Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Concubine Shu's Fourteenth Day
"Send me back to Chengqian Palace, call the imperial physician, and report this matter to the emperor and empress. Ask them to investigate thoroughly." Shen Qing calmly instructed Bai Tao and turned his gaze towards her, which made him feel a little relieved.
She couldn't be frightened now, otherwise she would fall into a trap. Someone poured oil on the palace road and deliberately led her to take this road.
The most taboo thing for pregnant women is to be overly frightened.
But how dare they? How dare they attack the second prince’s biological mother?
Moreover, although He Cairen was in the company of Concubine Xian, the person who really stood behind her was the Empress. She should have been the most reliable person in the harem, but she died inexplicably today.
Bai Tao said calmly, "Your Highness, please get on the sedan first. The palace maids can run fast."
She glanced at Wenxi, and Wenxi immediately took people to stay and prevent anyone from destroying He Cairen's body, and to search for any suspicious people nearby.
Baiying did not come today and stayed in Chengqian Palace.
There were three other groups of palace maids, one returning to Kunning Palace, one going to Qianqing Palace to report, and one rushing to summon the imperial physician.
Shen Qing got on the sedan chair and calmed down several times, but when he closed his eyes, he could still see the scene of He Cairen's death. Today, the road back to Chengqian Palace was particularly long. It seemed that he would never get there no matter how hard he walked, even though the eunuch had sped up.
This was the first time she had seen a dead person directly. Before, she had only felt sad, but now that she saw it unexpectedly, she was frightened and then angry.
She must find out who it is that has done this over and over again.
When they arrived at the gate of Chengqian Palace, Baiying came out to greet them. She saw that Shen Qing's face looked not right, and then looked at Bai Tao, knowing that something had happened. She hurriedly helped the empress in, took off her hairpins and rings, and let the empress lie quietly on the bed.
After a while, the emperor and empress arrived.
The imperial physician was taking Shen Qing's pulse and asking him a few detailed questions.
When he saw the emperor and empress, he stood up and said, "Your humble servant greets the emperor and empress."
The Queen followed up with, "No need to be polite, how about Concubine Shu?"
The imperial physician said, "The Concubine Shu was frightened and her pregnancy is unstable, but fortunately she is in good health and has survived the first three months. She should be fine after drinking a bowl of pregnancy-stabilizing medicine and recuperating for a while."
Shen Qing had just learned about this from the imperial physician, so his reaction was indifferent.
Ji Chen calmed down a little, sat down beside the bed, and held Shen Qing's hand: "Thank you for your hard work."
Shen Qing was thinking about another thing. She held Ji Chen's hand and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, if the matter of He Cairen is not clear, I will not feel at ease."
She just asked Baiying, and Baiying told her that He Cairen often went to Su Fangting's place in the past half month. Since there was nothing suspicious about his behavior, they would only check after He Cairen left.
But it rained last night, with strong winds and rain, and they had no idea when He Cairen appeared there.
There was a curfew in the palace at night and the palace gates were locked, so they couldn't keep an eye on Su Fantine.
Shen Qing was thinking that He Cairen did not go to Kunning Palace to pay her respects in the morning, nor did she ask for leave.
The Queen asked Concubine Xian, who said that she had not walked with He Cairen for the past few days and looked very impatient. As it was true, the Queen said no more and sent someone to look for He Cairen.
I'm afraid I couldn't find her at He Cairen's residence.
No wonder no one reported back when they were in Kunning Palace. But He Cairen was actually the Queen's person. Before He Cairen arrived, the Queen did not bring up the matter again or reprimand He Cairen, and just let it go.
If something happened to Concubine He last night, a palace servant should have reported it long ago, which means that something unexpected happened on the way to pay respects.
However, when He Cairen came to pay her respects, she often brought a palace maid named Yingchun with her. Perhaps we could find some clues by finding Yingchun.
She also told Ji Chen this sentence.
Ji Chen comforted Shen Qing and hugged her in his arms: "I have already ordered the coroner to examine He Cairen's body. The result will be out soon. Her maid Yingchun is still alive. Qian Quanzhong just reported that he saved a maid who was thrown into a well. A eunuch recognized her. She has been sent to the Imperial Hospital. When she wakes up, someone will ask her about He Cairen."
"I will have someone fill up that lake later, as long as I am here."
Ji Chen was extremely angry, but he still handled the matter in an orderly manner.
[He repeatedly disregarded the lives of his concubines, which shows that he has sinister intentions and bad intentions. Once he is found, his family should also be executed.]
Shen Qing understood that Ji Chen was combining the last event with this one.
Regardless of whether this person today was involved in the last incident or not, if the emperor thinks he was, then he was.
Ji Chen turned his head and looked at the Queen: "Where are Consort Xian and Consort De?"
The Queen said, "I have already sent someone to invite all the concubines. I am afraid it will take some time to get to Chengqian Palace."
If the Emperor had not been here, she would have been very embarrassed. She thought that He Cairen was useful, but He Cairen died inexplicably and scared Concubine Shu.
If the person behind the scenes implicates her in secret contact with He Cairen, it would be difficult for her to clear her name.
Concubine De, Concubine Xian, and Lan Xiurong walked into the palace together and bowed to the Emperor, Empress, and Concubine Shu.
Lan Xiurong looked at Shen Qing worriedly.
She asked, "Is there anything wrong with the Concubine Shu's health? Is the baby in her belly safe?"
The imperial physician answered from the side.
When Concubine De and Concubine Xian heard the imperial physician say that Concubine Shu and the fetus in her womb were fine, they all felt regretful.
Since the moment Concubine Xian heard about Concubine He's death, she had been frowning, feeling it was unlucky that he died in front of Concubine Shu instead of earlier or later. Wasn't this a trap for her?
Concubine Xian took a deep breath and suppressed her dissatisfaction: "Your Majesty, He Cairen is always on good terms with me. Those who are trying to harm He Cairen and intimidate Concubine Shu don't take me seriously at all. You must stand up for me!"
Lan Xiurong said coldly, "My Lady Consort Xian, He Cairen was the closest to you in the past, why didn't He Cairen come with you to pay respects to you at Kunning Palace these days?"
Ji Chen looked towards Concubine Xian.
The virtuous concubine shook her handkerchief and said angrily, "The relationship between He Cairen and the Second Prince is no secret, so I will not hide it. He Cairen is not doing her duty and is used to doting on the Second Prince, causing me and the Second Prince to become distant. I am annoyed with her, so why should I go with her?"
"If the emperor doesn't believe me, you can go ask the empress dowager. I have expressed my dislike for He Cairen more than once during the few times I have visited her."
Concubine De frowned and looked at Concubine Xian: "Concubine Xian doesn't like Concubine He...it's possible that she will take action to get rid of Concubine He."
Xian Fei was shocked and retorted: "No matter how much I dislike He Cairen, I will not use such means. She is in my hands, what can't I do?"
"It is better for you to suspect me after you have evidence, Concubine De."
Concubine De sighed, looked at the emperor, and said frankly: "There is one thing I don't know whether I should tell the emperor, but now, I am afraid that only by telling it can we find the real murderer who killed He Cairen. I dare not not report it."
Ji Chen raised his eyes and motioned for her to continue.
Concubine De: "The eunuchs in my palace once saw Yingchun, who was beside He Cairen, and Qinggu, who was in the Queen's palace, communicating privately. So I paid attention to this matter and found that they met privately every month. Because it involves the Queen, I dare not make it public."
She originally wanted to keep this matter to incite Concubine Xian to rebel and overthrow the Queen.
But now it seems better to muddy the waters.
She had noticed the Queen's series of actions, but she couldn't understand why the Queen was willing to target her for Concubine Shu. Therefore, she had not acted rashly in the past few months, for fear of falling into the Queen's hands.
The virtuous concubine is too stupid and there is no one around her who can help her. No matter how she explains, she will be isolated and helpless. In order to prevent the virtuous concubine from biting her, it is safest for the queen to stand in front.
Concubine De lowered her eyes. The Queen usually looked hypocritical, but her mind was truly unfathomable.
He actually took control of the virtuous concubine without making any noise.
Unfortunately, I missed the mark by one step.
Shen Qing's gaze wandered between the Queen and Concubine Xian, and saw that the Queen's face turned ugly for a moment, and her eyes were gloomy. After a moment, she closed her eyes slightly to hide the expression in her eyes.
The virtuous concubine understood immediately, and her thoughts were shown on her face.
She looked at the queen, her eyes darkened: "Now it seems that I really don't know He Cairen. If you want to ask questions, you should ask the queen."
"However." Concubine Xian changed the subject and looked at Concubine De. "Concubine De knows this matter so clearly. Maybe Concubine De also knows something about how He Cairen died. Why don't you ask Concubine De in detail? Maybe you can get some clues."
Shen Qing was stunned. She had thought that Concubine Xian would have a complicated relationship with the Queen, but she didn't expect that she still hadn't forgotten Concubine De.
What a deep friendship this is.
Concubine Xian felt Shen Qing's gaze and felt extremely disgusted. Was she such a fool that she couldn't see Concubine De's intention?
However, the Emperor only favors Concubine Shu, and the Second Prince is neither the eldest nor the legitimate son. He is not smart, timid in front of others, and bullies the palace maids behind their backs. Only a talented person like He can dote on him.
Seeing that there is no hope for the future, why is she still bothering to plan and plot?
For the Yan family?
The Yan family already has a queen mother, so they have no need for her.
She only needed to rely on the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to do whatever she wanted in the palace, and she no longer needed to pretend to be nice to them. She gradually got used to speaking her mind and was unwilling to think too much about the meaning.
Even when talking to Concubine Shu, she didn't need to be cautious with her words, because she could never win the argument with Concubine Shu.
The Shufei's rank was higher than hers, which was really unpleasant to think about. But since the Shufei was higher than the Defei, the Xianfei didn't find it so difficult to accept.
Xian Fei was deeply afraid of De Fei and always felt that she was unfathomable. When the Second Prince fell ill, it was reasonable for her to take action against De Fei. However, De Fei lived deep in Yongshou Palace and the servants there were like mutes, not saying a word once they left the palace. She could not find any opportunity and could only find trouble with De Fei when she paid her respects.
She put aside her previous intention to deal with Concubine De for the time being, but she did not forget how she dealt with the Second Prince.
Cats and dogs develop feelings for each other after being raised for a long time, let alone humans. Therefore, knowing that He Cairen had a deep motherly love for the Second Prince, she simply distanced herself from He Cairen.
What she hated the most was Concubine De.
If He Cairen was the Queen's person, then the Queen knew everything she had done before. No wonder she disliked her so much.
The virtuous concubine found it very interesting. When it comes to resentment, the queen should blame her more.
Seeing this, Shen Qing looked thoughtful.
The Queen said, "To be honest with you, Your Majesty, He Cairen is my mistress. I bribed her to keep an eye on Concubine Xian. Because of some past events...I am not confident about Concubine Xian."
Concubine Xian: “…”
Concubine De looked at Concubine Xian inquiringly.
Concubine Xian rolled her eyes silently. How could Concubine De not know that the Queen was pregnant? She was confined to the Queen Mother's place until the Queen gave birth.
Why is Concubine De pretending not to understand?
The virtuous concubine said: "He Cairen has a connection with both me and the queen, but Your Majesty can interrogate my palace maids, not the two of us. Then who in this palace is most likely to do it..."
Concubine De said nothing.
Shen Qing said, "I have always seen Concubine De rely on the palace maid Shi Liu, why haven't I seen Shi Liu in the past few months?"
Defei looked at Shen Qing with sharp eyes, but was blocked by Ji Chen.
Ji Chen fed her the abortion-preserving medicine he had just prepared: "Don't worry, I have a plan."
Ever since the last incident with Concubine Lin, he had placed spies around the Empress, Concubine De and Concubine Xian. If it was done by the three of them, he would have known about it in advance.
But He Cairen still died, which means that even the Empress, Consort De and Consort Xian didn't know who did it.
Since it has nothing to do with these three people, there must be mistakes in the action. Once the evidence is presented, everything will be clear.
Shen Qing met Ji Chen's gaze, lowered his head and drank the medicine.
Concubine De said calmly, "Shi Liu has committed a crime, so I asked her to stay in Yongshou Palace to serve. I'm afraid I will disappoint Concubine Shu this time."
Shen Qing replied softly: "I don't understand what Concubine De meant."
Ji Chen took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat beads on Shen Qing's forehead after he drank the hot medicine. This action suppressed Concubine De's words.
At this time, Qian Quanzhong and Qian Ji came in and reported: "Your Majesty, Yingchun has woken up. She told me that she was knocked unconscious on the way to pay respects to He Cairen. Because there was only one thief, they dealt with He Cairen before dealing with her. As a result, her whereabouts were exposed and she luckily saved her life."
"According to Ying Chun, the thief is a thin woman who knows martial arts. Her hands are very strong, but there is a very obvious red mole on her wrist."
Defei blinked her eyes and slightly turned her body. Everyone was concentrating on listening to what Qian Ji said and did not notice.
Ji Chen interrupted, "Go to the side hall and tell her that Concubine Shu needs to rest."
[When there are too many people, the air is mixed together, which is not good for health. 】
Everyone retreated to the side hall. Ji Chen was about to leave. Shen Qing patted the back of his hand and turned over to lie down.
She's suffered so much, and now that you have evidence you want to bypass her?
Ji Chen said in a good-tempered manner: "I have asked someone to copy down everything that was said and done outside and show it to you."
Shen Qing then lay down, raised his chin slightly, and signaled that he could leave.
Ji Chen rubbed her cheek with his hand, and his depressed mood was much better because of the soft touch. Before leaving, he said: "I will severely punish the murderer."
The harem is not a place where anyone can come and go freely and do whatever they want.
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