Things that the Crown Prince could not find out became much easier once Emperor Jinde took action, after all, he was the master of the entire imperial city.
No matter how careful you are, doing bad things under your master's nose will inevitably leave a trace.
A small storm swept through the palace.
Concubine Qiao watched helplessly as her trusted nanny was arrested and interrogated. His Majesty's people really found out!
Only then did she realize that Emperor Jinde's spies were everywhere in the palace. They even found out that the nanny had gone out of the palace twice a few days before the palace banquet, and they knew exactly what she had bought.
The nanny secretly made a deal with a drug store owner and bought a poison that was the same poison that killed the palace maiden between their teeth when they bit through the poison sac.
Some people also pointed out that the nanny had indeed had contact with the palace maid named Erlan.
There was no need for the Ministry of Punishment to torture her severely, as the nanny could no longer bear it. She fell to her knees and took all the blame on herself.
"I resent Madam Jiang because the two young ladies of the Jiang family wanted to harm her and implicated His Highness Prince An. So I took my anger out on Madam Jiang and put the blame on her."
"No one ordered me to do this. It was all my own fault. I was bewildered and blinded by resentment!"
Her venting of anger was far-fetched, but the nanny insisted that she was the one who did it.
Emperor Jinde handed the matter over to the empress, as she was the one who should make the decision on matters concerning the harem.
The Queen said casually, "Drag this evil slave before Concubine Qiao and have him beaten to death."
The nanny felt a chill in her heart and was taken away with her mouth covered.
On this day, the people in Yingri Palace were in panic.
Seeing her trusted nanny die before her eyes, Concubine Qiao's fingers, which were placed in her sleeves, were swollen from pinching them. She felt a fishy-sweet taste in her mouth, but she had no choice but to swallow it.
Her face was completely pale without a trace of blood.
"Concubine Qiao is not strict in her administration and this evil slave almost ruined my birthday banquet and nearly destroyed the reputation of the wife of Marquis Anguo. She should be punished." The Queen glanced at Concubine Qiao.
Concubine Qiao curled her lips and said, "The Queen is right."
Although it was a punishment, she didn't think the queen would do anything to her.
The next second, the queen suddenly stepped forward and raised her hand.
“Bang!”
A loud slap landed on Concubine Qiao's face.
Concubine Qiao covered her face with her hands, her eyes filled with anger: "Queen, you..." She actually dared to hit her!
The Queen took in her resentment and said calmly, "Why? As the head of the harem, don't I have the right to teach you a lesson?"
Concubine Qiao gritted her teeth and squeezed out a voice: "Of course I am qualified."
The Queen said: "Princess Qiao, go to Ci'en Temple and face the wall to reflect on your mistakes. Come back when you have reflected enough."
After saying this, the queen turned away.
Concubine Qiao almost fell to the ground, and the palace maid next to her immediately supported her.
Have you reflected enough? Isn't that what the Queen has the final say?
Without the Queen's approval, it would be a luxury for her to return to the palace!
Who wouldn't guess that it was Concubine Qiao's instruction when the trusted nanny did such a thing?
Your Majesty handed the matter over to the Queen and did not intend to pursue it to the end. He just wanted to make an example of her to scare Concubine Qiao.
The evil slave was beaten to death, Concubine Qiao was slapped and sent out of the palace to reflect on her mistakes. The other concubines also became cautious unconsciously, fearing that they would be held accountable for their deeds.
His Majesty's spies are everywhere, and their words and actions cannot escape his eyes. Concubine Qiao is the best example.
Anguo Marquis Mansion, study.
Jiang Qingyao received another letter from the prince, telling her what was happening in the palace.
Jiang Qingyao raised her eyebrows, "Your Majesty and the Queen are awesome."
She naturally didn't think that Emperor Jinde would kill Concubine Qiao just because he made the decision for her. She had seen it from Concubine Li's return to the position of concubine. Unless they committed a mistake that Emperor Jinde could not tolerate, Emperor Jinde would not touch any of the four concubines.
It’s not that Emperor Jinde cares much about them. The four concubines are not only related to the emperor’s relatives, but they also check and balance each other in the palace. They can also suppress other concubines, allowing the harem to maintain a subtle "harmony", at least on the surface.
Now that Concubine Qiao has been punished and expelled from the palace, it is unknown when she will be able to return. If time passes too long, His Majesty's affection for her will fade even further.
"Princess Qiao must be so anxious." Jiang Qingyao muttered.
Several days passed in a flash.
Ever since He Siyu came back from the palace banquet and mentioned Xie Yuchuan to Mrs. Tao, Mrs. Tao took it very seriously and asked someone to find out more about him.
"This Xie Yuchuan has quite a background. He is not only Mr. Xie's youngest nephew, but also his newest and most admired student. He has a bright future."
"Outsiders say Xie Yuchuan has an elegant appearance, like Binghu Qiuyue, and his qualities and appearance are both excellent. He is a good man!"
"Siyu, you must seize this man with a good family background and good character."
He Siyu's ears were almost callused by Tao's nagging. She said shyly and impatiently, "I know. Mother has been talking about it for most of the day."
Tao: "Hey, kid, where are you going?"
He Siyu: "Let's go shopping with Auntie San."
Mrs. Tao immediately stepped forward and pulled her by the arm, saying, "Mother heard that Xie Yuchuan hasn't returned to Runan yet, and it looks like he'll be staying here for a while. He's currently living in Tianzi Pavilion. If you're interested in him, go try your luck."
In the afternoon, Jiang Qingyao and He Siyu got on a carriage and went out.
At this time, the Xie family of Runan.
Xie Linqian was wearing a loose green robe with crane patterns, his black hair was half tied up, and his face was handsome.
He has an air of age-honored grace about him, noble and aloof.
At this time, he looked down at the letter in his hand. It was sent by Xie Yuchuan.
"What happened at Lingxi Mountain back then."
"Madam Jiang of the Marquis of Anguo..."
Xie Linqian's gentle and reserved temperament was swept away, and a dark look was brewing in his eyes.
The letter caught fire and the flames leaped.
Xie Linqian: "Tomorrow, we will set off for Shangjing."
He hadn't been to Shangjing for many years, so it was time for him to go. Besides, there was an old friend in the palace.
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