Chapter 114 Suing Concubine Song
Jiang Yingli ordered Lian Qiao to go to Changqing Palace to invite someone.
At this moment, Xiao Chenglan was indeed busy, as several ministers were waiting to see him in the hall.
But when Xiao Chenglan heard Fu Wanquan say that the visitor was Lian Qiao from Zhaohua Palace, he gave some instructions to the ministers and asked them to come back in the afternoon.
Seeing that His Majesty looked like he had something important to do, the ministers didn't say anything. After all, they all saw how diligent His Majesty was in his work.
If it wasn't an urgent matter, His Majesty would not have thrown them aside, so the ministers all took their leave.
When Xiao Chenglan arrived at Roufu Palace, the first thing he saw was Jiang Yingli, who was sitting there calmly drinking tea.
It seems nothing happened.
When Xiao Chenglan entered the hall, his eyes seemed to inadvertently glance at Huaiyu who was tied up.
Seeing His Majesty coming, everyone knelt down and saluted.
"Get up." Xiao Chenglan said lightly, walked to Jiang Yingli and helped her.
Su Qingrong caught a glimpse of Xiao Chenglan supporting Jiang Yingli, and her hatred intensified. She didn't stand up, but instead adjusted her position and knelt toward Xiao Chenglan.
"Your Majesty, I am suing Concubine Song for having an affair, defiling the palace, and defying your majesty!"
Song Wanyan also knelt at this time, and spoke each word with sonorous force: "Your Majesty, I have strictly abided by the palace rules since entering the palace, and have never violated the rules. Su Zhaoyi has slandered my innocence without any reason!"
Jiang Yingli sat down in her seat. When she heard Su Qingrong's words about the defiled palace, she was so angry that she almost stood up again, but was pushed back by Xiao Chenglan without a word.
Xiao Chenglan turned around and his eyes fell on Su Qingrong.
"Since you want to sue me, where is the evidence? I won't listen to those groundless rumors."
Su Qingrong straightened her back, a sinister smile flashed in her eyes, she took something out of her sleeve, held it high in her hand, motioned for everyone to see, and then presented it to Xiao Chenglan with both hands.
"Your Majesty, this is the physical evidence. This jade pendant fell from the eunuch in Concubine Song's palace and was found by one of my concubines. Only then did they discover this secret. Otherwise, who knows how long they would have condoned such lewd behavior!"
When the concubines heard about the adulterous incident, they all covered their faces with their sleeves, handkerchiefs and other things.
What kind of obscene thing is this? Is there really such an obscene thing in the palace?
"Your Majesty, this jade pendant is one of a pair of twin lotus flowers. The people of the capital often use this jade pendant as a token of engagement. I'm sure all of you sisters from the capital are aware that this is a tradition passed down from generation to generation."
The concubines looked at the twin lotus pendants and whispered to each other.
"This double lotus pendant is indeed a pattern used only for engagements. How could a eunuch like him..."
"Yes, my younger sister had just gotten engaged before I entered the palace. She also had a pair of lotus pendants like this, in the same position, with words engraved on them. It's an old custom."
…
Concubine Shen looked at the jade pendant and frowned.
Before His Majesty came, Su Qingrong had been evasive, wanting everyone to think she was talking nonsense. Only after His Majesty came did she produce decent evidence. It seemed that she came prepared.
Today's matter is probably not simple.
"You sisters are right to be suspicious. How could he, a eunuch, have such a thing on him? Even if he had an engagement before entering the palace, he should have put his past behind him long ago. But he has been obsessed with it, dodging the numerous searches and keeping this jade pendant in his arms. It's only because his beloved is right in front of him!"
Su Qingrong turned the jade pendant over, revealing the side with the word "Song" engraved on it.
"It just happened to be a double lotus pendant, and it just happened to have the word Song engraved on it. And he just happened to be working in the palace of Concubine Song. Is all this just a coincidence?!"
When the concubines saw the other side of the jade pendant, they became excited again.
"Is there really a word 'Song' on it?"
"Yes, I saw it. Oh, this is really..."
"Couldn't it be that Concubine Song rewarded the servants to give it away?"
"Who would reward a servant with a double lotus pendant? This is not something you can just give out casually."
Song Wanyan glared at Su Qingrong and sternly said, "What does a jade pendant prove? I can wave my hand and have the people in the jewelry shop make a hundred of these jade pendants overnight. Will they have the word 'Song' or 'Su' engraved on them? It's just a matter of one order, and this is the evidence you're talking about?"
Su Qingrong looked back at her without any hesitation and said loudly, "Madam Song, of course the jade pendant can be made at will. Isn't it the person who holds the jade pendant that matters?"
Su Qingrong looked at Xiao Chenglan, "Your Majesty, you may not know yet, but this Huaiyu not only secretly kept the jade pendant, but also used a false identity to enter the palace. The reason he is so powerful is because his true identity is Xie Huaiyu, the third son of the Xie family, a criminal from the previous dynasty!"
"In the past, those in the palace who had received favors from the Xie family were naturally willing to help him! They helped him conceal the truth and deceive His Majesty! And this third son of the Xie family was engaged to the Song family when he was young. This is the origin of this twin lotus pendant!"
This single statement caused a huge uproar, and everyone in the hall was stunned.
Princess Song stared in amazement at the jade pendant engraved with the word "Song".
The marriage between the Song family and the Xie family?
When she was a child, she vaguely heard about it from her elders, but the Xie family was convicted and the Song family broke off the engagement.
At that time, she couldn't even walk, and this incident has long been a thing of the past.
Is this Huaiyu really Xie Huaiyu, the third son of the Xie family?
Song Wanyan looked at Huaiyu, and Huaiyu lowered his head the moment he met her gaze.
Xiao Chenglan stretched out his hand, picked up the red string of the jade pendant from Su Qingrong's hand with his fingertips, looked at it carefully for a few seconds, handed it to Song Wanyan, and spoke indifferently, with a sense of oppression in his words.
"Princess Song, do you recognize this thing?"
Song Wanyan looked at the jade pendant swaying in front of her and took a deep breath.
"Your Majesty, I have never seen anything like this!"
This marriage must not be accepted.
Otherwise, even if the engagement was broken off when he was young, he has been working in her palace for several months now, and the dirty water cannot be washed away no matter what.
"Your Majesty, I have been taught to observe strict etiquette since I was young. My every word and action has been carefully taught to me. I have long known that I would enter the palace to serve you. I have never even glanced at other men, so how could I have been engaged to someone else?"
"What a high-sounding excuse! Concubine Song, do you dare to swear on the entire Song family that you have never been engaged to anyone?!"
"Then do you dare to swear on the Su family that I have an affair with him?"
Su Qingrong was stunned.
Huaiyu was definitely not innocent in today's incident, but Song Wanyan probably really didn't know about it. After all, her father said that the marriage had been called off long ago.
"Why aren't you talking? It seems you have a guilty conscience!" Song Wanyan said coldly.
Xiao Chenglan held the jade pendant in his hand, walked to the main seat and sat down. His expression was indistinguishable from joy or anger. He lowered his eyes and looked at the two people in the hall who were arguing fiercely, and said coldly:
"Su Zhaoyi, I only want evidence. You said he was Xie San, then it's up to you to prove it."
Su Qingrong quickly kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have witnesses who can prove that Huaiyu is the third son of the Xie family."
"Bring it up."
Su Qingrong asked Qinglian to bring the old nanny from the Xie family up.
"Your Majesty, after discovering this jade pendant, I was concerned that Concubine Song might do something that would bring shame upon the imperial family. I secretly investigated and found the old servant of the Xie family. Upon questioning, I discovered that Concubine Song was truly audacious! Your Majesty, please be discerning and do not let off the person who defiled the palace!"
The old lady had a lame leg and was supported by Qinglian as she limped into the hall.
When she saw Huaiyu's profile, she couldn't hide the guilt in her eyes, but she tried her best to suppress it and knelt down towards Xiao Chenglan.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty, the ladies and the young ladies."
After Xiao Chenglan asked her to stand up, she looked at Huaiyu behind her, her face moved, and she greeted him and saluted.
"It's been more than ten years since we last met. Third Young Master, how have you been lately?"
This greeting made everyone's eyes fall on Huaiyu.
Huaiyu's mouth was blocked, and she didn't look at the old nanny, still with her head down.
"You brought an old maid here and said he was the young master of the Xie family. Does that mean he is the young master of the Xie family? Now I will find someone to bring here and say I am the eldest daughter of the Su family who was lost outside. Will you call me sister?" Jiang Yingli questioned Su Qingrong.
Su Qingrong took a deep breath and said, "Don't worry, Empress Xiuyi. We have our own way to prove it."
After saying that, Su Qingrong looked at the old nanny and said, "Mammy, if you have any evidence, just bring it out. Don't be afraid. You are doing a good deed by telling the truth today."
The old lady took out some paintings from her sleeves.
"Your Majesty, Madam, I am indeed a servant of the Xie family, and I belong to the Third Young Master's courtyard. Back then, the young master was young and extremely noble, and he was betrothed to the Miss Song family. Miss Song was young and couldn't move around easily, so the master offered to paint a few pictures and send them to the Song family so that the Miss could recognize her future husband. I also have a portrait of the young master that I secretly hid when the Xie Mansion was raided."
Xiao Chenglan waved his hand, and Fu Wanquan immediately ordered someone to unfold the paintings.
All the paintings above are of a little boy, about five or six years old, but already very sensible. In the paintings, he is either reading under the eaves or sitting there writing obediently.
Her eyebrows and eyes are exactly like Huaiyu now.
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The volume was wrong, so I'll post this chapter first. I'll apply to change the order of the chapters. The other two chapters will be adjusted and posted in the evening. There will be three updates today and three updates tomorrow.
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