Chapter 488 Dong Lanxin's Embroidered Handkerchief
In Fengyi Palace, Dong Lanxin's face was as gloomy as she sat on the queen's throne.
More than a dozen concubines sat below. Except for Li Yao who was pregnant, everyone else had a look of nervousness on their faces.
Qin Yuwei, who had just returned to the palace, sat next to Dong Lanxin, feeling a little uneasy.
Although she gave Xiao Yuan the opportunity to return to Longyou, it seemed that things were not going well for Xiao Yuan.
Otherwise, Li Yao would not have dared to mobilize so many troops, gather all the concubines and point the finger at the queen.
"Your Majesty has arrived—"
Yan Xiuyun walked into the store with a sullen face, and the concubines all stood up and saluted.
Yan Xiuyun first glanced at Dong Lanxin with a somewhat gloomy expression, then walked to the upper seat and sat down.
"Empress Rong, you are pregnant, but you are not concentrating on taking care of the baby. Why are you making such a big scene?"
Li Yao smiled slightly, a hint of pride flashed in her eyes, and stepped forward and said:
"Your Majesty, sisters, I'm sure you've all heard about the rumors in the harem a few days ago."
She looked at Yan Xiuyun with a somewhat sad expression and said:
“I heard that Your Majesty was going to impose severe punishment on those palace maids and eunuchs, and I couldn’t bear it.
I was afraid of seeing blood, yet also wanted to accumulate some blessings for my unborn child, so I took the initiative and did a brief investigation into the matter.
But I didn’t expect that… what those palace maids and eunuchs said was not just a rumor. The Empress and the Imperial Guards Commander Xiao Yuan were indeed…”
Li Yao acted as if she was really embarrassed and couldn't continue speaking. When these words came out, all the concubines showed horror on their faces and looked at Yan Xiuyun and Dong Lanxin anxiously.
Qin Yuwei remained calm and glanced at Yan Xiuyun. She saw that his face had turned gloomy and he was obviously angry.
However, this matter was of great importance, and the Emperor and Empress had not yet spoken, so it was not his turn to speak.
"How dare you slander my reputation!" Dong Lanxin scolded harshly.
Yan Xiuyun stared at Li Yao, his voice hinting at coldness.
"Fei Rong, do you know what crime it is to slander the queen?"
Li Yao knelt down and said:
"I didn't want to expose this matter, but the Queen has corrupted the harem and had an affair with Commander Xiao. This is really unbearable.
Moreover, this matter concerns the reputation of the royal family and even the prestige of Your Majesty, so I have no choice but to report it at the risk of my life.
Moreover, what those palace maids said was true. If their tongues were cut off for this, I would not be able to bear it. I beg Your Majesty to understand this!"
"Empress Rong, which eye of yours has ever seen me and Commander Xiao having an affair? " Dong Lanxin said angrily.
Li Yao raised her head and looked at her, "I have a witness!"
Dong Lanxin was about to say something but was interrupted by Yan Xiuyun.
"Where are the witnesses?"
Li Yao was delighted and said:
"Bring the people up!"
Soon, a thin woman in yellow was brought before the crowd.
When Dong Lanxin saw her, her pupils suddenly trembled, but she quickly calmed down.
Li Yao asked: "Does the Queen know this person?"
"Of course I know her." Dong Lan thought to herself, "This girl's name is Tongyun. She was my personal maid when I was in Longyou."
"Your Majesty has a good memory." Li Yao said with a smile.
"Tongyun, now tell His Majesty everything you have reported to me."
"Yes." Tongyun knelt in the hall with her head lowered, her voice timid.
"Before Your Majesty entered the palace, I served you closely, and I have seen everything that Your Majesty said and did.
When the Empress and Lord Xiao were in Longyou, they indeed loved each other and even secretly decided to spend their lives together.
But later on, news came that the queen had been selected to enter the Eastern Palace, so the two of them had no choice but to separate, and then Lord Xiao followed the queen into the capital."
When the concubines heard this, their faces turned pale and no one dared to speak.
Li Yao said to Yan Xiuyun:
"Your Majesty, you heard it all. The Empress and Commander Xiao are both from Longyou. Over the years, they have moved from Longyou to the capital, from the Eastern Palace to the harem, and have taken advantage of your Majesty's trust to do countless shameful things behind your back."
Yan Xiuyun's eyes were as dark as ink as he looked at Dong Lanxin, as if waiting for her to give him an explanation.
"Hehehe..." Dong Lanxin chuckled.
"Your Majesty, it is true that Tongyun followed me for many years, but since I came to the capital, I have not seen her for ten years.
How much of the loyalty from ten years ago is still left now?
Now, this girl was brought to the capital by someone with ulterior motives. I don't know from whom and what kind of benefits she received, but she slandered me and Commander Xiao for having an affair without any basis in words.
Your Majesty, do you think this is ridiculous?"
Yan Xiuyun's eyes moved slightly, as if he was thinking about Dong Lanxin's words.
Qin Yuwei also spoke at this time, her voice was gentle, but every word was clear:
"Your Majesty, you don't know that since Sister Rong became pregnant, her behavior has become more and more erratic.
Not only did she spread rumors in the palace that the Queen was unfavored, she also repeatedly bumped into the Queen and made offensive remarks when facing her.
Concubine Rong has been talking back to the Queen. I and the other sisters have been watching and we all feel sorry for the Queen.
However, the Queen is virtuous and kind, and she did not want to cause more trouble to Your Majesty, so she did not allow us to tell Your Majesty, and endured it alone."
The pair of phoenix eyes swept lightly across the hall.
"Sisters, is what I said true?"
Qin Yuwei is good at dancing with long sleeves, and she becomes even more versatile after becoming a royal concubine. She often advises Yan Xiu to have equal sex with her.
Many concubines gained the emperor's favor because of her recommendation, so she was very popular.
Zheng Changzai, who was often taken care of by Qin Yuwei, was the first to speak:
"Your Majesty, everything the Imperial Concubine said is true.
A few days ago, I heard Sister Rongfei say something like, "The Queen is not favored now, and I will be in that position sooner or later." It was really frightening!"
The other concubines followed suit and listed Li Yao's "crimes", with some exaggeration in their words.
"Yes, I have also seen Concubine Rong ask the imperial kitchen about the Queen's diet recipes, so that the small kitchen in her palace can also learn from them."
"I also heard Concubine Rong tell the servants in the Imperial Garden that if she moved to her palace, it must be brighter than the one in Fengyi Palace..."
“You…you…!”
Li Yao didn't expect that everyone would suddenly target her, and she was so angry that she almost broke the handkerchief in her hand.
Yan Xiuyun sneered and looked at Li Yao meaningfully:
"Empress Rong, you appear to be submissive on weekdays, but you are actually planning to become the ruler of the imperial palace. This is really unexpected for Shiling Town."
Li Yao hurriedly explained that she didn't.
Qin Yuwei looked at her with sharp eyes and asked:
"You are jealous of the Empress and have been trying to sow discord between the Emperor and the Empress for a long time, but His Majesty and the Empress are deeply in love.
Seeing that provocation was futile, you came up with such a vicious plan. You bribed the Empress's former personal maid and brought her into the palace to slander the Empress.
Such thoughts are really vicious! "
"No, Your Majesty, please listen to my explanation!"
Li Yao looked at Yan Xiuyun's face with panic in her eyes, but suddenly she remembered that she still had an ace in her hand, which was why she dared to bring Tongyun to see the emperor.
"Your Majesty, what Tongyun said was not fabricated. She has evidence of the Queen and Xiao Yuan's affair!"
Dong Lan was nervous for a moment, but after thinking about it, she felt that it was unlikely.
All the letters and keepsakes between him and Xiao Yuan had been taken away by Xiao Yuan.
She knew Xiao Yuan and believed in him. He would never be careless or make any mistakes on such an important matter.
Seeing Yan Xiuyun remained silent, Li Yao quickly asked someone to present the evidence handed over by Tongyun.
It was a white embroidered handkerchief with a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water and a romantic poem on it.
The moment Dong Lanxin's eyes touched the embroidered handkerchief, her pupils suddenly contracted and her brain went blank!
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