Chapter 431 Two-in-one Chapter
With the identification from the drugstore owner, Zhao Hai really tried to torture Xiao Mingzi to death. Xiao Mingzi was already afraid that there was something wrong with him, and with the punishment and intimidation, he could not bear it any longer.
That night, Concubine Shun also did not sleep all night. All she got was the news that Xuanyuan Ling had attended the morning court again and it seemed that he had not found out anything, but Xiao Mingzi was not released. Her eyes were dry and astringent after being open all night, and her heart was anxious as if it was on fire. She felt like a huge rock was pressing on her heart and she could not breathe.
Chen Qing slept well. When she woke up, Xuanyuan Ling had gone to the morning court and was not there. However, he told her not to disturb Chen Qing before leaving. Chen Qing was indeed tired yesterday and woke up late today. When she got up, Zhao Hai had already obtained the testimony.
Zhao Hai was waiting for Xuanyuan Ling to come down from the court to report the matter.
Originally, Zhao Hai thought that it would take some effort. After all, if the spice had already entered the palace, it would be difficult to find. However, he found it so quickly after following the line of thought. Later, after interrogating her, he found out that Concubine Shun might have suddenly thought of doing it.
While Zhao Hai was sighing at how brave Concubine Shun was, he was also thinking that it was a good thing that the matter was discovered early.
Otherwise, the charge that Concubine Xian has seduced the monarch would be confirmed. And if it weren't for the Emperor's favoritism, Concubine Xian would have dared to mention this matter to the Emperor. It would have been difficult for Concubine Xian to investigate it herself, and she would have had to swallow her anger.
After all, the Emperor would not allow anyone to use such dirty means to frame the virtuous concubine.
Zhao Hai was thinking at this moment, Concubine Shun might be doing this for Prince Huai. After all, she herself has been out of favor for so many years, so she wouldn't be trying to win favor. But to be honest, this method is dirty and ugly. If we really talk about methods, we have to look at Concubine Xian.
Zhao Hai has also been watching for many years. After all these years, is there anyone in the harem who wants to compete for favor and stand out and was suppressed by Concubine Xian herself?
Those petty quarrels don’t count, as they are not worthy of being mentioned in public. No one dares to act rashly because of the status of the Empress Dowager.
As for other things, such as if someone resorted to some tricks, then the virtuous concubine doesn't have to do it herself, doesn't she have to rely on the emperor?
This powerful woman doesn't have to deal with other women by herself. She just needs to have sex there, or even not at all, and the man will take care of all these things for her.
This harem, which should have been full of flowers, was turned into a place where only one flower stood out because of her. Not only was she the only one that stood out, but she also made the emperor look down on everyone else.
The Emperor, who is in good health and is clearly the most qualified man in the world to have countless women, has actually been guarding one woman for so many years. Zhao Hai has seen this over the years, and he has gone from being unable to believe it to now feeling a little emotional.
More than ten years have passed, but I wonder if the palace will still be in the same situation in the next ten years?
Zhao Hai thought about a lot of random things. When Xuanyuan Ling came out of the court, he immediately handed Xiao Mingzi's testimony to Xuanyuan Ling.
It was written in detail above that Concubine Shun wanted to take advantage of Lin Liangren's affair to catch Shen Qing off guard, and asked Concubine De to search the palace and find out the dirty things so that Shen Qing would have a hard time denying it.
As for why Mr. Lin happened to have an affair, now that the person is dead, it is impossible to find out whether it is true or false. It is hard to say, but it was found that the guard was not well-received in the palace. He was often excluded in the past and could not get any good jobs. His family situation was not good either. But before his death, his brother suddenly made a fortune. He said it was won in the casino. The details are hard to find, but given the circumstances, no one would believe that the affair was not arranged.
Xuanyuan Ling looked around and slammed the table in anger: "How dare you!"
He felt sorry for Shen Qing whenever he thought of it. He doted on her, and all these methods were aimed at her! But what did she do wrong?
It would be fine if the harem was fighting openly and secretly in the open, but they really had to use such despicable means, and this woman was the mother of his eldest son!
Xuanyuan Ling thought about King Huai when he came to this point. He had also met him at the morning court today. King Huai obviously didn't know about this, otherwise he wouldn't be so indifferent. It was Concubine Shun who acted on her own. What a fool. Was she trying to ruin her own son?
King Huai is innocent in this matter, but if it succeeds, it will ruin Shen Qing. If it fails and it is found out now, it may ruin King Huai if it becomes a big deal.
Thinking in this way, it would be a bad idea to send Concubine Shun to the cold palace.
Xuanyuan Ling said calmly, "No need to make it public. From today on, Concubine Shun is ill and should not see anyone. She does not need so many people to serve her, so as not to disturb her peace. Tell King Huai that there is no need to visit her in the future, so as not to pass on her illness." He paused and said, "You can handle it with the servants around you."
As soon as Zhao Hai heard it, he knew that the Emperor felt that Prince Huai was innocent so he was protecting him, but he hated Concubine Shun and didn't want to let the matter go. Although he didn't send Concubine Shun to the cold palace openly, in reality, Concubine Shun's own palace was now the same as the cold palace.
Not saying it openly and just saying that Concubine Shun was ill was to save face for King Huai.
Zhao Hai immediately went to do it.
Concubine Shun was already very frightened by this matter and was waiting for the result, when Zhao Hai arrived.
Looking at Zhao Hai, Concubine Shun couldn't even stand up straight. She was really scared and her mind was filled with fear.
Zhao Hai had received a clear explanation, so there was no need to be polite now. He exposed all the things that Concubine Shun had asked Xiao Mingzi to do in front of Concubine Shun, and then simply told Concubine Shun how the matter would proceed according to Xuanyuan Ling's wishes.
Concubine Shun's legs weakened when she heard Zhao Hai tell her exactly what she had done. After hearing the rest, she couldn't believe it: "How? How is it possible? What does the emperor mean by this?"
When Concubine Shun heard this, she thought the Emperor wanted her to die of illness, and her lips trembled with fear.
"Your Majesty has misunderstood." Zhao Hai didn't expect that Concubine Shun hadn't figured things out at this moment. If she really wanted you to die of illness, why would she come to tell you specifically?
At least for the sake of King Huai, your life was spared. That is to say, nothing really happened this time, and the Empress Consort Xian was not injured. If she had been injured, I'm afraid she would have died of illness.
Zhao Hai said: "The Emperor just said that the Queen is ill and needs to rest. From now on, the Queen will rest in the Palace of Prayer for Good Harvests."
Concubine Shun's legs went limp and she fell to the ground, no longer looking like a concubine at all. She finally understood what had happened. For a moment she thought that she would not die from the illness, and at another moment she wondered if she would have to stay in the Qinian Palace like this from now on.
Think about it, even though she is a concubine and the biological mother of Prince Huai, she has to stay in this huge Qinian Palace to recuperate? The emperor said that she is sick, so she has to stay here sick for the rest of her life! Until she dies?
Thinking of this, Concubine Shun almost suffocated. She was so scared that she burst into tears. "I want to see the emperor. Eunuch Zhao, please inform him for the sake of King Huai."
Zhao Hai listened and looked at Concubine Shun expressionlessly: "The Emperor has issued an edict, Your Majesty should know that the Emperor's words are as good as gold and jade."
Concubine Shun looked at Zhao Hai's expression with her mouth wide open, not knowing what to do. At this time, Nanny Wu was pulled out by Zhao Hai.
Nanny Wu had a premonition just now, and now she shouted: "Madam, help me! I don't want to die! Madam!"
Concubine Shun looked at Nanny Wu's panicked expression and then looked at Zhao Hai.
Zhao Hai said calmly: "Madame Wu is old and can leave the palace to retire."
This is also a high-sounding excuse. Since the emperor wants Concubine Shun to recuperate, then Nanny Wu can't be "executed", right? At least there has to be a nice name, right?
Concubine Shun stayed to recuperate for the sake of Prince Huai, so what do you think of this servant who knew about this and intervened in it?
Aunt Wu knew what Zhao Hai meant. She was so scared that she wet her pants. She was in her forties, but she cried like a child: "Madam, help me!"
But how could she keep screaming? Someone immediately blocked her mouth and took her out.
Zhao Hai handled this matter very neatly. He dealt with the people and dismissed the servants of the Qinian Palace. From now on, he would keep someone to deliver meals on time. As for the servants? They were gone anyway. As for the Qinian Palace, he left two people to guard the door and sealed it off.
Shen Qing was probably the first to get the news. After Zhao Hai came out of the imperial study, he sent someone to Zhaohua Palace to report how the emperor handled the matter. After listening to it, she was also surprised by Xuanyuan Ling's way of dealing with it.
In the end, Concubine Shun will probably be confined to the cold palace in the Qinian Palace until she dies of old age. Unless granted permission, Prince Huai will not be able to visit her in the future.
Chen Qing thought that the matter had come to an end, but Zhaohua Palace was in chaos for a while because of this matter.
Fortunately, there were no traitors in Zhaohua Palace. Shen Qing was quite relieved about this. It would be fine if there were no traitors, but it would be really heartbreaking if there were really traitors.
However, Wang Lu has implicated many people. After all, they have to be appeased and punished. Shen Qing thought: "Go get some medicine to treat the injuries of those who have been punished. Just say that they have merits and faults in this matter. This palace will not pursue it, but there will be no next time."
Chunhua immediately said, "I understand."
Soon, as the news of Zhao Hai sealing the palace came out, the news spread throughout the harem. There had been no peace the whole day yesterday, and then the poisoning of Concubine Xian made many people worry about the outcome of this matter. Now, the result came out: the Qinian Palace was sealed.
No one had expected this to happen. The Qinian Palace was closed on this day, saying it was for recuperation, but who couldn't see that?
So it was Concubine Shun who poisoned Concubine Xian?
This is why things in the palace cannot be spread outside. After all, it concerns the reputation of the royal family. The emperor did this and he did not intend to make this matter public, so no one dared to spread it. In fact, no one dared to spread it. What was there to spread? King Huai was still alive.
The emperor's move clearly showed that he did not want to implicate King Huai. If something really happened behind his back, would that be a good thing?
So everyone knew what was going on and kept their mouths shut.
King Huai naturally knew about this. He was originally calm and composed. He knew that Concubine Xian was poisoned, but he could never have imagined that this matter had anything to do with Concubine Shun!
Until this news came, King Huai was numb. He couldn't believe it. In his impression, Concubine Shun was not favored and kept to herself, and her mind was only on him. Could she really do such a thing? Was this for him?
After all, if she wasn't trying to win favor, it could only be for him, right? Otherwise, why would she harm Concubine Xian?
King Huai's heart was filled with mixed feelings. He complained, didn't believe it, and thought it was a pity that it all didn't happen. But then he felt relieved thinking that Xuanyuan Ling was protecting his face and would not give up on him.
Finally, he was troubled by another issue: should he go to his father and apologize?
After all, since his father only said that he was recuperating and didn't expose it openly, then he couldn't ask for forgiveness, right? But he couldn't pretend that he didn't know. In the end, he still entered the palace. No matter what, they were mother and son, so he had to show his attitude in front of his father.
Xuanyuan Ling also knew that King Huai would come, so he let him into the imperial study.
When King Huai saw Xuanyuan Ling, he was also afraid. After this incident, he didn't know what to say for a moment. He could only bow to Xuanyuan Ling and consider whether to apologize. But he could say something else: "Father, I heard that mother is ill. I want to know what serious illness mother has."
Xuanyuan Ling believed that King Huai understood, and now he also wanted him to know that he did not like such means: "There is solid evidence that your mother poisoned Concubine Xian. I ordered the Qinian Palace to be sealed. You have also seen what I said to the outside world. In the future, you don't have to see your mother unless it is necessary."
King Huai knew that the closure of the Palace of Prayer for Good Harvests must be related to the poisoning of Concubine Xian, but when Xuanyuan Ling said this in the middle of the day, he felt it was deafening. He kowtowed to Xuanyuan Ling and said, "Son, I apologize for my mother's crime."
Xuanyuan Ling looked at King Huai and said, "Go down."
After leaving the imperial study, King Huai looked at the sky and thought about what had just happened, and cold sweat broke out on his back.
He was scared just thinking about it. If his father had not protected him and this matter had spread out, he would have been really ruined. With a mother who poisoned others, he would have no chance at all in the future. But at least his father protected him, and this matter did not involve him. He was still the Prince Huai, but with an additional mother who was recuperating from an illness.
He thought about what his father had just said, that if it was not necessary, there was no need to see your mother. He did not dare to see her, nor did he want to see her. It was really ironic that his mother, besides forcing him, actually implicated him.
He took a deep breath and quickened his pace to leave the palace. On the way out of the palace, he saw the eunuch who had stayed in the palace and communicated with Chu Linglong coming over.
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