"Thank you for your hard work. Here's a generous reward." Ning Wanyin looked at Xiao Xiazi and said.
Lianrui handed Xiao Xiazi a bag of gold ingots.
Xiao Xiazi smiled brightly and then accepted it.
When he went to do this matter, he naturally reported it to the emperor in advance.
If the emperor wanted to spare Xue Jinyan's life, he would not dare to do it. But the emperor did not stop him. After the matter was accomplished, knowing that the matter almost involved Linlang Palace and Ning Wanyin, he rewarded him handsomely.
After completing a task, he was rewarded by two masters. Xiao Xiazi was also very happy. Master Ning took care of everything, and the servants did their work without any worries.
After Xiao Xiazi retreated.
Lian Rui looked at Ning Wanyin and asked, "Master, why didn't you leave the token of Concubine Shu?"
"Empress Dowager Xue is an old and cunning woman. If we keep her here, she might think it's a frame-up. There's no need to do that." Ning Wanyin said calmly.
Even if the truth was clear, even if Xue Jinyan had not died, Empress Dowager Xue would not let him go.
So Ning Wanyin doesn't need to prepare anything.
She was suspected of the same crime as Concubine Shu, so Empress Dowager Xue treated them equally.
That's it.
"Empress Dowager Xue will definitely be angry. Everyone should be more vigilant and be ready to respond at any time," Ning Wanyin ordered.
"Yes." Lian Rui and others accepted the order.
The struggle for power has always been like this.
Either you die or I live. In this harem, there can only be one winner in the end.
…
Jingxi Palace.
Concubine Shu sat in front of the Buddha statue in a daze.
Xue Jinyan is dead!
Ning Wanyin...
"Ning Wanyin, you damn bitch!" Concubine Shu has always been well-mannered, but at this moment she was so angry that she burst into cursing.
The way out she had finally thought of was forcibly destroyed by Ning Wanyin.
Who killed Xue Jinyan?
She knew without even thinking that it was Ning Wanyin.
She didn't want to live anymore, but she insisted on dragging me to death with her.
Having lost the support of the Cen family and having to face the revenge of Empress Dowager Xue, Concubine Shu was angry and afraid at the same time, and she hated Ning Wanyin even more.
"My queen, what should we do now?" Zhenzhu asked in panic.
Concubine Shu took a deep breath and managed to stay calm. "The whereabouts of the hidden man are unknown. He must have been dealt with by Ning Wanyin. Cai Quan, go and clean up the other traces. Don't let Empress Dowager Xue catch any evidence."
Although Empress Dowager Xue would definitely suspect her, as long as there were no clues, she couldn't do anything to her openly.
Next, it’s the secret game.
"Yes." Cai Quan accepted the order.
Concubine Shu quietly thought about her way out. The only person she had left to rely on was her son.
Originally, the emperor was afraid of the Cen family, but now she and the Cen family are at odds.
He was not accepted by the Xue family again.
He became the person with the cleanest identity and background.
For her son, this is actually the biggest benefit, as he has a better chance of competing for the position of crown prince.
Concubine Shu gradually calmed down.
He picked up the wooden fish mallet at hand, closed his eyes and started knocking on the wooden fish.
She still has chips, she hasn't lost yet!
But the more Concubine Shu knocked, the angrier she became.
From now on, she will have to face the calculations of the Cen family and the Xue family. The two major families that she least wants to offend have now been offended.
Ning Wanyin, you damn bitch!
…
Cining Palace.
The eunuch Wu Mi, who was in charge of the execution, knelt on the ground and reported the case in detail.
"The concubines were killed, and you can't even find a suspect. What use are you?" Queen Mother Xue sneered.
I was still laughing at the Cen family's joke yesterday morning.
It’s your family’s turn in the evening.
"I am stupid and I deserve death!" Wu Mi pleaded guilty politely.
Empress Dowager Xue knew that he was the emperor's man, so she could only reprimand him and let him go.
"Liu Zhen, call Concubine Ying over." The woman behind Xue was as quiet as water.
Wei Yingya received the summons and quietly came to the Cining Palace to pay her respects.
"Empress Dowager, as soon as something happened to Noble Lady Xue last night, I immediately went to Ning Wanyin this morning to ask... She told me that she didn't know who did it, but since it wasn't her, it could only be Concubine Shu." Wei Yingya followed Ning Wanyin's instructions and actively recommended:
"Your Majesty, you must not let Concubine Shu go! She is really crazy and will kill Cen Ruoyu first, then Princess Xue. If you don't take care of her, she will kill you!"
Queen Mother Xue frowned and pondered, "Can Ning Wanyin trust you?"
"This... I'm not sure. She is a very cautious person, as you know. I'm really not sure, what she said to me is the truth." Wei Yingya said honestly.
Ning Wanyin had told her a long time ago to prevent her from revealing the truth. At the same time, in order to help her better mislead Queen Mother Xue, some things would be kept from her.
It doesn't matter whether it's true or not, just listen to what she says.
Even if something went wrong, you were deceived and it would not be exposed to Queen Mother Xue.
"You are a very honest person." Queen Mother Xue nodded slightly, "Stay by her side, I will not treat you unfairly."
The eunuch in charge, Liu Zhen, handed Wei Yingya a brocade box containing a pair of precious green phoenix jade hairpins.
"I am deeply grateful for the care of the Empress Dowager. I am willing to serve you like a slave!" Wei Yingya went back happily holding the brocade box.
Liu Zhen took a step forward and asked doubtfully, "My Lady, is Ning Wanyin telling the truth?"
"When she framed Yan'er, she did not hide it from Concubine Ying. So why would she be afraid to say that she killed Yan'er? When has she ever been afraid of the Xue family's revenge?" Empress Dowager Xue said coldly.
If someone else had harmed the Xue girl, they would have had to hide her.
But Ning Wanyin dared to slap Xue Jinyan and frame her into the cold palace. What did she hide?
It's a situation of life and death. Whether she kills the Xue girl or not, the Xue family will not let her go.
There was no need for her to hide anything in front of Concubine Ying.
"The Empress Dowager is so wise! The person who murdered Noble Lady Xue must be Concubine Shu! Concubine Ying is right, she must be crazy!" Liu Zhen said in disbelief.
Empress Dowager Xue sneered, "I think she is very sober. If she offends the Xue family, betrays the Cen family, and no longer has a foreign relative background, won't the emperor be able to look favorably upon her son?"
"She is really willing to sacrifice her life to pave the way for her son. Give the order that since I am seriously ill, please ask Concubine Shu and Ning Wanyin to take turns to take care of me."
As the empress dowager, it was natural for her to let concubines take care of her when she was ill.
Neither Shufei nor Ning Wanyin could refuse.
…
The day after Xue Jinyan's death, the Queen Mother was said to be so grief-stricken that she fell ill.
The eunuch in charge of the Cining Palace went to the Jingxi Palace and the Lingxue Pavilion to announce the imperial edict.
The Empress Dowager ordered that Concubine Shu and Concubine Ning take turns to care for the emperor.
"Is Empress Dowager Xue going to torture you and Concubine Shu? I heard that this is how mothers-in-law in large mansions torture their daughters-in-law." Wei Yingya looked at Ning Wanyin worriedly.
He called his daughter-in-law to serve him, and then found fault with her and punished her everywhere.
She had read many novels that described this.
"Probably not." Ning Wanyin shook her head slightly.
Wei Yingya was about to breathe a sigh of relief when she heard Ning Wanyin continue, "She probably wants Concubine Shu and I to die."
Wei Yingya: Huh???
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