Chapter 266: Inquiring for Information
Emperor Chengde glanced at Chu Jinyan and said with a smile: "Then do as you say, come here..."
Hu Qian, who was waiting at the door, heard Emperor Chengde calling him and hurried in: "Your servant is here."
"Send Doctor Xu to the Ministry of Justice and have him interrogated thoroughly. If he can survive, I will release him." Emperor Chengde ordered.
Hu Qian had heard everything clearly outside the door just now, so he didn't ask any more questions this time. He just answered and went about his business.
After being frightened, Concubine Zhen gradually came to her senses.
The Ministry of Punishment was the place where palace maids were punished. Although torture was also used, it could not be compared with the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple. Doctor Xu could still keep his mouth shut at this moment, but it would be strange if he could withstand the Ministry of Justice, a place where life is worse than death.
As long as Doctor Xu admitted it, she would be innocent.
"Princess Zhen, get up." Emperor Chengde glanced at the trembling concubine Zhen calmly and said.
Before the truth came out, he might not think that Concubine Zhen was innocent.
Concubine Zhen stood up timidly: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
There was no emotion on the emperor's face, which made Concubine Zhen feel very nervous.
Hu Qian went to the Ministry of Punishment in person and took Doctor Xu to the Ministry of Justice. He did not leave and just waited there.
The jailers respectfully asked him to sit down in a clean room and drink tea.
"Please sit down for a moment, sir. We will interrogate you immediately."
"Yeah." Hu Qian sat down.
The jailer bowed and retreated.
The small room had poor soundproofing, and Hu Qian could clearly hear the screams outside while sitting inside.
There are many serious criminals in the Ministry of Justice. Sometimes extraordinary measures have to be used to get them to sign and seal. In such cases, some people may confess under torture.
Doctor Xu’s screams mixed in with those of the crowd.
Hu Qian was not in a hurry. He just drank his tea and waited quietly.
Anyway, he went back and would have to come again when the results came out.
If it was quiet when Doctor Xu was taken to the Ministry of Punishment, then it was high-profile when Hu Qian took him from the Ministry of Punishment to the Ministry of Justice. In just a moment, many concubines got the news. When they heard that the Emperor was in Jingren Palace, the women with a keen sense of smell immediately smelled something unusual, so some of them went to Jingren Palace.
The first to arrive was Concubine Shu.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Emperor and the Empress." Concubine Shuying bowed and saluted to the Emperor and Empress.
Lu Xiang and Concubine Zhen stood up and saluted Concubine Shu.
Emperor Chengde's expression softened a little when he saw Concubine Shu. Although he did not love Concubine Shu, after all, she had followed him since he was still a prince, so there was always some affection between them.
"Excuse me, why are you here?"
Concubine Shu stood up and looked at Emperor Chengde with a faint smile: "I heard that General Manager Hu took Doctor Xu to the Ministry of Justice. It seems that he has committed some serious crime?"
Emperor Chengde was about to speak, but Empress Song interrupted him first: "Shufei is well-informed. Since you are here, just sit down and wait together. We will know what crime Doctor Xu has committed in a short while."
Her face was slightly gloomy, showing the majesty of a queen.
"Your Majesty..." Concubine Shu looked at Emperor Chengde and called.
The meaning was obvious, and she wanted to hear it.
Emperor Chengde didn't want to offend the queen, so he coughed and said, "Sit down. It's not good to jump to conclusions before the matter is fully investigated."
Concubine Shu was so angry that she choked and sat down unwillingly where the emperor was.
Sitting next to her was Concubine Zhen.
Concubine Shu looked at her pale face, raised her eyebrows slightly with a hint of sneer: "What's wrong with Concubine Zhen? You look so ugly."
Among so many people present, Concubine Zhen's face looked the most abnormal.
Could it be that this incident has something to do with her?
Concubine Zhen gave Concubine Shu a weak smile and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine."
Concubine Shu sneered, withdrew her gaze and asked no more questions.
Who cares about her?
Not long after I sat down, I saw Concubine Xian and Concubine Yi coming together.
After the two of them exchanged greetings, Queen Song asked, "Did Concubine Xian and Concubine Yi also come here after hearing about Imperial Physician Xu?"
Concubine Yi took two steps towards Queen Song holding her handkerchief and said, "Yes, there are all kinds of rumors in the palace. I am curious, so I came to your place to find out what is going on."
Queen Song said, "If you two sisters are alright, why don't you sit down and wait for news together."
Concubine Yi sat down next to Lu Xiang.
Concubine Xian sat next to Concubine Yi. Her expression was as gentle as ever, but deep in her eyes, where no one could see, there was a surge of uneasy emotions.
Doctor Xu was suddenly arrested and tortured, so it was hard for Concubine Xian not to think of other things.
Looking at the pale-faced Concubine Zhen opposite him, he felt even more nervous.
But the queen showed no intention of explaining.
Following the three concubines, several imperial concubines and noble ladies came one after another. Needless to say, they all came to inquire about the news.
Queen Song did not chase them away. She asked them to sit down after they finished their greetings.
The maids hurriedly served tea.
Queen Song looked at the group of women sitting below and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. In the past, she had never seen them come to Jingren Palace except for the necessary greetings, but today they gathered together because of a doctor named Xu.
Looking at these nobles casting affectionate glances at the emperor, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.
The intention to gather information was false; the intention to ask for favor from the emperor was real.
But unfortunately, the emperor just drank tea from the cup, paying no attention to anyone else, and only occasionally spoke a few words to the empress or concubine.
After waiting for half an hour, Concubine Shu became a little impatient.
She looked at Queen Song and said, "Your Majesty, you don't say anything, but you can't just let us wait."
Queen Song drank her tea slowly, looked at Concubine Shu with her dark eyes, and said nonchalantly: "If you don't want to wait, you can leave. I am not keeping you here."
It's really funny that you were the one who came here to inquire about the news.
Did I ask you to come?
Concubine Shu was choked by Queen Song, and she was so angry that she glared at Emperor Chengde with a look of grievance.
"If you have something to do, please go back first. I will send someone to invite you when Hu Qian comes back." Emperor Chengde said.
Since the matter concerned Concubine Zhen, Emperor Chengde never thought of hiding it from anyone. After all, if Concubine Zhen was really wronged, there would be only a handful of people in the harem who dared to do such a thing.
When Concubine Shu saw that Emperor Chengde not only did not help her but instead followed the Queen's wishes, she gnashed her teeth in her heart.
But she smiled gently and said, "I have nothing to do. I am not afraid that the emperor will suffer from waiting."
Concubine Yi then sneered: "Ha..."
When Concubine Shu heard this, she glared at Concubine Yi like a cat whose tail was stepped on: "Concubine Yi, what are you laughing at?"
Concubine Yi glanced at Concubine Shu lazily and said, "Concubine Shu is really so arrogant. Are you going to take over the Empress's charge of me?"
Don't you see whose palace this is in?
Concubine Shu was startled, her face turned pale and blue: "What nonsense are you talking about."
Even though she didn't take the Queen seriously, the Emperor was still here, and Concubine Yi's words clearly accused her of disrespect.
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