The grand banquet could no longer proceed with such a major incident.
The fire at Duofu Pavilion was merely a show, the flames were small, and it was quickly brought under control. The front courtyard didn't even receive news of it.
At this moment, the Consort of Ding'an accused the Crown Princess of sending people to commit murder. Mu Jin County Princess was also at a loss and immediately sent someone to the front courtyard to summon the Crown Prince, the Prince of Ding'an, and the Prince of Yuejun, and also sent for a doctor.
Soon, the three princes arrived in a hurry, followed by the second son of the Yun family.
Wang Qingyao had already discussed the plan for the day with Xiao Yun. Although Pearl was guarding her, Xiao Yun was still worried.
Seeing Wang Qingyao sitting there intact, her hands cleaned of bloodstains, with only bloodstains splashed on her skirt, he couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
"Yaoyao!" He almost rushed to Wang Qingyao's side and asked anxiously, "What happened? The servants were too flustered to explain clearly. Why are there bloodstains on you? Are you injured?"
Wang Qingyao shook her head. Before she could speak, Yin Zhu, as if seeing her backbone, stepped forward indignantly and recounted Wei Yu's crimes.
Although the matter had not yet been confirmed, and Wei Yu vehemently denied it, in the eyes of Yin Zhu and others, it was a certainty.
Xiao Yun appeared shocked, first looking at Wei Yu, then at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was equally shocked, but he was shocked that Wang Qingyao had not died.
Wei Yu was so confident, yet she failed to kill Wang Qingyao!
What a failure!
The Crown Prince was both shocked and angry, afraid that this matter would implicate him.
"Impossible," he explained to Xiao Yun, "Why would the Crown Princess want to harm the Consort of Ding'an?"
He then looked at Wang Qingyao: "Consort of Ding'an, is there some misunderstanding here?"
Wang Qingyao said coldly, "The assassin personally stated that she was acting under the Crown Princess's orders."
The Crown Prince's eyes darted, and he frowned as if confused: "Could it be a frame-up? After all, I am the Crown Prince, Ah Yun, you know, many people are waiting to see me fall from grace."
The Crown Prince even played the victim, his gaze inadvertently falling on the Seventh Prince.
"If Ah Yun and I turn against each other, who will be the ultimate beneficiary?"
The Seventh Prince, with his simple mind, didn't realize the Crown Prince was alluding to him.
Others, however, did.
Wei Yu quickly chimed in, "Exactly, the Noble Consort in the palace has not been as favored recently. These incidents, one after another, who knows who arranged them?"
Mu Jin County Princess, unable to bear it any longer, was about to retort when she saw Yun Er subtly shake his head at her. She was stunned and didn't get to retort in time.
Xiao Yun remained unmoved: "It's simple to find out if the Crown Princess is the mastermind. Investigate the assassin's origins. Everyone has a past."
Wei Yu trembled all over.
The assassin's name in the Eastern Palace was Ying Cai, an unremarkable maidservant.
But even if she was unremarkable, the Eastern Palace kept her records and traces of her life. A casual inquiry would reveal that she indeed came from the Eastern Palace.
Wei Yu thought the plan was foolproof and never imagined anyone would investigate.
It was too late to send someone to erase Ying Cai's traces in the Eastern Palace. Her breathing became rapid, and she looked at the Crown Prince for help.
The Crown Prince cursed her as a failure in his heart and looked at Xiao Yun with a sincere expression: "Ah Yun is right, I will immediately send someone back to the Eastern Palace..."
"No need," Xiao Yun said faintly. "Your Highness should avoid suspicion at this time."
In front of the Crown Prince and everyone else, Xiao Yun ordered Yuan Bao to summon someone from the Dali Temple.
The Crown Prince was secretly pleased. Although the Deputy Minister of Dali Temple, Fang Zheng, was Xiao Yun's cousin, the Minister of Dali Temple was Wei Yu's maternal grandfather!
However, the Crown Prince's expression soon darkened.
Because Xiao Yun was sending someone to the palace to report this matter to the Emperor.
"Ah Yun," the Crown Prince said, "There's no need to trouble Father Emperor with such a small matter."
"A small matter?!" Xiao Yun looked at the Crown Prince coldly, his face full of frost. "My Consort was almost killed, and Your Highness calls it a small matter?"
The Crown Prince knew he had spoken out of turn and said guiltily with a forced smile, "I didn't mean that... I meant, Father Emperor is busy with state affairs..."
Xiao Yun didn't listen to his explanation at all and sent someone to the palace on horseback to present a token. He wanted to report the matter to the Emperor.
The Crown Prince broke out in a cold sweat.
If this matter reached the Emperor, Wei Yu would be finished! It might even implicate himself!
Wei Yu's face turned pale when she heard that Xiao Yun was going to the palace.
She was too arrogant and had not thought of a backup plan.
Knowing that he had to see the Emperor soon, Xiao Yun sent someone to get a spare dress for Wang Qingyao to change into.
He stayed in the main hall, watching the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, not allowing them to communicate with anyone or their people to leave.
He acted openly and honestly, leaving the Crown Prince and Wei Yu with no recourse.
Before long, Minister Ban of Dali Temple arrived at the Prince of Yuejun's residence with his men.
The Crown Prince was overjoyed.
Minister Ban gave the Crown Prince a look that said, "Calm down."
Ying Cai's body was placed by the蝠池, and Xiao Yun asked the Seventh Prince to have someone guard it.
When Minister Ban arrived, he pretended to inspect the scene.
His inspection was very thorough, almost to the point of having the coroner examine the body on the spot.
Xiao Yun knew he was stalling for time but did not stop him, only watching coldly.
Half an hour later, Minister Ban finally finished his inspection. Before he could speak, someone rushed in to report that someone had arrived from the palace.
It was Eunuch Shunfu, who was by the Emperor's side.
He came to deliver the Emperor's oral decree.
The Emperor ordered all those involved in the assassination attempt on the Consort of Ding'an to enter the palace.
Minister Ban, as the on-site investigator, also went to the palace.
Wang Qingyao found it amusing to see Minister Ban's confident demeanor.
The focus now was on who the assassin was, not how she died. What was the use of a detailed autopsy?
Who cared how the assassin died?
A large group of people headed to Ninghui Hall.
The sons of the Yun family, purely as spectators, also followed. Although they were not involved, no one dared to stop them due to the authority of Prince Xin and the friendly relations between the two countries.
Someone was already in Ninghui Hall.
It was Fang Zheng.
The Crown Prince trembled, a bad premonition rising in his heart.
Fang Zheng nodded slightly at Xiao Yun.
Earlier, when Yuan Bao went to Dali Temple to summon someone, the Minister of Dali Temple, upon hearing that it involved the Crown Princess, rushed to the scene before Fang Zheng.
Yuan Bao, unnoticed, described Ying Cai's build and appearance to Fang Zheng and handed him the Dragon Subduing Token bestowed by the Emperor to Wang Qingyao, instructing him to immediately search the Eastern Palace for anything related to Ying Cai.
So, while Minister Ban was cleverly delaying, Fang Zheng had already thoroughly investigated Ying Cai's origins and background and reported it to the Emperor.
The Emperor was furious.
"Crown Princess, do you have anything else to say!"