The eunuch chief was sweating profusely. He knew that the Emperor would lose his mind if he encountered Empress Jing'an. Fortunately, he was smart. He had never dared to slack off during the years when the Empress was secluded. Otherwise, he would be worried about what would happen. He wondered how many of the concubines in the harem could escape this disaster.
The emperor was furious, and the imperial concubine was so angry that she smashed several sets of teacups when she returned to Changle Palace. Not long after she calmed down, Yi Qian came in to convey the emperor's order.
"What? All the concubines are under house arrest?" The Imperial Concubine asked in disbelief after hearing the Emperor's decree. Seeing Yi Qian nod, she asked, "Do you know if the Emperor has made any unusual moves today?"
Yi Qian leaned close to the Imperial Concubine's ear and said, "According to our informants, the Emperor went to Fengyang Palace before dawn and later left with a furious look on his face. It's said that everyone in the entire Fengyang Palace, except for the two senior maids accompanying the Empress, has been detained."
The Imperial Concubine leaned back in her chair dejectedly, feeling a surge of panic. The Emperor had never lost his temper like this before. Could it be? The Imperial Concubine didn't dare to think about it anymore and ordered Yi Qian, "Hurry up, find a way to get more information back."
Yi Qian accepted the order and took his leave. The imperial concubine called Yi Shen in. The two talked for a long time before Yi Shen left.
On the other side, Concubine Zhuang listened calmly as Miao Qing reported the Emperor's house arrest order. After hearing Miao Qing's words, Concubine Zhuang dismissed everyone and sat in the rosewood armchair until dark.
On that day, all the palace maids who had left Fengyang Palace in the past three years were chopped to pieces by Zhao Dao.
When it was dark, Dali Temple Minister Lin Zhu hurried to the imperial study and asked for an audience: "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty..."
The emperor waved his hand impatiently and told him to stand up: "Talk about the progress, don't talk nonsense."
Lin Zhu wiped his sweat off his forehead and replied, "Your Majesty, I have checked every member of the Fengyang Palace. Concubine Zhuang, who has been delivering desserts to the Empress daily for the past three years, is the prime suspect. The maid Yan preserved the bowl that Concubine Zhuang used to deliver the dessert the last time. The imperial physician examined it and confirmed that it contained the same poison that the Empress was poisoned with."
The emperor stood up suddenly and walked out quickly. Lin Zhu looked at the eunuch chief who went out with the emperor, but did not dare to go with him. He just stayed in the imperial study quietly.
Feiyan Palace was quite far from the Imperial Study, so the Emperor took a carriage there, arriving in a quarter of an hour. After entering the palace, Concubine Zhuang and a group of palace maids knelt on the ground to greet the Emperor: "Your Highness, I pay my respects..."
Before Concubine Zhuang could finish her words, the Emperor kicked her in the heart. With a cry of "Ah," she was kicked not far away. Concubine Zhuang covered her chest and coughed, looking at the Emperor with tears in her eyes.
The emperor sat on the main seat and ordered Zhou Defa: "Ask, if you don't answer, you will be punished."
Zhou Defa stepped forward and asked Concubine Zhuang, "My Lady Zhuang, please tell me everything you have done, or you will be punished."
Concubine Zhuang stopped coughing, smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know where I went wrong. I hope Your Majesty will understand."
The emperor looked at Concubine Zhuang as if she were a dead person, and smiled coldly: "Bitch, you don't know what life and death is." Then he signaled Zhou Defa to execute her.
Zhou Defa led two young eunuchs to hold Concubine Zhuang down, picked up a stick, and stood beside her, saying, "My Lady Zhuang, just wait and see, which is harder, your words or my stick?"
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