inspire-indiana Chapter 170: Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Call me Empress Dowager! (20)
Chapter 170: Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Call me Empress Dowager! (20)
After the interrogation results came out, Jinzhong rushed to the Qianqing Palace and said, "Your Majesty, the results are out."
"Ye Xin refused to say anything and died from the pain of torture."
"That young eunuch Xia Li confessed quickly. He confessed within three quarters of an hour after entering the Ministry of Punishment. He said that Ye Xin, who was beside Concubine Hai, had instructed him to follow the Third Prince all day and look for an opportunity to take action."
"It is said that he promised a lot of benefits. I asked someone to go to Xia Li's residence and found out that there were two thousand taels of silver notes and a piece of fine jade pendant."
After Jinzhong finished speaking, he handed over the small box in his hand. In the box lay a fine mutton-fat jade pendant and a stack of silver notes worth two thousand taels.
Hongli took out the jade pendant of good quality from the box and rubbed it carefully with his hands. But the next moment, he threw the jade pendant fiercely at the pale-faced Haipin!
"Princess Hai! This jade pendant is a gift from me to you. Why did it appear in the residence of a little eunuch?"
"He also happened to push Yonghuang into the water??!"
Hai Lan was hit on the forehead by the jade pendant and was at a loss. She knelt down immediately and said, "I don't know, Your Majesty, I am innocent. It must be that Xia Li has evil hands and stole the jade pendant from my palace..."
"Are you still quibbling at this point?" Hongli's face was full of disappointment. He stepped forward, took out two thousand taels of silver from the box, and threw it hard at Hailan.
"Ye Xin is just a little palace maid, how could she come up with so many banknotes?"
"I have always thought that you have a kind personality and have a good relationship with Concubine Chun. I have seen that you have always treated each other like sisters. I never thought that you were so vicious behind the scenes. Not only did you plot to murder the prince, but you also behaved in a bad manner and even tried to shirk responsibility when the incident happened!"
When he reached this point, Hongli's voice became even hoarser.
"It's true that you can never judge a person by his appearance. I never thought that some people may appear bright and beautiful on the outside, but they are as vicious as snakes in private." Lin Qinghe sighed.
When Hai Lan heard her say this, she turned around suddenly, and their eyes met at this moment.
The last time, it was Hai Lan who spread rumors behind her back with disdain, saying that she seduced the emperor, causing Wei Yanwan, who was still a palace maid, to not only lose her good job, but also suffer bullying in the palace.
When the two looked at each other again this time, their identities and status had changed. Lin Qinghe was already a noble concubine appointed by the emperor himself, while Hai Lan was in a state of humiliation after the truth about what she had done was known.
Lin Qinghe looked down at Hailan, who was kneeling on the ground, and smiled contemptuously.
"Haipin plotted to murder the royal heir. Her heart was not right and her moral character was shameful. She is demoted to a concubine and sent to the cold palace, never to be allowed to leave." Hongli turned his head coldly without looking at Hailan who was kneeling on the ground and shouting "I am innocent".
Every time he looked at her now, he felt impatient and even more unhappy.
Why did I feel that she made me happy in the first place?
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I really didn't do this! Please understand your majesty!" Hai Lan knelt down in front of Hongli, put her hands on the hem of his clothes, and still refused to give in.
Hongli became even more impatient. He struggled forward fiercely, but failed to break free because Hailan held his hand too tightly.
"Li Yu, what are you still standing there for? Drag her away!" Hongli shouted angrily.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Yu hurriedly called a few eunuchs to come forward and hold Hai Lan, and pushed her out on the left and right.
"The oleander powder in the almond dew has not been clearly identified yet. Li Yu, have you made any progress in interrogating the people in the kitchen?" Hongli's voice was hoarse. He felt a little tired even though the interrogation was not yet completed.
Li Yu stepped forward and bowed, then said respectfully, "Your Majesty, this was done by Li Cheng, the apprentice of Master Sun, the head chef in the kitchen. He secretly put oleander powder in the almond milk, but when I caught him, he actually committed suicide by taking poison."
"You mean, we can't find it here?" What a waste! Hongli was already considering whether he should change the eunuch. "Have you asked that Master Sun?"
"Your Majesty, I have already asked him, and he is indeed unaware of this matter." Li Yu carefully observed the emperor's expression and keenly sensed Hongli's dissatisfaction, so he quickly lowered his posture and became more cautious in his tone, "Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of yourself!"
"Li Cheng plotted to murder the royal heir and his entire clan will be exterminated." Hongli issued the final order.
The oleander powder incident ended here. After all, the person who poisoned the person had committed suicide and the clues had been cut off.
Such a nice dinner party turned out to have so many bad things happen. After interrogating these people, it was already Yin time. Everyone was sleepy and exhausted both physically and mentally.
"Your Majesty, I think it's time to clean up your harem." The Queen Mother saw the final result and put her worries aside. Suddenly she felt tired and stood up and walked away with someone helping her. "I'm tired, so I'll go back to the Cining Palace first."
"Your concubine respectfully bids farewell to the Queen Mother." The concubines present hurriedly bowed to the Queen Mother.
"Noble Concubine Ling, from now on you and Noble Concubine Chun will jointly manage the harem." Hongli stepped forward and pinched the back of Yonghuang who was lying on the couch, then said to Su Lujun and Lin Qinghe.
"I obey your command." The two looked at each other and answered in unison.
"It's getting late, let's all go." Hongli waved his hand, he looked down at the sleeping Third Prince, and told Su Lujun, "Yonghuang fell into the water in the middle of winter, take good care of him for the next period of time."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will definitely take good care of Yonghuang." Su Lujun nodded quickly in response.
After Hongli left, Su Lujun took Lin Qinghe's hand, eyes full of gratitude, "Thank you so much for today, sister. If it weren't for your reminder, I don't know what would have happened."
Thinking of the series of events that happened today, Su Lujun was terrified, especially since although Hai Lan, who pushed Yonghuang into the water, had reaped the consequences, the person who poisoned him had not been found yet.
Su Lujun felt uneasy as long as the person who poisoned them was not found. She intuitively felt that the mastermind behind adding oleander powder to the almond milk for Yonghuang and the others must be Jiapin.
But I didn't expect that Jiapin was hiding so deeply that I couldn't even find any evidence against her.
Lin Qinghe nodded slightly towards Su Lujun and said modestly, "No, it's all thanks to my sister for being prepared. I have to be more careful next time."
Su Lujun heard her say that and quickly agreed, "Sister, you are the lifesaver of the Third Prince. If it weren't for your help, I'm afraid Yonghuang would be in great danger this time. I really should thank you."
"If you have any difficulties in the future, sister, just come to me," she promised.
Lin Qinghe said "hmm" and saw that it was getting late outside, so she stood up and left the Qianqing Palace with Yuchan, "It's getting late, sister. I want to go back to Yongshou Palace to take a nap. Let's talk another day."
Su Lujun responded and had the Third Prince taken away from the Qianqing Palace.