Chapter 392 Confrontation

The situation in which the Queen Mother was attacked was easily broken without any effort.

Xie Jingyu didn't even intervene.

It is obvious that the Queen Mother did it on purpose. How could the Emperor tolerate or give in?

The Imperial Observatory was not the only one with the title of Astronomical Observatory. After the news of the Empress Dowager being assaulted spread, the Emperor summoned two more Astronomical Observatory members and said, "Calculate for me, was the Empress Dowager really assaulted by the Concubine Chen?"

There was a strong sense of dissatisfaction in his tone.

If Dayou's calculations are not accurate, they will be beheaded.

Few of those who can serve as officials in the court are stupid. If the emperor was willing to believe that the empress dowager was offended by the concubine, he would just believe it, send the concubine's coffin out of the palace, and find another place to set up a mourning hall, instead of asking them to settle the matter.

This is not the result the emperor wants.

There are more than three people in the Imperial Observatory. If the emperor can find them, he can find others.

Since the emperor has come to find me, I can only tell the truth.

If there is a real conflict, just say it. It’s true and it can’t be faked.

Even if there is no conflict, you have to tell the truth. If it is false, it will not become true.

The two imperial astronomers calculated very carefully and found that the Empress Dowager was not in trouble and the collision was a figment of their imagination.

The emperor had Lord Zheng brought to the mourning hall of Concubine Chen and interrogated him on why he blamed the empress dowager's illness on Concubine Chen. Lord Zheng knelt on the ground and insisted that he had calculated the death penalty himself.

The other two Imperial Astronomical Observatory officials stood up to confront him. Few people could understand the various Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, but it was obvious who would win and who would lose.

Zheng Daren knelt on the ground and admitted his fault. "Your Majesty, please calm down. It is my fault for not being well-trained. Please forgive me."

Then the emperor punished him.

He had Lord Zheng thrown into the death row of the Ministry of Justice, his property confiscated, and he was executed.

The emperor punished him severely, firstly because he was angry, and secondly because he wanted Lord Zheng to reveal the person who was behind the incident.

The Imperial Observatory and the Concubine Chen had no grudges against each other and would not target her casually.

To transfer the Empress Dowager's nightmare to the Concubine Chen is like being bored and looking for lice to bite yourself.

Without intimidation, he might not dare to reveal the mastermind behind the incident.

The emperor knew that Lord Zheng was being instructed by someone, and as long as he confessed, the emperor would spare his life.

However, although the emperor gave him a chance to live, Lord Zheng did not cherish it. He just kept begging for mercy, saying that he was not skilled enough. This completely angered the emperor, and the consequences can be imagined.

As soon as Lord Zheng was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's death row, he committed suicide by taking poison.

Those people were lawless and almost bullied the emperor.

There were some things that the emperor wanted to do but had been holding back on, but he could no longer hold back.

Although the emperor and Lin Qingyin loved each other at the time, the late emperor married her to Prince Jin, who was the crown prince at the time. The emperor and Lin Qingyin kept their love hidden deep in their hearts.

After the death of Prince Jin, Lin Qingyin rarely entered the palace unless summoned by the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor could not see her for a whole year.

If it wasn't for the purpose of pleading for the wrong Queen Song, Lin Qingyin wouldn't have entered the palace. If she hadn't entered the palace, how could she have been drugged and have an attack in front of him by such a coincidence?

Although there was a plan, the emperor got what he wanted. In addition, considering himself, Lin Qingyin, and the reputation of King Jin in the afterlife, he did not pursue the matter.

The emperor knew in his heart that Lin Qingyin was presented to him to quell the disaster of Queen Song.

She had offered Lin Qingyin to him, and now he wanted to give her a status, and he did it in a roundabout way, without involving Prince Jin. Yet, she was obstructing it in every possible way. Did she really think that he, the emperor, was so easy to talk to?!

When the news of Lord Zheng's death came, the emperor's eyes were cold.

"Let Shen Ji come to the palace to see me."

…

The weather is fine.

After breakfast, Shen Wan went to pay her respects to the princess, but before she reached the Liuli Courtyard, she ran into the princess in the garden.

The princess wanted to see her, "Yu'er went to the palace to guard the deceased's body. Hasn't she come back in the past two days?"

Shen Wan said, "I didn't come back to stay overnight, but I came back every day."

Sometimes I come back to have breakfast with her, and sometimes I come back to have lunch with her.

The princess felt strangely nervous. Even if she was keeping vigil for Concubine Chen, one night would be enough. Why did she have to keep vigil for so many days?

Because Prince Yuzhang and the others were also there, the princess didn't say anything. The maid came over and said, "Princess, Madam Shen is here."

Shen Wan looked back and saw Madam Shen coming over.

The princess came forward and said with a smile, "You haven't come to see me for some time."

Madam Shen was smiling, but her smile was haggard.

Not only did she not visit the princess these days, she rarely even went out, for fear that people would ask her why she was alone and why she didn't bring her daughter with her.

Chu Yang went to Jizhou to investigate the granary water leakage case. Shen Ling followed him to Jizhou. Worried about his sister, Young Master Shen also went there.

After they left, there was no news from the brother and sister.

Young Master Shen is fine, as he has martial arts skills and won't be bullied easily. But his daughter can only ride a horse and is weak as a kite. What will he do if she encounters a bad guy outside?

These days, Mrs. Shen was so worried that she couldn't eat or sleep. It just so happened that General Shen had left Beijing for something and was not at home.

God knows how she managed to get through these days.

Xie Jingyu, Prince of Yuzhang and more than a dozen other young men from aristocratic families welcomed the coffin of Concubine Chen to the capital. Mrs. Shen was deeply touched. The eldest son of Shen, Shen Dan, had always had a good relationship with Xie Jingyu. If he was in Kyoto, he would definitely have a share.

Mrs. Shen missed her son and daughter more and more, and wished she could go to Jizhou to find them. Thinking that Xie Jingyu might have news about Jizhou, she came to the Jingbei Palace.

Madam Shen asked Shen Wan, "Have you and the prince received any news from the Prince of Linjiang?"

The voice was trembling when asking.

Shen Wan shook his head.

Madam Shen panicked, "You don't have any news from Jizhou either?"

Chen Wan hurriedly said, "These days, my husband has either gone to welcome the coffin of Concubine Chen or stayed in the palace to keep vigil for Concubine Chen. I don't know if he has received any news from Jizhou..."

Knowing that Madam Shen was anxious, the princess comforted her, "Don't worry, everything will be fine. When Yu'er returns home, I will ask him for you. When there is news, I will let the maid tell you."

Mrs. Shen was worried, but she had no solution.

After being angry for so many days, Madam Shen has gone from being angry to just hoping that her daughter can find the Prince of Linjiang.

It is better to be with the Linjiang Marquis's son than to be wandering outside. The most frightening thing is that neither the Linjiang Marquis's son nor Master Shen can find him. A girl, wandering outside with a maid for so many days, Mrs. Shen dare not imagine how many dangers she will encounter.

The princess comforted Madam Shen. It was rare for Madam Shen to come to the Jingbei Palace, so Shen Wan did not interrupt them and went back to Zhaolanxuan.

Just as I reached the gate of the courtyard, Yinchuan came running towards me, panting, with beads of sweat shining on her forehead.

Shanhu asked, "What's the matter? Why are you running so fast?"

Yin Chuan gasped and asked, "Does the Crown Prince's Consort know who the Consort Chen is?"

How could you guess that?

Shanhu said, "Don't let the Crown Princess guess, just tell me now."

Yin Chuan said, "The Concubine Chen is the daughter of Old Master Lin and Old Madam Lin..."

Shen Wan, “……!!!”

"The Concubine Chen is the Princess of Jin?!" Shen Wan's voice was floating.

Yinchuan shook her head repeatedly, almost covering Chen Wan's mouth with her hand in fear, "It's not Princess Jin, it's another daughter..."

Another daughter?

I haven't heard that Old Tutor Lin and Old Madam Lin have another daughter.

Chen Wan was completely bewildered. Yin Chuan paused for a moment, then spoke in a dry, smoking throat, "The Concubine Chen and the Princess of Jin are twin sisters from the same mother. Back when Old Taifu Lin was admitted to the imperial examination, Madam Lin and her daughter were on their way to the capital, and someone snatched her away..."