The Queen saw it all, and it would be a lie to say she didn't complain or feel envious.
She also heard that Emperor Donglin had been doting on Xiao Ruoyi recently, not only holding her but also feeding her personally.
These are the favors that countless concubines and princes in the harem want to receive, and even he, the queen, is no exception.
At this moment, the eunuch walked in.
"Your Majesty! Concubine Shu requests an audience!"
Emperor Donglin's brows were filled with anger, and he snorted coldly, "She still has the nerve to come here!"
"Your Majesty, what happened?"
Although she had heard some of what happened in the morning court today, the Queen still felt that the matter had not been finalized and was not sure whether Duke Lu had really committed treason, so she could not say more.
The Queen also tacitly pretended not to know what happened in the morning court and asked Emperor Donglin curiously.
Emperor Donglin said with a dark face, "The Imperial Guards have found evidence of his treasonous behavior from Duke Lu's mansion!"
...
...
"What? Really treason?"
Upon hearing the news confirmed by Emperor Donglin, even the calm and steady Queen couldn't help but cover her mouth, her elegant face filled with shock.
She had been thinking, how could Duke Lu commit treason? But it turned out that he actually colluded with the enemy and committed treason!
"Yes, the evidence is conclusive. I have had him imprisoned in the Dali Temple!"
Although shocked, the Queen was happy to see this happen. Compared to Emperor Donglin's favoritism towards Concubine Shu, the Queen was more willing to accept that Concubine Liang was favored. After all, Concubine Liang gave birth to a daughter, while Concubine Shu gave birth to a son.
Especially recently, Concubine Shu has been very ambitious and has been making small moves. In particular, her father, Duke Lu, wants to push the Third Prince to that position. Now if Duke Lu is really convicted, the Third Prince will lose his chance.
"Your Majesty, since Concubine Shu has come in, let her in. Perhaps... this is really a misunderstanding?"
Emperor Donglin took the opportunity to back off and nodded, "Then I'll listen to the Queen. I'll meet her!"
The palace maid went out to invite Concubine Shu in. As soon as she came in, she knelt down on the ground and kowtowed, crying like a pear blossom in the rain, looking so pitiful.
"Your Majesty, my father is loyal to the Donglin Kingdom and would never do anything like treason. Please investigate!"
However, Concubine Shu's appearance at this moment did not arouse any sympathy from Emperor Donglin.
Ever since he learned the truth of that year, Emperor Donglin was angry and resentful towards Concubine Shu for teasing him, but he could not execute Concubine Shu at will just because of his own mood.
The current incident involving Duke Lu gave him room to vent his anger, and he never thought of showing mercy.
Emperor Donglin looked down at Concubine Shu who was kneeling on the ground with indifference, "Unjust? Do you think that the evidence that the people I sent to find out was all false, and that I wronged your father?"
Concubine Shu suddenly raised her head and quickly shook her head to deny, "No... No, Your Majesty, that's not what I meant! It's just that I know very well that my father would never commit treason, Your Majesty, please understand!"
Emperor Donglin sneered, "According to Xia Huai's confession, in order to be promoted to the position of concubine, Duke Lu approached him in order to frame Concubine Liang and then promote you to the position of concubine!"
"What? Impossible! This can't be true!" Concubine Shu felt that what Emperor Donglin said was unbelievable, and she shouted without thinking, "We are being wronged!"
Originally the Queen wanted to add fuel to the fire, but now it seems that there is no need to do so.
I didn't expect that this matter would involve Concubine Liang. Emperor Donglin handled it so efficiently, half of the reason should be because of Concubine Liang, right?
Since this was the case, the queen just smiled in her heart and said no more words, so as to avoid people thinking that she was a jealous person who deliberately took advantage of her son's misfortune.
Emperor Donglin curled his lips slightly. "Of course I know that you are wronged, because those evidences were released by me to deliberately confirm Duke Lu's guilt."
"Of course I believed that Duke Lu was wrongly accused, but the evidence is irrefutable and I cannot help but believe it!"
"We didn't even ask Xia Huai to frame Concubine Liang. It was clearly me and my father who did it..."
Halfway through her words, Shufei suddenly realized that she seemed to be about to say something she shouldn't, and immediately shut her mouth.
"What about you and your dad?"
A gleam of success flashed across Emperor Donglin's deep eyes.
The person who arranged to notify Concubine Shu was arranged by Emperor Donglin. He deliberately only said that hard evidence of treason was found in Duke Lu's home, and did not mention that Xia Huai had conspired with them to harm Concubine Liang.
This also made Concubine Shu confused when she heard the "truth" spoken by Emperor Donglin, and she blurted out the truth without thinking.
The current situation is indeed like this, but Concubine Shu reacted in time and did not blurt out anything.
Concubine Shu immediately lowered her head and hastily denied, "Nothing... nothing!"
But at this moment, Concubine Shu was already extremely panicked, and her body was shaking slightly.
Emperor Donglin angrily slapped the armrest, "How dare you! Do you think I'm deaf? What did you just say?"
Emperor Donglin's appearance here was also a result of careful timing. After the people he arranged notified the eunuchs around Concubine Shu, he set off for Fengyi Palace.
After Concubine Shu heard about Duke Lu, she would definitely come to find him, which led to the current scene.
If Concubine Shu spoke out the truth on the spot, with the Queen as a witness, Concubine Liang's unjust case could be cleared.
It’s a pity that Concubine Shu’s reaction was quite quick and she failed to give the answer that Emperor Donglin wanted.
With so many plans, how could Emperor Donglin easily deny his involvement like Concubine Shu?
Concubine Shu was so frightened that her body trembled. She knelt on the ground, her eyes wandering around, not knowing how to answer, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."
Few people can remain calm in the face of danger, let alone the women in the harem?
Moreover, this matter involved a dilemma, and Concubine Shu could not think of any explanation for the moment.
Emperor Donglin sneered and said sarcastically, "Are you trying to say that you and your father framed Concubine Liang and didn't ask Xia Huai for help? In this way, you can get rid of the crime of treason?"
Concubine Shu suddenly looked up and looked at Emperor Donglin in shock. The five words "How did you know?" were clearly written on her expression.
"You confess without being asked!"
Concubine Shu suddenly felt a chill in her heart, knowing that her expression just now was wrong, and immediately kowtowed, "Your Majesty, I didn't mean that! I...I was just too shocked! Please understand, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Donglin ignored Concubine Shu's pleas for mercy and turned to look at the Queen. "Queen, what do you think?"
Concubine Shu immediately turned around and looked at the queen, who was dressed in luxurious attire, with more anticipation in her eyes.
Although she usually dislikes the Queen and even has a tendency to compete with her, at this time, Concubine Shu couldn't help but ask for help from the Queen. Maybe if the Queen said something now, it would help her and the Duke's Mansion.
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