Chapter 235 Interrogation
The sedan chair turned a corner halfway and headed straight towards the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
When Shen Fu arrived, Lin An was not there, but the young eunuch in the Qianqing Palace was frightened and stood still.
With his eyes wide open, he stared at Chen Fu, who didn't react for a while.
It was not until Shen Fu got off the sedan chair and walked forward that the eunuch suddenly walked down and bowed to Shen Fu with a very attentive face: "Your servant... Your servant kowtows to Concubine Shen."
"Where is His Majesty?"
Chen Fu looked around and felt a little uncomfortable when she didn't see Lin An.
You have to know that Lin An is the eunuch beside the Emperor. Generally, wherever the Emperor is, Lin An will be there.
Like today, this is really a rare thing.
Shen Fu asked, pretending to walk inside.
But before he had taken a few steps, the young eunuch behind him suddenly came to his senses. He took two or three steps forward and followed: "Chen... Concubine Chen..."
The young eunuch's voice was trembling, but his body stood in front of Shen Fu.
"Shen Jieyu, please slow down."
Chen Fu looked at the arm blocking her, then looked at the palm stretched out by the eunuch opposite her, and raised her eyebrows slightly:
"Your Majesty is not in there?"
Directly opposite, the young eunuch lowered his head as much as possible.
Hearing this, he shook his head and whispered, "Yes... yes."
Is His Majesty in there? This little eunuch dares to stop me?
Shen Fu raised her eyebrows slightly, looked ahead, and retracted her outstretched steps.
She looked at the eunuch standing in front of her in silence, with a smile in her eyes: "Besides Your Majesty, who else is in there?"
How did Concubine Shen know?
The young eunuch didn't dare to look back and hung his head even lower. He lowered his head in silence and spoke hesitantly: "Slave...slave,..."
It was a very cold day and the young eunuch was standing under the eaves, shivering all over.
He hesitated for a long time but didn't even dare to say his name.
Chen Fu looked at the little eunuch and wondered what he didn't know.
She asked tentatively, "Is the one inside Shu Guipin?"
"How is that possible?"
The little eunuch shook his head like a rattle.
She began to refute subconsciously. Ever since Concubine Shen became favored, Concubine Shu's visits to the Ganqing Palace became less and less frequent.
Recently, His Majesty has not even met Shu Guipin alone, so how could the person inside be Shu Guipin?
The young eunuch looked very confident.
Chen Fu looked at the eunuch's expression and smiled, "Since it's not Concubine Shu, then it must be Concubine Rong?"
Besides myself, there are only these two who can enter the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
As soon as the three words "Noble Concubine Shen Furong" came out, the little eunuch immediately stopped talking.
He scratched his head and stood there, not daring to turn back. He quickly opened his big eyelids and glanced at Chen Fu, his eyes becoming more and more evasive.
"That's Concubine Rong."
Chen Fu looked at the tightly closed palace gate in front of her and said with certainty.
Before, she thought that the little eunuch was hiding something, but it turned out that Concubine Rong was inside.
No wonder this little eunuch was blocking the door.
In the entire Forbidden City, apart from His Majesty, Concubine Rong has the highest rank and status.
Naturally, he didn't dare to offend the young eunuch.
"Chen Jieyu." After a long time, Shen Fu did not speak, so the eunuch finally spoke up and reminded her: "How about I go into the room and tell her?"
“No need.”
Chen Fu came back to her senses: "Since Concubine Rong is discussing matters with His Majesty inside, I will just wait outside."
It was the coldest time of winter and snow was still falling outside. Sporadic snowflakes flew overhead, covering the glazed tiles with a thick layer.
Inside the Palace of Heavenly Purity
Concubine Rong was kneeling in the center of the hall.
She was wearing a lake green dress today, with silver-white cuffs embroidered with circles of fortune and luck.
There were only a few gold hairpins pinned on her long black hair. This outfit is simple and elegant yet noble.
As always, simple and solemn.
"Why did His Majesty ask me to come here today?"
Concubine Rong has been kneeling since she entered the room, and His Majesty has not spoken a word since then.
After waiting for a long time, she couldn't help it and spoke first.
On the white marble steps, Xiao Yu sat high on the dragon throne. He lowered his eyes and looked at Concubine Rong below him, with no wavering expression in his eyes.
"I asked you to come here today. Do you really not know why?"
Concubine Rong knelt on the ground, her eyes trembling when she heard the words.
After waiting for a while, she finally raised her head and said, "Your Majesty, I think the reason why you asked me to come here today is because of what happened last time."
"It's all my fault. I asked Concubine Shen to come to the palace, but I didn't expect that Concubine Shen would be frightened."
Concubine Rong knelt on the ground and spoke calmly.
"Is this what you think in your heart?" On the white jade steps, Xiao Yu's expression was hidden behind the jade crown.
He lowered his eyes to look at the person kneeling on the ground, tapping the armrest with his calloused fingertips: "Do you think I came to you because Chen Fu was frightened that day?"
"What else?" Concubine Rong raised her head and asked back.
She met His Majesty's gaze, looked at him in silence for a moment, and then lowered her head again.
"If it wasn't because of Concubine Shen, why would His Majesty send someone to look for me?"
Since the last time, His Majesty has never seen her alone again.
Before, on the first and fifteenth day of every month, the Emperor would come to her room no matter how busy he was.
But what about now?
His Majesty, where else can you go except to Concubine Shen? Who else have you been to?
"I really didn't mean it last time. The situation was so chaotic at the time, and I didn't expect Concubine Meng to do this. It's my fault."
Concubine Rong knelt on the ground and said this with a calm expression.
Xiao Yu rubbed the jade ring on his thumb with his palm.
The look in her eyes when she looked down at him was also unrecognizable: "Oh? Your Highness thinks it's her fault?"
"Of course it was my fault. I didn't take good care of Concubine Shen, which gave Concubine Meng the opportunity to take action."
"Luckily, Concubine Zhou was present at the time. If Concubine Meng had really succeeded, I would not know how to explain it to His Majesty."
Concubine Rong admitted her mistakes one after another, appearing to be extremely sincere.
Xiao Yu looked deeply at Concubine Rong's expression, picked up the teacup beside him, lowered his head and took a sip: "I know how Concubine Rong did."
"As for Concubine Meng, how do you think I should deal with her?"
As His Majesty finished speaking, Concubine Rong's expression froze for a moment.
Whether Concubine Meng lives or dies depends entirely on her decision.
Although Concubine Meng's whereabouts are still unknown. But she thought that it would not have a good ending.
Who made Concubine Meng touch Chen Fu?
His Majesty was present at the time and witnessed the situation with his own eyes.
She knew the Emperor's temper too well, and Concubine Meng would only end up dead.
Concubine Rong looked at the person in front of her.
His Majesty's question was both a test and a temptation.
"I think that Concubine Meng should be severely punished." After a long silence, Concubine Rong finally spoke.
"Concubine Shen was pregnant at the time, but Concubine Meng almost killed her."
"Although there was no danger, his heart is despicable."
The room was silent, with only the crackling sounds of the charcoal fire in the golden charcoal basin in the corner.
The fire in the red-hot golden charcoal shone brightly, and after a crackling sound, it seemed as if a sigh was heard.
Xiao Yu put the teacup in his hand back on the table. After a slight sound, his almost imperceptible voice came:
"Your Highness, do you think this is all Concubine Meng's fault?"
Concubine Rong clenched her palms tightly.
Consort Meng, Concubine Shu, Concubine Shen...
Anyone can probably tell how important these three people are in His Majesty's heart.
"Of course it's not all Concubine Meng's fault, but if Concubine Shen really had something bad happen to her, Concubine Meng would not be able to escape the slightest responsibility."
Just like that day, when His Majesty was choosing, he also chose Concubine Meng.
The death of a mere concubine is naturally insignificant.
"Meng Xuanshi is so cruel that she used me to frame Concubine Shen. Fortunately, Concubine Shen is fine, otherwise I would have blamed myself and died."
"I ask Your Majesty to severely punish Concubine Meng and give justice to Concubine Shen." Concubine Rong spoke without hesitation and vowed.
But before he could finish his sentence, he heard some giggling sounds coming from the side.
She frowned slightly and turned her head, until she saw the person crawling out crying in the corner, her expression suddenly changed completely.
Concubine Rong reacted immediately and turned her head to look at the Emperor above her head.
"What does your Majesty mean?"
Concubine Rong had a cold look in her eyes, and in the corner beside her, she saw Concubine Meng, who had disappeared for a long time, stumbling out from behind the screen.
Since the day she was taken away by His Majesty, Concubine Meng has not appeared in public since. And no one expected that she would appear in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
I was actually there at this time and heard these words with my own ears.
She had probably been kneeling on the ground for a long time, and her knees were visibly stiff.
When he crawled out, he almost fell to the ground.
Lin An, who was standing by, reached out and helped her up, and she then stumbled out.
Concubine Meng was in a miserable state. She crawled all the way to Concubine Rong's feet, then reached out and grabbed the hem of Concubine Rong's clothes.
"My Lady, My Lady, why are you doing this to me?"
Concubine Rong standing by had already reacted.
She withdrew her gaze from His Majesty and looked at Concubine Meng beside her.
Is there anything you don't understand after this comparison?
"How should I treat you?" Concubine Rong straightened up and raised her hand to pull the hem of her clothes back from Concubine Meng's hands.
"I am the imperial concubine, so I must handle this impartially."
Lady Meng didn't know how long she had stayed in the dark, and tears were welling up in her eyes.
Tears as big as beans fell down one by one, but his resentful eyes were fixed on Concubine Rong.
"My Lady, how can you put all the blame on me?"
"Selected Concubine Meng!"
Concubine Rong's eyes became fierce, and she looked at Concubine Meng with a cold and gloomy look: "Don't talk nonsense in front of His Majesty!"
Concubine Rong's words were both a remark and a warning.
"Your Majesty, do you think that I am still a chess piece that knows nothing and can be manipulated by you?"
From what he just heard behind the screen, every word Concubine Rong said was about wanting his own life.
Selected Concubine Meng sneered, stretched out her hand to grab Concubine Rong's robe, but the coldness in her eyes could not be concealed, "If it wasn't for the queen that day, how could the concubine have the courage to bite Concubine Shen?"
"It was your Majesty who arranged everything. How can you blame me now?"
Every word that Concubine Meng said almost hit Concubine Rong in the face.
However, Concubine Rong remained motionless.
After a brief change of expression at the beginning, Concubine Rong became extremely calm.
She was still kneeling on the ground, but her back was straight and her face was calm and composed: "What did I arrange? Didn't you tell me all this?"
"You were the one who complained to me, saying that Concubine Shu was punishing you. I just believed what you said, so I sent someone to summon Concubine Shu."
"As for why I bit Concubine Shen to death, it was because I sent someone to investigate Concubine Shen in the Imperial Garden. From the beginning to the end, I just asked someone to question her. I didn't ask you to blame anyone, nor did I ask you to push Concubine Shen."
"You did everything by yourself. What does it have to do with me?"
After hearing what Concubine Rong said, Concubine Meng had already lost all her color.
Yes, everything Concubine Rong said is right.
She neither arranged for her to do it nor instructed her to harm anyone. From the beginning to the end, Concubine Rong only said that she would make the decision for herself, and just like that, she picked the whole set.
"My concubine... My concubine..." Concubine Meng dropped her hand that was pulling at the hem of her clothes, and her expression became dazed.
"Your Majesty has asked Concubine Meng to criticize me. How do you want me to react?" Concubine Rong didn't even look at the people around her, she turned around and asked Your Majesty.
On the dragon throne, Xiao Yu paused as he stroked the jade ring.
He lowered his eyes slightly, his calm gaze fell on Concubine Rong's face, with a scrutinizing look in the corners of his narrow eyes.
After watching silently for a long time, he finally let go of the teacup in his palm and looked down from above.
On the white jade steps, long boots embroidered with dragon patterns moved down step by step.
The dragon boots didn't stop until they landed in front of Concubine Rong.
"What do you think I should do?"
Lin An was so frightened when he saw this scene that his face turned pale. He hurriedly took Concubine Meng, who was kneeling on the ground, away.
Inside the hall, the charcoal fire in the charcoal basin was burning very vigorously. The temperature in the house was so high that some people felt dizzy.
A strong wind blew outside the window, and the southwest window was suddenly blown open.
A few scattered snowflakes were blown into the room by the wind. Inside the house, the hot and oppressive atmosphere seemed to gradually subside.
Concubine Rong knelt on the ground and felt the breeze blowing into her neck.
The temperature of his whole body also turned cold in an instant: "Your Majesty is for Concubine Shen."
Concubine Rong knelt on the ground with her eyes closed.
"Do you think that I asked you to come here today because of Concubine Shen?"
"What else?" The window beside her was blown open by the wind, and a few snowflakes floated on Concubine Rong's face.
Her body was cold, her expression was even colder, and her words came out in an icy tone, without a trace of warmth:
"Who in the palace doesn't know that Concubine Shen is the lifeblood of His Majesty? Last time, Concubine Shen was frightened in my palace. Although His Majesty didn't get angry on the spot, he must still be brooding over what happened last time."
"You asked me to come here today, and you also asked Concubine Meng to confront me. Aren't you trying to make me confess my crime?"
Concubine Rong closed her eyes tightly, tears falling from her eyes: "Your Majesty has already given Concubine Shen such favor, is he going to give up his position as a concubine now?!"
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