In order to prevent Emperor Ming from arousing unnecessary suspicion, Su Qingyu asked Shen Huaide to tell the truth that she had been to the bamboo forest.
Emperor Ming's question at this moment also showed that although he doubted the main messenger behind the scenes, he also doubted her motives.
"Back to Your Majesty, the victims' illnesses are always recurring. My daughter-in-law heard the words of one of the victims and learned that there are some precious medicinal materials in the bamboo forest behind the epidemic area. My daughter-in-law just wanted to find these medicinal materials to have a look. Can you find anything?"
"Since you are looking for medicinal materials, why do you have to wait until night before going there?"
Su Qingyu was almost driven crazy by Emperor Ming's suspicion.
Instead of quickly thinking of ways to punish the person who should be punished, he was still doubting her as a doctor.
"Because my daughter-in-law is not free during the day."
Emperor Ming was a little surprised by Su Qingyu's straightforwardness, which also made Shen Huaide break into a sweat and quickly explained to her.
"Your Majesty, Princess Ling has been taking the lead in the epidemic area these days. She is either treating the victims or reading ancient books with the ministers to find the source of the plague. She really can't spare time during the day to go to the bamboo forest to find medicine."
Emperor Ming's expression finally softened, but this did not mean that he believed Su Qingyu.
"Since you met a killer, and there are many killers, how did you, a weak woman, escape?"
Su Qingyu finally couldn't help but look up at Emperor Ming: "I wonder if your majesty has heard of the heroine in white recently?"
What exactly happened in the bamboo forest was recounted to the emperor early in the morning by the commander of the imperial army, Zhou Lin, which of course also included traces of the heroine in white.
He just wanted to see if Su Qingyu wanted to take advantage of such a big contribution, but he actually wanted something else.
"It seems that those killers are probably sent by Tuoba Linglong as you said."
To sum up a little, it is not difficult to guess how things will develop.
Most likely Princess Tuoba took advantage of the snowstorm to find someone to poison the poison, making everyone think that there was a plague in the capital, so they could take advantage of the chaos to achieve what they wanted.
Unexpectedly, this plan would be disrupted by Su Qingyu, and she even developed a medicine to cure the poison they had inflicted. Tuoba Linglong must have become so angry that she wanted to kill Su Qingyu so that the plan could continue.
But he didn't expect that a female hero in white would come out halfway.
When he thought of this heroine in white, Emperor Ming became so angry that his teeth itched.
This Jianghu woman is both good and evil, and she seems to do everything according to her mood. Now she is quite popular among the people. If things go on like this, where is the prestige of the imperial court?
"Those men in black are dead, and they are not Xi Chu. There is no evidence that can directly accuse Tuoba Linglong in this matter. Let's put it aside for now. I am free to assert my opinion."
As for what Tuoba Linglong and the others are seeking, he will always figure it out.
"Your Majesty, since it is not a plague, should we ask the people to leave the epidemic area and cooperate with the government as soon as possible to rebuild after the disaster, so that the capital can return to its former appearance?"
Emperor Ming nodded with deep understanding: "I haven't seen you for a long time. Shen Qing has a lot more ideas than before."
Emperor Ming looked at Su Qingyu pointedly, and Shen Huaide immediately knelt down in fear.
"Your Majesty, Wei Chen is just a doctor. Logically speaking, he should not be in charge of anything other than treating diseases and rescuing people. But this time Wei Chen stayed in the epidemic area for a longer time with the victims, so he said a few more words and asked Your Majesty Forgive me."
"Why are you nervous?" Emperor Ming said with a smile, "The fact that this plague was resolved so quickly is all thanks to you and Princess Ling."
"Afterwards, I will discuss my merits and reward you." Emperor Ming casually flipped through the book in his hand: "Now, please wait and see with me what the purpose of Western Chu sending this Tuoba Linglong is."
With a look from Emperor Ming, the eunuch guarding the door immediately opened it and invited Tuoba Linglong and two Western Chu envoys who were waiting at the door.
"Your Majesty the Emperor!" Tuoba Linglong walked to the front carelessly, without even the most basic courtesy.
"I have thought about it. I will marry His Highness Prince Ling!"
As she said that, she proudly glanced at Su Qingyu provocatively: "If His Royal Highness Prince Ling really can't let go of his princess, I am willing to suffer some injustice and let her be an equal wife."
From the face of Emperor Ming, not even Su Qingyu could tell whether he was happy or angry at the moment, so she understood why Tuoba Linglong was confident.
"I'm afraid that won't work."
When Emperor Ming opened his mouth, Tuoba Linglong suddenly became unhappy.
"Why not? Today's King Ling is not the same King Ling as before. Shouldn't he be happy that this princess is willing to marry him?"
Emperor Ming said patiently: "This time there was a plague in the capital, it was Princess Ling who personally worked with all the doctors to find a way to turn the situation around. It was only after she made such a contribution that I turned around and found another wife for her husband. Isn't that true of you?" Are you embarrassing me?"
Tuoba Linglong opened her mouth and said in disbelief: "But you are His Majesty the Emperor! Everyone has to obey orders from the Emperor!"
It must be said that Tuoba Linglong’s words successfully pleased Emperor Ming.
If this had been done before she and Shen Huaide came, maybe Emperor Ming would really have agreed.
But now, it's obviously not possible.
"It's true that I am the Emperor, but I cannot use my status as the Emperor to chill the hearts of those who have meritorious deeds."
Emperor Ming seemed to have a lot more patience today: "Except for Yun Cheng, Princess Tuoba can choose many men of the right age in Daxia Kingdom at will. How about that?"
Tuoba Linglong wanted to give up her job, but under the desperate hints from the envoy behind her, she could only be discouraged.
"Since I can't marry Prince Ling, then I, the princess, should marry Prince An!"
After all, King An was powerful. With King An's support, she wanted to deal with Su Qingyu. It was not a matter of lifting her fingers.
Emperor Ming shook his head again: "I'm afraid this won't work either."
"Princess Tuoba must have also heard about it. I have been looking forward to the emperor's eldest grandson for many years. Now that Princess An is pregnant, we must not let her get emotional, lest it affect my emperor's eldest grandson."
Tuoba Linglong lost her temper completely: "This won't work, and that won't work either. His Majesty the Emperor doesn't want me to marry Prince Qi or Prince Fu, right?"
Emperor Ming smiled understandingly: "Prince Qi has such a wild temper that he may not be able to take good care of the princess; Prince Fu is simple by nature, so the princess will not like him either."
Tuoba Linglong and the two envoys' faces turned green with anger.
"Your Majesty, this princess is the most beloved princess in the Western Chu royal family. You don't really want me to marry an ordinary person to humiliate the Western Chu royal family, do you?"
Emperor Ming smiled heartily: "Princess Tuoba is joking. Since the two countries are in harmony, the husband I have chosen for you will definitely not disgrace your status."
Emperor Ming was obviously smiling, but Tuoba Linglong suddenly felt that there was some kind of threat behind his smile.
Soon, she discovered that her guess was correct.
"Jiang Shangshu of our dynasty is the humerus minister of Daxia Kingdom and a veteran of the three dynasties. Letting his beloved son Jiang Yiming marry Princess Tuoba will not be considered as a disgrace to the Western Chu royal family."
