sbdcsierra Chapter 633: Concubine Liang's Plea
Chapter 633: Concubine Liang's Plea
"The palace maids in the Imperial Garden can all testify to this."
Tan Er also knelt on the ground and said anxiously, "Yes, Your Majesty. The young lady was thinking about leaving at that time, so how could she have planned to murder Concubine Hao?"
"This is truly an accident. I hope Your Majesty will understand!"
Nangong Xuanyu looked at Concubine Hao: "Is that so?"
Seeing Wu Changzai and his servant trying to make excuses, although Hao Guiren was unhappy, she also understood what happened in the Imperial Garden. So many people saw it, and it was useless for her to deny it.
Besides, she didn't bother to wrongly accuse Wu Changzai.
Concubine Hao pursed her lips and said, "Your Majesty, I just heard that Concubine Wu's magic tricks have become very good, so I want to appreciate them..."
Seeing that the facts were indeed as Concubine Wu said, many people's eyes changed when they looked at Concubine Hao.
There are many disputes in the palace, and being pregnant with the emperor's heir, one must be extremely careful.
As for Concubine Hao, even though Concubine Wu had already taken the initiative to avoid her, she still kept looking for trouble.
It's what she deserved to end up with a miscarriage.
Not worthy of sympathy at all!
Nangong Xuanyu's eyes darkened, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his deep eyes.
It is naturally the concubine's fault for failing to protect the royal heir.
If anything happens to the child, Concubine Hao, as a mother, will also be to blame!
Concubine Hao quickly said, "Your Majesty, I just want to adjust my mood and let the heir grow better in my belly."
"How could someone be so vicious that he would not even let go of a fetus..."
Chu Er knelt on the ground and looked at Wu Changzai with hatred: "Your Majesty, at first the young lady wanted to see Wu Changzai's magic tricks, but she kept making excuses, and finally agreed."
"Perhaps Wu Changzai felt that the young lady had forced her, so she bore a grudge and deliberately used the thrush to harm the young lady's unborn heir..."
"Wuwuwu... The young lady has suffered such an injustice, you must stand up for her!"
Someone who likes to watch the fun and doesn't mind making trouble laughed while covering her mouth with a handkerchief, "I heard that Wu Changzai originally wanted to attract your majesty's attention by imitating Hao Guiren. I'm afraid there has been a long-standing grudge between the two. Who knows if Wu Changzai doesn't want to get rid of the 'real boss' this time."
Wu Changzai had tears in her eyes and kept shaking her head: "I don't have any!"
"Your Majesty, I really don't have any!"
"To murder the heir to the throne is a capital crime punishable by execution of the entire family. How could I knowingly commit such a crime? Your Majesty, you must trust me!"
Concubine Liang said in a gentle voice: "As sisters in the harem, I believe Sister Wu would not have such vicious thoughts."
"Sister Wu, why don't you tell me what happened at that time?"
Noble Lady Hao trusted Concubine Liang very much, and when she heard this, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes.
Could it be that she was overthinking, and the incident at Qianqiu Pavilion was just an accident?
Shen Zhinian had been sitting nearby, watching the show quietly.
Wu Changzai also didn't know whether Concubine Liang spoke up for her several times because she was truly kind to her or just wanted to use her.
But now, this is the only lifeline she can grasp.
"...The trick that I performed for Concubine Hao was actually very simple."
"Those thrushes were originally locked in the prop box. When I took the cloth, I quietly hid the thrush in my wide sleeves while no one was paying attention."
"When the cloth was placed over the hand and opened, the thrushes flew out from the sleeves of the concubines, and it seemed as if they appeared out of thin air from the cloth."
"All the thrushes were brought from the Zoo. I really don't know why one of them flew towards Concubine Hao..."
The Zoo is a place where wild animals are tamed for the royal family, and some small toys are also kept there on a daily basis.
Hearing this, Nangong Xuanyu looked at Su Quanye: "How is the investigation going?"
After the incident, Su Quanye received the news and took people to capture those thrush birds to check if there was anything abnormal with them.
Hearing the emperor's question, Su Quanye stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I have checked carefully and there is nothing abnormal about those thrush birds."
"Besides, this happened suddenly. No one could have known in advance that Concubine Hao wanted to watch Concubine Wu's performance."
"I think it's unlikely that someone has tampered with this. This should be an accident..."
Concubine Hao bit her lip, somewhat unwillingly.
She didn't like Concubine Wu in the first place, and today she had a miscarriage because of Concubine Wu. Is she just going to let it go?
Concubine Liang patted the back of Concubine Hao's hand, and looked at her gently with a face like a bodhisattva: "Sister Hao, since Sister Wu didn't do it on purpose, why don't we make a big deal out of a small matter, okay?"
"In the harem, we are all sisters, so we should not hurt the harmony."
Of course, Concubine Hao had to give face to Concubine Liang.
She looked at Wu Changzai who was kneeling on the ground and snorted coldly: "Since Lady Liang Fei has pleaded for you, I am too lazy to argue with you. Just consider it as accumulating merit for the unborn heir."
At this point, Concubine Hao looked at Nangong Xuanyu: "But... Your Majesty, the death penalty can be pardoned, but the living crime cannot be forgiven."
"It was because of Concubine Wu that I had a miscarriage. She should be punished a little!"
This was just an accident.
The heir to the throne was safe, and it was Concubine Hao who took the initiative to instigate this matter. Concubine Liang pleaded for mercy, and Concubine Hao herself did not care.
Moreover, Nangong Xuanyu is just beginning to get interested in Wu Changzai these days.
He looked at Wu Changzai and said calmly, "In this case, you will be fined one year's salary and copy ten volumes of Buddhist scriptures to give to Concubine Hao to pray for the royal heir."
"Don't perform magic tricks in the palace anymore."
This punishment was much lighter than she had imagined.
Wu Changzai knew very well that if it weren't for Concubine Liang's plea, Concubine Hao would definitely not let her go easily!
She kept her gratitude to Concubine Liang in her heart and kowtowed, saying, "I obey your command!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, and Lady Hao, for your generosity!"
Nangong Xuanyu looked at Concubine Hao unhappily: "And you, you knew you were pregnant, so you should have behaved yourself."
"If you hadn't insisted on having Wu Changzai perform for you, how could such an accident have happened today?"
Concubine Hao did not dare to refute, and lowered her head and said: "Your Majesty is right, I know I was wrong..."
"I will rest assured and take care of my baby in Shuiyue Pavilion from now on, and will not cause any more trouble."
Concubine Dun smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Sister Hao was also frightened today, she should have a good rest."
"I am still waiting for you to give birth to a chubby little prince to keep the Third Prince company."
Which pregnant concubine in the palace doesn’t want to give birth to a prince?
Concubine Hao blushed slightly: "Thank you for your good wishes, Concubine Dun..."
I don't know how many low-ranking concubines, after hearing Concubine Dun's words and looking at Concubine Hao's bulging belly, had obvious jealousy flashing in their eyes...
Nangong Xuanyu still had some government affairs to deal with, so when he saw that this matter was resolved, he said a few words and left Shuiyuexuan.