novelSusiti Chapter 1002 - 1001: Inquiry
Chapter 1002 - 1001: Inquiry
Ruru heard her father’s voice, forced her eyes open, and first saw His Majesty and the Empress. Her drowsiness vanished instantly, and she quickly knelt on the ground.His Majesty saw the little girl, initially drowsy and confused, now wide-eyed and adorable, and kindly said, "No need to fear, girl. I just have a few questions. Answer them truthfully."
Ruru nodded obediently.
Jiang Zhongxing took out a sachet and asked, "This thing—"
Before he could finish, Ruru exclaimed, "Oh, did Father find this sachet?"
Jiang Zhongxing shook his head, "Father asks, how did this fall, where did it fall, and you must truthfully recount it, not a single lie."
Ruru glanced at Yun Jiao, then at His Majesty and the Empress, realizing something major was amiss, presumably related to this sachet.
She then explained in detail how the Fourth Prince took her to catch rabbits. They walked behind a tree and heard some words she didn’t fully understand, then the Fourth Prince pulled her to run, and she didn’t know when the sachet fell.
His Majesty, upon hearing this, looked very displeased.
It seemed now that not only was there an assassin in the traveling palace, but likely some filthy business as well.
The Emperor’s greatest fear was being cuckolded, the Royal Family’s bloodline was not to be tarnished.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t castrate men to become eunuchs.
His Majesty sternly asked Ruru, "Do you know who those two behind the tree were?"
Ruru shook her head, "I don’t know."
The Emperor was visibly angry, "Investigate, ensure this matter gets thoroughly resolved!"
Jiang Zhongxing thought for a moment, "It’s hard to say who picked up this sachet. However, throwing it near the Second Prince’s sleeping quarters, it seems there’s an intent to frame."
His Majesty chuckled coldly, "It’s because I trust Youzhi that so many are dissatisfied with him."
"Those useless ones, all they can do is be jealous and envious!"
At this moment, Jiang Youzhi walked over, placing two sachets on the table, signaling the Imperial Physician to come and inspect them.
The Imperial Physician examined them and said, "The types and amounts of the medicines inside the two sachets are identical."
Nanny Qian then said, "This handkerchief package was taken from Miss Ruru’s account."
All this was enough to show that Yun Jiao’s earlier words contained not a single lie.
His Majesty stood up, "Find the person with the shoulder injury, start by investigating the Forbidden Army, and when dawn comes, check on the eunuchs and the Imperial Kitchen staff, lastly investigate the officials!"
Jiang Zhongxing acknowledged and escorted His Majesty back to the palace.
The Empress lagged slightly behind, holding Yun Jiao’s hand, "Sister, surely someone is trying to sow discord between us; don’t take this to heart, sister."
Yun Jiao replied with a smile, "What is Her Majesty saying, your servant is apprehensive."
Jiang Youzhi picked up Ruru, and the family took their leave.
The Empress, having lost her desire for sleep, stayed behind to look after the Second Prince, and ponder who wished harm upon her son.
The Duke escorted His Majesty back to the palace and waited in the previously designated area. Soon, several people came to report that no trace of the assassin had been found.
At this point, the Duke almost certainly concluded the assassin was someone within the traveling palace, understanding that further searching was of little use. Whoever it was, they could easily change out of night clothes, making identification impossible.
He ordered his personal soldiers, "Fire the signal flare, assemble!"
He wanted to first investigate those Forbidden Army members who were sleeping while not on duty.
After finishing with this group, he would then check those currently on guard outside.
Soon after the signal flare was fired, the small squads of the Forbidden Army scattered around the traveling palace began returning one after another.
The Duke ordered all the captains to count the numbers.