Chapter 170 Winning over the People
The crowd, who were originally restless, suddenly quieted down and the scene became completely silent.
Meng Yan looked at Qiuyu kneeling on the ground and smiled softly, "You just kept saying that not all food is contaminated and should be burned. If that's the case, do you dare to eat this plate of cakes?"
Qiuyu's face was as pale as paper, and her eyes were fixed on the plate of salt-and-pepper golden cakes with fruit fillings, her gaze full of fear, as if that was not a snack, but a plate of deadly poison.
Meng Yan didn't rush her. She asked Ruizhu to change a bowl of tea and ate it silently, but smiled without saying a word.
Qiuyu knelt there, neither reaching for snacks nor begging for mercy.
Meng Yan looked up at Ruizhu, who understood and said sternly, "Qiuyu, didn't you listen to what the Empress said?! The Empress gave you some snacks as a reward, why aren't you eating them?!"
Qiuyu's teeth chattered, and after a while she said, "No, I can't eat..."
Meng Yan smiled. "Oh, you were so sure just now, why are you saying you can't eat it now? Don't you know in your heart that eating this snack might make you sick? This plate of snacks was only made by the imperial kitchen on the day the eunuch fell ill, or maybe the eunuch didn't touch it. If you are willing to eat it, I will pardon you and reward you for speaking your mind. Why don't you take a gamble?"
After all these words, Qiuyu remained silent.
Meng Yan put down the tea bowl and looked at Dong Sanbao.
Dong Sanbao understood what the Empress meant and immediately said, "Come here, hold this girl down, and the Empress will give her a cake!"
The eunuchs standing by stepped forward. One of them pressed Qiuyu's shoulders, pinched her chin, and forced her to open her mouth. The other one held up a plate and walked towards her step by step.
Qiuyu looked at the plate of dim sum gradually approaching her, her face filled with fear. Seeing that it was about to reach her, she suddenly struggled to break free from the restraints, jumped up from the ground, raised her arm, and knocked the dim sum to the ground.
Meng Yan stared at her and smiled, "You dare not?"
Qiuyu was still in shock. She shook her head wildly and gasped, "No... You can't eat it! You'll get sick and die if you eat it!"
As soon as she said this, she realized she had said something wrong, so she bit her lip and lowered her head in silence.
Just at this moment, Bai Yuxin came over with a booklet, walked to Meng Yan's side, and whispered a few words in her ear.
Meng Yan took the booklet, glanced at it, and then threw it at Qiuyu's feet. She asked calmly, "Qiuyu, are you from Tuoluo Township, Henghe County?"
As soon as she said this, everyone's faces changed drastically.
Tuoluo Township in Henghe County is where the epidemic first broke out.
Meng Yan asked again, "Both parents died of the disease, leaving only one brother?"
Qiuyu's face was expressionless, and she nodded blankly.
Meng Yan's brows furrowed as she rebuked, "Since two of your family members have passed away, you should know exactly how severe this epidemic is and how people contract it! Why did you try to stop me in public?! What are your intentions?"
Qiuyu still didn't answer. She lowered her head and stared at the embroidered shoes with rice beads on Concubine Meng's feet.
Meng Yan raised her head slightly and said calmly, "I thought that you, a palace maid from a peasant background, should not have said the words you said before. Who taught you those words? If you tell me the truth, I may be able to forgive your sins."
After the conversation, everyone's eyes fell on Qiuyu.
Qiuyu still lowered her head silently, and Meng Yan did not force her, but just let her think quietly.
After an unknown amount of time, Qiuyu suddenly clenched his hands into fists, let out a strange cry, and rushed towards the paulownia tree beside him.
The scene suddenly became chaotic, and the palace maids screamed in fear.
Dong Sanbao was quick-witted and quick-handed. He stepped forward and grabbed Qiuyu.
He was a burly man, and a martial artist. He grabbed Qiuyu's thin arm with his big hand, like an eagle catching a chick, making her unable to move.
Dong Sanbao shouted angrily, "How dare you commit suicide in front of the Empress? Your crime is even more serious!"
After saying this, he dragged Qiuyu in front of Meng Yan and asked, "Madam, what shall we do with her?"
Meng Yan slowly stood up and spoke loudly, "I burned all the food and grass in the garden to ensure everyone's safety, not to gain fame or attention. Qiuyu is a relative of the patient, so she naturally understands the severity of this disease, but she spoke rudely and contradicted me. I suspect that you are being instructed by someone with evil intentions to deliberately prevent me from expelling the disease. Qiuyu, do you have anything to say?"
Qiuyu was just a low-ranking palace maid. How could she have ever seen such a scene? She wanted to die to keep the secret, but Concubine Meng saw through her plan. She bit her lip and refused to say a word.
Meng Yan smiled slightly and said, "Take this maid away and hand her over to the Ministry of Punishment for interrogation."
Dong Sanbao received the order and took Qiuyu away.
After this incident, everyone in the palace understood that Concubine Meng had a reason for doing so. Otherwise, no one would have bribed the maid to cause trouble.
Thinking deeper, that person, in opposing the Imperial Concubine, had no regard for anyone's lives. Now there's Qiuyu, but who knows who will come next, and what backup plans they'll have!
As the saying goes, it is easy to avoid a spear but difficult to guard against an arrow from the dark. What's more, this epidemic is invisible and intangible, and we don't know when we will be struck.
The only option now is to stick closely to the Imperial Concubine and do as she tells you, and maybe you can still escape danger.
After all, the Imperial Concubine was genuinely trying to eradicate the epidemic.
After the commotion, no one said anything more. Meng Yan ordered all the food and supplies to be burned and sent the remaining three palace servants who had stolen to be questioned.
At this moment, Zang Xiu suddenly arrived.
Meng Yan hurriedly stood up and asked, "Aunt Zang Xiu is here now, but does the Empress Dowager have any instructions?"
Zang Xiu bowed and said, "The Empress Dowager has asked me to invite the Imperial Concubine to Shou'an Academy for a chat."
Meng Yan had guessed early on that after this performance today, Empress Dowager Jiang would definitely ask about it, so she immediately agreed with a smile, handed the place over to Bai Yuxin, gave her a few instructions, and then set off for Shou'an Academy.
When I arrived at Shou'an Academy, I saw that the courtyard was completely quiet and there was no sound of anyone.
Meng Yan followed Zang Xiu into the main room, only to see Empress Dowager Jiang, wearing an old homely dress, sitting cross-legged on the kang with a solemn expression.
She stepped forward and bowed deeply, "I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
After she finished speaking, Empress Dowager Jiang was speechless for a moment.
After a long while, Meng Yan felt her waist and legs were aching, and then she heard the Queen Mother sigh softly, "Forget it, get up. Xi Que, bring a chair over for the Imperial Concubine."
The palace maid named Xi Que brought a chair over. Meng Yan thanked her and sat down.
As soon as she sat down, she heard Empress Dowager Jiang ask, "I heard that you issued an imperial decree to gather all the food and fodder in Shanghe Garden and burn it all. Girl, is this really necessary?"
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