You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

Duanmu Qingyu gave Chu Nianci a sharp look.

Chu Nianci remained standing with her eyes lowered, neither flustered nor arrogant.

Seeing her so calm, Duanmu Qingyu looked away and asked, "This was clearly done on purpose. You saved Miss Gu, so you should know who did it."

"This humble woman does not know," Chu Nianci replied.

She's not stupid; given her status, saving people is already a stretch.

They also had to get involved in the open and covert struggles between the Grand Commandant and the Duke of Zhenguo.

Isn't he just asking for trouble?

"Whatever you say, I will pardon you. Do you have anything to say?" Duanmu Qingyu asked, glancing at her sideways.

"This humble woman does not know," Chu Nianci replied respectfully.

Duanmu Qingyu withdrew her gaze.

This woman is shrewd and knows how to protect herself.

It seems that he won't get any answers now, but he has a question in his mind: what kind of poisonous insect could cause a person to be poisoned to this extent in an instant?

He glanced at Jingxi.

Jingxi quickly led Physician Zhang to examine the poisonous scorpion that had been trampled to death.

When Physician Zhang took a look, he broke out in a cold sweat... This was no ordinary wild scorpion, but a breed specially bred by the Imperial Hospital for making poison, and its venom was several times more potent than that of ordinary scorpions.

"How...how did this thing get here?" Physician Zhang's voice trembled.

"How it got out is one thing," Duanmu Qingyu said calmly, "I'm more interested in why it singled out Miss Gu to bite, and didn't attack anyone else."

"This scorpion has an extremely sensitive sense of smell and is easily attracted by special odors..." Physician Zhang stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.

The poisonous insects were kept by the Imperial Medical Academy, but they escaped due to improper care. If investigated thoroughly, he would also be held responsible.

"When I approached just now, I smelled a scent of perfume oil on Miss Gu's clothes," Duanmu Qingyu said.

Chu Nianci felt a slight chill upon hearing this.

His Majesty noticed it in such a brief encounter... He is so perceptive.

No wonder he was only fourteen years old when he ascended the throne, practically a teenager, yet he was able to sit firmly on the dragon throne in just three years.

At this moment, she fully understood... that the tea spilled on Gu Qingmei's skirt had been mixed with specially made sesame oil.

The scorpion, however, was in the nearby grass, attracted by the scent of the fragrant oil, and crawled into Gu Qingmei's skirt—that was the key to luring the scorpion.

The instigator of this incident was undoubtedly Bai Qianrou. What's even more impressive is that she had actually applied mint to her body beforehand.

It prevented poisonous insects from crawling towards it.

Such a wicked and malicious thought.

She glanced at Bai Qianrou and saw that the girl had recovered from her shock and confusion and quickly regained her composure.

When Physician Zhang examined the remaining tea, he indeed found traces of sesame oil in one of the cups.

"Someone just identified Miss Bai as the one who spilled that cup of tea," Jingxi reported.

Duanmu Qingyu turned his gaze to Bai Qianrou.

Bai Qianrou regained her voice and said in a soft, charming voice, "Your Majesty, please understand... I am Bai Qianrou, the granddaughter of Grand Commandant Bai Zhanling. Just now, when Sister Gu got up, I accidentally knocked over a teacup, spilling it on her dress... I truly did not mean to. I was terrified and almost spilled it on myself, Your Majesty..."

Upon hearing the words "Grand Commandant's granddaughter," Duanmu Qingyu's phoenix eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, a cold glint flashing in them, but then a look of pity appeared on her face.

His handsome brows furrowed slightly. The matter involved the Grand Commandant's Mansion and the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, so he had to be careful and it was not advisable to investigate further.

No matter which side is found to have tampered with the evidence, it will undoubtedly uncover a shocking case.

This goes against his current idea of ​​maintaining stability.

Duanmu Qingyu, understanding Bai Qianrou's words, said gently, "You need not panic, I know what I'm doing."

He then looked at Shen Lanbing.

"Your Majesty, I am Shen Lanbing, daughter of the Prefect of Yangzhou," Shen Lanbing said, her face slightly flushed but still composed and responding politely, "I only saw Sister Gu suddenly collapse. I was bewildered and didn't even see the poisonous insect."

Although she didn't know if today's events were related to Bai Qianrou, she had already become suspicious after hearing about the strange things found in the tea.

"Investigate." Duanmu Qingyu's voice was slightly deep. "Find out for me thoroughly who is trying to do something under my nose."

Jingxi accepted the order and immediately led men to conduct a thorough investigation.

Before long, a junior apprentice from the Imperial Medical Academy confessed nervously, saying that he had accidentally lost a scorpion he had been raising to make poison the day before, which was near the Xiefang Hall.

Another palace maid from the imperial kitchen tearfully confessed that she had mistakenly mixed a cup of tea laced with sesame oil into the tea tray presented to the young ladies-in-waiting.

"Take the two to the Yeting Palace for a thorough interrogation." Duanmu Qingyu stood up.

The draft is not over yet, but this matter cannot be delayed any longer.

Jingxi pursed her lips slightly, about to accept the order, when Xia Dong, the Empress's head maid, came to ask for instructions.

She prostrated herself and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress has instructed me to inquire whether the imperial concubine selection should continue given this sudden incident. If Miss Gu is safe and sound, the selection can proceed once she recovers. If there are any unforeseen circumstances, arrangements should be made as soon as possible."

"If we choose another auspicious day, it will cause discussion and speculation in the court and among the people," Duanmu Qingyu said calmly. "It's better to settle this today."

Duanmu Qingyu paused slightly before announcing loudly: "Gu Qingmei was innocently harmed, so she is hereby promoted to the rank of Consort Jia to appease the Duke of Zhenguo's family. Bai Qianrou, the daughter of Grand Commandant, should have been made a Consort, but considering her young age, she is hereby promoted to the rank of Consort Yu. Shen Lanbing is gentle and generous, and her responses are appropriate; she is hereby promoted to the rank of Noble Lady Lan."

Chu Nianci thought to himself, "As expected, the emperor has become suspicious, but I don't know why he's temporarily refraining from investigating."

Judging from his handling of Bai Qianrou's rank, it is clear that he suspects the Grand Commandant's Mansion, because according to the Grand Commandant's Mansion's standards, she should at least be made a concubine.

As expected, Bai Qianrou showed a look of resentment when she heard that she had only been granted the title of concubine.