Chapter 791: Forced into a Dead End
The blade of grass was very small, and the cloak was dark green, so it was difficult to be noticed when it was stuck on it.
Concubine Jing explained, "I wore it out during the day today, and it must have been accidentally stained at that time."
Xiao Xixi did not comment on this.
She simply pulled the entire cloak off the screen.
Dong Ling wanted to step forward to stop them, but was stopped by Bao Qin.
She could only go to see Concubine Jing.
However, Concubine Jing had no choice but to watch as the Imperial Concubine began to search for the cloak inch by inch.
Soon, Xiao Xixi discovered that there was some dirt on the edge of the cloak.
She reached out and pinched a little soil, smiling.
"This soil is still moist, so it must have been touched recently."
Concubine Jing was speechless.
She asked with tears in her eyes: "What does your Majesty mean? Are you suspecting that I lied? I almost died, and it would be fine if your Majesty didn't care, but why are you adding insult to injury?"
Xiao Xixi: "Don't change the subject. I just want to know if you wore this cloak when you went out tonight. Just answer yes or no."
Concubine Jing looked at the emperor and pleaded with tears in her eyes.
"Your Majesty, I have really been harmed by someone. Please help me!"
If he were a normal man, he would definitely be soft-hearted when facing such a beautiful woman with tears in her eyes.
Unfortunately, she met Luo Qinghan, a heartless pig.
The pig-hoof emperor seemed to be blind. He completely ignored her pitiful pleading and said coldly.
"You should answer whatever the concubine asks you."
Concubine Jing's tears fell in an instant.
She cried incomparably: "How come even His Majesty doesn't believe me? I will not live any longer, wuwuwu!"
Luo Qinghan: "Chang Xi, go get a pot of poisoned wine. Since Concubine Jing doesn't want to live anymore, let's send her off."
Concubine Jing's crying stopped abruptly.
She looked at the emperor in disbelief, almost thinking she had misheard.
It was not until Eunuch Chang actually brought a pot of poisoned wine that Concubine Jing suddenly came to her senses.
She looked at the wine glass that was handed to her, her eyes filled with panic and fear.
"No, Your Majesty, I just said that casually. I don't really want to live. Please take back your order and forgive me this time. I will never dare to say nonsense again!"
Luo Qinghan looked at her steadily: "Would you like to answer honestly?"
Concubine Jing nodded while crying.
Luo Qinghan waved his hand.
Eunuch Chang stepped aside with his wine glass.
Xiao Xixi: "Did Concubine Jing wear this cloak when she went out tonight?"
Concubine Jing choked up as she quickly thought about how to deal with the situation next.
"Yes, I did wear it out tonight, but so what? Is it wrong for me to wear it out to get some fresh air?"
Xiao Xixi: “Then here comes the question.
Since you were wearing it when you went out, why was the cloak still dry when you fell into the water?
Don't tell me you took off your cloak on the way.
It's so cold, and you suddenly took off your cloak. Do you want to freeze yourself to death?"
Concubine Jing was speechless, obviously stumped by the question.
Xiao Xixi continued, "Or did the person who murdered you deliberately take off your cloak before pushing you into the water?"
Concubine Jing opened her mouth and wanted to explain herself, but she couldn't find a suitable reason.
If she were given more time, she might be able to find an excuse for herself, but now the emperor was sitting right in front of her and the imperial concubine was staring at her. She had to give an answer as quickly as possible and had no time to think.
She held it in for a long while before finally uttering two dry sentences.
"I brought an extra cloak with me when I went out, and it got dirty from the mud, so I changed into another one."
Xiao Xixi: "Oh? Is it the cloak that was sent to the laundry? I will ask someone to go to the laundry to see if Yingfu Palace has sent a wet cloak tonight?"
Although she said this, she did not move, and just looked at Concubine Jing with a smile.
Concubine Jing's face was already pale, and now it was even paler and more frightening.
She didn't even bring an extra cloak with her tonight. If she went to the laundry department to ask, the result would definitely be different from what she said.
Xiao Xixi: "There is one more thing I want to remind you. Concubine Shao is not dead. Do you need to see her?"
Concubine Jing blurted out without thinking: "I won't see her!"
After she finished speaking, she realized that her reaction seemed to be too great, and she immediately shut her mouth again.
Xiao Xixi handed the cloak to the palace maid beside her, glanced at Concubine Jing's pale and ugly face, and spoke slowly.
"If I'm not mistaken, you didn't bring any extra cloaks with you tonight.
Just wear this cloak when you go out.
You took off your cloak before jumping into the lake.
Because this cloak is too thick, it will definitely become very heavy once it enters the water.
If you wear it, it will inevitably add a lot of burden, and it may even affect the speed at which others rescue you from the water.
In such a cold day, if you stay in the water for a long time, you may be frozen to death even if you don’t drown.
You jumped into the lake just to reduce suspicion and to gain sympathy, you didn't really want to die, so you took off your cloak before jumping into the lake."
Concubine Jing avoided her gaze and smiled bitterly: "Your Highness, do you want to convict me just based on a cloak? I can die, but I will not accept this unfounded accusation."
Xiao Xixi: "You are quite stubborn. Huachun and Zhier died one after another, and Concubine Shao was almost killed. You can't do so many things by yourself. Do you want me to take all the servants around you to the Ministry of Punishment for interrogation? Maybe they can find out something?"
Dong Ling's face changed when she heard this, and she knelt down hurriedly: "My Lady, spare me, I don't know anything!"
Luo Qinghan: "Send everyone in Yingfu Palace to the Ministry of Punishment for inspection."
Once these words were spoken, almost everyone in Yingfu Palace was forced into a dead end.
Everyone in the palace knows that if you go to the Ministry of Punishment, you will be severely punished even if you don't die!
If these people were sent to the Ministry of Punishment, they would probably never come out alive.
The cries of pleas came one after another.
However, it was useless. All the palace maids, eunuchs and maids in Yingfu Palace were dragged away by the guards.
When Concubine Jing heard those desperate cries, she felt cold all over, even colder than when she was soaking in the icy lake water.
She was usually very careful in her actions, and when doing things that were shady, she would deliberately avoid the people serving her.
But as time goes on, those who serve around you will inevitably notice something.
It's just that everyone knows it tacitly.
Now that all the people in Yingfu Palace have been dragged to the Ministry of Punishment for interrogation, Concubine Jing cannot ensure that these people can keep their mouths shut.
What if someone sold her...
(End of this chapter)
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