Chapter 75 Final Punishment

During this half month, with the strong assistance of Aunt Jinhua, An Shun successively reviewed many concubines in the palace.

Even though the concubines held many grievances in their hearts, they had no choice but to cooperate with His Majesty's investigation under His Majesty's unquestionable order and the Queen Mother's tacit approval, even though she didn't say it explicitly.

After all, Concubine Chun Shu lost her unborn royal heir because of this incident.

This time, His Majesty made such a big fuss that he even demoted Concubine Gui to Concubine for Concubine Chunshu, imposed house arrest on her, and even took back her right to assist in managing the six palaces.

By now, it has become completely clear among the newcomers that His Majesty's most favored concubine is undoubtedly Concubine Chunshu.

Sojung Palace.

Miao Yun was filled with joy, and walked briskly into the hall, saying excitedly: "Master, His Majesty and the Queen Mother have finally come to a conclusion on your case!"

Miaoyun's eyes flashed with a smile that she couldn't hide.

"Master, during the interrogation of the concubines this time, Eunuch Anshun made a lot of ridiculous jokes."

"I heard that An Shun initially found out that Lin Ronghua arranged for a palace maid to knock down another palace maid after the performance at the Queen Mother's banquet, but in the end, it was found out that it was Concubine Chu who deliberately framed her."

Having said this, Miaoyun shook her head slightly.

"Now, the relationship between Miss Chu and Lin Ronghua, who had always been close since she entered the palace, has been completely torn apart."

Su Jingyao raised her eyebrows slightly, with a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"Why is Miss Chu so sure that she will hurt me?"

"It was on the day of the Queen Mother's banquet that Lady Chu saw the rash on your body and guessed that you had come into contact with the juice of the red cinnabar. After all, our people had revealed this to Lady Chu."

Miaoyun spoke slowly, nodding slightly as she spoke.

"Then Miss Chu wanted to take advantage of the situation and tried to use you to ruin the concubine's birthday banquet."

"If you had lost control and had a fit at the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, Concubine Chu would not have taken action, but you kept forcing yourself to hold it back, so Concubine Chu sent a palace maid to expose the fact that you had skin poisoning."

"This ruined the birthday banquet that the noble concubine was holding for the queen mother, and also took the opportunity to frame Lin Ronghua for this matter. This is really a brilliant plan, killing two birds with one stone."

However, when Miaoyun said this, a look of doubt involuntarily appeared on her face.

Thinking about it, she asked, "But I really don't understand why a little beauty would risk her life to frame the imperial concubine?"

Su Jingyao laughed softly.

"Miaoyun, sometimes the Imperial Concubine does not think straight. When she gave these noble ladies such low positions, she should have expected that these ladies would naturally resent her after entering the palace."

Having said that, Su Jingyao suddenly frowned slightly again, as if something was wrong?

If Lady Chu had been paying close attention to her that day, she would have noticed the rash under her palace dress.

Maybe she also noticed that she kept covering her belly from time to time. Could it be that Miss Chu guessed that she was pregnant?

So this is not killing two birds with one stone but killing three birds with one stone.

If she was really pregnant, not only could she strike back at the Imperial Concubine and frame Lin Ronghua, she could also make her lose the child.

After all, she and Miss Chu also have a grudge against each other.

When Concubine Chu and Concubine Shangguan had a dispute, she helped Concubine Shangguan and even sent Concubine Chu's personal maid to the Ministry of Punishment for a period of time. I think the maid must have suffered a lot.

Su Jingyao gave a disdainful smile.

What goes on in the harem is real and imaginary, true and false, so why bother to get to the bottom of it?

Her biggest target in this incident was Ling Yue, so it didn't matter even if Jun Zechen didn't find out other things.

The more muddy the matter is, the better it is for her.

As for the other concubines who took advantage of this incident, she would deal with them one by one later.

A hint of ruthlessness suddenly flashed across Su Jingyao's eyes, disappearing in an instant like a flash of lightning.

Soon, her eyes returned to calmness and she asked.

"Where was Lady Chu punished?"

When Miaoyun heard this, the expression on her face became a little unnatural.

After a pause, he said, "At first, Your Majesty was going to banish Concubine Chu to the cold palace, but he didn't expect that Concubine Chu would be pregnant!"

"Oh, you're lucky." Su Jingyao's lips curled up with a hint of sarcasm.

"So Miss Chu was just imprisoned in the Yutang Palace." Miaoyun continued.

"Well, what about the matter of my palace embroidery being stained with amaryllis?" Su Jingyao asked casually.

"Master, Zhudinghong is indeed very rare. Even the imperial physician could not determine what the liquid on the palace dress was. However, I secretly asked someone to remind An Shun, and An Shun then suspected that it was Zhudinghong."

Miaoyun spoke softly, frowning slightly as she spoke.

"Afterwards, An Shun's investigation went more smoothly. This matter involved Shen Ronghua, but the funny thing is that this matter also involved Lin Ronghua."

"But I don't know what happened in the end. Anshun and Jinhua still convicted Shen Ronghua. Shen Ronghua has now been demoted to a concubine and has moved from the side hall of Yufu Palace to a small pavilion in a more remote area."

Miaoyun said this slowly, but she was thinking in her heart, how come Lin Ronghua was framed by both sides? Is it because she is more favored among the newcomers and therefore easily framed?

"Yeah." Su Jingyao nodded lightly.

This Lin Ronghua must be no simple person, how could he escape unscathed?

Ye Ronghua was not dragged into this at all. The new group of newcomers were truly full of hidden talents.

The sunlight outside seemed to be slowly pulled back by an invisible hand, gradually dimming.

Then, the gorgeous sunset light, like brocade, gradually and softly enveloped the entire imperial city.

Su Jingyao lazily lay on the beauty couch, her body facing the poetic and picturesque sunset outside the window.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, and brilliant colors were reflected in her eyes. The beautiful scenery made her involuntarily ignore the filth hidden in the dark in the harem.

Miaoyue walked over lightly, holding a bowl of Ajiao soup steadily in her hands, with a concerned look on her face.

"Master, you have no appetite tonight and don't want to have dinner. I specially made you a bowl of donkey-hide gelatin soup. You should eat something to fill your stomach."

"Well, give it to me."

Su Jingyao's voice was very gentle. Although she didn't feel hungry at this moment, she really didn't want to refuse Miaoyue's kindness.

Su Jingyao stretched out her slender jade hand, took the bowl of donkey-hide gelatin soup, then slowly picked up the bowl, tilted her head slightly, and drank it in small sips.

Miao Yue on the side continued, "Master, Lin Ronghua was not only framed by Lady Chu, but also by Shen Ronghua. It is said that she was quite frightened and even went to invite the imperial physician today."

As she spoke, she carefully watched her master's expression.

"And His Majesty also went to Liushuang Pavilion to visit."

Miaoyun stared at her master intently, and when she saw that Su Jingyao's face was still as calm as water, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Su Jingyao's expression was calm, with a thoughtful gleam in her eyes.

In fact, she never thought from the beginning that Jun Zechen would not have sex with anyone else during the month when she was recuperating.

Jun Zechen has been patient for more than half a month, and he comes to Zhaochun Palace to accompany her every day. Judging from this point of view, at least her position in Jun Zechen's heart is not low at present.

The requirements for the emperor cannot be too high.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and said softly, "Lin Ronghua is trying to place some of our people in the palace. Find a few with average abilities, but there must be one with strong abilities."

"The strong one wants to become Lin Ronghua's attendant. As for the weak ones, they must protect the strong one no matter what, even if it means exposing themselves."

Su Jingyao's expression became a little serious. In this harem, she would not look down on anyone. She had to think three steps ahead and have sufficient planning and planning.

Now that she has great power in the harem, she is naturally able to cultivate more people of her own.

She would take precautions in advance against anyone who might pose a threat to her.

She is not someone who would just wait for others to harm her. If Lin Ronghua really stood in her way...

Oh.

"Yes, Master."

Miao Yue responded quickly, and then said, "Xilu has recently trained a lot of smart and capable young eunuchs, and so has Li Ma. Many palace maids in the harem have secretly sent us notes because Zhaochun Palace is favored, wanting to do their part for Zhaochun Palace."

"Yeah." Su Jingyao nodded slightly, her expression still calm.

"These people are carefully identified. I believe Xilu and Li Mama."

"Although relationships based on money are not very reliable, the saying 'money makes the world go round' is not just talk. We are family, so we don't need to let them suffer any financial grievances."

In her opinion, money can solve 90% of the problems of the lower class people. Meaningless care and empty promises are not as good as giving money.

The only ones who could make Su Jingyao show some sincerity were the girls around her.

"Yes, Master, I understand. Miaoxue is in charge of the accounts of Zhaochun Palace. Our Zhaochun Palace is the one that is least short of money in the palace."

Miaoyue said this with a proud look on her face.

Liushuang Pavilion.

Lin Ronghua lay quietly on the bed, with a slightly anxious look between her eyebrows.

He stared at the maid Yuqi beside him and asked anxiously, "Yuqi, hasn't His Majesty come yet?"

"Master, don't worry. I have received the news that His Majesty is on his way to Liushuang Pavilion."

Yuqi replied quickly with a soothing look on her face.

Lin Ronghua frowned slightly, and asked nervously, "How does my makeup look now?"

After saying that, she gently touched her cheek with her hand.

"Master, rest assured. You are already weak, and now you have put on a whiter makeup, which makes you look a little sicker, but it does not affect your beauty at all."

Yuqi said with a smile, her eyes full of affirmation.

After hearing Yuqi's words, Lin Ronghua felt relieved and his expression relaxed a little.

After a while, Fuquan's shrill voice was heard coming from afar.

"Your Majesty has arrived—"

When Lin Ronghua heard this, she jumped out of bed in a hurry, and almost didn't put on her shoes properly in her panic.

Before she walked out of the bedroom, Jun Zechen's tall figure walked in quickly.

"Your Majesty, your concubine pays homage." Lin Ronghua hurriedly bowed, her voice soft.

"Well, get up. I heard that you were sick today?" Jun Zechen said lightly, with a very calm expression on his face.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I have always been weak since I was a child. I was frightened recently and I suddenly fell ill."

Lin Ronghua lowered her head slightly and spoke in a low voice, looking very pitiful.

Jun Zechen nodded gently, "Since you are sick, just go to bed. I really wronged you this time."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your understanding."

Lin Ronghua's eyes were instantly filled with emotion, and her eye sockets were slightly moist.

In the harem, His Majesty has only been to Zhaochun Palace and Yikun Palace in person, while other concubines have always been moved to the west hall of Qianqing Palace for sleeping, and His Majesty would not let anyone stay overnight.

Although I was in a dangerous situation this time, I was able to escape unscathed and even received mercy from His Majesty.

Now, her Liushuang Pavilion is the only concubine's bedroom that His Majesty has visited, except for Zhaochun Palace and Yikun Palace, and it is also a unique favor among the newlyweds.

Lin Ronghua thought a lot in her mind, and felt an inexplicable sweetness for the special way His Majesty treated her.

She believed that as long as she spent more time with His Majesty, he would not be so cold in the future. She would be satisfied as long as she could get a little tenderness from the majestic emperor.

In the quiet bedroom, Lin Ronghua, with a slightly pale face, was half lying on the bed, occasionally finding some topics to talk to Jun Zechen.

Jun Zechen would also respond patiently.

However, he did not stay in Liushuang Pavilion for long. After two quarters of an hour, he stood up and said, "Since you are sick, you should have a good rest. I still have some business to attend to in Qianqing Palace, so I will leave first."

Lin Ronghua originally thought that His Majesty would stay in Liushuang Pavilion tonight, but he didn't expect that he would leave.

A trace of disappointment flashed across her face, and she opened her mouth slightly and prayed softly: "Your Majesty..."

Her eyes were full of reluctance and retention; she wanted to keep him.

But His Majesty came because she was ill, and she couldn't serve him.

Afterwards, she bit her lip lightly, a hint of helplessness flashing across her eyes, "Your Majesty, I respectfully send you off."