Chapter 508 There is no impenetrable wall, sooner or later it will be found out
The carriage bumped all the way into the palace. Chu Ruohan sat in the carriage, her heart full of doubts.
Su Wan had just been crowned as the queen. Logically, she should be in high spirits. Why was she summoned to the palace in such a hurry?
Could something have happened in the palace?
After entering the palace gate, a palace maid led the way straight to Chaofeng Palace.
As Chu Ruohan walked along, she found that the atmosphere in the palace seemed a little tense. The eunuchs and palace maids coming and going were all in a hurry with solemn expressions on their faces.
When they arrived outside Chaofeng Palace, the palace maid announced and someone came out to greet them soon.
"Please come in, Madam Zhenguo. The Empress is waiting for you in the palace."
Chu Ruohan walked quickly into the hall and saw Su Wan sitting alone on the phoenix throne, his face pale and his brows furrowed.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen."
When Su Wan saw Chu Ruohan, a light suddenly flashed in her eyes, and she quickly stood up: "Sister Ruohan, you are finally here."
After Chu Ruohan saluted, she carefully examined Su Wan's expression and said, "What happened? You look so grim."
Su Wan smiled bitterly: "Sister, I have only been the queen for one day, and I have encountered so many troubles."
"What's the trouble? Tell me slowly." Chu Ruohan took Su Wan's hand and asked her to sit down.
Su Wan told Chu Ruohan everything about what happened with the censor at the morning court and what happened when the concubines paid their respects just now.
After hearing this, Chu Ruohan frowned deeper and deeper: "These things are too coincidental, I'm afraid they are not accidental."
"Sister, do you think so too?" Su Wan's eyes flashed with hope. "I always feel like someone is behind this, but I can't find any evidence."
Chu Ruohan pondered for a moment: "You mean that Concubine Zhen mentioned the incident at the morning court in front of everyone?"
"Yes, she said it very viciously, implying that I was unworthy of the position." Su Wan still felt a little angry when she thought of that scene.
"There's another person who gives me a very strange feeling." Su Wan thought of the beautiful woman again. "She didn't say anything, but that look in her eyes made me very uncomfortable."
Chu Ruohan nodded: "There are many concubines in the palace, and fighting openly and secretly is inevitable."
"But you handled it very well today. You must not be soft-handed when it's time to assert your authority."
"But sister, I still feel uneasy." Su Wan held Chu Ruohan's hand, "I always feel that there will be bigger troubles waiting for me."
Chu Ruohan patted her hand gently: "When the enemy comes, we will fight them; when the water comes, we will block it with earth. You are the queen now, your status is different, so you must be more cautious in what you do."
"What do you think about the matter of Concubine Shu?"
Su Wan shook her head: "I believe in your Majesty's character."
Chu Ruohan nodded: "If it is really the heir of the dragon, the emperor will definitely not deny it. Since he is so sure, there must be something fishy going on."
"Sister, have you thought of something?" Su Wan saw a thoughtful glint in Chu Ruohan's eyes.
"I want to meet that Concubine Shu." Chu Ruohan stood up. "Some things can only be known through personal inquiry."
Su Wan was stunned for a moment: "Meet Concubine Shu?"
"Yes, since someone wants to use her story to make a fuss, we have to find out what's going on."
Chu Ruohan's expression was firm. "You are the queen now. You can't personally handle these matters, but I can."
Half an hour later, Chu Ruohan followed the palace maid to the side hall where Concubine Shu was imprisoned.
The hall was simply furnished and closely guarded by several guards.
Concubine Shu was half lying on the bed, one hand on her waist and the other stroking her bulging belly.
Hearing the footsteps, Concubine Shu looked up and saw that it was Chu Ruohan. Her face instantly turned ugly.
"Oh, it's you," Concubine Shu snorted coldly, "What are you doing here? Are you here to laugh at me?"
Chu Ruohan was not angry. Instead, she walked to the chair and sat down with a calm expression: "Let me ask you a few questions."
"Why should I answer you?" Concubine Shu's eyes flashed with hatred. "Wait until I give birth to the Emperor's eldest son, and then we'll see how arrogant you can be!"
"My son will be the emperor's eldest son by then, and you bitches will have to kneel before me sooner or later!"
Chu Ruohan shook her head: "Whether this child is the emperor's or not, only you know in your heart."
Concubine Shu's expression changed slightly, but she still managed to say, "Of course it's the Emperor's!"
"But there is one thing," Chu Ruohan's voice turned cold, "Whether it is or not, as long as the emperor does not admit it, you will not be able to escape death."
Shufei's fingers trembled slightly, and a trace of panic flashed in her eyes.
Chu Ruohan continued, "The cold palace suddenly caught fire. Don't you think it's strange?"
Concubine Shu was startled and looked at Chu Ruohan warily: "What do you want to say?"
"Someone used the fire in the cold palace to slander the Empress in court, saying it was a warning from heaven." Chu Ruohan stared closely at Concubine Shu's expression. "This fire happened at a perfect time."
After hearing this, Concubine Shu laughed: "I am a consort imprisoned in the cold palace. What other forces do you think can do such a thing?"
Chu Ruohan shook her head: "I know it wasn't you who did it. You were just being used as a bird that killed two birds with one stone."
"But would the Emperor think so?"
Concubine Shu became flustered and the color on her face gradually faded.
Chu Ruohan noticed her hesitation and slowed down her voice.
"You're going to die anyway. But don't you want to leave your child a glimmer of hope?"
Concubine Shu gritted her teeth and said stubbornly, "The one I'm carrying in my belly is the Emperor's dragon seed!"
"Really?" Chu Ruohan stood up. "Then I don't have much to say. I just feel sorry for the child in your belly and the real father."
When Concubine Shu heard the words "real father", she froze.
Seeing this, Chu Ruohan knew that she had guessed right.
"I can save the baby in your belly, and I can also save that person's life."
Concubine Shu raised her head, her eyes full of surprise and doubt: "What did you say?"
"Tell the truth, and I will keep you and your child safe, as well as that man's life."
Chu Ruohan's voice was very soft, but every word struck Shu Fei's heart, "Otherwise, all three of you will die."
Concubine Shu was silent for a long time, and finally compromised: "How can you guarantee it?"
"I, Chu Ruohan, keep my word, but this is not enough." Chu Ruohan walked to the door, "Your Majesty, please come in."
Su Wan pushed the door open and walked in, her phoenix robe gleaming in the candlelight.
When Concubine Shu saw Su Wan, she hurriedly tried to bow, but Su Wan stopped her: "You don't need to be polite in this state."
Chu Ruohan said to Su Wan, "Empress, please promise in person that as long as she tells the truth, you will save her life and the child's life."
Su Wan nodded: "I swear in the name of the Queen, as long as you tell the truth, I will keep you and your child safe."
Concubine Shu looked at Su Wan, then at Chu Ruohan, and finally sighed: "Okay, I'll tell you."
She spoke slowly: "This child is indeed not the emperor's, but Wang Hu's, the guard who guards the cold palace."
Although Su Wan was mentally prepared, she still couldn't help but frown when she heard this.
"After I was imprisoned in the cold palace, I felt completely disheartened." Concubine Shu's voice choked with sobs. "Wang Hu was originally just here to bring me food, but he was very kind to me. He didn't look down on me like the others did."
"Over time, we developed feelings for each other. I know it's not right, but in that desperate situation, I was satisfied to have someone who treated me sincerely."
Chu Ruohan asked, "Besides the people in the cold palace, who else knows that you are pregnant?"
Concubine Shu was a little hesitant and stammered, unable to speak.
Chu Ruohan asked, "Has anyone come to the cold palace to see you?"
Concubine Shu bit her lip and finally shook her head: "No, no one has come."
Chu Ruohan stared into her eyes: "You can choose not to tell, but there is no such thing as an impenetrable wall. Sooner or later, it will be discovered. Rather than being discovered, it is better to tell the truth now."
Shufei's face became paler and paler, and her hand unconsciously stroked her belly, as if she was having a fierce ideological struggle.
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