Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1397 Let Baharguli "die" in it

"It would be safest if they could first deliberate and draw up a preliminary list, and then let Your Majesty make the final decision."

Shen Zhinian's words were flawless.

It not only put forward practical suggestions, but also cleverly pushed the power of selecting deposed concubines back to the Imperial Household Department, the Ministry of Punishment and the emperor.

Of course she knew that Nangong Xuanyu wanted to take this opportunity to release Baharguli. But the woman's crime was poisoning the eldest princess, which was too serious.

Shen Zhinian, the imperial concubine who had a prince, took the initiative to propose pardoning a criminal woman who attempted to murder the royal heir. No matter what the reason was, it was very likely to cause criticism and even lead to attacks.

She would never take the initiative to touch this hot potato.

But Shen Zhinian believed that with Nangong Xuanyu's imperial mentality, since he wanted to use this chess piece, he would definitely be able to think of a reasonable reason.

Perhaps he was looking for a reason to prove that the original evidence was insufficient; perhaps he was taking advantage of the eldest princess's forgiveness.

In short, she doesn't need to worry about this.

Shen Zhinian just needs to make sure that he doesn't leave any room for criticism in this link.

Nangong Xuanyu listened quietly, his deep gaze lingering on her face for a moment, and he nodded slightly and said, "Nian Nian is very thoughtful."

"The old people from the previous emperor's time should indeed be appeased. As you suggest, let the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Punishment handle it first."

Shen Zhinian smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

To get from Chuxiu Palace to Yangxin Palace, you have to pass Yongshou Palace.

Arriving at the gate of Yongshou Palace, Shen Zhinian stopped and bowed gracefully: "Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell!"

Nangong Xuanyu nodded lightly.

Shen Zhinian stood up and watched the bright yellow ceremonial procession go away.

Only when Nangong Xuanyu's figure disappeared from her sight did she turn around, hold Fuqiu's hand, and slowly step into Yongshou Palace.

The curtains in the inner room were drawn low, and the air was filled with the elegant fragrance of orchids.

Shen Zhinian sat down on the couch by the window, took the hot tea handed to him by Handan, but did not drink it. He just held it in his palm, his eyes fixed on somewhere in the void.

Fuqi and Handan exchanged glances, both knowing that the Queen was worried.

Fuqiu stepped forward and asked softly, "Is your Majesty thinking about what happened in Chuxiu Palace today?"

Shen Zhinian said in a low voice: "The Fifth Prince has been ill for a long time and Concubine Kang is worried. Asking the monk to pray for him is reasonable and beyond reproach."

She paused, a hint of doubt flashing across her brows: "It's just...this change of subject is a bit too abrupt."

"From praying for blessings to the resentment in the cold palace, to then logically proposing to pardon the guilty woman, to bring good luck and blessings... one thing after another, it's as if they had prepared the story long ago, just waiting for the right moment to throw it out."

Handan was outspoken and immediately frowned upon hearing this. "Your Majesty is suspicious that Concubine Kang has formed an alliance with Baharguli? But how is that possible..."

Although she knew that people in the deep palace were fickle and she had long since stopped trusting Concubine Kang, she still found it hard to believe.

"What good can Concubine Kang gain from doing this?"

"She still has a place in front of His Majesty thanks to the Fifth Prince. Why would she bother getting involved with someone in the cold palace?"

Shen Zhinian shook her head gently, her eyes dark, "I can't think of anything that Concubine Kang can gain for the time being."

"She might have leverage, or something else she wants, or maybe... the benefits she sees are different from what we think."

When Shen Zhinian first learned to assist in the management of the six palaces, the Cold Palace was under her jurisdiction. But later, as the affairs became more complicated, Shen Zhinian gradually handed over all matters of the Cold Palace to the virtuous concubine.

In addition to the former court and the harem, Shen Zhinian had too many things to worry about, and she really had no time to take care of the cold palace.

Shen Zhinian is not an omniscient and omnipotent God.

Even though she was wary of Baharguli, Shen Zhinian had sent people to keep an eye on her movements, whether she was in Shuixi Pavilion or after being banished to the cold palace.

But standing behind Baharguli is Prince Jin. That poisonous snake is the best at hiding. How could Shen Zhinian detect everything he does?

Perhaps there really was a connection that she had not noticed, which connected Concubine Kang and Baharguli.

"But...it doesn't matter."

A sharp glint flashed in Shen Zhinian's charming fox eyes, and her doubts were replaced by calmness: "The most important thing now is not to worry about how they are connected, but to confirm one thing first."

She looked at Fuqiu and said decisively, "Fuqiu, spread the word and ask our people outside the palace to thoroughly investigate Master Huichen."

"The focus is on investigating whether he's greedy for money. Recently, especially around the time Concubine Kang asked him to enter the palace, has he or Fatu Temple accepted any gold or silver from unknown sources?"

"Also... did Concubine Kang and her confidants ever contact him or anyone else at Fatu Temple privately before asking Master Huichen to come to the palace to pray for the Fifth Prince?"

Shen Zhinian needs solid evidence to confirm his guess.

As long as it is proven that Master Huichen is a person who can be moved by money, then today's resentment is most likely a carefully planned play.

"My Lady, I'll do it right away!"

Fuqiu's expression changed, and she immediately accepted the order and turned around to make arrangements.

……

The news that the emperor was going to pardon the criminal woman in the cold palace soon spread in the palace, but did not cause much stir.

Because those who are banished to the cold palace can never be their opponents, and even if they come out, they can only survive.

Changchun Palace, small Buddhist hall.

Sandalwood curls.

Concubine Zhuang knelt on the cushion with her eyes closed, twisting a string of smooth Buddhist beads in one hand, and knocking the wooden fish in front of her with the other hand occasionally.

Her expression was gentle and peaceful, as if all the troubles in the outside world had nothing to do with this place.

Little Caizi entered quietly and stood outside the curtain with his head bowed. He waited until the wooden fish sound died down before whispering, "Your Majesty, the palace is saying that His Majesty wants to pray for the heir and pardon several deposed concubines in the cold palace whose crimes were less serious."

Concubine Zhuang said "hmm" lightly to show that she understood.

Little Caizi hesitated and took a half step forward: "Your Majesty, I am worried about Baharguli, will she also..."

"she?"

There was no expression of joy or anger in Concubine Zhuang's voice, but it still made little Caizi's heart tremble.

Little Caizi bowed and said, "I was just thinking about how we went through so much trouble to use the eldest princess's incident to get that evildoer into the cold palace."

"If Baharguli takes advantage of this favorable situation and emerges again, won't all our efforts be wasted?"

Last time, in order to bring down Baharguli, they had to take a risky move and let the eldest princess be poisoned with a poison that would not endanger her life but was enough to frame her, thus confirming Baharguli's guilt.

The suffering that the eldest princess endured was real.

Concubine Zhuang was silent, her eyes fixed on the Buddha statue in front of her. No one could guess what she was thinking.

A fierce gleam flashed in Little Caizi's eyes. He made a gesture of wiping his neck and whispered, "My Lady, how about...do it once and for all?"

"While the list is still undecided, let Baharguli die of illness in there, and save trouble later!"