Chapter 1023 - 880 Doubts_2

Xiao Ning’Er had already said this many times, and each time it was assertive and unmistakable.

"Miss Xiao Ning’Er! Why do you always so firmly claim that the poison was administered by Miss Xie?

Do you have any witnesses? Or any material evidence?"

Upon hearing Ji Youzhi’s words, Xiao Ning’Er became anxious.

"I myself am the witness!

I saw with my own eyes the Emperor having lunch; he didn’t eat anything else, but he did consume all of the wild vegetable cakes."

Ji Youzhi responded, "So you mean, when His Majesty and Miss Xie were dining, Miss Xiao Ning’Er was also present?"

"Of course, if I weren’t there, wouldn’t I be falsely accusing her?"

Ji Youzhi cast his gaze towards Xie Pan’Er; currently, there was no evidence to prove that Xie Pan’Er administered the poison, nor was there any evidence to prove she didn’t.

But all clues pointed to her!

"Where did the ingredients for the wild vegetable cakes come from?"

Xie Pan’Er involuntarily widened her eyes and looked at him when Ji Youzhi posed this question.

"Do you really suspect that I poisoned him?"

The Emperor also couldn’t help but look at Ji Youzhi.

Ji Youzhi shook his head: "Every possibility needs to be investigated. Even if we all believe you, the source of the poison must be cleared!"

"The palace doesn’t have any wild vegetables; they’re brought from outside the palace by the procurement team from the Imperial Kitchen. The flour and cooking oil are from the small kitchen in Wanhua Palace; I haven’t touched anything else!"

Ji Youzhi quickly called out, "Long Wu!

"Captain Long Wu! Please take two Imperial Physicians to check all the utensils and food in the small kitchen of Wanhua Palace!"

"Yes!"

"You’d better check her room, maybe there are poisons hidden there!"

Long Wu glanced at Ji Youzhi!

Ji Youzhi nodded and added, "Search Miss Xiao Ning’Er’s and Miss Xie’s rooms as well!"

Xiao Ning’Er widened her eyes and shouted at Ji Youzhi: "Why must my room be searched?"

"Why?" Ji Youzhi chuckled, "Actually, the Emperor’s poisoning may not necessarily be due to the food. Now that we can’t find the source of the poison, we must widen the scope to include everything His Majesty came into contact with today! If I’m not mistaken, Miss Xiao Ning’Er dined with His Majesty today!"

Xiao Ning’Er nodded, "Of course! I’m the Emperor’s cousin. Why can’t I have a meal with him? It’s not like I’d poison my own cousin!"

"I never said that! Whether you poisoned him or not must be thoroughly investigated!"

Having said this, Ji Youzhi signaled with his eyes to Long Wu.

Without hesitation, Long Wu led his men out.

"Hmph! Let them check, I’m not afraid!"

Anyway, she didn’t poison the Emperor!

Ji Youzhi saw Xiao Ning’Er crossing her arms and pouting, muttering to herself, and couldn’t help but shake his head, finding her naivete astonishing.

He could not understand how the Duke’s Mansion had raised her; the palace was dangerous, did she not understand this?

A person so guileless, if she really entered the Emperor’s harem, who knows how she might meet her end!

"Miss Xiao Ning’Er, may I ask about the situation when you dined with His Majesty today?"

Xiao Ning’Er kept silent.

Ji Youzhi continued, "You are also a prime suspect now. If you don’t speak and conceal any clues, you will be charged with plotting against His Majesty and beheaded!"

Hearing Ji Youzhi’s words, Xiao Ning’Er trembled with fear.

On the other side, the Empress Dowager calmly stated: "If you don’t speak, I shall have you imprisoned in the Celestial Prison; you’ll be released only when you decide to talk!"

The Empress Dowager was seldom angered, but this was about her precious son’s life, and she would not show leniency, not even to her niece!

"Aunt!" Xiao Ning’Er pleaded with the Empress Dowager, but upon looking up and seeing her aunt’s enraged face, she immediately knelt down and recounted the events of their meal!

"Indeed, today it was I, Emperor cousin, and Xie Pan’Er who ate together. I worked hard to prepare delicious dishes for Emperor cousin, but he only ate the wild vegetable cakes made by Pan’Er and didn’t touch the dishes I made!

Aunt, I truly did not harm Emperor cousin! You must believe Ning’Er!"

The Empress Dowager turned her gaze to Ji Youzhi.

Ji Youzhi then looked towards Xie Pan’Er, "Miss Xie! Is what Miss Xiao Ning’Er said true?"

Xie Pan’Er nodded and said: "What she said initially is correct, but the latter part I’m not sure about."

"?"

Everyone looked at her in confusion!

"It’s like this, I was feeling a bit unwell, so I didn’t eat and left early. When I left, His Majesty was indeed eating the wild vegetable cakes I made, and it was Miss Xiao Ning’Er who personally served him!"

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Youzhi’s brow furrowed deeply.

"Youzhi! What’s wrong?"

Ji Youzhi did not answer the Emperor but instead turned to Xie Pan’Er, confirming, "You’re sure that the wild vegetable cakes you made were personally served by Miss Xiao Ning’Er to His Majesty?"

Xie Pan’Er nodded, "I’m sure, His Majesty seemed to enjoy them!"

As Xie Pan’Er said this, she unintentionally added another sentence!

Ji Youzhi looked over at the Emperor, his expression carrying an indescribable meaning!

The Emperor was puzzled and touched his own face.

"Is there something wrong with my face?"

Ji Youzhi shook his head and continued to ask Xie Pan’Er: "After you left, were your bowl and chopsticks removed?"

Xie Pan’Er: "..."