sbdcsierra Chapter 141: Trapped in a cocoon
Chapter 141: Trapped in a cocoon
Empress Fucha also hurriedly stood up and apologized, saying in a sincere tone: "Your Majesty, please calm down. It was all because of my poor management that such a serious thing happened."
The emperor had a gloomy face and did not say anything. He just gently patted Empress Fucha's hand to show his comfort and trust.
Just then, Zhang Jianyi and Xiao Quanzi walked into the hall together.
After the two of them bowed to the Emperor and the Empress, Xiao Quanzi stammered, "I know my crime, please forgive me, Your Majesty and Empress. I saw Zhilan from Chuxiu Palace enter the Empress's storeroom. But because she was a capable maidservant of the Imperial Concubine and she didn't steal anything, I didn't dare to stop her. So I followed her quietly until she returned to Chuxiu Palace, and then I hurried back to Changchun Palace to report the matter."
Zhang Jianyi's face changed, and he pretended to be angry and slapped Xiao Quanzi, then knelt down to apologize: "It's all because of my poor discipline. The storehouse is indeed where the enamel Ruyi cup is placed, but my subordinates didn't report it immediately when something happened, causing Concubine Yu to suffer. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, Li Yu hurriedly took people to Chuxiu Palace to look for Saffron.
Concubine Gao was horrified, and her expression instantly became tense. "This is impossible! Zhilan's face was injured, and she has been recuperating recently. It is absolutely impossible for her to appear in Changchun Palace! I beg the emperor to see this clearly."
The emperor just looked at Concubine Gao coldly and said in a cold tone: "No need to explain, wait for Li Yu to come back! The truth will come out naturally."
His eyes revealed a majesty and an unquestionable attitude.
Concubine Gao was secretly anxious, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She thought: Why is Er Qing so careless? The trap she set up was actually used by the people in Changchun Palace to counterattack her. Could she really be a spy in Changchun Palace?
Thinking of this, Concubine Gao gritted her teeth in anger and swore secretly in her heart that she must severely punish this bitch and make her pay the price.
If I rashly blame Er Qing now, no one will believe me. After all, she lives in Chuxiu Palace, and everyone will think that I am in collusion with her. Now I can only insist that I was framed, and perhaps there is a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, once I am charged with murdering the royal heir, I am afraid I will be sent to the cold palace.
After a while, Li Yu brought Zhilan to the main hall with half a bag of saffron powder in his hand.
He carefully presented it to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, this saffron was indeed found in Miss Zhilan's room."
The emperor snorted coldly, looked at them gloomily, threw the folding fan in his hand down, and said angrily: "How audacious!"
Concubine Gao quickly knelt down and pleaded, her voice trembling as she said, "Your Majesty, this doesn't prove that Zhilan did it. Someone must have framed me!"
There was a hint of panic and uneasiness in her eyes, as if she had suffered great injustice.
"Is this really a frame-up? Imperial Concubine, you have attacked Noble Lady Yu several times. What else do you have to say in public?" Empress Fucha's tone was firm and stern. She refuted without mercy, leaving Imperial Concubine Gao speechless.
Concubine Gao was terrified, her expression twisted, she said in a panic: "I really didn't... Chuxiu Palace is not just for me, Qing Da Ying is also a suspect! She was not invited to the Lychee Banquet this morning, but she also came to Changchun Palace!"
She tried to shift the blame to others in the hope of alleviating her guilt, but her excuses were weak and could not change the facts.
Zhilan also knelt down and explained, covering her face and said, "Your Majesty, I have been recovering from my injuries. My face is like this, and I can't walk around. I have really been in Chuxiu Palace all day and have not been to Changchun Palace."
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, saffron is extremely precious and not available to ordinary people." Concubine Xian, who usually remained indifferent to the struggles in the harem, actually spoke.
"Empress Xian, please don't slander me!" Concubine Gao's teeth were almost broken, but she was unable to defend herself.
Concubine Chun widened her eyes, clenched the handkerchief in her hand, and was extremely angry. She thought to herself, "What's wrong with this Concubine Xian? When I was with the Queen, she ignored her. Now that the Queen and I are separated, she comes to please me..."
Concubine Chun thought about it again and again, and finally decided to speak up. She knew in her heart that if she didn't do so, if the emperor noticed the gap between her and the queen, it would be a big trouble.
She knew very well that her status and favor in the harem were hard-earned, and must not be affected by this incident.
So, she said softly: "Yes, I have heard that saffron is known as 'red gold' among the people. The reason why it is so precious is not only because of its scarcity, but more importantly, its high cost. You know, the tiny stamens need to be carefully extracted from tens of thousands of saffron flowers."
Seeing this, Nalan Chunxue, who was standing by, quickly agreed, "I have also heard father mention this before. This thing is indeed extremely rare."
However, the emperor was already furious at this time. He shouted loudly: "Enough! All of you shut up! This matter must be related to the imperial concubine! Now, you'd better pray that Concubine Yu can wake up soon, otherwise you will bear the consequences!"
Hearing what the emperor said, Concubine Gao burst into tears, feeling very aggrieved.
She cried, "Your Majesty, how could you treat me like this? I am really wronged! I really didn't do these things!"
Looking at the situation in front of him, the emperor's face became more and more ugly. He said coldly: "Noble Concubine Gao has committed such a serious mistake. From now on, she will be demoted to a concubine and return to the palace to reflect on her mistakes!"
After saying this, the emperor no longer paid any attention to these scheming women and left.
Wei Yingluo stood there, watching the emperor's departing back, feeling somewhat confused.
She didn’t know if it was her illusion, but before leaving, the emperor seemed to look back at her. That look was quite complicated and Wei Yingluo couldn’t understand the meaning.
Concubine Gao seemed to have lost all her strength. She collapsed to the ground, staring blankly ahead.
Zhilan hurried forward to help her up, and carefully supported her away.
With the departure of the Emperor and Concubine Gao, the other people present also became absent-minded and began to want to leave.
Empress Fucha saw this and did not force everyone to stay. She just smiled and urged everyone to drink a few more glasses of wine. After everyone reluctantly sat for a while, they finally stood up and said goodbye.
The originally lively lychee banquet ended in such a hasty manner.