Five years after her death, she awoke on the dragon bed.

Chapter 376 The murderer is her
As evening fell, Jiqing led the people in charge of the investigation to the Emperor.

They knew the matter was of great importance and dared not slack off in the slightest during the investigation.

Murong took the list and examined it. Ji Qing stepped forward and said, "Everyone who has dealt with Xianfu Palace is on the list. After observing for the past two days, Zhang Mama and Xiangdong are the most suspicious. Also, Xiangdong..."

Seeing that he hesitated, Murong said calmly, "Just say what you have to say."

“Xiangdong has dealings with people from Yonghe Palace.” Jiqing dared not hide the truth.

This was simply because one of the concubines residing in Yonghe Palace was Consort Tao, and Consort Tao was a member of the Tao family. Princess Guangyi and His Majesty had a good personal relationship, which was also the reason why he hesitated to speak.

Upon hearing the name Yonghe Palace, Murong couldn't immediately recall who lived there.

Ji Qing understood that his master remembered who lived in Yonghe Palace, and quickly added, "Consort Tao lives in Yonghe Palace."

His intuition told him that Consort Tao was the prime suspect.

Murong's eyes darkened slightly: "Has Zhang Mama investigated? Who does she usually associate with?"

"A thorough investigation has been conducted. Granny Zhang was responsible for delivering the oil to Xianfu Palace. Xiangdong had close ties with Xiao Li from Xianfu Palace, and Xiao Li was responsible for fetching water from the small kitchen..."

Upon hearing this, Murong understood why Jiqing had said that Xiangdong was more suspicious.

Since Xiangdong is close to Xiao Lizi, she has every opportunity to make a move when Xiao Lizi goes to the well to fetch water if she is present.

Moreover, the chances of discovering someone putting an appetite stimulant in the water are extremely small, and the risk is minimal. At worst, by the time the Empress gives birth, all that might be known is that the fetus is too large, but no one would suspect that someone put the appetite stimulant in the small kitchen's drinking water.

Fearing that he might have missed someone, Ji Qing pointed out all the other people who could have come into contact with water and oil, but also ruled out any suspects.

After looking at it from all angles, Xiangdong is still the most suspicious.

"Find a pretext to make Xiangdong 'disappear,' and I will interrogate her personally. Also, for the time being, do not alert Consort Tao," Murong said in a deep voice.

Ji Qing quickly agreed.

Before reporting this matter to his master, he already felt that Xiangdong was the most suspicious. Now it seems that His Majesty also thought so, otherwise he wouldn't have personally interrogated her.

That night, when Xiang Dong, who had been knocked unconscious, opened her eyes in a daze, she saw the emperor sitting not far away.

She thought she was dreaming until she saw that there were still many guards standing behind her.

The cold touch of the floor was real as she struggled to get up.

She was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she hurriedly greeted Murong.

Murong simply stared coldly at Xiang Dong, whose scalp tingled and heart trembled under his gaze. She vaguely guessed that her actions had been exposed, otherwise His Majesty wouldn't have come to confront her with such a grand display.

Her first thought was that she wouldn't survive, and then she worried that her family would be implicated...

At this moment, Murong walked slowly to Xiangdong and calmly said, "Speak, who instructed you to give the Empress the appetite stimulant? If you tell the truth about the murderer, I will spare your family's lives."

Ji Qing was a little surprised to hear his master's words.

He knew that although His Majesty was not tyrannical, he usually punished severely when it came to matters concerning the Empress. The last time he almost massacred the entire Quanfu Palace, he knew that His Majesty could be quite ruthless at times.

Xiang Dong was speechless. She could tell that His Majesty wasn't trying to extort her.

"My patience is limited, otherwise I could have your family members brought before you and let you watch them suffer a fate worse than death!" Murong said calmly.

Xiang Dong couldn't imagine such a scene, and she dared not delay any longer: "It's...it's Consort Tao..." Murong was not surprised by Xiang Dong's answer, but when he thought of the friendship between him and Princess Guangyi, he felt a little heavy-hearted.

"You must know that deceiving the emperor is a capital offense, punishable by death and bringing disaster upon one's entire family," Murong said in a deep voice.

Xiang Dong hurriedly replied, "This servant dares not lie. It was Consort Tao who gave me benefits and persuaded me that there was no risk involved, and that the appetite-stimulating powder would be harmless to Her Majesty the Empress..."

"Do you really believe what Consort Tao said?" Murong asked sarcastically, a smirk playing on his lips.

Xiang Dong's heart trembled under Murong's intense gaze.

The appetite-stimulating powder was indeed harmless to the Empress's body, but upon closer examination, the conspiracy behind it became clear. It was her greed that led her to take the risk, knowingly doing something that was impossible.

Now that her crimes have been exposed, her last chance to save herself is to avoid implicating her family.

"It was this servant who succumbed to greed. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and spare my family. I will take full responsibility for my actions. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy..."

Xiangdong kowtowed repeatedly on the ground until her head bled.

Murong watched coldly, his thin lips parted slightly: "You dare to plot against the Empress and the imperial heir, you lowly servant, you certainly deserve to die. But I also said that if you reveal the mastermind behind it all, I will spare your family."

Xiangdong was immediately moved to tears: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty! This servant is eternally grateful!"

"Take her away and keep a close watch on her. We can't let her die." After a pause, Murong added, "Please invite Princess Guangyi to the palace tomorrow."

Ji Qing then learned that His Majesty planned to re-examine Consort Tao the next day.

But if Princess Guangyi enters the palace, wouldn't His Majesty be in a difficult position? After all, Consort Tao is a girl from the Tao family chosen by Princess Guangyi to enter the palace.

The next day, just after Consort Tao finished her breakfast, Ji Qing came to Yonghe Palace, saying that he had been ordered to invite her to Qianqing Palace.

Tao Zhaoyi was restless early in the morning. She asked casually, "Do you know why His Majesty suddenly summoned me?"

Ji Qing replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Excellency will know once you go to the Qianqing Palace."

Consort Tao was even more uneasy. Someone like Murong wouldn't summon her without a reason, especially not to the Qianqing Palace.

Could it be that something she did went wrong? But she's been keeping an eye on Xianfu Palace lately, and there doesn't seem to be anything unusual there. So it's not that thing that got exposed.

She doesn't need to scare herself.

But she was still uneasy. On the way to Qianqing Palace, she tested Jiqing more than once, but the old fox Jiqing always dodged the question and did not give her an answer.

It wasn't until she entered the Qianqing Palace and saw the Empress sitting side by side with Murong, as well as Princess Guangyi, that the color drained from her face.

Just because she also saw Xiangdong kneeling on the ground...

Princess Guangyi was brought into the palace early in the morning. Murong only said that a major event had occurred, and that it was related to Consort Tao.

When she saw the palace maids being brought in, she knew something was wrong.

Tao Zhaoyi was in a state of utter confusion; she stood rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch.

In fact, when she saw Xiang Dong, she knew that things had been exposed. She felt that her plan was perfect and would not have any flaws. When the plan was put into action, she told herself that Lou Suyi was too annoying and that she was doing this to remove the strongest enemy for all the sisters in the harem.

Moreover, this plan is impossible to fail; it can be done without anyone noticing, and no one will discover her perfect plan.