Qin'er entered Zhaochun Palace. After stepping through the palace gate, she raised her head slightly and her eyes fell on Concubine Chunshu who was sitting in the first seat.
Her expression froze as she hurried forward a few steps, bowed respectfully, and said in a slightly nervous voice, "Your servant, Qin'er from Yikun Palace, pays homage to Her Majesty Consort Chunshu."
Su Jingyao sat safely in the chair with a kind smile on her face.
Beside her stood the female officials from the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Palace Justice. They all had serious expressions and held paper and pen in their hands, ready to record all the interrogation results impartially at any time.
"Qin'er, you should also know that I was entrusted by His Majesty and the Queen Mother to investigate the poisoning of the Imperial Concubine. I summoned you from Yikun Palace this time because I have something to ask you."
Su Jingyao spoke slowly, the smile on her face still there.
Qin Er quickly replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, please ask. I will tell you everything I know."
Su Jingyao tilted her head slightly, with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.
She asked softly, "I heard that you prepared all the meals for the imperial concubine on the day she was poisoned?"
"Yes, my lady." Qin'er answered hurriedly.
Then, as if remembering something, she quickly added, "But the Imperial Concubine's meal that day was touched by Guo'er, and Eunuch Anshun also came to question me that day. Later, Eunuch Anshun also searched Guo'er's room, and found An Zhaorong's dowry in Guo'er's room."
"Well, I have seen all of what you said in Anshun's records."
"However, I have already asked An Zhaorong. Her pearl earrings were lost when she was in the Eastern Palace. An Zhaorong also reported the loss."
"At that time, Guo'er was still in the Imperial Household Department and had not yet been assigned to the Imperial Concubine's Palace."
Su Jingyao spoke slowly, her eyes always on Qin'er.
"In order to confirm the connection between Guo'er and An Zhaorong, I went back to look at the files of the Imperial Household Department regarding the allocation of palace maids after His Majesty ascended the throne."
"Guo'er was originally to be assigned to Concubine Bai, but it seems that you and Guo'er have a good relationship, so the Ministry of Internal Affairs transferred both you and Guo'er to Yikun Palace." Su Jingyao's voice was still light.
When Qin'er heard this, her face turned pale instantly, her heart suddenly panicked, and her body trembled involuntarily.
Then he knelt down with a plop, his voice filled with panic and fear.
"Your Majesty, I didn't know Guo'er was An Zhaorong's person at the time. I always treated Guo'er as a good sister. The imperial concubine has a high position, and I wanted Guo'er to live a good life with me."
"Since Guo'er entered the Yikun Palace because of you, how could An Zhaorong bribe Guo'er with the pearl earrings she brought with her in the East Palace?"
Su Jingyao's voice suddenly became louder, with a questioning tone.
Qin'er's face became even more flustered, her lips trembling as she stammered, "I don't know anything. Guo'er... Guo'er... "
Her eyes were filled with fear and confusion. For a moment she couldn't say anything and just kept trembling.
A barely perceptible strange color flashed across Su Jingyao's eyes, and then a gentle smile reappeared on her face.
"Get up, don't be nervous, I just want to sort out all my thoughts today."
After hearing Su Jingyao's words, Qin'er was slightly stunned at first, and then she breathed a sigh of relief as if a huge stone had been lifted from her heart.
His body seemed to relax, and he slowly stood up.
Su Jingyao immediately asked, "Where were you yesterday at 11:00 PM?"
When Qin'er heard this, a thoughtful look suddenly appeared in her eyes.
Xu time?
At that time, in order to ask Ping'er about the progress of Concubine Chunshu's investigation into the poisoning of the Imperial Concubine, she happened to make an appointment with Ping'er to meet in the grove outside the Yiku Palace and Zhaochun Palace at 10 p.m.
Qin'er frowned slightly, and a hint of nervousness appeared in her eyes.
Su Jingyao didn't even wait for Qin'er to think about it. She said directly, "Last night, someone in my palace saw you and Ping'er. Later, someone in my palace dug up ebony powder from under the roots of the tree where you two met."
"When I summoned you today, I asked Ping'er first. She said you buried it, and you came to her to bribe her to get information about Zhaochun Palace and cover it up for you!"
When she said the last sentence, Su Jingyao's voice became noticeably heavier.
His expression became extremely serious, and his beautiful eyes stared at Qin'er closely.
Although Su Jingyao interrogated Ping'er in advance, Ping'er naturally did not mention the matter of ebony powder.
She was originally just a spy for the imperial concubine to inquire about the news of Zhaochun Palace, and had little to do with the imperial concubine's poisoning this time.
But it did not prevent Su Jingyao from using Ping'er to trick Qin'er.
When Qin'er heard this, her heart suddenly started beating wildly and beads of sweat instantly appeared on her forehead.
She did meet Ping'er last night, but she had never buried the ebony powder at all. She had already dealt with the ebony powder!
Qin'er's face turned pale in an instant, her legs went limp, and she fell to her knees again with a thump.
She cried out in a tearful voice, "My Lady, I am innocent. Ping'er is a member of your palace. How can you only believe her one-sided story?"
"Oh? Your Majesty and the Queen Mother entrusted this matter to me, trusting my impartiality. Each time I inquire, a female official will record it. If you find doubt in the testimony of others, I will naturally give you the opportunity to defend yourself."
Su Jingyao said expressionlessly, with a hint of majesty in her eyes.
Qin'er was extremely panicked at this moment. Neither she nor Ping'er buried the ebony powder yesterday.
Was it because Concubine Chun Shu discovered Ping'er's betrayal and Ping'er framed her to protect herself, or was it because Ping'er was originally Concubine Chun Shu's person and they conspired to frame her?
But the Imperial Concubine and some of the elders in the Eastern Palace had said before that Concubine Chunshu was kind-hearted and never did anything calculating. There was no need for Concubine Chunshu to join forces with Ping'er to frame her.
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