After my whole family overheard my thoughts, they went berserk.

The forensic doctors exchanged glances, then turned to the Queen and said, "This... isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"There's nothing inherently good or bad about it. Since several forensic doctors have come, it must be at the Emperor's behest, instructing you to thoroughly investigate the Crown Prince."

As soon as the words were spoken, the forensic doctors' expressions changed immediately, and they said respectfully, "We dare not."

The Emperor only said that no one should be let off the hook if there was any suspicion, but he did not name anyone.

If they take the Crown Prince back to the forensic hospital now, it will be fine if there are problems, but if there are no problems, it will damage the Crown Prince's reputation if word gets out.

In the future, the forensic hospital may get into unnecessary trouble.

"Your Highness's injury has been examined and there are no problems," the lead forensic doctor explained to the Empress.

The Empress naturally knew that bringing up the Emperor would make all the difference.

After all, the Crown Prince is the Emperor's son, the heir apparent of the Tianqi Emperor, and the future monarch. Why would he want to invite trouble upon himself?

Moreover, no one would suspect the crown prince.

"In that case, I will accompany you on this journey," Mu Xiuyan said, rising to his feet.

Mu Xiuyan knew that the forensic doctors dared not take him away, so he took the initiative to offer to go to the forensic hospital with them.

The lead forensic doctor said, "Your Highness is too kind. We are only acting under imperial orders. Since there is nothing else, we will take our leave."

"Your Majesty, I take my leave." The forensic doctors bowed to them and then turned and left Chang Le Palace.

The Queen breathed a slight sigh of relief after the forensic doctors left.

The prince's hand injury was finally covered up.

After the forensic doctors came out, they expressed their doubts.

The lead forensic doctor asked, "Can you tell what kind of injury the prince has on his hand?"

After a moment of silence, the two forensic doctors said, "The wound on His Highness's hand looks somewhat similar to what we are investigating. However, because it is covered by a new wound, we cannot make a judgment."

"I think so too. The injury on His Highness's hand is too strange. The two wounds overlap perfectly."

"Then what do you mean..."

The murderer they are looking for could very well be the Crown Prince?

"Shall we report this matter to the Emperor?" The forensic doctors discussed it and decided to report this clue to Emperor Tianqi.

If anything goes wrong, or if the case can't be solved, they can't bear the responsibility!

Inside Changle Palace.

"Mother is truly amazing; she even believed the forensic doctor!" Mu Xiuyan felt safe and was no longer afraid.

If it weren't for his mother's help, he probably would have been exposed today.

The Empress disagreed. Although the forensic doctors dared not take the Crown Prince away, it did not mean they did not suspect him.

Don’t be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of what happens.

"Jinshu, go and invite Imperial Physician Zhao over," the Empress said.

After Jin Shu went to the Imperial Hospital, she did not see Imperial Physician Zhao. After inquiring, she learned that he had gone to Consort Jing's place.

So Jin Shu turned back and reported to the Empress: "Your Majesty, I heard from the Imperial Hospital that Imperial Physician Zhao went to Consort Jing's place."

The Empress asked, somewhat puzzled, "Imperial Physician Zhao usually examines the Emperor and me, and secondly the princes. Why is he treating Consort Jing?"

Her expression changed; the fact that she could summon an imperial physician meant that Consort Jing was no ordinary person.

In such cases, a mother's status usually rises with the birth of her son. Could it be that Consort Jing is also pregnant?

"Go and find out how Consort Jing is doing," the Empress said.

Although she was under house arrest, she still knew some things about the inner palace.

Aside from Consort Jin and Consort Xuan being pregnant, no one else has been reported to be pregnant. Could it be that Consort Jing is indeed pregnant but is hiding the fact?

Moreover, she has been very favored recently, and the Emperor has been visiting her more often, so the chances of her getting pregnant are naturally higher.

If Consort Jing is indeed pregnant, it means the Emperor knows about it, and his keeping it a secret must be to guard against her.

"Yes." Jin Shu bowed and then hurriedly left.

Mu Xiuyan asked, puzzled, "What is Mother Empress suspecting?"

"I suspect that Consort Jing is pregnant."

What puzzled the Empress was that, given Consort Jing's personality, if she were truly pregnant, she shouldn't have been so discreet.

Especially last night, why did she conceal her actions?

Mu Xiuyan said, "These concubines in the harem used to tell you about their pregnancies, but now they're hiding it from you, Mother. They don't care about you anymore!"

"Your Majesty, I will immediately send someone to inquire. If Consort Jing has indeed concealed this from you, she will be punished for failing to report it!"

The Empress immediately stopped Mu Xiuyan, saying, "You're being foolish again!"

"The matter from last night has just subsided, and now you're going to cause trouble again?!" The Empress looked at Mu Xiuyan with a mixture of anger and helplessness.

Why are you always causing trouble!

Why does he never learn from his mistakes? Does he only learn his lesson after he's stumbled?

“Mother, it was Consort Jing who deceived you. You have every right to punish her!” Mu Xiuyan said.

In the past, only Mu Changfeng, born to Consort Yu, was his rival, which always made him harbor resentment.

Now that Mu Changfeng is dead, he will not allow any more rivals to exist.

Moreover, Consort Jing is currently favored by the emperor. If she were to actually give birth to a prince, wouldn't she become the second Mu Changfeng?

"Come back!" the Empress shouted, stopping Mu Xiuyan. "Consort Jing is your father's concubine. What grounds do you have to punish her?"

"Even if you are the crown prince, you must understand your place. You should know what you should do and what you should not do!"

She looked at Mu Xiuyan's defiant expression and said, "You have no right to interfere in the affairs of the harem, and you have even less reason to harm your father's concubines!"

This is a violation of the rules!

"Isn't Mother Empress afraid that Consort Jing will become the second Consort Yu?" Mu Xiuyan asked the Empress.

She fought against Consort Yu for more than a decade, and only when she outlived Consort Yu to death did she finally win.

But how long has it been? Then Consort Jing appears. Are we going to have to fight her for another ten years or so?

By then, the Empress Dowager will be old and won't have the strength to fight her!

"Your mother warns you not to interfere in the affairs of the inner palace again, do you remember?" The Empress sternly admonished the Crown Prince.

"Your subject only wants to help you," Mu Xiuyan said.

The Empress said, "You don't need to interfere in my affairs. Stay in the palace these next few days and don't cause any more trouble, otherwise, even I can't protect you!"

If the investigation into Princess Sangnan's death leads back to him, this one incident alone would enrage the Emperor.

If you provoke Consort Jing again and disrupt the harem, the Emperor will surely be furious.

At that time, even if she didn't instruct him, the emperor would still think that it was because she, the empress, couldn't tolerate people and taught her son to do this!

"Go back!" The Empress, worried that Mu Xiuyan would disobey, warned him again, "If you don't listen to your mother this time, don't blame me for turning ruthless!"

Mu Xiuyan naturally understood what she meant. Although he was somewhat disappointed, he dared not make any further rash moves.

He was worried that the Empress would actually report him.

In the evening, Jin Shu returned and reported to the Empress: "Your Majesty, the people in Consort Jing's palace are saying that Consort Jing is ill."