Chapter 77 Confession
Xiao Qing didn't wake up until the next day. After she woke up, Zhao Youchen took the initiative to apologize, saying that His Majesty had fainted at the time, the situation was urgent, and he was afraid that the thieves would do something wrong again. After careful consideration, he still sent Mei Shu to the palace prison.
However, knowing the young emperor's temperament, he comforted him, saying that he had already spoken to Steward Huang and that he should not go too far.
Xiao Qing was still a little confused. When he asked which Steward Huang it was, Zhao Youchen said it was Huang Rui, and Xiao Qing's expression changed.
This person has a criminal record.
Now that things have come to this, Xiao Qing knew that Mei Shu would definitely suffer, but upon further reflection, she realized that Zhao Youchen's actions were ultimately for her own good.
She was already in this situation, and Mei Shu was already a suspect. Zhao Youchen was right; her kindness should not be used as a tool for those with ulterior motives to harm her.
Seeing her silence, Zhao Youchen breathed a slight sigh of relief.
The young emperor's tantrums and crying can be really a headache sometimes. I wonder how the Grand Tutor deals with these situations.
He was clearly unaware that Xiao Qing was rarely seen as a child by the Grand Tutor. He mostly treated the Grand Tutor like a combatant, always filled with fighting spirit, and rarely resorting to childish crying and tantrums.
Xiao Qing was pondering Mei Shu's matter, thinking that if it didn't work out, she should go and see her, when she saw Ma Hong follow Ming Xiu in.
"Your Majesty, a confession has been sent from the palace prison," Ma Hong stepped forward, bowed, and whispered.
Zhao Youchen looked over in surprise and saw Xiao Qing's equally surprised gaze.
"Bring it here."
Ma Hong quickly handed it over. The handwriting was neat and the paper was clean, not something that had been written under torture.
Xiao Qing read the entire confession quickly, but her head was still a little dizzy and she didn't know how to describe it.
"General Zhao, and you all, take a look too." She handed over the confession.
Zhao Youchen couldn't believe it. He had spent almost a whole day trying to get Mei Shu to say a word. What methods did the palace prison have that could make Mei Shu confess and calmly write this confession in just one night?
He glanced at it quickly, then came back and looked at it slowly again.
What's even more unexpected is that she was also involved in the incident where the two shoes were switched!
The confession clearly states that Mei Shu admitted to passing messages to others, the earliest instance of which began with those shoes. The person she met was a female physician from the Imperial Hospital, who, with Mei Shu's help, managed to switch the shoes, and that's how the message got out.
The second time was when Xiao Qing asked Ma Hong to take Ying Ying to identify the palace servants in Chengde Palace.
Xiao Qing recalled that when they looked around, they came back and said they hadn't found any suspicious people.
Therefore, it's clear that they couldn't have been found back then. They weren't in the palace at all, but rather in the Imperial Medical Academy!
However, Mei Shu claimed to be completely unaware of the existence of "Po Suo Yin," let alone having used it.
It was precisely this complete lack of knowledge that made Xiao Qing more willing to believe the authenticity of this confession.
But it was precisely this that made Zhao Youchen feel that Mei Shu was not telling the truth.
Ma Hong added, "Chief Steward Huang said that some witnesses and physical evidence have not yet been obtained, and His Majesty needs to order the Imperial Guards to make a trip."
This is perfectly understandable. Zhao Youchen also knew that what happened at Chengde Palace couldn't be hidden from so many eyes in the palace. A swift resolution was needed to find the truth.
"Please give your orders, Your Majesty," Zhao Youchen responded quickly.
Xiao Qing nodded naturally and let them leave.
Soon, only Xiao Qing and Ming Xiu remained.
Mingxiu pouted, poured out a dark, round pill from a small bottle, and said, "Your Majesty, you can't do this anymore."
He then handed over the meatballs.
"His Majesty dislikes bitterness and does not like to drink medicine, so Mingxiu made them into mud pills. This is a tonic to strengthen the body. His Majesty should take one pill twice a day for seven consecutive days."
Xiao Qing asked in surprise, "What illness do I have? Why did I faint?"
Mingxiu sighed and repeated what Physician He had said to Xiao Qing.
"Physician He said that His Majesty's health is not very good to begin with, and fear and worry make him more susceptible to illness. Therefore, Your Majesty must maintain a peaceful state of mind, and you must not stop taking these health-strengthening pills."
Fear and worry?
Xiao Qing recalled the feeling of weakness in her legs and dizziness at the time, and thought it was due to lack of exercise, or perhaps anemia.
However, since He Shu did not diagnose her with poisoning, that was good news.
Mingxiu watched as Xiao Qing ate the pill, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Your Majesty, am I too useless?"
"Why do you think that?" Xiao Qing was still thinking about Mei Shu.
"If this servant had noticed something amiss between Mei Shu and that female physician earlier, His Majesty wouldn't have been so alarmed. And those shoes wouldn't have been taken away."
Xiao Qing countered, "Do you really think that poison was Mei Shu's?"
Mingxiu said, "This is Mei Shu's handwriting; it's her confession. Although she didn't admit to using the poison, I think if the female physician put the poison in the rockery, it must have been for Mei Shu. It's just that Mei Shu might not have been able to get it in time. Once the poison is in Mei Shu's hands, she can't possibly not use it. And if she does use it, it will definitely harm someone."
Xiao Qing thought about it and felt that something was wrong.
"Don't you think Huang Rui's cases are being solved too smoothly?"
Mingxiu was taken aback. Wasn't this a good thing?
Xiao Qing sighed. Although she couldn't quite put her finger on it, she had a very strange feeling.
"Why didn't Mei Shu say these things when General Zhao questioned her? And if it was a forced confession in the palace, Mei Shu's testimony seems..."
In short, something seems a bit strange.
However, before she could think any further, Wang Xiang arrived.
Upon arriving, Wang Xiang inquired about Xiao Qing with concern, expressing his care for her health and the events of the past two days. His manner was genuinely sincere.
Xiao Qing smiled and asked, "How did the Prime Minister find out? News in the palace spreads far too fast."
Wang Xiang spoke formally: "Your Majesty, such a serious matter, with people sent to the palace prison, naturally requires the Inner Palace Bureau to handle it. Moreover, Your Majesty is unwell, and the Imperial Hospital will have records of it. As the Minister in charge of the Six Ministries, I am always concerned about Your Majesty's safety; how could I not know?"
Xiao Qing said, "Prime Minister, you have worked very hard."
Wang Xiang waved his hand, "It is my honor to work hard for Your Majesty. I am overjoyed."
Just then, Zhao Youchen returned.
He brought back bad news—the female doctor had run away.
Xiao Qing frowned.
Wang Xiang frowned and said, "This is outrageous! The Imperial Medical Academy is far too lax!"
Xiao Qing thought it made sense; otherwise, why would the person who relayed the message to Mei Shu be at the Imperial Hospital, and why would Li Qinghe also use the Imperial Hospital's name to see her?
"However, according to the records of the Imperial Medical Academy, the female physician did indeed regularly receive the materials for preparing 'Po Suo Yin' on several occasions."
Xiao Qing's heart sank.
Wang Xiang angrily said, "Your Majesty, I request that this thief be placed on a city-wide warrant for arrest!"
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