Dugu Jingyao is reborn as Li Chu's beloved

Chapter 553: Li's Test

In addition to sending Feng Shengyi and Li Neng to gather information, Dugu Jingyao also assigned Li Wanqing an important task: to have her Mingyue Bookstore conduct an in-depth investigation into Madam Du's background. Dugu Jingyao intuitively felt that Madam Du was hiding many unknown secrets.

Just as everyone in the Chu Palace was conducting an intensive investigation, Li Xi suddenly visited the Chu Palace.

However, because Li Neng had been busy investigating the Lan Shufei incident, he did not come to the Chu Palace every day as usual. Coincidentally, when Li Xi arrived at the Chu Palace, Li Neng was not there.

After Dugu Jingyao learned that Li Xi was coming to visit, she was somewhat reluctant to receive him, but considering that Li Xi came to visit his injured brother, it was also legitimate, and she really couldn't find any suitable reason to refuse.

Therefore, Dugu Jingyao had no choice but to order Shi Jian to lead Li Xi to the main hall to wait for a while, while she asked Li Ruo and Murong Linzhi to help look after Li Chu. Then she rubbed her temples a little, then slowly stood up and walked towards the main hall.

When they reached the main hall, Dugu Jingyao put on a smile and said, "Second brother, how did you find time to come here today? And you brought so many things with you?"

Li Xi bowed to Dugu Jingyao in a formal manner and said, "Greetings to the Imperial Sister-in-law. Today is my day off. I heard that my eldest brother was still in a coma, so I was unable to visit him in time. It was my fault as a younger brother. Now that I have time, I naturally have to come."

Dugu Jingyao deliberately said to Li Xi, "Second brother, please come and sit down. I don't know when your eldest brother will wake up. I heard that some of his affairs have been handed over to you, second brother. You must be very busy, right? Actually, it doesn't matter if you don't come. It's a good intention."

Hearing this, Li Xi felt that Dugu Jingyao was testing him, so he said, "Your Majesty, I am too embarrassed to be your sister-in-law. I am only taking your place temporarily. When your Majesty wakes up, I will return your position."

Dugu Jingyao smiled gently and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Royal Brother, during this time."

Li Xi asked, "Sister-in-law, I wonder how my eldest brother is doing? Can I go visit him?"

At this point, Dugu Jingyao couldn't help but feel tears welling up in her eyes. She sighed and said, "Alas, your eldest brother is still in a coma. I even specially left the disciple of Divine Doctor Gongsun at home, but there has been no progress. If Second Brother wants to visit, please come with me."

After saying that, he pretended to wipe away the non-existent tears, stood up and took Li Xi to Chenxiang Pavilion.

Arriving in the inner chamber, Li Ruo and Murong Linzhi saw Li Xi coming. Murong Linzhi politely saluted Li Xi, but Li Ruo had always been at odds with Li Xi, so she just casually said, "Hello, Second Brother."

Li Xi didn't care about Li Ruo's attitude. To be more precise, he had long been accustomed to it.

Li Xi walked over to Li Chu's couch, wanting to bend down to see if he was truly unconscious. Li Ruo was the first to express her displeasure. She said, "Second brother, are you taking this opportunity to harm my eldest brother?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xi also became unhappy and replied, "Ruo'er, you are blaming me wrongly. I just wanted to see how my eldest brother is doing."

Li Ruo said, "Then Second Brother, please stand here and watch. You can see everything from here."

Li Xi was about to retort when Dugu Jingyao stopped him: "Alright, stop arguing. Although the prince is still in a coma, please provide him with a quiet environment to recuperate!"

Li Xi and Li Ruo fell silent, but it looked like Li Chu was seriously injured. Even after so many days, his face was still pale. In fact, he wanted to verify it himself, but unfortunately there were too many people around, and he couldn't get close to Li Chu at all.

Li Xi pretended to be disappointed and said, "Since I have already met my eldest brother, and Ruo'er doesn't welcome me, I will go back first."

Dugu Jingyao didn't want to waste too much energy on Li Xi, so she ordered Shi Jian to send Li Xi away safely, using the excuse that Li Chu had been in poor health recently due to her care.

After Li Xi left, Dugu Jingyao said to Li Ruo, "Ruo'er, you're too bold. No matter what, he's still your brother. If someone with ulterior motives gets to the emperor's ears, he'll definitely say you don't admire your brother. Be careful and be punished."

Li Ruo, however, said unconcernedly, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. Father won't blame me. He knows that, let alone him, I often quarrel with my third brother."

Dugu Jingyao shook her head helplessly and said, "Okay, okay, but it's time for lunch. You guys go eat, and I'll stay here."

Li Ruo asked, "Sister-in-law, aren't you coming with us?"

Dugu Jingyao said: "You guys go ahead, I'm not hungry yet."

Murong Linzhi said worriedly: "Even if you are not hungry, you should eat something, just for the sake of the child." Li Ruo also agreed.

Dugu Jingyao said, "It's okay. I'll ask Shi Jian to bring the food here. I'll just eat whatever I want."

Seeing that persuasion failed, Li Ruo said, "Why don't we ask them to put the food here, so that we can eat together and still keep an eye on our brother."

Dugu Jingyao thought it was feasible, so she asked Shi Jian and Si Jian to have someone serve the food here.

Li Ruo and Murong Linzhi ate normally, but Dugu Jingyao felt nauseous after only two bites. She ran out, covering her mouth and vomiting.

Murong Linzhi knew that Dugu Jingyao was suffering from morning sickness, so he asked Shi Jian to secretly prepare some plums and other things for Dugu Jingyao. After all, it was not yet three months old, and other people in the Prince Chu's Mansion did not know about it yet.

Seeing her like this, unable to eat anything, Li Ruo was very worried and asked, "Royal sister-in-law, why don't you go and rest first? Otherwise, you have to take care of your brother, the baby in your belly is making a fuss, and you have to take care of the other two pregnant women in the mansion. How can your body bear it?"

Dugu Jingyao was indeed feeling a little uncomfortable, so she said, "Then please stay here for a while. I'll go back and rest for a while." Both of them agreed.

In the afternoon, Dugu Jingyao woke up from her sleep and felt better. However, she still couldn't eat. Shi Jian brought up the prepared plums and sour plum soup, and Dugu Jingyao was able to eat some.

Just as he was about to go to the side hall to see Li Shi and Li Ying, he received news that Li Neng and Feng Shengyi had found some clues, and Li Wanqing had also found some clues.

So Dugu Jingyao first asked them to report the information they had collected.

Feng Shengyi found out that Du Zhifu and others were now detained in the Ministry of Justice, and their lack of punishment seemed to be related to Concubine Lan Shufei.

Li Shen heard that it was because Magistrate Du had a low official position and was afraid that Concubine Lan would be bullied in the palace, so he took advantage of the large number of merchants in Jinling and donated an extra sum of money to the palace and the national treasury every year. This made Concubine Lan gain the favor of the emperor and was promoted to the title of concubine after giving birth to a prince.

Li Wanqing found out that Mrs. Du was indeed not a simple person. She was not originally from the south, but from Fanyang. She had only arrived in Jinling five years ago. It was said that she brought a little girl with her when she came to the south, but no one knew who that little girl was.

Overall, Dugu Jingyao had a new idea. Since Fan Yang was where An Lushan was before, was it possible that Mrs. Du was related to the An family?

However, this time she did not let Li Wanqing continue the investigation, but asked Feng Shengyi to continue investigating along this line, and by the way, find out who the girl she brought to Jinling that year was.

Dugu Jingyao felt that by following this line, she might be getting closer and closer to the truth.