The prison guards claimed that Liu Yuci, who shared a cell with Zhao Wuyan, hadn't even noticed when Zhao Wuyan bit his tongue to commit suicide. By the time he was discovered, his body had already stiffened.
Nan Shiying performed a brief autopsy on Zhao Wuyan and found that he had been dead for at least twelve hours. This meant he had bitten his tongue and committed suicide almost immediately after the assassin revealed the mastermind behind the plot.
It was truly a timely silencing.
Nan Shiying washed her hands and turned to look at Ji Hong. "It seems the remnants of Xiliang are smarter than the remnants of Miaojiang," she remarked with a sigh. However, the clues weren't entirely lost. If they were quick enough... Nan Shiying suddenly remembered that the prison guards had changed shifts, and the guards stationed at the celestial prison last night had already left.
Ji Hong had also realized this and ordered someone to summon the guards who had been stationed there last night, but it was too late.
All the prison guards stationed at the celestial prison last night were dead.
The opposing party was no longer just silencing people; they had killed an entire squadron of guards to prevent Ji Hong from investigating further, all to obscure the identity of that one Xiliang remnant.
"Damn it!"
Ji Hong angrily slammed his palm on the dragon table, his face so dark it looked like water could drip from it.
Nan Shiying touched her chin and asked him, "Your Majesty, what do you think of Nan Chaoyun?"
Ji Hong paused for a moment, unable to immediately dispel the cold glint in his eyes. His somber gaze fell upon Nan Shiying, and after a moment, he retracted the frostiness from his eyes, pondering the meaning behind Nan Shiying's question.
"You think he's problematic?" Ji Hong asked, hesitatingly.
Nan Shiying replied, "Intuition!"
"I always feel that old bastard is up to something."
Ji Hong no longer bothered to comment on her unbridled cursing of her own father. In fact, after learning about Nan Shiying's animosity towards the Nan estate from Ji Jinmo, Ji Hong had wondered if Nan Chaoyun had deliberately released false information. However, in their brief interactions, Ji Hong had noticed that Nan Shiying's attitude towards Nan Chaoyun held not only hatred but also a hint of disdain.
She genuinely looked down on him.
Based on Ji Hong's experience in acting since childhood, she showed absolutely no signs of deception.
If she were truly a spy planted in the prince's manor by that old scoundrel Nan Chaoyun, then Ji Hong could only say that her acting talent was wasted as a spy.
Ji Hong did not follow up on Nan Shiying's remark, effectively bypassing the issue.
Nan Shiying remembered that this body did indeed carry Nan Chaoyun's blood, so it wasn't strange for Ji Hong to be suspicious. After all, he wasn't Ji Jinmo, and there was still some gap between them!
"Your Majesty, how is the Empress Dowager? Does she need me to diagnose her?" Nan Shiying decided to postpone the discussion about Nan Chaoyun's potential issues until after returning to the manor and discussing it with Ji Jinmo. She changed the subject to ask about the Empress Dowager.
Ji Hong suddenly slapped his forehead. He had been so infuriated that he had forgotten such an important matter. "I'll trouble Imperial Aunt," he said.
Nan Shiying waved her hand and accompanied Ji Hong to Jingren Palace.
After Jingren Palace had been thoroughly cleaned, Ji Hong invited the Empress Dowager back to Jingren Palace. After all, compared to Jingren Palace, Cuiyu Xuan was slightly more modest. He had also considered that if his mother was unwilling to live in Jingren Palace, he would have the nearby Huanyu Palace prepared.
Jingren Palace was, in essence, the Empress's sleeping quarters. However, after Yin Sila impersonated her and imprisoned her, he feared that moving palaces might cause unnecessary trouble, so he had stayed there all along.
Jingren Palace had its entire staff, from top to bottom, of palace maids, eunuchs, and guards, all replaced. Nan Shiying noticed the palace maids attending the sleeping quarters, suspecting they were all dark guards trained in the Four Pavilions.
"Mother, this is Feng Luan, whom I told you about." Ji Hong introduced Nan Shiying to the Empress Dowager.
Yesterday, he had spoken at length about how he had endured the years and how he had acted and set up schemes with his imperial uncle, though some matters were not explained in detail. Apart from the fact that a more extensive explanation might take a day and a night, there was also his ingrained vigilance and suspicion towards others.
This vigilance and suspicion now only subsided when he faced Ji Jinmo.
The Empress Dowager nodded at Feng Luan. Although she was unable to speak, every wrinkle at the corner of her eyes, coupled with her smile, exuded peace and gentleness. It was a tranquil composure like a peaceful, quiet life. This was entirely opposite to the refined elegance and sharp demeanor of Yin Sila when she had impersonated her. Time had left its marks on her face, yet she was still more beautiful than the outwardly stunning Yin Sila.
Nan Shiying felt a great deal of goodwill towards the current Empress Dowager.
"May the Empress Dowager be blessed with peace and prosperity." Nan Shiying respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager. Unlike her defiance towards Ji Hong, she was more like a junior who had shed all her sharp edges.
Ji Hong looked at her intently, his suspicion and wariness towards her subtly diminishing.
The Empress Dowager smiled and raised her hand, gesturing for her to come closer.
Nan Shiying obligingly walked to the Empress Dowager's side. The Empress Dowager pointed to the chair beside her, inviting Nan Shiying to sit and talk.
Nan Shiying thanked her and sat down.
"Empress Dowager, I will first take your pulse," Nan Shiying said, placing her hand on the Empress Dowager's wrist. It had been two days since she left the secret chamber, and her spirits had recovered considerably during this time, with color gradually returning to her face. It seemed that Yin Sila had merely confined her over the years and had not abused her.
This was rare.
Of course, it also indicated that the relationship between the two of them must have been quite good.
The Empress Dowager's voice had been rendered mute by poison. Yin Sila wanted the Empress Dowager to die in her place and feared that she might cry out in struggle before death, attracting the attention of the Xuanjia Army outside. Therefore, she had poisoned her. The poison was potent, directly burning her vocal cords. It required internal conditioning along with acupuncture.
As for whether her voice could be fully restored, it would depend on the treatment's efficacy.
Nan Shiying explained this to Ji Hong and the Empress Dowager, informing them that it might not be fully restored. Ji Hong seemed more concerned than the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager smiled and waved her hand. She had already accepted the fact that she might never be able to speak again. For her now, being able to stay by Ji Hong's side and watch him grow from youth to maturity and even middle age was the greatest grace granted to her by heaven.
She was clear-minded and content.
"I will do my best."
Nan Shiying wished to cure the Empress Dowager and to speak with her.
The Empress Dowager nodded, indicating that it was alright if she couldn't cure her and not to force herself.
Nan Shiying deliberated on the prescription, wrote out a formula, and handed it to Ji Hong. She then sent Ji Hong out to administer acupuncture to the Empress Dowager. Upon completing these tasks, it was nearing noon. The Empress Dowager invited Feng Luan and Ji Hong to have lunch at Jingren Palace.
After leaving Jingren Palace, Nan Shiying remembered someone else.
"Your Majesty, how is Consort Zou?"
Ji Hong looked at Feng Luan, clearly surprised that despite the relationship between his Imperial Aunt and Yun'er, she would proactively inquire about her well-being.
"I have a good relationship with Lord Zou!" Nan Shiying offered a brief explanation.
Ji Hong replied, "Yun'er has been ill since the end-of-year ritual."
Nan Shiying sighed faintly, "Let's go. One sheep is also..."
To compare the Empress Dowager and the Consort to livestock was rather inappropriate. Nan Shiying gave Ji Hong some face and swallowed her words.
Ji Hong's expression turned dark.
Don't think I don't know what you wanted to say just because you swallowed it!!