He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

That night, Jiang Bingning entrusted her mother to Chuntao.

She returned to her courtyard and lit a uniquely shaped incense stick, which Zhang Meng had told her was the method to summon her bodyguards in an emergency.

Half an hour later, a dark figure appeared in the room.

The newcomer took off his straw hat, revealing an ordinary-looking face.

He was about forty years old and wore a faded, coarse cloth shirt.

It was Wu Qingyan, one of the seven secret guards, who had once been a doctor's apprentice in the Liu family army.

"Miss."

Wu Qingyan knelt on one knee.

Jiang Bingning sat under the lamp, her face cold.

"Are you confident you can determine the cause of my mother's poisoning?"

Wu Qingyan nodded.

"Dr. Zhang's diagnosis is correct; Aconitum carmichaelii and Angelica dahurica are incompatible."

"The manor said that Princess Ji Shaohuan accidentally spilled the angelica into the medicine."

A cold smile curled at the corners of Jiang Bingning's lips.

"What I want is not the government's version of events."

"I want you to find out where the angelica powder in Ji Shaohuan's sachet came from."

"Which servant handled it, from which pharmacy did they purchase it, and who has the person handling it recently been in contact with?"

"I also want you to find out how she, a young lady from a noble family, knew about the toxicity of angelica and aconite."

"I need witnesses and physical evidence."

"What I need is irrefutable evidence that will ensure she never has a chance to recover."

Wu Qingyan's figure blended into the night, silently, as if he had never appeared.

Jiang Bingning sat alone under the lamp, her fingertips icy cold. She knew that she couldn't be weak this time.

What she didn't know was that Tingxuexuan wasn't entirely deserted during the days she was away.

Ji Chengyun would come to visit almost every day.

Initially, it was just out of polite concern.

But gradually, he came more and more often.

When Liu Jingyi was occasionally lucid for a moment, he would step forward and say a few words of comfort in a gentle voice.

Liu Jingyi just smiled weakly, a smile that carried a gentleness and resilience born of hardship.

Ji Chengyun had only ever seen this kind of gentleness on his mother's face.

Looking at Liu Jingyi's pale face, he couldn't help but think that perhaps this was the kind of tranquility his father had longed for all those years ago.

On this day, Liu Jingyi was in slightly better spirits and was able to say a few words.

Ji Chengyun personally brought over a bowl of ginseng soup.

"Aunt Liu, have some drink."

Liu Jingyi looked at him with gentle eyes.

"Your Highness has gone to great lengths."

"Just call me Riding the Clouds."

As Ji Chengyun finished his soup, he was about to say something more when he heard the voices of Ji Shaohuan and Ji Zhaowu coming from outside the door.

"Big brother! You're here again!"

Ji Shaohuan's voice was full of grievance.

Ji Zhaowu, his face grim, strode in.

"Big brother! What exactly do you mean?"

Ji Chengyun's face instantly darkened.

He stood up and kept the two outside the inner room.

"What are you doing here?"

"What are we here for?" Ji Zhaowu sneered. "We're here to see what kind of vixen has bewitched my elder brother!"

"shut up!"

Ji Chengyun shouted angrily, with unprecedented severity.

"Zhao Wu, apologize to Aunt Liu."

"Why should I!" Ji Zhaowu retorted, "Did I say something wrong? If it weren't for that mother and daughter, our Prince Xin's Mansion wouldn't be in such turmoil!"

Ji Shaohuan also started crying.

"Brother, even you're siding with outsiders to insult me!"

outsider?

He looked coldly at his younger brother and sister-in-law.

"outsider?"

"Aunt Liu is the apple of Father's eye, and Bing Ning is Aunt Liu's daughter. Who is the outsider?"

His voice left Ji Zhaowu and Ji Shaohuan speechless.

A sense of confusion arose in Ji Chengyun's heart.

Is his protectiveness really just because of his father?

Jiang Bingning's stubborn eyes flashed through his mind.

That's more than just friendship.

It seems... there's something else, something he himself hasn't even realized.

-----------------

Three days later, at midnight.

Wu Qingyan reappeared in Jiang Bingning's room.

He remained kneeling on one knee, his voice steady.

"Miss, everything has been investigated."

Jiang Bingning raised her eyes, her gaze as cold as a deep pool.

"explain."

"The angelica powder in Ji Shaohuan's sachet was not purchased from the Prince's Pharmacy or any regular pharmacy in the capital."

"It came from the black market in the west of the city."

Wu Qingyan took out a piece of paper with his signature from his bosom.

"My subordinate found the seller, and he identified that the person who bought this package of angelica from him three days ago was Ji Shaohuan's wet nurse, Granny Wang."

Jiang Bing's heart sank for a moment.

"continue."

"I investigated that old woman Wang's background. She has a son who is addicted to gambling. Half a month ago, he incurred a huge gambling debt of five hundred taels at the South City Casino."

"The casino staff threatened to chop off his hand if he didn't pay back the money."

"But just two days ago, this gambling debt was paid off in one go."

Jiang Bingbing's breath hitched slightly.

"Who returned it?"

"Lin Zhong, the head steward of the Lin family."

Wu Qingyan raised his head, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

"Both witnesses and physical evidence are available."

Jiang Bingning slowly closed her eyes.

A brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone.

She could both get rid of her mother and frame Ji Shaohuan, thus creating discord between her and the Prince Xin's mansion.

She opened her eyes, and all that remained was coldness.

Give me the things.

The next morning, Jiang Bingning took her statement and the bill and went directly to the Empress Dowager's courtyard.

Ji Yunhan was chatting with the Dowager Consort when she saw Jiang Bingning arrive, and the Dowager Consort's expression turned slightly displeased.

"What is it?"

Jiang Bingning didn't bother with formalities and placed the evidence in her hand directly on the table in front of the Dowager Consort.

"Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine has reviewed this."

The Empress Dowager paused in her movements.

She picked up the papers and began to read them word by word.

After a while, the Empress Dowager put down the confession.

Her face betrayed no emotion.

"Yunhan".

She called out softly.

"Mother."

The Dowager's tone left no room for argument.

"Every family has its rules, and every country has its laws."

"A servant who is disloyal shall be dealt with according to the rules of the Prince's Mansion. A master who is not strict shall also be punished."

"Go."

Ji Yunhan bowed and accepted the order, giving Jiang Bingning only one deep look before turning and leaving.

An hour later, the news spread throughout the entire Prince Xin's residence.

Wang Pozi, Ji Shaohuan's wet nurse, was beaten to death in the backyard.

Before she died, she cried out in tears, saying that she was loyal to the princess and that she had secretly bought angelica to calm the princess's sleep when she saw that the princess was not sleeping well. She never thought that she would harm Madam Liu.

Although Ji Shaohuan claimed to be completely unaware, he was ultimately responsible for failing to properly discipline his servants, which led to this disaster.

The Empress Dowager gave the order.

He was punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall for one month, confined to his home for six months, and his monthly allowance was forfeited, as a warning to others.

-----------------

Outside the ancestral hall.

Upon hearing this punishment, Ji Shaohuan's vision went black and he fainted.

The servants hurriedly carried her away.

Ji Zhaowu's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Jiang Bingning, who was standing not far away.

"Jiang Bingning!"

He squeezed out those three words through gritted teeth.

"I, Ji Zhaowu, will remember this grudge!"

"We have a long future ahead of us!"

Jiang Bingning looked back at him calmly.

"I'm available anytime."

A figure stood quietly at the corner of the corridor not far away.

Ji Ling originally wanted to discuss the follow-up of the Northern Border account books with Jiang Bingning, but happened to witness this final scene.

He watched that slender yet upright figure, watching her alone, calmly facing the hostility of the entire palace.

I admire her decisiveness and resilience.

There are also concerns that her sharp and outspoken nature will make her future path even more difficult.