"Your Majesty," Liao Qingqing said, "I want to ask some questions to the eyewitnesses at the scene."
"How?" Emperor Jingli asked.
"I want to borrow Concubine Liang's side hall for a while."
"I agree."
"And..."
"What else?"
"I also want Concubine Liang, the Empress Dowager, and Concubine Liang to sit in."
Emperor Jingli glanced at Concubine Liang and said, "I agree."
Liao Qingqing saluted Emperor Jingli without hesitation, then saluted the Empress Dowager and Concubine Liang, walked up to the Empress Dowager, and said, "Empress Dowager, I will help you into the side hall." The Empress Dowager
nodded.
Empress Dowager Liao Qingqing walked into the side hall.
Concubine Liang followed behind.
Concubine Xian and the others were all confused, not knowing what Liao Qingqing was up to, but she firmly believed that her plan was flawless, and no matter what Liao Qingqing did, she would not be able to find any flaws.
After all, except for He Xiang, all the witnesses were her people.
So Concubine Xian stayed in the palace.
There was no Xi Zhaorong, who was a nuisance, and no Liang Guifei.
She was the most important person in the palace, and she couldn't help but turn her head to look at Emperor Jingli.
Since she framed Judge Liao last time, she hadn't seen Emperor Jingli for a long time. Emperor Jingli seemed to be more handsome and taller than before. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and she was yearning for him at a glance.
She knew that her family background could not be compared with Liang Guifei.
She didn't expect to be the queen.
She was satisfied with being a royal concubine, and she could be with Emperor Jingli.
Without Concubine Liang and Concubine Xi, this was her chance. She straightened up, adjusted her headdress, tugged at her clothes, and felt annoyed. If she had known that she would be with the emperor like this, she should have dressed up more.
Forget it, she was pretty like this.
She pursed her lips, raised her eyes to look at Emperor Jingli, and called softly, "Your Majesty."
Emperor Jingli was using the lid of the tea bowl to fiddle with the slightly green floating leaves in the tea bowl. Hearing this, he looked at Concubine Xian.
Concubine Xian couldn't just start flirting with Emperor Jingli, so she had to find a way to get in. She said, "Sister Guifei, sister Zhaorong, and the Queen Mother have been in the side hall for so long and haven't come out yet. I don't know what they are talking about."
"Of course they are talking about how you framed Xi Zhaorong."
This sentence shattered Concubine Xian's yearning for Emperor Jingli. Concubine Xian immediately explained, "Your Majesty, I and others saw it with our own eyes."
Emperor Jingli lowered his head slightly and took a sip of tea, frowning.
This tea is so bitter.
It's not as good as Qingqing's tea.
Emperor Jingli put down the tea bowl with disdain, ignored Concubine Xian, and looked towards the side hall.
Seeing Emperor Jingli like this, Concubine Xian secretly gritted her teeth and hated Liao Qingqing again. She thought that her appearance, figure, and personality were all very good, but she was not as charming as Liao Qingqing. If there was no Liao Qingqing in the palace, she would definitely be favored by Emperor Jingli. But
Liao Qingqing happened to be there.
But it doesn't matter. From today on, Liao Qingqing will gradually fall out of favor.
Then Emperor Jingli will definitely pay attention to her.
Thinking of this, she felt much more relieved.
In the corner of her eye, she saw Nanny Chang coming out of the side hall and calling Li Fangyi to enter the side hall.
After a while, Li Fangyi came out.
She also called Concubine Liang Guifei's maid to enter the side hall.
One after another.
Each person took less than half an incense stick of time.
Concubine Xian didn't know what Liao Qingqing was up to. She could vaguely see some guilt on the faces of Li Fangyi and others. She wanted to ask Li Fangyi and others about the situation several times, but gave up because Emperor Jingli was in power.
She couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
Could Liao Qingqing really find evidence?
Impossible!
In order to frame Liao Qingqing, she had cleared the scene. Except for Liao Qingqing and He Xiang, everyone else was her and Concubine Liang's people, and it was impossible for them to leave any evidence.
She calmed down.
But as the palace maids entered and came out of the side hall one by one,
her mind began to get confused again.
Why didn't Liao Qingqing call her into the side hall?
What questions did Liao Qingqing ask?
She subconsciously looked at Emperor Jingli.
Emperor Jingli forbade anyone to whisper to each other. The examiners of the palace examination were very nervous, and Fusheng and others were supervising. She had a vague feeling that something was wrong. At this time, Liao Qingqing came out with the Empress Dowager, followed by Concubine Liang.
Concubine Liang lowered her head slightly, her face pale.
Concubine Xian was even more puzzled.
When Emperor Jingli saw Liao Qingqing and the Empress Dowager come out, he hurriedly asked, "Have you asked?"
Liao Qingqing said, "Your Majesty, I have asked."
The Empress Dowager nodded, sat next to Emperor Jingli, and ordered someone to help Concubine Liang sit down.
Liao Qingqing stood beside the Empress Dowager and said to Emperor Jingli, "Your Majesty, I have asked other people and now I want to hear what Sister Xianfei has to say."
Emperor Jingli nodded and said, "You ask."
"Yes." Liao Qingqing looked at Xianfei calmly and said, "Xianfei, I have some questions and want to ask you for advice."
Originally, Xianfei wanted to retort, after all, she was of a higher rank than Liao Qingqing and had the qualifications, but the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were both here, so she didn't dare to act rashly, so she said, "Xi Zhaorong, don't be polite, just ask if you have any questions."
Liao Qingqing said, "Xianfei just said that she saw me push Liang Guifei, I wonder if you saw it clearly?"
"Of course I saw it clearly."
"Then how did I push her?"
"With my hands?"
"Did I push it, or did I and He Xiang push it together?"
Concubine Xian was stunned, and suddenly understood the intention of Liao Qingqing's question.
Liao Qingqing called out, "Concubine Xian."
Concubine Xian came back to her senses.
Liao Qingqing asked again: "Excuse me, Concubine Xian, did I push Concubine Liang by myself, or did I push her together with He Xiang?"
Concubine Xian looked at the others subconsciously.
The others lowered their heads, not daring to raise them.
Concubine Xian looked at Concubine Liang.
Concubine Liang's face was tense.
"Concubine Xian!" Emperor Jingli shouted: "Did Xi Zhaorong push Concubine Liang by herself, or did she push her together with He Xiang?"
Concubine Xian met Emperor Jingli's sharp gaze, her heart trembled, and she said blankly: "Yes, yes, I pushed her together with He Xiang."
Emperor Jingli looked at Liao Qingqing.
Liao Qingqing continued to ask: "Excuse me, Concubine Xian, how did I and He Xiang push Concubine Liang into the water? Did we push her on her back, shoulders, or somewhere else?"
Concubine Xian was stunned.
"Concubine Xian." Emperor Jingli said in a deep voice, "Speak."
Concubine Xian felt that her brain was no longer her own, and she replied woodenly, "Push, push the shoulder."
Liao Qingqing smiled faintly after hearing this, and said, "Concubine Xian, do you want to hear how others answered?"
Concubine Xian raised her eyes and looked at Liao Qingqing.
Liao Qingqing said to everyone in the palace, "The Queen Mother Liang Guifei heard your answers clearly just now, and I also asked someone to write them down in black and white. Now you just need to say it again. If there is any mistake, it will be a crime of deceiving the emperor." As soon as
these words fell, the atmosphere in the palace immediately became solemn.
Liao Qingqing said, "Li Fangyi, you speak first."
Li Fangyi was panicking. She had been a little panicked since she entered the side hall. She had received instructions from Concubine Liang and Concubine Xian to accuse Liao Qingqing of pushing Concubine Liang into the water, but Concubine Liang and Concubine Xian did not tell her how Liao Qingqing pushed Concubine Liang into the water.
She could only guess based on the posture of Concubine Liang falling into the water.
At first, she did not know Liao Qingqing's intention, but as the palace maids entered the side hall one by one, she suddenly understood.
Liao Qingqing was making their confessions contradict themselves.
But with the Empress Dowager in the side hall and the Emperor in the main hall, she had no way to communicate with Concubine Liang and Concubine Xian. At this moment, she repeated what she had just said: "Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, I saw Xi Zhaorong push Concubine Liang's back when she wasn't paying attention."
When Concubine Liang and Concubine Xian heard this, their hearts sank.
They only thought about "seeing is believing" and "the public's mouth is gold", framing Liao Qingqing, but they forgot that the more people there are, the easier it is to overlook details. They considered the surrounding environment, Liao Qingqing's habits, the Emperor and Empress Dowager's reactions, and the possible accidents at the scene.
The only thing they didn't consider was how Liao Qingqing "pushed" Liao Qingqing into the water.
I didn't expect Liao Qingqing to pay attention to this.
I didn't expect Liao Qingqing to use the trick of "using one's own spear to attack another's shield".
They really underestimated Liao Qingqing!
As the palace maids came out with a variety of answers. Concubine
Liang Guifei and Concubine Xian's faces became paler and paler. Empress Dowager
Chang Ma nodded frequently.
When Li Fangyi entered the side hall, Emperor Jingli had guessed Liao Qingqing's thoughts. Even so, he was still very proud in his heart. His Qingqing was so outstanding, so different, and so likable. He didn't have to worry about it at all, and it would prove itself.
His Qingqing was different from ordinary people!
Good personality, beautiful, smart, interesting, and loved him!
His eyes were full of little pride.
The Queen Mother, Nanny Chang, had time to glance at Emperor Jingli, and straightened her face. She really couldn't bear to look at Emperor Jingli.
Emperor Jingli stared straight at Liao Qingqing.
Liao Qingqing listened carefully to the answers of each palace maid, and then looked at Concubine Xian, and whispered: "Empress Xianfei, what do you think about this?"
Each palace maid answered differently.
Even Li Fangyi answered differently! Does
this explain talent? It
means that someone lied or everyone lied. No matter if someone lied or everyone lied, she lost the opportunity to pin Liao Qingqing down.
Not only that, she also put a charge of "framing a concubine" on herself.
But she was unwilling! She
was unwilling to harm Liao Qingqing directly every time, and Liao Qingqing benefited. She
was unwilling to harm Liao Qingqing indirectly this time, and Liao Qingqing benefited!
She thought that the Empress Dowager of Emperor Jingli would blame Liao Qingqing for Concubine Liang falling into the water, but Emperor Jingli started to protect Liao Qingqing. Why? She was not convinced and said, "There is nothing good about me. I just saw you pushing Concubine Liang!"
"Where is the evidence?" Liao Qingqing asked back.
"They all saw it." Concubine Xian pointed to a group of palace maids.
Liao Qingqing smiled and asked, "Concubine Xian, ask them again, are they still willing to testify for you?"
No one is a fool, let alone these palace maids who accompany the concubines. Liao Qingqing made this matter so clear. They all knew that the lie had been exposed. If they insisted, not only would they die, but their families outside the palace would also be implicated.
They buried their heads even lower.
Concubine Xian was stunned and cast her eyes on Concubine Liang.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Concubine Liang said, "Sister Xianfei, you shouldn't do this. I just accidentally fell into the water, how can you slander sister Zhaorong like this?" Concubine Xian
was shocked.
Liao Qingqing raised her eyebrows slightly.
Emperor Jingli didn't find Concubine Liang's behavior strange at all. The Queen Mother
still lowered her eyes and listened.
"My Lady Concubine, how could you say such a thing?" Concubine Xian knew that Concubine Liang had abandoned her, and hurriedly said, "Cousin, I am your cousin, and everything I did was for you."
"My Lady Xianfei, please respect yourself and don't frame Xi Zhaorong and then wrongly accuse me. I and my maids have never said that Xi Zhaorong pushed me into the water." Concubine Liang resolutely broke with Concubine Xian.
Concubine Xian was completely stunned.
Yes, yes.
Concubine Liang was so smart that she must have known Liao Qingqing's intention as soon as she entered the side hall. She immediately changed her plan and casually winked at her personal maid, who understood what she meant.
So after the whole incident, if it succeeded, Concubine Liang would be the beneficiary, and if it failed, others would suffer.
The one who suffered the most was Concubine Xian.
Concubine Xian looked straight at Concubine Liang and was speechless for a long time.
Concubine Liang said righteously to Emperor Jingli and the Queen Mother: "Your Majesty, Queen Mother, I have just said that I accidentally fell into the water. It was just the time to change clothes, but so many things happened. It was my fault. I hope Your Majesty and Queen Mother will punish me."
The Queen Mother looked at the Emperor.
The emperor said calmly: "Such a big thing happened in the harem, it must be your fault. You will be demoted to Concubine Liang. You will assist Concubine De in handling the affairs of the harem in the future. As for Concubine Xian, you are not virtuous as a concubine and have evil intentions. Go to look after the garden. The rest of you will go to Concubine De to receive punishment later."
Everyone knelt down to pay respect to Emperor Jingli.
Concubine Liang looked like her soul had been taken out.
She was demoted from Concubine to Concubine. She was the first person to be demoted from Concubine to Concubine since the founding of the dynasty!
And it was Emperor Jingli who proposed it so casually.
What a shame!
Does this mean that she and the empress are no longer destined to be together?
She was stunned.
Emperor Jingli turned to Liao Qingqing and said, "My beloved concubine, you have been wronged."
Liao Qingqing said, "It is my blessing that the emperor and the empress dowager are willing to believe in me."
Emperor Jingli smiled and said, "I will reward you with a thousand taels of silver to appease you." The empress dowager said, "
I will reward you with five hundred taels of silver."
Liao Qingqing said happily, "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, the empress dowager."
"Okay, you will each receive your punishment." Emperor Jingli turned to the empress dowager and said, "Mother, I am sorry to bother you."
"Well, the matter is over, and I am leaving too."
"Farewell, mother." The
empress dowager left with a farewell.
Then Emperor Jingli took Liao Qingqing's hand and left, leaving a mess.
He didn't care, and left the Linhua Palace, looking at Liao Qingqing with a smile.
Liao Qingqing asked: "Your Majesty, what are you laughing at?"
"I didn't expect you are not stupid."
"???" You are stupid, your whole family is stupid!
"Well done!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the compliment!" Liao Qingqing's reply was not sincere.
Emperor Jingli's smile was genuine. The more he got along with Liao Qingqing, the more interesting she was and the more he thought she was smart and different. He wanted to cherish her more and couldn't help asking, "Qingqing, were you scared just now?"
"A little bit." Liao Qingqing said, "I didn't expect Liang Guifei and the others to frame me. Your Majesty, did you really believe me at that time?"
"Of course, I was relieved."
"Why?"
"Even if you really pushed Liang Guifei into the water, it wouldn't matter."
"Why?"
"It must be Liang Guifei's fault."
"..." Liao Qingqing's mouth twitched. She didn't know how to describe Emperor Jingli, so she changed to say something else and asked, "Your Majesty, there are so many concubines in Linhua Palace. Are you not going to care about them?"
"Leave it to Concubine De. By the way."
"What?"
"Learn from Concubine De."
"What are you learning?"
"Learn how Concubine De punishes those concubines and palace maids. You must also learn it when you are in charge of the harem."
"Your Majesty." Liao Qingqing looked at Emperor Jingli.
"Hmm?"
"I heard that there will be another selection of concubines next year, right?"
"Yes."
"Can you select fewer people?"
"Why?"
"It's so tiring to manage."
"Why don't you tell me to cancel the selection of concubines?"
"That's not good."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Doesn't the emperor have three palaces and six courtyards?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingli stopped and looked at Liao Qingqing with his head slightly lowered, and asked: "If I go to this concubine today and sleep with that concubine tomorrow, what will you do?"
Liao Qingqing thought for a while and said: "I will go to Concubine De to get a cat to raise? The kind that is particularly annoying."
"I am not as good as a cat?"
"That's not what I mean."
"Then what do you mean?" Emperor Jingli's tone suddenly became bad, and he turned and entered the Pear Sound Pavilion.
???
Why are you angry again?
Liao Qingqing chased after him and chased him all the way to the inner room. Emperor Jingli sat on the couch and turned to Liao Qingqing and said, "I heard you mention Xie Jian, and my heart was full of jealousy. You saw me with other women, and you, you, you just want to hug a cat and raise it?"
The author has something to say: -
Xie Jian: I have arranged the blind date, please don't cue.
Emperor Jingli: I am wronged.
Liao Qingqing: =口=
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