The rumors about the Third Prince in the palace were quickly suppressed by the Empress, but she couldn't find out who had started them.
However, Liu Heng then carried out a new round of purges of the harem. Many palaces were originally without owners, but the palace maids and eunuchs serving inside were still fully equipped. Now Liu Heng locked up these palaces and sent these people out of the palace or to serve elsewhere.
After this round of cleanup, some people left Yanqing Palace, and several palace maids and eunuchs entered.
“These people must be kept in close watch. Do not let them have any opportunity to access the main hall alone.”
Lin Yuqiao was cautious about these people she couldn't trust yet, and had Granny Fang find someone to keep a close eye on them one-on-one. Every time there was a change of personnel in the palace, she had to go through this trouble once, with an observation period of at least six months before she could feel a little more at ease.
Although it was tiring, safety came first, and she dared not let her guard down for a moment.
Of course, this couldn't stop those who wanted to cause trouble. Her personal belongings, food, and the servants around her two sons were all under close surveillance; anyone she didn't trust was forbidden from approaching. Anyway, there were plenty of servants in Yanqing Palace, so they could keep a close watch on everyone every day.
In early autumn, Lin Yuqiao suddenly received news that her father had passed away.
Her father hadn't left the manor since Xing-ge'er and Zhang-shi passed away, and it was said that his health had always been poor. Now that he had passed away, no one was particularly surprised.
After Li moved in with Lin Yucheng, the Lin family moved back to Chen Liangzi's residence. It's likely that the Lin family was the happiest after Master Lin's passing.
Lin Yuqiao didn't feel too sad or troubled at first. Although she still felt a little sad, she thought that death was the end of everything, and all the past grudges and grievances were severed with the separation of heaven and earth.
Liu Heng was quite upset about the death of Master Lin, because with his death, Lin Yucheng and the others would have to observe a period of mourning.
When Liu Heng mentioned it, Lin Yuqiao remembered that there was also the matter of observing mourning.
She was a married woman and a concubine, so she didn't need to observe mourning for her father. However, Lin Yucheng and his sons were all required to observe mourning for their father for three years.
Lin Yucheng had only recently entered the cabinet, and if he were to return home for three years of mourning, it would inevitably cause a lot of trouble, and the political maneuvering in the court could not be stopped. Therefore, Liu Heng wanted to "seize the opportunity to mourn."
The court was in dire need of capable people, and Liu Heng didn't trust many. Lin Yucheng was one of the most crucial. If he issued an edict to waive the mourning period, Lin Yucheng wouldn't have to be dismissed from office for three years due to the mourning period.
However, when Liu Hengchao mentioned it to Lin Yucheng, Lin Yucheng pondered for a long time before insisting on politely declining.
He clearly understood the gains and losses involved in resigning from his post and returning to his hometown, but "filial piety" was a matter of etiquette, and even if he disregarded the mourning period, it would still give others something to talk about.
If he doesn't return home to observe mourning and filial piety, his reputation will definitely be tarnished. To risk being labeled "unfilial" and "ambitious for officialdom" for just three years would be a huge loss. Lin Yucheng knew that if someone found such a weakness in him, they could talk about it for a lifetime.
Seeing his firm refusal, Liu Heng did not press the matter further. Thus, Lin Yucheng and Lin Yufeng, along with the others, resigned their official posts to observe the mourning period. Furthermore, because they needed to return to their hometown of Chenliu County for the mourning period, they, along with Li Shi, would not be able to see Lin Yuqiao for three years.
"Sigh. Three years isn't a short time, and it's been a long time for my second brother..."
Lin Yuqiao sighed inwardly. Her second brother had worked so hard to get into the cabinet. Leaving was easy, but going back would be difficult.
"Second Master has always been a man of great wisdom and strategy, so Your Majesty need not worry."
Seeing that Lin Yuqiao had been in a bad mood ever since Lin Yucheng and the others returned to their hometown, Granny Jiang went over to comfort her.
"I know, but I'm just heartbroken."
She was still in a bad mood. Her little one, who had been playing nearby, came over and shook her arm after hearing her words, asking, "What do you mean by being sad?"
Pinching her youngest son's innocent face, Lin Yuqiao gently explained to him, "Your maternal grandmother and uncle have both gone back to the countryside. It will be a long time before your mother sees them again, and that's why I'm sad."
"Then I'm also very sad, because I can only see my brother for a long time every day."
Because Guai Guai likes to stay in bed and Meng Meng starts school early, the two brothers only spend time together from evening to night.
Lin Yuqiao was amused by Guai Guai's antics and squeezed his chubby little hand. This brother-obsessed boy.
"Then grow up quickly, so you can go to school with your brother."
The baby's name was given after he turned one year old; it's Liu Fu. At first, Lin Yuqiao thought it sounded a lot like "Liu Fu".
She wasn't satisfied with either of her sons' names. One was too common, and the other sounded like his sexual orientation was a mystery.
"Do we have to study together to see my brother? Why can't my brother become smaller?"
Hearing her mother's words, Guai Guai felt depressed.
Because her two older cousins who accompanied her to school had also returned to their hometown, Mengmeng was always a bit bored in class alone, so after class she would urge her to teach her little boy, who was not yet two years old, to read.
Guai Guai was at a playful age and wasn't very interested in recognizing characters or memorizing texts. However, Meng Meng was a bit serious when teaching him, so Guai Guai didn't dare to be naughty or cause trouble, making every night quite painful.
“But your brother can’t shrink. My darling baby will grow up slowly too, and then your mother will grow old, just like your grandmother.”
Holding her adorable son, Lin Yuqiao sat on the tatami by the window, watching his dangling legs, and her mood calmed down.
"I don't want you to get old."
Remembering her grandmother's appearance, Guai Guai suddenly hugged Lin Yuqiao's waist tightly, shook her head, and shouted loudly.
Touched by his sweet gesture, Lin Yuqiao kissed his forehead, "Good son, Mommy also wants to stay eighteen forever."
When she first married into the royal family, she was only 15 years old. Now, with two sons, she's 22, almost 30. In modern times, 22 is still considered a college student, full of youthful energy, daring to love and laugh. But in the Qin Dynasty, she's no longer young and fresh.
When Liu Heng came over that evening, Lin Yuqiao carefully looked him over.
"What are you looking at?"
Liu Heng raised an eyebrow, feeling puzzled by her stare.
"Ziping is not the same as he used to be."
Lin Yuqiao looked at Liu Heng. He was no longer the gentle and refined young man he once was. Although his features remained the same, his temperament had become more somber and reserved, his eyes deep and imposing, carrying the pressure of someone in a superior position. In other words, he had become even more domineering after becoming emperor.
"What nonsense are you talking about again?"
Her words were nonsensical, but Liu Heng, used to it, didn't care. He just chuckled, and it was still the same springtime feeling he had back then.
"I'm not young anymore, am I?"
Liu Heng got up to wash up, but Lin Yuqiao grabbed his collar and wouldn't let go. She hugged his neck and pulled his head down until she could clearly see herself in Liu Heng's pupils.
"I'll get older too."
Having vaguely understood her meaning, Liu Heng stroked her still smooth cheek and said softly.
Even if she remained young and beautiful for a longer period of time, he wouldn't care. True beauty lies in character, not just appearance, and he has never placed much importance on outward appearances.
"Well, I'm relieved that you're aging faster than me."
Lin Yuqiao smiled and touched Liu Heng's lips. She had just looked him over carefully and realized that Liu Heng always looked much older than her.
Not to mention that she takes meticulous care of herself every day, while he works hard every day. Just the age difference is that he is 12 years older than her, so he will get old first.
She'll still be charming in her thirties by then, while he'll be a wrinkled old man, a grandfather. Just thinking about it makes her feel at ease.
She was relieved when she heard that she was aging faster than her.
Completely bewildered by Lin Yuqiao's laughter, Liu Heng pinched the tip of her nose, ignoring her, and helplessly pressed her down onto the couch before going to wash up himself.
Liu Heng went to the laundry room, while Lin Yuqiao went to the adorable room to peek at his and Mengmeng's studies.
Because whenever she comes over, Guai Guai always focuses her attention on her, so Meng Meng strictly forbids her from going over during study time.
Lin Yuqiao didn't go inside. She just leaned against the door, peeking out with her head. She watched the little dumpling inside, drooling as he recited "Li Weng's Rhyming Dictionary." Another elongated dumpling stood with his back to the door, his hands behind his back, watching him recite.
"Mengmeng's got quite the presence," Lin Yuqiao thought, covering her mouth and chuckling. The moment she saw Mengmeng turn around, she immediately pulled her head back.
Inside the room, Mengmeng's lips twitched. Hadn't his mother noticed that his shadow was peeking out from the doorway?
"Your Majesty, the palace maid Xingxi went into the laundry room to deliver clothes to His Majesty, but she hasn't come out yet."
Lin Yuqiao was leaning against the door when suddenly Granny Jiang came over hurriedly and said something.
"Who let her go there?"
Frowning, Lin Yuqiao asked as she walked. Xingxi was a palace maid who had recently been assigned to Yanqing Palace; Lin Yuqiao had seen the roster before, so she remembered the name.
"It was originally supposed to be Zhuo Wu who went there..."
Granny Jiang didn't know the specifics of what had happened; she only found out when the eunuch Xiao Ji from the laundry room came to inform her. Hearing that Lin Yuqiao had been inside for quite some time, Granny Jiang had a bad feeling and that's why she came to inform Lin Yuqiao.
Hopefully, it's not what she thinks.
As Lin Yuqiao walked quickly ahead, Granny Jiang's heartbeat became irregular.
Upon reaching the laundry room, Lin Yuqiao saw Wei Jiang and Li Silai standing guard outside. As she approached, Lin Yuqiao suddenly heard some unusual noises coming from inside.
In an instant, Lin Yuqiao's heart sank, she couldn't hear any sound, and all she could think about was rushing inside.
"Your Majesty, you can't go in."
Li Silai also heard the noise and could roughly guess what had happened inside. However, according to the rules, His Majesty was conducting business inside, so he couldn't let anyone in, not even the Imperial Concubine.
"Get out of here!"
Lin Yuqiao shoved Li Silai aside, and Granny Jiang, who was standing nearby, also helped to stop Li Silai. Seeing this, Wei Jiang subtly tripped Li Silai with his leg.
"Are you out of your mind?!"
Seeing Lin Yuqiao push the door open and go in, Li Silai knew he couldn't stop her. After being tripped, he rolled around with Wei Jiang and scolded him in a low voice.
Wei Jiang ignored him and continued to press him down. Just now, he sensed something was wrong and sent Xiao Ji to inform the Imperial Concubine. He understood that His Majesty always favored the Imperial Concubine, and a few palace maids who wanted to sleep with her were no match for her. It was better for him to curry favor with the Imperial Concubine.
Although Li Silai was his master, he had always blocked him from getting close to the Emperor, fearing that he would stand out. Since his master was unrighteous, he would be unrighteous too; perhaps he could get through to the Consort.
"What are you doing!"
Like any wife who catches her husband cheating in bed, Lin Yuqiao stared blankly at the two people rolling around on the bed.
Strangely, upon hearing her movements, the palace maid who was pinned down by Liu Heng flinched slightly, but Liu Heng still did not turn around.
Liu Heng's complete disregard for her infuriated Lin Yuqiao, who went forward to grab him.
"Your Majesty, let's go out."
This scene was hard for Granny Jiang to accept, but thinking that His Majesty was His Majesty after all, if he insisted on having sex with someone else, could the Imperial Concubine really stop him? After all, she was just a palace maid, so she didn't want to make things too ugly. Therefore, she tugged at Lin Yuqiao's sleeve and stopped her.
As Liu Heng nibbled at Xingxi's shoulder, she inwardly screamed, "I wish the Imperial Concubine would leave quickly! I wish she would leave quickly!"
But Lin Yuqiao couldn't hear anything anymore. How could Liu Heng do this? She was right there, and he was still ignoring her.
So Lin Yuqiao frantically broke free from Granny Jiang, rushed to the bedside, and dragged Xingxi, who was lying on the outside, off the bed.
After Xingxi rolled down, disheveled, Liu Heng finally raised his head. His eyes were cloudy, his face was flushed, and he was breathing heavily, as if he couldn't understand what was happening before his eyes.
Lin Yuqiao noticed something was wrong and had Granny Jiang drag Xingxi, who was sitting on the ground looking pale and desperate, out and lock her up. Only after everyone had left and the door was closed did she pat Liu Heng on the shoulder.
"What exactly have you done?!"
She cried her heart out, but Liu Heng continued to kiss her passionately and tear at her clothes after touching her body.
Before he could even tear off her palace dress, Liu Heng eagerly bit her nipples through her lake-green blouse. Unlike before, when he was gentle and restrained, his bite was forceful, causing Lin Yuqiao to cry out in pain.
Unable to wait any longer, Liu Heng took off his pants, grabbed her legs, and thrust inside her.
You bastard!
Filled with intense heat, Lin Yuqiao bit his shoulder, enduring his violent thrusts. With each movement, the taste of blood filled her mouth.
As if he felt nothing else, Liu Heng went in and out for a while, then grabbed her legs and put them on his shoulders, moving even more freely. Sweat dripped down her chest through her open clothes.
It wasn't until Lin Yuqiao had died three times and lay on the bed, completely exhausted and as if she had just been pulled out of the water, that Liu Heng finally rolled off her, his eyes gradually regaining their clarity.
“Qiaoqiao…”
Liu Heng wiped his sweat, looked at the person next to him, and called out to her, but his voice was hoarse.
Pushing aside the haphazardly tossed underpants on the pillow, Liu Heng sat up halfway, only to see the woman lying beside him, her body a delicate pink. The passion they had just shared had been too intense; her long, white legs were now unable to close, and a cloudy white fluid was slowly flowing from her vulva. Liu Heng's eyes were once again filled with lust, and his body screamed to overcome his reason, and he pounced on her again.
☆、77| 3.22|
By the time the two of them finished washing up and came out of the washroom, it was already getting light.
Despite being drowsy, Lin Yuqiao was carried back to the house by Liu Heng. She tugged at his sleeve and asked, "Xingxi must have been watched. What does His Majesty plan to do about tonight's events?"
"Go to sleep, I'll handle it."
Liu Heng's face was ashen, and he emanated a chill from his body. He tucked the blanket around her and was about to get up and leave.
Lin Yuqiao watched as his movements remained stiff and the veins on his temples bulged. She hadn't dared to say a word while he was washing up, which showed how angry he was.
She never expected that Xingxi, a palace maid, would have such audacity to use such despicable means so directly.
"Luckily, she didn't succeed!"
She mumbled as she half-sat up and kissed Liu Heng's cheek. Seeing that his breathing had eased a little, Lin Yuqiao finally lay back down with peace of mind. She was too tired from exercising late at night, and she fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.
After Liu Heng left, Li Silai, Wei Jiang, and others were already kneeling in the hall.
Li Silai had been fighting with Wei Jiang, and his left cheek was scratched several times, and his eye was swollen, making him look quite disheveled. Wei Jiang wasn't much better off; his face was also bruised and swollen, and his lips were also swollen.
"Who let her in?"
After glancing at Li Silai, Liu Heng kicked him, sending Li Silai rolling half a meter away before lying face down on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.
Because the eunuchs always served in the laundry room at Yanqing Palace, Liu Heng was surprised when a palace maid suddenly entered this time.
Although he was initially puzzled, he didn't pay much attention to it. Then the palace maid came closer, and after smelling the fragrance emanating from her, he suddenly became delirious.
Finally, he only heard a voice say, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?" and then he couldn't remember anything after that. Later, when he found Lin Yuqiao in bed, he was also surprised, vaguely sensing something was wrong with his body, but he couldn't control himself. It wasn't until he finally released all the desires in his body that he came to his senses.
This loss of self-control and physical abnormality was something Liu Heng had never experienced before, so he was both shocked and furious. How dare this palace maid scheme against him like this, and she must have used some dirty tricks.
The thought that someone had used underhanded tactics against him, causing him to lose control to this extent, filled Liu Heng with a feeling of humiliation, and he wished he could tear the palace maid to pieces immediately.
"Zhuo Wu, who was on duty today, got a stomachache halfway there. He was in so much pain that he was frightened by Xingxi, so he gave her His Majesty's change of clothes. Xingxi is on duty in the flower room in the backyard during the day. Instead of going back to rest at night, she went to the side hall. There must be something fishy going on."
Granny Jiang also knelt down and reported what she knew.
She didn't rest that night either. She had already realized that something was wrong and that the palace maid Xingxi was acting strangely. So she had someone drag her out and began to investigate and question her.
Liu Heng frowned. At this moment, the imperial physician and the people from the court interrogation office also arrived.
"Take everyone away and investigate them thoroughly!"
After ordering people to investigate the matter, Liu Heng finally summoned the imperial physician to take his pulse.
Because it was His Majesty who summoned him, everyone in the Imperial Medical Academy was alarmed, thinking that something had happened to His Majesty. So the head of the academy and all the imperial physicians on duty, a total of eight people, came and are now waiting outside.
"Your Majesty has excessive internal heat, causing deficiency fire to rise. We have prescribed a formula to clear the heart and replenish Qi. Your Majesty should take it for seven days and you will be fine."
After repeated examinations, the hospital doctor found nothing abnormal about Liu Heng, except that he was slightly weak and had a bit of internal heat, but there was nothing seriously wrong with him.
Liu Heng breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, he knew that Xingxi, that lowly maid, only wanted to climb into his bed and didn't dare to harm him. He was just worried about her.
However, her thoughts and methods were too dirty. The thought of how disgusting it would be if she succeeded made Liu Heng's face darken.
To find out Xingxi's methods, Liu Heng and the imperial physician described their reactions in detail. The chief physician, upon hearing this, broke out in a cold sweat. "Does anyone really have a death wish? They actually dare to use underhanded tactics against His Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, I cannot yet know what kind of incense that palace maid used, but based on Your Majesty's description, it is undoubtedly a kind of aphrodisiac. There are many kinds of aphrodisiacs, and without a sample, I cannot identify them at present."
The court judge believed that since His Majesty smelled the fragrance before losing consciousness and becoming aroused, the key to the problem must lie in the aphrodisiac. Although he had never actually heard of such a potent aphrodisiac.
Most aphrodisiacs are just for arousal; once they take effect, they can usually be endured without needing to have sex to relieve them.
"Go and take a look."
Since the judge didn't know what the fragrance was, Liu Heng had someone take him to the interrogation room so that the imperial physician could examine the scent on Xingxi's body. Xingxi and Li Silai, along with others involved, had already been taken there.
After Liu Heng finished arranging these matters, it was already dawn, and it was time for him to go to court.
Because the chief steward Li Silai got into trouble, the deputy chief steward Xu Yi took over. Liu Heng's attire and travel remained unchanged.
Sitting on the palanquin, looking at the morning sun, Liu Heng exhaled a breath of stale air.
Having not slept all night, his complexion was inevitably a bit gloomy, and coupled with his bad mood, he looked so somber he could practically drip water.
Upon arriving at court, the ministers, observing Liu Heng's demeanor, quickly sensed his unpleasant mood. They all trembled with fear, trying to minimize their presence. Those who happened to have something terrible to report broke out in a cold sweat, their voices trembling.
After the court session, Liu Heng received a transcript from the interrogation office, and Xingxi confessed to everything.
When Xingxi's plan was first discovered by Lin Yuqiao, she was filled with anxiety, realizing that everything was different from what that person had said. However, she still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that she hadn't left any evidence and that the aphrodisiac scent on her body had dissipated, so she could just deny it no matter what.
However, the interrogation officers had all sorts of methods to make her wish she were dead. In the end, she couldn't withstand the torture and had no choice but to confess everything.
Just as Liu Heng had predicted, what happened last night was something she had planned long ago.
Xingxi first figured out who the eunuch on duty each day would be, and then befriended Zhuo Wu in advance, recognizing him as her adopted younger brother.
She knew that Zhuo Wu was on duty yesterday, and since he was a glutton, Xingxi gave him some snacks at lunchtime. As a result, Zhuo Wu started having stomach problems that evening, and when it was time to get his clothes for his shift, he was in so much pain that he couldn't walk.
At this moment, Xingxi, who had been observing the situation from the side, suddenly appeared and said she would help Zhuo Wu by delivering the items to the laundry room.
At first, Zhuo Wu naturally didn't dare to, but Xingxi threatened him, saying that if Zhuo Wu told the steward about this, he would definitely be punished. Losing his monthly allowance would be the least of his worries; the worst thing he would be unable to work in the laundry room again.
The laundry room job was easy, and Zhuo Wu had worked hard to get it. He was definitely unwilling to lose the opportunity so easily. In addition, Xingxi kept persuading him, saying that she was just helping him deliver clothes, and that he should go and come back quickly so that no one would notice anything unusual.
Finally, Zhuo Wu was persuaded by her and thought she was a good person. He also had a glimmer of hope that Xingxi wouldn't mess things up, so he gave the clothes to Xingxi.
Next, when no one was around, Xingxi secretly dripped "Tianchuangzi" onto the clothes she was going to give Liu Heng. This drug, combined with her alluring fragrance, would increase his desire and make him feel dizzy. Because the drug was so potent, it could only be relieved through sexual intercourse.
Xingxi had a plan for what would happen after she gained the emperor's favor. She had also applied white powder to her lips, so that when Liu Heng was infatuated, he would come into contact with the powder through her lips.
This Baixi powder dissolves instantly upon entering the mouth and has powerful effects. It will bring peace and joy to the mind, making the previous sexual encounter seem like a beautiful dream. Furthermore, the Baixi powder can neutralize the effects of other medicines, so even if Liu Heng wakes up, he won't feel too bad.
If Liu Heng becomes suspicious, she can insist that it was Liu Heng who took the initiative, because without evidence, Xingxi feels that she should be able to save her life.
Even if she suffers temporarily, as long as she lives, according to that person's arrangement, last night was the best time for her to conceive. Once she successfully becomes pregnant, whether it's a prince or a princess, she will have hope for the rest of her life.
As the plan was being carried out, everything proceeded smoothly as the person had predicted, right up to the crucial moment. Xingxi never expected that just one step away, an unexpected complication would arise.
According to common sense, if one knew that His Majesty was having sex with other people in the laundry room, shouldn't one avoid the situation? The Imperial Concubine dared to barge in, interrupting her good time and even dragging her off the bed. This was completely unexpected and ultimately caused her to fail.
When Liu Heng saw the last page, his eyes filled with coldness.
According to Xingxi's testimony, the person who helped her plan all of this was none other than Aunt Fuling from Kunning Palace.
The secret guards also verified her testimony, confirming that Xingxi had indeed worked at Jianfu Palace before entering Yanqing Palace, and that Fuling also came from Jianfu Palace. Later, Xingxi entered Yanqing Palace and had contact with Fuling.
The poria cocos came from Kunning Palace, and apart from Xingxi, she had no contact with anyone from other palaces. This inevitably made Liu Heng suspicious of the Empress.
The Empress already harbored hostility towards the Consort, and given the incident involving the Empress's second brother, she might have become even more wary of the Consort. By introducing Xingxi, the Empress's intention was clearly aimed at the Consort.
The fact that the Empress had become such a ruthless woman filled Liu Heng with disgust.
Liu Heng ordered Fu Ling to be detained and interrogated. He suppressed his rising anger and prepared to settle accounts with the Empress after verifying the facts.
That evening, her subordinates reported that Fuling had admitted to instigating Xingxi and giving her the drugs, but refused to answer questions about where the drugs came from or whether anyone had instructed her to do so. During interrogation at the court, she bit open a poison she had been hiding in her mouth and died from the poison.
And so the trail went cold. Fuling didn't admit whether the Empress was responsible, but her refusal to implicate the Empress, even at the cost of her life, only fueled Liu Heng's suspicions. If Fuling hadn't been authorized by the Empress, how could a minor aunt have obtained those medicines?
With these findings, the matter concerning Xingxi was considered closed. As for the other people involved, although the head eunuch Li Silai did not find anything unusual, he was dismissed from his position by Liu Heng for knowingly allowing Xingxi to go in when she was not supposed to be on duty. He was also severely beaten with thirty lashes and transferred to the miscellaneous affairs room to do hard labor.
Zhuo Wu was also given forty lashes and dragged to the miscellaneous affairs room for delegating his duties to others without authorization.
The Miscellaneous Affairs Office was where all the dirty and tiring work in the palace was concentrated. The main tasks included collecting night soil from various palaces, doing hard labor, cleaning all parts of the palace, and so on. Whether you were a eunuch or a palace maid, once you entered that place, you had no future and no chance to be transferred out.
As for Wei Jiang, who had proactively tipped off Xu Yi, he successfully replaced Xu Yi in his previous position as deputy steward. He was immediately in high spirits, as his rise to power was due to the influence of Yanqing Palace, so he became even more obsequious to the palace.
Although there was no crucial evidence to prove that the Empress was involved, Liu Heng directed all his anger at her after it was discovered that no one else had been involved.
She actually used such despicable means to scheme against him. Recalling the humiliation he had experienced, Liu Heng wanted to depose the empress.
Does she deserve to be called the Empress?
However, Liu Heng managed to control his emotions. The matter of deposing the empress was too important; it would inevitably have far-reaching consequences, and once made public, it would shake the court and the public. Moreover, Liu Heng was too ashamed to reveal that the empress had plotted against him; he still had to maintain his dignity.
He had considered everything carefully, but it was absolutely impossible for him to let the Empress go.
Now Liu Heng is full of suspicion towards the Empress. In order to find out how badly the Empress is now, Liu Heng specially ordered his secret guards to investigate the Empress and all the movements of the Duke of Cheng'en's mansion.
This investigation only fueled Liu Heng's hatred.
The secret guards discovered that the steward of the Duke of Cheng'en's mansion had been in close contact with a servant of the Chen Liangzi mansion shortly before the death of the old Viscount Chen Liangzi.
Therefore, the sudden death of Lin's father is not so simple. Consider that after Lin's father died, Lin Yucheng and others returned to their hometowns to observe mourning, and the Consort's faction suffered a major loss. The only beneficiary was the Empress.
If all of this was the Queen's doing, then she had even more ingenuity than she had imagined.
The thought of sharing a bed with such a vicious woman for over a decade sent chills down Liu Heng's spine.
In the afternoon, Liu Heng unusually did not stay in his study to review memorials, but instead went to Kunning Palace.
Lately, the Empress had been feeling uneasy. First, there was a commotion at Yanqing Palace at night, and all she knew was that all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital had gone there.
However, both the imperial physicians and others who knew what had happened kept quiet, and the Empress couldn't find the cause. They could only speculate in unreliable directions, such as the Consort seducing Liu Heng into doing something in bed that led to the imperial physicians being summoned.
When Lin Yuqiao went to pay her respects in the morning, the Empress, without getting any information, gave her a veiled reprimand.
Although she wanted to take this opportunity to find something wrong with Lin Yuqiao, the Empress dared not make any big moves and could not find anything, which made her very regretful.
Subsequently, one of her aunts in the palace was taken away by the people from the court interrogation room, which made the Empress suddenly feel uneasy.
Could this not be something the Consort did, but rather a scheme specifically targeting her? The Empress was extremely anxious as she couldn't get any information.
After Aunt Fuling was taken away, she was never released, and the Empress still hasn't figured out what Fuling did. All that is known is that Li Silai, the chief steward of Liu Heng, was subsequently dismissed and demoted to the miscellaneous affairs office.
She tried to send someone to contact Li Silai, but the servants in the miscellaneous affairs office were watching very closely, and she couldn't find an opportunity. Knowing that the situation was directed at her, yet not knowing why, and unable to make any preparations in advance, this sense of powerlessness caused the Empress to suffer greatly, unable to eat or sleep properly, during this period.
At this moment, Liu Heng's sudden arrival made the Empress's heart leap into her throat.
"Why does the Empress look so nervous? Has she done something wrong?"
After taking his seat at the head of the table, Liu Heng stared sternly at the Empress, making her shrink back in fear. This further convinced Liu Heng that she was the one who had done those things, and that she was now feeling guilty.
"Your Majesty does not know why you say such a thing, but I have a clear conscience and do not know who fabricated this story or what they said to Your Majesty to slander me."
Upon hearing Liu Heng's words, the Empress's heart sank to the bottom, and a chill ran through her body.
As expected, her fears came true. She had no idea what the Imperial Concubine had fabricated to slander her.
The Empress was originally a very calm and composed person, but lately she had been tormented by the anxiety that disaster might befall her at any moment. So when Liu Heng glared at her and his words were cold, her tone unconsciously became sharp.
"Oh? Your Majesty is implying something. I have no idea who has slandered you! Why don't you tell me, Your Majesty?"
When Liu Heng heard the Empress's words, he felt that she was acting out of guilt. Even at this point, she still wanted to implicate others, which made Liu Heng have no more leniency towards her.
"I believe I have done my duty as Empress and have never done anything wrong. No matter who instigates Your Majesty, I have a clear conscience."
For once, the Empress's attitude hardened.
She felt truly wronged. Even if Liu Heng disregarded their more than ten years of marriage and only listened to the slander of that vixen, the Imperial Concubine, he should at least have given her a chance to defend herself. Now, judging from his attitude, he was trying to convict her without even stating her crime.
Thinking of the rumors about the Third Prince a while ago, the Empress became more and more convinced that the Consort could no longer resist and wanted to frame her, with the aim of getting Liu Kang's position as Crown Prince.
The Consort's plan was clever, but the Empress clenched her fists inwardly; she wouldn't compromise. She was Liu Heng's first wife, and the Empress who had offered sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. As long as she remained Empress, Liu Kang was the rightful Crown Prince. It wouldn't be so easy for the Consort to bring her down.
Little did she know that her thought process was more in line with Liu Heng's, so the more assertive she was, the more Liu Heng frowned.
"Xu Yi, present all the statements from the court interrogation to the Empress. After reading them, will she still be able to lie through her teeth?"
Liu Heng coldly instructed Xu Yi to hand the written confession to the Empress. He wanted to see how the Empress could still argue when faced with irrefutable evidence.
As she reviewed Xingxi and Fuling's testimonies, the Empress's face darkened. So this was Lin's trap, designed to pin the blame for plotting against Liu Heng on her.
However, this situation is indeed troublesome. The most crucial factor is Fuling, who has now committed suicide by poisoning herself, leaving the Empress with no opportunity to confront her.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent. No matter what, I would never allow someone to plot against Your Majesty using such despicable means. Fuling is not a close aunt of mine; there must be another mastermind behind her."
Fuling admitted that she gave Xingxi the medicine and helped her plan this, but she did not say who told her to do it.
But she came from Kunning Palace, and now she's died so mysteriously. Wouldn't that make her take the blame? The Empress was extremely anxious, her mind racing, trying to find a loophole to exonerate herself.
"You won't admit to this, but are you also going to say you don't know that the Duke of Cheng'en's mansion sent someone to kill Viscount Chen Liang?"
Knowing that the Empress would not admit it, Liu Heng was unwilling to continue arguing with her. The facts were there for all to see. Fuling had no other masters, and if it wasn't the Empress who instructed her, he wouldn't believe anything she said.
The Empress was astonished that Liu Heng had even uncovered the death of Viscount Chen Liang. She bit her lower lip, inwardly furious at her elder brother's incompetence. She had only entrusted him with such a small task, and he hadn't even handled it properly.
The Empress hesitated for a moment regarding the matter of the Duke of Cheng'en's mansion. She dared not deny it outright, otherwise Liu Heng would directly punish the Duke of Cheng'en's mansion, and if someone implicated her then, she would still lose face.
But she dared not admit it, for Lin had seized this weakness, leaving the Empress in a dilemma.
Seeing her silence, Liu Heng felt certain. These things were undoubtedly orchestrated by the Empress.
"I have always trusted the Empress and thought you were a role model for the world. I never expected that you would resort to such underhanded means in secret. You have turned Kunning Palace into a den of filth. How can you still have the face to be the Empress!"
Liu Heng's words were so harsh that they drained the last trace of color from the Empress's face. Was he going to depose her?
"Your Majesty, I truly do not know the details of the Cheng'en Duke's Mansion."
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