He was lost in thought, tapping the small table on the couch with one hand.
It seems difficult to detect the poisoning of the imperial concubine, but there is a way.
No matter who you are, there will always be flaws in what you do.
The Queen Mother did not respond to Jun Zechen's words immediately. Instead, she seemed to suddenly remember something and asked, "I remember that today is Concubine Chun Shu's birthday?"
"Yes, I had planned to spend my birthday with Concubine Chun Shu today. After all, the late emperor had passed away not long ago, so birthday banquets and the like were waived. But today, the imperial concubine was poisoned, so I broke my promise to her."
A trace of guilt flashed across Jun Zechen's face, and his eyes were a little dim.
When the Queen Mother heard this, a strange look flashed in her eyes and her eyelashes drooped slightly, making it difficult to tell what she was thinking at the moment.
"Is the imperial concubine in good health now?" the Queen Mother asked again softly.
"After taking the antidote, the imperial concubine is now fine," Jun Zechen replied.
"Then will the Emperor be accompanying Concubine Chunshu tonight?"
The Queen Mother asked casually, her expression still calm, but there seemed to be a different deep meaning in her eyes.
"Of course, I have asked Fuquan to inform Concubine Chunshu. I will go to see her later." Jun Zechen answered without hesitation.
The Queen Mother looked at his determination and felt a little helpless. Her son was good in every way except that he couldn't understand women.
No, it’s not that I can’t understand women, but I’m no longer suspicious of women I’ve entrusted my trust to, but I have a keen eye for other women.
The Queen Mother shook her head slightly, with a hint of helplessness.
Then I chatted with the emperor for a while.
Not long after, Anshun walked in and immediately bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, I pay my respects to you."
"Get up, have you checked it out?"
Jun Zechen stared at Anshun, his face remained calm, but there was a hint of urgency in his voice.
"Your Majesty, Qin'er, a maid in charge of food in the Imperial Concubine's palace, said that the Imperial Concubine's food today was touched by a maid named Guo'er. At the time, Qin'er thought it was accidental and didn't take it seriously."
"I just remembered it after I questioned you."
"Then I searched Guo'er's room and found An Zhaorong's pearl earrings. These pearl earrings were part of An Zhaorong's dowry."
Anshun paused slightly when he said this.
How could the dowry be given to just a palace maid?
He continued, "I have looked at the records of An Zhaorong taking medicine in the Imperial Hospital in recent months and found that An Zhaorong also took Aconitum when she was in the Eastern Palace, but I heard that it was given to a palace maid with rheumatism."
"I have not yet gone to An Zhaorong's palace to explain this matter. I have come to report to Your Majesty. Do you need me to interrogate the people in An Zhaorong's palace?"
Jun Zechen's eyes were filled with anger and disgust.
"It's her again. Since she entered the East Palace, she has framed the Imperial Concubine many times. This time she even poisoned her directly. How can such a scheming and vicious woman be worthy of being a Imperial Concubine?"
His tone was particularly cold, as if it carried the chill of the twelfth lunar month.
When the Queen Mother heard this, her brows suddenly frowned.
"Emperor, everything must be based on evidence. There is no evidence to prove that An Zhaorong framed the imperial concubine. Could it be that the emperor is blaming me for being unfair and slandering the imperial concubine?"
"Although the evidence now points to An Zhaorong as the cause of the imperial concubine's poisoning, the emperor cannot convict her so easily."
The Queen Mother looked serious, staring at Jun Zechen and spoke solemnly.
Jun Zechen knew that his mother had been in charge of the harem for many years and had always been fair and impartial in handling matters between concubines.
But for Jun Zechen, his time is precious.
In his mind, the Imperial Concubine and An Zhaorong had always been at odds with each other. Since all the evidence pointed to An Zhaorong, he could convict An Zhaorong. This would not only punish An Zhaorong and make the Imperial Concubine feel better, but he would also not have to waste his time and manpower.
Why not?
In the entire palace, the only people he would bother to find out the truth about are Ling Yue and Yao Yao. As for the others, they can just do it themselves.
"Mother, the affairs of the harem are full of truth and falsehood. Even if I am the emperor, I cannot find out everything. But the harem is my harem, and how to punish it is up to me."
Jun Zechen's eyes were firm and his tone was filled with unquestionable majesty.
It would not be difficult to convict An Zhaorong of this crime. It would only take him one word, and no one would be able to find any fault with it.
If he wanted to continue investigating, it would only take him a word, but why would he need to do that?
There was a complex look in the Queen Mother's eyes, and a hint of emotion in her expression.
His son is becoming more and more like the late emperor. He is autocratic and unquestionable. Is this what an emperor thinks?
It is no wonder that the concubines in the harem spared no effort to fight for favor, because without favor, they would not even have a chance to seek justice.
"I plan to let Concubine Chun Shu investigate the matter of An Zhaorong. The emperor is busy with government affairs, so please don't interfere in the affairs of the harem."
The empress dowager's expression seemed extremely serious. She looked at the emperor firmly and then spoke slowly.
"If Concubine Chun Shu cannot prove An Zhaorong's innocence within three days, An Zhaorong will be at the disposal of the Emperor."
Ever since the Emperor bestowed a unique title on Concubine Chunshu, the Empress Dowager had a vague suspicion in her heart that Concubine Chunshu might have already won the Emperor's heart.
When I heard him say today that he would spend Concubine Chunshu's birthday with her, I became more certain of this guess in my mind.
Letting Concubine Chunshu investigate this matter is undoubtedly the best choice, which can just shut the emperor up.
You can also test Concubine Chun Shu. The Queen Mother is somewhat curious about how Concubine Chun Shu will handle this matter.
Jun Zechen showed dissatisfaction on his face, "Mother..."
Before he could finish, the Queen Mother interrupted him.
"Does the Emperor not trust Concubine Chunshu?" the Empress Dowager asked sharply, with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.
Jun Zechen pursed his lips and remained silent.
Yaoyao is kind and fair, and the Su family has taught her so well and she is extremely intelligent, so he naturally believes in her.
After a while, seeing that his mother was so determined and insistent, Jun Zechen had no choice but to agree.
It's just a matter of waiting a few days.
By the time Jun Zechen left the Cining Palace, it was already completely dark.
"Your Majesty, where are you going now?"
Fuquan asked softly. After Anshun reported the matter, he continued to deal with other things. At this time, it was Fuquan who followed Jun Zechen.
"Go to Zhaochun Palace."
After Jun Zechen finished speaking, he stepped directly into the imperial carriage.
Then Fuquan shouted in a shrill voice: "Your Majesty, please go to Zhaochun Palace——"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
