Frightened by Qiao Rong's retribution and ruthlessness, Zhou Ying didn't dare to show a trace of surprise and disgust, for fear that this big eunuch who turned his hands and covered his hands would hate him. Zhou Ying and Qiao Rong glanced at each other calmly, and then looked away as if nothing had happened.

Zhou Ying didn't know how Qiao Rong interrogated Liao Guiren, but after a stick of incense at most, Qiao Rong came back with the news.

"Your Majesty, Liao Guiren bought Su Hexiang through a eunuch, this eunuch's name is Chen Wangfu, and he is a rough eunuch in charge of flowers and plants in Yongshou Palace. Because his status was too low, he couldn't get close to the main hall when he was idle, and the slave was careless for a while, and when he interrogated the servants of Yongshou Palace before, he only asked the name of the envoy roughly, and he was omitted, and asked His Majesty to surrender. Qiao Rong knelt down and pleaded guilty.

"Get up and speak." The emperor frowned, "Ignored it before, and now it's a retrial." ”

"But after just a while, Chen Wangfu took advantage of the unpreparedness and bit his tongue to commit suicide." Qiao Rong looked ashamed and kowtowed heavily.

Zhou Ying never expected that Qiao Rong, who had scared her half to death just now, would capsize in the gutter.

The emperor, of course, was not happy.

Qiao Rong lay on the ground with his back bent, revealing his old age, "It's the slave who has lived up to His Majesty's expectations." ”

Qiao Rong has followed the emperor since the submersible mansion. The emperor was well-maintained, his hair was black and shiny, and he was still thirty as promised. But even if Qiao Rong is the chief eunuch of the fourth grade, he is the first class among the eunuchs, and he is still serving people. If you don't eat on time every day, sleep on time, and work hard every day, you will have to go gray for a long time, like an old man, if you are in the people's house, you should have raised your grandchildren a long time ago.

On weekdays, Qiao Rong refuses to show weakness, firstly, he is not dignified enough, and secondly, he is afraid of causing the filial sons and grandsons below to revolt, but today Qiao Rong made such a big mistake, so he had to show some old state, so as to set a set of old feelings with the emperor.

The emperor was indeed quite touched, and his face softened a little, "Who hasn't made a mistake, tigers have squinting eyes." ”

Qiao Rong was moved to tears.

The emperor sighed, "You also know the palace rules, if you make an exception, you will be given the name of luck." In this way, you will be relieved of your monthly money for a year, and the position of chief manager will be stopped first, and you will be allowed to make meritorious contributions. Don't worry, I'll keep this spot for you. ”

Qiao Rong trembled and kowtowed, grateful, "Thank you, Majesty." ”

Zhou Ying really valued Qiao Rong more as an emperor, but it turned out to be nothing more than that. Doesn't the emperor know how many people are hot in the position of Ouchi Chief? In the past, so many people were overwhelmed by Qiao Rong, but now Qiao Rong has been removed from his minions and is in a worrying situation.

There were two people present, one treated each other as a national soldier, and the other hated to repay him with death.

It seems that the monarch and the minister get along and enjoy each other, but there is an undercurrent surging under the water...... Zhou Ying lowered her head, not daring to look again.

No matter what the emperor's purpose was, it stimulated Qiao Rong's motivation very well. Qiao Rong ruthlessly cleaned up the ladies and grandmothers of Yongshou Palace, how could these people withstand the private methods of the internal prison, and what they should say and what they shouldn't say, they all poured out.

Who broke a jade beauty vase, but pushed it on the cat raised by the nobleman; Whoever gambles and loses his pants secretly exchanges the silk in the treasury and sells it for money; Who was slapped by the nobleman, held a grudge, and spat in the nobleman's tea......

Of course, Qiao Rong knew what the emperor wanted to know, regardless of the details, and focused on the big head, which concubine inquired about the whereabouts of the imperial court, and which concubine secretly learned the means of inviting pets...... According to the last statistics, Yongshou Palace is like a sieve, and most of the palace maids and eunuchs in front of Liao Guiren have masters behind them.

And Chen Wangfu, whom Qiao Rong is most concerned about, has also pieced together the origin from everyone's mouths.

Qiao Rong reported to the emperor with these news, "Your Majesty, Chen Wangfu entered the palace at the age of seven, and has now been in the palace for more than 30 years, neither of his parents nor brothers, he has learned to play with flowers and plants since he entered the palace, and he has been lonely and widowed all these years, and has not made a friend, but Chen Wangfu once married a pair of food when he was young, because the two were low-key, so few people know, and then the palace maid is gone, and this matter is even less known." Before her death, this palace maid was on duty in Xiuyu Palace. ”

The emperor was silent, and Qiao Rong said again: "And this time, after the investigation of the slaves, many concubines have placed people in Yongshou Palace. Qiao Rong stepped forward and whispered a few names, including Concubine He.

If these are not ironclad evidence, then the next evidence given by Qiao Rong is to directly nail Concubine He to the pillar.

Qiao Rong's eyebrows drooped, amiable and submissive, "The palace people are not allowed to leave the palace at will, unless the master has something important and has an entry and exit token in hand." The servants transferred to the register of Xihuamen, and after checking it, they found that there was nothing abnormal about the rest, except for Titian, the palace maid of Xiuyu Palace. Titian had been in and out of the palace three times in the past month, and before that, Titian had only been out of the palace once in a year. The servants went to search Titian's residence, and sure enough, they found two empty porcelain bottles, which were inspected by Imperial Physician Chen, and indeed had stored Qumai's incense pills. ”

Although Qiao Rong's evidence points to Concubine He, Zhou Ying is still a little suspicious.

Solving the case pays attention to motives, and the grudge between Concubine and Xu Guifei is not a mutual enmity, so why take a great risk to cause the death of a baby who has not yet been formed and is unknown to men and women? She doesn't even have a son, and she can't be the queen mother.

However, Qiao Rong obviously also considered this, "Your Majesty, I stopped changing with Concubine Niangniang for two months. ”

The emperor's face was complicated, as if he didn't know whether to be happy that Concubine He was finally happy, or whether to be sad about Concubine He's poisonous woman's heart.

Qiao Rong asked, "Your Majesty, do you need to pass on the concubine?" ”

After a long time, the emperor closed his eyes and said: "Spread the decree to Xiuyu Palace, and the concubine has a soft and cunning temperament and an unbearable heart, and now she is reduced to a concubine and grounded for three years." ”

Zhou Ying raised her head in surprise.

The emperor didn't even have a chance to plead his case, wasn't he ready to give it to Concubine He? No, it's time to say it's a concubine. Grounded for three years, that is to say, even if he gives birth to a prince, this prince, who is bound to be pinned on by his concubines, will also be affected by his biological mother and be grounded as soon as he is born? Even if the ban is lifted after three years, the times have changed, and the concubine can make a comeback?

The emperor may want to minimize the loss, but whether it is Xu Guifei or Concubine He, I am afraid that he will not receive his affection.

From Xu Guifei's point of view, the child she regarded as a treasure was almost killed by Hefei, and the culprit was only lowered by three levels, and she was grounded for three years without pain or itching, and she perfectly avoided the tongue turmoil, which can be described as unscathed, how could Xu Guifei be willing.

And the concubine will not be willing. She tried her best to hide the news of her pregnancy, and got rid of the unborn competitor for her son in advance, which must be a big plan, this time she was grounded for three years, and when she came out again, the daylily was cold.

Qiao Rong lowered his hand and took the order.

The emperor waved away from the palace people, holding his forehead with his hand, looking tired, "Xiao Qi, did you say that I did the right thing?" ”

Zhou Ying's heart moved, she knelt on the emperor's knees, raised a small face, and asked without answering: "Father, are you sad?" ”

The emperor smiled bitterly, "How can I have a sad face?" It's because I don't know people clearly, I handle things gently, and I know that she is wrong, but I weigh it left and right, and I refuse to move lightly. Your mother has been wronged, I am not only an accomplice, but I can't even make decisions for her afterwards, how can I be a husband and a father. ”

Zhou Ying said obediently: "My father has already punished my mother, and my mother will not blame my father." ”

The emperor lowered his head in surprise and looked at Zhou Ying.

First, the punishment and concubine did not make a clear order, when Qiao Rongyu reported to the critical moment, he either lowered his voice, or referred to a thing instead, with just a few words, Zhou Ying actually guessed the truth! The emperor didn't shy away from her when she was a child, and didn't want her to be so subtle, less and smarter.

Second, when Zhou Ying dealt with Liao Guiren, she said that she often went to Xiuyu Palace to ask for peace, and the emperor only regarded her as filial piety and admiration for his concubines. Now that Concubine Xu and Concubine He are completely opposed, the emperor thinks that Zhou Ying will have contradictions and it will be difficult to choose. This sympathy made the emperor can't help but confide in front of a child. But when I heard Zhou Ying mention the concubine just now, her tone was calm and unwavering, without a trace of waves.

The emperor asked, "You have been grounded with your mother for three years, don't you feel sorry for her?" ”

Zhou Ying's apricot eyes were black and white, and she said seriously: "Should I be sad?" If you make a mistake with your mother, shouldn't you be punished? ”

It's still a kid after all. No matter how early and intelligent he is, he is still a blank slate in terms of human feelings. Maybe the child's world is so black and white, the emperor smiled dumbly, "You're right, I treat others with myself, but it's a loss." ”

Although the emperor was smiling, he still frowned.

Zhou Ying propped one hand on the handle of the chair, stood on tiptoe, stretched out her other small short hand, and gently smoothed the pimples wrinkled between the emperor's eyebrows, "Father, don't be afraid that the mother concubine will blame you, I'll help my father, okay?" ”

Although the emperor didn't think she could help much, he was moved by his daughter's intimacy and asked for face: "How to help?" ”

Zhou Ying tilted her head and thought about it, her eyes lit up, and she raised a finger, "I can't help with anything else, but there is one thing I can help my father with." ”