Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 299: Ah Jiu Falls Silent, Someone is Outside the Wall

Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Ah Jiu Falls Silent, Someone is Outside the Wall

"She must have realized that my people are secretly investigating her, and therefore she approached you, seeking your cooperation,"

It was too late for them to leave the palace, so the couple was arranged to stay in a palace at the front court, far from the harem.

Murong Jiu also thought of this, otherwise Consort Qin wouldn’t have directly found her and revealed her intentions.

"But I’m a bit confused. If she’s carrying a girl, how will she manage to swap the Crown Prince with a baby boy? After all, we’re in the palace, where rules are strictly enforced, not just anywhere else."

Jun Yuyan told her:

"There is a palace maid in the Cold Palace who is pregnant with a guard’s child, and her pregnancy is at the same stage as Consort Qin’s."

Murong Jiu’s eyes widened with shock.

"How—how can they be so bold!"

This had been calculated from the very beginning!

"No one noticed the palace maid’s pregnancy?"

"That palace maid was originally from Consort Qin’s service. She was punished for a mistake and sent to the Cold Palace. After suffering a severe illness, she grew fat, so no one noticed she was pregnant. Furthermore, the Cold Palace is such a place that neither masters nor palace maids and eunuchs care to approach due to its aura of bad luck."

"How did you find out? And how do you know the palace maid’s child is the guard’s?"

"It was Su Kai who discovered it. The Cold Palace is also within the patrol area of the Feathered Forest Army. One of his guards had multiple encounters with that palace maid; they must have been intimate."

"So the child of Consort Qin might also be—"

Jun Yuyan shook his head, "The palace where a consort resides is not like the Cold Palace; it is heavily guarded, making it very difficult for a guard to accomplish such a thing. Moreover, with Consort Qin’s standards, I doubt she would settle for a guard."

"That may be true, but you are right—I believe Consort Qin’s pregnancy has been advanced by a month. At that time, there was a royal banquet held in the palace, and all the officials and royal relatives present could be suspects."

"Therefore, Consort Qin fears we will discover the child’s father, which is why she wants us aboard her sinking ship, to prevent us from investigating further."

"Should we continue the investigation then?"

Jun Yuyan narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and said, "Of course we should. She can exploit your weaknesses, but you can do the same to hers. Ah Jiu, you’ve done well. You’ve made her let down her guard, thinking that she can satisfy you with what she’s offered."

At this, Murong Jiu sighed, "She really has caught me at my weakest; there are many merchant convoys heading to the Western Regions that have lost contact—I never expected they were detained by Na Kesi. I can’t just watch them walk to their deaths."

"There will be a way that serves both ends, but for now, we need to stabilize Consort Qin’s situation. There’s still some time before she gives birth."

Murong Jiu nodded.

"It’s a pity my medical skills are not as good as my master’s; I can’t determine the gender of the baby by taking a pulse."

"Since she has come to you, she must know she is carrying a female fetus. I suspect that palace maid named Sha Li who is skilled in medicine; she recently visited the Cold Palace."

"That could explain why Consort Qin has been able to remain stable despite being pregnant for so long and the schemes of many women in the harem. Having a palace maid skilled in medicine by her side can help her avoid many plots."

That palace maid named Sha Li was the one carrying the small wooden box, and Murong Jiu had not detected the slightest scent of medicine on her, nor did she smell any fragrance at all.

Another palace maid named Sha Ya did have a faint scent on her; it was said that women from the Western Regions always carried fragrant beads with them, and the fragrance on Consort Qin was even more noticeable.

If it wasn’t for Jun Yuyan’s discovery, she wouldn’t have known that the other party was skilled in medicine.

"Sha Ya must know martial arts; her walk is extremely light, and there are calluses on her hands from holding swords and knives,"

When she saw the callus in the tiger’s mouth of the other party while they were stuffing a purse to the eunuch, she could tell those calluses had smoothed over from maintenance, likely to avoid being noticed.

She even suspected that this tall palace maid might be disguised as a woman because of her stature.

Jun Yuyan nodded in agreement, "Her martial arts skills must be not low."

After a while, their conversation turned back to the man who had been secretly involved with Consort Qin.

Jun Yuyan had already thoroughly investigated everyone who had attended the palace banquet that day, narrowing down to six suspect individuals who had all left the event midway, either to use the facilities or to get some fresh air, as there were no rules against briefly leaving the banquet.

"First is Vice Chancellor of the Dali Temple, Su Yuting. Coming from a background as the top scholar in both the literary and martial arts imperial examinations, he has decent Qinggong. That day at the banquet, after being plied with alcohol, he left to get some fresh air to sober up. At that time, Consort Qin had also left, and it took her half a Shichen to return to her Yonghe Palace,"

"Second is the Empress Dowager’s nephew Zhang Zhaoan, who had to leave the banquet several times due to a bout of diarrhea,"

"Third is Vice Minister of Punishment Du Yangang, who drank too much and went to relieve himself, nearly passing out in the Imperial restrooms,"

"Fourth is Junior Minister of the Guanglu Temple, Lord Chen Shaolin,"

"Fifth is the son of Duke Uncle Yun; after drinking, he left to harass a palace maid and fled upon being caught. However, he was executed not long ago,"

"These five individuals all left the banquet within the same half-hour window that Consort Qin was away,"

Murong Jiu said, "I don’t know about others, but Su Yuting is a man of scholarly integrity and seems very upright, not the type to engage in such affairs."

Previously, Su Yuting had even helped her capture Divine Doctor Miao at the teahouse.

Because Su Yuting owed her a favor, having sought her help when his mother fell severely ill, unable to find relief from many physicians, he came to Prince Ling’s Mansion. Murong Jiu met with him and his mother and cured her ailment.

In dealing with him, she felt he was a true gentleman, as bright as the moon amidst clouds, measured in his comings and goings, gentle and modest—a true top scholar.

Jun Yuyan slightly nodded and said, "The sixth is my Fourth Younger Imperial Brother, who delivered Consort Duan back to the Inner Palace."

Murong Jiu raised her face and said, "Looking at it this way, The Fourth Prince is highly suspicious!"

She did not immediately dismiss him just because he was unremarkable in her previous life; after all, she did not know The Fourth Prince very well, having had little interaction with him.

"However, Laosi only stayed in Consort Duan’s Yufu Palace long enough for an incense to burn, and by that time, Consort Qin had already returned to her own Yonghe Palace; the banquet was almost concluded,"

Murong Jiu pursed her lips, "Yonghe Palace is somewhat distant from Consort Duan’s Yufu Palace, walking there would also take the time it takes to burn an incense."

Viewed this way, The Fourth Prince’s suspicion also dissolves.

That leaves the other individuals, the Vice Minister of Punishment was from the Second Prince’s faction, just like the Minister of Punishment before, but now, he has defected to The Third Prince’s side along with the Minister.

Even though he has switched allegiance, who can tell if it is genuine or not?

This Lord Du is in the prime of his career, and it’s possible he could have an affair with Consort Qin to conspire for the throne.

Then, there’s the Junior Minister of the Guanglu Temple. This temple is in charge of managing all meals, whether for sacrifices, the palace banquet, or court meetings; they’re all arranged by the Guanglu Temple. The Emperor and his consorts’ daily meals and palace ceremonies are also closely connected to the Guanglu Temple.

"I think Lord Chen is a significant suspect; he was in charge of this palace banquet."

"Hush, Ah Jiu, be quiet, someone is outside the wall!"

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