Chapter 85: Cousin's Appeal
As soon as these words were spoken, there was a sudden silence in Roufu Palace, and everyone looked at Jiang Yingli, who had a gloomy face and an expression of impatience.
Although everyone could guess that the cousins were not that close based on some things that happened in the past two days, when Empress Chongyi said this, they realized that it was not just that they were not close, but they also did not get along with each other.
However, I really don’t know how Xu Baolin managed to provoke the usually peaceful Empress Chongyi into anger.
Several concubines who had received benefits from Xu Nian Ya were slightly panicked at this moment.
broken.
She accepted the benefits for the sake of Empress Chongyi, but Empress Chongyi and she did not get along.
What should I do?
Xu Nianya was more surprised than anyone else.
The words just now were actually said to her by Jiang Yingli?
Jiang Yingli actually spoke to her like that?
Xu Nianya was stunned for a moment, but she managed to calm herself down. The most important thing today was to file a complaint, make a big deal out of it, and kill Zheng Laner.
"I have suffered a great injustice and nearly lost my life, yet Her Majesty Chongyi won't even let me cry. Isn't that too lacking in empathy?"
All the concubines gasped. What did it mean to lose one's life?
What is this happening?
They think they are well-informed, so how come they haven't found out about this?
Jiang Yingli was also confused. What life? Who wanted Xu Nianya's life?
While he was surprised, he heard that Empress Zhaoyi had arrived.
Everyone stood up again and saluted Su Qingrong.
The person Xu Nian Ya was waiting for finally arrived.
She had inquired and found out that Zheng Lan'er used to work in Qixiang Palace and Su Zhaoyi disliked her very much, while Jiang Yingli was good friends with Zheng Lan'er and enemies with Su Zhaoyi.
She wanted to find an ally to speak for her and help her, and that was Concubine Su.
As Su Qingrong entered the hall, she saw a figure in green kneeling down in front of her.
"Empress Zhaoyi, please stand up for me! Someone wants to harm me! Someone wants to harm me! I'm almost scared out of my wits, but Empress Chongyi won't even let me cry."
Su Qingrong originally hated Xu Nianya's approach, but when she heard Xu Nianya ask her to make the decision for her, she felt a little proud in her heart. She glanced at Concubine Song and said with a smile:
"If you have any grievances, I am here. Just tell me and I will redress your grievances."
Song Wanyan could tell that Su Qingrong was challenging her power as a palace maid, but she held back and didn't lose her temper. She ordered, "Okay, everyone is here. If you have anything to say, please sit down and talk to me."
Su Qingrong flicked her sleeves, glanced at Jiang Yingli, and sat down.
Xu Nian Ya then sobbed and said, "Yesterday, I was walking back to the palace by a small path. I was tired, so I stopped by a lotus pond to rest. I don't know which extremely vicious villain took advantage of me when I was not paying attention and pushed me into the water!"
This was the first time such a murder had occurred in the peaceful harem. Everyone was horrified when they heard about it, and there was a sound of gasps in the palace.
Jiang Yingli was slightly stunned. Xu Nianya was pushed into the water?
No wonder she dreamed that Xu Nian Ya fell into the pool yesterday. This was retribution.
How come she didn't drown?
Zheng Lan'er stared at Xu Nianya closely, her hands trembling slightly.
Song Wanyan frowned and said seriously, "This is a matter of life and death, Xu Baolin, please don't talk nonsense. Do you have any witnesses to prove that you really fell into the water, and this is not just a fabrication or alarmist statement?"
"Yes, I have a witness. It's my maid, Pan'er. She had just left to fetch water for me when that vicious woman saw the opportunity and tried to kill me while I was alone! If I hadn't been able to swim and faked my death to deceive her, I would be a corpse in the lotus pond now!"
Song Wanyan: "Bring Pan'er up here. I want to hear what she has to say."
Pan'er entered the hall and fell to her knees with fear.
When she came back yesterday and saw her master soaking wet, she was scared to death. But her master told her not to make it public and to find out the evidence first.
"Don't be afraid. Tell me what you saw."
Pan'er kowtowed and said, "After the morning meeting yesterday, the young lady was tired from walking halfway, so she sat down by the lotus pond to rest. I fetched water for her, and when I came back I saw her, soaking wet, lying on the bank. She said someone pushed her, and I was so scared that my legs went limp on the spot!"
This was indeed what Pan'er saw with her own eyes, so every word she said was true. Song Wanyan looked at her expression and did not detect any signs of guilt or deception.
"It seems the drowning incident is true. However, Xu Baolin, are you sure someone pushed you into the water, and not just you accidentally falling in due to fatigue? You just entered the palace and have no enemies. Who would have the motive to harm you?"
Su Zhaoyi snorted coldly and interrupted, "Your Highness, Concubine Song, are being unfair. Human hearts are unpredictable. Xu Baolin was nearly murdered, and yet Concubine Song has been both openly and covertly helping the murderer. Your Highness is acting as the agent for the six harems. This is truly disheartening to all the sisters. Who would dare to seek justice from you in the future?"
Concubine Song glared at Su Zhaoyi with a sharp glare, "Su Zhaoyi, please stop taking things out of context. I must get to the bottom of this and stop making groundless accusations. But you, after being quiet for a while, are now contradicting me again!"
Su Zhaoyi sneered, "It's unfair and you still don't let me speak up. No wonder Xu Baolin wanted to ask me for help just now."
Xu Nianya grabbed the hem of Su Zhaoyi's skirt at the right moment and cried out, "Your Highness Zhaoyi, please understand! I don't know why the murderer wanted to harm me. I have no grudge against him, so I want to know for sure!"
After saying that, Xu Nianya took out a purse with a broken plum blossom pattern from her sleeve and suddenly looked at Zheng Lan'er who was sitting at the last seat.
Before Xu Nianya could say anything, Zheng Lan'er's back was already covered in cold sweat.
That purse!
She was in such a hurry yesterday that she had forgotten that she had a purse with her, so she didn't notice that she had lost it, and Xu Nianya actually got it.
Zheng Lan'er's instantly pale face and panicked eyes spoke volumes.
Su Zhaoyi immediately said, "Oh, it seems the thief has already felt guilty, don't you think so, Zheng Baolin?"
Zheng Lan'er stood up trembling, knelt on the ground, opened her mouth, but could not utter any words of defense.
Jiang Yingli found it very strange.
Judging from Zheng Lan'er's expression, she was indeed panicked, but she didn't understand why Zheng Lan'er would harm Xu Nianya.
Xu Nianya held up the purse and pointed at Zheng Lan'er, who was kneeling beside her, with a resentful look. "I tore this purse off in my panic before I fell into the water. Such exquisite embroidery is rare in the palace. I had the honor of observing the embroidery works of the ladies yesterday."
"Zheng Baolin, why are the embroidery techniques and closing methods for this plum blossom exactly the same as those for your peonies?! Why are you trying to harm me? I have no grudge against you, so why are you so vicious?"
All the concubines looked at the purse in Xu Nian Ya's hand in surprise. There were indeed not many embroidered ones in the palace with such exquisite patterns.
Moreover, it looks similar to Zheng Baolin's peony painting.
"Present it here. I want to examine it carefully." Princess Song said.
Xu Nianya kowtowed, "Please ask Concubine Song to have someone fetch that peony painting. Once compared, you will know that I have not wronged Zheng Baolin. Zheng Baolin pushed someone into the water and killed them. How can you sisters sleep peacefully with such a vicious person in the palace? Please punish Zheng Baolin severely according to the palace rules!"
Su Zhaoyi was happy to see Zheng Lan'er die. She smiled and said loudly, "It's almost certain, Concubine Song. According to palace rules, anyone who kills someone in this palace must pay with their life. Concubine Song, please don't tolerate a murderer."
Zheng Baolin finally reacted, but not to plead for himself, but to look at Su Zhaoyi.
She thought that if she really had to die, it would be fine, but before she died, she would try her best to stab Su Zhaoyi so that she could be buried with her.
Seeing that Concubine Song was about to send someone to bring up the peony painting, Jiang Yingli thought for a moment.
It seems that Zheng Baolin was indeed the one who pushed the person into the water. If the peony painting was brought up, Zheng Lan'er would be executed.
It would be fine if Zheng Lan'er pushed someone else, but Concubine Song followed the procedures and she wouldn't care.
But Zheng Lan'er recommended Xu Nianya.
Xu Nian Ya brought this upon herself, and evil deeds will be punished. Not to mention that she is not dead, even if she were dead, she would not let her injustice come to light.
Today's situation was too similar to the time when Xu Nian Ya pushed her into the water and she blamed her for it.
It's fate. Now, it's Xu Nian Ya's turn to have no place to complain and no place to redress her grievances.
"Wait." Jiang Yingli stopped the palace maid who was ordered by Concubine Song to get the map.
She looked at Xu Nianya coldly, "Xu Baolin identified the murderer as Zheng Baolin based on a purse. It's ridiculous."
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