Chapter 66: House Arrest

Zhuoyu Palace is far away from Fuyue Palace. When He Yanchen and Yue Li arrived, there were many people standing in the palace, and even the empress dowager was sitting at the top.

The queen was talking to the palace maid, and almost all the other concubines in the harem had arrived, which showed that today's incident was quite a big deal.

He Yanchen had a headache.

He just said that he would not let her suffer Huang Baolin's anger, but she was afraid that she didn't need to say anything more. If she was unhappy, she would just sterilize the person. She really had her own way.

Yue Li couldn't help feeling guilty when she saw so many people. She secretly wanted to hold the man's hand. He Yanchen tried to shake it off but failed, so he could only let her hold his hand with a stern face.

The empress dowager's face was full of anger. He Yanchen had only favored Yue Li before, and recently Huang Baolin finally got some favor. She saw hope for the royal heir, but then this happened. How could she not be angry?

The Queen Mother looked at Ze Lan kneeling in the hall and said sternly, "How could Huang Baolin be like this when he was fine?"

Ze Lan kowtowed repeatedly, "Her Majesty the Queen Mother, please be discerning. Our master was fine during the day, but suddenly felt abdominal pain after dinner. Before the imperial physician arrived, he started bleeding profusely. We, the servants, really didn't know what to do, so we had the audacity to report this to Her Majesty the Queen."

"Mother, calm down," the Queen said. "I just had the Imperial Physician examine Huang Baolin. He must have accidentally ingested a large amount of safflower, which is why he's bleeding profusely."

"Imperial Physician Liu said...Huang Baolin might...probably have difficulty having children in the future..."

Doctor Liu's words were tantamount to a death sentence for Huang Baolin. In the harem, favor is fleeting, and only offspring are an unshakable support. Huang Baolin has lost the possibility of having children, so he will no longer be a threat in the future.

Ze Lan's eyes were red, and he knocked his head loudly: "Your Majesty, please make the decision for my master!"

He Yanchen let go of Yueli's hand and walked to the seat beside the Queen Mother and sat down, but his eyes fell on the Queen: "What did the Queen find out?"

Yueli was helped by Lianqiao to sit down. She couldn't help but touch her earlobe and looked at He Yanchen for help.

He Yanchen sneered, now he felt scared.

Serves you right.

She should be taught a lesson by being humiliated.

The queen frowned slightly and glanced at Yueli vaguely.

"Your Majesty, I sent someone to check Huang Baolin's meal before you arrived. The other dishes were fine, except for the crucian carp soup, where a large amount of safflower was added."

Upon hearing this, Ze Lan quickly said, "When the master drank the crucian carp soup, he felt that the taste was not right, but he just thought that the imperial kitchen had changed the method and did not think much of it."

Doctor Liu also stepped forward and said, "That crucian carp soup was indeed spiked with safflower, and the amount was quite large, enough to render a healthy woman infertile."

The Queen Mother slammed the table and said, "What a vicious mind! This time, I must investigate thoroughly. I want to see where such a vicious woman came from in this palace!"

Yueli couldn't help rolling her eyes after hearing this. How could the Queen Mother have the nerve to call her vicious?

She even watched her own son die without saving him. Where does she get the nerve to do that?

He Yanchen rubbed his brows, as if annoyed by the noise: "Ji Ming, tell Chu Yi to check."

"No need!" The Queen interrupted him hastily. Noticing He Yanchen's indifferent gaze, she said hastily, "I dare not trouble the Imperial Guards with matters in the harem. I have already sent for the Imperial Kitchen staff to come and wait outside the palace for Your Majesty to summon me."

"And..." The Queen suddenly glanced at Yue Li very clearly, "And Xiao Xiazi from the Imperial Kitchen was the one involved in Yang's poisoning last time. A lot of valuables were found in his room. I think he's really suspicious."

When mentioning the deceased Concubine Yang, everyone couldn't help but look at Yue Li.

It’s that little Xia Zi again. Last time it was related to Yu Zhaorong, and this time it’s related to her again.

It could be said to be a coincidence once, but a second time would arouse suspicion. Besides, how could there be so many coincidences in the palace?

"Empress, the royal heir is a serious matter. What do you want to do by stopping the imperial guards from investigating?" He Yanchen did not respond to her, but glanced at her with cold eyes.

The Queen quickly knelt down and said, "I dare not, but there are many disturbances in the harem, and I really dare not disturb Your Majesty again..."

He Yanchen didn't bother to pay attention to her: "Go tell Chu Yi."

The queen felt embarrassed. His Majesty did not give her any face in front of everyone.

The empress dowager felt a little sorry when she saw the queen's appearance. The queen had managed the harem in an orderly manner over the years. Even if she had no merits, she had worked hard. How could she bring shame to the Empress Dowager like this?

"Queen, get up."

The Queen slowly stood up and said, "Thank you, Mother."

He Yanchen didn't say anything else, and everyone in the hall didn't even dare to breathe loudly. The entire Fuyue Palace was silent, and only Huang Baolin's cries of pain could be faintly heard from the inner hall.

Half an hour later, Chu Yi came in with two young eunuchs.

"Your Majesty, I have already investigated. These two individuals are eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen and the Imperial Hospital. Today, Xiao Linzi was carrying safflower and some herbs to the Imperial Hospital when he bumped into Xiao Qingzi from the Imperial Kitchen. The two of them confused the herbs with the food, which led to this disaster."

Queen: “?”

Does anyone really believe such a ridiculous reason?

But He Yanchen believed it.

He said, "Since it's just a misunderstanding, drag it out and give each of us fifty lashes."

The Queen Mother was also shocked: "Your Majesty, this is simply too ridiculous..."

"Empress Dowager," He Yanchen said casually, "Does Your Majesty think there's something wrong with what the Imperial Guards found? Or do you think I'm incompetent?"

"I have no such intention."

He Yanchen said calmly, "In that case, let's end this matter here."

He stood up and left. When he passed Yueli, he said in a bad tone, "Follow me."

Yue Li followed everyone out despite their different looks.

In fact, from He Yanchen's attitude, everyone present seemed to know who was the mastermind behind the scenes, but everyone had to pretend to be deaf and dumb.

The Queen Mother was so angry that she threw the teacup on the table to the ground. After a long while, she could only curse: "It's ridiculous!"

*

He Yanchen sent the man back to Zhuoyu Palace with a cold face. Yue Li wanted to grab his sleeve but he shook her off.

"Have I been too indulgent towards you? Look at what you've been doing all day long."

Yueli looked at him aggrievedly: "I just don't like Huang Baolin. If Your Majesty regrets it, please send me to the Criminal Court for punishment!"

"You!" He Yanchen was really angry, "You are simply lawless."

Not only does he harm others, but every time he does, he has to clean up the mess.

Is he free?

"I am the emperor. Will you harm anyone in the harem who gains favor in the future?"

Yue Li bit her lip, and He Yanchen still felt a little bit reluctant when she saw her tearful eyes.

He had spoken a little harshly just now. He sighed and was about to soften his attitude to give himself a way out, but he saw Yue Li wiped her tears casually, turned around and ran into the Zhuoyu Palace.

No one paid any attention to him.

Lian Qiao was so frightened that she trembled all over and hurriedly followed.

Yueli ran back to her bedroom, feeling angry and sad.

She just can't stand others being favored. If he favors someone else, she will never like him again!

Let him and his Huang Baolin be well!

She doesn't want him anymore!

"Is she going to cause trouble?" He Yanchen was also angry, "I must punish her severely!"

"Let her ground me!"

Ji Ming wiped his sweat. He tried to murder a concubine and caused her infertility, which was such a serious matter, but he was not demoted or fined, but was only confined to his room. How long would this confinement last?

Then he heard He Yanchen say:

"Let her be confined to her home for three days and reflect on her actions!"