the palace maid next to them had a flash of unwillingness in her eyes, which fell into the eyes of Gu Youning, who was closest to the master and servant.

"Get up, go back first, I will order the Imperial Hospital to take care of you."

A rare flash of pity appeared in Xiao Heng's eyes.