"This naturally has its ways, but I cannot disclose them."
Leng Ruo Li refused to answer the questions from Zhang Yuan Pan and the others.
Although Zhang Yuan Pan and the others were disappointed by Leng Ruo Li's words, they also understood her actions.
As they were doctors themselves, they often hesitated to share good remedies, so they thought Leng Ruo Li's behavior was quite normal.
Just then, Jun Mo Han also brought "Nanny Xiao" to Longevity Palace.
"Nanny Xiao" calmly bowed to the Emperor and Empress Dowager seated at the head.
"This old servant pays respects to Your Majesty, Empress Dowager!"
"Rise."
The Empress Dowager waved her sleeve lightly at her.
Finally, the Empress Dowager asked, "I heard you came to my Longevity Palace tonight?"
"Yes, Empress Dowager. This old servant accidentally trespassed into Longevity Palace tonight while looking for a cat," "Nanny Xiao" replied with a calm expression.
Leng Ruo Li glanced at "Nanny Xiao's" expression and knew she was a seasoned hand in the palace, otherwise, a mere young palace maid would not be able to remain so composed.
"Looking for a cat? What cat are you looking for? The Imperial Wardrobe is so far from the Empress Dowager's Longevity Palace. Could your cat have run all the way to Longevity Palace?" Leng Ruo Li interjected.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Jun Mo Han all looked at "Nanny Xiao." Reminded by Leng Ruo Li, they all recalled that Longevity Palace was so far from the Imperial Wardrobe; could her cat have run to Longevity Palace?
"Oh, Princess Leng, it's like this: this old servant was looking for a cat for Princess An Le. This evening, this old servant saw some clothes that had been changed by various consorts and were yet to be sent for washing. So, this old servant personally went with two young palace maids to fetch them. However, when we passed the Imperial Garden, we saw Princess An Le with several palace attendants looking for her cat. This old servant was stopped by Princess An Le and asked to help her find the cat. So, this old servant continued searching and accidentally trespassed into Longevity Palace."
"Nanny Xiao" answered flawlessly, leaving no room for criticism.
This was because there were indeed several consorts in the palace who kept cats, and Princess An Le was one of them. She loved playing with cats in the Imperial Garden and often lost them, so everyone was accustomed to it.
"Did you really just trespass into Longevity Palace to find Princess An Le's cat?" Leng Ruo Li asked again.
"Yes, Princess Leng. Everything this old servant has said is true."
"Nanny Xiao" assured Leng Ruo Li.
"Alright, then you may leave," Leng Ruo Li said, letting "Nanny Xiao" go as she couldn't elicit any clues.
Subsequently, the Emperor also dismissed the imperial physicians. Finally, he ordered Eunuch Li to have the deceased young palace maid's body taken out of the palace for a proper burial and to provide more money to her family.
Eunuch Li was very efficient. With a few young eunuchs, he quickly removed the young palace maid's body, cleaned the floor in the Empress Dowager's main hall, and then one by one retreated.
When only the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Jun Mo Han remained in the main hall, Leng Ruo Li slowly spoke, "Grand Empress Dowager, this poisoning was not directed at you, nor at anyone else. Li'er suspects that the mastermind behind this poisoning did it to create a diversion."
"What? Then what is his or her true objective?"
The Emperor and Empress Dowager asked in unison.
"We cannot guess that yet!" Leng Ruo Li said, shrugging.
At this moment, Jun Mo Han, who had been silent, suddenly asked, "Father, did you send for the Minister of Justice, Yan Song, to enter the palace tonight?"
"Yes, I first sent for Yan Song to enter the palace. However, as he was delayed, I then instructed Jian Feng to personally invite you and your wife into the palace."
Speaking of this matter, the Emperor harbored a surge of anger.
"Father, Master Yan is not someone who disobeys imperial orders. Could something have happened to him on his way to the palace?" Jun Mo Han analyzed.
"What trouble could he have encountered? Yan Song's martial arts are not low. Unless he was ambushed..." the Emperor said irritably.
Just as he finished speaking, Jian Feng suddenly requested an audience.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, while patrolling the palace just now, this subordinate discovered Minister Yan Song collapsed in the small bamboo grove in the Imperial Garden. This subordinate has had him carried over."
"Bring him in!" the Emperor replied indifferently.
Finally, Jian Feng had the unconscious Yan Song carried into the hall.
Seeing that Yan Song's forehead was still covered in blood, the Empress Dowager ordered him to be placed on her rocking chair.
"Father, it seems Master Yan was indeed ambushed."
Leng Ruo Li said, then walked over to thoroughly examine Yan Song.
After confirming he was fine, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Father, Master Yan's head was injured. Fortunately, it's not serious. Shall I treat it?"
As Leng Ruo Li spoke, she took out some necessary medical supplies from her sleeve pocket and then, with swift movements, skillfully treated the wound on Yan Song's head.
Meanwhile, Jian Feng and the others withdrew.
After a long while, Yan Song slowly regained consciousness.
When he opened his eyes and saw the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and the Leng couple, he was greatly startled. He struggled to get up from the Empress Dowager's rocking chair, but he accidentally pulled on his head wound, causing him to lie back down.
"Alright, just lie there."
Leng Ruo Li found Yan Song's stubbornness amusing. Although his injury was not serious, he had still injured his head, bled profusely, and his condition was not optimistic.
"Your Majesty, this minister is remiss!"
"Enough, just listen to Princess Leng and rest on the rocking chair." the Emperor said irritably.
"Yes, this minister obeys!"
Only after receiving the Emperor's command did Yan Song dare to lie down properly.
"Master Yan, what happened tonight? How did you get injured in the small bamboo grove of the Imperial Garden?"
Leng Ruo Li was very surprised.
"Princess Leng, this subordinate encountered something strange tonight."
At this moment, Yan Song's agitated expression caused him to pull on his head wound again, making him wince in pain.
"What strange thing could it be that makes you so agitated?"
Leng Ruo Li asked him with a hint of amusement.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Prince Leng, Princess Leng, tonight this minister saw a man who looked exactly like Prince Ning. He was wearing black clothes and quickly crossed the lotus pond in the Imperial Garden. This minister found his figure very familiar, so he abandoned the young eunuch who guided him into the palace and chased after him, following him all the way to the small bamboo grove in the Imperial Garden."
"As a result, the man disappeared after entering the small bamboo grove. Just as this minister was about to give up, the person suddenly appeared before me. Under the moonlight, this minister vaguely saw the man's face. He looked exactly like His Highness Prince Ning. Later, just as I was about to seize him, someone suddenly appeared behind me and, without a word, knocked me unconscious..."
The Emperor and Leng Ruo Li were also astonished by Yan Song's account.