Chapter 438 She's trying to put herself in a life-or-death situation!
Jiang Fenghua immediately understood, "I'm afraid that the person in white who led Zhu Zhenzhen downstairs had already entered the inn and waited until late at night before coming out to lead Zhu Zhenzhen down. But that person didn't expect that Xiao Yu wasn't in his own room at all, so he led Zhu Zhenzhen to the kitchen. That person was probably picked up by the two people who delivered the food in the middle of the night."
The owner's son said, "The delivery person had just left when this girl came in. I remember drinking the tea on the table. I was really out of my mind at the time. I have to go to the kitchen to make soup and cook every night. She just barged in."
Jiang Jinyan looked at Xiao Yu and said, "So it was premeditated. Why did you choose this inn when you booked it, Lord Xiao?"
Xiao Yu said, "We arrived in Hengyang City very late, and it was difficult to find an inn at that time. We asked at several places, but they were all full or had few rooms. We just happened to ask at this place and found out that they still had many rooms available."
The innkeeper hurriedly replied, "I received a deposit a few days ago from someone who wanted to book the entire restaurant, but they never showed up. Since they'd already paid, I couldn't very well let someone else in. Just this afternoon, the person who booked the room said they weren't staying anymore and the deposit didn't need to be refunded. Then this young master came to say they wanted to book the entire inn, and I was quite pleased..."
"So someone was waiting for you to fall into their trap, and they also guessed that after the late emperor's funeral, the emperor and the ladies would definitely come to the bustling city of Hengyang for a stroll." Jiang Fenghua said coldly, "I was ambushed by assassins when I went to Hengyang Palace today, and you ran to Hengyang City and this happened."
Zhu Zhenzhen suddenly grabbed Zhu Yiyi's hair, "It was you, it must have been you. You were the one who insisted on bringing the Emperor to Hengyang to see the lantern festival. You lured us to Hengyang."
Caught off guard by her sudden attack, Zhu Yiyi said, "It wasn't me. I just thought Hengyang City was lively and wanted to invite His Majesty to come and observe the people's conditions. I wanted to invite His Majesty to come. It wasn't you. If I really wanted to harm you, why would I bother to call you?"
"It was you! You tried to harm me! You wanted to marry the Emperor, you wanted to take my place! Zhu Yiyi, I'm going to kill you!" Zhu Zhenzhen grabbed her neck. "It was you! It was all your fault!"
Zhu Yiyi was being choked by Zhu Zhenzhen, tears streaming down her face. "Your Majesty, please believe me, it wasn't me. I genuinely wanted you to come see the lantern festival in Hengyang. I don't know why this happened. Your Majesty, please believe me, Zhenzhen. I know you're heartbroken. You'd feel better if you strangled me. Just strangle me!"
"Your Majesty, it was you who made Yiyi stay with you. That day in the plum garden, Your Majesty held Yiyi's hand and asked her to stay with you... It wasn't that I wanted to harm Zhenzhen, I didn't..."
The next second, she was choked unconscious by Zhu Zhenzhen. She collapsed to the ground, while Zhu Zhenzhen continued to scream, "I'm going to kill you!"
Seeing this, Xie Shang said, "Granny Wang, quickly pull Zhu Zhenzhen apart and separate them."
Of all those present, only Granny Wang was the most suitable to do this. Granny Wang wished they were all dead, but in front of the Emperor, she had no choice but to separate them.
So, Granny Wang had someone pull Zhu Zhenzhen away again.
Seeing that Zhu Yiyi looked like she was dead, Zhu Zhenzhen laughed and said, "You want to take my position, so I'll kill you. It's you, you're the one who wants to harm me."
Zhu Yiyi's neck was swollen red from being strangled, and she really looked like she was dead. Her maid cried out, "Young Miss, wake up! The Second Miss killed the Young Miss! Waaah, what are we going to do!"
Jiang Fenghua stared at Zhu Yiyi's face, her fingers clenched into fists. She must be trying to put herself in a desperate situation and survive!
Jiang Fenghua wanted to ask: Is Granny Wang dead? Then she saw Xie Shang staring at her face, as if he didn't want her to die.
She wondered: Was it because he couldn't explain it to the Zhu family, or because he couldn't bear to part with Zhu Yiyi's beautiful face? Those words he said to Zhu Yiyi in the plum garden…
Xie Shang looked at Jiang Fenghua, feeling flustered and wanting to explain. He had seemed to be possessed that day; that wasn't what he meant.
However, he did not say these words to Jiang Fenghua. He only said, "Zhu Zhenzhen and Zhu Yiyi are both daughters of the Imperial Censor's family. We cannot let anyone die. Send someone to find a doctor to treat Zhu Yiyi."
Granny Wang said, "This servant guesses that Miss Zhu has just fainted; she is still breathing through her nose."
Xie Shang said, "Have someone help her back to her room."
Jiang Fenghua said calmly, "Zhu Liangdi has already entered the palace as a concubine. She is His Majesty's woman and the royal family's daughter-in-law. How can she still be the daughter of the Imperial Censor's family? Among the people present, Zhu Yiyi is the daughter of Imperial Censor Zhu."
Xie Shang also looked in Zhu Yiyi's direction. It was indeed her who suggested coming to Hengyang to see the lantern festival today. Imperial Censor Zhu also wanted Zhu Yiyi to enter the palace, but there was already a Consort Zhu in the palace, and it was impossible to bring in another one. All signs indicated that Zhu Yiyi was the most suspicious.
"I will have someone investigate who is trying to harm Consort Zhu." Xie Shang's voice was cold. He continued, "The Empress is so clever, how could she have imagined that someone was trying to harm Minister Xiao? Does the Empress also think that today's events were not caused by Minister Xiao's dereliction of duty?"
Jiang Fenghua was stunned. "I did not say that, nor did I favor Lord Xiao."
Xie Shang's lips curled into a mocking smile. "It would be best if the Empress could do this."
Xiao Yu immediately knelt on the ground, "It's all my fault, Your Majesty, please punish me."
"With the Empress protecting you, how could I punish you?" Xie Shang clenched his fingers, gave Xiao Yu a deep look, and then turned and went to Zhu Yiyi's room.
Jiang Fenghua suddenly walked up to Xiao Yu and said in a deep voice, "If someone is determined to harm you, it is impossible to guard against them. What wrong has Minister Xiao done in today's matter?"
Xiao Yu was stunned. He stared at the stunning woman in front of him and saw a hint of disappointment flash in her eyes. He wanted to comfort her, but he couldn't.
Jiang Jinyan ordered his men to put the boss's son under guard.
For a moment, no one knew what to do. It seemed that the matter had reached a stalemate, and Zhu Zhenzhen had become the sole victim.
Jiang Jinyan then sent people to investigate the vegetable farmers who delivered vegetables to the inn, but found nothing unusual.
Xie Shang entered Zhu Yiyi's room, took a stool and sat on the edge of the bed, staring coldly at the unconscious Zhu Yiyi.
A moment later, Zhu Yiyi slowly woke up. She turned her head and saw Xie Shang's figure, preparing to get up, "Your Majesty..."
Xie Shang's eyes softened, "Consort Zhu may be mentally unstable. I will send someone to inform Imperial Censor Zhu to bring her back to her residence for recuperation. Is your neck alright?"
Zhu Yiyi touched her neck, and tears instantly fell. "This humble woman did not harm Zhenzhen. It seems that Your Majesty the Empress has also misunderstood this humble woman."
Xie Shang comforted her, "I believe you. The Empress may have misunderstood us, which is why she is so angry."
Zhu Yiyi was stunned. Xie Shang continued, "I don't believe that a woman who likes plum blossoms has any bad intentions. Miss Zhu is also very good."
Zhu Yiyi said, "Your Majesty truly believes in me."
Xie Shang smiled faintly, "Did Yiyi do something to make me distrust her?"
Zhu Yiyi blushed slightly, "This humble woman really only wanted to stroll around the lantern festival in Hengyang City with His Majesty, and did not know that someone wanted to harm Zhenzhen."
"Once your neck injury has healed, I will go and see the prosperous and wealthy place you mentioned. Yiyi, please lead the way for me then," Xie Shang said in a gentle voice.
Before Zhu Yiyi could nod in agreement, Granny Wang brought over the ointment again. "Your Majesty, the ointment has arrived. This servant will apply it for Miss Zhu."
"Give it to me!" Xie Shang said in a deep voice.
A hint of displeasure flashed in Granny Wang's eyes, but she still respectfully handed the ointment to the Emperor, saying, "This servant will take her leave."
Xie Shang gently applied a small amount of ointment with his finger. "Shall I help you apply the medicine?"
Zhu Yiyi felt flattered and overwhelmed. "It's enough to have the maid help me. How could I dare to ask Your Majesty for help?"
"Then wait for your maid to come and help you. I'll head back now," Xie Shang said calmly.
Zhu Yiyi quickly got out of bed, as if she was about to fall off if she lost her balance.
Xie Shang also made a move to leave, but the next moment he saw her about to fall and instinctively reached out to catch her. "Miss Zhu, are you alright?" He felt nauseous and wanted to vomit, but he still didn't push her away.
Zhu Yiyi tugged at his sleeve, "It was my fault for being too hasty and accidentally..."
"It's alright." Xie Shang leaned closer to her, his thin lips seemingly brushing against her cheek, and said softly, "Miss Zhu is weak, so let me apply the medicine for her."
Zhu Yiyi blushed. She glanced at a figure standing outside and said softly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xie Shang gently stroked her neck with his fingers, and a tingling sensation made Zhu Yiyi blush. The Empress must be very angry to see her being so intimate with the Emperor!
Xie Shang caught a glimpse of the figure outside the door out of the corner of his eye. His fingers stiffened slightly, and his eyes turned icy and chilling.
He then seemed to move a little closer to Zhu Yiyi, his hands still moving, until he had applied the ointment before standing up. "After applying the ointment, I believe the bruises on Miss Zhu's neck will disappear soon."
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