What she said casually made Leng Yu's face darken instantly.
He looked at Concubine Li and said with a serious expression:
"What does Imperial Concubine Li mean by that? If I colluded with the palace guards to commit fraud, then Imperial Concubine Li and I should have done so in advance. Otherwise, how would I have known that you would raise your concerns about the pot in front of your father today, on such an occasion?"
"I……"
Concubine Li was speechless after being asked by Leng Yu. Indeed, no one expected that she would doubt the pot, and even bring it up in front of so many people.
Therefore, Leng Yu had no time to arrange these things at all. It was useless to rely solely on Concubine Li's suspicion.
The emperor's face was somewhat gloomy. He looked at Liu Xi and ordered loudly:
"Liu Xi, go and call the guards on duty that day to confront them."
Liu Xi hurriedly bowed and replied:
"I understand. I'll go right away."
The emperor asked Liu Xi to send someone to find the guard who was guarding the gate that day. Others thought that he did not trust Leng Yu and was afraid that he would take advantage of this opportunity to collude with the guard.
Leng Yu, however, felt that his father was doing this to help him avoid suspicion, and he did not think there was anything wrong with it.
After Liu Xi left, the emperor ordered someone to go to Furong Palace to get the pot.
During the waiting period, the place became quiet for a while, and everyone held their breath and dared not make a sound.
Concubine Li and Concubine Li knelt before the emperor. The emperor did not let them get up, and they knelt there without daring to move.
About an incense stick's time had passed before Liu Xi hurried over with two guards.
After they entered the main hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, they lowered their heads and came before the emperor, kneeling on both knees. Liu Xi took two steps forward and explained:
"Your Majesty, they are the guards guarding the gate that day."
The emperor looked at the two men, frowned, pointed at the copper pot in front of them, and asked loudly:
"Did you see this thing three days ago?"
The two guards looked at the pot carefully, and one of them said:
"Your Majesty, I have seen it. That pot was brought into the palace by Princess Yu...Princess Yu."
When the guard said this, he trembled and did not dare to look at Leng Yu and Luo Lan.
He knew that since the emperor was checking the pot in front of so many people, there must be something wrong with it. He was afraid that he would say something wrong and offend Prince Yu, so he spoke very carefully.
The emperor looked at another guard.
"You saw it too?"
"Your Majesty, it was he who checked the pockets that Princess Yu brought into the palace that day. I didn't dare to check again, but I heard him mention it afterwards. Princess Yu brought a strange-looking pot and some dishes. I don't know what they were for."
Concubine Li looked back at the two of them and raised her voice to ask:
"You're talking nonsense! I sent people to the palace gate to inquire about this the past two days, but no one knew about it. Now you're saying you've seen it. You're lying. Tell me, are you being blackmailed into lying to the Emperor?"
One of them lowered his head and replied:
"To answer your Majesty, the day before yesterday, my father injured his leg while he was collecting herbs in the mountains. He was anxious to go back and take care of him, so he asked for leave from the gatekeeper."
"What about him?"
Another guard also lowered his head and replied:
"My father worked with his father. When he was rescuing his father, he injured his waist, so I took a leave of absence."
What a coincidence?
Concubine Li looked at them both with suspicion. "How could this be such a coincidence? Don't lie to the Emperor, or you'll be guilty of deceiving him."
When the two guards heard this, they kowtowed hurriedly.
"I dare not. Every word we say is true. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can send someone to my house to check and you will know the truth."
Liu Xi also shouted:
"Your Majesty, I can testify to this. When I went to look for them just now, the gatekeeper told me that something happened at home and they had asked for leave. They just came back to work today. This is not false."
this……
Seeing that Concubine Li was still unwilling to give in, Luo Lan laughed lightly.
"I'm really puzzled by Concubine Li's suspicions about this pot. It's just an ordinary copper pot. It doesn't have any mechanisms or sharp objects. It won't hurt anyone. It just allows people to eat a few more mouthfuls of delicious food. Yet you say that someone in the palace is talking behind your back, and that someone else is suspicious of this pot? I think those who are suspicious aren't doubting the pot itself, but rather that they can't stand the Emperor staying in Hibiscus Palace! By the way, Concubine Li, who in the palace is so blind as to dare to talk about this behind your back? Such a mouthful person deserves to have her mouth torn apart."
Hearing Luo Lan's words of defending her, Concubine Li suddenly raised the handkerchief in her hand, covered her face and began to cry, still saying in a wronged tone:
"Your Majesty, I couldn't eat a few days ago. Princess Yu felt sorry for me and sent me this pot. She also taught me how to make delicious food. Princess Yu was kind and wanted to help me whet my appetite. Your Majesty, you came here because of the smell, not because I flattered you. After hearing what Sister Li said today, I dare not let Your Majesty stay overnight in Hibiscus Palace anymore. This pot..."
Having said that, she looked at Luo Lan with tears in her eyes, pursed her lips and continued:
"Princess Yu, please take this pot back and destroy it yourself! I can only appreciate your kindness in my heart, but I dare not use it again, for fear that others will suspect me again..."
“No…”
As soon as Concubine Li finished speaking, before Luo Lan could reply, the Emperor raised his hand impatiently to stop her:
"Since it is Princess Yu's good intention, why should my beloved concubine refuse? Besides, I also like this taste. Keep it and make it for me later."
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