“As soon as he entered the palace, he summoned Li gong-gong, then went to the Imperial Physician Hall, and then respectively entered the medicinal herbs room as well as the side hall used to decoct the herbal medicines, right now, they seem to have headed to the prohibited area of the palace.” Faithfully reporting with concise details, not a single point missing.
Gui Wan lightly knits her brows, “Really is making sure not a single drop leaks out, this is bad……” Lou Che link after link, linking connections together as he investigates, how is there possibly any other places he can set his hands on?
“Madam,” Noticing Gui Wan’s look of difficulty, De Yu reminds, “If Prime Minister Lou has already found something right now, then he would not have to continue investigating further. Not to mention there is a lapse of two months between the happenings of this matter, some of the clues have been blurred, everything still requires planning in a long-term perspective.”
Giving him a look full of praises, Gui Wan nods in agreement, remaining silent for a moment, before speaking yet again: “Consort Ying’s miscarriage two months ago, other than Imperial Physician Qin, were there no other attending imperial physicians?”
“There was, there was also Imperial Physician Zhang, unfortunately a few days after the matter, he already retired and returned home.”
Originally a problem with answers they are already unsure of, thus becomes even more complicated and confusing as of now, Gui Wan only feels as though a scene of boundlessly white fog lies before her eyes, carefully thinking it over, she lightly asks De Yu: “Regarding this matter, what do you think the chances are of it being the Empress’ doing?”
De Yu sinks into deep silence, not daring to answer this question with casual ease, after careful consideration, he speaks up: “Little chance, the Empress at the time was already affected by the ‘Hu Guo Temple’ crisis, under semi-house arrest in the palace, there should be no energy spare to do this.”
Although this was also the answer she held deep inside, to hear this from someone else seems to add a cetain confirmation to it, thus feeling like hearing a different answer, her heart grows slightly put to ease, but cannot refrain from giving rise to doubts, exactly who could have possibly acted so recklessly in the back palace?
The two of them talk as they walk, although they came across a few eunuchs and palace maids along the way, there were actually no fright, no danger. Wandering into the back palace courtyard, a little eunuch runs up, whispering a few words into De Yu’s ears, and quickly leaves. De Yu turns his head back, seeming to speak with concern: “Prime Minister Lou has now headed to Jing Yi Palace to see Lady Consort Ying.”
Gui Wan indifferently smile as she listens to his report, secretly full of praises, she has indeed not found the wrong person, this person works very cautiously, and also understands how to accommodate to circumstances, give it a little more time, and he will definitely become the dark horse[3] within the palace. Unfortunately the news that made its way into her ears, is not in fact anything pleasant, Gui Wan softly mutters: “Lost the opportune moment……”
“Madam, there’s still one more place, we can go take a look.” De Yu’s refined face appears concerned, and thus advices.
“What place?”
“All medicine concocted for an imperial consort, will require having another to taste it first, thus an extra bowl would be prepared, only after the taste tester has consumed it without any problems, would the medicine be sent to the imperial consort.” Someone who often taste medicine all year round, should already have become familiar with the medicinal properties, why is it that they didn’t realise the medicine contained saffron?
“Your meaning is……”
“The one who taste tested Lady Consort Ying’s medicine, should be at the side hall of Yu Gan Palace.”
“Let us quickly go then.” A beautiful smile blooming like a flower, Gui Wan’s feelings of joy emerges, in that sweet moment, a bewitching charm is hidden within that extremely elegant beauty, making De Yu fall into a trance upon seeing it, pulling himself together, Gui Wan had already walked a few steps ahead, he hurriedly follows after her.
They had only just arrived in front of the corridors of Yu Gan Palace, when De Yu suddenly jumps forward, desperately calling out in a low tone: “Madam, ahead.”
Gui Wan instantly glances over, walking over from not too far away is actually Lou Che’s party, with him were also the likes of a few officials and eunuchs following behind, a chill overcomes her heart, didn’t think that even this place, did not escape him, simply not a single leakage. At the same time she was slightly panicking, the disguise she’s in can get past others, but cannot possibly slip by Lou Che’s eyes. Fortunately this spot is the corridors’ turning corner, they don’t seem to have looked over here.
“Madam,” In a moment of haste, De Yu acts quickly