Ling Shumo's thoughts drifted to her own thoughts as her gaze fell on Jiang He again. Looking closely, she saw a piece of cloth tightly clutched in Jiang He's hand. Ling Shumo frowned, trying to pull the cloth out of Jiang He's hand, but she couldn't. Finally, two attendants stepped forward and, with a combined effort, finally pulled the cloth free.
Si Jiangzhi glanced over and, once he saw what was written on the cloth, his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. Written on the cloth was nothing but a large "Si" (Si). The font was red, clearly the result of pricking a finger and using blood instead of ink.
When Jiang He wrote the word "Si", he was obviously in a hurry. The handwriting was of different thicknesses, and some strokes were stuck together.
Ling Shumo didn't recognize what was written on it at first glance, but when she saw Si Jiangzhi's panicked face, she immediately understood everything. She asked angrily, "Why did you want to kill Jiang He? What did he do to you that made you treat him so cruelly?"
Si Jiangzhi sat on the ground in a state of embarrassment, staring up at the furious Ling Shumo, but he had no idea how to defend himself. As the last person to come into contact with Jiang He, he was the most likely suspect. He had thought his actions might be exposed, but he hadn't imagined it would come so soon.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Ling Shumo's anger grew even stronger. She raised her foot and kicked him hard in the stomach. "Tell me, tell me everything. I'm really curious about what you're thinking, you bitch. Are you crazy?"
Si Jiangzhi covered his stomach with his hands in pain, then opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing her beloved man being treated so cruelly, Doctor Wang wanted to rush forward to protect Si Jiangzhi, but reason forced her to suppress such thoughts. If she really went to plead for Si Jiangzhi, not only would she not be able to help him, but she would also push her beloved into the eighteenth level of hell.
Now, Ling Shumo's entire attention was focused on Si Jiangzhi, but Pei Jiuyan had keenly noticed something was wrong with Doctor Wang. He asked thoughtfully, "Doctor Wang seems to be very concerned about Si Fanghua?"
Doctor Wang was so frightened when his name was suddenly called that he almost screamed, but he forced himself to hold it back and denied it flatly, "Master Rong Ze is really a joke. Si Fanghua is a man in His Majesty's harem. How could it be that I should feel sorry for her? You are really terrified to say that."
Ling Shumo also turned to look at Doctor Wang standing beside her. Her right eyelid twitched twice at this moment. Her intuition told her that there must be something strange about Doctor Wang. Just as she was about to interrogate Doctor Wang, the attendant's voice came from the direction of the door, "Mr. Fu has arrived..."
Everyone turned around and saw Fu Yijing, dressed in a pearl white brocade robe, walk in.
Pei Jiuyan and the palace attendants hurriedly saluted Fu Yijing. Fu Yijing, in turn, knelt slightly towards Ling Shumo and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
Fu Yijing had been staying indoors for quite some time. Ling Shumo was a little surprised to see him, and then she said calmly, "Get up."
Seeing Ling Shumo's expression, Fu Yijing knew he shouldn't be so anxious to appear before her. Xuanming Fairy said that the best opportunity for He Huaichen's comeback would be when his sister, He Huiyuan, returned victorious from the battle. Fu Yijing had always thought so, but when he heard that Jiang He had suffered a head injury, he became restless. A voice in his heart kept urging him to visit Jiang He.
Ever since he'd angered His Majesty, he'd experienced the fickleness of the world and the warmth and coldness of human hearts. Those who once fawned over him, now seeing him lose his power, were eager to step on his head. But Jiang He, alone, remembered his kindness and frequently visited Fengyi Palace to chat and gossip.
Fu Yijing sat down beside Jiang He's bed and gently held Jiang He's hand. He didn't want to cry, but tears flowed uncontrollably.
Ling Shumo ordered Shi Qi in a cold voice, "Take Doctor Wang to the prison and torture her severely. Make sure she confesses everything."
Fu Yijing stood up and bowed to Ling Shumo again, "Your Majesty, please hand Si Fanghua over to me. I wish to avenge Jiang He personally."
Ling Shumo nodded, agreeing. Soon, Doctor Wang was bound hand and foot and dragged out of the Lotus Palace like a dead dog. Si Jiangzhi was also forcibly dragged away by Fu Yijing. Ling Shumo and the unconscious Jiang He were the only ones left in the room.
Ling Shumo gently stroked Jiang He's cheek, feeling a pang of pain in her heart. She thought that as long as Jiang He didn't fight or compete, and as long as she had her favor, he wouldn't be persecuted. But she had underestimated the cruelty of men when they wanted to harm others.
About an hour passed.
Shi Qi and Fu Yijing returned to Lianyun Hall one after another. The details of Si Jiangzhi and Doctor Wang's affair were not complicated. Under the torture instruments, the two confessed everything.
Upon learning that Si Jiangzhi had dared to betray her, Ling Shumo felt incredibly humiliated. She delivered another vicious kick to Si Jiangzhi, "You bitch! Your crimes are unforgivable! I will sentence you to death by slicing, and exterminate your entire clan. As for your adulteress, I'll chop off her limbs and throw her into a pigpen for the rest of her life."
Si Jiangzhi was already covered in blood from being whipped, and now he was kicked, and the wound, which had not been treated to begin with, became even bigger.
His face turned pale, drained of all color. He spat out another mouthful of blood, tears streaming down his face. "As the emperor, you couldn't treat me equally. You left me alone in the desolate and lonely Lotus Rhythm Palace. Day after day, year after year, I have to wait for the emperor's favor."
I've gazed long and hard, gazing beyond the deep palace walls, carefully dressing myself every day, yet I never see you. Your Majesty, my heart is filled with sorrow! My heart is in agony! If you could only glance at me a moment longer, how could I have committed such a monstrous mistake?
If I could receive His Majesty's grace, how could I care less about a mere royal physician? I don't ask for much, but even this little bit of love, Your Majesty, is unwilling to give me."
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