Chapter 163 She is too stupid
"elder brother……"
When the face of the person coming came into view, Concubine Xia Shu's tears suddenly burst out.
In the next room, Emperor Jingming wanted to laugh when he thought of what Ji Yunshu had just said, but seeing that Zhao Shen had no expression on his face but was obviously in a bad mood, he didn't want to gloat over his misfortune.
He cleared his throat and got down to business: "Do you think Concubine Shu will tell Xiuzhu the truth?"
Zhao Shen listened to the sound of the girl crying next door and rubbed his eyebrows impatiently: "It doesn't matter whether she says it or not."
Although Ji Yunshu didn't ask, the fact was already obvious.
Concubine Xia Shu didn't have the brains or the courage to poison the emperor. It was obvious that she was being used.
The Xia family knew nothing about this.
The Emperor, seeing him display his emotions for the first time, glanced at him and asked, "Prime Minister Lu's daughter, I remember her as a talented and beautiful lady with a gentle demeanor. How could she be involved in these matters?"
So far, they haven't even noticed anything abnormal with Lu Xiang.
Zhao Shen's voice was a little deep: "I don't know either."
The emperor couldn't help but ask, "I heard Concubine Shu's story with every detail. Do you really have no relationship with her?"
Ji Yunshu didn't ask any more questions and acted as if he didn't take it to heart.
From the tone of her voice, it seems that as long as Zhao Shenren is hers, it doesn’t matter who she loves in her heart.
Even the emperor felt that it was a bit heartless, and seeing Zhao Shen's expression, it was obvious that he took it to heart.
The emperor felt that Ji Yunshu was his cousin after all, so he should at least help her with some of the details.
Zhao Shen's eyes were dim, and he said calmly, "Your Majesty, what do you think I can have a relationship with an unmarried woman?"
Emperor Jingming also felt that what Concubine Shu said was a bit outrageous. He knew Zhao Shen better than anyone else what kind of person he was. If he had Lu Ningshuang in his heart, he would not have married Ji Yunshu.
He waved his hand and said, "Of course I believe you, but Ah Shu might have wild thoughts. If the assassination of our mother today is also related to Prime Minister Lu's daughter, then she is truly deeply in love with you."
Why did Lu Ningshuang want someone to assassinate the empress dowager for no reason?
In the past, the emperor might have entertained conspiracy theories.
But now, the first person he thought of was Ji Yunshu.
Because the Queen Mother is Ji Yunshu's greatest confidence and support.
Perhaps in Lu Ningshuang's eyes, without the Queen Mother and the Ji family, Ji Yunshu would not be a threat.
Zhao Shen's heart moved: "Are you saying that Ah Shu is angry with me?"
Many people think that Ji Yunshu has a bad temper and acts capriciously, but Zhao Shen discovered that after being together for such a long time, he seemed to have never seen Ji Yunshu really angry.
They both solve problems through discussion.
Emperor Jingming was a little confused when he heard this, but then he understood something. He squinted his eyes and looked at Zhao Shen for a few times, then smiled and said, "If Lu Ningshuang has been in so much trouble because of you, then it would be hard for her not to vent her anger on you. After all, you know the place that your mother holds in her heart."
Zhao Shen nodded: "I will solve it as soon as possible."
While the two were talking, Xia Xiuzhu walked in, knelt down before the emperor and apologized, saying, "It was my ignorance that led me to do the wrong thing. The Xia family is at your disposal, Your Majesty."
Emperor Jingming asked, "What did Concubine Shu say?"
Xia Xiuzhu said, "She really doesn't know anything. She only said that it was Lu Ningshuang who gave her the idea for the little prince's wet nurse last time, and that the palace maid who committed suicide this time also had a good relationship with Lu Ningshuang."
It was similar to what they guessed, but Emperor Jingming didn't think that Lu Ningshuang was stirring up trouble in the palace just for Zhao Shen.
He then asked, "Lu Ningshuang is also your cousin. Do you know why she did this?"
Xia Xiuzhu smiled bitterly and said, "If I had known, I wouldn't have let her do this. If it weren't for the emperor's reminder, we wouldn't have even noticed that there was something wrong with my aunt's condition."
The emperor raised his eyebrows: "Is Madam Lu's condition different?"
Xia Xiuzhu didn't know whether the emperor really didn't know or was deliberately trying to trick him.
He didn't have time to think too much at the moment, so he told the truth: "Looking at the symptoms, it's the same poison you've been poisoned with, Your Majesty, but the imperial physician hasn't diagnosed it yet."
The emperor smiled and said, "We'll know if it's true. But I'm afraid your cousin will be difficult to deal with, after all, her last name is Lu."
Even though they are relatives by marriage, it is not easy for the Xia family to discipline the daughter of the Lu family.
Are you doubting Lu Xiang?
Xia Xiuzhu's heart skipped a beat, and a hint of confusion appeared on his face: "What does the emperor mean?"
Emperor Jingming said, "Don't alert the enemy yet. If you can resolve Miss Lu's situation, then resolve it. If not, then let it go for now."
Xia Xiuzhu probably understood what the emperor wanted to do. Was he trying to play the long game and catch a big fish?
Who is behind my cousin that makes the emperor so cautious?
He nodded: "I understand."
Emperor Jingming said, "Although the Xia family was unaware of this, the matter is of great importance and must be punished. I will demote you to a position in Yongzhou. Are you willing?"
Xia Xiuzhu widened his eyes, not understanding why the emperor would suddenly make such an arrangement.
He didn't remember that there was a vacancy in officials in Yongzhou.
Emperor Jingming seemed to know what he was thinking and said with a smile, "It will be soon. You should rest at home for a while and sort out your family affairs. When the time comes, the imperial edict will be issued."
Xia Xiuzhu had no choice but to say, "I obey your order."
The emperor nodded: "Okay, you should go back."
Xia Xiuzhu acknowledged her for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "My sister?"
Emperor Jingming saw the hope in his eyes and said, "You have brought her up too innocently. She is not suitable for the palace. Take her away. There will be no more concubines in the palace from now on."
Xia Xiuzhu breathed a sigh of relief and expressed his sincere gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
Emperor Jingming waved his hand and said, "Go ahead."
After Xia Xiuzhu left, Zhao Shencai asked, "I thought you would keep Concubine Shu in the palace as a hostage?"
The emperor said disdainfully, "She's too stupid. I'm afraid she'll be killed accidentally, which would backfire and alienate the Xia family."
"Are you confident in letting Xia Xiuzhu go to Yongzhou? How can you be sure he won't defect to Prince Yong? It seems Prince Yong is very skilled in controlling his subordinates."
Anyone who can be caught alive will commit suicide.
Although those minions are unlikely to know too much, it is still very distressing to see one or two of them commit suicide.
The Emperor said, "A place like Yongzhou is useless for ordinary people. If they don't surrender to Prince Yong, they will probably die. But aristocratic children like Xia Xiuzhu are different. Prince Yong wants to seek the throne, so he will not make such a powerful enemy as the Xia family. Xia Xiuzhu himself is no mediocre person. I believe he knows how to choose."
If Zhao Shen had not told him that Prince Yong had great ambitions, he would not have realized that there was no one he could trust in Yongzhou.
The situation in Suzhou was already enough to frighten him, and now it seemed that the situation in Yongzhou was even worse.
Zhao Shen asked in vain. He knew that the Xia family's roots were in the capital, and the emperor was not a foolish monarch. As long as Xia Xiuzhu was not stupid, he would not rely on Prince Yong.
The matter of the emperor being poisoned was resolved in this way. Zhao Shen felt a little sad. In his previous life, the emperor was not poisoned so early, but when he died, the emperor's body was already very weak.
He also got a rough idea of what happened later from Ji Yunshu.
Everything is different now.
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