Chapter 224 Falling into a Trap
It took about a quarter of an hour to reach Liuyuntai.
There was a small attic next to Liuyun Terrace. As soon as Liu Yuetang approached, Xiao Zhongzi came forward with an anxious look on his face and knelt down with a plop: "Your servant pays homage to the Emperor, Empress Zhao, and Empress Xi."
After saying that, he looked up at Liu Yuetang and said, "My Lady, please go and save Liu Zheng. She seems to have been poisoned."
Liu Yuetang's face changed, and she quickly stepped onto the mahogany stairs, clutching the hem of her skirt. Xiao Heng put his long arms around her and protected her by his side.
"Watch your step, Liu Zheng will be fine."
Seeing Xiao Heng being so thoughtful and considerate, Concubine Zhao felt very sad, but before she could feel sad, she realized that something was wrong.
How could Liu Zheng be poisoned?
She looked at Madam Kong, who was also shaking her head with a puzzled look on her face.
As soon as Liu Yuetang stepped into the dimly candlelit attic, a sweet and strange fragrance hit her face.
Xiao Heng suddenly felt that there was something wrong with the fragrance, and quickly ordered the palace servants to open all the windows of the attic.
At this time, Xiao Zhongzi helped Liu Zheng out.
She collapsed on Xiao Zhongzi, her face flushed and covered with water stains, her eyes blurred and terrified.
"Liu Zheng..." Liu Yuetang stepped forward quickly, wanting to reach out to support her, but Liu Zheng trembled and took a step back.
"My Lady, please...please don't come over here. I don't know if I've been poisoned or intoxicated by the fragrance."
Liu Yuetang's hands froze in mid-air, shocked and angry: "What?"
"How can it be poisonous and have a seductive fragrance?"
Concubine Zhao widened her eyes in astonishment. Things were getting more and more out of control. She suddenly realized that the person who fell into the trap of Liuyuntai was not Concubine Xi, but herself.
Liu Zheng pushed Xiao Zhongzi's hand away and knelt softly on the wooden floor. She whispered, "When I arrived, Master Fu had already arrived. I asked him who had asked him to deliver the message to the Empress. Master Fu just said that he had never delivered a message to the Empress, and then he hesitated and became speechless. He also behaved frivolously towards me."
She took a deep breath, her voice trembling with the pain of a palpitating heart. "Later... I felt a little hot all over, and realizing something was wrong, I called Xiao Zhongzi up. Unexpectedly, before Xiao Zhongzi even came up, I was cornered by Master Fu. He was about to do something indecent, and in desperation, I smashed the candlestick on his head. He fainted, and I splashed tea on his face, and only then did he regain consciousness a little."
"I know that assaulting a court official is a serious crime, but in such a desperate situation, I could not think of any other solution. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuetang quickly leaned forward and pleaded, "Your Majesty, since ancient times, a woman's reputation has been more important than her life. Liu Zheng only attacked to protect herself. I hope Your Majesty will forgive her..."
She stopped talking abruptly, and suddenly looked up when she remembered something: "No, Your Majesty, Liu Zheng took the blame on my behalf. I should have been the one to come to Liuyuntai today..."
She paused, the corners of her mouth trembling with fear: "That person wanted to frame me and tarnish my innocence."
How could Xiao Heng not have thought of this? His face was gloomy to the extreme, but he hugged Liu Yuetang into his arms and patted her back gently: "Don't be afraid, I'm here, no one can hurt you again."
As the low voice sounded, he seemed to unintentionally raise his long eyes and glanced coldly at Concubine Zhao.
The moment Concubine Zhao was swept by that gaze, cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck and she unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
The guard He Yunzheng came out and reported: "Your Majesty, Master Fu has only fainted temporarily."
Xiao Heng nodded slightly: "Take Liu Zheng back to Yaoyue Palace and send a royal physician over."
"Please check again to see if there are any clues nearby."
"Your Majesty..." At this time, Xiao Zhongzi stepped forward tremblingly.
"I discovered a sneaky person near Liuyuntai. She was watching the movements in this attic. I tied her up and locked her up in the pavilion next to it."
Concubine Zhao's heart suddenly tightened.
Xiao Heng waved his hand, signaling He Yunzheng to bring the person over.
After a while, He Yunzheng brought the tied-up palace maid over.
When she saw the palace maid's face, Concubine Zhao turned completely pale. She took a deep breath and said in a lost voice, "Xia Ying..."
Her body softened and she clutched Madam Kong's wrist tightly.
Xia Ying's mouth was blocked by gauze, and she could only look at Concubine Zhao with a face full of guilt.
"Concubine Zhao, the concubine you mentioned who had a secret meeting with a man is Concubine Xi?" Xiao Heng spoke coldly, looking at Concubine Zhao with a sharp gaze.
Concubine Zhao was hesitant and speechless.
Now Concubine Xi has become the victim. If he admits that it was Concubine Xi at this moment, it will only make the emperor believe that what happened tonight was a conspiracy planned by him, including the matter of Meixiang.
But if he said that what was said in the letter did not name Concubine Xi.
Then the testimony written by Liu Yueyao herself cannot be produced.
If the testimony is not produced, the emperor will be kept in the dark by Concubine Xi for the rest of his life.
And Concubine Xi will always be on equal footing with herself, and she is even afraid that one day she will surpass herself.
Just as Concubine Zhao was hesitating, Xiao Heng closed his eyes in disappointment: "Concubine Zhao! You have been by my side for many years. You should know that I hate deception the most."
Deception? These two words hit Concubine Zhao's heart hard. She raised her scarlet eyes and looked at Xiao Heng: "Your Majesty, who deceived you?"
"Is it me? No..." Concubine Zhao shook her head, and the hairpin on her head trembled.
"It's her!" Concubine Zhao raised her finger and pointed at Liu Yuetang.
"She deceived you, Your Majesty!"
Concubine Zhao took out a piece of rice paper from her sleeve and presented it to Xiao Heng with both hands.
"The Emperor will know it at a glance!"
Seeing Xiao Heng take the rice paper, Concubine Zhao straightened up and stared at Xiao Heng's gloomy face.
She decided to take a gamble.
Betting on the depth of Xiao Heng's trust in him.
It's also a bet on how much Concubine Xi means to him.
If the bet wins, Concubine Xi will completely fall out of favor.
Xiao Heng opened the rice paper, and it said: Concubine Xi and Fu Zhixing were engaged when they were eight years old.
The two have been regarded as talented men and beautiful women since childhood.
Fu Zhixing has always taken good care of Concubine Xi and would send gifts to the Liu Mansion from time to time. The two of them are in love with each other and call each other Sister Tang and Brother Fu.
After Concubine Xi entered the palace, Fu Zhixing still couldn't forget her. Whenever he saw Concubine Xi in the palace and returned home, he would be absent-minded and even call Concubine Xi's name in his dreams.
——Liu Yueyao.
Above the three words "Liu Yueyao" was a blood-red handprint.
"Your Majesty, all concubines entering the palace must have clean family backgrounds. Concubine Xi entered the palace despite being engaged. This is deceiving the emperor and is a crime."
"Even though Concubine Xi is already a palace concubine, she still has other men in her heart. This is infidelity, a second crime."
Not only was Liu Yuetang not panicked at all, but she sneered instead.
Concubine Zhao glared at her sharply, "What are you laughing at? This is the testimony of your own sister. Could it be that this palace has wronged you?"
Liu Yuetang said calmly, "I don't have the guts to commit the first crime of deceiving the emperor that you mentioned, Concubine Zhao. The engagement can be made, and it can also be cancelled. As for the second crime, it's even more absurd."
She gazed affectionately at Xiao Heng as he put down the rice paper. "Since entering the palace, I have given my heart and soul to the Emperor. There is no one else in my heart. How can you say I am unfaithful?"
Concubine Zhao spoke sharply: "Then Concubine Xi, you should explain the contents of the letter to me and the emperor."
Liu Yuetang also wanted to see what was written in the letter. Although she seldom met with Fu Zhixing when she was in the boudoir and behaved innocently, there was no guarantee that Liu Yueyao would not make up stories.
She said softly, "Your Majesty, can you show me?"
Under the dim candlelight, Xiao Heng's eyelashes drooped into a deep pool, and no emotion could be seen in his eyes, which made Liu Yuetang's heart tense.
He handed the letter to Liu Yuetang.
Liu Yuetang opened it and after reading it, she felt relieved and curled her lips coldly: "What a love between man and woman, so lingering."
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