sbdcsierra Chapter 533: The Emperor Goes to War (84 votes plus additional content)
Chapter 533: The Emperor Goes to War (84 votes plus additional content)
Su Quanye didn't want to offend Shen Zhinian to death, so he added: "Of course, they only saw Fuqiu and Li Cairong talking for a few words. No one can prove that Fuqiu gave the poison to Li Cairong."
This was also within Concubine Xiao's calculations.
The fact that Fuqiu had talked to Li Cairong doesn't prove anything.
But Xiao Guiren knew that the real Fuqiu had never had any contact with Li Cairong. If she told this story, both Concubine Xian and Fuqiu would subconsciously deny it.
If the Ministry of Punishment investigates further, Fuqiu will be more likely to be a suspect.
If she just happened to meet Li Cairong and talked to her, why didn't she admit it?
The two of them must have some shameful conspiracy!
Xiao Guiren understood that everything is excessive, and if she continued to bite Concubine Xian at this time, it would only arouse suspicion.
Anyway, she didn't need to do anything, there were people who were more eager to prove the virtuous concubine's guilt than she was...
As expected, Concubine Shu pointed at Shen Zhinian and said coldly, "Concubine Xian, the senior maidservant beside you denied that she had any contact with the people from Ruixuexuan. But the Ministry of Punishment found out the truth and slapped you in the face. What else do you have to say?!"
Fuqiu was so scared that she knelt on the ground and shook her head repeatedly, saying, "I didn't! I really didn't!"
"I have never met Li Cairong beside Concubine Xiao in the palace!"
Lady Xia sneered: "With so many eyes watching, are they all wrongly accusing you?"
"I've seen it today. Some people can lie without blushing."
Concubine Shu pointed at Fuqiu, looked at Nangong Xuanyu and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, this maidservant who is full of lies should be dragged into the Ministry of Punishment and severely tortured!"
"See if she dares to lie to you again and commit the crime of deceiving the king!"
Shen Zhinian's beautiful fox eyes were filled with three parts of astonishment and seven parts of confusion: "Your Majesty, this is not right!"
"The Ministry of Punishment said that when Fuqiu was found in contact with Li Cairong, she was serving me and the Fourth Prince in the main hall of Zhongcui Palace."
"She doesn't have the ability to clone herself, so how could she run to the vicinity of Chengqian Palace and give the poison to Li Cairong at the same time?"
Concubine Shu sneered, "All the people in Zhongcui Palace are yours, so naturally, whatever you say is true. Who can prove that Fuqiu was really in Zhongcui Palace at that time?"
Concubine Xiao lowered her head, with a slight curve at the corner of her lips.
Precisely because Fuqiu was the head maid of Zhongcui Palace and would not easily leave Concubine Xian's side, she deliberately asked Li Cairong to disguise herself as Fuqiu.
Just like what Concubine Shu said, the people in Zhongcui Palace are all Concubine Xian's people, so they will naturally speak for Concubine Xian. Their testimony cannot prove Fuqiu's innocence.
Li Cairong's family is still in the hands of her cousin. Even if she is tortured in the Ministry of Punishment, she will not reveal a single word of this matter.
As things got to this point, more and more people began to doubt Shen Zhinian...
She ignored Concubine Shu's relentless pressure, slowly raised her little face, and looked at Nangong Xuanyu expectantly: "Your Majesty, I dare not doubt the results of the investigation you ordered the Ministry of Punishment to find out."
"But I really don't know why there are two Fuqiu in the palace..."
"I have absolutely no intention of harming the Empress Dowager, and Concubine Xiao has never conspired with me!"
"I have been framed and have no way to defend myself. I only want to beg Your Majesty to believe me..."
Having said this, Shen Zhinian stood up, knelt down, and bowed deeply, his voice choked with sobs.
What she was betting on was Nangong Xuanyu's trust in her.
If this man believed in her innocence, he would definitely investigate further starting from the matter of the "two lotuses".
Shen Zhinian didn't believe that the things done by a mere imprisoned Concubine Xiao could be hidden from the emperor's careful investigation!
Of course, she would not tie her own and Ah Xu's life and property to the emperor's trust.
If Nangong Xuanyu doesn't believe her, that's fine. She still has other ways to escape punishment, though they're a bit more troublesome.
But... this can also make Shen Zhinian understand how unreliable the man in front of her is. Maybe one day, because of someone else's frame-up, she and Ah Xu will fall into hell.
Then, Shen Zhinian should start planning now, and when Ah Xu is older, then...
Concubine Shu said contemptuously, "Two lotuses. Concubine Xian must have read too many storybooks to come up with such an absurd excuse!"
"Even if you want to quibble, you should find a reason that can convince everyone."
Then, she looked at Nangong Xuanyu and changed her tone to an angry and aggrieved one: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is still unconscious in the Cining Palace. You won't believe the nonsense of Concubine Xian, right?"
Nangong Xuanyu's eyes were somewhat deep.
The emperor holds the power of an entire country. If he really wants to use force to investigate something, there is nothing he cannot find out.
However, there are countless national affairs waiting for him to deal with every day. How could he have so much energy to judge cases for the women in the harem?
Therefore, in the past, the emperors were too lazy to investigate many things and only looked at the evidence on the surface. Even if someone was wrongly accused, it was because of their incompetence.
If it were someone else, they would have the confession of Concubine Xiao and the witness found by the Ministry of Punishment. In addition, the harem, the court, and the people were all in an uproar because of the Queen Mother's poisoning. If it was delayed for another day, the impact would become even greater.
The emperor will definitely close the case and reduce the public opinion caused by this incident to the minimum until it is concluded.
But Concubine Xian is different.
The virtuous concubine was the woman he loved.
Moreover...with all the evidence before him, the emperor also wanted to know, is this matter unrelated to Nian Nian?
Or when he didn't know, Nian Nian was also influenced by the big dye vat of the harem and changed beyond recognition. Was it really she and Concubine Xiao who poisoned the Queen Mother?
Nangong Xuanyu turned his eyes away from Shen Zhinian and said slowly: "Bring the witnesses found by the Ministry of Punishment to the Ministry of Punishment for interrogation!"
"Order the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple to conduct a thorough investigation of the Xiao and Shen families, as well as everyone associated with them!"
"I must know the truth about this matter!"
Su Quanye's heart trembled!
The affairs of the harem have affected the former dynasty. His Majesty is really going to make a big move this time: "...Yes!"
Concubine Shu couldn't believe it: "Your Majesty, at this point, you still want to favor Concubine Xian?!"
Even if Nangong Xuanyu thought so in his heart, he couldn't admit it openly: "I am not partial to anyone. I just want to find out who really murdered the Queen Mother!"
No one believes this.
However, after this incident, everyone understood more clearly the status of Concubine Xian in His Majesty's heart!
Concubine Shu was unwilling to accept the situation and said, "Your Majesty, if this is the case, Fuqiu should also be sent to the Ministry of Punishment for questioning! After all, she is also involved in the incident."
Even if she couldn't touch Concubine Xian for the time being, she would still break one of her arms!
Shen Zhinian gave Fuqiu a reassuring look.
With so much evidence before him, Nangong Xuanyu could have directly convicted her, but he still turned the court and the harem upside down to clear her name. How could he have a quarrel with her just because of a palace maid?