Chapter 783 The Truth 1
Over here, when Granny Xi saw Lin Yu enter the room, she rolled her eyes and turned to leave Kunning Palace.
Through the crack in the door, Lin Yu and her people saw this and quietly followed.
Granny Xi headed towards Cining Palace. "Miss, what is she doing running back to Cining Palace alone in the middle of the night?"
Lin Yu stopped her, saying, "Don't follow us, let's go back first!"
She believed that an old woman who didn't know martial arts couldn't cause any trouble. She had only one purpose in returning to Cining Palace: to inform others. Who was hiding in Cining Palace? It wasn't wise to alert them yet, so she had to go back and discuss things with Fenghua before making any further plans.
She is still unaware of the situation on Fenghua's side, and what her purpose was in going to see Consort Chang.
Lin Yu led her people back to Kunning Palace. Soon after, Granny Xi also returned in the dark. She went into her room and never came out again.
At the same time, Jiang Fenghua led her people to the Heavenly Prison, a place where many people had been imprisoned before, including Zhang Yurou, Zhu Zhenzhen, other people in the harem who had made mistakes, or people in the royal family who had made mistakes. Now it was the turn of Consort Chang and Shu Lang. Xie Shang also imprisoned Shu Yan.
Logically speaking, Shu Yan should have been expelled from the palace long ago.
The Empress Dowager should have come in and stayed as well, but she pretended to be stupid and escaped.
The root cause is that the face of the royal family is more important than human life, and the lives of ordinary people are as worthless as grass. Zhang Jingjing and Pan Nianru could only die in vain.
Xie Shang was furious with them. Indulging in debauchery in the harem was a capital offense, and Shu Lang was guilty of multiple crimes and should be torn apart by five horses!
The soldiers guarding the imperial prison saw the Empress arrive so late and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects. Please wait here."
Jiang Fenghua said, "I need to go in and see Consort Chang."
The soldier said, "His Majesty has ordered that no one is allowed to enter the Imperial Prison. Only with His Majesty's decree can this humble servant allow Your Highness to enter."
"Not even I can enter? Is this what His Majesty instructed you to do?" Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice.
The soldier knelt on the ground with his hands clasped in front of him. "Please forgive us, Your Majesty. His Majesty has ordered that no one is allowed to set foot in the Imperial Prison. If any of the prisoners inside escape, our lives will be in danger."
Jiang Fenghua did not expect Xie Shang to prevent her from interfering in the affairs of the royal family. He probably thought it was a family matter of the Xie family, which is why he did not want her to get involved, just like when he drugged her and secretly left the palace, he had the same idea.
But now she needs to confirm one thing: she must see Consort Chang. She must verify her suspicions and find evidence of Prince Kang's crimes. If she is not mistaken, Consort Chang can give her the answer.
Jiang Fenghua then said, "Do I need to send someone to invite Lord Yao before you will allow me to see Consort Chang?"
The soldier was stunned. "This..." The Imperial Clan Court prison was indeed under Lord Yao's jurisdiction, but the Emperor had ordered them to obey.
If they invite Lord Yao and he lets the Empress in, they will offend the Empress.
The soldiers were in a difficult position, as no one dared to offend the Empress.
Just then, Yao Guangzong suddenly entered the palace, saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."
Jiang Fenghua asked in confusion, "Why did Lord Yao enter the palace at this hour?"
Yao Guangzong said, "Your Majesty, I am here to deliver an imperial edict to Your Highness to see Consort Chang. Your Highness, please."
Jiang Fenghua was even more puzzled. How did Xie Shang know that she was going to see Consort Chang, especially in the middle of the night? Could it be that Xie Shang had not left Shengjing?
He must know there are assassins in the palace!
Lord Yao said, "Her Majesty, go in alone, and the rest of you will wait outside. This is His Majesty's order."
Ao Xue said, "This servant is to protect Your Highness's safety at all times, which is also His Majesty's wish."
Lord Yao said, "Don't worry, young lady. The Imperial Prison under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Clan Court is very safe. Your Highness will be fine."
Jiang Fenghua became increasingly puzzled. Xie Shang not only predicted that she would come to see Consort Chang, but he might also have predicted her purpose in doing so.
Did Xie Shang already know all along?
Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "I will go in alone. You all wait outside."
Ao Xue was still worried, so she handed the sword in her hand to the Empress, saying, "If Your Majesty needs anything, please speak up. I will be outside."
Nightshade was also somewhat tempted, but seeing the heavy guards around him, he did not make any rash moves.
Ao Xue glanced at Ye Ying and saw a look of urgency in his eyes. Did he want to rescue Consort Chang? The Empress also wanted to see Consort Chang.
Ao Xue remained on guard.
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When Jiang Fenghua met Consort Chang, she saw Consort Chang sitting cross-legged on a straw mat, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand. Her eyes were slightly closed, and she was muttering something.
Jiang Fenghua entered and saw three cells in a row. The three of them each had a cell. Shu Lang and Shu Yan were both asleep. Jiang Fenghua thought to herself, "They're sleeping soundly."
At this moment, Consort Chang suddenly opened her eyes, "Her Majesty the Empress has finally arrived."
Jiang Fenghua was surprised, "The Empress Dowager knew I was coming, what kind of secret do you have that you're hiding?"
Consort Chang glanced in Shu Yan's direction and said, "Xie Shang thinks the royal family is too filthy. The royal family is indeed filthy to the core, disgusting."
She sneered, "But he values ​​brotherhood very much, which is different from his heartless father and mother. I really don't know how someone so wicked could give birth to such a loyal son. How ridiculous, how ridiculous!"
Jiang Fenghua thought: Xie Shang was probably influenced by the late emperor and the Kang Prince. He always wanted to change, but in the end he found that not only could he not change, but he also couldn't bring himself to deal with these heartless relatives.
In fact, Xie Shang was not that kind of person. He should have been as cold and ruthless as the late emperor. But he lost too much, so he wanted too much. He had love in his heart, and with it came affection. This affection gave him warmth, but it also became his weakness.
He admired the Jiang family's way of getting along and wanted to make the royal family a warm place like that. However, he was wrong and forgot the late emperor's reminder that emperors cannot have emotions, otherwise they will lose their most accurate judgment.
Indecisiveness is a disease.
Jiang Fenghua said, "Xie Shang came to pay his respects to the Dowager Consort before leaving."
She unconsciously glanced in the direction of Shu Lang and Shu Yan, and tentatively asked, "Does Shu Yan know that she is your and Prince Kang's daughter?"
Consort Chang was stunned: "She doesn't know."
"Can they hear us?"
Consort Chang said, "They've been drugged and can't hear us."
Jiang Fenghua quickly covered her nose.
Consort Chang added, "The sleeping potion is in the water."
Jiang Fenghua asked directly, "Does Xie Shang know that Shu Yan is not the daughter of Shu Lang and the Dowager Consort?"
Consort Chang smiled faintly, "Even the Empress could guess it. How could the Emperor be so stupid? He thought of it long ago, but in his mind, these are all scandals of the royal family."
Jiang Fenghua only guessed that Xie Shang might already know when she entered the prison, but she didn't expect that Consort Chang would admit it so quickly.
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