Seeing Concubine Hua coming, Concubine Jing immediately stood up and saluted, and briefly recounted the matter.
The branding stick that was pressed against the young eunuch's face was naturally put down.
After listening to Concubine Jing's whole story, Concubine Hua did not order the young eunuch to be tortured immediately, but asked questions.
"Did Xiaoqing really die of food poisoning?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I had the food checked and found arsenic in it. Xiaoqing's death is consistent with arsenic poisoning."
Concubine Jing answered immediately.
Concubine Hua nodded and asked again.
"Did this little eunuch bring the food here?"
"Yes, this eunuch is called Xiao Ruizi. He is responsible for delivering meals to Xiaoqing. He also delivered today's meal. So I believe that he poisoned the meal and killed Xiaoqing."
"Xiao Ruizi was the one who delivered the food, so who was the one who cooked it? Why didn't you suspect that the food was poisoned while it was being cooked?"
Concubine Hua raised another question.
Feng Wanwan was stunned when she heard this.
[Xiao Ruizi, this name sounds familiar.]
【But I can’t remember what character this is. 】
[Hmm, it shouldn’t be a role with a lot of screen time…]
Concubine Jing was stunned by the question, but she only paused for a moment.
"This...During this period, the Emperor asked me to stay in Xianfu Palace, so all the meals in the palace are prepared in the small kitchen.
The palace people's meals came from the same pot. If the poison was put in during cooking, Xiaoqing would not be the only one poisoned.
Furthermore, the tableware used by everyone was uniform and random, so I believe that the food was poisoned after it was prepared and served to Xiaoqing."
"Who's the chef in charge of the small kitchen?"
Concubine Hua thought for a moment and immediately asked.
This time, Concubine Jing did not answer, but Qingliu beside her stood up.
"Your Highness, I am in charge of the small kitchen and will be responsible for all matters.
But I can guarantee that I have never poisoned Xiaoqing's food."
"Is it you?"
A look of surprise flashed in Concubine Hua's eyes, and then a faint curve appeared at the corner of her lips.
She was born beautiful. When she had a cold face, she looked like an icy beauty, noble and cold. But when she smiled, she was like a hundred flowers blooming, so beautiful that it was beyond description.
This caused everyone in the room to be amazed.
Feng Wanwan's eyes were dazed, and her heart was filled with emotion.
[My mother is so beautiful that I am so intoxicated by her.]
But then Concubine Hua laughed softly and spoke.
"Qingliu, I remember that when you were in the residence, you first served in the Empress's courtyard, right? Later, when Concubine Jing was short of staff, you were transferred here, right?"
The air suddenly became quiet.
A hint of doubt flashed in Concubine Jing's eyes. She slowly turned her head and looked at Qingliu beside her.
"Your Majesty the Concubine!"
Qingliu was shocked, and the iron rod in her hand fell into the brazier with a clang. She knelt down with a thud and tried to explain herself hurriedly.
"Yes, when I was in the mansion, I did work in the Empress's courtyard, but I only did menial work and never entered the Empress's inner courtyard, nor did I serve her closely.
Moreover, I was not assigned to Concubine Jing by the Empress. It was Concubine Jing who discovered my cooking skills and took the initiative to ask for me.
I am an orphan, and have suffered all kinds of hardship and humiliation since I was young. It is because of Concubine Jing's love for me that I am where I am today. Even if I die, I will never do anything that harms Concubine Jing. I beg Concubine Jing and Concubine Gui to understand this!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, Qingliu was promoted by me. She has been by my side for many years, and I trust her."
Concubine Jing also spoke.
She really trusted Qingliu because Qingliu was one of the most important palace maids around her. She had done a lot for her and was her most trusted confidant.
It was precisely because of trust that she never doubted Qingliu from the very beginning.
She believed that Qingliu would not do anything to betray her.
Feng Wanwan's attention finally shifted from Hua Fei's face to Qing Liu.
[Hmm, Qingliu? Let me think about it, this senior palace maid is indeed loyal and a very capable confidant of Empress Jing. Not only does she cook well, she's also very capable and efficient.]
[But as far as I can remember, this person had no connection to the Queen. From the beginning to the end, she was only loyal to Queen Jing and never did anything wrong.]
If there's something fishy about someone close to Empress Jing, it's most likely Tao Hong! The book says that Tao Hong apparently reported Empress Jing's whereabouts to the Empress!
When Concubine Hua heard this, her heart skipped a beat and she reacted immediately.
His gaze shifted from Qingliu to another person beside Jingfei who had been so silent that he seemed to have no sense of existence.
The person was dressed in a peach-pink palace maid's outfit. Although the color was peach pink, her makeup and the jewelry on her head were very plain. She looked silent and dull, with her head half lowered.
It’s this person!
Concubine Hua was secretly shocked: It's really a biting dog that doesn't bark. This person is really good at it. He can do such a secretive thing without getting hurt. He is really a master.
If it weren't for Wanwan's reminder, she would have wrongly accused a good person today.
Also, if a person wants to poison someone, how could he be so stupid as to let others find out about him?
It is naturally impossible that the poison was put there by Qingliu, the chef, and Xiaoruizi, the food delivery boy.
So she nodded and signaled Qingliu to stand up.
"If Concubine Jing trusts you, then I trust you too. Good boy, get up quickly."
"Thank you, Imperial Concubine Guifei and Imperial Concubine Jingfei, for your trust!"
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