C131

"This son has heard that palace maids have poisoned royal father, luckily, he is fine!" Third Prince looked like he was relieved.

After the emperor's gaze swept over all the officials, he said in a low voice, "That palace maid couldn't say anything. Third brother, I'll leave this matter to you to investigate. Don't disappoint me!"

Hearing this, Third Prince was slightly surprised, but he quickly regained his composure and replied with a cupped fist: "This son obeys!"

"Alright, since there's nothing else, let's adjourn the court!" The emperor's voice was light as he spoke.

After the emperor left the imperial palace, Shi Anran followed behind without saying a word. Seeing that the emperor had stopped, she too stood on her spot.

"Don't you have anything you want to explain to me?"

"Reporting to the Emperor, Anran is right, there is no need to explain!" Even if she explained, it was just to confirm her suspicions. She believed that as long as the Emperor didn't believe that she was the one who did it, nothing would happen.

"I quite appreciate your calmness!" The Emperor slowly walked in front of him. After pondering for a moment, he slowly said, "Since I've ascended to the throne, I've already encountered a lot of matters like this. However, very few people were able to find out the truth."

After Shi Anran heard the emperor's words, she said seriously, "But the medicinal food Anran prepared for the emperor was made personally, and she didn't give it to anyone else during this period. It just so happened yesterday. The people who come in and out of the Palace everyday are all complicated, but they have never come into the kitchen, so Anran's bold guess is that there's something wrong with the ingredients, I sincerely request the Emperor to let Anran follow Third Prince in investigating this matter. "

The emperor was silent for a moment, then said with a stern expression, "Fine, I'll give you a chance to cleanse yourself. But if you can't find anything, then that palace maid will have to abide by the palace's rules!"

"Your majesty, Anran begs your majesty, can you not kill people before everything is true?" Liu Yue was undoubtedly wronged, and the Emperor naturally knew that. What Shi Anran was worried about was that the Emperor would order his men to kill Liu Yue without alerting him.

"I have given you a chance. I shall be in charge of everything in this palace!" The emperor's next sentence completely shut her up.

Watching as the emperor's figure disappeared from his sight, Shi Anran's hand that was holding the silk handkerchief had already been tightly clasped together. If Third Prince was able to make a person like the Imperial Noble Consort Zhao be willing to work for him, then he must also have other eyes and ears in the palace. This was something that he might be able to do.

She was still thinking about the Third Prince, and when she turned around, he saw Su Yun walking over. Shi Anran lowered her eyes and saluted: "Anran greets Third Prince!"

"No need for formalities!" Li Mu looked at her pale face, furrowed his brows, and asked: "What's wrong, are you feeling unwell?"

"Thank you, Third Prince, for your concern. Anran is very good …" Shi Anran calmly opened her mouth, and even her speaking voice had become very stiff.

Li Mu's thin lips curved into a slit, and after a moment, he said calmly, "Father asked me to investigate this matter, do you have anything you want to tell me?"

Why, even he doubted herself? Shi Anran looked at him with a questioning gaze, and only after a long while did she leisurely say: "I have nothing to say, Anran has already requested an decree from the Emperor, she will assist Third Prince in investigating this matter."

Hearing this, Li Mu raised her eyebrows slightly: "So what if you've found out? The best way now is to give it up …"

"There's no need to trouble Third Prince with this. I will not abandon anyone." Xiu Er had already died because of him, so she would not let Liu Yue be covered by this unexplained grievance.

Looking at her persistent expression, Li Mu knew that there was no need for him to say anything more. He thought for a bit, then said in a neutral tone: "Since royal father agreed to have you help me investigate, then he must trust you. Otherwise, the person who will be in trouble right now will already be you!"

Looking at Third Prince's serious expression, Shi Anran guessed something. She smiled and laughed coldly: "Anran understands!" Didn't he want to be a spy for the emperor? When Shi Anran had smoothly entered the palace and become the emperor's maid, she had already known that such a day would come.

"Anran, I will remember what you and I did …" Li Mu's eyes were filled with gentleness.

Shi Anran only sneered in her heart, and maintained a calm expression on the surface. "Then, should we be able to investigate the case now?"

"There's no need to rush. I think we should go somewhere first." With that, Li Mu walked in front, he turned and looked at the person that did not follow, and said softly: "Don't you want to go and see how that young palace maid of yours is doing?"

After hearing that, Shi Anran's eyes lit up, and she quickly followed him. It was just that Third Prince walked too fast, the discomfort in her stomach made her struggle, and she quickened her pace to follow the man in front.

"Ugh …" Shi Anran's mind was in a mess, her steps struck Third Prince's back, she covered her nose and groaned, why did he suddenly stop?

Seeing her angry look, Li Mu could not help but find it funny, after looking around to see that no one was around, he raised his hand and lightly tapped her nose, and laughed: "In my eyes, Shi Anran is not such a clumsy girl."

This kind of intimate action caused Shi Anran to be a little stunned. She hurriedly took two steps back to stabilize herself, and her eyes flashed slightly after meeting his gentle eyes. This man was too good at concealing and disguising herself, whether it was her gentleness or gentleness, Shi Anran would never believe that he had done it from the bottom of her heart.

After walking all the way back, they finally reached the entrance of the prison. Only after Li Mu revealed his identity card did the guard open the door for him. Looking at the rows of lights in front of his, Shi Anran was a little afraid, this was the first time she was in this place.

As if he could feel her nervousness, Li Mu scanned his surroundings lightly before saying indifferently: "If I make you afraid of a place like this, then how are you going to walk on this hellish road from now on?"

Listening to his words, Shi Anran's expression gradually calmed down. As they walked in, they could see that there were many prisoners being imprisoned, and some of them were being punished. The miserable wails that sounded in her ears made her feel that it was incomparably ear-piercing: "Where exactly is Liu Yue being locked up?"

"Just follow me!" Li Mu said softly and walked forward. Seeing him so familiar with this place, Shi Anran could not help but feel strange. Could it be that Third Prince came to this place frequently?

In the corner of the cell, Liu Yue saw a familiar figure and immediately crawled back up: "Miss, I'm here!"

After seeing Liu Yue, Shi Anran quickly walked over, her gaze swept over her. Seeing that she was alright, she heaved a sigh of relief.

Liu Yue nodded her head then shook it: "I did indeed get beaten up when I first entered, but when Eunuch Zhao came over, he told all the guards not to use torture, so I was fine!"

Shi Anran knew that Eunuch Zhao was giving her face, or else, not knowing how much pain Liu Yue had suffered from the people in the prison, she grabbed Liu Yue's hands and asked seriously, "Think back to what happened that day if you came into contact with anyone!"

"Your servant hasn't, and the medicinal food has always been in your servant's hands."