Chapter 199 Killing Two Birds with One Stone
The Queen is the mother of the country. She has ordered that all the concubines in the harem must get up and come to Fengyi Palace immediately, even if they have rested.
Soon Fengyi Palace was filled with concubines, and one of them spoke.
"I wonder what is it that the Empress is so anxious to summon me and others in the middle of the night?"
Another concubine also spoke.
"Yes, Queen, what's the matter that's causing you so much anxiety?"
The queen looked at everyone. Some of the concubines still looked sleepy, so she slowly gave orders.
"Madam Fang, please serve tea to the sisters."
Then he looked at everyone.
"Tonight, I called you sisters here so anxiously because there is an important matter that needs to be dealt with in public."
"Please wait a moment until the Queen arrives, and you sisters will understand."
The concubines all had different expressions when they heard this.
The emperor is coming?
Suddenly, a voice sounded.
"Empress, am I not late?"
I saw Concubine Yao coming slowly with the support of Cuizhu.
After walking in front of the queen, he bowed perfunctorily.
"Meet the Queen."
Without waiting for the queen to ask her to stand up, she sat down aside.
"I wonder why the Queen summoned you so urgently at night?"
He said and yawned.
"If there's anything, can't we wait until dawn? Can't we tell everyone when they come to pay their respects?"
Ever since the emperor restored Concubine Yao's position, she has become even more arrogant and domineering than before. The queen glanced at her.
"Don't worry, Concubine Yao. When the Emperor arrives, I will naturally tell him what the matter is."
After all, she had already fallen out with the Queen when she was in Jingsi Palace. Now there was no need to pretend to be gentle and sophisticated. The Emperor still had feelings for her. Even without the Yao family, Prince Rong was still the most suitable candidate to be the Crown Prince, Concubine Yao spoke slowly.
"It seems that the Empress has been a little tired lately. The Emperor has already retired so late, and he has to attend the morning court tomorrow. As the mistress of the six palaces, how can the Empress trouble the Emperor with matters concerning the harem?"
"Why don't you tell me what's going on? I might be able to help you with something you find difficult to handle."
Seeing Concubine Yao being so arrogant, Nanny Fang couldn't help but complain in her heart that Concubine Yao was pretending to be gentle in front of the Queen. Now that there is no prince, she no longer pretends.
"Your Highness, please be careful with your words in front of the Empress, especially..."
The Queen raised her hand to stop Nanny Fang from continuing, and instead looked at Concubine Yao with a hint of coldness in her eyes.
"No need to worry, Concubine Yao. What exactly is it? I will tell you when the Emperor arrives."
"I hope that Concubine Yao can still be so sharp in her words in front of the Emperor later."
Concubine Yao was about to say something else.
A loud shout came from outside the door.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Everyone hurriedly stood up and saluted, the sleepiness on their faces disappearing.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
Emperor Xuanyuan walked towards the Queen and held her arm.
"No need to be polite."
Then he walked towards the main seat.
"The Queen asked me to come here so late, but what's the important matter?"
The Queen bowed to the Emperor.
"It's so late, I disturbed the emperor's rest. It's my fault, but I do have an urgent matter that requires the emperor's decision."
After the emperor nodded, the queen stood up and spoke.
"Come here, bring the person up."
Then he sat down next to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I know that you have always had Sister Zhou in your heart. The fire in Jingsi Palace nearly killed Sister Zhou. This is also due to my failure in managing the six palaces. I have had people investigate the palaces near Jingsi Palace, and the arsonist has been apprehended. This can be considered as a redemption."
"It's just that the eunuch who set the fire was from Concubine Yao's palace. Concubine Yao has a special status, and the position of Concubine has just been restored by the Emperor. I dare not make a decision on my own, so I had to disturb the Emperor."
Emperor Xuanyuan frowned when he heard this, and fiddled with the bracelet in his hand again and again, but in his heart he was thinking about what the national teacher had said during the day.
When Concubine Yao heard this, she panicked and spoke quickly.
"That's impossible. Your Majesty, I know you hold a grudge against me for my previous offense, but I absolutely did not commit arson. Please don't slander me."
The queen spoke coldly after hearing this.
"Is it impossible that Concubine Yao doesn't even recognize the people in her own palace?"
At this time, the guards brought up two eunuchs.
Concubine Yao's eyes flashed with panic, and she clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hand. How could this happen? Hadn't they been silenced? Why were these two people still alive?
Shun Zidong glanced at the people in the room and kowtowed to the emperor.
"I have seen the emperor. I am guilty and I beg your Majesty to spare my life."
The Queen looked at the two of them and spoke.
"The Emperor is here, why don't you confess all the evil deeds you two have done?"
Shunzi and another eunuch looked at each other, and finally Shunzi plucked up the courage and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, I was originally a eunuch in Imperial Concubine Yao's palace. That day, the Imperial Concubine ordered me and this brother to set fire near Jingsi Palace, intending... intending to harm Imperial Concubine Zhou. I didn't dare to do it at first, but the Imperial Concubine threatened the lives of my family. I was forced to commit this grievous crime! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy and spare my life!"
After Shunzi finished speaking, he knocked his head again and again until his forehead was swollen.
The atmosphere in the entire Fengyi Palace froze in an instant, with only the sound of Shunzi kowtowing and begging for mercy. Concubine Yao's face turned pale, and she stood up suddenly and kicked Shunzi.
"You little dog slave, how dare you slander me? Tell me, who bribed you to slander me?"
He fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent! I never ordered them to do such a vicious thing! Someone must have framed me. I beg Your Majesty to see through this!"
After Shunzi fell down, he quickly got up and kowtowed heavily to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I know I have committed a heinous crime. If Your Majesty wishes to execute me, I will willingly accept the punishment. I only ask Your Majesty to have mercy on my younger brother. He is still in the clutches of Imperial Concubine Yao. Over the years, I have diligently served in the palace and have done my part. He has done nothing wrong. Please, Your Majesty, give him a chance to live!"
"Your Majesty, I beg you to show me mercy. I am willing to serve you like a slave in my next life."
Seeing that Shunzi still dared to speak, Concubine Yao stood up again and kicked Shunzi again.
"You little dog slave, how dare you talk nonsense?"
The emperor looked at Concubine Yao coldly, with a warning in his eyes.
When Concubine Yao met the emperor's gaze, she knelt down hurriedly.
"Your Majesty, I was truly framed. I finally waited for Your Majesty's grace to restore my position as Imperial Concubine. How could I possibly do something that would upset Your Majesty at this critical moment?"
The Queen spoke from the side.
"Noble Concubine Yao, you are indeed a very clever person. If this plan succeeds, Sister Zhou will perish in the flames, and I will be pushed into the spotlight. If you fail and are discovered, you will declare in front of the Emperor that you would not do such a stupid thing. In fact, you are just trying to take advantage of a loophole and kill two birds with one stone."
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