Chapter 82 Difficulty in Pregnancy
About a quarter of an hour passed.
Xiao Cheng'an was brought to Jinxiu Pavilion by the nanny.
He looked at the people in the room and was really curious.
"Father, is there any happy event tonight? Why are so many people here with Mother Concubine Liu?"
Concubine Yu raised her lips and sneered: "Happy event? I didn't expect that the eldest prince, at such a young age, is so good at pretending."
As soon as she finished speaking, a sharp and oppressive look fell on her.
Concubine Yu pursed her lips and said no more.
Xiao Heng looked at Xiao Cheng'an, his tone as calm as ever: "Did An'er send cakes to Lady Liu today?"
"Yes! It's red bean cake. Concubine Liu said it's delicious!"
After saying this, he raised his eyes and looked around at everyone present, but there was no sign of Liu Yuetang, which made him feel strange.
"Hey, why isn't Concubine Liu here?"
"Where is Concubine Liu? Father."
He blinked his big black eyes, which were as clear as spring water.
Xiao Heng only hoped that his son was truly pure.
So he tried it out.
He called Xiao Cheng'an forward and said, "Are you hungry, An'er? There's still a small piece of the snack you gave to Concubine Liu today. Please eat it."
"Hasn't Mother Concubine Liu finished her meal?" Xiao Cheng'an frowned slightly.
He clearly saw Concubine Liu finish eating the cake.
Xiao Heng picked up the cake and handed it to Xiao Cheng'an: "Mother Liu doesn't like sweets, so she didn't finish it."
"Oh!" Xiao Cheng'an understood.
"Here's what I want to eat. I like this red bean and water chestnut cake."
After saying that, he took the water chestnut cake without hesitation.
Xiao Heng kept his eyes on the nanny who was serving Xiao Cheng'an.
He clearly saw that the nanny's face was getting paler and paler, and her hands were placed in a panic.
When Xiao Cheng'an touched the water chestnut cake to her lips, she finally couldn't hold back any longer and said hurriedly, "Your Majesty... The eldest prince's spleen and stomach have not been feeling well these past two days. The imperial physician said he can't eat at night."
Xiao Chengan was confused and puzzled: "Madam Fang, when did the imperial physician ever tell me that my spleen and stomach are not in good condition?"
A forced and unpleasant smile appeared on Nanny Fang's pale face. "The imperial physician only told this to me, so the eldest prince naturally doesn't know..."
A "pop" sound interrupted Nanny Fang's words.
Xiao Heng slapped the table hard, and the teacup on the table also shook.
All the concubines trembled and stood up quickly.
"You still dare to be so stubborn!"
The emperor's steady voice was as intimidating as a knife.
Nanny Fang was so frightened that her knees went weak and she collapsed to the ground.
Xiao Cheng'an was at a loss and burst into tears with his head raised.
Seeing this, Xiao Heng quickly ordered someone to send him back to the palace.
Nanny Fang's pale face was already covered in cold sweat.
The Queen looked solemn and cold at Nanny Fang. "Nanny Fang, I appreciate your years of service to the Crown Prince. As long as you tell me everything about this pastry, I will let you live."
"But if you still protect the person behind this... I will have no choice but to deal with you according to the law."
Concubine Chu's eyes turned sharp. "Madam Fang, you are an old man in the palace. You have served here for decades. You should know that your masters are only the Emperor and the Empress."
"The Empress, mindful of your years of service in the palace, has granted you a chance to live. If it were anyone else, not only would your life be lost, but even the lives of your family would be lost.
When Nanny Fang mentioned her family, her pupils trembled violently. She fell to the ground and kowtowed, crying bitterly: "This servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die. This servant is a coward!"
"Today, Concubine Yu asked the Crown Prince to bring cakes to Concubine Liu. Concubine Yu solemnly instructed me that among the cakes, there was a large piece that must not be eaten by the Crown Prince. She also told me to see Concubine Liu eat that piece of cake before I could take the Crown Prince away."
"I didn't know the cakes were poisoned. I didn't know! I was afraid and didn't dare tell anyone."
After saying that, she kowtowed again and begged for mercy.
The veins on Xiao Heng's forehead were throbbing, and he was silent and deep in thought.
Concubine Yu covered her smiling lips and pretended to be surprised: "This Yu Jieyu really hates Concubine Liu... Fearing that the safflower didn't work, she poisoned her and even used her own son to kill people."
Concubine Chu also clutched her chest, and said with lingering fear, "Yes, I was afraid that my Yi'er would be harmed by the disputes in the harem, but she actually ordered her own child to murder someone."
"How could there be such a cruel mother in the world? What if the eldest prince accidentally eats the cake?"
Mingpin said lazily, "Sister Chupin, not everyone loves their children as much as you do."
"All right!" the Queen interrupted them.
"Each of you should speak less."
She looked at Xiao Heng, who had a gloomy face, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, Concubine Yu is, after all, the biological mother of the eldest prince and the daughter of the Junior Master. The testimony of just one or two palace maids is unlikely to convince Junior Master Yu. A thorough investigation is necessary."
Anyone who is smart will understand what the Queen said.
This means that even if there is no evidence, more useful evidence must be created.
After all, Master Yu is a veteran of two dynasties and has made great achievements. If you want to execute her daughter, you must have perfect evidence.
But some people with dull brains couldn’t understand it, such as Concubine Chu.
"The witnesses and evidence are all before us. Does Her Majesty think a detailed investigation is necessary?"
Concubine Rong and Concubine Yu looked at each other.
When Concubine Yu saw her nod slightly, it indicated that the time had come.
She then said, "I have a plan, but I don't know if it will work."
"Princess Yu, please tell me about it," said the Queen.
"I think we can hand Concubine Yu's personal maid over to the Ministry of Punishment for questioning, or... we can search the palace. Perhaps we can find the remaining red flowers and wild grass from the murder of Concubine Liu."
"Okay!" Xiao Heng said.
So, He Yunzheng took a row of guards to Yihua Palace.
Time passed little by little, and about two quarters of an hour had passed.
He Yunzheng came quickly with a small bag in his hand.
The concubines were shocked and stared intently at the object in his hand.
He Yunzheng presented it to the emperor and empress.
The queen opened the bag and took a look, then gasped: "Red flowers..."
"Your Majesty, there are indeed some red flowers left in the Yihe Palace from the murder of Concubine Liu."
Xiao Heng's deep black eyes narrowed slightly.
He concealed the complex and unpredictable look in his eyes and said, "Jieyi Yu, plotted to murder the concubines and the royal heir, and exploited her own son. She is unworthy of being a mother. She shall be demoted to a commoner and sentenced to death!"
Hearing the word "death penalty", all the concubines present breathed a sigh of relief.
Only when people die can they never be able to turn things around.
Only if she died would the eldest prince have a criminal mother and would be unable to inherit the great cause in the future.
Xiao Heng rubbed his temples tiredly.
He didn't want An'er to become a child without a mother, so he was lenient with everything Yu did.
But he gave her chances again and again, not only did she not cherish them, but she also used An'er to murder others again.
He touched his bottom line.
"Let's all go back to the palace. I'm going to accompany Lady Liu."
After saying this, he stood up and walked towards the inner hall.
At this time, the inner hall had been cleaned up.
Liu Yuetang lay quietly on the bed, her delicate and charming face was pale, and her slender hands were tightly clutching the quilt on her abdomen.
It's like... holding on to a glimmer of hope.
Thinking about how much she loved children, but would not be able to have children in the future, Xiao Heng felt very distressed and his throat felt dry.
He waved his hand to let Liu Zheng leave, then sat down on the edge of the bed, holding the woman's cold hand in his palm, trying to give her all his warmth.
After a long time, the fingers in his palm moved slightly. Xiao Heng looked up and saw Liu Yuetang slowly opening her red eyes.
Her eyes were empty and dull, helpless and heartbroken.
"emperor……"
"I am here."
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