Chapter 89 An Lingrong 30
"So the problem lies with the food prepared by Concubine An?" Concubine Hua, who originally felt bored, suddenly became interested. She held the peony-patterned handkerchief in her hand, pursed her lips, and couldn't hide her smile.
"I thought you three were always so close sisters, but I never expected something like this to happen in your own sisterhood."
Cao Guiren, standing by, could only use her eyes to signal Concubine Hua to speak less. Unfortunately, she had no control over this young lady and could only watch her babble and utter a bunch of mocking remarks.
The uneasiness in my heart grew.
She really didn't know what Concubine Hua was thinking. You know it, I know it, Shen Meizhuang wasn't pregnant at all, how could she have a miscarriage! And those two maids just mentioned sour plum soup, all of this must be a conspiracy. Instead of being honest at this time, she rushed to the front. She really didn't understand how such a person could sit on the throne of concubine. If she didn't have such a family background...
Concubine Hua's plan was much simpler. While they'd planned to fake a pregnancy and cause Shen Meizhuang to fall from favor, who knew if she'd get lucky and actually become pregnant? Looking at the person behind this move, who knew who could bring down several of her most pressing concerns? If she didn't know who was responsible, she'd have wanted to hire them to work for her, much more impressive than the timid Concubine Cao.
Thinking of this, she rolled her eyes at him with some disdain. Shen Meizhuang had her abortion at Xinghuachun Pavilion, and she also ate and drank at Xinghuachun Pavilion. She hadn't been there at all, so what did this have to do with her?
What a coward.
"Since this happened in my palace, let's start the investigation from me." Ling Rong stepped forward, her voice thick with nasal sounds, and it was obvious that she had just cried with Mei Zhuang. "For this banquet, I prepared ingredients that are safe for pregnant women. The rest are still in the kitchen and have not been touched."
"Please, His Majesty, send a royal physician to examine the area and clear Lingrong's name."
Seeing her certainty, the emperor already believed her. He knew that the child was kind-hearted, and what good would it do for her to harm Mei Zhuang?
"Get up first. Even if there's something wrong with the food, it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with you." Seeing that she didn't leave him any room for error, the emperor could only try to make amends for her: "There are so many people in the small kitchen, who knows who might have sneaked in."
Seeing the emperor's obvious favoritism, everyone turned their heads away with different expressions.
Lingrong sat back in her seat obediently, ignoring the looks from others and whispering to Zhen Huan.
After a while, the Imperial Medical Service sent a few more people over, led by none other than Zhang Mi, the director of the Imperial Medical Service.
They checked the meals prepared by Ling Rong one by one, and then checked the tea and snacks arranged for today. They all shook their heads and found nothing unusual.
Until a young man carefully sniffed the bowl of sour plum soup, poured some into the cup and took a sip, then hurriedly brought it to Doctor Zhang: "Master Zhang, this bowl seems to contain..."
After several imperial physicians filed in, the queen hurriedly asked, "Have you found any problems?"
After a moment's hesitation, Doctor Zhang finally reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress and I have thoroughly examined everything. Only the bowl of sour plum soup seems a little off..."
"What's wrong?"
"There was a little bit of safflower in that bowl of sour plum soup. Because the amount was so small, it wasn't easily noticeable. But..."
"Just what?"
"But this amount should not cause Concubine Hui to have a miscarriage. At most, it will damage the fetus." As he said this, he glanced at the Queen inconspicuously.
Receiving Zhang Mi's hint, the Queen immediately realized that there was something wrong and followed up on his question, "Then why is Concubine Hui's pregnancy not safe?"
"Your servants have just re-diagnosed Concubine Hui's pulse. Her pulse is weak and feeble, and she is deficient in both Qi and blood. Therefore, even a small amount of medication has caused the dragon fetus to be lost. Logically, Concubine Hui's pregnancy should not be what Imperial Physician Liu reported..."
"Immediately arrest Liu Bin and interrogate him."
Involving the imperial physicians, this really touched the emperor's nerves. That day, in front of the emperor, in full view of the public, Liu Bin had even falsely claimed that Concubine Hui's pregnancy was safe. If this trend were allowed to continue, these imperial physicians would be even more daring to conceal and lie in the future for the sake of wealth and fame, and their lives.
Su Peisheng took the order and went, but soon he ran back with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, Liu Bin from the Imperial Hospital just ran away, saying that he had something to do at home."
"He ran so fast, someone must have tipped him off!"
"I have already sent people to search Liu Bin's house."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "I hereby declare that Imperial Physician Liu Bin has deceived the emperor and fled out of fear of punishment. I order the patrol battalion to search for him. If he dares to resist, he will be executed immediately."
Then he asked, "Who made the sour plum soup?"
Unexpectedly, it was Caiyue, who was kneeling on the ground, who answered, "This sour plum soup was made by Fuling, a maid from Xianyue Pavilion. Since our young lady became pregnant, she only loves to drink her cooking, so we brought her to the banquet this time."
After a while, Fuling was brought up with his hands tied up.
"How dare you, Fuling, to kill the heir to the throne!"
Fuling, kneeling on the ground, looked confused. She subconsciously looked at Concubine Hua, her eyes full of doubts.
"What are you looking at me for? The Queen is asking you a question now. Are you scared silly?" Concubine Hua also knew that something was wrong. Seeing this idiot still looking at her, she felt like vomiting to death.
"Your servant, your servant didn't do that, Your Majesty, I know nothing!" Fuling quickly averted her gaze and knocked her head noisily.
"You still dare to quibble? You've always been solely responsible for making that sour plum soup. No one else is even allowed to look at you. Who else but you could have drugged the young lady's sour plum soup?"
Caiyue and Caixing's eyes were full of hatred. If they were not in front of the emperor, they would probably rush over and tear Fuling to pieces alive.
"I really didn't drug you. I have no grudge against you, so how could I have drugged you?"
"Because you've already been bribed." Jianqiu, who was beside the Queen, came over and whispered a few words in her ear. The Queen's eyes changed instantly and she slammed the table: "The palace servants just searched your room and found this. How are you going to explain it?"
As he spoke, Jianqiu threw the thing in his hand in front of her.
There was a purse on the ground, with fifty taels of silver in it, and a piece of paper wrapped with a few red flowers, and a note hidden inside, which read:
There was a change of plan, and safflower was added to the soup.
"The evidence is irrefutable. How can you still argue?"
Fuling looked at the items she had found in her room, becoming increasingly bewildered. She had indeed been working for Concubine Hua, but that job was a dead end. Therefore, Concubine Hua had never rewarded her with money, let alone the red flowers.
Seeing that she could not get anything out of him at the moment, the Queen had no choice but to put Fuling in the Ministry of Punishment for interrogation.
Zhen Huan, who was standing by, glanced at the note on the ground and suddenly asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, look, is that a piece of paper called peach blossom paper?"
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