The unexplained disappearance of Concubine Dong caused quite a stir in the palace. If it was just a missing palace maid or eunuch, it wouldn't be a big deal.
But if a concubine is lost, and she is pregnant, the matter is not as simple as it seems.
When Fu Qianyu found out, she immediately reported it to the Empress Dowager and Zhao Yuancheng, who ordered the palace guards to work in shifts day and night to search for Concubine Dong.
But half a month had passed, and even the cold palace had been turned upside down, but there was no trace of him at all.
But just before Fu Qianyu gave birth.
Some palace servants said that a foul smell came from the dry well next to Changxin Palace from time to time. They originally thought that the smell was coming from the corpse of a wild cat that fell into the dry well.
When the guards came forward to check, they dragged two female corpses out of the dry well. These two female corpses were the master and servant of Concubine Dong who had disappeared for a long time.
When the body was dragged up, Concubine Shu was so frightened that she almost fainted.
A coroner carefully examined the body of Miss Dong and found that the cause of death of both bodies was strangulation from behind, and the specific time of death was about half a month ago.
Lady Dong was still holding a jade pendant in her hand. When she cleaned it out and presented it to the Queen Mother and Zhao Yuancheng, the Queen Mother's face suddenly changed.
"This jade pendant was given to Concubine Shu by my family on the second day she entered the palace."
When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked.
It has been a long time since Concubine Shu has disliked Concubine Qian and Concubine Dong of Bixiao Palace. Now she even dares to kill people in the palace. She is really bold.
Zhao Yuancheng asked Zhu Yu with a cold face: "Where is Concubine Shu?"
Zhu Yu bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, ever since the bodies of Lady Dong and her servant were found in the dry well, Concubine Shu has been frightened and ill."
"Tell the Imperial Court to conduct a thorough investigation of the palace servants who worked in the Imperial Garden half a month ago. Perhaps they can find out something."
"Yes." Zhu Yu did not dare to delay and turned around and hurriedly left Ci'an Palace.
When no one was around, I could only hear the Queen Mother sigh softly, "Although Concubine Shu has a temper, I always think that she wouldn't do anything to kill someone."
Zhao Yuancheng said in a cold voice, "Please rest assured, mother. This matter is of great importance. I will instruct the Imperial Court to conduct a thorough investigation and will certainly not wrongly accuse Concubine Shu."
"That's good."
There is no wall that is impenetrable in the harem. After a few days, rumors spread that it was Concubine Shu who secretly murdered Concubine Dong and her servant.
The higher-ups have ordered the Imperial Court to conduct a thorough investigation, but there's still no result.
Concubine Shu couldn't help herself and started to panic: "What did you say? The jade pendant that I dropped is actually in the hands of Concubine Dong?"
Mo Xiang also looked terrified. His master had lost the jade pendant half a month ago.
At that time, because of the incident with Concubine Rou and the fact that it was a reward from the Empress Dowager, Concubine Shu did not dare to make it public and only ordered the people in Changxin Palace to look for her quietly.
But the entire garden was turned upside down, but the lost jade pendant was not found. Now it has been found, and this jade pendant may become the most powerful evidence of her murder of Lady Dong.
"How could this happen? Who is it, who wants to frame me?"
Concubine Shu sat on the couch in a daze, her already fair face turning even paler with fear. "No, I have to go to the Purple Palace to meet the Emperor. Concubine Dong's death has nothing to do with me. It's clearly someone else framing me!"
Without even bothering to put on makeup, Mo Xiang had already ordered the palace servants to prepare the sedan chair while she was talking.
At that time, because Fu Qianyu was due to give birth in these few days, Zhao Yuancheng was worried and came to chat with her, and mentioned the death of Concubine Dong and her servant.
Zhao Yuancheng said angrily: "Shufei is really stupid."
Pregnant women are afraid of heat, so even though it was May, Fu Qianyu was already fanning herself: "Why, have the Imperial Court found out?"
Zhao Yuancheng snorted coldly, "A palace maid said she saw Concubine Shu and Lady Dong arguing that night, and even heard Concubine Shu swear that she wouldn't let Lady Dong go easily. Bixiao Palace also made inquiries, and they said that Lady Dong had severe morning sickness, so she went out to relax and never returned after that night. Concubine Qian first secretly sent people to look for her, but the search was unsuccessful, so she reported this to you."
In this age without surveillance, it is indeed not easy to find out the truth.
But Fu Qianyu found it very strange that Lady Dong went out at night even though she knew that her pregnancy was not going well.
Therefore, she directly stated her doubts: "In fact, the Imperial Hospital had already reported to me long ago that Concubine Dong was weak and had suffered a serious injury in the early stage. This pregnancy was difficult to keep. But I didn't want Concubine Dong to worry, so I ordered the Imperial Hospital to keep this a secret. But think about it carefully, even if the Imperial Hospital didn't tell me, no one would know her physical condition better than the pregnant woman. Concubine Dong is timid. If she had a serious injury, why would she go out at night, and with only a palace maid? This is really strange."
Zhao Yuancheng knew all these things, but he was surprised that Fu Qianyu would help Concubine Shu to exonerate herself. After all, Concubine Shu was the one the Empress Dowager used to suppress her.
"Go on."
"There are so many dry wells in the palace, so why did they dump the bodies into the one next to Changxin Palace? Furthermore, the maid said she saw Concubine Shu and Lady Dong arguing in the Imperial Garden, and Concubine Qian also said Lady Dong didn't return to the palace that night. Even if Concubine Shu really did it, she could have just killed Lady Dong and her servant and dumped the bodies in the lake. Why go to all the trouble of dragging the bodies back to Changxin Palace? There are guards patrolling at night. Dragging two bodies through the streets is just courting death."
"What you said does make some sense, but there are guards stationed in Changxin Palace. It's not easy to hide from their eyes."
"Your Majesty, I believe that not only should a thorough investigation be conducted on the palace maids and eunuchs who served in the Imperial Garden that day, but also on the guards who served that day."
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