Chapter 71 The Emperor's Trap
"Your Majesty has been too aggressive this time. The Emperor has never indulged in women, especially during these busy times. He doesn't like to be disturbed. Haven't you seen it these past few days? Even a favored concubine like Concubine Meng is very well behaved. At this critical moment, you let Liu Danying come in and confront him. Aren't you just trying to incur the Emperor's dislike?"
Zhao Chunfang said with some complaint.
She was quite dissatisfied with Liang Chengbi's behavior recently. Over the years, she had followed her loyally and served her wholeheartedly, giving her advice on how to deal with Concubine Meng and win the emperor's favor. Although all of them failed, even if she had no credit, she still had some hard work, right?
As soon as the newly selected concubine entered the palace, the Imperial Noble Consort immediately started to promote the newcomer. In the past two days, it has been Lin Yanrong and Liu Miaoyi, and it seems that she is about to kick her aside.
Zhao Chunfang was quite angry, but she couldn't show it, so she had to endure it.
When the Imperial Noble Consort and Liu Miaoyi were planning that scheme, she had already seen the hidden dangers, but she didn't say a word about it. She was just waiting for Liu Miaoyi to get into trouble. Liang Chengbi would have no one to rely on, so he would have to rely on herself.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier? What's the point of saying all this now?"
Liang Chengbi was so angry that his hands, which were holding the armrests of the chair, were shaking.
The crime of treason is not something that anyone can bear!
Liu's death is not a pity, but if she gives herself away, how will she explain to the emperor?
How will the emperor punish her?
Thinking of Lu Haozhi's thundering methods in the past, Liang Chengbi felt a chill.
At the beginning, the regent intended to replace him, but Lu Haozhi took control of the situation with lightning speed, killing all the male members of the regent's family, and sending the women and children to the border to serve as slaves to the soldiers.
Many people in the capital were implicated in this case.
For a whole month, the blood in Caishikou flowed like a river and the heads of people piled up.
Liang Chengbi was quite familiar with the Regent's youngest daughter, a lady of a wealthy family, clothed in fine clothes and fed with delicious food. But on the day of her exile, she was seen with dishevelled hair, dressed in gray clothes, and chained by soldiers, strung together in a string, weeping as she left the capital.
Is this going to be Liang Chengbi's fate?
"Your Majesty, don't panic. The Emperor will definitely punish you this time."
Zhao Chunfang, noticing Liang Chengbi's uneasy expression, hurriedly added, "Your Majesty is at fault, and of course she should be punished. But it should be commensurate with the crime; the Emperor won't punish arbitrarily. Now, while Liu Miaoyi hasn't said anything yet, Your Majesty should go to the Yangxin Palace and admit your fault, admitting that you gave Liu some inappropriate hairpins and rings. Other matters are none of Your Majesty's business. Anyway, Your Majesty didn't talk things through with Liu at the beginning, and all these things are being pinned on her, as if she acted on her own. For the sake of Lord Liang, I think the Emperor won't punish Your Majesty too harshly."
Liang Chengbi bit his lower lip so hard that it was almost bleeding.
These things are easy to get rid of, but what should we do with the eunuchs on duty in the Yangxin Palace today?
Although Deputy General Manager Li Lan joined her in order to replace Rong An, she could not guarantee that this guy could endure the torture and not give her up.
But right now, she seemed to have no other choice.
Liang Chengbi let out a long sigh, stood up and went back to the house, and asked the palace maid to take off her hairpins and rings for her.
In the Yangxin Palace, Lu Haozhi sat on the dragon throne with his eyes closed, dozing off, his strong knuckles tapping lightly on the table.
A new group of palace maids and eunuchs were replaced in front of the emperor, and the atmosphere was very solemn.
Rong An, who was still suffering from diarrhea, was also called back and a bowl of tea was placed on the desk.
"Your Majesty, the weather is dry. Please drink a bowl of ginseng and yuzu tea to cool down your fever."
Rong An sighed in his heart. He couldn't even be at peace with his diarrhea. Less than half a day after he left, such a big thing happened.
"Who said I was angry?"
Lu Haozhi narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke calmly, his calm tone showing no trace of the previous fury.
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is right. It's all my fault for talking too much. I'll slap myself in the face."
Rong An blamed himself repeatedly. At this moment, he didn't dare to talk back. He raised his fat hand and slapped it lightly.
There was a clattering sound in the hall, and Lu Haozhi glanced at him without comment.
There is loud thunder, but no rain.
This old guy has been following him for so many years that he has become very skilled.
Although Rong'an had accepted some bribes from the concubines in the harem and sold some gossip in the past, he never did anything out of the ordinary.
When the water is too clear, there will be no fish. Lu Haozhi often turns a blind eye to this.
But Liang Chengbi's tricks really touched his taboo.
In fact, there was no need to interrogate that stupid woman and those palace maids and eunuchs. Lu Haozhi could guess who planned today's drama just by thinking about it.
The crime of treason was just a bluff. He was waiting for Liang Chengbi to fall into his trap.
The situation is at a stalemate now. If Liang Chengbi admits his guilt, that would be the best, and the civil officials of the previous dynasty would have nothing to say.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is kneeling outside the palace, begging for mercy."
Rong An received a message from his subordinates and came in to report.
The corners of Lu Haozhi's lips curled up slightly, "Let her kneel first."
After receiving the order, Rong An hurried to pass on the message, secretly clicking his tongue.
This Imperial Noble Consort has seriously offended the Emperor this time.
He is also a high-ranking master, so how can he not distinguish between the important and the unimportant?
For example, the lady in Changchun Palace would sometimes quarrel with the emperor and even want to tear down the roof of the Yangxin Palace, but she would never do such a stupid thing. She knew how to measure things very well. No wonder the emperor doted on her for so many years.
This guy is so good that he dares to stroke the tiger's beard.
After hearing Rong An's message, Liang Chengbi's face turned blue and red. She had never suffered such humiliation before.
She knelt outside the hall, feeling as if countless gazes were piercing her back like needles.
I don’t know how long it took, but cold sweat almost soaked my white silk clothes, and my knees were swollen and painful, almost numb.
Rong An finally emerged. Liang Chengbi gave a weak smile, then heard him say, "The Emperor has issued an oral order, ordering Imperial Concubine Liang to loudly admit her fault." He added with a forced smile, "Your Majesty, you must speak louder. Otherwise, the Emperor won't be able to hear you in there, and I'm afraid he won't let you get up."
That bastard Li Lan thought he could take the position of the Imperial Noble Consort by joining him?
Daydreaming!
This Imperial Noble Consort is too shameless. She's not content with the power she holds in the inner court, and has even extended her hand to the Yangxin Palace. Look at Imperial Noble Consort Meng, she never cares about these trivial matters.
Liang Chengbi felt a burning sensation on her face. Did Lu Haozhi want to humiliate her to this extent?
She gritted her teeth, her heart ached for a moment, and she shouted, "Your Majesty, I, Liang, have violated palace rules by rewarding concubines with ornaments that violate the rules. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
Rong An winked and said, "Ah, your Majesty, this is not right. What happened today is not just a small matter. If you can't explain it clearly, the Emperor will probably not let you go. Then you've knelt for nothing, right?"
Liang Chengbi felt her heart suddenly tighten. Lu Haozhi... Did Lu Haozhi know her plan a long time ago?
She seemed to have fallen into the clutches of a wild beast, at its mercy.
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