"Confess the truth, and I will spare the lives of your entire family." Kangxi said this one sentence with a stern face, his imperial power so overwhelming that the concubines present felt suffocated.
"This servant confesses, this servant confesses, it was Hongxiu, the maidservant of Consort Suo Zhuolun, who gave this servant money to add boiled barley water to Consort Zhang's bird's nest, and then told this servant to eat the boiled barley." Xiaopingzi finished speaking, trembling.
"Oh my, I never expected that Consort Suo Zhuolun, who always seemed to get along with everyone, would be so vicious."
Consort Wuya said in surprise, taking two steps back as if afraid of being tainted by Wanyi's bad luck.
"Impossible. Why would Sister Suo Zhuolun harm Consort Zhang, who has no grudge against you? Is there some mistake?"
Borjigit Consort Zhang refused to believe that Wanyi was behind this. At that moment, Consort Zhang in the house began to scream in pain. Everyone knew that the labor-inducing drug was working and that she was giving birth to a stillborn child.
"Listen to this, Consort Zhang is in such a miserable state, all thanks to Consort Suo Zhuolun." When Consort Wuya saw that they had all turned pale upon hearing Consort Zhang's cries, she quickly pinned all the blame on Wanyi, while the others watched Wanyi with amusement.
"Your Majesty, this concubine did not harm Consort Zhang. Someone must have framed me." Wanyi knelt down with tears streaming down her face, looking pitiful and wronged.
When Kangxi first heard that it was Consort Suo Zhuolun, he didn't believe it, but then he suddenly realized that she was also a woman in the harem, so they were all the same.
"With witnesses and physical evidence, what excuses do you have for Consort Suo Zhuolun?" Consort Tong was very pleased; it was good to get rid of one of the favored concubines now.
"I didn't? Don't I even have the chance to defend myself?"
Wanyi wiped away her tears, raised her little face with a defiant look, which amused Kangxi, but he still held back.
"Oh! I'll give you a chance to explain. If it really was you, I will not let you off lightly." When interrogating prisoners, they are given a chance to explain, so Wanyi seized this opportunity.
"I'm asking you, and you said that it was Hongxiu, who is by my side, who ordered you to do it. Then tell me, when was the first time she gave you the order, and what clothes was she wearing?"
"The head maids around this concubine are all wearing the same clothes. Is Concubine Suo Zhuolun so nervous that she's confused?" Concubine Tong thought Concubine Suo Zhuolun had some evidence to turn the tables, but this was all she got.
"Your Majesty, I implore you, when I am questioning Xiaopingzi, please ask the others not to speak first, as this will affect the progress." Wanyi kowtowed to Kangxi.
"You..." Consort Tong began to speak, but was interrupted by Emperor Kangxi.
"Granted."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." After saying this, Wanyi turned to look at Xiaopingzi.
"Xiaopingzi, tell me!"
"Reporting to Consort Zhuolun, it was on the eighth day of the seventh month last month that Miss Hongxiu was wearing red." Xiaopingzi seemed to have thought for a long time before saying this.
"But I've thought it through, so I can't change it to a different color again later," Wanyi said seriously. The head palace maid's clothes were red, the head maid's were light purple, the second-class palace maid's were pink, and the third-class palace maid's were lake blue. All of them had tight cuffs and no patterns or embroidery on their clothes.
"This servant has thought it through, it's red."
"That's quite a coincidence. Last month, Hongxiu accidentally got her clothes wet on the seventh day of the month. She had just forgotten to send her other clothes to the laundry department, so she wore the pink Tianxiang dress. How did it turn red here? Your Majesty can have someone investigate whether what I said is true."
"Liang Jiugong." Kangxi only called out one name, and Liang Jiugong quickly went down to inquire.
"What if she deliberately changed her clothes to see Xiaopingzi!" Upon hearing this, Consort Wuya realized that Consort Suozhuolun actually wanted to clear her name. This was outrageous.
"Xiaopingzi, I'm asking you, have you seen Hongxiu's appearance?" Wanyi ignored Consort Wuya; she was waiting for her here!
"This servant has seen it; Miss Hongxiu did not cover her face that day."
As Xiaopingzi finished speaking, Gu Cui, who was standing next to Consort Wuya, slowly stepped aside, wanting to leave.
"If you see the Red-Sleeved Girl again, will you recognize her?"
“This servant recognizes her. She has brought me things more than once, so this servant recognizes her,” Xiaopingzi said confidently.
"Your Majesty, let Xiaopingzi identify the head maids of the ladies in the harem! Then the truth will come out."
Wan Yi was confident, but in fact, at this point, everyone knew there was probably more to the story.
"All the head palace maids, step forward so that Xiaopingzi can see you."
When Consort Zhao saw Kangxi nod, she quickly called out to Gu Cui, who had almost reached the back. Gu Cui had to stop and slowly walked to the last row. Consort Wuya also looked at Gu Cui nervously, but she knew that Gu Cui was probably in trouble.
After Xiaopingzi finished looking at the first row, he went to the second row. He was anxious, afraid that he would miss the palace maid. When Xiaopingzi glanced past Hongxiu, Consort Borjigit was even happier than Wanyi.
"It's her. I remember she has a mole on her right hand. If you don't believe me, ask her to show me her hand."
Upon seeing Gu Cui, Xiao Pingzi excitedly grabbed her, relieved that his entire family would not have to die.
"Isn't this Gu Cui, the maidservant of Consort Wuya? So it turns out that you were the mastermind behind that vicious scheme!" Consort Li retorted sarcastically to Consort Wuya.
"She still has the nerve to call herself Suo Zhuolun's sister, but I never expected that she herself is the one who is vicious."
Consort Borjigit was also speaking up for Wanyi, but Wanyi watched with amusement as Consort Uya's face changed colors like a palette.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent! I have never done such a thing. Xiaopingzi's words are not credible. He just framed Consort Suozhuolun, and now that his attempt to frame her has failed, he has come to frame me instead." Consort Wuya immediately knelt before Emperor Kangxi and shouted loudly.
“Your Majesty, this servant has not given anything to Xiaopingzi.”
Gu Cui stubbornly persisted, knowing she probably couldn't escape the consequences, but for her family's sake, she had to bear the responsibility.
“It’s her. Although I’ve spent all the money, this maid accidentally dropped her sachet when I was getting something, and I still have it!” Xiao Pingzi said, taking out the sachet from his pocket. Wei Zhu stepped forward, took it, and then compared it with the sachet on Gu Cui’s body.
“Your Majesty, the embroidery technique and stitches are all correct.” After saying this, Wei Zhu placed the two sachets on the tray and stepped back to the side.
"It's over." Gu Cui sat down abruptly. She thought she hadn't left any room for criticism, but she had still made a mistake.
"Gu Cui, it's actually you! Why?" Consort Wuya's shocked expression successfully fooled everyone present, but it was only on the surface.
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