Chapter 84: Madam, what should I do?
Zhang Chengyan thought back to three years ago, when one of his favorite concubines had a secret affair with an actor from the troupe.
When they were caught, the two were having sex, one black and one white intertwined.
That day, he held a long sword and killed the concubine and the entire troupe with his own hands.
Blood was spilled all over the palace, and to this day, the place remains sealed.
For three whole years, the empress dowager never listened to her beloved opera again. No one in the entire harem dared to pass by that place, no one dared to sing the opera, and no one dared to mention the name of that concubine.
Zhang Chengyan clenched the dragon throne tightly. No, Bai Wutong was clear and honest, and Jin Zhi was a friend he had known since childhood and also his trusted minister. The two of them would never do such a thing!
The Queen Mother coughed lightly, "Emperor."
Zhang Chengyan came back to his senses, suppressed his suspicion, and raised the corners of his mouth, "Mother, I was worried about Concubine Zhao and thought too much."
"I am worried too. After the birthday banquet, if there is still time, I will go with you to see her."
Night is falling.
The full moon is high in the sky.
The palace was brightly lit, as bright as day.
Fireworks soared into the sky, illuminating the red walls and yellow tiles.
With the last bit of fireworks fading away, the birthday party came to an end.
It was late and the Zhaochun Palace was closed.
Zhang Chengyan did not disturb him, but dragged his slightly tired body back to the bedroom.
He reeked of alcohol and leaned back on the couch.
Wang Decai handed over the sobering tea, "Your Majesty, drink it before you go to sleep."
He didn't answer, but opened his eyes, his eyes dark and deep, "Wang Decai, do you think Jin Zhi was too concerned about Concubine Zhao today?"
"This..." Wang Decai also saw the scene at that time, but he dared not tell the truth, "Your Majesty, Lord Jin is a martial arts expert and is responsible for protecting the palace. It is natural for him to rescue Concubine Zhao."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
Saving people is normal, but is that look normal?
He and Jin Zhi had known each other for many years, but he had never seen him look like this, let alone looking at a woman.
As the saying goes, once bitten by a snake, one will be afraid of ropes for ten years.
After what happened with the opera troupe, no wonder he would think too much.
Back then, that concubine and that actor also exchanged glances in this way.
Zhang Chengyan had a splitting headache and overturned the sobering tea. "Go out. I want to be alone and quiet."
"Yes." Wang Decai hurriedly stepped out and stood in the cold wind, shivering uncontrollably, muttering to himself, "Oh, this is troublesome."
…
Inside Zhaochun Hall.
Bai Wutong tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
She simply got up, lit a candle, and started embroidering.
Only in this way can her heart calm down temporarily.
In a moment of carelessness, the embroidery needle pierced her finger, and blood soaked onto the snow-white cloth, as if it was a foreshadowing of disaster.
"It'll be okay." Bai Wutong bit her lip. Jin Zhi was just doing his duty to save her. The emperor would definitely not doubt their relationship.
Besides, she and Jin Zhi had no relationship at all, and she hadn't done anything.
"Madam, why haven't you rested yet?" Chan'er pushed open the door and saw that she was wearing only a single layer of clothes. She hurriedly took out her cloak and said, "Madam, please be careful and don't catch a cold. It's the coldest at night, even with this floor heating."
"It's okay, I'm going to sleep now, Chan'er, you go out first."
Chan'er was a little worried, but she could only step back and wait outside silently. She was so frightened at the time that she didn't pay any attention to the situation.
A sleepless night.
The second day.
Chan'er got up early and went to the imperial kitchen to get breakfast.
Zhaopin was pregnant, so all the good things came to her.
As she walked, she realized something was wrong. The palace maids around her looked at her in a particularly strange way.
In the past, there was envy and respect, but now there is a bit of inquiry and gloating.
Chan'er was feeling uneasy. She got her breakfast and just walked out of the door, she heard two little palace maids whispering beside her.
"I heard that Concubine Zhao and Lord Jin are in cahoots. Concubine Zhao was assassinated yesterday, and Lord Jin was extremely nervous."
"So many concubines in the palace are not pregnant. How come Concubine Zhao is so thin and weak that she is the only one who is pregnant? I think this child may not even be the emperor's."
Chan'er's face turned pale and she was shaking all over. She quickly stepped forward and slapped him hard, "Shut up! Concubine Zhao's affairs are not something you, a servant, can interfere in!"
"You are all gossiping here and ruining the reputation of our queen. I think you are looking for death. I will tell the chief steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs right now and have you beaten to death!"
The two palace maids didn't expect that they were heard by the master's people. They were so scared that they trembled like chaff and quickly knelt on the ground.
"Sister Chan'er, we...we didn't mean it. It's just that everyone in the palace is saying so."
"Yes, Sister Chan'er, not only we are saying it, but others are also saying it."
Everyone in the palace is talking about it?
Chan'er felt cold all over. If these words got to the emperor's ears, it would be troublesome!
She didn't bother to teach the two men a lesson and quickly returned to Zhaochun Palace with breakfast.
"My queen, my queen, something happened!"
Yunxiang stopped her in dissatisfaction, "Why are you making such a fuss? You disturbed the queen's belly. Even if you have two heads, it won't be enough. Tell me first, what happened?"
Chan Er pushed her away and ran straight to the house, "My Lady, what should I do?"
Bai Wutong had already woken up and turned to look at her, "What happened?"
"It's being said that you and Lord Jin are having an affair, Madam, what should we do? If the Emperor hears about this, it will be troublesome."
The problem is, in Chan'er's opinion, her own queen really has an affair with Lord Jin.
Otherwise she wouldn't be so scared, but angry.
Bai Wutong's heart sank.
What she worried about yesterday came true so quickly.
It spread so quickly, there must be someone fanning the flames.
"Chan'er, it's useless for anyone to frame me for something I didn't do. The innocent are innocent. If you are so flustered, wouldn't it be confirmed in the eyes of outsiders?"
Chan'er realized it later and knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, I was panicking because I was afraid that the emperor would misunderstand me. If this unfounded thing gets spread too much, wouldn't it become true? There is no way to verify this, what if the emperor believes it?"
"The emperor won't believe it. He is wise and powerful. How could he listen to rumors from outsiders? Don't worry. I have nothing to do with that Lord Jin. It's clean and innocent. No one can throw dirty water on me."
"Chan'er, go prepare the almond cakes. I want to see the emperor."
This kind of thing needs to be explained as soon as possible.
Otherwise, outsiders would think that she was guilty.
No matter what, the emperor must keep the situation stable.
Nothing could go wrong, otherwise all her previous efforts would be in vain. Not to mention revenge, it would be difficult for her to even survive.
Even if she is pregnant with an imperial heir, she may not be able to be protected.
Chan'er stood up and went to prepare immediately.
Half an hour later.
Bai Wutong put on his cloak, stepped into the wind and snow, and hurried to the Yangxin Palace.
In front of the palace gate, Wang Decai bowed respectfully, "Empress Zhao, why did you come here suddenly?"
Bai Wutong put on a painful expression at the right time, "Eunuch Wang, you must have heard the rumors in the palace. They are so big, someone must have spread them deliberately, with the purpose of slandering me. Lord Jin and I are innocent and have never done anything inappropriate. I came here to explain it clearly to the emperor, so that those dirty words will not pollute his ears."
Of course Wang Decai heard about it, and even the emperor knew about it.
On ordinary days, he could not hide any small movement from him, let alone such a big thing.
"My lady, please wait a moment. I will go in and make the announcement."
The palace door opened.
Bai Wutong stood on tiptoe and looked inside.
It's just that it's too deep inside and I can't see anything.
After a while, Wang Decai came out and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has too many memorials to submit and cannot spare time. Please go back first and don't catch a cold. The Emperor will come to Zhaochun Palace to find you when he is done."
Bai Wutong stepped back and leaned on Chan'er, "Your Majesty... do you believe it?"
Wang Decai hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, what are you talking about? How could the Emperor believe such words so easily? In fact, the Emperor is also investigating this matter, so he can't spare time. Your Highness, please go back quickly. Don't let the wind blow you away."
Bai Wutong took one last look at the Yangxin Palace and turned to leave.
Wang Decai saw that the person had left, and ran back to the palace in small steps, "Your Majesty, Concubine Zhao has left."
"Hmm." Zhang Chengyan raised his eyelids. "How's the investigation going? Where did this rumor come from?"
"It was spread by the maids at yesterday's birthday banquet. There were quite a few of them, so it spread so quickly."
Zhang Chengyan put down his brush and said, "So, the maids at the birthday banquet also figured it out? Go and call the maids and eunuchs who were at the birthday banquet yesterday."
"I want to see if I am wrong."
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