The young lady who had fainted from being frightened by the Crown Princess vomiting blood had now woken up. However, upon seeing her surroundings, she immediately closed her eyes and pretended to faint again. It had been too terrifying, and she didn't want to be interrogated as a thief again under such circumstances.
Crown Prince Baili Cheng said with a gloomy face, "Explain to me exactly what happened!"
Consort Mu Cuihuan's eyes narrowed into a smile. She hadn't expected Xuan Yue to die so suddenly; it was completely unexpected. She and Xuan Yue had entered the palace around the same time the Crown Prince was choosing his consorts. However, because Xuan Yue's father was the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, a closer confidant than her own father, and as the daughter of his tutor, the Crown Prince would almost certainly choose Xuan Yue. But when it came to manipulating men, Xuan Yue was far inferior to her. Even though Xuan Yue held the title of Crown Princess, she wasn't necessarily more favored than Mu Cuihuan. Mu Cuihuan, however, was indignant. Even though her father's rank and power differed from the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, her father had been the local tyrant of Yuezhou City for many years. The life Mu Cuihuan had led was unimaginable to many; she didn't believe she was much different from Xuan Yue.
Mu Cuihuan was also capable of vying for power, but unfortunately, Xuan Yue was too gentle and indifferent to worldly affairs. She always backed down before Xuan Yue could even utter a word. Even if Mu Cuihuan intended to cause trouble for Xuan Yue, it would be difficult, especially since the other party was the Crown Princess, the principal wife. She claimed to be only a concubine, but the difference in status was vast, and Mu Cuihuan dared not go too far. The people of the Mu family envied her good life. If the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she would at least be a Noble Consort, and with a little effort, an Imperial Noble Consort. If Xuan Yue didn't live to see that, she could even become Empress. But who knew how stifled her life was?
But now that Xuan Yue is dead, her formidable enemy is dead, no one could be happier than Mu Cuihuan. However, fearing her emotions would show, she kept her head down, avoiding eye contact, her eyes flickering. After a while, Mu Cuihuan hesitated before speaking: "Your Highness, I was also very surprised by this matter, because the Crown Princess's poisoning was so unexpected that no one reacted. Even if we had requested an imperial physician, I'm afraid the Crown Princess would have been poisoned before the physician even arrived at the residence."
Baili Cheng's face was gloomy: "What did you say? Poisoned to death?" The male guests were separated by a screen and had been chatting and laughing, so they hadn't paid attention to the female guests' movements. They only heard the noise here and then learned that the Crown Princess had died. Many people present still couldn't accept it.
The Crown Princess, she was the Crown Princess! When the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she would be the esteemed Mother of the Nation, the Empress. Yet she was poisoned to death in front of everyone at a banquet held in the Crown Prince's residence. Wasn't this a slap in the face to the Crown Prince and his family?
Mu Cuihuan looked up and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince's residence is heavily guarded, and the servants are strictly selected. No one has entered the Crown Prince's residence in the past year, but nothing has happened there before. However, this kind of thing happened at the banquet today... This..." Mu Cuihuan hesitated for a moment, and everyone was stunned when they heard this. They immediately understood Mu Cuihuan's meaning.
The Crown Prince's residence hasn't changed any people in the past year, and they should all be loyal. Otherwise, why would nothing have happened in the past year, but instead, something happened during today's banquet? This is really illogical. Just as Mu Cuihuan said, it is very likely that the people attending today's banquet poisoned the Crown Princess. They have no other idea.
"Oh, the guests today." Baili Cheng raised his head, his sharp eyes narrowing as he swept over the people present. Those whose eyes met his lowered their heads, some not daring to look at Baili Cheng. Xuan Yue, being the daughter of the Crown Prince's tutor, had been Baili Cheng's childhood sweetheart, and it was said that the two had an extremely close relationship. Now that the Crown Princess had died so mysteriously, the Crown Prince must be extremely heartbroken and angry. Even if he didn't show it on the surface, he was burning with rage inside. "Who did it? Step forward obediently, and I might deal with you leniently. If you insist on your own way and refuse to admit it, don't blame me later."
Baili Cheng's expression was grim as he scanned the crowd and said, "Now that the Crown Princess has been poisoned to death, everyone present is a suspect. Until the suspicions are clarified, none of you may leave the Crown Prince's residence. Of course, if someone comes forward to confess, that's a different story. Whether you confess now or not is related to the interests of everyone present, so you'd better step forward quickly."
The people in the room all looked rather grim. They were completely innocent, yet they were being treated as murderers and imprisoned, which was hardly a happy thing. Especially the male guests, who were sitting on the other side. How could they possibly poison the Crown Princess? Although they complained inwardly, most of them dared not speak out. Compared to Baili Cheng's status, they were nothing. Even if they had grievances in their hearts, they had to endure them.
"Should we stay in the Crown Prince's residence until the suspicion is cleared?" A dignified voice interrupted the silence. Everyone looked up in surprise and saw Princess Shuangxia standing to the side of the main hall, her brow furrowed. They realized they had forgotten about her. They might not care about the Crown Prince, but Princess Shuangxia was a princess who had been favored for three generations. Even Emperor Mingxian addressed her as "Aunt." If the Crown Prince, as a junior, were to suppress Princess Shuangxia because of this matter, and she were to take it to Emperor Mingxian, the Crown Prince would be in deep trouble. After all, the Crown Prince wasn't sure who had poisoned her. To imprison everyone like this was going too far. Wouldn't that implicate everyone? This was extremely displeasing.
Baili Cheng's expression froze for a moment, while Mu Cuihuan looked at Princess Shuangxia and Ouyang Yue, and then sneered, "Your Highness, there is something I don't know whether I should say or not."
"What can't you say? Speak up." Mu Cuihuan's words were meant to ease his awkward situation. Although the Crown Prince was undoubtedly more noble than the Princess, even if the other party was the Eldest Princess, when all factors were considered, the difference was not significant. Moreover, Eldest Princess Shuangxia had the authority of an elder, so Baili Cheng couldn't be too disrespectful. He had only acted impulsively before, and if things continued like this, he would be the one who lost face.
Mu Cuihuan smiled coldly and sighed, "Your Highness, as I just mentioned, there hasn't been a new concubine in this household for a year. It's unlikely that someone in the household poisoned the Crown Princess. Moreover, the Crown Princess was poisoned at such a time, so the guests at the banquet are indeed highly suspicious."
Mu Cuihuan's words immediately caused many people to frown. How was this any different from the Crown Prince's earlier suspicion that so many people were the murderers? Seeing the dissatisfaction in everyone's eyes, Mu Cuihuan's eyes flashed with a cold light as she said, "As for poisoning, it would be very difficult to do it without close contact with the Crown Princess. Moreover, with so many ladies and young misses here, it would be extremely difficult to poison someone in front of so many people. Therefore, this person must have had close contact with the Crown Princess today, otherwise, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to do it, and she would have been discovered long ago. If Your Highness investigates who had too much contact with the Crown Princess today, the truth will probably come to light very soon."
Everyone agreed that this made sense; only by coming into contact with the Crown Princess could the poison be administered discreetly. A collective gasp swept through the crowd, and many eyes turned to Ouyang Yue, who stood quietly beside Princess Shuangxia. Of all the people the Crown Princess had the most and closest contact with, it was only Mu Cuihuan and Ouyang Yue. However, most of the time when Mu Cuihuan was involved, the other women would remain on the sidelines. Yet, the Crown Princess seemed quite fond of Ouyang Yue, and the two had whispered to each other several times. Therefore, the closest person today was not Mu Cuihuan, but Ouyang Yue, who also had the most time and opportunity to poison the Crown Princess without her noticing.
Fu Meier smiled coldly: "Consort Mu is right. Today, I saw the Crown Princess and Princess Mingyue talking secretly several times. Many people present saw it, so if we talk about the relationship between them, Princess Mingyue is the most suspicious one."
"Ah, it's Princess Mingyue! Why would she do this?"
"Having just received the title of princess, yet poisoning the crown princess, no one can let this matter go unpunished."
"How could Princess Mingyue be so foolish as to poison the Crown Princess?"
"What do you know? There's a lot more to this than meets the eye. After all, the princess isn't the highest-ranking one."
"You mean..."
The others began to whisper among themselves, many looking at Ouyang Yue with increasingly cold and disdainful eyes. The Crown Princess had treated Ouyang Yue very well, yet she showed no gratitude and even poisoned the Crown Princess—it was far too ruthless. Moreover, she had no hatred for the Crown Princess; to kill someone so casually was unbecoming of even a princess. The crowd couldn't help but think that she was, after all, a wild princess born outside the palace; those truly pampered daughters of heaven, raised with princess-like educations, would never do such a foolish thing.
As expected, wild children from outside are no match for respectable people. Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua still cherish them like the plague. Many people tried to inquire about Ouyang Yue and get close to her, but these two blocked them from doing so. Even with all this protection, Ouyang Yue poisoned the Crown Princess; even Princess Shuangxia couldn't save her! Ouyang Yue can only wait to die!
Many harbored such malicious thoughts, stemming from their deep resentment towards Ouyang Yue. These women were all daughters of wealthy and powerful families in the capital, some even of higher birth than Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Yue had previously been known as one of the three ugliest women in the capital, and these women considered themselves superior. Who knew that Ouyang Yue would suddenly become the most beautiful woman in the Langya Continent, a royal princess, and one with a title? Although princesses like the Second and Third Princesses, daughters of Emperor Mingxian, were arguably more noble than Ouyang Yue, they hadn't yet been granted titles by the emperor. Therefore, in terms of nobility, they far surpassed Ouyang Yue, yet in terms of rank, Ouyang Yue had surpassed them. From a notorious daughter of a general's family, she had suddenly become a high-ranking princess, which was incredibly unfair to many.
Many people secretly resented not being Xuanyuan Zheng's long-lost daughter. Otherwise, they would have done a hundred or a thousand times better than Ouyang Yue. Now, they could only watch Ouyang Yue swagger around. Did she deserve it? Hmph, it's better that she's dead. It saves them from wishing Ouyang Yue dead every time they think of her.
Baili Cheng looked at Ouyang Yue with a somewhat unfriendly expression and said, "Mingyue, what do you have to say?"
Ouyang Yue merely glanced indifferently at the young ladies who had been gossiping about framing her. Those women froze under her gaze; Ouyang Yue's eyes were so hateful. Even though they were calm, they felt as if they had been swept by a sharp blade, and their hearts tightened suddenly: "Does this princess have anything to say?"
Mu Cuihuan couldn't help but laugh: "Oh, so Princess Mingyue is promising you to poison the Crown Princess."
"Poisoning the Crown Princess? What makes you say that? Consort Mu is quite adept at framing people. It seems you've done it quite often before." Ouyang Yue's voice was calm, but her sarcastic words caused Mu Cuihuan's expression to change drastically. She then suppressed her anger and said, "Didn't Princess Mingyue say that herself? You've been questioned to the point of being speechless. Do you not admit that you poisoned the Crown Princess?"
Ouyang Yue sneered at Mu Cuihuan: "Mu Cuihuan's father is, after all, the governor of Yuezhou, in charge of the local finances and military. He's quite a figure. How could he have raised Mu Cuihuan to be like this..." Ouyang Yue chuckled softly, "If there's no explanation, then it's poisoning. Did any of you see me poison her? And who knows what motive I and the Crown Princess had for poisoning her? Or do you think I would be so foolish as to create trouble for myself?"
Mu Cuihuan looked at Ouyang Yue coldly. Ouyang Yue was clearly saying that his father was powerful enough to become the governor of a prefecture, but she was incredibly stupid: "Just because I don't know doesn't mean it doesn't exist. At least for now, Princess Ouyang Yue, you are the most suspicious one."
Ouyang Yue smiled at Mu Cuiwei, but it sent a chill down the latter's spine: "Consort Mu, do you think the position of Crown Princess is good?" Mu Cuiwei was taken aback, "Do you think the future Empress is good?"
Baili Cheng's expression suddenly changed and he said, "Mingyue, you mustn't talk nonsense!" Although Baili Cheng was the Crown Prince, it was still very disrespectful to discuss matters such as the Empress in private.
Ouyang Yue didn't care, only looking coldly at Mu Cuihuan: "Consort Mu, do you think it's good? Hehe, even if you don't say it, I know you must think it's good. It's a pity that there's someone blocking your way. You come from a prestigious family, but you can only be a concubine, and you'll always be overshadowed by the Crown Princess. Being the eternal second-in-command takes a lot of courage. Consort Mu, are you prepared for this? Don't you have the ambition and desire to squeeze out the Crown Princess? Tell me, who is more suspicious?"
Mu Cuihuan's expression changed drastically, and she immediately said to Baili Cheng, "Your Highness, Princess Mingyue has gone too far. She has committed such a heinous crime, yet she still tries to pin it on me. I am so wronged! Please, Your Highness, do justice for me!"
However, Ouyang Yue's words just now resonated in everyone's hearts. Ouyang Yue had just received the title of princess, and a smart person would not do anything underhanded at this time to displease the emperor and risk having her title stripped at any moment. The Crown Princess and Princess Mingyue had never met before. Even if Princess Mingyue had some wicked scheme, she wouldn't necessarily want to poison the Crown Princess. What was her reason for doing so? It couldn't be without a cause. They thought and thought, but they still couldn't figure out what plan Ouyang Yue would have that would be so determined to poison the Crown Princess and bring trouble upon herself.
However, Mu Cuihuan was different. As a concubine of the Crown Prince, she was only one step away from becoming the Crown Princess Xuan Yue, but that step was like a chasm. As long as Xuan Yue was alive, Mu Cuihuan could never cross it. Given the royal family's emphasis on the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, unless Xuan Yue died, Mu Cuihuan could never surpass her to become the Crown Princess. Although it couldn't be said openly now, the Crown Prince was the heir apparent, the most likely person to inherit the throne, and the Crown Princess would most likely become the Empress. What woman didn't dream of that position? Mu Cuihuan's feelings were easy to understand. Furthermore, those who could attend the banquet at the Crown Prince's residence were all ladies and daughters of legitimate families. Some favored illegitimate daughters could also come, but concubines and mistresses were not qualified to attend. To these noble ladies, concubines were their enemies. No matter how high Mu Cuihuan's position was, she was still a concubine. These ladies, thinking that they might be poisoned by the same mistresses in the future, naturally felt even more disgusted with Mu Cuihuan.
Baili Cheng glanced at Mu Cuihuan, then looked at Ouyang Yue, only to see that the latter was just standing there with a calm expression, as if the matter had nothing to do with her, as if she were just a spectator. How could she be so calm at a time like this? Baili Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly. This Ouyang Yue was really interesting. He hadn't noticed her before: "Mingyue, anyone present who is suspected today will be kept here. You have one, and Consort Mu has one, so you have no choice but to be interrogated."
Ouyang Yue smiled and asked, "How long will the interrogation take?"
Baili Cheng said, "Until the murderer is found." If they can't find him, won't Ouyang Yue have to stay here for a year and a half?
Baili Chen followed the male guests over, his brows furrowing slightly. Looking at Baili Cheng, his heart tightened; his intuition told him that Yue'er absolutely could not be allowed to remain in the Crown Prince's residence. Leng Caiwen, Xuan Yuan Chaohua, and the others also frowned. Ouyang Yue wasn't married yet; what kind of situation would it be if she lived in the Crown Prince's residence like this? Moreover, being detained there on suspicion of poisoning the Crown Princess meant that even if she were cleared of suspicion, Ouyang Yue's reputation would still be damaged.
Ouyang Yue simply said calmly, "What if I say no?"
Baili Cheng's face immediately darkened: "I'm afraid this is not up to you, Your Majesty. The Crown Princess and I grew up together and had a very good relationship. I simply cannot accept that the Crown Princess is gone. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly to give the Crown Princess justice. Moreover, poisoning the Crown Princess is no small matter. Even if it were any other princess present today, I would have done the same thing. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Princess Shuangxia remained silent, her face grim. Baili Cheng was right; the case of poisoning the Crown Princess was indeed extremely serious. The Crown Princess was a potential Empress, a step away from becoming Empress, of paramount importance to the Great Zhou Dynasty, and of the highest rank and prestige—a level above Ouyang Yue's current status. If Ouyang Yue had truly poisoned the Crown Princess, even if Princess Shuangxia and Xuan Yuan Chaohua wanted to protect her, it would be impossible; Ouyang Yue would certainly face death. If Ouyang Yue was only kept in the Crown Prince's residence to assist in the investigation out of suspicion, not being arrested would seem like a generous treatment. However, Ouyang Yue's case was of great importance, and the longer she stayed in the Crown Prince's residence, the more likely it would be if she were to clear her name later, thus silencing public opinion.
But is there a way to have the best of both worlds? No!
Baili Chen stepped forward, but Xuan Yuan Chaohua had already strode out and said, "I disagree. Yue'er would never do such a thing. She is so kind. This would never be something Yue'er would do."
Fu Meier looked at Xuan Yuan Chaohua, a surge of anger rising within her for no apparent reason. Xuan Yuan Chaohua was brave and imposing, his broad arms the kind of embrace many women longed to lean on, the kind of embrace many young girls yearned for. Unfortunately, this man was Ouyang Yue's brother. Xuan Yuan Chaohua could dote on and protect Ouyang Yue without any reason, while she, having grown up in the mansion, had to fight for herself. Who protected her then? Fu Meier was consumed by jealousy and sneered, "General Xuan Yuan probably can't be certain about this. After all, General Xuan Yuan isn't Princess Mingyue. How would he know what Princess Mingyue is thinking? Perhaps Princess Mingyue has a compelling reason to do this, and General Xuan Yuan is simply being deceived by appearances."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua gave Fu Meier a cold look, which startled her and caused her to unconsciously take a step back. Xuan Yuan Chaohua snorted, "When is it your turn to speak? Get out of the way."
Fu Meier's face paled from the humiliation, and she gritted her teeth in anger. Suppressing her rage, she said sarcastically, "General Xuanyuan's love for his sister is understandable, but he can't just blindly favor her without distinguishing right from wrong. This will chill the hearts of many. After all, that one is General Xuanyuan's relative and the Crown Princess. If General Xuanyuan protects her like this, it might even harm Princess Mingyue in the end." Xuanyuan Chaohua's expression turned even colder. If he took Ouyang Yue away today without any explanation, it would be disrespectful to the royal family. Every emperor is somewhat wary of generals who hold significant military power; it all depends on how well the general handles it. If it's due to arrogance and conceit, nine times out of ten, they will die a violent death, without exception. No matter how many people admire you, no matter how much military power you hold, you are still a member of the royal family. There is a difference between master and servant. Xuanyuan Chaohua has never been arrogant in front of Emperor Mingxian, and he has always addressed him as "your subject," which shows that he understands this very well. If she were to take Ouyang Yue away like this, it would likely be a real harm to Ouyang Yue. In that case, Emperor Mingxian might actually do something to hurt Ouyang Yue in a fit of anger.
Seeing this, Ouyang Yue walked towards Xuan Yuan Chaohua, gently pressed Xuan Yuan Chaohua's hand with her sleeve, and laughed: "I didn't expect Miss Fu to care about this princess so much. I am truly flattered."
Fu Meier was taken aback, but Ouyang Yue had already turned to Crown Prince Baili Cheng: "Your Highness, this is the first time I've met the Crown Princess today, and we instantly clicked. I had hoped to spend more time with her, but alas, she died such a tragic death. I'm sure everyone here feels the same pain as I do. However, this incident occurred at the Crown Prince's residence today, a banquet for all. I imagine Your Highness has many matters to attend to and is quite troubled. But the Crown Princess's death is very strange. Every servant in the Crown Prince's residence has remained the same for over a year. I wonder if the kitchen staff has been replaced? The Crown Princess only ate the Hundred Flower Soup, and everyone else was enthusiastically recommended to try it, yet no one was harmed. This is very suspicious. The Crown Princess vomited blood, which terrified many of the female guests. This is quite embarrassing. I urge Your Highness to find the murderer as soon as possible."
Baili Cheng's face stiffened, and everyone in the garden instantly fell silent in fear. In truth, everyone knew that such a major incident occurring at a banquet held at the Crown Prince's residence was a result of the Crown Prince's negligence. Although Ouyang Yue and Mu Cuihuan were suspects, they were merely suspects; they couldn't be arrested as murderers. However, all of this happened within the Crown Prince's residence. Did the Crown Prince bear no responsibility? No, the responsibility was immense. The Crown Prince, the heir apparent, had his Crown Princess poisoned in his own residence, and the murderer hadn't even been found. This was truly a disgrace to the Crown Prince. Ouyang Yue's words were clear: this incident had frightened them, and that too was the Crown Prince's responsibility. The Crown Prince had a responsibility to find the murderer to calm the nerves of the group, but they shouldn't even think about asking her. She was a guest at the banquet. If the host couldn't even fulfill their duties and manage the residence, how could they expect the guest to fully cooperate with the investigation?
Baili Cheng looked at Ouyang Yue coldly: "Mingyue, aren't you planning to stay?"
Ouyang Yue laughed: "Your Highness, I'm afraid it's not appropriate for Mingyue to interfere in this matter. Besides, no one witnessed the suspect's actions, and there's no evidence. Even if I am a suspect, Your Highness has no right to detain me. You should find the real culprit as soon as possible and clear my name. I'm just a guest at the banquet and have no obligation to personally handle matters for Your Highness. Since Your Highness suspects me, you should find evidence. Otherwise, it's impossible for me to cooperate with Your Highness's investigation just because my reputation has been ruined."
Baili Cheng stared coldly at Ouyang Yue for a long time, then suddenly laughed. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a smile played on his lips. He laughed loudly, making people's hearts tremble. "Good, good, Mingyue is indeed courageous. We'll listen to you. The Crown Prince's Mansion will definitely give you an explanation for this matter."
"Your Highness, Princess Mingyue is the prime suspect..."
"Shut up!" Fu Meier was about to speak when Baili Cheng coldly shouted, startling her into silence. She was filled with resentment. This was Ouyang Yue; because of Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua behind her, even the Crown Prince wouldn't dare to truly do anything to them, letting them deal with him. The Crown Prince might not be afraid of them, but he feared that they would ultimately choose to support the Fifth Prince, Baili Jian. Therefore, he couldn't possibly offend Ouyang Yue at this time. This was the princess's power. Damn it, Ouyang Yue, why are you always so lucky? She was indignant!
Because of the Crown Princess's incident, the banquet couldn't be held at all. As soon as Crown Prince Baili Cheng left, people left the Crown Prince's residence. Before leaving, they were all talking and speculating about who killed the Crown Princess. Was it Ouyang Yue? Mu Cuihuan? Or someone else? Without exception, this matter became their most concerned issue recently. That was the Crown Princess! Although it was a pity that the Crown Princess died, her death left a huge vacancy. Although there have been concubines who were promoted to princesses throughout history, it was not common. The royal family paid so much attention to the legitimate and illegitimate children. It would not be easy for Mu Cuihuan to be promoted to Crown Princess. Moreover, although Mu Cuihuan's background seemed good, it was still too low for her to become the Crown Princess or the future Empress.
With the Crown Princess's death, many people have already started to have ulterior motives. The Crown Princess died at the right time. If their daughters were to take the Crown Princess's position, and the Crown Prince were to become Emperor in the future, their families would be filled with honor. For example, in the current dynasty, both the Empress Dowager and the Empress came from the Lin family, the number one of the five great families. However, in reality, the Lin family, which is number one, is still somewhat inferior to the Leng family, which is number two. The Leng family is a large family with a history of nearly a thousand years, while the Lin family has only been famous for two hundred years. However, because the Lin family has produced two consecutive Empresses, it has been elevated to the number one family. The Bai family, the former Empress's maternal family, although it has declined, is still a powerful force that cannot be shaken by ordinary small families. This shows how much influence the current Empress has on a family.
I must fight for the position of Crown Princess!
Ouyang Yue and the others returned to the Princess's residence and went directly to Shuangxue Palace. Princess Shuangxia had a sullen face: "I never expected that such a thing would happen after going to the Crown Prince's residence. I should have known better than to go." Princess Shuangxia didn't like attending banquets, especially those hosted by the Crown Prince, who was a junior. She usually didn't attend such banquets, but because Ouyang Yue had just been promoted to princess, she wanted to give her a boost. However, she never expected that attending the banquet would lead to such a result.
Ouyang Yue frowned and remained silent. Xuan Yuan Chaohua looked at Ouyang Yue and suddenly said, "Sister, you were so confident before. Do you know who the murderer is?"
Ouyang Yue raised her head and saw that Princess Shuangxia was also looking at her in surprise, so she said, "There is just one person who is suspicious."
"Who was it?" Princess Shuangxia asked immediately. Ouyang Yue said, "When the dishes were served earlier, a servant from the Crown Prince's residence had a strange fragrance on him. I just thought it was strange and didn't think much of it. Later, after we had the Hundred Flower Soup, we were all fine except for the Crown Princess. No one thought of this. But I suddenly remembered that I once read about a flower with a very faint and elegant fragrance in a book. It grows in high mountains and loves cliffs. It is entirely fiery red. Its seeds can be used as medicine, and its flowers are used for beauty. It is called Nine Nether Red Flower. However, since the Nine Nether Red Flower can be used as medicine, it also has a nemesis. There is a kind of herb that is commonly used as a spice. When combined with it, it can produce a poison that is no less potent than arsenic. The combination of the two is extremely toxic, and in severe cases, the person will vomit blood and die on the spot."
Princess Shuangxia was taken aback: "Isn't this so similar to the poison that the Crown Princess was poisoned with? The Hundred Flower Soup on the banquet table today was made by blending and cooking various fresh flowers and herbs. If even one ingredient is accidentally mixed in, it can be fatal." Because the Crown Princess often ate it, they hadn't noticed at the time. "But we also ate it, so why are we fine?"
"There might be one of the herbs I mentioned in the Hundred Flowers Soup, but not the Nine Nether Red Flower I mentioned. Otherwise, the servant who tested the poison would have died on the spot. I suspect that the Nine Nether Red Flower was brought by that woman. The two poisons together are extremely potent. That servant served the dishes and then went to serve the Crown Princess, so she had the time and opportunity to poison her." Ouyang Yue sighed softly. Ouyang Yue had feelings for Yi Yue, and her death made Ouyang Yue feel uneasy.
Princess Shuangxia was shocked: "The person who poisoned us is from the Crown Prince's residence, is it Mu Cuihuan? But now that the Crown Prince's residence is investigating, I'm afraid they won't find anything."
Ouyang Yue sneered: "Perhaps they will use this as an opportunity to find some witnesses to prove that I poisoned the victim, or to gather more physical evidence."
Princess Shuangxia looked at Ouyang Yue in surprise: "Since you know, why did you return to the Princess's residence? If that's the case, you would be better off staying in the Crown Prince's residence to stop them. Or you could bring that servant out."
Ouyang Yue smiled at Princess Shuangxia: "Grandmother, this is an internal matter of the Crown Prince's residence. Why should we interfere? If they can find evidence, we can find counter-evidence as well. There's no rush. I'm just curious about who this person is. Let's wait and see."
Princess Shuangxia was taken aback, her heart skipped a beat. She had been so concerned that she'd lost her composure. Seeing Ouyang Yue's calm demeanor, she relaxed, nodding slightly inwardly. Yue'er was right; the power struggles within the Crown Prince's residence were none of their business. The position of Crown Princess was currently vacant, and the competition was fierce. Interference would be detrimental to them. While Ouyang Yue might be able to prevent anyone from framing her while she was in the Crown Prince's residence, if she moved in, even if she cleared her name later, she would become a target for many families in the capital. Even though Ouyang Yue had no blood relation to the royal family, sometimes cousins would marry to protect the royal bloodline. Since Ouyang Yue was staying in the residence for the case, it would still cause gossip and damage her reputation. The Crown Prince might also feel guilty, seek power, or simply want to take advantage of the situation to propose marriage to Ouyang Yue. Would Ouyang Yue, fearing for her reputation, refuse?
You see, although she is a princess, the title of princess is somewhat ambiguous, and it is difficult for her to truly integrate into the highest position of the royal family. But the position of crown princess is different. Ordinary people of low status cannot take it. Someone of Ouyang Yue's status, plus a powerful wife, is just right. When the time comes, it will be a win-win situation, and I'm afraid no one would refuse it.
By then, Ouyang Yue would likely be feared by many families, and the trouble would be endless until she was killed. Although Ouyang Yue was not afraid of these things, she didn't need to put herself in trouble. Moreover, it was unknown whether Crown Prince Baili Cheng had thought of these things and deliberately suggested that she stay in the Crown Prince's residence, so it was better to be cautious.
The capital was abuzz with talk of the Crown Princess's death. However, three days later, after a thorough investigation, the Crown Prince's residence found the murderer. There were not just one, but three murderers. The mastermind was not Ouyang Yue or Mu Cuihuan, as many suspected, but a concubine in the residence. This concubine was also the legitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official. She had only been in the Crown Prince's residence for three years. She was a woman who was very fertile. Not long after entering the Crown Prince's residence three years ago, she became pregnant, but unfortunately, she miscarried after two months. At that time, rumors circulated in the residence that the concubine Mu Cuihuan had harmed her child out of jealousy. The concubine had even made a scene at the Crown Prince's residence, but because there was no evidence, the matter was eventually dropped.
But who knew that this concubine would suffer a miscarriage and become unable to have children again? This concubine relied on having children to gain favor, so what would happen if she couldn't have children? She made a scene with the Crown Prince several times, demanding that he find the culprit. The Crown Prince even conducted a thorough investigation of everyone in the Crown Prince's residence for this concubine, but unfortunately, there was still no evidence. It was rumored that the concubine had miscarried because she had accidentally eaten something that clashed with her own diet, but this concubine believed that she had been framed. She even became so traumatized that the Crown Prince naturally grew tired of her and stopped favoring her, which drove the concubine even crazier.
Later, she suddenly quieted down, and everyone thought she had resigned herself to her fate. But no one expected that such a thing would happen three years later. The reason why this concubine would target the Crown Princess was that the concubine eventually discovered that the Crown Princess was the real culprit who harmed her unborn child. So the concubine bribed the Crown Princess's maid and the kitchen staff to poison the Crown Princess.
This fact surprised everyone, because no one expected it. But the most unexpected things are often the most likely to happen, and that's sometimes reality.
Princess Shuangxia couldn't help but sigh, "I never expected the truth to be like this." Princess Shuangxia had no doubts about these things. The concubine, relying on the Crown Prince's favor, had become pregnant before the principal wife, which was actually not allowed in the royal family. It was quite normal for Yiyue to take action against the concubine for various reasons.
Ouyang Yue fell silent. She didn't think this was the truth, but it was no longer appropriate to pursue the truth further.
"Princess, Young Master, Little Princess, the Crown Prince's residence has sent an invitation, specifically for the Little Princess." Just then, a servant walked in and said.
Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow sharply: "Give it to me? Let this princess take a look."
Ouyang Yue glanced at it, and Princess Shuangxia asked, "Yue'er, what's going on?"
Ouyang Yue sneered: "Grandmother, it was an invitation from the Crown Prince. He thought I had it before, but now that things have been investigated, he wants me to come to the mansion to apologize in person."
Princess Shuangxia's face darkened: "This Crown Prince has always been arrogant. Will he apologize to you?"
Xuanyuan Chaohua immediately nodded: "Yue'er, you can't go. Who knows what kind of wicked thoughts the Crown Prince might have."
Ouyang Yue placed the invitation on the table: "Grandmother, brother, Yue'er must go this time, otherwise there will only be bigger trouble."
The two men's expressions changed. Indeed, the Crown Prince hosting a banquet to apologize was a major event. If they didn't give him face, it wouldn't benefit anyone. Xuan Yuan Chaohua said, "I'll go with you."
"good!"
The next day, accompanied by Xuan Yuan Chaohua, Ouyang Yue arrived at the Crown Prince's residence. This time, the servants outside warmly invited Ouyang Yue in. The banquet was still held in the back garden. As soon as Ouyang Yue and Xuan Yuan Chaohua entered the back garden, a person suddenly appeared in front of them and rushed straight towards Ouyang Yue.
Ouyang Yue was taken aback, and looked at the person with a stern face!
☆、158、Beauty Pageant List!
"Who's there? Get out of the way!" Xuan Yuan Chaohua was right next to Ouyang Yue, so he didn't care about anything else and shoved the man away. The man didn't even resist and was powerless to fight back. He fell down with a thud as Xuan Yuan Chaohua pushed him. The man cried out in pain and threw everything he was holding away.
Ouyang Yue's face immediately darkened. It was at this moment that Ouyang Yue and Xuanyuan Chaohua saw who had bumped into them. It was a woman dressed in light pink who looked very thin. She had been holding a tray with a bowl of soup on it. As the woman was pushed down, the bowl of soup was thrown away. Ouyang Yue and Xuanyuan Chaohua were on guard against the woman's sudden attack, but by the time the soup spilled, it was too late.
Today, Ouyang Yue was wearing a blue embroidered dress with a large stain of soup on the hem. It was really unsightly to be out in such dirty clothes.
Xuanyuan Chaohua immediately retorted angrily, "Where did this reckless servant come from? Is this all the rule you have in the Crown Prince's residence!"