Chapter 788 It’s not like that!
Xiao Xixi grabbed the fried peanuts next to her and spoke lazily while peeling them.
"Are you asking me for help regarding Jingfeng's matter?"
Concubine Jing was startled and blurted out: "How did the Imperial Concubine know about Jing Feng?"
Xiao Xixi: "I heard people talking about this when I left the palace."
Concubine Jing became more respectful.
"Since the Imperial Concubine already knows about this, could you please help..."
Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Xiao Xixi.
"Can't."
Concubine Jing knew that she would not easily agree to help, but she did not expect that she would refuse so quickly.
Concubine Jing pursed her lips and spoke slowly.
“Although Jingfeng was a little impulsive, it was just a jade pendant after all, and the jade pendant has been returned to the King of England.
It's really not a big deal.
It’s just that the King of England refused to settle the matter privately, so things have come to this point.
I have no other choice but to ask the Imperial Concubine for help.
If Jing Feng can be successfully released, the Imperial Concubine and I and the Jing family will remember this favor from you and will definitely repay you double when we have the chance in the future."
When Xiao Xixi heard this, she laughed out loud as if she had heard a joke.
Concubine Jing was puzzled by her laughter.
"What are you laughing at, Madam Concubine?"
Xiao Xixi threw away the peanut shells in her hand and said with a smile.
"Nothing, I just think you're quite interesting. You clearly want me to die, but you're still begging for my help. And you even say you'll remember it in your heart? Are you remembering the favor or the grudge?"
Concubine Jing's expression changed, and she said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. I have always respected you and never had any hatred towards you."
Xiao Xixi did not comment on this.
She said to Zhezhi.
"Bring me the little notebook that's on the bedside table."
"Yes."
Soon Zhezhi brought a small notebook.
The cover is black and palm-sized. When you open it, you will see densely packed small characters inside.
This little notebook was sent by Shang Kui.
Before, Xiao Xixi asked Yu Linwei to investigate the details of the Shao family and the Su family. Yu Linwei didn't know what to investigate, so he simply recorded all the daily activities of the two families, and then had someone organize them and write them in this small notebook.
Xiao Xixi had already finished reading all the contents of this book.
She turned to the page with a folded corner and read the contents.
"The Shao family has three branches, and the eldest daughter of the third branch entered the palace for selection and was chosen as a good husband."
"Shao Liangren's father taught at the Imperial Academy as an assistant teacher."
"Assistant Professor Shao was nearly suspended for accepting bribes and helping students cheat. It was the Imperial College that came forward to save him."
Having said that, Xiao Xixi raised her eyelids and glanced at Concubine Jing casually.
There was only one person in the Imperial College who obeyed the imperial edict, and that was Concubine Jing’s grandfather, the current head of the Jing family.
Concubine Jing's face turned pale, her fingers involuntarily dug into the hem of her clothes, but she still tried to force a smile.
"Where did you hear these rumors, Your Majesty? They are all rumors, don't take them seriously. Although my grandfather held the position of obeying the imperial order, he rarely interfered with the affairs of the Imperial College. He usually stayed at home tending flowers and playing with birds. How could he do such a thing? Impossible."
Xiao Xixi turned to the next page and said lazily.
"Don't worry, there's more underneath."
"The Shao family often sends gifts to the Jing family, especially Shao Liangren's father, who goes to the Jing family almost every two days to pay his respects to Mr. Jing."
"The relationship between the Shao family and the Jing family seems to be very good, but strangely, since late November last year, the Shao family has unilaterally severed ties with the Jing family."
"I've thought about it carefully. Isn't late November the right time for the autumn hunt to end and for Shao Liangren to be demoted to a concubine and banished to the cold palace?"
"As soon as Concubine Shao was banished to the cold palace, the Shao family severed ties with the Jing family. Is this a coincidence?"
Concubine Jing's lips trembled slightly and her face became paler.
She clutched her sleeves tightly, trying to keep herself calm.
"Your Highness, you really misunderstood. The Shao family does have some connections with the Jing family, but they are not close. As for why the Shao family suddenly does not want to associate with the Jing family anymore, I don't know either."
Xiao Xixi smiled with an ambiguous tone.
"The Shao family is not as well-off as the Jing family. Logically speaking, since the Shao family has cut off ties with the Jing family, the Jing family shouldn't take it to heart. But why did the Jing family send a silver note of 100,000 taels to the Shao family?"
Concubine Jing froze.
Xiao Xixi: "The banknote is still in the hands of Concubine Shao's father. It has the seal of the Jing family. We just need to take the banknote to check and we will know whether it is from the Jing family."
Concubine Jing was now speechless.
She didn't expect that the imperial concubine had even found out about this matter.
Xiao Xixi closed the small notebook and casually placed it on the table beside her, saying, "The 100,000 taels of silver note must be the hush money given by the Jing family to keep Concubine Shao quiet."
Princess Jing denied it without even thinking: "No! That's not the case!"
Xiao Xixi: "How about this, I'll have someone call Consort Shao and everyone from the Shao family over to confront you and see how they explain the 100,000 taels of silver?"
Concubine Jing immediately felt like a rooster with its neck stuck, unable to make any sound.
Xiao Xixi: "When the Japanese princess was assassinated in the Shanglinyuan Palace, someone took a vase and smashed it on me in the chaos, trying to kill me. In the end, it was found that it was done by Consort Shao.
Concubine Li and Concubine Min would not lie about this matter. The person who hit me with the vase must be Concubine Shao.
But how could a mere Concubine Shao be so bold as to murder me?
Even if she is lucky enough to kill me, what good will it do her?"
Concubine Jing said loudly, "She must be jealous of your favor!"
Xiao Xixi: "Shouldn't you be the one who is really jealous?"
Concubine Jing's face suddenly turned from pale to red. She wanted to refute, but when she thought of the evidence in the other party's hand, she couldn't say anything.
Xiao Xixi asked slowly, "Do you know what the crime of murdering the imperial concubine is?"
Concubine Jing twitched the corners of her mouth, as if she wanted to laugh, but in the end she couldn't.
She supported herself on the table with one hand, stood up slowly, and then performed a standard bow to the imperial concubine.
"I really don't know what the Imperial Concubine is talking about. If the Imperial Concubine has solid evidence that can prove my guilt, then just ask the Ministry of Punishment to arrest me. It's getting late, so I won't disturb the Imperial Concubine's rest. I'll take my leave."
After saying this, she walked away leisurely.
Seeing that she was about to leave Yunxiu Palace, Zhezhi couldn't help but ask.
"My Lady, are we just going to let Concubine Jing go? She ordered Concubine Shao to harm you. We need an explanation for this."
Xiao Xixi: "It's okay, let her go back and think about it carefully."
Zhezhi didn't understand what the imperial concubine meant, but judging from her expression, she seemed to know what was going on, so he said no more.
(End of this chapter)
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