The imperial physician arrived shortly afterward. Upon seeing the physician, Yu Jingchen quickly offered him his seat so the physician could take his pulse.
The imperial physician was on tenterhooks the whole way, just because he heard that the injured person was this Consort Shu... When he took Nan Zhiyun's pulse, his palms were sweating, but thankfully, it wasn't as bad as he had imagined.
"Your Majesty, the Empress was merely frightened and is otherwise unharmed," the imperial physician replied.
Yu Jingchen and Nan Zhiyun both breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, thankfully there were no other serious problems.
"Consort Shu just sprained her ankle, let's take a look at it too." Yu Jingchen remembered that the imperial physician had examined Nan Zhiyun's foot and found nothing wrong, no broken bones or anything.
Hearing this answer, Yu Jingchen finally felt relieved. He dismissed the imperial physician and sat down next to Nan Zhiyun. "You stay here for a while, and I'll deal with today's matter," Yu Jingchen said to her.
Nan Zhiyun nodded obediently.
After confirming Nan Zhiyun's safety, Yu Jingchen went outside alone. The moment he turned around, his whole body was chilling and irresistible, and the ruthlessness in his eyes was terrifying.
Once outside, he looked at Xinglai and asked, "Have you already investigated?" His tone seemed to be filled with icy coldness.
"Your Majesty, we have investigated... but..." Xinglai trembled and dared not speak.
"Just what?" Yu Jingchen asked impatiently.
"...Your Majesty, Your Majesty, today's events should be related to Consort Yuan...but...the Empress Dowager seems to know about it." Xinglai was already bracing herself for Yu Jingchen's raging fury when she said this.
But Yu Jingchen was clearly stunned when he heard this. Did the Empress Dowager know about this?
"What do you mean?" Yu Jingchen frowned.
"Your Majesty... Today, the Empress Dowager instructed the palace servants to escort Her Majesty back in her own sedan chair. However, the sedan chair arranged this time was different from the Empress Dowager's usual one. Among those escorting Her Majesty were some of the Empress Dowager's people, so it was impossible for them not to recognize her... Also, when Consort Shu and the Empress Dowager were dining today, some of the food... eating them together caused stomach discomfort..." Xinglai couldn't believe it when she said these words.
Everyone knows how much the Empress Dowager dotes on Consort Shu; there's no need or reason for it to be this way. But... it seems unreasonable to be completely ignorant of her.
Yu Jingchen didn't react for a moment after hearing this, and no one knew what he was thinking. Fortunately, he hadn't spoken yet, and he was feeling very uneasy.
“The Empress Dowager wouldn’t harm Yun’er. If she really did it, it wouldn’t have been so easy for you to find out.” Yu Jingchen finally spoke.
Yes, the Empress Dowager would not harm Nan Zhiyun, much less resort to such despicable means. So what is the reason behind this?
"I will personally question the Empress Dowager at Cixi Palace later. You can continue your investigation as well," Yu Jingchen said after a moment of contemplation.
“Yes…” Xinglai immediately agreed.
"What happened to Consort Li?" Yu Jingchen started the second topic. However, as soon as this topic was mentioned, Xing Lai's expression began to turn strange.
"Your Majesty..." Xinglai hesitated, as if pondering how to say it properly.
"It was Consort Yuan who instigated Consort Li's arrival, and it was not surprising that the two met Consort Shu. Later, Consort Li and Consort Shu had an argument, and Consort Yuan did not stop them."
During this process, Consort Li spoke rudely to Consort Shu. Consort Shu's maid, Qianxia, said a few words, which enraged Consort Li, who tried to attack her. However, Consort Shu stopped her. But... Your Majesty, the guards said... Consort Shu must have noticed that Your Majesty was behind you, and... it seems that Consort Shu fell backward on her own..." As Xinglai said this, she was also secretly speculating in her heart.
It's not hard to guess Consort Shu's mindset, but the important question is: what is His Majesty thinking? Will His Majesty be angry? After all, Consort Shu has essentially used His Majesty...
Yu Jingchen was stunned for a moment when he heard this. So he was just pretending? Then he smiled and said, "You've become smarter, you know how to fight back."
Hmm? He praised her? Is that all? Xinglai wondered, is His Majesty really so indulgent towards Consort Shu?
"By imperial decree, Consort Li has committed insubordination, plotting against Consort Shu and the imperial heir. Her crimes are unforgivable. She is hereby demoted to the rank of Baolin and imprisoned in her palace. She shall kneel and copy Buddhist scriptures twenty times a day to atone for her sins and pray for Consort Shu's well-being until Consort Shu safely gives birth to a prince. Otherwise, she shall never be released!" Yu Jingchen issued the new decree.
"Yes," Xinglai replied without delay, immediately sending someone to deliver the decree. In just a few days, His Majesty had already punished several concubines, and the reason for each of their punishments was because of Consort Shu. It seems that Consort Shu... truly holds a special place in His Majesty's heart now.
Yu Jingchen didn't really think much of it. These people should have died in their previous lives, but in this life they insisted on trying to assert their existence and continue to harm Nan Zhiyun. Naturally, he wouldn't show any mercy. He had always intended to disband this harem; it was only a matter of time. Besides… he wouldn't be controlled by anyone anymore…
However... thinking about what Xing had just said about Nan Zhiyun doing that on purpose today, he found it somewhat amusing. The little girl has grown up and become more shrewd; she's made progress, not bad at all.
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