An Lingrong is reborn to live for herself.

Consort Cao always understood Consort Hua's thoughts best. Consort Hua's question today must be an attempt to take this opportunity to suppress the Empress.

Although some things are still unclear, Consort Cao knows that the Fucha family comes from a prestigious family, and the Emperor will not let go of any suspicions now.

So, Consort Hua started it, and Consort Cao and Consort Li took turns pushing the whole thing onto Chang Wenyu, trying to find fault with him.

Chang Wenyu is a veteran judge who has witnessed the struggle for succession among the princes and has seen it all. He has always tried his best to avoid putting himself in danger, but in today's matter, he is unable to defend himself and it is uncertain whether he can escape unscathed.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel a little frightened, but I still tried my best to keep my tone calm and replied, "Please forgive my lack of medical skills, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress. I have never seen Consort Fucha in such a condition before."

If Your Excellency suspects any problems with the diagnosis or prescription, you may consult the medical records. We also request that other physicians in the Imperial Medical Academy jointly analyze and discuss the matter. If there is any inappropriate use of the medication, I am willing to accept punishment.

Having been immersed in the inner palace for so long, she remained clear-headed even in such a situation. Instead of following Consort Li's lead, she turned everyone's attention back to the diagnosis and prescription.

Zhen Huan couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration for this Imperial Physician Chang.

Based on this response, it was difficult for anyone to determine whether Consort Fucha's illness was an isolated case in medicine or whether someone had actually used poison. They couldn't even speculate on how much this Chief Physician Chang actually knew about the whole affair.

As expected, the imperial physicians who were favored by the Empress Dowager and the Empress were not ordinary people who could be easily dealt with.

Upon hearing this, Consort Hua chuckled, her delicate features appearing even more beautiful in the soft candlelight. "What a capable judge Chang! Isn't that a bit of an overstatement?"

He admitted that his medical skills were not good enough, at most he was just not good at his job, and at worst he would be fined or demoted.

However, if one neglects their duty to investigate or fails to report, resulting in the death of a noble person in the palace, that would be a serious crime that would implicate nine generations of one's family!

Judge Chang, with your shrewd business acumen, it's a shame you're not working as an accountant.

Consort Hua spoke without any restraint, and before even finding five clues, she made eight-tenths of a deduction based on her own personality.

Chang Wenyu appeared outwardly calm, but inwardly he was somewhat frightened. He had known that Consort Hua was domineering and arrogant, but he never expected her to be so arrogant and spoiled by the Emperor's favor.

Chang Wenyu sighed inwardly, realizing that he had been cautious his whole life, but today he was probably going to be defeated by this.

“In the Imperial Medical Academy, every physician’s consultation is recorded. The pulse and medication should be documented and verifiable. Why don’t we send someone to the Imperial Medical Academy to check?” Seeing Consort Hua’s aggressive approach, the Empress, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. However, as soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to have used all her strength, and a tightness in her chest caused her to cough. Seeing this, Jianqiu quickly handed her some tea.

The Emperor frowned slightly. "Consort Hua, watch your words."

Consort Hua rolled her phoenix eyes, clearly unconvinced. "The medical records were written by people. If someone really intended to tamper with them, how could they not have a way to find out? In my opinion, we won't find anything by examining the medical records."

The emperor was not angry upon hearing this. "In the past, when the palaces used medicine, some dregs were always left for later use. Who was collecting Consort Fucha's dregs?"

"Your Majesty, the dregs of Consort Fucha's medicine have always been handled by Xiao Lianzi, the head of the kitchen," Cui'er replied.

"Summon him for questioning." The emperor nodded, then resumed examining the jade beaded string in his hand.

Half a day later, the eunuch who had just left with the order returned to report that Xiao Lianzi was not in Yanxi Palace, and the cabinet that used to store medicine dregs had been emptied, and the medicine dregs used by Consort Fucha were gone.

With a loud crack, the string of fine jade beads crashed to the ground, and the two pillars that hit the ground first shattered into pieces, scattering emerald green fragments everywhere.

Everyone was startled, and only after they came to their senses did they realize that the emperor had dropped the jade beaded string in his hand to the ground.

"Guards! Investigate! Search the entire harem and find this reckless wretch!"

The guards waiting at the gate dared not delay. Upon hearing the commotion, they rushed into the hall, only to find the emperor in a fit of rage. They dared not slacken their efforts in the slightest and immediately took orders to carry them out.

Things happened so fast. Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang, being of low rank and newly promoted concubines this year, were seated at the very end and thus escaped the shattered jade. Yet, they were still startled by the scene.

However, another matter lingered in their minds: the dregs of the medicine. Perhaps the dregs Zhen Huan had Huanbi retrieve from Xiao Lianzi were the key to resolving today's predicament?

The hall was in a tense standoff, with no one daring to look. Then Cui'er replied, "Your Majesty, when I sent Xiao Lianzi to fetch the imperial physician, I didn't know which physician was on duty today. I was afraid of delaying the young mistress's treatment, so I sent Xiao Lianzi with the dregs of the medicine from noon to the Imperial Hospital."

Originally, the matter was unclear, but now that things have become clear, it has come to the crucial point of the medicine residue. Even the most dim-witted person would know that the medicine residue was stolen because someone tampered with the medicine.

Whether it was the imperial physician's deliberate use of medication or someone's tampering with the procedure, in any case, Consort Fucha may not have died from postpartum hemorrhage, but rather was murdered.

It seems that Cui'er has already thought this through, and therefore has made up her mind to seek justice for her mistress. Having made up her mind, she has no more scruples.

Cui'er's eyes were red as she spoke, and she spoke with great force, as if she were about to grind her teeth to pieces, "Judge Chang, you were invited back by Xiao Lianzi, so you must have seen this dregs of medicine, right?"

The emperor remained silent, but his deep gaze fell upon Chang Wenyu.

“Now that you mention it, I do recall it. When Eunuch Lian came, he did have a packet of medicine dregs wrapped in a handkerchief. However, Eunuch Lian said that Consort Fucha’s condition was not good and asked me to come to Yanxi Palace immediately. Moreover, I still remembered the prescriptions he usually gave Consort Fucha. Therefore, I did not carefully examine the packet of medicine dregs at the time.”

That was a sincere statement. At the time, Cui'er asked Xiao Lianzi to take this packet of medicine dregs because she was worried that the doctor on duty had been changed, which might delay the diagnosis and treatment of the illness. If she had known that it was Chang Wenyu who was there, she probably wouldn't have bothered to pack this packet of medicine dregs.

Seeing the emperor's ashen face, Su Peisheng quickly gave a wink to the eunuch beside him and said, "You blind fool, why aren't you going to the Imperial Hospital to look for him?!"

Upon receiving the order, Xia Zi quickly left Yanxi Palace and ran towards the Imperial Hospital.

After all that fuss, there was still no clue. Consort Hua snorted coldly, "What a meticulous arrangement! You've really gone to great lengths. I think Xiazi is going to make a wasted trip."

Before long, Xiaxiazi returned to answer. Judging from Xiaxiazi's expression, everyone could guess the truth with a high degree of accuracy. Sure enough, the packet of dregs from the Imperial Hospital had also been lost.