Chapter 66: Committing Suicide
"explain!"
In an instant, everyone looked at the eunuch from the Criminal Justice Department who came in, their eyes burning, waiting for the results of Hongxiu's interrogation.
Under pressure, the eunuch wiped the sweat from his forehead and said tremblingly, "Hongxiu committed suicide. Before she died, she admitted that she deliberately added clove powder to the incense pills and then put the blame on Master Yunxiang."
When they heard that Hongxiu was dead, everyone gasped.
I didn't expect that the person was fine an hour ago, but now he is gone.
The only reason they could think of was that Hongxiu, a delicate woman, could not bear the harsh interrogation methods of the Criminal Justice Department and simply died in pain.
Yun Wan's pupils shrank and his whole body suddenly felt cold.
If I hadn't been careful, would I be the one dying today?
She looked up in the direction of Concubine Shu and found that her face was full of gloating, as if she was watching a good show as an outsider, without any worry or fear at all.
If she were on trial today, would Concubine Shu argue for her?
Yun Wan felt heavy-hearted and didn't feel happy at all.
Human life is worthless in this palace.
Emperor Jingxuan had little reaction to Hongxiu's death. A servant with evil intentions was dead, so he was dead. However, he was dissatisfied with the Ministry of Justice for letting her die so quickly.
"Reason." He asked coldly.
The eunuch said, "She said that Concubine Shen has a domineering temper. Whenever she's in a bad mood, she'll beat or scold her. Hongxiu holds a grudge against her and wants to teach Concubine Shen a lesson."
He quickly took out a petition and presented it: "This is Hongxiu's petition, and it has her handprint on it."
Emperor Jingxuan glanced at it and passed it on.
After reading this, Concubine Li was furious: "That's how it is! I didn't expect Hongxiu to be so secretive. We were all nearly fooled by her."
After her anger subsided, she asked the eunuch of the Criminal Justice Department, "Did she say anything before she died?"
The eunuch shook his head and said truthfully, "Hongxiu knew she was doomed, so she bit her tongue and committed suicide after pressing her handprint."
The interrogator was careless and busy with his task, so he didn't hold back and didn't notice Hongxiu's desire to die. When he turned around and found her, Hongxiu had lost too much blood and there was no possibility of survival.
A life was lost just like that. Even though the man committed suicide out of fear of punishment, people still couldn't help but sigh.
Seeing that Emperor Jingxuan remained silent, the others did not dare to speak either.
Exchanging glances with the concubines below, Concubine Li said carefully, "Your Majesty, what should we do now?"
Now the culprit of the drugging has been found, but he is dead. Yun Wan, who was originally a suspect, has successfully defended himself. The excitement at this moment is like a farce.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Slow down!"
The palace maids cried out in surprise, and then Concubine Shen stumbled out. Upon seeing Emperor Jingxuan, she knelt before him and cried out in grievance:
"Your Majesty! Please help me! Look at my face..."
She had a veil on her face, covering most of it. However, the areas that were not covered, such as her forehead, were now covered with dense red spots. Even her eyes, which were exposed, were extremely swollen.
If they hadn't heard the voice, how would they have recognized that this was Concubine Shen?
Concubine Shu only glanced at her and then looked away in disgust, saying with displeasure, "Princess Shen, why don't you just stay inside and take care of yourself? Your Majesty, your behavior is definitely not going to offend you!"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shen's face changed drastically, and she looked at Emperor Jingxuan with a sad look: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please help me. Someone is deliberately trying to harm me!"
Emperor Jingxuan's eyes flickered slightly, and his gaze fell on Concubine Shen in front of him. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Someone wants to harm you? Who are you referring to?"
Concubine Li paused, feeling a bad premonition.
Just as she was thinking about how to start, she heard Concubine Shen speak bluntly: "It's that new Yunxiangshi! It was because I used the incense she made that I became like this. Please help me!"
After she finished speaking, she touched her face and tears streamed down her face. She didn't notice the gloomy expression on Emperor Jingxuan's face or Concubine Li who had closed her eyes.
This idiot!
Compared with before, Yun Wan was much calmer, and sat aside, looking at Concubine Shen coldly.
Emperor Jingxuan said in a gloomy tone: "She has no grudge against you, why would she want to harm you?"
Concubine Shen's eyelids were swollen and she felt uncomfortable all over. She didn't notice the strange atmosphere around her at all. Upon hearing this, she burst into tears and said, "She must have been instructed by someone! The person behind her wants to harm—"
"Shenpin!"
Concubine Li interrupted, reminding him: "Don't speak carelessly. Think carefully before you start making random comments."
Concubine Shen was stunned, not understanding what was going on: "Your Highness?"
But Concubine Li was too lazy to pay attention to her.
Concubine Shu chuckled and told her, "Sister Shenpin, your maid Hongxiu has confessed. She admitted that she was dissatisfied with you and deliberately smeared clove powder on the incense pill to harm you."
Concubine Shen was horrified and blurted out: "Impossible!"
"Hongxiu and I grew up together. How could she possibly betray me?"
Huipin had always had a bad relationship with her. Seeing this, she said leisurely, "Then you have to ask yourself, why did you beat and scold the palace maids for no reason? Isn't it causing resentment in others?"
"But Sister Shenpin has always had this kind of temper. Now, isn't this what you call 'reaping the fruits of one's own actions'?"
The mockery in her eyes was undisguised, and Concubine Shen was annoyed: "Concubine Hui, you!"
She still had some sense left in her, so she gritted her teeth and didn't continue.
When he looked up, he happened to see Emperor Jingxuan's expressionless face, and his heart trembled.
Emperor Jingxuan: "Enough? What do you want me to do for you?"
Concubine Shen swallowed her saliva and said, "Your Majesty..."
She wanted to explain something, but her throat was so tight that she couldn't utter a complete sentence, and fear lingered in her heart.
Emperor Jingxuan's eyes were icy. "You beat and scolded the palace maids for no reason, which led to retaliation. Not only did you not reflect on it, but you also made random accusations and almost wrongly accused someone."
"You insisted someone make the incense for you, but when something happened, you insisted they were trying to harm you. Without any evidence, you even clamored for me to take charge of your affairs?"
"Shenpin, do you think the palace is a busy city? Do you think I'm a monkey that you can play with as you please?"
When the last word fell, Concubine Shen's face turned pale and bloodless. She was so terrified that she collapsed to the ground.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me! It was my fault that I failed to see clearly and believed Hongxiu's slander. I beg you to forgive me and calm down!"
"Calm down?"
Emperor Jingxuan's face darkened, a storm brewing. "The Imperial Concubine just said that she was negligent. I hope I can calm down. One by one..."
His eyes suddenly turned cold, his tone was frosty, and he spoke with dignity and solemnity: "It seems that I have been too indulgent towards you."
An eerie silence spread throughout the palace, and all the concubines, including Concubine Li, dared not speak a word.
Emperor Jingxuan glanced at the people below and said after a long moment, "Princess Shen, the reason I gave you this title was because I hoped you would be careful with your words and actions. Since you can't do that..."
He sneered, "Then I will be stripped of my position as a concubine and will be moved out of Changqing Palace. My title will remain unchanged. I hope you will be careful with your words and actions in the future and remember this."
The sword hanging above her head fell down and Concubine Shen fainted.
But no one cares.
Emperor Jingxuan then turned his gaze towards Concubine Li, his stern face filled with displeasure:
"As for Noble Concubine, I have entrusted you with the Phoenix Seal, the power to manage the six palaces. However, the harem has been in turmoil recently, with frequent incidents. You have greatly disappointed me."
"She will be confined to her residence for three months, stripped of her authority over the six palaces, and her Phoenix Seal will be handed over to the Shufei and Xianfei for safekeeping. The two concubines will share responsibility for palace affairs."
"His Majesty!"
Concubine Li couldn't believe it.
She wanted to defend herself, but when she met Emperor Jingxuan's cold expression, she felt sad and lowered her proud head.
"...I obey your command."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
