Chapter 225: Witchcraft 2
How could Noble Lady Ru have expected that the birth date and horoscope that Noble Concubine Chen gave to the Ministry of Internal Affairs would be fake?
She did something evil and ended up shooting herself in the foot.
But now that things have come to this, if she admits it, she will die.
It would be better to insist that she knows nothing, perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope.
So she kowtowed to Xiao Jingheng repeatedly, as if she had suffered a great injustice, and cried out:
"I am innocent! I have no grudge against the Imperial Concubine, why would I curse her for no reason?"
"I taught you a lesson when you first entered the palace. Do you think I don't know what you said about me in private?"
Concubine Chen held her waist with one hand and protected her belly with the other, staring at Concubine Ru excitedly and said, "Fortunately, I was careful from the beginning. Otherwise, if you knew my birth date, wouldn't I and the heir in my belly have been subjected to your witchcraft today!?"
There was a great commotion in the palace.
Song Zhaohe and several concubines who arrived later stood quietly by, and no one dared to say a word.
Concubine Chen caught a glimpse of the rag doll that fell beside Concubine Ru. She felt that the silver needles stuck in it were very dazzling, and the words "boudoir" written on it also made her tremble with fear, so she instructed Liu Yue:
"That dirty stuff is very unlucky. Pick it up and burn it."
Liu Yue took the order and stepped forward, but Ying Fei stopped her and said:
"Hold on, Madam Imperial Concubine. This thing is now evidence of your usurpation of power. I'm afraid it cannot be destroyed."
The two of them frowned and looked at each other, with a tense situation.
Xiao Jingheng was about to speak to mediate, but he saw Song Zhao slowly step forward, bend over and pick up the rag doll.
"What Concubine Ying said is not without reason, but it is somewhat inappropriate to put Concubine Gui's name on this rag doll."
She looked around and saw a pair of scissors for pruning branches on the rosewood table, so she asked Yunshan to bring the scissors over.
Then he cut off the piece of cloth with Concubine Chen's name on the doll's belly, folded it into small pieces and handed it to Liu Yue, "Take it and burn it first."
Song Zhao's move was a clever way for Xiao Jingheng to resolve a dispute between the concubines.
Xiao Jingheng raised his eyebrows and looked at her, with some appreciation in his eyes.
Later, the rag doll with holes cut through was placed on the table next to Concubine Ying.
The white cotton core inside was turned out, reflecting a hint of goose yellow under the candlelight.
Because the thing was closest to Concubine Ying and there was a charcoal pot next to it, the smell on the cotton core evaporated quickly.
Concubine Ying vaguely smelled a strong smell of mutton.
Although she and Ru Guiren were both women of other ethnic groups, she could not stand the smell of sheep, so she seldom ate mutton and did not use sheepskin products for daily wear.
However, Runaren came from Mongolia and loved mutton very much. She also had many exotic costumes made of sheepskin.
The cotton core is dense and easily picks up the smell of the person who comes into contact with it.
At this moment, Ying Fei picked up the rag doll and put it to her nose, sniffing it carefully, confirming that the mutton smell was seeping from the cotton core, and immediately handed the rag doll to Xiao Jingheng.
"Your Majesty, please smell this cotton core used to sew and embroider the doll. It has a sheep smell. I never use sheepskin products and I don't eat mutton. You know all this, so this smell must have been picked up when you were sewing this doll!"
Xiao Jingheng took the rag doll and fanned it twice casually. The mutton smell mixed with the cotton core was sent into his nostrils with the flow of air.
His brows slightly frowned, and his expression became more solemn.
If you are also puzzled,
When she was sewing this doll, she was afraid that it would smell like mutton, so she cleaned her hands carefully with the rose juice that Concubine Ying usually used to wash her hands.
She confirmed it several times.
But how could this cotton core still have a smell of mutton?
But Xiao Jingheng's eyes shot towards her like a sword.
She was still so frightened that she lost her soul. She bent forward completely and dared not even raise her head. She just kept shouting that she was wronged.
While Xiao Jingheng was looking directly at the noble lady, he also glanced at Concubine Ying beside him.
At present, he still has doubts in his mind.
The strong smell from the cotton core was so obvious that it seemed as if someone was deliberately framing me.
If this matter is really done by you,
She wanted to frame Concubine Ying, so how could she be so foolish as not to wash her hands before doing it?
If it is said that Noble Lady Ru wanted to frame Concubine Ying, she had motives and reasons.
Just look at Concubine Ru’s swollen cheeks, and you’ll know that she is not having a comfortable life under Concubine Ying’s control.
But there are so many new people entering the palace, and Concubine Li was also arrogant and domineering when she entered the palace before. Why doesn't Concubine Ying get annoyed with her at all, but instead picks on Concubine Ru's faults?
As for the reason, Xiao Jingheng speculated that it was probably because the nobles and Concubine Ying were both women from different tribes.
In the past, because of Concubine Ying's status as a woman from a different tribe, Xiao Jingheng would give more rewards to the Adahu tribe every year, and his tax requirements would be slightly more relaxed.
This move is intended to win over and appease the Adahu tribe.
But now that the noble lady has entered the palace, Xiao Jingheng will also go to appease and win over the Mongolian tribes.
As they are from different tribes, there is competition between them.
For example, if the Mongolian tribes paid more tribute to the court this year in order to curry favor with Xiao Jingheng,
If the Adahu tribe continued to pay the same taxes and tributes as before, it would inevitably cause dissatisfaction in the imperial court, and they would be forced to match the Mongolian insufficient tribute.
But if Concubine Ying could eliminate Concubine Ru before she could gain power, then the future would be much easier for both her and her mother's family.
And today this rag doll,
Didn’t Concubine Ying take it out of the closet herself when she was changing clothes after serving the emperor in the night?
Xiao Jingheng connected these doubts and speculations together.
In the end, he was more suspicious of Concubine Ying.
However, he still reprimanded Ru Guiren, "You have been in the palace for several months, and you have already caused so much trouble. I think the Mongolian king treats you too well, and you are used to a life of luxury, so you dare to act so recklessly after entering the palace.
"Pass on my decree that from now on, Noble Lady Ru will be demoted to a concubine and confined to Chenggan Palace for three months, and cannot leave unless summoned."
After hearing the decree of "demoting her to a concubine", Concubine Chen was obviously unhappy.
Practicing witchcraft in the palace and cursing the royal heir is a serious crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of the clan!
However, Concubine Chen also understood in her heart that the reason why Xiao Jingheng dealt with the matter so hastily was entirely because the imperial court still needed the power of the Mongolian tribes on the border.
So she didn't ask what the decree meant, but just changed the subject and looked at Concubine Ying with gloomy eyes.
"Although this matter was Ruchangzai's fault, but as the head of Chenggan Palace, you, Concubine Ying, failed to teach the people in your own palace properly? You are also to blame for causing such a mess! If the affairs of one palace cannot be settled, how can you help me manage the six palaces?"
"Your Highness, I do not agree with what you said. I think..."
"I think what the imperial concubine said makes sense."
Before Concubine Ying could finish her defense, Xiao Jingheng interrupted her in a deep voice.
"If it wasn't because you always beat and scolded Rushi, why would she frame you for no reason? You can handle the affairs of your own palace first, and then talk about other things. During this period, the six palaces are managed by the imperial concubine alone..."
"I obey your order~"
Concubine Chen was busy expressing her gratitude, but she didn't expect Xiao Jingheng to have more to say.
He looked at Song Zhao with gentle eyes and said softly:
"You have a calm temperament, and you are clear about rewards and punishments. I thought that you should learn from the Imperial Concubine these days and learn how to properly handle the affairs of the harem. When you are appointed as a concubine next month, you will assist the Imperial Concubine and help manage the six palaces."
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