"Xianfei?" An image of a haggard female ghost suddenly appeared in Emperor Jingming's mind.

He never thought that the second incident would be related to Concubine Xian. After all, Concubine Xian's health was getting worse day by day, and she didn't seem like someone who had the energy to cause trouble.

"What does it have to do with Concubine Xian?"

Pan Hai lowered his eyes and said, "Ten years ago, little Dengzi was just a young eunuch working in the Yu Tea House. One day, he accidentally knocked over a glass cup and was so scared that he wanted to jump into the lake. He was spotted by Concubine Xian, and it was Concubine Xian who helped him through this difficult time."

Emperor Jingming frowned when he heard this: "Did anyone know about this matter at the time?"

Generally speaking, for a palace maid like this who was favored by a certain empress, once the news of the favor spread, the concubines in other palaces would be unwilling to employ her. However, ten years later, Eunuch Deng became the manager of the tea room in Chunhua Palace.

Concubine Ning was the head of Chunhua Palace and had been conferred the title of consort a long time ago. If she knew about this, she would not be willing to use Eunuch Deng's mere words.

"I don't know about this!" Concubine Ning said angrily.

There are actually people from Concubine Xian in her palace?

Concubine Ning was disgusted to death just thinking that a person who had received the favor of Concubine Xian was actually in charge of tea, water, fruits and other matters in her palace every day.

Emperor Jingming glanced at Concubine Ning and frowned in displeasure.

Just because he could normally tolerate the concubines' unreasonable behavior didn't mean he was willing to do so now.

To put it bluntly, his usual tolerance was not out of fear, but out of pity that the women in the harem had even less freedom than him, the emperor.

But this kind of patience is ultimately limited when it comes to serious matters.

Concubine Ning bit her lip and said nothing.

Pan Hai replied, "Apart from Concubine Xian, there should be only one person who knows the truth, named Xiao Zhuozi, who was the one who went to Yuhua Palace with Xiao Dengzi to deliver Ling pumpkin fruit."

Ling pumpkin fruit?

Emperor Jingming raised his eyebrows, his eyes showing doubt.

Pan Hai explained thoughtfully, "That year, Lingnan presented some lychees as tribute, and you instructed Yu Chafu to deliver these precious fruits to the ladies..."

Is there such a thing?

Emperor Jingming blinked.

I didn't expect him to be so generous ten years ago. If it were now, he would probably eat it himself...

The Queen and Concubine Ning began to think about it.

Lychees are only produced in Lingnan and other places, which are thousands of miles away from the capital and are not easy to preserve. The emperor is not a luxurious person, so even with their status, they cannot eat lychees every year.

Because it is hard to come by, it leaves a deep impression on me.

Pan Hai continued, "Little Dengzi and Little Zhuozi went to Yuquan Palace together to deliver lychees. They were curious about the taste of lychees and secretly brought out a cup of lychees to smell. Unexpectedly, Little Dengzi accidentally knocked over the cup of lychees, and half of the lychees rolled into the lake. Little Dengzi was so anxious that he wanted to jump into the lake."

"Then how did Concubine Xian know about it?" Emperor Jingming forgot about Xiao Zhuozi for a moment and turned to ask Concubine Xian.

"It was a coincidence that Concubine Xian happened to be out for a walk and saw this scene. Not only did Concubine Xian pardon Xiao Dengzi, she also covered it up for him and treated it as if he had received lychees. This is the connection between Concubine Xian and Xiao Dengzi..." Pan Hai spoke until his mouth was dry and he finally made everything clear.

After hearing this, Emperor Jingming asked, "Did you get this from that little Zhuozi?"

Pan Hai looked strange and replied, "Xiao Zhuozi died of illness nine years ago."

Emperor Jingming raised his eyebrows and said, "Since only Xiao Dengzi and Xiao Zhuozi know about this besides Concubine Xian, who told you about this?"

Pan Haichong winked at someone, and that person hurriedly stood in front of Emperor Jingming.

Emperor Jingming looked closely and found that it was Pan Hai's apprentice Xiao Lezi.

In this situation, Xiao Lezi, who is quite clever, couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I told Master."

"How do you know that?"

Xiao Lezi glanced at Pan Hai quickly, calmed herself down, and explained, "I was a little tired after finishing my work, so I leaned against the rockery and took a nap for a while. I didn't expect to hear the screams..."

There are many beautiful rockeries in the palace. You can choose a sunken place to hide there, and passers-by will hardly notice you.

Talking about being lazy at that time, Xiao Lezi was a little embarrassed: "After seeing Concubine Xian appear, I was even more afraid to show up. After that, I never mentioned this matter to anyone else, and gradually forgot about it. Today, Master checked all the people who were related to Eunuch Deng, and I suddenly remembered it, so I told Master."

As he spoke, he glanced at Yu Jin out of the corner of his eye, thinking that if it was really Concubine Xian who ordered Eunuch Deng to do this, was this what Prince Yan meant by "the net of heaven is long and wide, and nothing can escape it"?

Since Yu Jin heard that Eunuch Deng was related to Concubine Xian, his face became expressionless, making it impossible to tell the slightest clue.

Emperor Jingming glanced at everyone and said in a cold voice: "Tell Concubine Xian to come to Chunhua Palace as soon as possible."

After waiting for more than a quarter of an hour, Concubine Xian appeared at the gate of Chunhua Palace. She stopped to rest for a while and was then helped by a palace maid to come before Emperor Jingming.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Concubine Xian knelt down and saluted, panting and begging.

The Empress Dowager had been persuaded by Emperor Jingming to rest in the main hall of Chunhua Palace. She was not with Emperor Jingming and others at the moment, so Concubine Xian was spared the extra ceremony.

Looking at Concubine Xian, who looked extremely unhappy and seemed to be dying at any moment, Emperor Jingming sighed secretly.

Looking at Concubine Xian's current state, is it possible that she will stir up trouble again?

That shouldn’t be the case. The images of a virtuous concubine and a demonic concubine are quite different.

Don’t think about it, just ask first.

Emperor Jingming asked with a sullen face: "Do you know why I called you here?"

Concubine Xian shook her head: "I don't know."

"Recognize someone first. Pan Hai——"

Pan Hai extended his hand: "Lady Xianfei, please come this way."

Pan Hai led Concubine Xian to the corpse of Eunuch Deng and pointed his finger: "Madam Xian, take a look. Do you recognize this person?"

Concubine Xian took one look and her face turned pale immediately. She clutched her chest and was about to fall down.

"Your Majesty——" the palace maid who was supporting Concubine Xian screamed in fear.

Emperor Jingming: “…”

Concubine Xian returned to Emperor Jingming, her face was so pale that it almost intimidated Emperor Jingming. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Concubine Xian, do you recognize that man?"

Concubine Xian said without hesitation, "I don't know him."

Emperor Jingming's face instantly froze: "You don't know me? Concubine Xian, do you know what deceiving the emperor is?"

Concubine Xian looked at Emperor Jingming in surprise, her expression bewildered: "Your Majesty, why do you say that? I really don't know that person. He looks like an ordinary eunuch, right?"

"An ordinary eunuch?" Emperor Jingming sneered, "Isn't he someone you once showed kindness to?"

"Give me a favor?" Concubine Xian became more and more confused. The sweat on her temples and forehead made her look very weak.

Emperor Jingming glanced at Pan Hai.

Pan Hai understood and pointed out the connection between Concubine Xian and Eunuch Deng.

"My Lady, what else do you have to say?"

Concubine Xian suddenly laughed, and her smile was somewhat sad: "Your Majesty, just based on this, you believe that I am the mastermind? Then Concubine Ning is the master of Chunhua Palace and has been the master of Xiao Dengzi for many years. Could it be that I am more suspicious than Concubine Ning? Your Majesty, you are being unfair to me!"

Emperor Jingming said coldly: "You two are both suspects, but you just lied."

Concubine Xian wiped off her sweat with a handkerchief and said calmly, "I didn't lie."