After that, they kept on traveling, and because the emperor was in a bad mood, he felt very depressed along the way.
Finally, we arrived in the capital on the fifth day of April.
The news of the emperor's assassination had already been reported back, and all the civil and military officials, the empress dowager, the queen, and the concubines were waiting outside the city gate to welcome him.
"Chen'er!" When the empress dowager saw the emperor get off the carriage, she held the servant's hand and walked quickly over. Tears flowed down her face as she shouted.
"Hurry up and ask mother to check if he is injured or feeling unwell. How could he be attacked out of nowhere? How did the people accompanying him perform their duties?"
The Queen Mother was genuinely nervous, but she was also pretending. She looked extremely anxious anyway.
"Don't worry, mother. I am not hurt. This time it was the Jin people who plotted against me. Fortunately, they did not succeed. Concubine Fang fought desperately to protect you and almost lost her life. I have already named her Xiuyi." Ning Chen said.
"She has made great contributions, so it is only natural for her to do so." The empress dowager's eyes flickered, and she felt uncomfortable when she mentioned Yao.
At this moment, the Queen came forward, her eyes full of longing, "Your Majesty, you have been traveling all the way, why don't you go back to the palace and rest first? If you have anything to say, you will have time later."
The Queen Mother nodded and said no more.
Ning Chen also nodded, and finally spoke again, "Fang Xiuyi and Ming Jieyu are both injured this time, and Yang Baolin is pregnant. They are tired from the journey, so just call a carriage to send them back to their residence. The Queen and I will go to Fengqi Palace, and you can all go."
Only now did everyone know that Ye Jun had been promoted again, but compared with Yang Baolin's pregnancy, this was nothing.
Who is Yang? If she hadn't relied on the queen, she would never have had the chance to serve the emperor. But she got pregnant after going out with him. It was hard not to make everyone jealous.
The queen was happy to hear the news, but she couldn't help feeling lonely because she was not pregnant after all.
But it’s good that Yang can give birth to a child now. At least the child can be raised by her, and she can be considered to have an heir.
Ning Chen and the Queen and her husband first sent the Queen Mother back to the palace, and then went to Fengqi Palace together.
"How is the investigation going on with Xia's case?"
"Your Majesty, I have only found out that Concubine Xia took a strong abortion drug mixed in the pastries. These pastries were sent by the kitchen and were handled by many people. I had them all tied up and interrogated one by one, but in the end, only one person was found suspicious." The queen looked a little uneasy.
After all, she really didn't find anything useful in such a long time.
Ning Chen's eyes darkened, "Who is it? Just tell the truth."
"When Xia Wanrong was still in the Needlework Bureau, she had a good friend who was an embroiderer named Rong'er. After Xia Wanrong served the emperor, this maid named Rong'er committed a crime and was assigned to the kitchen to do rough work. She begged Xia Wanrong to transfer her out, but Xia Wanrong was of a low position at the time and was unable to do so, which made her hold a grudge against her." The queen said truthfully.
Regardless of whether it was Rong'er who did it, she had a grudge against the Xia family and happened to work in the kitchen, so it was reasonable to say that she was the one who did it.
"No one else?" Ning Chen obviously didn't believe it.
I always feel that there is someone else behind this matter.
The Queen held the handkerchief tightly and spoke carefully, "This is indeed all I have found out."
After a long while, Ning Chen let out a heavy breath, "I will personally investigate this matter again. I didn't want to say these harsh words before, but today I will say it for the second time. I will not tolerate anyone who harms my children. As the queen, you should also manage the harem for me."
"I obey your command. I will be extra careful in the future. There will be no problem with Yang Baolin's pregnancy this time!" The queen knelt down hurriedly.
She felt very upset, but she couldn't help but express her attitude.
After all, this time it was a warning from the emperor.
Ning Chen could also see that it was not the Queen who did it this time, but the Queen was really too incompetent in managing the harem.
Previously, Concubine Yi's pregnancy was secretly murdered by someone. It would have been fine if she hadn't told anyone about it, but this time, something went wrong when Concubine Xia was about to give birth. It was all because the Queen didn't take good care of her.
He knew in his heart that the empress did not take action, but she also did not care about Xia's pregnancy. Ignoring the royal heir was a serious crime for the empress.
Of course, Ning Chen did not forget Yan Xiuyi, but Xia Wanrong's baby was supposed to be raised by her, so she would definitely not do anything.
After coming out of Fengqi Palace, Ning Chen was about to go to Cuizhuxuan to see Xia Shi, but Yuan Jiu just came over at this time.
"Your Majesty, Su Wanrong's residence has not yet been decided. What do you think?"
If Yuan Jiu hadn't reminded him, Ning Chen would have almost forgotten about Su Diya. In fact, Su Diya was also very embarrassed and didn't know where to go, so she had to wait outside Jiuchen Palace.
After all, she is a princess from Zasak, so Ning Chen can't just ignore it.
"Ask the Queen to arrange it. Just make sure it's not too bad."
It doesn't have to be too bad, which doesn't mean it doesn't have to be very good either.
Yuan Jiu sighed inwardly, why bother? This princess came here willingly. If it were Princess Yunrong, she would have been able to be granted the title of concubine as soon as she entered the palace.
Finally, the Queen chose Feihong Pavilion for her. That place was far away from the Emperor, but it had been renovated last year and its facilities were still good.
On the other side, Ning Chen had already arrived at Cuizhuxuan.
Xia used to be a talented woman and could not live alone, so she lived in the back wing. Now Ning Chen directly ordered her to move to Yunqi Pavilion after she finished her confinement.
"I am guilty of not being able to give birth to a prince for Your Majesty. Please forgive me."
Xia Wanrong struggled to sit up, her face was completely pale and her eyes were red and swollen, obviously she had been crying.
Ning Chen pushed her back and tucked the corner of the quilt unskillfully. "I don't blame you, and you shouldn't be too sad. You have to get well first. I'll take care of the rest for you."
“I was nine months pregnant, and suddenly... I was gone... Wuuuuuu…” Xia Shi couldn’t hold it in anymore, and she cried so hard that she almost fainted.
It would be fine if it was someone else's plot, but she killed her own child with her own hands!
But she couldn't tell anyone about this matter. Only she and Lian Qiao knew about it, and it would remain secret forever.
Ning Chen felt bad seeing her crying like this, and tried to persuade her gently for a long time.
Finally, Xia was tired of crying and fell into a deep sleep.
"You take good care of Xia Wanrong. I will come to see her when I have time." Ning Chen wiped the tears from Xia Wanrong's face before standing up to leave.
At this time, Lian Qiao suddenly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say. Please listen to me."
Ning Chen waved his hand, signaling her to continue.
Lian Qiao then cried, "I am young and don't know many things. The same is true for Wanrong. But the imperial physician saw that Wanrong's belly was much bigger than that of an ordinary pregnant woman, but he said nothing. Yan Xiuyi even sent her supplements every day and watched Wanrong drink them. If the fetus was not too large and difficult to deliver, she would have been born safely even if she was poisoned!"
"It is a capital crime to make irresponsible remarks about the master. I will only spare you this time." Ning Chen looked at her with a complicated expression.
He left after saying this.