Chapter 95 Planning
"Your Majesty, Miss Xiao Mingyue of the Shou'an Marquis's Mansion has been obsessed with Your Majesty since she was a child. Ever since Your Majesty reprimanded her last time, she has not given up on her motives. Instead, she has come to me, hoping that I would speak well of her in front of Your Majesty. However, I have always been on good terms with my younger sister, Concubine Yu. Even though we have had some recent arguments, my younger sister and Your Majesty have a very close relationship. How could I possibly do something like this to sow discord?"
Zhaoyi Shen knelt in the snow, her usually calm face flushed with anger. "Yesterday, when I first arrived at the palace, Miss Xiao saw Concubine Yu and General Xiao interacting in the garden. She insisted that they were having an affair. Because I help the Empress manage the six palaces, Miss Xiao came to me and told me to punish Concubine Yu and introduce her to His Majesty."
As Shen Zhaoyi spoke, she couldn't help but look up to see the expression of the man on the imperial sedan chair, but he was in a position against the light, so Shen Zhaoyi could only see the man's knuckles with the jade ring gently tapping the armrest in the night.
"I thought there must be some misunderstanding, so I wanted to ask Sister Yu, but I was turned away several times."
"My servants discovered that Miss Xiao had brought forbidden drugs from outside the palace into the temporary palace. If she is so audacious as to attempt to murder Your Majesty or Concubine Yu, I will bear the blame for her death! Your Majesty, please send someone to search for Concubine Yu immediately, and don't let her fall into this treacherous scheme."
Zhaoyi Shen reported the matter at the top of her lungs, and many palace people passing by wished they could shut their ears. Concubine Yu had always been domineering and vindictive. What if they heard her gossip and got vengeful from her?
But this place is on the palace road, and there are many people coming and going. It is unrealistic to block the news immediately. I think some people already want to join in the fun.
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Shen Zhaoyi's lowered eyes. Xiao Mingyue, that idiot, deserved to be used as a raft by her.
But she waited for a moment, but did not hear any movement from He Yanchen at the top.
Only then did she realize that something was a little unusual.
Given his personality, he would either be worried about Yueli or furious, but he should have sent someone to check it out immediately. Why was he so indifferent?
"Shen Zhaoyi."
As she was feeling anxious, He Yanchen spoke up, "You are the assistant to the Six Palaces. If you knew what Xiao Mingyue was doing, why didn't you report it to her earlier?"
Concubine Shen curled her fingers as she lay on the ground. "I wanted to tell Sister Yufei, but she misunderstood me and didn't want to see me. If I told you directly, I'm afraid Sister Yufei would think I was trying to sow discord. I can only send someone to stop Miss Xiao first, and then report this to Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to investigate. I have absolutely no intention of harming anyone."
He Yanchen smiled faintly: "Chen Zhaoyi is indeed a virtuous person praised by the whole palace."
If it were usual, Shen Zhaoyi would definitely be happy to hear He Yanchen praising her, but now, she couldn't see the man's expression and couldn't guess what he was thinking for a moment.
"Your Majesty, I have sent people to stop Miss Xiao, but I haven't been able to find Sister Yufei yet. I am a little worried..."
"Since you're worried, let's go and take a look together."
He Yanchen calmly ordered Ji Ming to set off. Shen Zhaoyi followed behind the imperial sedan chair, feeling a little excited.
Yueli is such a fool, she will believe anything others say, there's no need to worry about her not taking the bait.
She helped the queen manage the harem, and the Shangyi Bureau was under her jurisdiction, so she was involved in all matters related to the palace and travel.
In the garden, Xiao Mingyue saw Yue Li and Xiao Mingcheng interacting. With just a few words of advice from the palace maids around her, she knew what to do.
*
In a wing room on the west side of the main hall, the windows were closed and the view was dim.
As soon as Xiao Mingcheng opened the door, he smelled a strong fragrance. He carefully covered his mouth and nose, took out a fire starter and lit a candle.
Strangely, the room was empty, with nothing in it.
After chatting with several colleagues for a while, he was still worried about Xiao Mingyue, so he came over.
He had just caught a glimpse of Mingyue's back in the corridor, but he couldn't find her after searching several rooms. He didn't know where she had gone.
Just as he was about to leave, there was a sudden noise outside.
"Go look for them and see if they are inside."
It was the Queen Mother's voice.
Xiao Mingcheng turned around and wanted to go out, but before he touched the door frame, the door was pushed open and the empress dowager and several ladies were outside.
The moment she saw him, shock flashed in the Queen Mother's eyes.
"Mingcheng?" The wife of the Marquis of Shou'an was also present and asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"
Xiao Mingcheng calmed down. Seeing the group of people approaching aggressively, he knew what had probably happened. He said, "Your Highness, I saw my sister was drunk and had come out for some fresh air. I was worried she might have offended others, so I wanted to come find her."
"I wonder what the Empress Dowager is doing?"
The Queen Mother frowned and said, "Just now a palace maid came to report that Mingyue has disappeared. Your Majesty is not here, so I can only send someone to the wing to see if she is there."
But Xiao Mingyue still hasn't been found, and no one knows where she went.
When Lady Shou'an was in a state of panic, a cold voice suddenly came from behind her:
"No need to look for it."
When everyone looked back, they saw a bright yellow palanquin coming towards them.
"Your Majesty."
He Yanchen got off the imperial carriage and gave Chu Yi a look. Chu Yi nodded. A moment later, two imperial guards carried Xiao Mingyue out from behind a rockery.
"Ming Yue?" Lady Shou'an was extremely anxious. Seeing that she was unconscious, she hurried forward and patted her face.
The Queen Mother frowned: "Your Majesty, what is going on?"
Chu Yi received the signal and replied, "Your Majesty, Miss Xiao lit aphrodisiac incense and placed a pot of aphrodisiac wine in the pavilion near Hezheng Palace, intending to do something bad to Your Majesty. I discovered her in time and knocked her out and brought her here."
"How is this possible?" Lady Shou'an Marquis screamed. Mingyue had clearly promised to marry into the Guangnan Marquis's Mansion, so she softened her heart and allowed her to come to the palace. How could she do such a thing?
"Mingyue, wake up!"
The courtyard was silent, with only the anxious voice of Lady Shou'an.
Shen Zhaoyi looked at Xiao Mingcheng who was standing there quietly, and the surprise in her eyes could hardly be concealed.
How come nothing happened to him?
And Xiao Mingcheng is here, why is Yue Li not here?
Before she could come up with anything, Xiao Mingyue had already woken up.
"Mother..." Xiao Mingyue looked at the wife of Marquis Shou'an in confusion. It took her a while to see clearly the people around her, and also saw He Yanchen's expressionless face.
"Your Majesty..." Xiao Mingyue hurriedly got up and knelt on the ground. She didn't know whether she had succeeded or not. She put drugs in the wine and incense, and waited on the road that He Yanchen had to pass on his way back to Hezheng Palace. She wanted to take a gamble.
She didn't want to marry the mediocre second son of Marquis Guangnan, she only wanted to marry He Yanchen.
He Yanchen didn't bother to talk nonsense. With just a glance, Chu Yi threw the things Xiao Mingyue used to commit the crime in front of the wife of Marquis Shou'an.
"The Xiao family is quite courageous. They even dare to bring such banned drugs into the palace."
These words, neither hurried nor slow, made the wife of the Marquis of Shou'an and Xiao Mingcheng kneel down and apologize: "Your Majesty, please calm down."
"It is my fault that I failed to discipline my daughter. I beg Your Majesty and the Queen Mother to spare Mingyue's life! I am willing to accept any punishment!"
Xiao Mingyue looked at his unkindness and couldn't help crying, "Your Majesty, I just adore you. I don't want to marry anyone. I would be willing to be your slave or maidservant!"
"What are you still messing around with?" Lady Shou'an slapped Xiao Mingyue in the face. "Do you understand what propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame are?"
No matter how much Xiao Mingcheng hated her at this moment, he had to plead for mercy. Xiao Mingyue's reputation was ruined, but the Xiao family still had so many female relatives and branches, and they couldn't let others be implicated because of her.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I failed to discipline my sister properly. I deserve death. I will leave it to Your Majesty to deal with."
The Queen Mother was having a headache because of the noise. Xiao Mingyue was too bold. She used banned drugs today. Would she use poison next time?
No matter how good her relationship with the wife of Marquis Shou'an was, the Queen Mother could not ask for mercy.
After letting them cry for a while, He Yanchen sneered, "Qing Xiao Aiqing is my capable general. For your sake, I will not take her life."
"But the death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be escaped."
"Don't you want to get married? Then cut off your hair and send it to Jing'an Temple to become a nun."
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