Chapter 373 King Wu Completely Loses Power
Concubine Li Guifei's body trembled violently, and her already pale face instantly became even paler.
She had hoped that Ma Xingyi would be able to find the source of the poison, so that her guilt today could be greatly reduced.
However, who could have expected that in the end the blame would be directed at her again!
But she had no way to defend herself because she was indeed the one who handled this tablet.
The tablet of the eldest prince was originally made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but during that period, the tablet kept falling down from the shrine. Empress Sun believed that this was because the eldest prince was restless in the underworld.
At that time, there was a monk named Huineng in the Fahua Temple who was over a hundred years old and had profound knowledge of Taoism.
Concubine Li wanted to please Empress Sun, so she found some connections and proposed to build a new tablet and have Monk Huineng consecrate it so that the eldest prince could be enlightened by Buddhism.
Empress Sun was desperate and agreed to try any possible cure.
Strangely enough, the tablet that had been rebuilt and consecrated did not exhibit the previous strange behavior, and Empress Sun felt relieved.
For this, Empress Sun also rewarded Concubine Li.
Many people in the harem knew about this matter. Concubine Li used it to seek credit, but now it has become her death warrant.
She never expected that this tablet had been tampered with!
Xiao Yanqing felt like he was struck by lightning, and his head was buzzing.
It's over. This time, he is really finished.
Emperor Defeng glanced at Concubine Li with a knife-like gaze, and she suddenly felt her scalp tingling.
She shouted, "Your Majesty, I am innocent. I have no idea what is going on!"
"Unjust? The facts are right before your eyes, and you still dare to cry out for injustice? Li, you truly are a vicious and ruthless person, and your crimes are unforgivable!"
Concubine Li kowtowed and begged for mercy, "Your Majesty, I really don't know what's going on. Someone must have used me to frame me. Your Majesty, you must investigate this matter!"
There was murderous intent in Emperor Defeng's eyes.
"Even so, it was your negligence that gave them the opportunity to take advantage of you. You deserve death as well! Considering the years of service you've given me, I'll either give you the white silk or the poisoned wine. Choose one."
Concubine Li's body was completely limp, her lips were trembling, and she couldn't utter a word.
Emperor Defeng glanced at him with disgust and said, "Drag him away."
Concubine Li was dragged away like a puddle of mud. Only when she reached the door did she come to her senses and scream loudly.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to die as an apology, but Yan Qing is innocent. Please have mercy on me and don't vent your anger on him..."
Concubine Li's voice gradually faded away.
Xiao Yanqing knelt on the ground, his throat felt dry and his back felt cold.
"Father..."
Emperor Defeng looked at him, and there was no more tenderness in his eyes, only disgust.
"I am very disappointed in you."
Xiao Yanqing bowed his head to the ground, not daring to argue.
"Now, I strip you of your title of Prince and demote you to the rank of a County Prince, with the same salary and rank as a County Prince. Your fiefdom will be reduced to one-third of the old system, and all your subordinate officials will be dismissed. You will never be allowed to enter the capital unless ordered by imperial decree."
The oral instructions made Xiao Yanqing's head buzz.
Originally, his fiefdom was in Guanzhong, a place with flat terrain, pleasant climate, and abundant crops. But now it has become Longxi, a place with a harsh climate and barren land...
All other benefits were also cut.
He has completely lost his power.
Xiao Yanqing had a mouthful of blood stuck in his throat and almost vomited it out.
After a long while, he finally spoke in a muffled voice, "Son, I accept your order and thank you!"
He left the scene in a panic, like a stray dog.
He still felt unwilling in his heart. Who was plotting to murder them?
He started planning this ten years ago, which shows how deep his thoughts are.
Xiao Yanci was also thinking about this question.
This may have been done by Concubine Li, but it may not have been.
He prefers the latter.
The unexpected disclosure of this incident made him feel unprecedentedly vigilant.
Behind them, there is an invisible hand plotting things. The other party may be inconspicuous, so it has never aroused suspicion.
Who is it?
Xiao Yanci couldn't find the answer for a moment.
Xiao Yanqing seemed unwilling and looked back, and happened to meet Xiao Yanci's gaze. A strong hatred suddenly burst out in his eyes.
Xiao Yanci sneered in response.
Did he think this was the worst that could happen to him?
What happened tonight was just an accident. The good show arranged by Xiao Yanci will start tomorrow. By then, will the emperor still show leniency to him?
Xiao Baozhu looked at the broken tablet and felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.
For more than ten years, the Queen Mother has been immersed in the grief of losing her eldest brother.
Did she expect that she would be poisoned by her eldest brother?
Even if she knew, the Queen Mother would certainly not care, because he was her most beloved son after all.
Prince Rui asked anxiously, "Doctor Ma, do you have a way to detoxify the queen?"
Ma Xingyi shook his head slowly. "The Empress has been depressed for a long time and mourned excessively. Her life span has already been affected. In addition, she has been poisoned for too long. There is nothing I can do to help."
The glimmer of hope in Prince Rui's eyes was completely extinguished.
Ma Xingyi added, "All I can do is temporarily protect the Queen's heart and try to buy her time. As for how long this can last, it depends on the Queen's will to survive."
Prince Rui wanted him to give the acupuncture quickly, but Princess Rui stopped him, and he suppressed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
He is just a minister and has no right to decide this matter.
Emperor Defeng pondered for a moment and said, "Let's give you acupuncture."
Living like this may be painful.
But she kept on breathing, perhaps just to wait for Baozhu to reach the age of marriage and get married?
I can't deprive her of her thoughts.
Even if she leaves, she must leave without any regrets.
After acupuncture, Empress Sun's breathing gradually became steady, and she seemed to have fallen asleep.
Ma Xingyi received a generous reward, and Prince Rui was also commended.
Everyone left, except Xiao Baozhu.
She stayed by Empress Sun's bedside, holding her hand, tears flowing silently.
Nanny Wu tried to persuade her several times but it was useless, so she stopped and just gave her an extra hand warmer.
A palace banquet ended in a hasty manner again.
Prince Rui sat in the carriage, very silent, with an indescribable low pressure hanging over him.
Princess Rui also sat quietly with an inexplicable expression.
When we returned to the palace, it was already late.
Ma Xingyi came, and Prince Rui immediately knew that he must have something to do.
"Your Majesty, I have just discovered some clues, but I don't know if I should tell you."
Prince Rui immediately said, "You don't need to hide anything in front of me. Just speak frankly."
Ma Xingyi then spoke in a low voice, "This old man discovered that the Queen was poisoned by more than one kind of poison. In addition to the Dream Soul Fragrance, there is also the Beauty Ashes."
Prince Rui's expression suddenly changed.
The poison of Hongyan Jin came from Shu, or more precisely, from the Liao family, the princess's mother's family.
Prince Rui gritted his teeth, "Are you sure?"
"I'm not mistaken. I found the poison in the bird's nest used by the Queen. I heard that the princess has been sending nourishing foods to the Queen recently..."
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