C91

The empress dowager took the empress's hand and patted the back of it.

"When a person's old, there'll always be people who come knocking on their door with minor ailments. It's normal enough, so don't listen to random rumors from imperial physicians."

A mama on the side quickly explained, "Wasn't Esteemed Empress Dowager angered by that Ninth Elder?"

She had originally wanted to say Ninth Princess, but then she remembered that the empress dowager didn't like this form of address, so she still called Xiao Ting six girls.

In reality, many people were used to calling her Miss Xiao Liu, not Ninth Princess. On one hand, it was because her Miss Xiao Liu's reputation was too great, on the other hand, it was because of her attitude towards her.

That kind of nonchalance, to the point of not avoiding or protecting, made everyone feel that Xiao Ting was just the temporary mistress of the Ninth Prince's Estate.

The empress dowager glared at the mama, then looked at the empress and said, "It's been so many years that it's been hard on you. Now that that woman, Xiao Lingyue, has been beaten into the cold palace by the emperor, in the future, you might want to have some snacks.

"Chenqie will remember it." The empress felt a sweet taste in her mouth as she lowered her head to listen carefully.

The Empress Dowager had the same thoughts as she had at this point, and that was good.

However, the next sentence that followed made the Queen unhappy.

"Do you have any plans for Third-son's selection?"

Last time, the original intent of the Lotus Blossom Meet was to choose the Chief Consort for the Third Prince. However, in the end, it was interrupted by a point of view from Xiao Ting and no one was chosen in the end.

After that, the matter was left unsettled.

"Everything is decided by Mother."

The empress dowager smiled. "I have three candidates in my heart."

"Which one does the Queen Mother want?" the queen asked.

"Last time at the Lotus Flower Banquet, Miss Xiao Si, Xiao Mei's concubine, was also Xiao Lingyue's niece. The most important thing was that her relationship with Xiao Lingyue was mediocre.

The older the ginger, the more experienced he would be. The empress dowager's words cut straight to the heart of the empress.

"Imperial Mother is wise, chenqie has indeed fallen for Xiao Mei, but only now did I realize, if I really did choose Xiao Mei that time, it would only harm San'er." The empress was not embarrassed that her words had been seen through, but there was an apologetic look on her face.

"It's good that you know this! In the end, Xiao Mei is still the daughter of the Xiao Family, so it would be a disaster if both of them get along. For the future of Thirteen's marriage, you must not have any other thoughts, or else you will only lose your watermelon and pick up sesame. "

The empress hastened to kneel down and cry out, "Imperial Mother's teachings are correct, chenqie has received her teachings."

Firstly, her identity was barely worthy of Third Prince. Secondly, there would be no conflict with Imperial Consort Xiao, and Imperial Consort Xiao would even help Third Prince. Thirdly, the Xiao family did not have any backers, so the Emperor would be at ease.

After all, the emperor was still young and young, so he could not bear to see too much influence from the emperor. This would only make him uneasy.

The Xiao family was the best choice at that time.

But now, it looked like there was a hundred flowers in the world, one man was without a family, who would have thought that Xiao Lingyue, who had been a favorite of the harem for so many years, would lose her chance and directly enter the cold palace, almost losing her life.

Back then, if Xiao Ting did not mess things up, she would have made a big mistake.

Alright, it's all for San-er. You don't have anything to do with it.

"Thank you mother."

"I think it's not bad for the three young ladies of the Residence of State of Tranquil East. You should choose a day to summon Xiruo and her to the palace to meet San'er and take a look at the situation. We'll discuss this when the time comes."

The empress dowager immediately gave the order, and the empress lowered her head in agreement, feeling a bit indignant.

Xiruo was the empress's niece and the empress's favorite candidate for the future, but she didn't like that girl.

He was too scheming!

However, she did not bring up the matter again, but changed the topic and asked, "Mother, do you know what that sheepskin scroll that Xiao Ting handed over is?"

When the empress dowager heard this, her face darkened. She directly let go of the empress's hand and asked in a low voice, "Why are you asking this?"

Obviously, she knew.

The empress's heart was filled with joy. Indeed, they had guessed correctly. The emperor must have told the empress dowager about this.

"Muhou, chenqie feels that since that thing can save Xiao Lingyue's life, it is naturally not an ordinary item. Then how did Ninth Princess obtain it?"

"Has the Emperor pursued this matter? What if that nephew and nephew pair are colluded? "

The empress immediately spoke out her own guess, causing the empress dowager to freeze for a moment, before speaking, "I'm not clear about this matter, and the emperor only mentioned it to me. This map is of great importance, as to how Xiao Ting obtained it, no one knows."

"But you do have some meaning to that. If this matter was truly linked to the collaboration of the two of them, then the problem would be extremely serious. "

"That's right, think about it, the two of them must have colluded. If Xiao Lingyue did not die, and if she did not take the lives of everyone in Xiao Mansion, would Xiao Ting still hand over the map?"

"That's right."

The more the empress dowager thought about it, the more reasonable it sounded. She immediately sat up from the bed, not looking the least bit uncomfortable at all.

He said, "Go to Ninth Prince's Estate now and bring that woman back. I want to interrogate her myself."

The empress was delighted, but she looked hesitant.

When the empress dowager saw this, she coldly reprimanded him.

"Why aren't you going?" This matter was extremely important, so she didn't dare to delay any longer.

"Muhou, chenqie still has something to say?" The empress looked like she wanted to speak, but stopped, making the empress dowager even more annoyed.

"If you have something to say, just say it. When did you learn to speak in such a roundabout manner to me? "

The Queen revealed an awkward smile before asking in a serious tone, "Do you think this Ninth Prince is aware of this matter?"

"What do you mean?" The empress dowager's eyes gradually grew cold as she narrowed them, making it difficult to see her emotions.

Hmm, chenqie thought so. Based on the situation at that time, Ninth Prince took the initiative to ask Xiao Ting to hand over the map, does that mean he already knew that the map was on Xiao Ting, but he did not say anything. It wasn't until the Emperor ordered everyone in Xiao Mansion to be imprisoned and interrogated, did they bring up the matter.

At this point, the empress paused, giving the empress dowager some time to ponder. She then concluded, "One can't help but be suspicious of how you act."

The empress dowager fell into deep thought, her eyes flickering. After seeing the empress dowager return to her senses, she slightly blessed herself and said, "Imperial Mother, these are only this one's speculations and may not be the truth. If they can't be true, then don't take it to heart.

With that, she stood up and turned to leave, leaving behind the empress dowager who was sitting in the Zion's palace with a bewildered look on her face.

The series of events that had occurred with the appearance of a mysterious map in the imperial palace had attracted many people's attention.

The Ninth Prince and the Emperor were concerned about who the woman in black was.

Who sent her to steal the map?

The empress, on the other hand, was eyeing the map and thought it was a particularly important thing.

The other people from the Imperial Family started to investigate in secret.

In an instant, the entire Imperial City was filled with commotion and undercurrents. Very quickly, people were able to guess its uses.

The palace would no longer be peaceful.

Prince Rui's Palace, a small courtyard.

Princess Yue sat under the grape arbor in the courtyard. She extended her hand and plucked a bunch of purple crystal like, sparkling and translucent grapes, then slowly peeled the grape skin off, and threw the fruit into her mouth.

"Are you saying that the person who saved you was the Ninth Princess?"

In front of her, under the blazing sun, 10 feet away, a woman in black was kneeling on one knee. Her long hair was tied up high with a ribbon, and her upper body was standing straight.

"Yes."

This simple word caused everyone to feel their hearts tremble.

Princess Yue sat on the stone chair, her legs intertwined, her fingers agilely twirled the teacup, the corners of her eyes were full of smiles, but no matter how she looked at it, it was filled with ill intentions, and she said, "That map was also changed by her?"

When they talked about the map,? Month was not in the Yao Chi Palace, but was invited outside.

At that time, the people who were left inside were all the main figures in the royal family.

Therefore, she was not clear why Imperial Consort Xiao did not die in the end, but was only beaten into the cold palace.

It was only until a moment ago when the black-clothed woman escaped from the Imperial Palace that she knew the whole story.

It was still the same cold word, "Yes."

"Do you know how much effort this princess expended to find out about this matter? And to find such a good opportunity to create such a huge mess and cause so many people to die, this is all to cover you …"

Princess Yue spoke very slowly. Although she had said such a big thing, she did not seem angry at all.

"Now, tell this princess that you've obtained the item, but it has been transferred over and now, you're back in the palace."

"Hehe, this move of yours should be called 'shaking the grass and alarming the snake!'"

"Your subordinate deserves to die."

The girl in black kneeled on one knee, her eyes staring straight ahead. Although she was kneeling there, there wasn't a single trace of humility in her gaze.

Her right hand rested on the ground with the hilt of her sword.

With these words, the sound of swords unsheathing could be heard. The cold arrow in her hand was placed across her neck, and she was about to die on the spot.

Right at this moment, Princess Yue's figure flashed, and didn't even see how she made her move. With a peng sound, the cold arrow in the girl's hand fell, and on her neck, a faint red scar gradually appeared, oozing blood.

"I've raised you for so many years just to let you die?"

Princess Yue stood tall, her moon-white long skirt dragging the ground as it poured down like water.

Her voice was neither salt nor light, but it carried a sense of majesty.

The woman in black lowered her head in the end.

Princess Yue looked down at her from above. Although there was a smile in her eyes, it was hard to relax. On the contrary, it gave off the feeling of being completely on guard.

"Even if you want to die, you should have some value. In order to protect you, I sacrificed so many people. Now that you want to die, don't you feel ashamed of yourself?"

The woman in black gritted her teeth. "Your subordinate is willing to make a meritorious service. If I enter the palace again, I will definitely obtain that map." She swore.