Empress Jing'an glanced at the Emperor, who was glaring at the Eighth Prince, and picked up a serving chopstick to offer him a piece of shredded Yunnan ham. The Emperor's previously displeased expression suddenly shone, and the corners of his mouth curved into an arc that he couldn't suppress. He coughed lightly and said, "Zitong, enjoy your meal." After saying this, he quickly finished off the dish Empress Jing'an had picked up, his chopsticks frequently reaching for the dish of shredded Yunnan ham.
Zhou Defa entered, gently approaching the emperor. He bowed and waited on the side. The emperor glanced at him but ignored him. Only after rinsing his mouth did he wink at Zhou Defa.
Zhou Defa entered the side hall and knelt down with a thud. The emperor, sitting in the main throne, still had a gentle look on his face. When he saw Zhou Defa kneeling, he said seriously, "What have you found out? Report it all back."
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine instructed Concubine Zhuang to murder the Second Prince. There's both witnesses and evidence. Although the Fifth Prince's death had nothing to do with the Imperial Concubine, she also helped Concubine Zhuang cover up the evidence. And..."
The emperor's previously gentle face now showed a hint of anger: "Go on."
Zhou Defa, kneeling on the ground and wiping a cold sweat from his face, continued, "The poison in Emperor Jing'an's body was deliberately revealed by the Imperial Concubine to Concubine Zhuang, no, to Zhuang. The medicine is extremely expensive. The Imperial Concubine's cousin, the doctor of the Ministry of Revenue, embezzled three million taels of silver and gave one million taels as a tribute to the Imperial Concubine."
Oh, the emperor's face was calm, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent. Zhou Defa continued, "Concubine Shu and Concubine Li were also involved in the Fifth Prince's affair. The Fifth Prince could have been saved. Concubine Shu's father and brother bribed Imperial Physician Liu, and someone from Concubine Li's family tampered with the medicinal herbs."
Zhou Defa's voice became increasingly softer. "Except for Consort Xian and Wang Chongyi, who have not yet been found to have done anything, the rest of the concubines have all attempted to harm Empress Jing'an and the princes."
The emperor was calm at this moment, as if he had not heard Zhou Defa's words. He sat quietly in the main seat, his eyes fixed on the bronze tripod with the word "Fu" inscribed on it in the middle of the side hall. After Zhou Defa finished speaking, he also knelt quietly in the same place, not daring to move.
It wasn't until two quarters of an hour later that the emperor issued his decree: "Shufei and Lifei will be demoted to commoners and given pigeon wine." "Imperial Noble Consort, Imperial Noble Consort will be demoted to commoners and sentenced to death, with all nine clans exterminated." "Concubines of the third rank and above who are found to have harmed others will all be sentenced to death, including male relatives and female relatives. "Innocent concubines will all be demoted to commoners and sent to the Imperial Gratitude Temple to shave their heads and practice asceticism." "Palace servants who served the concubines, regardless of their close relationship, will all be sentenced to death."
Zhou Defa responded tremblingly, staggered to his feet, bowed and retreated to find the official who announced the decree.
Overnight, a huge earthquake occurred in the harem.
Empress Jing'an was ordered by the Emperor to take a tranquilizing decoction. The next day, she woke up at dawn, having been awakened by the sound of crying outside. Zishu heard the noise inside and came in, lifting the curtain to serve Empress Jing'an.
There were intermittent cries outside, and a faint smell of blood in the air. Queen Jing'an's heart skipped a beat and she asked, "Zishu, what's going on outside?"
Zishu helped Queen Jing'an get off the bed and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's the Eighth Princess outside. I'll send her away right away."
Queen Jing'an shook her head, cleaned her face and combed her hair, and went to the outer room. As soon as she appeared, the Eighth Princess rushed over. After being stopped by Zi Yan, she knelt on the ground and said, "Queen, please save my mother. I beg you."
The Eighth Princess was in tears, her eyes swollen like walnuts. Queen Jing'an didn't understand the situation and couldn't agree to her immediately. She ordered Zi Yan: "Help the princess up quickly."
Zi Yan reached out to help the Eighth Princess, but she slapped her hand away: "Empress, if you don't agree, I will kneel down forever."
Zishu, receiving Empress Jing'an's gaze, said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Li has committed a serious crime and has been demoted to a commoner and given a dove wine. This is the Emperor's order."
Queen Jing'an was speechless when she heard this. Could it be that Concubine Li killed her child?
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