Chapter 226 I am so disappointed
Seeing that Xiao Heng had completely believed Liu Yuetang's words, Concubine Zhao felt a chill in her heart and fell to her knees with her back straight.
"I did make a mistake, but it was only in believing the slander of an evil person. As for the word 'framed'... I never did it, and I won't admit it."
"Of course you won't admit it. There's a huge difference between believing in slander and framing a concubine."
Liu Yuetang stared at her sharply. "You keep saying that it was Liu Yueyao who sent you the letter. Then why did she happen to send it to you among all the concubines in the palace? Was it intentional or was it just a coincidence? If my guess is correct, you see that I have taken away your favor and am pregnant with the emperor's heir, so you can't tolerate me. So you sent people to the Liu Mansion to collect this trumped-up evidence, and then had someone fake a secret letter from Fu Zhixing to me, asking me to meet him here.
"As for the seductive fragrance in the attic, you had the maidservants around you light it beforehand. After you learned that Liu Zheng, who dressed up as me, had gone to Liuyun Terrace, you went to Qinzheng Palace and asked the Emperor to come catch the adulterer! Right?"
Every word she said was as pure as cold jade falling to the ground, and she analyzed what happened tonight in a very reasonable way.
Concubine Zhao knew very well that she had fallen completely into Liu Yuetang's trap tonight.
She looked at Xiao Heng who was standing there coldly, and her face, which she had thought would have a hint of trust, was now extremely gloomy.
"emperor……"
"What else do you have to say!" Xiao Heng interrupted her coldly.
Concubine Zhao's heart suddenly sank, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, and her whole body was cold.
"Your Majesty, don't you believe me?" Concubine Zhao's eyes were red and her voice was choked.
"Even though I hate Concubine Xi, I would not use such despicable means to frame her!"
"But you still used it, Concubine Zhao." Liu Yuetang said loudly.
"If it wasn't you and Liu Yueyao who were conspiring to get rid of me, then who could it be? If it wasn't you who ordered the seductive incense to be lit in the warm room, then who could it be? If it wasn't you, could it be that I'm tired of living and want to dig up those old stories?"
"It's you!" Concubine Zhao's firm and resolute words seemed particularly pale and powerless after Liu Yuetang asked back.
Her eyes were cold and terrifying: "I am just..."
Liu Yuetang's face flushed instantly, and she immediately interrupted her next words: "Is it me?"
Liu Yuetang sneered repeatedly: "No matter how unscrupulous I am, I dare not gamble with the emperor's trust, let alone my own future and Liu Zheng's life!"
As she spoke, she closed her eyes sadly. "I just don't understand. I have never offended you, Concubine Zhao, nor have I ever thought of stealing your favor. I just want to live peacefully in the palace and give birth to my unborn child safely. Why can't you tolerate me? You actually want to put me and my unborn child to death! If it were me who came to the appointment today..."
She took a deep breath, shuddered, and didn't dare to think about it.
Xiao Heng also knew that if it was Liu Yuetang who came to the appointment, she would be tempted by her charming fragrance.
At the very least, she would be misunderstood, and at the worst... not only would he do something shameful, but he would also hurt the baby in her womb.
He subconsciously looked at her lower abdomen, and saw Liu Yuetang's palm gently covering her flat belly. Her movements were cautious, as if she was protecting a rare treasure, but also as if she was still frightened.
Xiao Heng raised his hand and placed it on her belly: "Okay, you're pregnant, don't get angry."
Liu Yuetang bowed slightly: "Then please ask the emperor to severely punish those who harm the royal heir."
She did not say "concubine", but "heir to the throne".
He wanted to tell Xiao Heng that Concubine Zhao's crime was not only to frame the concubines, but also to murder the royal heir.
Concubine Zhao stared at Xiao Heng in a daze, only to see his gentle gaze move away from Liu Yuetang and finally fall on her.
There was a coldness and disappointment in his eyes that he had never seen before.
"Zhao Fei! You disappoint me so much!"
His deep roar was like a piece of frosted iron, hitting her eardrum hard and making her vision go black.
Concubine Zhao collapsed to the ground, looking at the strange yet familiar face in front of her in disbelief.
This is the man who threatened to marry her and protect her.
And now, he was questioning himself and punishing himself in order to protect another woman.
Concubine Zhao laughed coldly, like shattered jade hitting ice.
The tears in the corners of her eyes could not be stopped and flowed down her pale cheeks.
"Your Majesty, you have greatly disappointed me!"
"I have known you for fourteen years, but the affection we have shown you in these fourteen years is not worth a single word from her!"
She raised her thumb and pointed at Liu Yuetang.
The two looked at each other, but at this moment, it seemed as if no one knew each other.
Those gentle words and passionate feelings were all just a dream.
Those quiet smiles, pure feelings, and childhood companionship have become shadows in the mirror.
Xiao Heng lowered his eyes and stopped looking at her. He was afraid that he would be soft-hearted again.
If he did not punish Concubine Zhao today, he would be sorry to Miaomiao again.
He already owed Miaomiao too much and couldn't let her suffer any more.
After thinking for a moment, just when Xiao Heng paused stroking the ring, Xia Ying, whose mouth was blocked, made a grunting sound.
Xiao Heng raised his hand and signaled He Yunzheng to take the gauze out of her mouth.
As the gauze was removed, Xia Ying gasped for breath and leaned over to the ground, saying, "Your Majesty! Our queen has been wronged."
"All of this was my scheme. I suggested to Concubine Zhao that she investigate Concubine Xi. While I was out of the palace, I went to the Liu Residence and happened to run into Miss Liu's maid. It was I who brought Miss Liu's handwritten testimony into the palace."
"Whether that testimony is true or false, our Empress has no idea. Her Majesty lured Concubine Xi here because she loves you so much and doesn't want you to be deceived. As for that seductive fragrance... Concubine Zhao is such a kind and innocent person, how could she use such a despicable means? It's just that I feel sorry for her and hate Concubine Xi for stealing her favor, so I used the fragrance for myself."
"All of this was done by me, and has nothing to do with you, Your Highness. Your Highness, please punish me if you wish. I beg Your Highness to forgive you, considering the deep love that Your Highness has for you."
After saying that, she supported herself on the ground with her hands and kowtowed heavily.
Concubine Zhao was stunned. A strong sense of unease surged in her heart, and she called out in surprise, "Xia Ying..."
Xia Ying turned around and smiled at Concubine Zhao, her eyes filled with tears.
"My Lady, I will serve you again in my next life."
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly pulled out the hairpin. With a flash of cold light, the sharp blade pierced her throat heavily. Blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the green clothes red and also staining Zhao Fei's sight red.
Xiao Heng subconsciously blocked the splattering blood for Liu Yuetang.
"No...Xia Ying!" Concubine Zhao's eyes were red with tears as big as beans rolled down her cheeks.
She crawled to Xia Ying's side on her knees and tried to cover the blood flowing from her neck with her hands, but she couldn't cover it up and let the blood stain her sleeves red.
"No... Xia Ying, don't scare me..." Her lips trembled, and she was extremely scared.
Xia Ying opened her mouth slightly and raised her hand to hold Concubine Zhao's hand, but just as she raised it to mid-air, she fell down weakly and closed her eyes.
She thought that the Queen should be able to clear her name this way.
At least, the emperor will not punish the queen any more severely.
Perhaps, he would even feel a little pity for the Empress because of the loss of her maid.
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