sbdcsierra Chapter 474 Green Tea
Chapter 474 Green Tea
Chapter 474 Green Tea
Yongzheng also noticed something was wrong. His brows were furrowed, his eyes were like torches, and he stared straight at Zhenpin. His voice was low and majestic: "Zhenpin, do you know what the crime of deceiving the emperor is?"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Zhen trembled all over and fell to her knees with a thud. Her knees hit the cold floor tiles hard, and the pain made her eyes red and she almost cried.
She lowered her head, not daring to look Yongzheng in the eye. She felt so regretful that she almost yelled, "Why did I go to the Imperial Garden? I will never go to the Imperial Garden again!"
Shen Meizhuang released An Lingrong's hand, which she had been tightly holding, and walked up to the two of them, saying softly, "Don't be afraid. Just tell me the truth!"
Concubine Zhen looked up and saw Shen Meizhuang's gentle expression. The panic in her heart subsided a little. She took a deep breath, and although her voice was still trembling, she was calmer than before: "Your Majesty, I and Sister Kang were originally going to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the scenery, but it suddenly started raining, so we found a rockery to take shelter. When the rain stopped, we were preparing to return to the palace. When we passed the pavilion, we happened to see Concubine Wen and Concubine Shun standing together. They were talking when Concubine Shun fell. As for... as for whether Concubine Wen pushed her, I was standing far away and couldn't see clearly."
Concubine Kang nodded repeatedly and agreed, "Every word that Sister Zhenpin said is true. I didn't see it clearly, I only heard Concubine Shun say something like 'I know I was wrong and I won't dare to do it again'."
Yongzheng's gaze slowly turned to An Lingrong, his eyes filled with scrutiny and oppression: "What were you talking about at the time?"
Before An Lingrong could speak, Mu Jingqiu spoke first, her tone gentle but with a hint of grievance: "Your Majesty, Concubine Wen's teachings to me are justified, and I shall accept them. If Your Majesty punishes me for this, then from now on, when I do something wrong, we concubines will never say anything more. Then..." She paused, tears welling in her eyes, "Wouldn't that cause the harem to lose its rules and disrupt the hierarchy? I am terrified."
An Lingrong looked at her with interest. Wow, green tea, alive!
Upon hearing this, Yongzheng looked at An Lingrong with a complicated expression.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "I understand Concubine Wen's personality. She is straightforward and speaks her mind. I don't think she has any ill intentions."
Mu Jingqiu quickly wiped the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief: "Yes, Your Majesty is right! Concubine Wen is straightforward, and I understand."
Shen Meizhuang stood aside, watching Mu Jingqiu's performance with cold eyes, her brows furrowed tightly. "Your Majesty, since I and others entered the palace, Shunpin and her maid have said so much, but Rong'er hasn't said a word! Why don't you listen to her explanation?"
Upon hearing this, Yongzheng turned his gaze to An Lingrong and said in a slightly slower tone, "Concubine Wen, do you have anything to say?"
An Lingrong walked to the center of the bedroom and faced Yongzheng, her expression calm and her eyes clear as water: "I didn't push her!"
"Then why did she fall?"
Seeing this, Ju Qing became anxious and took a step forward to explain, but was stopped by An Lingrong.
She slowly raised her head and met Mu Jingqiu's eyes on the bed.
Mu Jingqiu was staring at her, his eyes as deep as a pool, and a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
An Lingrong's heart trembled, and she lowered her eyes, her mind racing. Today's events were too bizarre, filled with strangeness. If Mu Jingqiu had truly miscarried, things would have been much simpler, but she was fine.
She felt a lingering unease, a feeling that there was something else going on, perhaps even a deeper conspiracy. If she spoke rashly and made too many promises at this point, she would be in a difficult position. She had to leave some room for error, to potentially gather more clues—or, in other words, leverage—in the future.
"I don't know."
Mu Jingqiu sat on the bed, his eyes fell on An Lingrong, and a hint of admiration flashed through his mind. She was indeed a very smart person. Even in the face of such a situation, she could still keenly find the loopholes in today's affairs and did not lose her mind.
After saying this, An Lingrong raised her eyes and slowly scanned everyone in the hall.
Needless to say, Zhen Huan, Shen Meizhuang and Feng Ruozhao never suspected that she would push Mu Jingqiu.
Xinpin's eyes were a little hesitant, and she glanced at Mu Jingqiu from time to time. She was obviously doubtful about Mu Jingqiu's words, and even tended to suspect that Mu Jingqiu was the instigator of this turmoil.
As for the lower-ranking concubines, they looked at An Lingrong with some concern, and were obviously unwilling to believe that she would do such an impulsive thing.
Sun Heyin was closest to her, and her eyes never left her.
An Lingrong felt warm in her heart, as these people all believed in her.
Only Qi Yuebin had a calm expression and deep eyes, making it impossible to see what she was thinking.
Yongzheng frowned slightly, his eyes were like torches, and his tone was filled with obvious displeasure: "There are only two of you in the pavilion, how could you not know?"
Sensing his emotions, An Lingrong felt a chill in her heart. So many people believe in me, but you, Old Deng, don't. As expected, the Green Tea trick can only control men, but not women.
What he said next was already a bit impolite: "The emperor also said that there were two of us in the pavilion. In that case, it would be better for you to ask Shunpin. After all, she is the victim."
"What are you talking about!"
"When the emperor asks questions, I will naturally tell the truth."
"you……"
An Lingrong said no more and lowered her eyes without looking at him.
Seeing this, Mu Jingqiu quickly spoke to smooth things over: "Your Majesty, the steps in the pavilion were too slippery, and I slipped. Concubine Wen wanted to help me, but she pushed me by mistake. I don't blame her, really."
Cuixiang wanted to speak, but Mu Jingqiu shouted, "You have no right to speak in front of the Emperor and the ladies!"
"Miss!"
"Go down!"
Seeing her say this, Yongzheng was ready to make a big deal out of a small matter: "In that case, Concubine Wen, if you apologize to Concubine Shun, I will not pursue the matter."
An Lingrong raised her chin slightly, her expression stubborn: "I did nothing wrong, why should I apologize?"
Seeing her rebellious and ruthless rejection of his kindness, Yongzheng's anger was instantly provoked. His face darkened and his voice suddenly rose: "How dare you!"
Upon seeing this, all the concubines in the hall knelt down in a large number, and the atmosphere was so solemn that it was suffocating.
An Lingrong lifted her skirt and slowly knelt on the ground, her back straight, her chin slightly raised, her eyelids drooping. Although her posture was respectful, her expression clearly showed a refusal to admit her mistake.
In front of so many people in the hall, Yongzheng felt a little embarrassed, his face growing gloomier. He casually grabbed the medicine bowl nearby and hurled it towards An Lingrong. The blue and white porcelain bowl drew a sharp arc in the air, carrying a gust of wind as it headed straight for An Lingrong.
Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan were some distance away from An Lingrong, and when they saw Yongzheng's actions, it was too late to stop him.
Their expressions changed suddenly.
An Lingrong subconsciously raised her arms to protect her head, but the expected pain did not come.