Chapter 110 Do you want to go out and kneel down too?
Meng Yan looked in the direction of the voice and saw that Dong Sanbao was holding a large piece of bluestone. After a while, she said, "This piece of bluestone is commonly used for paving roads in the palace. Is there anything wrong with it?"
Dong Sanbao replied, "Your Majesty, please take a closer look. This bluestone slab is polished to a very smooth finish. Anyone who steps on it will surely fall. When I went to investigate, I found it lying right where the princess fell into the water. It was covered in a thick layer of mud and grass, making it extremely slippery. The princess must have not noticed it and stepped on it, causing her to fall into the water."
Meng Yan understood what was going on and asked, "The princess fell into the water near the shore. Even if she slipped, the water shouldn't be deep. How could she have choked and needed the boat girl to rescue her?"
Ruizhu kowtowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I have sent for the eunuchs who cleaned and repaired Canglan Ferry. Your Majesty will know after asking them."
Meng Yan then summoned this person to the classroom for questioning.
The eunuch's surname was Liu. He was about forty years old, with a square face, dark skin, and hands covered with calluses. He looked like he had been working all day.
The eunuch surnamed Liu knelt down in the hall, kowtowed to the emperor and the concubines, and waited to be questioned.
Meng Yan asked again what she had just said.
Eunuch Liu replied, "Your Majesty, you may not know that the water near the shore of Canglan Ferry used to be very shallow. But three days ago, the greenhouse planted a new patch of delicate pink water lilies, so they dug down a few feet. There are several other outlets not far from that place. The water doesn't look deep, but there are strong undercurrents. After the princess fell into the water, she was swept away."
Meng Yan nodded slightly, her expression suddenly stern as she rebuked, "You were just doing the maintenance here on a daily basis, how could you allow such slippery stone slabs to fall onto the ferry, causing the princess to fall?! This time, I will punish you for your dereliction of duty."
As soon as she finished speaking, there was an uproar in the hall.
Everyone looked at each other, feeling that Concubine Meng was really making excuses.
The princess just stepped on a stone slab and slipped into the water; she was not pushed in by anyone. But to punish the eunuch Liu just because he was in charge of the place was too domineering and arrogant.
Lu Haozhi, however, had a calm expression, as usual.
Liang Chengbi suppressed a smile and said, "Your Highness, I know you care about the princess, and seeing her fall into the water, I'm bound to be furious. But rewards and punishments in the palace are always based on evidence. Your Highness's actions are bound to cause dissatisfaction among the other concubines, and may even provoke anger."
Meng Yan didn't say anything. Lu Haozhi glanced at her and said calmly, "Princess Liang, I've already said that this matter is in the hands of the Imperial Concubine. Do you also want to go out and kneel?"
Liang Chengbi was rebuked by the emperor in public. Her face turned red and she said, "I dare not." Then she said nothing more and just twisted her handkerchief again and again.
Meng Yan didn't have time to think about it anymore, and said to the eunuch Liu, "Since someone has pleaded for you, then I will show some mercy and grant you a favor. If you can explain clearly where this stone tablet came from, I will spare you this time."
Eunuch Liu was already terrified, his face pale and his legs shaking like sieves. Hearing the Imperial Concubine's words, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and said repeatedly, "Yes, yes, to... to the Imperial Concubine, yesterday, the Ziyu Pavilion was being renovated. The Imperial Household Department sent craftsmen to mop the floor and lay stone slabs there. This stone slab must have been left there by the craftsmen yesterday."
Meng Yan smiled slightly and asked, "Was it really yesterday?"
Eunuch Liu nodded like a chick pecking at rice, "Yes, it was indeed yesterday."
Hearing this, Lu Haozhi understood and smiled without saying anything.
Meng Yan sneered, "Just now, the palace maid reported that when this stone slab was found, it was covered with a thick layer of grass and mud. It hasn't rained all day and night. How could it have become so dirty in just one day? You cunning servant, are you lying to me?!"
Ren Shuyi suddenly spoke up, passing on a message from the side, "Deceiving the master, according to palace rules, you should be lashed with a hundred sticks and expelled from the palace."
Eunuch Liu was so frightened that he thrashed his head to the ground again, muttering, "I dare not deceive the Imperial Concubine... I, I misremembered. This slab must have fallen three days ago. That day, Xiao Luzi from the Construction Department delivered the stone here. I believe it must have fallen then."
Meng Yan raised her eyebrows and asked with a smile, "Three days ago?"
Eunuch Liu stammered, "No... five days ago, exactly five days ago!"
Meng Yan's smile deepened as she gently asked, "You won't change it this time, right?"
Eunuch Liu hesitated, shaking his head and nodding.
When Lin Yanrong saw this scene, she immediately closed her eyes and almost bit her lips until they bled.
What a useless thing! He was stumped by Meng Yan's questions in just a few words!
Liang Chengbi's face was cold and his eyes kept rolling in his sockets.
Meng Yan then said to Lu Haozhi, "Your Majesty, this servant is lying. He has changed the date three times in a short time. I believe there must be something hidden. I will hand this servant over to the Ministry of Punishment for punishment. They will investigate and find out the truth before making any further decisions."
Lu Haozhi opened his mouth and said, "I said it's up to you to decide. Just do it as you see fit. There's no need to ask me again."
Meng Yan lowered her eyes and smiled, avoiding his gaze, and turned to look at Ren Shuyi who was sitting beside her, "After all, I am the adoptive mother of Princess He'an. To avoid suspicion, please ask Concubine Xian to handle the remaining matters."
She could probably guess what was going on here. Since it was not an accident, it must be related to Liang Chengbi and Lin Yanrong.
She had been at odds with these two people for a long time, and it would be difficult for her to convince others if she personally investigated the matter.
Besides, if those two destroyed all the evidence and eventually found some unlucky guy to take the blame, that would be even more boring. It would be better to do a favor for Ren Shuyi.
She had a slight sense in her heart that Concubine Ren Xian seemed to be intending to seek refuge with him.
Seeing that Lu Haozhi had no objection, Ren Shuyi slowly stood up, bowed to Meng Yan, and said with a smile, "If your Majesty the Imperial Concubine does not abandon me, I will definitely investigate this matter seriously."
At that moment, Ren Shuyi ordered people to escort the eunuch named Liu to the Ministry of Punishment and torture him severely.
Meng Yan was worried about Doukou and had no intention of staying here any longer, so she sent a palace maid to send the princess back to Changchun Palace.
Lu Haozhi dismissed the concubines and went back with Meng Yan.
Everyone else had left, leaving only Liang Chengbi and Lin Yanrong standing outside Ganquan Pavilion, who had not yet left.
Lin Yanrong stepped forward and whispered, "My Lady, our plan has failed..."
“Bang!”
As soon as the words came out, Lin Yanrong felt a surge of heat on her face. She couldn't help but cover her face and looked at Liang Chengbi in disbelief, "Empress Liang, why did you punish me?"
Liang Chengbi's eyebrows were furrowed, and he scolded her harshly, "Fool, you devised such a brilliant plan, saying that this time you would definitely be able to seize Princess He'an and destroy Meng Yan's reputation, but what has happened now?! Not only did Meng Yan escape unscathed, but I also lost many soldiers! That Liu guy has been sent to the Ministry of Punishment, so surely he won't reveal something?! How will this end?! You are so careless! Why didn't you get rid of that stone slab as soon as possible?!"
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