Chapter 116 No Personality
Jiang Yingli told Song Zhang what happened in Roufu Palace today.
Song Zhang's brows sank.
The engagement between the Song and Xie families?
This old matter was also dug up by the Su family.
It's really painstaking.
However, Xie Huaiyu actually worked in Roufu Palace, which was a big trouble.
It seems that he really harbors resentment for the Xie family's misfortune and the Song family's cancellation of the engagement. He is willing to risk his life and go through so much trouble to drag Wanyan into the situation.
Song Zhang let out a long sigh.
It was indeed unkind of the Song family to cancel the engagement, but who would want to marry their daughter to the son of a criminal who had lost his good status?
What's more, she is the daughter of his Song family.
If the Song family wanted to, their daughter could be the queen, so why should they waste their time with the son of a guilty minister?
"Sir Song, stop sighing and think of a solution first." Jiang Yingli was a little anxious.
Song Zhang looked up at the sky. "It's too late to clear it all. The Su family must have been prepared for what happened today. Concubine Song was unaware of it and was caught off guard. Now we can only make up for it and minimize the damage."
"That's fine, otherwise if something like this happened to Concubine Song, would she still have a way to survive?"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I have a plan. I will write home immediately." Song Zhang respectfully extended his sleeves to Jiang Yingli and saluted. "Thanks to Your Majesty for informing us of what happened today. Otherwise, Concubine Song would have been sentenced to death, and the Song family would have been affected as well. Your Majesty, Song Zhang, thank you for your kindness."
"Please stand up, my lord. I believe that Concubine Song is innocent."
**
The situation in Roufu Palace had entered a stalemate, but seeing that the evidence presented by Su Qingrong was very telling, those who had previously believed in Concubine Song could not help but change sides.
Let’s not talk about whether there was any trouble between Concubine Song and Huaiyu. Just looking at Xie Huaiyu’s identity, as long as he set foot in Roufu Palace, it is enough to determine the nature of this matter.
Who would put their former fiancé in front of them to serve? Su Zhaoyi just said that Huaiyu touched Concubine Song's hand, and the look on his face was still full of aftertaste.
He actually openly coveted His Majesty's woman. He must have taken advantage of the fact that his family had been convicted long ago and only one person was left in the family, so he dared to act so rashly!
"Princess Song, Xie Huaiyu works in your palace. He concealed the truth, secretly kept the jade pendant, and used a fake identity to sneak into the harem. Are you aware of this?" Xiao Chenglan stared at Song Wanyan and asked softly.
Princess Song's face turned pale.
No matter how you answer this question, it's wrong!
If you say you knew about it, doesn't that mean you've admitted the crime of defiling the imperial palace?
If you say you were unaware, you would be derelict in your duty!
But between two evils, Song Wanyan chose the lesser evil. She kowtowed and confessed her guilt:
"Your Majesty, it was my fault for not investigating and allowing this person to conceal his true identity within the palace! I have failed in my duty!"
Su Qingrong looked at Song Wanyan who was confessing her guilt, with a look of satisfaction in her eyes.
Xiao Chenglan looked at Huaiyu again.
"Xie Huaiyu, you secretly hid the jade pendant, assumed a false identity, and went through many twists and turns just to serve in Roufu Palace. Can't you forget your past? How dare you bring shame to the imperial family? It seems that you think you have nothing to fear since you are the only one left in the Xie family. I want to see if you are truly fearless!"
Xiao Chenglan suddenly threw the jade pendant in front of Xie Huaiyu, and the jade pendant instantly broke into pieces.
Xie Huaiyu looked down at the broken jade pendant on the ground, his expression stunned for a moment, and then as if he had suddenly realized something, he shook his head desperately and roared through his blocked throat.
Xiao Chenglan raised his hand and gestured, "Let him go."
Fu Wanquan stepped forward and threw something to gag Xie Huaiyu.
"Your Majesty! I am so far removed from the Empress Song that I dare not even dream of anything like that! Furthermore, the Empress Song has never even looked at me, let alone any ambiguous relationship!"
"I concealed my identity simply because I didn't want others to know I was the son of a criminal. My service in the Empress's palace wasn't intentional. It wasn't until I entered Roufu Palace that I learned my master was Concubine Song. As for the jade pendant, it's simply because it's the only thing that reminds me that I was once educated and a match for a young lady from a noble family. I'm simply saddened by the past and can't let it go. It has nothing to do with any personal feelings!"
"Such sophistry, it seems you don't know your mistakes, nor do you know how to repent!" Xiao Chenglan's brows were cold, and he ordered, "Come here, drag this audacious slave out and interrogate him!"
Fu Wanquan gave a wink, Huaiyu was dragged out, her shirt was stripped off, and the whip soaked in salt water was immediately used to whip her.
But after a few whips, Huaiyu's straight back bent down, and the whip marks left his skin and flesh exposed, but even so, he did not make a sound.
Fu Wanquan was supervising at the temple gate. Every tenth blow, he would ask loudly:
"You bold servant, are you having an affair with Concubine Song?"
"No personal feelings!"
Ten more lashes, "You bold slave, are you having an affair with Concubine Song?"
"No personal feelings!"
"No personal feelings!"
…
The sound of whips outside lasted for a long time, and Huaiyu's voice gradually faded away, but if you listened carefully, you could still hear one or two faint sounds.
"There is absolutely no...private relationship between this servant and the Concubine Song..."
Everyone inside and outside the hall sighed.
This doesn't sound like I'm being stubborn, but rather it really doesn't happen.
Su Qingrong listened to the voices outside the hall. Okay, he's an unbreakable bastard, but so what?
"Your Majesty, the evidence is irrefutable. Why listen to that servant's excuses? Concubine Song has defiled the imperial palace and deserves death according to the law. This servant should be subjected to lingchi. Otherwise, the royal family will lose all its dignity!"
Xiao Chenglan did not comment on Su Qingrong's words. His eyes were fixed on the distance, and his expression was solemn. It was impossible to tell what his mood was at the moment.
Chen Zhuxin frowned and thought. Jiang Yingli had just gone out, and she must be thinking of some way to remedy the situation.
His Majesty was very angry today. The evidence was right in front of him. He could have dealt with both Concubine Song and Huaiyu with just one order, but His Majesty didn't. Instead, he dragged Huaiyu out and gave her a flogging.
However, Chen Zhuxin could tell that His Majesty had no intention of favoring Concubine Song in today's matter. His Majesty was hesitant to make a judgment, simply waiting for news from Jiang Yingli.
If she spoke up to help Concubine Song, she might be implicated, but with Jiang Yingli's help, she didn't have to worry so much.
After thinking about the pros and cons, Chen Zhuxin immediately covered her stomach and cried out in pain.
“It hurts… it hurts so much…”
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