Concubine Shu clenched her fist and said, "Guess who is the one who framed me?"
"He must be someone who wants to fight for the power to assist the Six Palaces, right?"
Concubine Shu said firmly, "It's either Concubine Liang or Concubine Jia. They're the most likely to fight. No matter which one it is, I won't just sit there and wait for death. You take off my gold hairpin immediately. I'm going to see the Emperor, explain my grievances to him, and bring that bitch to justice."
Hongxiu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Madam. I have already thrown the kettle of white phosphorus powder where it should be thrown."
In the Yangxin Palace, Commander Ma reported the results of the search.
Xuan Ling thought for a moment and asked, "Yan Yan, who do you think it could be?"
Sheng Xiyan said, "Since I entered the palace, the sisters in the harem have been very kind to me. I don't know who is so cruel, but perhaps Concubine Shu is not the kind of person who would throw herself into fire."
"Because she is Jiang Jiang's aunt?"
Sheng Xiyan nodded. Last month, Concubine Shu asked her to surrender and wanted to use her to win favor. She shouldn't kill her so soon.
At this time, outside the palace, Concubine Shu was wearing palace clothes, with her long hair loose, and without any hair accessories.
Kneel respectfully at the door.
Eunuch Fu stepped forward and asked, "Madam Shufei, what are you doing?"
Concubine Shu's expression was solemn. "Please inform the Emperor, Eunuch Fu, that I have been framed without any reason. I am here to prove my innocence."
Eunuch Fu entered the palace and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Concubine Shu is kneeling at the door, saying that she was wrongly accused."
Xuan Ling said coldly, "Call her in."
When Concubine Shu came in, she was wearing an extremely simple and elegant white brocade dress with a landscape painting. She had long black hair and no makeup on. Instead, she looked even more pitiful than usual.
As soon as she came in, she fell to her knees.
"Your Majesty," she said, tearfully, "I have always considered Xi Yan one of my own family. She comes from Prince E's mansion, and Jiang Jiang is my nephew. How could I possibly have set a fire? Someone has conspired to frame me, and I am deeply heartbroken. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for me."
Xuan Ling said, "Shufei, since no white phosphorus powder was found in Zhongcui Palace, you are innocent. There is no need to feel any psychological burden. Get up."
Concubine Shu cried for a while, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Sheng Xiyan walked over to help her up. Concubine Shu took her hand and said, "Sister Xiyan, you should understand my feelings, right? Jiang Jiang is Ayan's only child. How could I bear to harm him?"
"I know that Your Majesty will not disregard the General's safety."
Concubine Shu nodded, wiped her tears and said, "Your Majesty, I heard from Commander Ma that someone sent an anonymous letter, which means it was a planned conspiracy. It doesn't matter if I am innocent and wronged, but if the real culprit cannot be found, I am really worried about the safety of Xiyan and Jiangjiang."
Xuan Ling asked: "What do you think?"
"I request your permission to search the six palaces tonight to see if we can find any clues."
Sheng Xiyan originally thought that mobilizing such a large force would have little chance of finding the truth, but unexpectedly Xuan Ling made the final decision, saying, "Permitted, Concubine Shu, you and Commander Ma will search every palace thoroughly."
Concubine Shu bowed and said, "I understand. I will take my leave."
It was late at night and all the palaces were in chaos.
Shu Fei was the first to lead people to the main hall of Chuxiu Palace where Liang Fei lived.
Concubine Liang walked out of the palace gracefully and said with a smile, "Oh, what's going on? Sister Shufei, have you started to manage the six palaces? Congratulations in advance."
Concubine Shu's eyes were fierce. She walked towards her and said coldly, "Concubine Liang, do you really not know what happened? Or are you just pretending?"
Concubine Liang swung her sleeves and sneered, "I'm so sleepy I don't understand what you're saying."
At this time, the person in the hall was not from Chuxiu Palace, but Li Ma from Cining Palace.
Coming out of the small kitchen, she carried a food box in her hand and said respectfully, "Hello, Madam Shufei, Madam Liangfei, I am going back to the Cining Palace."
Concubine Liang said, "Go ahead."
Just as she was about to leave the palace, Concubine Shu called out to her, "Madam Li, please wait a moment. Why are you here in Chuxiu Palace?"
Concubine Liang said, "Sister, don't you know? The mugwort grown in my side garden is the best in the palace. Madam Li is here to make mugwort dumplings for the Empress Dowager."
Concubine Shu gave Hongxiu a look, and Hongxiu walked over and said with a smile, "I'm sorry, Ma'am Li, but the Emperor's decree is that all palaces except the Cining Palace must be searched. Although you belong to the Cining Palace, you are in the Chuxiu Palace now, so we have to let you search it so that we can clear your name."
Nanny Li nodded and said, "Then search it. Don't delay and send the mugwort dumplings to the Empress Dowager. If they get cold and become hard, the Empress Dowager will blame you."
Hongxiu opened the food box. A yellow-glazed plate covered with bamboo leaves held six freshly made mugwort dumplings.
She carefully picked up the plate and looked under the lunch box.
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