How could it be...her?
Gu Changqing incredulously said, "She...assassinated Jiaojiao... what about the previous incident at the Marshal Residence and Marquis Residence?"
The old priest knew about this matter. After all, when Gu Changqing broke jail to see Gu Yan, it was the old priest who had allowed Gu Changqing into the house.
The old priest said, "Although there is no evidence for that matter, it does seem likely considering her motive. Besides her, probably no one else would be so desperate to prevent the Emperor and the Empress Dowager from reconciling."
Even if the Zhuang family hoped to monopolize everything, if Zhuang Jinse got along well with the Emperor, they wouldn't necessarily see it as a bad thing. Conversely, if they could win over the Emperor, making the emperor grant more favors to the Zhuang family, Zhuang Taifu would be pleased.
It's just that the emperor never boarded the Zhuang family's pirate ship.