Li Shangfu was even more terrified. She knew that once she was taken to the Ministry of Punishment, she would be severely tortured or even sentenced to death, and would either be disabled or crippled.
Her eyes were filled with fear, and she kept shrinking back, "No, no!"
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please save me!"
Li Shangfu looked at the imperial concubine with an almost pleading look, "This humble official was only following your instructions and casually arranged for someone else to make the palace dress for Concubine Chun Shu. This humble official knew nothing about it!"
When the imperial concubine heard this, her heart skipped a beat.
She looked at Jun Zechen uneasily, and her fear was overwhelming when she met his expressionless eyes.
She had never thought of harming Concubine Chunshu. She knew that she was a little petty, but she had never thought of harming her.
"What are you talking about, Li Shangfu? Your lax governance has nothing to do with me!"
The imperial concubine retorted confidently, but with a slight tremor in her voice.
Li Shangfu wanted to continue to argue, but was forcibly pinned to the ground by two eunuchs, who kept shouting "no".
The eunuchs dragged her out without mercy.
Jun Zechen then asked Xiang Anshun expressionlessly, "Have all the palace inmates who came into contact with Concubine Chun Shu's palace attire been questioned?"
"Your Majesty, I have questioned you, but..."
An Shun sighed, "There were five palace maids who made Concubine Chun Shu's palace dress. When I sent someone to look for her just now, one of them had drowned in the well outside Yaxiuxuan."
"Today's incident happened suddenly, and the time was too short. I haven't yet fully investigated the cause."
Jun Zechen nodded. He also knew that it would be difficult to find out everything in a short period of time.
"Anshun, the poison in Concubine Chun Shu's palace dress and the palace maid who fell from the high platform are all in your charge. I will investigate thoroughly!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Anshun responded solemnly, "I will get to the bottom of this!"
"Everyone, please leave. Your Majesty, please stay."
There was no emotion in Jun Zechen's deep eyes, and his tone was calm, but these cold words made the imperial concubine feel as if her heart had sunk into an icy cave.
An Zhaorong breathed a sigh of relief after retreating, glanced at the imperial concubine, and turned to leave with a sarcastic smile on her lips.
Soon, Jun Zechen and the imperial concubine were the only ones left in the hall.
Jun Zechen sat there majestically and coldly, his demeanor brooking no profanation.
The imperial concubine stood in the center of the hall, her hands twisted together nervously, looking helpless and terrified.
There was a suffocating silence in the hall, and the air seemed to be filled with a thick layer of frost, making people shiver involuntarily.
Jun Zechen's cold gaze fell on the imperial concubine, making her feel as if the last layer of protection had been stripped away.
The imperial concubine knew that she had indeed been negligent in the matter of Concubine Chun Shu's palace attire, but she never expected that she would anger Jun Zechen to this extent.
She bit her lip and finally mustered up the courage to speak.
"I know I didn't take good care of Concubine Chun Shu's attire, but it was the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, and I was so focused on her that I didn't notice the carelessness of my subordinates."
Her voice became smaller and smaller, almost pleading at last.
"Concubine Chun Shu has developed a rash. Although it's serious, it will heal after a few days of rest. Is there any need for Your Majesty to be so angry? I believe I have done a good job at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet today."
After all, the Queen Mother was very satisfied with the palace dress she sent, and there were no mistakes at today's birthday banquet.
"Pure Concubine, she had a miscarriage."
Jun Zechen uttered these words word by word, staring at the imperial concubine intently.
The imperial concubine opened her eyes wide, feeling dizzy. She opened her mouth in surprise, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.
"You thought the birthday banquet ended perfectly, but in fact, Concubine Chun Shu had been enduring for you throughout the banquet. She was wearing uncomfortable brocade and poisoned palace clothes, and she was extremely unwell."
"For you! To prevent you from making a mistake in front of the Queen Mother, she managed to hold on for almost a whole day!"
Jun Zechen suppressed his anger, his voice low and hoarse.
If Yaoyao wasn't so kind, if she had rested and sought medical treatment sooner, their child might...
Jun Zechen closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again with a cold gleam in his eyes as he continued, "The baby in her belly, less than two weeks old, is gone because of you!"
The imperial concubine was terrified and subconsciously took a few steps back, repeating "no, no" over and over again.
Her eyes were full of fear and her whole body was trembling.
"Your Majesty, I didn't mean to do that. I didn't know Concubine Chun Shu was pregnant. I didn't intend to harm Concubine Chun Shu. I didn't mean to do that..."
The imperial concubine explained incoherently, her voice full of pleading.
Jun Zechen stood up, his eyes becoming more and more terrifying, as if he wanted to eat the imperial concubine alive.
"Yes! You didn't mean it! You are..."
He didn't say the word "stupid".
He just used his eyes like sharp swords to fiercely stare at the imperial concubine, making her feel ashamed.
The hall was dead silent, with only the concubine's sobs echoing.
She fell to her knees, crying bitterly, while Jun Zechen looked at her expressionlessly, but the coldness in his eyes could not be concealed no matter what.
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