After hearing the other party's self-introduction, Xiao Zhan Bei's icy demeanor gradually receded.
"So it's Commander Lu. I, Xiao, have long heard that General Zhang Ziliang has a capable subordinate.
To meet you today, you are indeed a hero of youth."
"General Xiao flatters me. Huai Ying is unworthy of such praise."
After a few pleasantries, Ye Sheng Xiao, who was Xiao Zhan Fang, went to support Yan Ting Hao. Xiao Zhan Bei lowered his head, picked up the blood-stained garment, and then left.
Meanwhile.
Lin Qing Ge and Leng Ning Yue followed Xiao Hei, twisting and turning, and eventually found themselves back at the entrance of Chang Shou Palace.
They saw Xiao Hei stop in front of Prime Minister Shang Guan and bark twice.
"What's going on?
Xiao Hei, is your brain short-circuited?"
Let's not even mention that Prime Minister Shang Guan's identity and status did not require him to act personally.
Even if we consider the blood-stained garment, with Prime Minister Shang Guan's waist, which was thicker than a water bucket, it simply wouldn't fit!
Although she was chiding him, Lin Qing Ge still tended to believe Xiao Hei.
However, arriving at this conclusion could only mean that some link in the chain had gone wrong, or that Fu Xun had guessed they might be tracking by scent and had interfered.
"Prime Minister Shang Guan, do you have the habit of carrying a sachet with you?"
Although she had been quite angered before, out of consideration for the other party's princess status, Prime Minister Shang Guan reluctantly shook his head.
But Leng Ning Yue, upon seeing this, frowned and recalled:
"He doesn't have the habit of carrying a sachet, but before going out every day, he would fumigate his clothes with burning incense.
He even said that burning incense and bathing daily is the most basic etiquette and cultivation for a scholar."
"Hmph, what's wrong with me, this Prime Minister, fumigating my clothes?"
"There's nothing wrong with it, after all, it's a personal act.
However, this Princess wants to know who procured the incense you use to fumigate your clothes, Prime Minister Shang Guan?"
Prime Minister Shang Guan heard this and snorted disdainfully, "Princess Chang Le, who helps me fumigate my clothes doesn't concern you, does it?
Or perhaps, because your elder brother Lin Jing Xing is confined to Chang Shou Palace and cannot move an inch, you, a weak woman, have been sent out to investigate the case?"
"You're the weak woman!
Believe it or not, I'll beat you until your teeth are all over the ground!"
Lin Qing Ge said, baring her teeth and waving her small fists.
Prime Minister Shang Guan, his whole body aching, took two steps back and said with his neck stiffened,
"Princess Chang Le, I'm telling you!
If you dare to touch me again, I will join with other officials tomorrow morning to impeach your brother Lin Jing Xing!
And have His Majesty deal with him swiftly to quell the anger of the Eastern Ying Kingdom!"
"Then do you believe I can beat you until you're half-paralyzed right now, and prevent you from attending court tomorrow morning!"
"You dare!"
"Anyway, whether I beat you once or twice, it's still beating.
Oh, and by the way, the Empress's maternal aunt's younger sister, that is, your wife's own sister, Leng Shuang, not only has arrived in the capital, but is also here in Chang Shou Palace at this very moment.
Shall I, this Princess, call her out to have a good chat with you, Prime Minister Shang Guan?"
"Are you threatening me?"
Lin Qing Ge heard this and said with a laugh,
"How can this be called a threat?
Elder Leng Shuang is not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also has a fiery temper.
If I, this Princess, were to say that Prime Minister Shang Guan, you have already admitted that you were responsible for the death of the Empress's mother, Leng Shu Ying.
If she takes my Princess's face into consideration, she may not spare your life, Prime Minister Shang Guan, but she can still leave you with an intact corpse."
"Nonsense!
It's simply nonsense!"
"Prime Minister Shang Guan, whether this Princess is talking nonsense is not important, what's important is whether Leng Shuang believes it."
Prime Minister Shang Guan glared with anger, and after a long while, he squeezed out four words from between his teeth:
"Madam Xia Hou."
"Ha?"
"My daily life, from food to clothing, is managed by my wife, Madam Xia Hou."
After explaining this, Prime Minister Shang Guan fell silent.
Lin Qing Ge and Leng Ning Yue exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.
However, upon mentioning Madam Xia Hou, Lin Qing Ge suddenly remembered someone.
She returned to Chang Shou Palace, couldn't find Yan Ting Hao, so she summoned Ling Han and asked him to summon Wu Suo Wei, who had been lurking in the Prime Minister's mansion.
Immediately after, she and Leng Ning Yue took some time to visit the Imperial Hospital.
It was unknown whether the two guards had sprayed too intensely, but as Lin Qing Ge approached, a familiar fresh and spiritual scent wafted towards her.
It was so pungent that she had to cover her mouth and nose with her sleeves.
"I have a few questions for you. You don't need to get up and bow. Just answer truthfully."
Although the two guards didn't recognize Lin Qing Ge as the newly enfeoffed Princess Chang Le, they recognized the Empress beside them in her phoenix robe and immediately nodded repeatedly.
"When you were on duty tonight, did anything strange happen?"
"Strange things?"
The two guards thought for a moment. One of them said:
"Reporting to the Princess, when the Crown Prince of Eastern Ying came to rest here, he passed by us.
But the Crown Prince of Eastern Ying, despite being injured, had the corners of his mouth turned upwards, which made us two guards feel a chill down our spines.
Despite this, I still stepped forward to ask if he needed a physician to treat him.
But he was rejected by the Crown Prince of Eastern Ying waving his hand."
"Yes, I also heard the Crown Prince of Eastern Ying muttering in a dazed manner, saying 'The time has come, the time for sacrifice has come'."
"Did you see anyone else enter the Crown Prince of Eastern Ying's resting room?"
"No."
"By the way, did you eat anything tonight? And when did you eat it?"
"Replying to the Princess, because we had to be on duty, we all ate before duty.
Today is a palace banquet and the day His Majesty held his enthronement ceremony. Commander Lu specially prepared several hearty dishes for us, which were said to be from the Imperial Kitchen. The taste was exceptionally good."
The guard licked his lips as if savoring the memory.
However, Lin Qing Ge's brows furrowed tightly. "The Commander Lu you are referring to is Lu Huai Ying?"
"Yes, Princess, you know our Commander Lu too?"
"Of course, Commander Lu won glory for our Great Xia by defeating the experts from the Eastern Ying Kingdom tonight. How could this Princess not know him?"
After Lin Qing Ge finished speaking with a casual tone, she and Leng Ning Yue left.
As they walked out of the Imperial Hospital, Leng Ning Yue couldn't help but ask:
"You suspect Lu Huai Ying of drugging the guards' food?"
"Although I don't want to, Lu Huai Ying sounds suspicious no matter how you put it.
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?"
Lin Qing Ge said, looking around. "Strange, did I forget something?
To be precise, it's someone I should have seen since the banquet started tonight, but haven't seen..."