Qi Yu Ming never expected a little bundle of fluff to suddenly appear and curse his dirty hands.
Qi Yu Ming stepped forward and grabbed the little bundle's neck, saying fiercely, "You're asking for death!"
"I think *you're* asking for death!"
A sudden clear and cold voice made Qi Yu Ming tremble all over. He lowered his head and saw that the Empress, who should have been sound asleep on the bed, was now looking at him with eyes as cold as frost.
He froze, the strength in his hand gripping the little bundle weakening considerably. The little bundle fell from his grasp.
Xue Xing Yue caught the little bundle. The little bundle pouted and burst into tears with a "waaa!"
The little bundle's crying was no small matter. The imperial guards outside the sleeping quarters heard the sound and rushed in. Leading the charge was Wu Hen. Seeing Xue Tang, who was unconscious on the bed, Wu Hen was filled with both urgency and anger.
How many people could commit murder in the imperial palace?
Wu Hen rushed into the inner chamber and saw the Empress sitting on the bed, and the second prince of Qi, Qi Yu Ming, standing before it.
"Second Prince, why are you here?" Wu Hen asked coldly as he approached.
Qi Yu Ming did not expect things to escalate to this point. He instinctively took a step back and knelt on one knee, "Your Majesty, I am deeply fond of you. Please grant me an opportunity."
"Fond of me? So you knocked out my attendants and slaughtered my little bundle?"
Qi Yu Ming trembled all over and quickly explained, "Your Majesty, this humble prince did not intend this. I am truly fond of Your Majesty, and in my haste, it was a mistake."
"A mistake? But I feel it is not so simple, Second Prince."
Qi Yu Ming gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, everything this humble prince says is true. If there is any falsehood, this humble prince is willing to bear the consequences."
Xue Xing Yue sneered, "If that is the case, then send someone to bring him up!"
Qi Yu Ming's gaze froze as he saw the man being pushed forward, his entire being unable to comprehend.
Xue Xing Yue said coldly, "Second Prince, you should be familiar with this man, shouldn't you?"
"This humble prince does not know him." Qi Yu Ming was not foolish. He knew that at this moment, he could only deny it to the death. Otherwise, if he drugged the Empress Xue Tang and harbored ill intentions, his position as the second prince of Qi would likely be over.
"You don't know him? Very well, then I shall ask him..."
Xue Xing Yue got out of bed. Wu Hen quickly stepped forward to drape a cloak over her. She walked to the man who was trembling and cowering, and said coldly, "I recall you are the gardener managing the imperial gardens, correct?"
The man trembled all over. He never expected that the Empress would know someone as lowly as him.
"Tell me, do you recognize him?" Xue Xing Yue asked, pointing at Qi Yu Ming, the second prince of Qi.
The man glanced at Qi Yu Ming, then quickly lowered his eyes. "This servant does not recognize him."
Ta Xue, who had already woken up, was enraged and kicked the man in the chest, "You still dare to conceal the truth?"
"Ta Xue," Xue Xing Yue called out to stop her.
Ta Xue said indignantly, "Someone like this deserves to die."
"Retire!" Xue Xing Yue said coldly.
Ta Xue bit her lower lip and reluctantly withdrew.
Qi Yu Ming sneered, "Even if Your Majesty does not favor this humble prince, you don't need to insult me like this."
Xue Xing Yue heard this and said coldly, "I am insulting you? Who drugged my attendant? Who was standing before my dragon couch? Was it not you, Second Prince?"
Qi Yu Ming was rendered speechless and could only say, "This humble prince does not know him, and he does not know this humble prince. Your Majesty should not frame this humble prince."
"I will get to the bottom of today's events," Xue Xing Yue said coldly.
Qi Yu Ming flicked his sleeve and left. Da Feng Novel Network.
"Your Majesty, why did you let him go? He must be..."
"Ta Xue, the Second Prince is not wrong. He does not know the gardener, and the gardener does not know him. I cannot convict him."
Ta Xue said angrily, "So you're letting him get away with it?"
"I did not say I would let him go. It is just that now is not the best time."
Ta Xue bit her lower lip. "It is all this servant's fault for letting Your Majesty be frightened."
Xue Xing Yue placed the little bundle in her arms on the ground and said, "Thanks to the little bundle."
Otherwise, she would not have woken up so quickly, thus preventing Qi Yu Ming from succeeding.
"Your Majesty, the people in the palace should also be cleaned up," Wu Hen said from the side.
Xue Xing Yue nodded, "Indeed!"
Before, she felt that these people were all old servants who had served her brother. She had not wanted to replace them, but she had not expected it to provide an opportunity for others.
The Relay Station
"Your Highness, the Second Prince has returned."
Qi Yu Heng raised his eyes and asked, "How did things go?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, just as Your Highness predicted, the Empress was prepared. If Your Highness had not intervened, the Second Prince would definitely not have been able to escape."
Qi Yu Heng nodded, "That is good."
"Do you have something to say?" Qi Yu Heng asked his subordinate, who looked like he had something to say but hesitated.
The subordinate nodded. "This servant does not understand why Your Highness would help the Second Prince. If the Second Prince were gone, wouldn't Your Highness have one fewer opponent? Why..."
"Ah Da, you do not understand. In Qi, how my second brother and I fight is within Qi. But now it is different. If something were to happen to the Second Prince in Xing Jiu Country, do you think I would fare much better?"
Ah Da nodded. "Your Highness's consideration is indeed thorough!"
"Moreover, I also want to know what kind of woman Qi Yu Ze is so infatuated with. She is indeed extraordinary. This further strengthens my resolve to compete for the throne."
"Your Highness is wise!" Ah Da said.
"Keep an eye on the Empress. I believe she will not let this matter rest."
Qi Yu Heng's thoughts were not wrong. Xue Xing Yue had purged all the palace servants. Those who should have been released were released, and the remaining were all clever, capable, and efficient.
As for the gardener, Xue Xing Yue did not interrogate him further. She simply banished him from the capital, forbidding him from ever returning.