"How could this be?" Su Wanwan had just gotten out of bed and instinctively sensed that something was wrong.
Lu Xingjian, who was still lying in bed, suddenly sat up, his emotions unclear.
"Explain in detail."
He Ying glanced at Su Wanwan, but still forced himself to continue reporting:
"I heard that Ma Shiniang cried continuously after leaving the palace the night before last, saying that she could not bear the humiliation and did not want to live anymore."
"I didn't eat anything all day yesterday, and just locked myself in my room."
"This morning, the servants saw that she had hanged herself and was dead. They immediately reported it to the authorities."
Liu Qi learned of Ma Shiniang's suicide in time and reported it to the authorities.
"If someone with ulterior motives makes a fuss about this, I'm afraid it could damage Her Majesty's reputation," He Ying said worriedly.
Su Wanwan had calmed down and didn't say much, her eyes looking at Lu Xingjian.
At this sensitive moment, the more she says, the more mistakes she might make; she should see how he reacts.
Lu Xingjian sneered: "They have such worthless lives, yet they dare to smear the Empress. Let's see how they cause trouble."
Su Wanwan: "..."
Crane Shadow: "..."
Didn't they say that the Emperor bestowed a brocade robe upon Ma Shiniang?
Why is this the reaction? Not a shred of pity?
They looked at each other and saw confusion in each other's eyes.
"Aren't you heartbroken?" Su Wanwan finally asked.
Lu Xingjian paused in putting on his shoes, his gaze darkening slightly as he looked at her.
"It breaks my heart."
He Ying's heart tightened, and her breath caught in her throat for a moment.
Su Wanwan also pursed her pink lips slightly.
He felt sorry for Ma Shiniang, but did he really have some kind of relationship with her?
So all that drunken ramblings from last night were just bullshit?
Lu Xingjian didn't even bother to put on his shoes, and came over barefoot to hug Su Wanwan, gently patting her back:
"Don't be afraid, your husband will support you."
His gentle, soothing manner was like that of someone comforting a child.
He then said fiercely:
"Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I'll make them pay!"
He Ying's eyes flickered, and a strange thought flashed through her mind.
The Emperor's earlier expression of heartache was actually heartache for our Empress.
This makes people think too much.
After pondering for a moment, He Ying tentatively asked:
“Ma Shiniang entered the palace the day before yesterday and said that the clothes she was wearing were a gift from the emperor.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xingjian's face darkened.
Seeing this, He Ying breathed a slight sigh of relief and added:
"Judging from the style, it is roughly the same as the empress's brocade robe that the needlework bureau sent to Kunning Palace before."
"The Empress thought it was made by the Emperor for Miss Ma, so she had it returned. She never expected that it would end up on her sister's body."
Lu Xingjian's eyes turned cold. After a moment of silence, he only said one sentence:
"You bastard!"
He hurriedly dressed and summoned Meng Yue.
Seeing the Emperor and Empress seated solemnly and tensely, Meng Yue's heart leaped into his throat. He asked cautiously:
"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Lu Xingjian's face was expressionless, and his voice was calm:
"The Empress returned the garments from the Needlework Bureau. I ordered you to destroy them. Have you destroyed them?"
Having served the emperor for a long time, Meng Yue knew that the emperor's calmest moments could also be his most dangerous.
Meng Yue didn't dare to breathe loudly:
“I instructed the eunuch Luo An to destroy them. He brought me back a few pearls and agates, which were from that dress. He said he destroyed them himself.”
"This servant did not witness it personally. If I have overlooked anything, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
"Where is he?" Lu Xingjian's voice grew even softer.
Meng Yue's eyes flickered. "Luo An later made a mistake and was transferred to serve Miss Ma."
Who transferred the people?
The eunuchs who could serve in front of the emperor were definitely among the most intelligent and quick-witted people in the world.
They will be extremely cautious in their actions and cherish this hard-won opportunity that could potentially lead to a meteoric rise in their careers.
How could I possibly make a mistake so easily that others could find fault with me?
“Zhang Yong, the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department,” Meng Yue replied tremblingly, his back soaked with cold sweat.
There are indeed no trivial matters when it comes to the Emperor's presence.
Even a few new clothes that are about to be ruined will be used as material for an argument.
Lu Xingjian's dark eyes were fixed on Meng Yue, his gaze sharp and sinister.
The most dangerous and terrifying thing is when the people around you have problems.
Su Wanwan felt very conflicted.
Therefore, Ma Shiniang's "new clothes bestowed by the emperor" was entirely fictitious and fabricated out of thin air.
If someone is deliberately doing something underhanded, who could it be?
She recalled the warning look in Zhang Yong's eyes when she returned to the palace.
What is Zhang Yong's intention?
...
After lunch, Madam Qiu hurriedly entered the palace.
With a look of anxiety and helplessness, she said, "Your Majesty, Lady Wen has brought many female relatives of border soldiers to the entrance of the Ministry of War to plead their case."
"They said they wanted the Ministry of War to stand up for them, to prevent the Ma family girl from dying in vain, and to give them justice."
Madam Qiu sighed, "The border troops are currently conducting a critical inspection, and it is the height of summer. We must guard against the Northern Yuan cavalry invading the border, and we really shouldn't discourage the border troops."
After a moment of contemplation, Su Wanwan asked, "Which family's women does Madam Wen usually get along with?"
Madam Qiu was aware of this, "Madam Wen is usually arrogant and has had a dispute with Madam Ye, the deputy commander of Shanxi, a while ago."
"Madam Wen mocked Deputy Commander Ye for being a lazy and incompetent general, having served as a general for many years without even earning a python robe, which was a disgrace to military officers."
"Madam Ye has a fiery temper. I heard she was bedridden for several days and is still holding a grudge."
Su Wanwan summoned Heying, "Go and deliver a few bolts of brocade fabric with flying fish patterns to the Ye family."
The flying fish pattern was a royal design second only to the python pattern, representing a transcendent status and position.
The Empress bestowed the reward so readily?
Madam Qiu's forehead twitched, and she hesitated before advising, "Your Majesty, is such a favor acceptable?"
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