The imperial commander quickly brought the two imperial doctors to Sang Yuxuan. Facing Shi Qing's accusation, they hesitated and spoke incoherently, which was extremely suspicious.
Xie Yanci waved his hand, and Zhao Rui lost two fingers! The pain was so intense that he cried out in pain, causing Wu Xiang beside him to tremble like a sieve!
"I am guilty! Your Majesty, please punish me! I was just greedy for the reward money. Lady Song didn't specify who the medicine was for, so I..."
"It's a sleeping spice, a drug to increase appetite, whatever. But it causes women to bleed during childbirth. No matter who it's used on, as a compassionate doctor, you should ask the cause and effect and refuse to prescribe it! How could there be such a beast in my Imperial Hospital who would disregard human life for profit?!"
The emperor was so furious that his subordinates almost crawled on the ground, and no one dared to make a sound.
He seemed to recall something: "These two look familiar to me. Doctor Jiang always keeps them by his side?"
"Yes, that's right." Dean Jiang replied with a stiff upper lip. "They are naturally intelligent and are originally my disciples. Whenever I go back to treat my masters, I always take them with me."
"Oh, he is indeed a good disciple!"
Xie Yanci's sudden praise gave Jiang Yuanzheng goosebumps.
Fearing that his disciples would be implicated, he decisively proposed, "Your Majesty, imperial physicians like these who disregard human lives have violated the academy's rules. They should be executed as a warning to others!"
"Master?!"
"Go away, go away! It's really shameful for me to have disciples like you. My ancestors will blame me!"
Dean Jiang refused to plead for mercy, and the imperial physician involved was doomed to die.
Concubine Song, who was standing there in a daze, still maintained a look of fear and uncertainty, repeatedly emphasizing: "I didn't, I don't know them, and I didn't send any spices..."
"Your appearance is not outstanding, and you had no talent when you were selected for the palace. I allowed you into the palace because of your father's contributions to the country, and I promoted you many times. But how have you repaid me?"
"Your Majesty, I don't have..."
"You were arrogant and domineering, bullying the palace maids! You showed no respect to your superiors and were unkind to your subordinates! Later, you even went so far as to murder the concubines! Contemplating your mistakes behind closed doors seems to have had no effect on you, and has only given you an even more vicious mindset for revenge! With all the evidence, how can I believe you didn't do it?!"
Concubine Song opened her mouth but didn't say a word.
She looked around in confusion again, trying to find a "loyal servant" to protect her master, but failed again. She was always harsh to others, either beating or scolding them, and the servants complained bitterly, so how could they be willing to die for her?
"Alright, I've been trapped and forced to confess, so I'll admit it." She pointed fiercely at the maidservant who was clutching her chest, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth. "I didn't do anything with the spices! She's lying! She should be dragged to the Ministry of Punishment and severely tortured!"
"What if there is no new testimony?"
Seeing that the emperor had agreed, Concubine Song gritted her teeth and replied, "If this person doesn't change his words, then the emperor should ask the queen! She might know something..."
"Ahem! How dare you slander the Empress Dowager in order to protect yourself?!" Wei Shuyi walked out, leaning against the wall, her face pale. "The Empress is so kind that she gave most of the Fengluan Palace's attentive maids to me. I've been busy serving them for many days without a single complaint. If the Empress wants to do something to me, it's perfectly convenient! Ahem... Concubine Song, you'd better stop resisting and confess!"
"I know. You are the one who framed me, right? You..."
With a slap, the emperor slapped her in the face!
He had practiced martial arts for many years, and this palm strike was so powerful that it knocked her hairpins and rings to the ground, leaving her cheek bruised and swollen! Even her speech became unclear.
"Yao'er, I told you to lie down peacefully, why did you come out?" Xie Yanci immediately ordered someone to bring a cloak, "Go, don't let your young master catch a cold."
Wei Shuyi leaned against his chest, heartbroken, "It was my own fault that I was useless. I almost lost the baby in my belly. I thought my appetite would be better during pregnancy, and eating more would help the child, but my good intentions led to my own downfall!"
"No, it's not your fault. There are evil people at work, and you can't guard against them."
The beauty's slightly swollen face and extremely disproportionate figure once again ignited Xie Yanci's anger.
He took a deep breath, not wanting to look at Noble Lady Song any more. "Noble Lady Song's crime is unforgivable! She will be thrown directly into the Heavenly Prison and executed in three days. Her body will be returned to the Song Mansion. The rest of the palace maids involved will be strangled immediately and thrown into a mass grave!"
"Your Majesty?! You might as well have me torn into pieces! Why would you let my relatives see my body? You…"
"Well, since you don't want an intact corpse, I'll do as you say and change to another punishment." Xie Yanci hugged Wei Shuyi and walked towards the inner hall, "Drag him out quickly! Don't disturb Concubine Xi's peace!"
——
In the innermost cell of the Sky Prison, Commoner Song huddled on a straw mat, carefully observing his surroundings. When he heard a rustling sound, he stood up reflexively, ready to deal with the dirty insects and rats.
She had been here for two days, living a life worse than death. She could only look forward to the execution tomorrow and couldn't help but laugh dryly.
"Are you happy?"
The sound of chains approached, followed by Shi Qing's questions.
Commoner Song ran towards the iron bars angrily: "You bitch! Why aren't you dead yet?! Didn't the emperor say that all bitches should be strangled immediately?"
"I'm lucky. I've been granted the grace to be executed at the same time as you. The Emperor even thinks I'm loyal to him!"
"What do you mean?! You, you're still pretending even when you're about to die? You're just talking nonsense, colluding with others to frame me!"
Shi Qing also approached the iron railings, holding the rusty bars with both hands, and leaned closer to her face: "I am just an ordinary palace maid, how could I have the ability to collude with so many people?"
"Who! Who ordered you to do this? Was it the Queen? You've taken refuge with her, haven't you?!"
Song Shuren's shrill voice echoed in the cell. The jailer opened the door and whipped him: "What are you making so much noise for? Be quiet!"
Then he kicked Shi Qing in again.
Looking at the woman who was originally so arrogant now running away with her head in her hands, and then huddled in the stain and sobbing softly, Shi Qing curved the corners of her mouth, the arc gradually deepening, and a creepy laugh came out of her throat.
"Are you happy to see me in such a miserable state?!"
"Yes, I'm very happy." Shi Qing approached her step by step, feeling quite emotional. "Miss, why can't you change your temper? Instead, you push me further away with your own hands? The day I entered the palace, I did intend to be loyal to you until death, but how did you treat me? I was a plaything, a beast, a puppet who unconditionally accepted your brutality even though I was covered in scars?!"
"I only paid a hundred copper coins to buy you into the palace. Don't you realize how cheap you are?"
Song Shuren was still mean. When faced with Shi Qing's collapse, she only found it amusing, as if she had won again.
The light in Shi Qing's eyes dimmed little by little, turning into a blazing fire. She whispered in her ear, "Thank you so much, Miss. Thank you for not changing at all. I can tell you the truth without any guilt."
She didn't care at first, cursing and blaming Shi Qing for her betrayal.
Not until he heard those words did he stop all his movements, his blood flowing backwards, and the anger and pain that almost burst out of his head!
Commoner Song was so angry that he couldn't catch his breath and collapsed to the side!
Shi Qing leaned on her knees, just like when she first entered the mansion——
"I've gone to the person you hate the most, so go to hell with me, Miss."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
