Chapter 344 Isolating Zhu Liangdi
Lianye sighed again, "The Crown Princess has helped the three young ladies so much, I hoped they would be grateful, but I didn't expect that Lady Zhu would be so vicious."
A barely perceptible glint of coldness flashed in Jiang Fenghua's eyes as she said calmly, "Today's events were indeed intended to protect the children in their wombs, and also to unite them against Zhu Zhenzhen. I've borrowed three knives; let's see what Zhu Zhenzhen can use to defend herself."
"The Crown Princess is indeed very thoughtful. Granny Wang found out that it was someone from Consort Tang's palace who sent food to Consort Song. Everyone thought it was Consort Tang who came up with this harmful plan. It's really impossible to guard against!" Lianye sighed.
Jiang Fenghua said, "Tang Qianran is not capable of coming up with such a harmful method unless someone gave her advice. During this period, only Zhu Zhenzhen and Tang Qianran have been close. Naturally, I have long suspected that Zhu Zhenzhen is behind this, but I have no evidence."
“It’s also possible that the Tang family came up with this idea for Young Master Tang,” Lianye said.
"That's possible. That's why I had to trick her today. Tang Qianran thought that I had already seized evidence of her plotting against Consort Song. Under those circumstances, Tang Qianran didn't have time to think about how to lie. In addition, she finally became pregnant, so she had no choice but to tell the truth. I'm in charge of the East Palace. If she lies, it will only be detrimental to her."
After hearing this, Lianye could only give the Crown Princess a thumbs up; her young lady was truly remarkable.
The Crown Princess relied solely on her authority and composure to deter the concubines from letting their imaginations run wild; at such times, no one wanted to lose their life.
"Why doesn't the Crown Princess just let that scheming Consort Zhu go? Why not find an opportunity to get rid of her?" Lianye added. "Anyway, if we expose all the things she's done to His Highness the Crown Prince, let's see what she has to say."
"It's no use. If the Crown Prince wants to use Imperial Censor Zhu, he won't touch Zhu Zhenzhen's position. Zhu Zhenzhen is just like Consort Su back then." Otherwise, Xie Shang wouldn't have allowed his affair with her to continue. This day has finally come.
Lianye clenched her fingers, extremely displeased with Zhu Liangdi's arrogance.
Seeing that her face was flushed, Jiang Fenghua said softly, "I just can't find Zhu Zhenzhen for the time being, and now is not the time to offend Imperial Censor Zhu. Let's wait patiently! Just because I don't offend her doesn't mean we can let her go free and do nothing. Those three pregnant ladies know that she used them. Do you think Zhu Zhenzhen has an easy time in the East Palace?"
Zhu Zhenzhen wants to have an affair with Xie Shang, right? Then let her fail and end up getting herself into trouble. I'll personally dismantle the people she's trying to win over.
Jiang Fenghua now feels that Imperial Censor Zhu is too ambitious and driven by self-interest.
In the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Imperial Censor held a very high position and had the responsibility of supervising officials. Therefore, there were many people who wanted to curry favor with the Imperial Censor. The Imperial Censor was also one of the Three Dukes. During the reign of the previous emperor, no one served as Prime Minister. However, the position of Prime Minister was not abolished by the emperor of the Great Zhou. On the contrary, without the Prime Minister, the Imperial Censor and the Grand Commandant became relatively important. The Ministers of the Six Ministries also assumed important responsibilities. Therefore, everyone wanted to seize these positions.
Lianye was immediately delighted. "That makes sense. Even if we can't do anything to her, we should at least disgust her to death."
Hongxiu, who was standing guard to the side, listened to the conversation between the two and was also pondering something in her mind. "Wasn't the Crown Princess investigating the matter of Consort Tang and Miss Lu? The Crown Princess has never found out who sent Consort Tang to Chengguang Palace to cause trouble for Miss Lu. Was Consort Zhu involved?"
Reminded by Hongxiu, Jiang Fenghua suddenly remembered, and her mind raced...
At that time, Zhu Zhenzhen was the purest one. She seemed to be indifferent to everything and didn't care about anything.
Ye Susu initially wanted to use Lu Xuefei's hiding in Chengguang Hall to incite conflict among the ladies of the East Palace. Although it was discovered that Ye Susu and Su Tingwan were behind it, it was not found out who caused the conflict between Tang Qianran and Lu Xuefei. The palace maids and ladies had no idea that Tang Qianran and the young master of the Lu family were engaged.
At that time, Lu Xuefei hadn't explained the situation clearly, so she didn't pursue the matter further once it was resolved.
At the time, Song Qing said she knew Lu Xuefei. In fact, Song Qing was not a woman from the capital. She met Lu Xuefei during the selection of imperial concubines, not before. Therefore, Song Qing was unaware of the feud between the Lu and Tang families.
Now that I think about it, it all makes sense. Someone deliberately revealed to Tang Qianran that Lu Xuefei was being kept as a mistress by the Crown Prince, but she didn't specify that Lu Xuefei was in Chengguang Palace. That person was Zhu Zhenzhen.
Zhu Zhenzhen, Lu Xuefei, and Tang Qianran are all noble ladies from the capital, while Song Qing is a woman from outside the capital.
As for why Zhu Zhenzhen knew that Lu Xuefei was in the Crown Prince's Chengguang Hall, since she had not been summoned and did not know that Lu Xuefei was inside, it can only mean one thing: there are members of the Zhu family in Chengguang Hall.
Jiang Fenghua thought to herself: The Zhu family really knows how to hide things well.
It turns out that Zhu Zhenzhen had the entire Eastern Palace completely under her thumb; she had truly underestimated the daughter of the Imperial Censor.
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On the other side, Gao Qingtong returned to Yuling Palace, and Zhu Zhenzhen greeted her again, "Sister Gao, you're back? What does the Crown Princess want with you?"
Gao Qingtong's gaze towards her changed, but she didn't openly show any disgust. She said calmly, "The Crown Princess called me for nothing. She just wanted to check on the health of us pregnant ladies. I'm a little tired and want to go back to my room to rest. Sister Zhu, you should go back too!"
Actually, she wanted to ask if Granny Liu was someone from her palace, and whether she had instructed Granny Liu to instigate Consort Tang to harm Consort Song.
But what right does she have to question it? Not only is there no evidence, but these things are none of her business. She should just be more careful in the future.
"Gao-meimei..." Zhu Zhenzhen called softly, but Gao Qingtong seemed not to hear her and walked away directly.
Watching Gao Qingtong's departing figure, and then watching her close the door, she clenched her fingers and murmured, "The Crown Princess cares about them? Who are you kidding!"
Unfortunately, Mei Xiang hid outside and didn't dare to go in, as Jiang Fenghua's men were blocking her way.
She led a large entourage of more than a dozen palace maids and eunuchs to the Jade Pavilion, looking quite imposing, as if she were going to catch someone in the act of adultery.
Zhu Zhenzhen also turned back to the main hall. She had not gotten any useful information from Gao Qingtong, so she sent Meixiang to Yuxiu Palace to inquire with Tang Qianran's confidants, but still could not find out anything. In the end, she only got a few words of admonition from the Crown Princess for her concern for their pregnant mistress.
She couldn't get any information from Song Qing, because she and Song Qing rarely exchanged pleasantries.
Suddenly, Zhu Zhenzhen found herself isolated by them for no apparent reason.
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