In the Taiji Palace, Emperor Zhou sat on the main seat, Concubine Gao knelt below with a pale face, and next to her was Pei Xiao who closed his eyes and said

nothing. A sound of footsteps came from far away, Concubine Gao suddenly raised her head and met Pei Yuan's cold eyes. He was too lazy to even look at her, just a light glance, and his eyes quickly moved away.

Concubine Gao felt cold in her heart. But after a moment, she cheered up again. Today's evidence seemed sufficient, but there was no iron proof. Emperor Zhou suspected her, but he could not convict her immediately. As long as she kept her mouth shut, maybe she and her son could still have a chance of survival!

Pei Yuan stepped over the threshold and greeted Emperor Zhou.

Emperor Zhou looked like he had aged ten years. He cried out tiredly, then looked at Concubine Gao and said, "Now that people are here, you can say whatever you want to say."

Concubine Gao straightened her back, the hairpins on her head jingled, and she cried, "I am innocent. I did not instigate Zhao Qian to harm the princess! The confession of Sun Xingye cannot be taken seriously. How could there be poison hidden in the prince's mansion? What if it is a frame-up based on his words alone? Your Majesty, you must be clear-headed and give justice to me and the prince!"

She was still stubborn. At this point, Emperor Zhou felt helpless and angry.

He tried to hold back for a while

, but couldn't help it. He grabbed the teacup beside him and threw it hard in front of Concubine Gao. He turned his head and shouted to Jiang Yan, "Where's your good disciple? Bring him up!" Jiang Yan's forehead was covered with sweat. He winked and guards immediately came in from the door, escorting the pale-faced Eunuch Xiao Ye to kneel on the ground.

Emperor Zhou asked, "Tell me, the princess was going to the Taiji Palace, why was she sent to the Suoyang Palace in the opposite direction?"

Eunuch Xiao Ye glanced at Concubine Gao quickly, swallowed his saliva, and shouted, "I don't know! The princess seemed to be unwell since she got on the sedan chair. She has been taking a nap with her eyes closed, but when we arrived at the corner gate of Yu Garden, the princess suddenly called for a stop. How can we... Who dared to disobey? The princess said that there was a ghost in front of her eyes. She was scared, then she screamed and jumped out of the car, and no one knew where she ran away. The servants chased her, but failed to catch up..."

Emperor Zhou frowned. Jiang Yan thought for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "I heard from the imperial physician that the princess accidentally ate uncooked Jianshouqing in the harem. This thing can make people hallucinate."

Pei Yuan stood with his hands behind his back and said nothing more.

Emperor Zhou ordered, "Call the chef who made this dish in the kitchen and the palace people who delivered the dish."

Several people were brought in soon.

The cook cried bitterly, "Your Majesty, you can see clearly that this kind of mushroom is poisonous by nature. It was not my intention to harm you. It was just late at night, and I forgot the temperature. I didn't realize that some mushrooms were not cooked thoroughly, which led to the bad consequences. I am willing to accept the punishment, but I really have no intention of harming anyone!"

Tao Xian also knelt down and said, "I am just a waiter. I didn't touch the mushroom cake and I didn't know anything about it!

" The concubine's mouth curled up into a smile, and she looked at Pei Yuan provocatively, then cried to Emperor Zhou: "Your Majesty is wise, this is just a coincidence, and it has nothing to do with me! That thief Zhao Qian had evil intentions, and I did not fulfill my duty of supervision. I am willing to accept the punishment for not supervising. The rest of the charges are all unjust!"

Pei Yuan asked: "The Suoyang Palace is locked all year round, who took the key?"

Jiang Yan replied: " The Palace Administration has already found out that it was an old maid named Li Zhao who tricked the eunuch chief who was in charge of the key into giving the key. But... Zhao Qian was a playboy and had a bad reputation in the palace. A familiar palace lady admitted that Li Zhao and Zhao Qian were already a couple. And..."

He paused, and Emperor Zhou asked, "Why don't you say anything more? Go on."

Jiang Yan bowed to Pei Yuan . , and then continued: "After the Palace Administration checked Li Zhao's ancestral home, they found out that she and the palace maid surnamed Luo were from the same hometown. The palace maid surnamed Luo was the murderer who confessed in the case of Concubine Xian drowning." What he didn't say was that Pei Yuan later mentioned in person that he had wiped out the entire Luo family, and the two of them had a blood feud. Li Zhao and the Luo family maid were from the same hometown, and it makes sense that she also hated Pei Yuan and wanted to take revenge.

The pride in Concubine Gao's eyes became even stronger. She had been very picky when choosing people, and she was prepared for this moment.

With so many things linked together, Pei Yuan couldn't help but smile and patted her on the back: "Very good."

Concubine Gao didn't look at him, but just wiped her tears secretly, and I saw that she looked pitiful.

"I have two more questions." Pei Yuan leaned over to ask her, "How are you going to explain the rouge eyes hidden in the prince's mansion? The prince rushed up to the high building and killed Zhao Qian with a sword. His bravery was amazing, but he deliberately hurt my wife. How do you explain this?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Concubine Gao said sharply, "These are just one-sided statements from Sun Xingye and your princess. Can they count? Xiao'er and Feihe have a deep relationship. Everyone can testify that they have no intention of murdering their wives. What about killing his wife? It's simply nonsense! Maybe Sun Xingye was instructed by someone? He deliberately made up all this and deliberately hid poison in the prince's mansion. How can you prove that he didn't do it on purpose? As for Zhao Qian... What Zhao Qian did has nothing to do with us mother and son. Why did Xiao'er kill your princess to silence her? You are all false witnesses!"

Pei Yuan asked: "How was Zhao Qian sent to the palace? Who was he originally? Did Concubine Gao really not know?"

"Of course I know." Concubine Gao said with a stiff neck, "But no one is perfect. He has received the punishment he deserves. Why can't you let him go?"

Pei Yuan smiled and asked, "Good and kind-hearted Concubine, do you know who your niece is? If the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince have such a deep relationship, why has the Crown Princess been gone for so long, and the Crown Prince didn't even cry? Why did the Crown Princess plan to kill the little grandson a few months ago?"

Concubine Gao was speechless.

Emperor Zhou looked at her and shook his head in disappointment.

In fact, a bigger question has been put on the table, but no one has mentioned it - since the rouge eyes were also found in the Crown Prince's mansion, was the poisoning case that year done by Pei Yuan or Pei Xiao?

If Pei Yuan had been wronged all along...Emperor Zhou didn't know how to face his son.

So he deliberately avoided the topic, trying to delay it until he came up with a foolproof plan, and then give Pei Yuan a fair answer, or even vindication.

Pei Xiao still said nothing.

No matter what he said now, it would be wrong, and it would only bring trouble upon himself and add to his suspicion. Concubine Gao had already made an agreement with him that no matter what happened later, she would take the blame on her own, and he only needed to deny it. Moreover, she had absolute confidence that she could keep him safe.

Pei Xiao didn't know what other chips Concubine Gao had in her hand. After extreme anger and panic, his mood was now calming down.

Pei Xiao felt like an outsider now. He could clearly feel his inner emotions, hatred for Pei Yuan's pressing steps, confusion and unwillingness for Bao Ning's actions, guilt and gratitude for his mother's efforts to protect him...

He knew that the current situation was at a standstill.

If Concubine Gao refused to give in and refused to admit it, the Palace Administration and the Ministry of Justice would not be able to convict her. Pei Yuan had already won, but at least they had not lost completely.

...

In Changqiu Palace, Baoning was half asleep and half awake, and she felt someone gently stroking her cheek.

"Auntie, auntie, are you okay?"

Baoning opened her eyelids and saw Yuanzi's concerned eyes. She was startled, woke up, and asked in surprise: "Why is Yuanzi here?"

"I heard that something bad happened to you." Yuanzi smiled and pulled her hand, "Auntie, I'm glad you're okay. I'll give you some candy."

Yuanzi quickly took out a handful of bean candy from his sleeve and put it in Baoning's palm.

The child's body was hot, and some of the candy had been melted by him, making it sticky. The warmth from the candy wrapper passed into her hands, and Baoning's heart softened. She chuckled and kneaded Yuanzi's little face: "Thank you, Yuanzi. Auntie is fine. I'm very happy that you came to see me."

Yuanzi threw herself into Baoning's arms, hugged her waist, and said coquettishly: "Auntie, can I stay here tonight? I'm so scared without anyone to accompany me."

Baoning realized that something had happened with Gao Feihe, and Concubine Gao was also busy with her own affairs. Yuanzi had indeed been alone all night.

Baoning rubbed his hair with heartache: "Okay, let's talk to the Empress, and you come sleep with me."

"It's already been agreed." Yuanzi raised her face for her to touch, "But I lied, I told the Empress that I wanted to sleep in her side hall, and the Empress agreed. But just now I sneaked out to find you. I missed you, I wanted to see you, but they wouldn't let me... They said you were frightened and you should sleep well."

Baoning hugged his waist and pulled him up, smiling and kissing his face: "Let's sleep together."

Yuanzi was very happy. He got into Baoning's quilt, lay down properly, closed his eyes, and his eyelids were still moving excitedly. Baoning tucked him in, thinking to himself, how great it would be if he could really take Yuanzi into the mansion in the future. She will treat him well, like her own child, and she is not only Pei Yuan's antidote.

The palace was quiet again, with only the sound of steady breathing.

...

In Taiji Palace, Emperor Zhou was already very tired. He asked people to put Concubine Gao and Pei Xiao in jail and retrial them tomorrow.

When passing by Pei Yuan, Concubine Gao's eyes moved, and suddenly she thought of another idea.

It is indeed difficult for her to wash away her sins, but this does not prevent her from dragging Pei Yuan into the water. Pei Yuan carefully arranged all this, didn't he just want the position of the East Palace? Xiao'er can't sit on this seat, and Pei Yuan can't sit on it either!

Before she stepped out of the door, Concubine Gao suddenly burst into tears and broke away from the guards escorting her. She turned around and bowed to Emperor Zhou: "Your Majesty, it's not a big deal that I'm in prison, but it's the little grandson who is so pitiful! His biological mother and mistress are no longer alive. Now even I can't be with him. He's only five years old, how pitiful! Your Majesty, Yuanzi is your only grandson. Please don't be angry with him because you are angry with me, and let the villain succeed again. Poor Yuanzi is already covered with scales and can't be tortured anymore!"

After saying that, she looked at Pei Yuan meaningfully.

Pei Yuan narrowed his eyes and looked back at her.

Emperor Zhou had already stood up and was about to take a rest with the help of Jiang Yan. He stopped after hearing what Concubine Gao said: "What do you mean?"

Concubine Gao said in a hoarse voice: "Yuanzi was lost for a period of time a few months ago. I don't know if it was a coincidence or intentional, but he happened to be thrown into the Lihu villa of the Fourth Prince... When Xiao'er found him, Yuanzi's little arm was already covered with scars. He said it was caused by mosquito bites, but where did so many mosquitoes come from? It was obvious that he was kidnapped and beaten by the bad guys!"

Emperor Zhou looked at Pei Yuan in disbelief: "Is it true?"

Concubine Gao said urgently: "Whether it is true or not, find Yuanzi and ask him!"

She was confident that Yuanzi was just a taciturn child. What did he know? As long as he was scared and asked to say something, he would listen. Besides, Yuanzi used to be all alone in the Prince's Mansion, and only her grandmother was kind to him. With both kindness and force, a child was easy to manipulate.

Concubine Gao felt a flash of guilt in her heart. She didn't think she was sorry for Yuanzi. She just let him say a few words, and it wouldn't hurt him.

Besides, wasn't the purpose of her doing all this for his own good?

After a quarter of an hour, Yuanzi was brought in with sleepy eyes. He was pulled out of Baoning's arms, and he was still dazed.

Yuanzi stood in the center of the Taiji Hall and looked around. He saw his grandmother kneeling on the ground with tears all over her face, and his heart was even more confused.

When Concubine Gao saw Yuanzi, she cried even harder and rushed forward to hug him, calling out "My poor grandson". However, she secretly pinched his arm and whispered in his ear, "No matter what grandma says later, you must say what I say. Otherwise, you are trying to kill your grandma. Yuanzi, can you bear it?" After saying that, Concubine

Gao glared at him fiercely, "Do you understand?"

Yuanzi was pinched in pain, and when he saw his grandmother, who had always doted on him, had a changed face, tears welled up in his eyes. Concubine Gao suppressed her pain and pinched him again: "Did you hear that?"

Yuanzi nodded with tears in her eyes: "Yes..."

"Yuanzi, don't be afraid." Emperor Zhou came over, stood in front of him kindly, squatted down, and looked at him at eye level, "Whatever the emperor asks you, just answer truthfully." Emperor

Zhou pointed at Pei Yuan and asked him: "You have been lost before, and lived in your fourth uncle's manor for a while?"

Concubine Gao pinched his arm, and Yuanzi nodded with a trembling voice: "Yes..."

Emperor Zhou asked: "Did the fourth uncle beat or scold you?"

Yuanzi looked at Emperor Zhou in shock: "How..." How is it possible?

Concubine Gao pinched him hard under her sleeve again, and Yuanzi swallowed the second half of his words. He felt extremely painful and extremely scared. Why did his grandmother keep pinching him? Why did the emperor ask such a question? He didn't understand the whole story, but he knew that if he nodded, it would be bad for his aunt.

Emperor Zhou touched his head and said in a gentler voice: "Yuanzi, tell the emperor, is the injury on your body caused by the fourth uncle?"

Concubine Gao's heart was pounding. She didn't understand why this child suddenly became so disobedient. Her wrist was shaking. She used all her strength and pinched him hard: "Tell me!"

Pei Yuan's eyes were fixed on Yuanzi's expression. Seeing that he pursed his lips, he was about to cry.

Everyone was waiting for Yuanzi's answer.

"Why are you like this, kid!" Concubine Gao cried and slapped him, "You said it when I told you to, but why are you silent now? Do you want to kill your grandmother?!"

Emperor Zhou scolded, "What are you doing!" Yuanzi

clenched his fists at his side, and finally couldn't hold back, crying out loud, "No, you didn't hit me! Why did you force me to lie? I don't want to be a bad child! My aunt is very good, and my uncle is also very good. Why did my grandmother harm them? Why?"

Concubine Gao's head was buzzing and about to explode.

"Yuanzi, what are you saying?" Her eyes widened, and she rushed forward to tear Yuanzi's arm, "Who taught you, tell me, who taught you?"

Pei Yuan couldn't stand it anymore, and he also stepped forward to stop them. Yuanzi was so scared that she threw herself into his arms. Seeing this, Concubine Gao became even crazier.

During the shoving, there was a "clang" sound, which was the sound of porcelain falling. Looking down, a small red medicine bottle fell out of Yuanzi's sleeve. Emperor Zhou frowned suspiciously, picked it up and opened it himself, and saw that it was full of small pills.

Concubine Gao's face turned pale in an instant, without a trace of blood left.

Emperor Zhou asked Jiang Yan to show the medicine bottle to the imperial physicians: "Look what medicine this is."

When the imperial physicians saw the pills, their faces changed, all with disbelief. After discussing with each other for a while, the oldest one stepped forward and replied: "Your Majesty, this medicine bottle contains... Rouge Eyes."

Emperor Zhou was shocked: "What!"

Concubine Gao fell to the ground, her hairpins scattered, and she was so nervous that she took a big breath. She wanted to pull the corner of Emperor Zhou's robe to protest, but Emperor Zhou looked at her hatefully and kicked her away.

Emperor Zhou asked Yuanzi: "Where did you get this bottle?"

Yuanzi said with tears in her eyes: "In the Yanxi Palace... under the floor tiles."