Chapter 602: Chapter 602. Investigation

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Qing’er, 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 passed 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.

“I’ll get someone to investigate immediately.”

Xiao Zeyu’s expression was cold and stern. All the imperial physicians who participated 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 couldn’t use conventional punishment. He had to determine whether these people were doing it for benefit or spies.

Xiao Zeyu left with the medicine and didn’t 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 didn’t 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 didn’t need them to comb her hair and change her clothes. But now that her stomach was too big and she couldn’t move, she let them serve her.

The eunuch did not return for a long time. Su Qing had already finished washing 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, investigated…It was…The problem with the medicine was in the Su family’s 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 family’s pharmacy was the Su Qing family’s ancestral business, and the Su family’s eldest uncle now managed it. The Su family’s 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 father’s 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 Japan, so she didn’t return to her family. She also didn’t meet her uncle’s family.

When Su Qing returned to the capital, being pregnant, she could not worship her ancestors, and this matter was left unsettled.

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

Causing such a massive 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 couldn’t 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 didn’t know anything yet. When she entered and saw that Su Qing hadn’t eaten a single bite, Yang Ruxue frowned.

“Qing’er, why aren’t 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 daughter’s 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 didn’t answer her daughter’s 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 didn’t tell her mother what had happened because she couldn’t bear the burden. It wasn’t 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 don’t know what they said after that. I’m very annoyed with your eldest uncle. He’s 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 weren’t for Hanxuan’s determination, she would have faced the struggle in the back house. Later, to monopolize the Su family’s property, her uncle only gave them a little money and drove them away.

Yang Ruxue couldn’t 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.

“Qing’er, what exactly happened?”

Yang Ruxue panicked. She didn’t want this lousy uncle to affect her family.

“It’s not a big deal. You don’t have to worry. I’ll take care of the big deal!”

Su Qing saw that her mother’s face was red from anxiety and comforted her.

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

“Qing’er, don’t protect their family. That family isn’t good.”

“Yes, I know. A prince breaks the law like a commoner. If Uncle and the others did it, I won’t 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 couldn’t 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 won’t be able to meet Father. He’s likely in a meeting with the emperor, discussing state affairs. It would be best if you went back first. Should there be any news, I’ll inform you immediately.” “Very well, but please, ensure your father’s safety.”

Yang Ruxue, though hesitant, agreed, repeatedly expressing her concerns for her husband’s well-being.

“Understood, Mother.”

Acknowledging her mother’s 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..