Chen Gui knocked on the door of Prince Shen's Mansion and knelt down when he saw Zhao Qian.
Zhao Qian recognized him at a glance and asked, "Chen Gui, you came to my house so late. Do you have anything important to report?"
When Chen Gui saw that there were people on both sides, he felt a little uneasy and said, "Please, Your Majesty, please step aside."
Although Zhao Qian was puzzled, he still did as he said.
"Okay, now if you have anything to say, just say it."
Chen Gui calmed down and said: "In the first month of the first month, the prince took Xiao Xiao to examine the emperor's body. At that time, Xiao Xiao didn't find anything, but later, he found something very small on the cloth." He solemnly took out a paper bag from his arms. After opening the paper bag, there was a piece of well-folded white cotton cloth. He unfolded the white cotton cloth and showed it to Zhao Qian. Zhao Qian took it under the lamp and looked at it carefully. Seeing two tiny black dots, he quickly asked: "What are these?"
Chen Guidao: "Probably some kind of seed."
"Seeds?!" Zhao Qian looked carefully and couldn't see anything. He frowned and said: "Okay, there is no one else here. Tell me everything you know. If I won’t forgive you for hiding anything.”
Chen Gui then continued, "I have been studying what this black spot is these days. I have been thinking hard for many days but I still can't figure it out. Until yesterday, when I was eating apples at home, I was probably so absorbed in thinking that I didn't even notice that I had eaten the seeds. I took a few bites and found that the seeds tasted a bit strange, like almonds, so I spit them out immediately. Later, I compared the spitted out residue with this thing and found that they were the same thing."
"Are Ringo seeds poisonous?" Zhao Qian asked directly.
Chen Gui knew how to do autopsies and had certain medical skills, but based on the knowledge he had, he could not answer the regent's question, so he had to say: "I don't know, but I did find Ringo seeds from the emperor's mouth. I think this is an important discovery and I should inform the prince."
After hearing this, Zhao Qian nodded and said, "I know, you did the right thing." Another person gave Chen Gui a silver reward and let Chen Gui go back.
He carefully folded the white cotton cloth and put it away carefully. I plan to go to the palace tomorrow to tell Li Wei.
This was an important discovery, related to the real cause of Fu Guang's death. Zhao Qian could not leave it to others and planned to see the Queen Mother in person to explain the matter clearly.
The main thing discussed at the court meeting the next day was still about the new emperor, but because Zhao Qian had something on his mind, he ended the topic early, and the morning court ended quickly.
Then he took a sedan to Chongqing Palace. Before he entered, he was stopped by the guards of Chongqing Palace: "Does your Majesty have any intention to summon the Queen Mother?"
"No, you bring a message to the Queen Mother for me. Just tell her about the important discovery and she should understand."
The guards were a little confused, so someone immediately went to send a message. At that time, Li Wei was sitting on the kang, taking a knot, when he saw Qingxiang walking in and reported: "The Queen Mother, the regent wants to see you."
Li Wei didn't even raise his head and said bluntly: "No. Just say that something is wrong with me and I won't see anyone."
Haruka hesitated for a moment, then added: "The regent said that he has made a major discovery and must see the Queen Mother."
"Major discovery?!" Sure enough, these four words attracted all Li Wei's attention. Did Zhao Qian find something? Still avoiding suspicion at the moment, Li Wei said: "Please ask the regent to go to the south study room."
Qingxiang agreed and went to make arrangements. Li Wei didn't care whether she was dressed properly and just asked the palace maid to comb her hair again.
Then Li Wei got on the sedan and hurried to the south study room. Zhao Qian had only arrived a while ago and was standing there waiting for Li Wei's arrival.
After the two of them saw the ceremony, Zhao Qian said to the palace maids and eunuchs behind him: "You all go outside and wait, and no one is allowed to trespass."
However, the palace maids and eunuchs remained motionless. Li Wei glanced at Zhao Qian and finally said, "You go down first. I will let you in if necessary."
Only those who were present retreated.
After all the eyesores in front of him were gone, Zhao Qian stepped forward a few steps. Li Wei looked at him defensively and asked nervously: "What are you going to do?"
"Let me show you something. Chen Gui came to my house last night and handed it to me."
When Li Wei heard about it, she couldn't help but become nervous. When she saw Zhao Qian took it out from his arms, she quickly showed the white cotton cloth to Li Wei, pointed to the brown dots on it and said to Li Wei: "Chen Gui He told me overnight that he found such a remnant from the emperor’s mouth.”
"What's this?"
"He told me it was a Ringo seed."
"Ringo?!" Li Wei was shocked. In the blink of an eye, she finally understood. She understood what always felt like something was wrong. It turned out to be the five kilograms of Ringo that Hanyuan Palace received every day.
Her palms were sweaty, and she said uneasily to Zhao Qian: "Hanyuan Palace goes to the Twelve Yamen every day to collect five pounds of Lin'e. According to Zhang Chaoen, it's because it was hard to sleep at night since last winter, so he needs help from these." Falling asleep with the aroma of fruit. But even if Fu Guang happened to eat Ringo that night, he would only have eaten the fruit pieces and would never have eaten the seeds.”
There were so many people serving in front of him. If the emperor wanted to eat any fruit, the serving people must have removed the skin and core, cut it into pieces, put it on a fork and invited the emperor to eat it. It was impossible to bite off the seeds as well.
Zhao Qian also asked: "So are Ringo's seeds poisonous?"
Li Wei said: "I remember, my second brother once told me that apple cores cannot be eaten, because apple cores contain a substance that will not poison people immediately, but long-term accumulation in the body is also harmful."
Zhao Qian asked again: "What about taking water made from apple seeds in a short period of time?"
Li Wei's eyes widened, this might be possible. She said: "If this is really the case, then the six people that night are all seriously suspected, and some of them lied."
Zhao Qian frowned: "If this is the case, then there is indeed a problem with Fu Guang's death."
The vassal princes had almost arrived in Kyoto, and they were scheduled to enter the palace to discuss the throne together the day after tomorrow. She and Zhao Qian said, "I think it would be better to put off the matter of inviting the vassal princes to discuss the matter until then." Let’s talk about it after the current situation is clear.”
"Okay, as you say."
The two discussed the matter, and Li Wei was anxious to return to Chongqing Palace to investigate the matter again, while Zhao Qian was still busy dealing with government affairs. Zhao Qian came out first, and Li Wei walked behind. Zhao Qian said goodbye to Li Wei before getting on the sedan, but he didn't expect to be bumped into by Zhong Taibin who appeared out of nowhere.
"Prince Regent, Queen Mother, you two are..." Concubine Zhong looked surprised.
Zhao Qian ignored Concubine Zhong, said goodbye to Li Wei, got into the sedan and left. Li Wei then returned to Chongqing Palace.
(End of chapter)