Chapter 602: Chapter 602. Investigation

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Qinger, look, this is the medicine packet.

Xiao Zeyu ordered the eunuch to bring back the medicine packets from the medicine storage room for Su Qing to see. Su Qing poured out a packet and checked it. She poured out ten packets in a row. Xiao Zeyu also looked at it together. The ingredients were the same as the prescription. There were no mistakes.

What was the problem?

This realgar is fake.

Su Qing picked up the realgar and handed it to Xiao Zeyu. The color and shape were very similar and could be pa.s.sed off as the real thing. Other than realgar, there was also a more valuable medicinal ingredient that had been replaced.

Xiao Zeyu held the realgar under his nose and sniffed it. His expression changed drastically. They had done such a big thing right under his nose. Because of these two fake medicines, the entire army had been wiped out, and their weapons had been stolen, causing huge losses.

Ill get someone to investigate immediately.

Xiao Zeyus expression was cold and stern. All the imperial physicians who partic.i.p.ated in the concoction of the medicine were to be arrested. The director of the Imperial Academy of Medicine, the eunuchs who purchased the medicinal ingredients in the palace, and the officials in charge of the medicinal merchants in the court were to be arrested and interrogated.

Alright.

Take this medicine with you.

Su Qing handed Xiao Zeyu the divine medicine she had taken from the Miao clan. The situation was difficult so he couldnt use conventional punishment. He had to determine whether these people were doing it for benefit or spies.

Xiao Zeyu left with the medicine and didnt return for the entire night. The Imperial Brocade Guards in the palace were dispatched. Those imperial physicians who were sleeping at home were secretly arrested. All the people in the palace who had come into contact with the medicine were also arrested and interrogated overnight.

Su Qing was very angry that she didnt sleep well at night. She and Xiao Zeyu had prepared so well, but they were completely wiped out because of two fake medicines. This was the first time they had encountered such a thing in their long war, and it was also the most painful price they had paid.

The 3,000 soldiers who had died and the soldiers and civilians who had been killed added up to tens of thousands of lives.

The following day, Su Qing woke from her sleep and realized Xiao Zeyu was still not back. His pillow was cold.

Go and find out how the investigation is going.

Su Qing sent the eunuchs to inquire about the situation. The palace maids brought the toiletries into the room and helped Su Qing wash up.

In the past, Su Qing didnt need them to comb her hair and change her clothes. But now that her stomach was too big and she couldnt move, she let them serve her.

The eunuch did not return for a long time. Su Qing had already finished was.h.i.+ng up and was about to eat breakfast when she saw the eunuch return in a hurry. After entering the door, his eyes darted as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. Su Qing ordered coldly,

Speak.

Yes, investigatedIt wasThe problem with the medicine was in the Su familys pharmacy because they knew that the Su family was the Empress clan; the imperial physician did not dare to say anything when he discovered the fake medicine. Other than those two fake medicines, there was also ginseng, muskiness, and some important medicinal herbs that were also replaced with fake medicines.

The Su familys pharmacy was the Su Qing familys ancestral business, and the Su familys eldest uncle now managed it. The Su familys eldest uncle and Su Hanxuan were biological brothers, and the eldest son inherited the ancestral business, so Su Hanxuan went out to start his own business.

Initially, the brothers were not very close. Su Hanxuan had no choice but to leave his ancestral home, so Su Qing never saw this so-called uncle when she returned to her fathers house.

However, this uncle acknowledged his family after Su Qing became the Empress. He found her father and insisted that he go back to pay respects to his ancestors. He even wanted Su Qing to return to her family.

At that time, Su Qing was attacking j.a.pan, so she didnt return to her family. She also didnt meet her uncles family.

When Su Qing returned to the capital, being pregnant, she could not wors.h.i.+p her ancestors, and this matter was left unsettled.

Su Qing was a stranger to her uncles family. How did they become royal merchants? Did uncle becoming an imperial merchant have anything to do with father?

Causing such a ma.s.sive loss to the country was a crime of extermination. Uncle and the others were too bold and irresponsible. She was afraid that they would implicate her father and brother.

Su Qing couldnt eat anymore. She went to Cining Palace to find her mother so she could understand the story.

Before Su Qing could go to Cining Palace, Yang Ruxue had already brought Little Chen over. She didnt know anything yet. When she entered and saw that Su Qing hadnt eaten a single bite, Yang Ruxue frowned.

Qinger, why arent you eating?

Mother, I have something to ask you.

Su Qing sent Xiao Qi to accompany Little Chen to play while she pulled her mother into the house.

What is it?

Seeing her daughters solemn expression, Yang Ruxue also became nervous.

Mother, was it my father who manipulated my uncle to become an imperial merchant?

Su Qing went straight to the point.

Why do you ask? What happened?

Yang Ruxue felt that something was wrong. She didnt answer her daughters question and asked what had happened. She looked very nervous and anxious. Mother, can you tell me if Father did anything about this?

Su Qing didnt tell her mother what had happened because she couldnt bear the burden. It wasnt enough to comfort her.

After you became the Empress and your father became the Grand Preceptor, your eldest uncle brought his son to look for your father. He wanted your father to arrange for your three elder cousins to enter the court as officials, but your father refused. I dont know what they said after that. Im very annoyed with your eldest uncle. Hes too good at bullying your father.

Yang Ruxue was filled with anger when she talked about her eldest brother-in-law. Back then, because she had given birth to a daughter for the first time, he had always despised her for not being able to give birth to a son. He even had to marry a concubine to give birth to a child for Hanxuan. He was very oppressive.

If it werent for Hanxuans determination, she would have faced the struggle in the back house. Later, to monopolize the Su familys property, her uncle only gave them a little money and drove them away.

Yang Ruxue couldnt deal with this kind of heartless big uncle. Her daughter was the mother of the country, and they had to lick their faces to borrow her glory.

Then was Father the one who handled the matter of the medicine merchant?

Su Qing saw that her mother had such a bad opinion of this uncle, so she felt that he would be able to do something like replace a fake with a good one.

Qinger, what exactly happened?

Yang Ruxue panicked. She didnt want this lousy uncle to affect her family.

Its not a big deal. You dont have to worry. Ill take care of the big deal!

Su Qing saw that her mothers face was red from anxiety and comforted her.

Yang Ruxue mistakenly thought that Su Qing wanted to protect her eldest brother-in-laws family, so she immediately said to her,

Qinger, dont protect their family. That family isnt good.

Yes, I know. A prince breaks the law like a commoner. If Uncle and the others did it, I wont let them off.

Su Qing nodded. She knew what to do in this matter. Not to mention her uncle, even if it was her brother, she had to put justice above family.

No, Mother has to go home.

Seeing that her daughter refused to tell her what had happened, Yang Ruxue couldnt sit still anymore and insisted on going home to take a look.

Su Qing stopped her mother.

Mother, even if you return home now, you wont be able to meet Father. Hes likely in a meeting with the emperor, discussing state affairs. It would be best if you went back first. Should there be any news, Ill inform you immediately. Very well, but please, ensure your fathers safety.

Yang Ruxue, though hesitant, agreed, repeatedly expressing her concerns for her husbands well-being.

Understood, Mother.

Acknowledging her mothers worries, Su Qing arranged for her safe return to the palace. She then summoned a eunuch, requesting the arrival of the phoenix carriage. Her mind was set on journeying to the court, driven by a need to understand the current situation.

Was her father somehow entangled in these affairs? Her resolve to uncover the truth was as firm as ever..