After hearing the emperor's question, Concubine Xiao smiled bitterly, looking very hurt, and said, "Your Majesty, do you think I am such a cruel and ruthless person?"
Gu Qilan didn't answer, which obviously meant he agreed.
Concubine Xiao didn't wait for the emperor's answer, but she didn't hesitate any longer. She restrained her expression and didn't answer the emperor's previous question. Instead, she asked, "So, how does Your Majesty plan to punish the Empress?"
Gu Qilan looked at her deeply and said in a cold tone: "To murder the heir to the throne is an unforgivable crime."
After hearing his words, Concubine Xiao curled her lips slightly: "So what is the emperor's punishment?"
"I will verify your confession. If it is true, the Queen has deliberately murdered the heir to the throne. This is an unforgivable crime."
After a pause, Gu Qilan continued, "Of course, the Queen has been instrumental in managing my harem over the years, and has served me wholeheartedly. Now she has lost her children one after another. If I punish her severely again, it will not only be unreasonable, but I'm afraid the court officials will also have something to say."
The queen had lost children one after another and was now in very weak health. If he punished her severely at this time, it would not only make him seem unkind, but it might also make the queen's health worse.
The Queen is related to the foundation of the country. His eldest son with the Queen is now gone. If the Queen dies again, the court will be in turmoil, which is not good for the country.
It would obviously be inappropriate to punish the Queen at this time.
Moreover, although the child in Concubine Xiao's belly was also his, he did not want Concubine Xiao to give birth to his child. After all, Concubine Xiao was a princess of a foreign country, and her child would inevitably cause trouble if born.
But if it's there, then it's there. We don't know whether it's a boy or a girl yet. Besides, even if a prince is born, he can just give him a fiefdom as soon as he comes of age and stop taking the throne of the crown prince.
So he had no idea of asking Concubine Xiao to have an abortion, but who knew that Concubine Xiao still lost the child. To be honest, he was angry when he heard about this, but he was not sad or heartbroken.
Without any expectations or feelings, he would naturally be unwilling to severely punish the queen for the death of the child, regardless of her frail body and the opposition of the court officials.
Punishment is necessary, after all, he is the royal heir, but we have to wait until the queen's health stabilizes before punishing her!
But Concubine Xiao was obviously dissatisfied with this. She had lost her child and would never have another one. She didn't care who the other person was. She just wanted revenge.
After hearing the emperor's words, Concubine Xiao laughed sarcastically: "Haha, the emperor just said very firmly that those who plotted to murder the royal heir should be put to death. Now he wants to protect the empress?"
Gu Qilan frowned: "How to punish the Queen is my business, Lady Xiao, you are overstepping your authority!"
After saying this, Gu Qilan's sharp gaze shot straight at Concubine Xiao: "You only need to explain whether it was you who caused the Queen to be hit by that drugged dog and cause her premature birth?"
Facing the Emperor's sharp, eagle-like gaze, Concubine Xiao was unafraid: "Your Majesty, why do you say that? This matter has nothing to do with me. How could a mere noble concubine dare to murder the Empress's unborn child?"
Gu Qilan stared at her intently and said word by word, "You said you invited me here because you had a clue. Where is that clue?"
Hearing this, Concubine Xiao smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, how could I have invited you if I hadn't said this? You haven't come to my place for a long time. I miss you so much that I have no choice but to resort to this last resort. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
As she spoke, Concubine Xiao lowered her head and knelt down towards the emperor, with a pitiful expression and a sad tone.
Hearing her say this, Gu Qilan's heart was boiling with anger. He stared at Concubine Xiao with cold eyes. After a moment, Gu Qilan stood up and called the palace servants in to help him dress.
After getting dressed, Gu Qilan said coldly, "Lady Xiao's words and deeds have been inappropriate. You will be confined to your home for three months and fined for six months!"
After saying that, Gu Qilan turned around and was about to leave, but suddenly he seemed to remember something, and turned his head slightly and said in a cold tone: "If you are a fox, there will always be a day when your tail will be exposed!"
After saying that, Gu Qilan flicked his sleeves and strode away.
He had asked Song Qu to investigate for a long time but failed to find the person behind the scenes. Although Concubine Xiao did not say who the person behind the scenes was today, her actions tonight had obviously made her a suspect.
With a direction, it will be much easier to search.
Although he was somewhat puzzled, Concubine Xiao must have known that her actions tonight would cast suspicion on her, but she still did it. Was it because he said that those who plotted to murder the heir should die? Was it just to get him to punish the Queen?
Gu Qilan had a lot of thoughts in his mind for a moment.
In the bedroom, Concubine Xiao looked at the emperor's back as he strode away, her lips curled up slightly in sarcasm. She didn't care about what the emperor said before he left.
She knew that the emperor would not depose the queen or anything like that for her, so she chose to take action herself!
Although she did it covertly, it was not foolproof. With more time, it might be possible to find it out.
She knew that this matter could not be concealed for long, and besides, she didn't really want to hide it!
Her only goal was to get the Emperor to come...
As for her taking the initiative to reveal that the Queen had caused her miscarriage, it was only to make the Emperor disappointed in the Queen and punish her. She knew that the Emperor might not punish the Queen severely for this, but he would definitely punish her to some extent afterwards, and he would also be disappointed in the Queen in his heart.
She will do anything that is detrimental to the Queen!
As for what the emperor said at the end, whether her fox tail was exposed or not, she didn't care. It was a matter of time. When she did this, she was already prepared to burn her boats.
It's just a death. Since... that day, her heart has long been dead. She has been living like a wandering soul until now, just for revenge. As long as her revenge is taken, she will be willing to die.
Thinking of something, Concubine Xiao slowly curled up the corners of her mouth into a meaningful smile.
…
July came in the blink of an eye. Over the past month, due to the Queen's premature and difficult delivery, and the eldest prince's sudden death, the routine summer trip to Qinghe Garden to escape the heat was put on hold, and we would not go this year.
The ninth day of the first lunar month was Cheng Zhao's birthday. The eldest prince had just passed away, and the queen's unborn child was not saved, so it was naturally not appropriate to hold a birthday banquet.
Ning Yuxi personally went to the kitchen to make a bowl of longevity noodles for Cheng Zhao. After this birthday, Cheng Zhao would be three years old. During these days, Cheng Zhao followed Mr. Xu to start his studies.
Mr. Xu is worthy of being the dean of Xianning Girls' School. He is the descendant of the previous Grand Tutor. Under Mr. Xu's guidance, Cheng Zhao has already acquired some of the demeanor of a scholar in just a few months, and has become much more stable.
The emperor also came in the evening. Ning Yuxi received news early in the morning that the emperor would come to accompany Cheng Zhao to celebrate his birthday, so she prepared everything early.
After seeing the emperor, Ning Yuxi was a little surprised. It was more than ten days since she last saw him, so why did he look so much more haggard?
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