Chapter 28 The Truth "Why so pitiful?"
Outside the palace gate.
Chen Shaoling turned over and rode on an old and skinny yellow horse. This yellow horse was retired from the post station and he bought it back home for one penny of cheap silver.
Our dynasty has always advocated horse riding and archery. When officials came to the court, most of them would ride horses from their homes to the palace gate.
"A high official rides a skinny horse; Chen Xiuzhuan is a teachable child!"
A talented official on duty passed by him and praised him with a loud laugh.
"I am truly a humble official with clean hands. I can only afford..." Before Chen Shaoling finished his words, the man had already galloped off on his horse and disappeared like lightning.
Chen Shaoling shook his head silently, but his mind was still in a daze, not here.
"Young Master!"
The servant boy suddenly cried out in surprise behind him, because the young number one scholar seemed to have made up his mind and suddenly turned his horse's head in the street.
"You go back first."
He had to find out whether there was any palace maid named Cheng in the palace, especially in front of the emperor.
The gentle woman who held the scroll and awkwardly asked the young boy for advice on writing is no longer alive, but her daughter may still be alive.
*
In the Taiji Hall, there was a night of chaotic clouds in Wushan and heavy rain in Gaotang.
Deep in the golden palace, two cool crystal curtains were still tightly drawn together, demarcating a cool and refreshing place on earth.
The sun should rise early in the red summer, but unfortunately today is a rainy day, and the sky is so gloomy and warm that there is no sign of it getting brighter.
Qingzan waited and waited, and finally carefully pulled herself out of the man's arms bit by bit. She put on her clothes reluctantly and went downstairs to light a candle.
The rustling sound of the paper unfolding constantly persuaded and restrained her knuckles that were about to slip out of control due to excitement.
She finally saw—
In the 16th year of the Baoying reign, the daughter of a wealthy merchant in Jiangnan Dao, in order to escape the marital relationship between two families, fled to Beijing with a forged handwritten certificate from a friend, using the pseudonym Suo Yun. Later, she lived in Kangping Lane, Changshoufang. She had a daughter with her husband Duan Ruoxu, a former doctor of the Ministry of Revenue and a provincial tribute candidate. The daughter's name is unknown and she is not registered in the household registration.
In the 17th year of the Baoying reign, Shu Yun moved to the back alley of Shaoyinfang and almost ceased contact with Duan Ruoxu. She claimed to be a woman surnamed Cheng, her family having passed away, and only her younger sister, Qingzan, who had come to Beijing with her to live with her relatives. The maids around her often called her "Big Miss" and her younger sister "Little Miss." Furthermore, the young son of the neighboring Qu Chen family often visited the Cheng residence. (According to an old resident of Shaoyinfang, it is difficult to verify.)
In the spring of the 19th year of Baoying, Shu Yun went out frequently. In March, Qian Yanyue, the daughter of the former Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue, led several servants to Shaoyinfang. Shu Yun disappeared. After preliminary investigation, it was suspected that he died by being tied to a stone and drowned in the lake (which was consistent with the confession of Duan's old servant); Shu Yun's servant once stayed in the Di Inn in Shangjingdong City with the green hairpin.
In the fourth month of the spring of the nineteenth year of Baoying, Qingzan entered the new residence of the Yongning Marquis as a maid (in the latter half of March, Duan Ruoxu had been granted the title of Yongning Marquis and his father-in-law, the Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue, was promoted to the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel).
In the spring of the 20th year of Baoying's reign, a fire broke out in Shaoyinfang. The former residence of Shuyun was severely burned, and it was suspected to be the place where the fire started. More than half of the residents of the neighborhood moved away.
…
The bitter tears blurred the small words on the letter.
Qingzan hurriedly pressed her face a few times with the back of her hand, and the case file she was holding lightly was snatched away again by the hand that reached out from behind.
Qingzan turned her back and didn't dare to look back.
The emperor half-knelt on the couch and did not force her to turn over. He just held her shoulders from behind with both hands, feeling the trembling bones under his palms.
His grip became heavier and heavier, and Qingzan could only sit down beside the couch.
She let the air, which was far hotter than the lines on the emperor's palm, spray on her thin back covered only with a single piece of clothing.
Then came the doubly intense heat, which pressed down densely and fiercely, like a prairie fire, penetrating into the flesh and bones, stirring up a flood of peach blossoms and spring water.
Qingzan couldn't help but soften his stubbornness.
The green hairpin was held at the back of the neck and turned to face people.
Xiao Fang could clearly see that her eyes were tightly closed, tears were streaming down her face, and her fair skin was covered with spots.
She was trying to restrain herself from crying loudly, so she trembled silently, without any resistance, but she was also as if her soul was out of control and on the verge of collapse.
Qingzan didn't dare to think about the pain her mother felt when she died. She had also been pushed into the water and knew how desperate the suffocation was at that moment, but at least she did not really die in despair.
She couldn't stop crying.
As the emperor kissed his family, tears fell on his thin lips. He simply chased after those hot beads and swallowed them one by one.
"If you want to cry, just cry out loud. I won't laugh at you."
She didn't listen.
As soon as the collar loosened, the snowy plain, which was always lush and vibrant, lost its original shape. Qingzan raised her head and clutched the blankets beneath her.
I just felt like I was going through a long process of tempering, being tempered and carefully cared for.
However, the emperor only kissed her like this, which was much more gentle than the last night when he tossed her around tirelessly.
Xiao Fang saw that the person's black eyelashes seemed to be raised but lowered, drooping wetly.
He asked her in a gruff voice, "Why are you so pitiful?"
He temporarily suspended his attack, but Qingzan took the initiative to move forward.
She had no shame, let alone those obscure desires.
She just wanted to exile herself between this biting cold and this overbearing heat and forget everything.
Then, remember everything.
When she left, Qingzan's eyes were red and swollen. Even though she had an extremely beautiful appearance, she couldn't bear to carry two such ridiculous big red walnuts on her head.
The emperor also refused to let her go back in the sedan chair she came in, saying that sedan chairs used to sleep with the emperor were never carried back, which was unlucky.
He had someone find a fan for her from somewhere and asked her to use it to block people whenever she met them. He also allowed her to ride in a sedan chair this time.
Naturally, the emperor carried him for the few steps to the car.
When Qingzan returned to Chengluan Palace, Suoying thought that she had been treated inhumanely in Taiji Hall.
He closed the door to the inner room and said to her, "Even His Majesty wouldn't bully people like this."
Seeing that it was safe at the moment and no one around could hear her, Qing Zan pretended to be nonchalant and teased, "Are you going to give His Majesty a chin bean as well?"
Suo Ying was like a child who was caught by the teacher for cheating in a private school: "How did you know, sister?"
She had only done it once to Jin Yu. After all, it was too difficult to do it to the Queen as there were many obstacles.
Qing Zan forced a smile and said, "When I was in Fengzao Palace before, I saw that the soil in the courtyard had been disturbed and there were croton seeds buried in it, so I tricked you just now."
Who knew it could be so easily tricked? She even helped people fill the soil and level it.
Suoying, however, was lying on the couch in front of her, half-raised, staring into her eyes: "Sister, are you sad?"
Qingzan shook his head hard.
"I'm not sad. Suoying, I will definitely avenge us."
*
Concubine Zhao was at a loss, restless and uneasy. Her cousin's men were investigating more and more closely, and were about to investigate the Imperial Physician's Office. She was at her wit's end and could only summon Concubine Yuan to Chunhezhai.
But she didn't trust Yuan enough to tell her everything and give her her life and property.
So I just grabbed her hand and asked vaguely, "Sister, if I did something wrong and now regret it, but it hasn't caused any serious consequences yet... what should I do?"
Then he personally brought her a cup of tea and said, "It's not a big deal. I'm just worried that someone with ulterior motives will take advantage of the situation and frame me."
Concubine Yuan knew that only by knowing nothing could she reassure Concubine Zhao, but she could not appear too indifferent about it, so as not to arouse Concubine Zhao's suspicion.
Then he held the tea and said in a panic: "Sister, please don't scare me, what have you done?"
Lady Zhao's polite words didn't last a moment, and she immediately became impatient: "It's no good asking so many questions, just tell me if there is any way to remedy the situation."
I couldn't help but curse in my heart, thinking that Yuan was too tactless today.
Consort Yuan didn't dare ask any more questions. She looked around and covered her mouth to Concubine Zhao, saying, "I don't know the specifics of the matter, so I'm afraid I can't offer you any advice. But I think since no serious consequences have occurred yet, all we need to do is retract what we did, and then everything will be as good as nothing happened."
Lady Zhao: "What if it's already been done and can't be taken back?"
Consort Yuan suppressed the swaying curve of her lips and whispered to Concubine Zhao, "Actually, don't act rashly. Protecting yourself is the safest option. But if Sister doesn't want to sit and wait for death, then... destroy the evidence. Most importantly, ensure all evidence is destroyed at the source. Without verification, who will know who did it?"
This coincided with what Lady Zhao had in mind.
*
There were no other concubines living in Chengluan Palace, so the palace maids would not be too restrained as long as there were no outsiders around.
In the afternoon, just as a refreshing downpour of white rain began to pour down outside, a young eunuch rushed in, his head soaked with sweat. "Master, I've found out! I've heard about it. I've already found out—!"
The young eunuch did not stop for a moment and rushed to Qingzan: "You can't imagine who did this, this!"
Everyone in the room gathered around, and Pingting pretended to say something to them: "Don't make a fuss, don't offend the master."
The young eunuch drank a sip of tea handed to him by the palace servant, and without even wiping his mouth, he said hurriedly, "Concubine Hui sent someone to check the records of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and they happened to run into the person sent by Concubine Zhao. Now they have caught the culprit red-handed."
A young palace maid was shocked and asked, "Are you saying that Concubine Zhao released this silver ring snake?"
The young eunuch nodded and said, "The Imperial Medical Bureau regularly ships in silver rings to replenish medicinal materials. One of the apprentices in charge of purchasing these herbs was brought in through connections within the Zhao family. When buying snakes, he bought a few extra snakes for Concubine Zhao. He tampered with the palace's registration book, but the amount on the external receipt doesn't match. Concubine Zhao probably intended to settle the matter with silver, but Concubine Hui's men apprehended her just as she handed the silver to the apprentice."
Pingting glanced at Qingzan and couldn't help but sigh, "Concubine Hui actually didn't hide this matter. She's really fair. This time, she's putting justice above all else."
The young eunuch finally managed to catch his breath before speaking again hurriedly, "Not necessarily. Once they're caught, the story will spread. Even if Concubine Hui wanted to hide it, she probably wouldn't be able to. Now we have to wait for His Majesty's decision! However, Chunhezhai has been guarded by the guards, and Concubine Zhao has been ordered to remove her hairpin and accept her punishment, but she still insists she's innocent."
Qingzan asked someone to bring her a light silk cloak to protect her from the rain and then went to the Taiji Hall.
Pingting tied the belt for her and said, "It's raining heavily. Didn't the master just come back from Taiji Hall this morning? What are you doing now?"
Qing Zan chuckled softly: "Go and see if there is any use for me."
The rain in summer is far more violent than that in spring. It is like a torrential downpour, causing the sky to collapse and the earth to collapse, without any sign of slowing down.
Concubine Hui knelt on the steps outside the Taiji Hall and begged the emperor to be lenient with Concubine Zhao.
At first, she thought about protecting her cousin. In the past, her family was also supported by the Zhao family. Without the Zhao family, there would be no Zheng family, and there would be no Concubine Hui.
But just as the man was arrested and was still on the way back, Yuan came to her and said that she was willing to take the blame for Concubine Zhao.
The news has already spread outside.
Concubine Hui certainly wouldn't agree to Yuan taking the blame for her cousin. Since even Yuan had gotten wind of the situation, how could His Majesty not know? Furthermore, Yuan was close to her cousin, so if she were to take the blame now, no one would believe her. It would only cost her life in vain, and would also implicate both the Zheng and Zhao families.
Concubine Hui could only kneel in the rain to plead for her cousin, and begged to use her own merits in investigating the case to offset some of her cousin's sins.
She had knelt until now, not daring to leave for a moment. Once His Majesty issued an order, the matter would be completely unnegotiable and there would be no turning back.
But His Majesty refused to see her.
Qingzan was welcomed into the Taiji Hall by the palace servants and came out soon.
As the upturned palace shoes stepped on the silver steps soaked by the rain, the Luo umbrella paused above Concubine Hui.
But he only said: "Your Majesty, please go back early."
After walking several dozen feet outside the Taiji Hall, Doukou finally realized and asked, "Didn't the master come to see Concubine Hui?"
*
Chunhezhai was surrounded by crowds of people, and Concubine Zhao's cries of injustice could be heard from time to time. She really sounded like an innocent victim who had been wrongly slandered.
Qingzan got the emperor's order and was released.
"Master Ying, please be careful. Call us if anything happens." A young eunuch said to her before she went in.
All the palace maids in Chunhezhai were taken away. Concubine Zhao knelt beside the table with disheveled hair. A cup of cold tea spilled on the ground. She screamed at the top of her lungs. When she wanted to drink the tea, she found that the tea leaves had become bitter.
Qingzan picked up the teacup at the foot of the table and put it back on the table.
"Someone has gone to summon the snake farmer. I have pleaded with His Majesty, and Concubine Hui is still kneeling in the Taiji Hall."
Lady Zhao had never expected that she would be the first person to enter. She looked up indignantly, but saw that the person wasn't in the triumphant mood of a victor. Even so, she spat, "Who asked you to be so hypocritical?"
"Why are you doing this? I have never been your enemy." Qingzan sat down on the embroidered cushion for entertaining guests, not far from her.
"My beauty, do you know that when I first discovered the silver ring, I simply said it was a mud snake because mud snakes are common and non-venomous. I simply wanted to warn you so that this matter could be put to rest. However, Concubine Yang was bitten and found to be pregnant with the emperor's heir, so Concubine Hui had to take this matter seriously and investigate it thoroughly."
Lady Zhao was shocked: "Didn't you release the mud snake?"
Qing Zan asked slowly, "Why would I do such a thing and throw dirty water on myself?"
Concubine Zhao immediately stopped crying out for justice and calmed down: "Who could it be? Who wants to harm me? Is it Concubine Yang?"
Qingzan lowered her eyes and looked at her. Seeing that she had turned herself into a half-human monster in just half a day, she suddenly felt it was absurd and sad.
But she continued, "If Concubine Yang had known she might be pregnant with the emperor's heir, why would she have taken such a risk? Perhaps someone is trying to kill three birds with one stone, harming me, Concubine Yang, and you, my beauty."
Lady Zhao wasn't completely clueless: "Then how did she know I was the one who released the snake?"
"Perhaps she wasn't sure, and just wanted to take advantage of someone else's crime to do what she wanted, but she accidentally harmed the beauty." Qingzan paused, her thoughts seeming to drift away. "Actually, I have some clues, but this person is not someone we can afford to offend. Perhaps it would be better for the beauty not to be involved. I'm afraid that the charges of that mud snake and the murder of the royal heir will eventually be pinned on the beauty."
"Who is it? Tell me!" Concubine Zhao asked through gritted teeth.
Who is it that wants to kill her? Does she still care whether she can afford to offend him or not?
Qingzan uttered two words lightly.
Outside the palace, raindrops were racing and jumping away like bullets, making her voice extremely hazy and faint, but Concubine Zhao could hear it clearly.
In this world, people who walk together for a short time are not necessarily friends as long as they have the same enemy.
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