The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 638: Blessing in Disguise - My Sister (3)_1

Xiao Guangbi was just a boy with feminine features, resembling Consort Yu. Because of this, the Emperor showed them both favor, allowing Consort Yu and Consort Xian to jointly manage the imperial harem, their favor lasting many years without interruption.

The conversation in the prison quickly reached Xiao Guangbi’s ears, and upon hearing Mo Heng’s praises, he couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile, "With such a life-saving grace, it won’t be long before both Mo Heng and Shen Songming will be put to use by me!"

An intimate advisor stepped forward to inquire, "Then, Prince, when shall we uncover the evidence?"

"No rush! They’ve merely suffered some flesh wounds in prison. Let them stay a few more days!" Xiao Guangbi sneered.

"By doing so, we can also highlight the Prince’s painstaking efforts in the investigation, which will make Mo Heng and Pei Qin even more grateful for your grace," a subordinate flattered.

Another person said, "While they were receiving punishment in the Ministry of Justice’s prison, Mo Heng had claimed that Pei Qin was pregnant. If we could make her... it would surely stir up their hatred even further."

Xiao Guangbi’s lips curled into a cold, sinister smile, "I’ll leave this matter to you to handle!"

"Yes, Prince!"

To cause Pei Qin to miscarry—she was not pregnant at all. It was just that Mo Heng protected her from punishment by claiming that she was with child.

Moved from the Ministry of Justice prison to the Ministry of Justice Prison, Shen Bi’s territory, Xiao Guangbi brazenly had people deliver clothes and food. If it weren’t for imprisonment, the daily life of Pei Qin and Mo Heng could almost be considered comfortable. Under such circumstances, causing Pei Qin to ’miscarry’ became even less feasible.

For several days in a row, Pei Qin was just fine and did not miscarry, merely lying on her bedding and groaning as if she could hardly take it anymore.

Xiao Guangbi thought, since he had already intervened, there was no need to leave an impression of incompetence, nor to let Pei Qin miscarry after he took over. After this imprisonment ordeal, even if Pei Qin had an iron constitution, it was unlikely that she would miscarry upon leaving; however, any future child would hardly survive. A safe delivery would only result in Mo Heng harboring even deeper resentment, consequently making him more loyal to him.

Therefore, the investigation into the soy sauce poisoning case began in earnest.

Gradually, the clues gathered by the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Internal Affairs, along with those he investigated within the palace, all indicated that the soy sauce had been tampered with later, suggesting that Pei Qin and Mo Heng might have been wrongfully victimized.

At the same time, the eunuch in charge of the spices at the Department of Internal Affairs hanged himself in his room.

Soon, Xiao Guangbi led his men to find a packet of the same poison found in the soy sauce in the crevice beneath the floor tiles in this eunuch’s apprentice’s room.

The Little eunuch confessed that it was his master who masterminded the poisoning, and he had only helped to hide the poison. As for who directed his master, he had no idea. After making his confession, he bit his tongue and committed suicide.

The trail ended there, but it was enough to prove that the poisoning was unrelated to Pei Qin and Mo Heng. They were innocent.

Xiao Guangbi earnestly requested the Emperor to acquit and release Pei Qin and Mo Heng, clearing their names and rewarding them for having been wrongfully victimized.

As for the true culprit behind the poisoning, the mastermind behind the entire affair, Xiao Guangbi intended to keep investigating to uncover the truth.

Compared to the initial uproar, the case’s hidden undercurrents behind the violent waves caused deep contemplation throughout the court and government circles. The incident occurred within the palace, so it was either a plot by the concubines competing for favor or a power play in the struggle for succession.

The current Emperor had seven sons, and aside from three who died young, four remained. Besides the Crown Prince born to the Empress, Prince Yong’an sired by Consort Jing, there were Prince He Qing born to Consort Yu, and Prince Yongle born to Consort Xian.

The Empress had passed away years ago, and Consort Jing was her close cousin. After the Empress’s death, Consort Jing took charge of raising both the Crown Prince and Prince Yong’an, and oversaw palace affairs. However, Consort Jing was also frail and weak, barely managing to arrange Prince Yong’an’s marriage before she too passed away in the palace.