Chapter 474 It Can't Be Hidden Anymore
Jiang Fenghua's eyes were cold and sharp as she said in a deep voice, "Granny Wang, bring the lantern closer."
Granny Wang approached with a lantern, the light shining on Xin'er's face. She subconsciously lowered her head, even wanting to back away. Why would the Empress suddenly stop them? Did the Empress know something? Or was it just a coincidence?
Qin Yunyan firmly believed that the Empress had never seen her before and did not know her true identity. She calmed herself down, but staring into the Empress's eyes at such close range, she only felt that they were bright and dazzling. As someone who also loved beauty, she was jealous of the Empress's beauty.
Jiang Fenghua glanced at her makeup and deliberately said, "A palace maid's makeup is more seductive than that of an empress. It's as clear as day that she has ulterior motives."
Granny Wang understood immediately and said in a deep voice, "This road happens to be the only way back to Chenxi Palace. It just so happens that Consort Ronghua and such a pretty and charming little palace maid ran into the Emperor on the way. This servant thinks that Consort Ronghua's thoughts are really deep! This servant has a way to deal with this kind of palace maid who wants to seduce the Emperor, so there is no need for Your Majesty the Empress to worry."
After speaking, Granny Wang stepped forward and slapped Xin'er twice across the face. Granny Wang used all her strength, and Xin'er's face swelled up instantly.
Suddenly, horror flashed in their eyes. "Xin'er" was also stunned by the sudden change. After she came to her senses, she hurriedly said, "This servant has absolutely no intention of seducing the Emperor. Please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly."
“A palace maid with such exquisite makeup following behind the Emperor, and she still dares to argue,” Granny Wang said again. “Your Highness, don’t listen to her nonsense. I’ve seen too many palace maids and servants like this who try to climb the social ladder. The best way to deal with them is to nip their ambitions in the bud. Whether it’s cutting off their ears or their noses, this old servant is very quick to act.”
Shu Yan didn't expect the Empress to see through her so quickly, and said directly, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty, I really didn't have such intentions. I was just passing by."
“We followed Your Highness and the Emperor all the way, and we were really just passing by. Does Your Highness think we guards are blind? That we didn’t know you were up to something behind our backs? I didn’t expose Your Highness just now because the Emperor was there.” Ao Xue cupped her hands and said coldly, “In my opinion, they are clearly plotting against the Emperor.”
Qin Yunyan was still thinking of a solution in her mind, but the Empress did not catch them seducing the Emperor on the spot.
Before she could come up with a solution, Shu Yan, unable to withstand the fright, blurted out, "Your Majesty, I will never dare to do it again. Please forgive me. I will never let Xin'er seduce the Emperor again."
Qin Yunyan was furious. She refused to believe that the Empress would kill them. Even if they wanted to run into the Emperor by chance, they had no evidence. Yet she had confessed herself.
Jiang Fenghua was too lazy to argue with her. Her eyes were icy and ruthless as she said directly, "Stop your little schemes. If you dare to do it again, it won't be as simple as just being slapped in the face. What if such a beautiful face is accidentally disfigured!"
If we don't push Qin Yunyan, how can we ignite the hatred in her heart and get her to contact Su Qingqing on her own initiative?
This time, she plans to lure the snake out of its hole and use Qin Yunyan to find out all the people Su Qingqing is hiding in the palace.
Although she could use Xie Ling'er's marriage to Prince Huyan to lure out Su Qingqing, she was worried that Su Qingqing was no longer in Shengjing City. Besides, Xie Shang had not agreed to Xie Ling'er's marriage. If she continued to focus on this matter, Xie Shang might think she was taking revenge on Xie Ling'er.
Su Qingqing was hiding herself too well, her whereabouts were mysterious, so she had to use some means to force Qin Yunyan to take the initiative to contact Su Qingqing.
Qin Yunyan saw a ruthless glint in her eyes. It turned out that Empress Jiang was indeed as Madam Xiang had said, a ruthless woman.
She quickly replied, "This servant will never dare to do it again."
Meanwhile, Xie Shang and Lin Feng stood in the shadows. He stared into Jiang Fenghua's eyes, then looked at the woman kneeling on the ground, as if he vaguely remembered her. "Is she Qin Yunyan, the daughter of the Qin family?"
Lin Feng said, "It should be her. I didn't expect that Shu Ronghua colluded with her and even tried to seduce the Emperor. Fortunately, the Empress discovered it. They are really audacious to think they can seduce the Emperor so easily. The Emperor only has the Empress in his heart. Do they really think the Emperor is the kind of man who falls in love with every woman he sees? Wang Mama's beating of them was too lenient..."
Xie Shang felt that Lin Feng was making veiled criticisms. What kind of man was he?
He glared at Lin Feng coldly, "Send someone to keep an eye on Qin Yunyan and see who she contacts in the palace."
He remembered Jiang Fenghua saying that because Xiao Yu had confiscated the Qin family's property, Qin Yunyan had a grudge against Xiao Yu, and that she and Su Qingqing were colluding to seek revenge on Xiao Yu.
Wu Xin stood respectfully to the side. It was the first time he had ever seen the Empress punish a woman who had tried to seduce the Emperor. He wanted to speak up, but the Emperor stopped him.
The Emperor clearly noticed that someone was lurking in the shadows, but he turned back because he was worried that someone might harm the Empress.
He glanced at the Emperor's face discreetly; the Emperor's eyes were cold and sharp, unfathomable.
Immediately afterwards, Xie Shang did not go forward to disturb them, but went directly to the West Palace Camp.
When the emperor arrived, the crowd of onlookers automatically dispersed and bowed.
Xie Shang said in a deep voice, "I have long heard that Commander Shang and the daughter of Imperial Censor Zhu are engaged, and the wedding date has been set. I believe Commander Shang will be sending out invitations to everyone soon. Please go back!"
After the emperor spoke, no one dared to watch or even utter a sarcastic remark. He meant that Commander Shang and the Zhu family's daughter were engaged, and that their actions were simply a matter of the two of them being unable to control their feelings.
Shang Hong was the commander of the Imperial Guards and a confidant of the Emperor, so naturally no one dared to gossip about him. But Zhu Yiyi was different. It was shameless of a woman to have an affair with a man before marriage.
Soon everyone left, and the surroundings became quiet.
Xie Shang found the scene horrific. Imperial Physician Mei was already treating Imperial Censor Zhu. Shang Hong, dressed in his official robes, looked ashamed. "Your Majesty, I am guilty. Please punish me. I don't know what happened. I just couldn't control my body and made a grave mistake. But I will take responsibility for Yiyi."
Zhu Yiyi also put on her own dress. It was only because Shang Hong stopped Liu Mama from tearing it that she was allowed to wear clothes. The wound on her face was no longer bleeding, but it was still terrifying. Her face was covered in blood, and she no longer looked like a beauty at all.
At the same time, Zhu Yiyi burst into tears the moment she saw the Emperor, saying, "This humble woman has been harmed. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for me. Someone has been burning aphrodisiac incense in the room."
Xie Shang said coldly, "Who wants to harm you?"
For a moment, Zhu Yiyi couldn't figure it out. Thinking of how the First Madam rushed in and slashed her face, the First Madam must have found out something, or it was because of Zhu Zhenzhen's matter.
She pointed at Madam Zhu and said, "I have always respected Madam Zhu, but she has ruined my appearance. Madam Zhu is so cruel!"
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