Chapter 271 Useless Stupidity
A room in the Ministry of Punishment was filled with the smell of blood. Xiangying was thrown on a pile of hay, covered in blood, dying.
Hu Qian walked in with a handkerchief covering his nose. Immediately, a young eunuch gently kicked Xiang Ying and said, "Don't play dead. Eunuch Hu has something to tell you."
Upon hearing this, Xiangying struggled to open her eyes a crack, then closed them again, uttering an imperceptible murmur, proving that she was still alive.
Hu Qian looked down at Xiang Ying and said indifferently, "When the Concubine Xian learned that you had conspired with Doctor Xu to plot against the Queen and Concubine Zhen under her name, she flew into a rage and denounced you, a lowly maid, for your vicious thoughts and unforgivable crimes. Do you have anything else to say?"
Xiang Ying couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth when she heard Hu Qian's words, and she gasped because it was too painful. She wanted to say something, but she didn't even have the strength to utter a single word.
From the moment she was taken away, she knew she was abandoned.
Are you angry?
Yes, but she didn't dare to throw the dirty water on Concubine Xian.
Even if Concubine Xian was implicated, she would not be able to escape death, but if she took the blame, at least Concubine Xian would save the lives of her entire family because of her loyalty.
It would be fine if she died, but she couldn't bring trouble to her family.
Hu Qian waited for a while, but seeing no response from Xiangying, he turned and left.
On the way back, Xiao Liangzi followed his master closely and couldn't help asking, "Master, the Queen wants Xiangying to see clearly how cruel the Concubine is so that she can pry some more words out of her mouth. Is that what she meant?"
Hu Qian turned his head and glanced at Xiao Liangzi, and said seriously: "Misfortune comes from the mouth, you know?"
Xiao Liangzi nodded: "Disciple understands, but I am really curious, is Xiangying really under the orders of Concubine Xian? If so, will the emperor just let it go?"
Hu Qian saw his disciple's puzzled look, looked around, and then whispered: "Even if the emperor suspects that Xiangying took the blame, then the matter ends here. It is not difficult to touch a virtuous concubine, but the difficult part is the consequences of forcibly investigating the matter. It would be best if it can prove that the virtuous concubine was guilty. If it cannot prove that the virtuous concubine was guilty, the former dynasty will definitely be shaken."
If Xiangying points out that it was Concubine Xian who instructed her to do so, the Emperor will investigate the matter thoroughly.
But judging from Xiangying's attitude, she doesn't have that intention. After a series of criminal laws were used, Xiangying confessed. You can't force her to put the blame on Concubine Xian. If the Queen insists on her own way and determines that Concubine Xian did it, she will inevitably be criticized for forcing Xiangying to confess, which will be counterproductive.
Xiao Liangzi nodded, not quite understanding.
"Anyway, no matter what, Concubine Xian suffered a heavy loss this time."
Being demoted from a concubine to a concubine, the difference is not small, but the Empress accused her of not governing her subordinates strictly and condoning evil slaves who bullied their masters, which is really hard to find fault with.
The decree that Concubine Xian was demoted to Concubine Xian quickly spread throughout the harem, making everyone's jaws drop in shock.
After hearing the contents of the imperial edict, many people shed tears of sympathy for Concubine Zhen.
Many people also sneered at her. They thought that Xiangying, a slave, could not accomplish anything. After such a big move by Concubine Xian, she was only demoted to a concubine. It was really too easy for her.
However, she had completely offended the Queen by doing this, and she didn't know how she would be dealt with in the future.
Even if it was her servant who planned all this on his own initiative, Concubine Xian cannot escape the blame. After all, the Queen is in charge of the harem, no matter how she punishes you, you should accept it, but you complained about the Queen to the maids, which is already a violation of your authority.
Cining Palace
The Queen Mother angrily threw the teacup in her hand, her wrinkled face full of anger: "This idiot can't even handle such a small matter, he is really useless."
Her personal nanny, Nanny Li, comforted her, "Queen Dowager, calm down. This time, the Queen was lucky to have discovered Doctor Xu's abnormality in advance. Next time, we will plan carefully and we will definitely not make any mistakes."
Nanny Li thought to herself, plotting against the emperor is not a small matter, then what is a big matter?
"The Queen didn't have much contact with the concubines in the harem in the past. She could only place people in Jingren Palace when she first entered the palace, but after she cleaned it up once, it was difficult to put people in. The entire Jingren Palace is as solid as an iron barrel wall, making it impossible for people to find loopholes. Now she finally has a chance to use Concubine Zhen, but it was ruined by Concubine Xian, this stupid disaster."
The Queen Mother disliked the Queen and had tried to trip her up in secret, but because the harem was under the control of the Queen, she could not reach into the Jingren Palace and could not deal a serious blow to Queen Song.
And because of the status of Duke Anguo in the court, the empress dowager could not do anything to the queen openly and could only use means in secret. The queen was now becoming more and more arrogant and disrespectful to her. In addition, when Chu Jinyan returned to the capital, the emperor intended to make him the crown prince, the empress dowager became more and more restless.
In her heart, she had always wanted Concubine Shu's son to inherit the throne.
The Queen has no son, and the Queen Mother is worried that the Song family will support Chu Jinyan, so she is even more eager to get rid of the Queen.
By then, even if the emperor did not make Concubine Shu the empress, the empress dowager could guarantee that the emperor would make Concubine Shu a noble concubine. Then, without a queen, Concubine Shu would be able to take charge of the harem. Even if another queen was appointed, Concubine Shu's position in the harem would be enough to crush the new queen...
Just a little bit...
If I had known this earlier, I would have exposed the fact that Concubine Zhen was faking her pregnancy!
The Queen Mother gritted her teeth in regret.
As for Concubine Xian who was severely punished, she didn't care. She was demoted to a concubine now, and sooner or later she would get her position back.
Moreover, as long as the queen is eliminated, the revenge of Concubine Xian can also be avenged.
Doctor Xu's lover was taken out of the palace by Lu Xiang. After dropping her off in a secluded alley, Lu Xiang warned her with a frosty face, "You should know what to do today, right?"
The woman nodded in fear and said, "I understand. Don't worry, young lady. I won't tell anyone a word."
The woman felt like she had been to the King of Hell and suddenly returned to the human world. She wished she had never had any relationship with Doctor Xu. How could she dare to talk about such things outside?
Lu Xiang let the people go and then took a carriage back to the Lu family.
The common people did not know the inside story. If this matter were to spread out, others would only focus on the fact that Concubine Zhen was faking her pregnancy, and they would be afraid that her reputation would be ruined.
I didn't expect Xiangying to be such a loyal and stubborn person. It's a pity that I couldn't testify against Xianbin.
However, after this incident, the Queen and Concubine Zhen will be on high alert. If the Queen holds a grudge against Concubine Xian, her life will not be easy in the future.
First, she stuffed the empress dowager's jade bracelet into her body in an attempt to frame her for stealing the empress dowager's tribute. Then she ordered Imperial Physician Xu to plot against the empress and Concubine Zhen. This seemingly gentle lady was so vicious and disgusting when she became cruel.
Lu Xiang closed his eyes and dozed off against the wall of the carriage, wondering if the Queen Mother was behind the plot against Concubine Zhen, in addition to Concubine Xian, the Queen Mother also had a hand in it.
After all, it was she who colluded with the Queen Mother to frame him.
Or is Concubine Shu also involved?
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