When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked.
Lanpin clenched the handkerchief in her hand and pretended to be interested: "What Concubine Chen said, did you find evidence that Concubine Mei was wrongly accused?"
Shen Wei was calm and composed: “Bring me that bronze medal.”
Cai Lian obeyed the order and brought the tray containing the bronze medal. The strangely shaped bronze plate appeared in front of everyone.
The bronze plaque was covered in mud and had rusted and corroded, revealing some patina. The palace maid serving Concubine Lan frowned secretly and looked at the bronze medal, always feeling that she had overlooked something.
After Cai Lian put the bronze plate away, she went out again, bringing three white-haired craftsmen with her to wait outside the curtain for orders.
Zhang Miaoyu pretended to be curious: "Are these three people outside the curtain craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department?"
Cai Lian replied, "Madam Yufei, they are experienced craftsmen. I am under the order of the Imperial Concubine to have you three carefully examine the rust on the bronze plaque to determine its age."
Three old craftsmen stepped forward tremblingly and surrounded the strangely shaped bronze plaque to examine it carefully.
After half an incense stick.
Cai Lian cleared her throat and asked, "You three are top craftsmen with rich experience. How long has this bronze tablet been buried in the soil?"
One of the most experienced craftsmen replied: "The copper has turned green, and the words have turned black. Based on my many years of experience, this object has been buried in the soil for at least five years."
The other two craftsmen also echoed.
The room fell silent.
The emperor had been on the throne for less than four years, and Concubine Mei Liu Ruyan had been in the palace for less than four years.
But was it possible that a strange bronze medal that had been buried for at least five years was dug out in Liu Ruyan's yard?
Zhang Miaoyu reacted immediately and pretended to be enlightened: "So that's how it is. Long before Concubine Mei moved into Yuxiu Palace, this strange bronze plaque was buried in the courtyard. Oh, it turns out that we all misunderstood Concubine Mei."
Concubine Lan was secretly shocked.
Concubine Lan subconsciously looked at the palace maid beside her. The little palace maid frowned and felt puzzled.
This time, Concubine Lan wanted to drag Concubine Mei into the water, and the Xie family provided assistance behind the scenes. This bronze medal was secretly sent into the palace by someone sent by the Xie family and handed over to Lanpin's personal maid.
The little palace maid had a vague feeling that the Xie family was not really helping Concubine Lan. If the truth comes out, Concubine Lan will be used as a scapegoat by the Xie family.
Lanpin was not giving up. She was thinking fast, trying to find a loophole: "This... this bronze tablet might be what Mei Fei buried under the plum forest in Prince Yan's mansion. She brought the bronze tablet into the palace and buried it in Yuxiu Palace."
The craftsman knelt on the ground and retorted, "This lady doesn't know. The soil in the plum forest of the Prince of Yan's mansion is a bit hard. If copper is buried in it, it will only accumulate a thick hard green color, which will fall off as soon as it is peeled. The soil in the palace is brought by gardeners from the mountains in the suburbs. The soil is fertile and contains acid. If copper is buried in the soil in the palace, it will produce blue-green rust."
"This strange bronze plaque has no accumulated hard green, nor any signs of shedding its green shell. Therefore, this item has been buried in the soil of the palace."
After the craftsman finished speaking, he continued to bury his head deeply.
Cai Lian took the three craftsmen out.
Concubine Lan frowned secretly. She had lived in the deep palace for a long time and had no idea that copper would have different chemical reactions in different soils.
In the main hall, Zhang Miaoyu waved the round fan in her hand and added with a smile: "When Concubine Mei entered the palace, dozens of eunuchs went to the palace to transplant plum trees. Copper buried in the soil will naturally leave traces. The eunuchs who transplanted the plum trees at that time did not find any traces left by the copper embroidery."
Concubine Lan said nothing.
She couldn't understand why her family had sent in a bronze medal that was full of flaws.
"Your Highness, who buried the bronze tablet?" a concubine asked curiously.
Lanpin pinched her palms nervously, and her mind quickly recalled whether she had missed anything. If any clues were discovered by Shen Wei, she would definitely be punished.
Slandering palace concubines, creating evil things, disturbing the peace of the former dynasty and the harem... With all the charges against her, Concubine Lan will be punished with death.
Lanpin secretly observed Shen Wei in the main seat, hoping that she had not discovered the truth.
Chen Wei stroked the teacup with her fingers and said slowly, "Before Concubine Mei, the late emperor's Concubine Yun lived in Yuxiu Palace. I asked the empress dowager, and Concubine Yun plotted to murder the heir to the throne, and was given a cup of poisoned wine, and her family line was wiped out. This strange bronze plaque that cursed Daqing must have been left by Concubine Yun."
After a pause, Shen Wei looked at Lanpin: "Lanpin, what do you think?"
Concubine Lan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, a deceased concubine was left to take the blame.
Lanpin nodded hurriedly and agreed, "This makes sense, Your Majesty, I understand."
Lanpin's personal maid was in a heavy mood. She glanced sideways at her naive master with a lot on her mind.
Zhang Miaoyu pounded the table angrily: "It turned out to be Concubine Yun! What a vicious woman!"
Shen Wei cleared her throat and said loudly: "I have told the emperor the truth. From now on, no one in the palace is allowed to discuss this matter again."
Everyone stood up at the same time: "Yes."
The concubines left one after another.
The much-talked-about case in the harem came to an end today.
Shen Wei drank her tea calmly. Today, she solved the troubles in the harem. As for those court officials who gossip in the court, Li Yuanjing will naturally deal with them.
She is in charge of internal affairs, while Li Yuanjing is in charge of external affairs. Together, they can protect the integrity of the Liu family, stabilize the hearts of loyal officials in the court, and take the opportunity to cleanse Si Tianjian's group of evil-minded officials.
Shen Wei drank tea to quench her thirst and was in a good mood.
Zhang Miaoyu was full of admiration and praised, "Sister Chen Wei, you are amazing! You even knew that copper changes color differently in different soils. Why didn't I think of that at the beginning!"
Shen Wei put down the white jade teacup and curled the corners of her lips: “It’s just luck.”
Zhang Miaoyu ran to Liu Ruyan and pushed her arm: "Concubine Chen took action to find out the truth and saved you and the Liu family. Why are you still standing there? Say a few words."
Liu Ruyan was as cool and pure as a plum blossom, with no trace of sadness or joy on her face.
No thanks were given.
Shen Wei didn't care and left with Cai Lian and others.
Zhang Miaoyu was so angry that she stamped her feet and poked Liu Ruyan's nose and scolded, "You are so noble, you are so great. Concubine Chen was kind enough to help you get out of the sea of suffering, but you still look so desperate, as if the whole world owes you a favor! You only care about your own joys and sorrows, you deserve to be framed!"
Liu Ruyan said softly: "I didn't ask Concubine Chen to help me."
She was ready to die.
Zhang Miaoyu was so angry that she couldn't speak. She didn't want to stay with Liu Ruyan at all, so she turned around and left.
Silence returned to Yuxiu Palace once again.
The lonely autumn wind blew, and Liu Ruyan stood alone in the main hall. On the desk of the main seat in the hall, there was an exquisite white jade teacup, which was left by Shen Wei when she drank tea.
Liu Ruyan's eyes once again reflected on Chen Wei's calm and confident look. Among the concubines in the harem, no one has ever been as smart as Chen Wei, who can plan everything.
A trace of subtle disgust flashed across Liu Ruyan's eyes.
She called the palace maid and ordered, "Throw away the teacup used by Concubine Chen."
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