Chapter 34: Slap the Slave
Meng Yan looked down at Xiuzhi lying on the ground, as if she were an ant.
But with such limited ability, he dared to frame and slander her.
Her master is the heroine, but she is not.
In my previous life, how did I keep falling into trouble at the hands of these master and servant?
I can only say that the plot of that crappy book had a profound impact on me.
Meng Yan then said to Zhang Yuangui, "Doctor Zhang, I asked the Imperial Hospital to make ginger soup. What medicinal ingredients are put into it? Please explain to the Emperor."
Lu Haozhi was puzzled and said calmly, "Ginger soup is just ginger and brown sugar. Is there something else?"
Zhang Yuangui said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine instructed the Imperial Hospital to prepare a ginger soup. In addition to brown sugar and ginger slices, it also contains four herbs: Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig, Saposhnikovia, and Asarum. Your Majesty is well versed in pharmacology. These four herbs are all effective in dispelling wind and cold. When added to the ginger soup, the effect is many times greater."
Lu Haozhi was a little surprised and couldn't help but glance at Meng Yan, but saw that she looked calm and composed.
How could she care so much about these new concubines in the palace?
Seeing that things were getting out of control, Liang Chengbi couldn't help but ask, "So what? What does this have to do with Lin Changzai being poisoned?"
Meng Yan's smile deepened, and she asked Xiuzhi, "Tell me, was there anything unusual when the ginger soup was delivered?"
Xiuzhi quickly said, "Nothing unusual, just a bowl of ginger soup."
She understood this logic in her heart. If there was a problem with the ginger soup when it was served, why did Lin Yanrong still drink it? Wouldn't that mean she was sick?
Meng Yan then instructed Zhang Yuangui, "Doctor Zhang, please explain the reasons to the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine."
Zhang Yuangui nodded and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Thunder God Vine used in the palace is processed. When it comes into contact with the two herbs Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig, it will produce a lot of black foam and have an unpleasant odor. I think no one can drink such a thing."
When Liang Chengbi heard this, he immediately knew that the situation was hopeless. He closed his eyes and said nothing more.
Xiuzhi also heard the clue and said in panic, "Even if that's the case, that thunder god vine may not be used by the palace. Maybe it's expensive... and was found somewhere else..."
"Slap!"
Before she could finish, Meng Yan frowned and interrupted her coldly.
Although this move was a bit harsh, if she allowed a servant to interrupt or talk back in public, she would not dare to rebuke her. Otherwise, everyone would think that she, Meng Yan, was weak and could be bullied. Changchun Palace had already lost its power, and everyone would try to overtake her!
On the other hand, Xiuzhi is Lin Yanrong's confidant who came with her dowry, and her status is incomparable to that of ordinary palace maids. Now that things have come to this point, she also wants to see what Lu Haozhi's attitude is.
Thinking of this, she looked at Lu Haozhi quietly.
Unexpectedly, Lu Haozhi was also looking at him with a serious look, as if thinking about something.
Meng Yan's heart trembled slightly, and she quickly turned her eyes away.
Ruizhu took two steps forward, rolled up her sleeves, and slapped Xiuzhi four or five times.
But when they heard the "pa pa" sound, everyone couldn't help but feel a pain in their teeth.
Xiuzhi was hit so hard that her face was crooked and her mouth was tilted. Her lips were swollen and bleeding. Her hair was also broken and disheveled.
Although she was a maid in the Prince of Nanping's mansion, she had been serving in the inner house since she was a child. She had never suffered such hardship and could not help sobbing and crying.
"You are such an unruly thing! Who will allow you to cry in front of your master?"
Ruizhu glared and scolded harshly.
Xiuzhi was so scared after being beaten that she didn't dare to cry anymore and covered her mouth tightly with her hands.
Lu Haozhi just watched from the sidelines and didn't say a word from beginning to end.
Meng Yan walked up to him and bowed, "Your Majesty, I have asked all my questions. I hope Your Majesty will decide the right and wrong. I am involved in this matter and cannot ask about it. To avoid suspicion, I will return to the palace first."
After she finished speaking, she didn't even wait for Lu Haozhi to speak, and walked straight out the door, leaving everyone in the room looking at each other in bewilderment.
Liang Chengbi watched Meng Yan escape unscathed, feeling angry and anxious, but unable to utter a word.
You've gone through so much trouble, and you still say you want to avoid suspicion and not ask about it. This is a really good memorial arch!
She secretly glanced at Lu Haozhi, but saw that the emperor had a stern face and remained silent.
"Your Majesty, look, what's happening here..."
"This palace maid has learned the rules extremely poorly. Since she is Concubine Lin's dowry, let's forgive her for this time. Go to the Ministry of Punishment and receive twenty strokes of the cane."
Lu Haozhi neither looked at her nor waited for her to finish speaking before sentencing Xiuzhi.
Liang Chengbi bit her lip and tried to persuade him, "Your Majesty, it's truly heartbreaking that Concubine Lin has just entered the palace and encountered such a thing. Others don't know her temper, so she must not have served her well enough. Why not let this girl atone for her crime with merit? Mark her with a board first. If she serves well, let it go. If not, it won't be too late to punish her later."
She wanted to take a gamble and see what position Lin Yanrong held in Lu Haozhi's heart.
After all, Lin Yanrong had established a relationship with the emperor during the selection, so it was thought that the emperor would look at her differently.
No matter what, she couldn't let Meng Yan get too proud.
Unexpectedly, Lu Haozhi glanced at her and said, "The Imperial Concubine is becoming more and more capable of taking charge of the household. You are trying to stop me from sending a servant to prison."
Liang Chengbi's face turned pale and he said nothing as he watched Xiuzhi being dragged out by two eunuchs.
Xiuzhi was so frightened that she even forgot to beg for mercy.
Lu Haozhi brushed off his clothes, stood up and said calmly, "Tell someone to wait carefully. I will ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to investigate the matter below. I have something else to do in the court, so I will go back first."
Seeing the emperor about to leave, Liang Chengbi hurriedly followed him, "Your Majesty, Concubine Lin has suffered such a hardship, it's really pitiful, won't you go in and see her?"
At this moment, there was a slight movement inside, and a palace maid said happily: "The young lady has woken up!"
Lu Haozhi stopped and looked at the heavy curtains.
Seeing this, Liang Chengbi was delighted, thinking that Lu Haozhi really looked at Lin Yanrong differently.
Unexpectedly, Lu Haozhi took a step and walked out the door, leaving a word from a distance.
"She broke the palace rules during the selection process. Is she going to do it again? Just tell the servants to be careful and serve her. I'm not a doctor."
Liang Chengbi had no choice but to bow and see him off respectfully.
Lu Haozhi left Yongshou Palace, got on the sedan chair, and ordered to return to Yangxin Palace.
Rong An followed, and seeing that the emperor looked unhappy, he dared not say a word and remained depressed all the way.
After the imperial carriage passed through the long street, Lu Haozhi suddenly spoke up, "A newly arrived concubine has caused so much trouble. It's clear that she is not someone you can rest easy with. Inform the Ministry of Internal Affairs to investigate this case seriously and make sure you give me an explanation."
When Rong An heard this, he immediately responded.
Lu Haozhi looked up at the sky. The rain had already stopped and the clouds had cleared, leaving the sky clear and blue.
Meng Yan's pretty face suddenly flashed before his eyes.
Throughout today's incident, she never pleaded with him, and didn't even look at him.
If it were in the past, she would definitely act coquettishly towards me and ask me to make the decision for her.
But today, she figured out the whole matter in no time.
What's wrong with her?
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