As soon as the words fell, everyone looked at it one after another, only to see a bright red pill-like thing. Shen Concubine was already sick, and she became a thin person, and the heavy rouge was applied to her face, which was also glamorous and floating on her face. At this time, when he saw this thing, his face was even more blue and gray, which was incompatible with the rouge on his face, and the person also trembled a little.

However, Concubine Mei recognized this thing first, and her expression changed greatly, and she immediately turned her head to look at the emperor and said, "Your Majesty! This dirty thing is the cinnabar that killed the concubine's child back then! ”

The queen looked at Concubine Mei with a worried face, and gently instructed: "Concubine Mei, don't worry, and listen to the emperor's questions slowly." ”

When Concubine Shen heard this, she immediately knelt down and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, cinnabar is poisonous, what are you doing with this concubine?" She smiled reluctantly: "Is it that the little father-in-law who put the pearl made a mistake and gave it to the concubine by mistake." ”

The emperor wore a red and plum-colored jade dragon blue and white fox skin dragon robe, with pale gold brocade folded at the cuffs. With such a gorgeous tone, there is no fat powder and vulgarity on his body when he wears it, but it seems that his jade-like face is more and more smooth and bright, and his attitude is as clear as the wind, as if he is embracing the light of the stars. He raised the cup to his lips and took a leisurely sip, and said slowly: "Since it's for you, naturally it won't be wrong." Cinnabar is poisonous and can produce mercury when heated. I will reward you with such a good thing, and there will be no mistake in it, and it will be the most suitable for you. ”

Concubine Shen was so frightened that her eyes couldn't move, and she reluctantly smiled: "Why did the emperor give this to his concubine?" Concubines...... I really don't understand. ”

The emperor suddenly slammed the wine cup in his hand and shouted, "Li Yu, you come here." ”

Li Yu lowered his hand and said solemnly: "Yes." According to the emperor's instructions, the servants went to investigate the matter related to the damage to the two queen heirs, Concubine Mei and Concubine Yi. On that day, Xiao Luzi, who testified to Concubine Xian's mother, had been killed by a headbutt, and the other Xiao Anzi had been sent to the Shen Criminal Division to do hard labor, and had already been tortured to the point that only half of his life was left. The servant went to ask him, only to learn that the concubine said that he had bought him with thirty taels of silver to mix cinnabar in the candle, and it was Shen Concubine Niangniang who secretly instructed him to do it. In addition, although Xiao Luzi is dead, his brother, Xiao Fuzi, who used to serve Concubine Xian, is still alive, but he was sent out of the palace. The slave went out of the palace to take a look, but it was amazing, it turned out that after Xiao Luzi died, he could still build a three-entry yard at home and buy a hundred acres of fertile land. And these silvers were all allocated by the prefect of Shen Concubine Niangniang's Ama Guiduo. For the rest, I can only ask Concubine Shen herself. ”

The emperor had an indifferent smile on the corner of his mouth, but his voice was completely inconsistent with gentleness: "Then Ah Zhen, let me ask you, what's going on?" ”

Ah Zhen trembled all over, looking at Concubine Hui and the queen as if asking for help. Concubine Hui just turned her face away as if she didn't know anything, and whispered something with Concubine Jia.

The emperor said leisurely: "Back then, except for Xiao Luzi and Xiao Anzi, you were the one who pointed out the most concubines, and now, do you have anything to say?" ”

Ah Zhen's closed eyes suddenly opened, as if he remembered something, and walked to the emperor on his knees: "Your Majesty, the concubines are wronged, the concubines are wronged!" The concubine and Xiao Luzi had no dealings, and the slaves and maids knew nothing about his family's purchase of land and building houses. As for Xiao Anzi, the concubine had already heard that he had a dumb throat when he served in the Shen Penal Division and could no longer speak, how could it be said that the concubine instructed him. ”

She shouted out in a hurry, but before the words fell, the queen had closed her eyes in disgust, hugged the third princess and Jing in her arms, and called the nurse and said: "Hejing is still young, I can't listen to these foul words, send her to the queen mother first, right?" ”

Ruyi raised her eyebrows and said slowly: "Anyone who enters the Prudent Criminal Division, the Prudent Criminal Division naturally has a record. A few days ago, I accidentally looked through the records of the Criminal Division, and there was no record of you or your people in the palace coming and going. Bengong really wants to know, Shen Concubine, how did you know that Xiao Anzi was dumb and couldn't speak anymore. ”

Ah Zhen's expression changed drastically, and he said hoarsely: "Concubines, concubines also heard about it." ”

Ruyi was interested: "Then Shen Concubine, who are you listening to, you might as well say it." ”

Ah Zhen looked at her resentfully and fearfully: "I just heard about it. As for who it is, I forgot it a long time ago. It is not as delicate as Concubine Xian's thoughts, and even the records of the Criminal Division will be checked and looked at carefully. ”

Ruyi's gaze slowly swept over her face, and said with a smile: "Of course this palace will look at it, and it will also check." Because since the day the palace was wronged, he has never forgotten to clear his grievances. ”

Ah Ji said fiercely: "Concubine Xian Niangniang understands what she does. ”

Ruyi smiled: "This sentence is most appropriate for you to listen to yourself." ”

Although the emperor's tone was indifferent, there was a hint of murderous intent: "Then Shen Concubine, since you yourself saw with your own eyes how Concubine Xian harmed Concubine Yi and Concubine Mei, you naturally remember it day and night, and you dare not forget it." Then you should tell me again and let me listen to it too, what happened back then? After that, the emperor turned his head and instructed Li Yu: "Concubine Shen was still Concubine Xian's maid back then, and you have all written down her confession, right?" I also want to know, after three years, can Shen Concubine still miss a word, word by word? ”

Ah Zhen was so anxious that he couldn't speak, and kowtowed desperately: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the events of the year were too terrifying, and the concubines forced themselves to dare not think about it anymore and dare not remember it again." The slave only remembered how Concubine Xian mixed cinnabar with candles and food, and as for the details, the slave and maid really didn't remember. ”

"Ridiculous!" Concubine Mei was furious, and the red jade beads on her earlobes swayed, "Back then, you kept describing how Concubine Xian harmed the children in my and Concubine Yi's womb, and the details were all subtle. Why can't you come all of them today, it can be seen that you lied that day, so these words didn't go to your heart! ”

Hailan leaned on her waist and said slowly: "Back then, the queen sent her maid Su Xin to lead people to search Yanxi Palace, but it was Ah Zhen who stopped her from searching the dormitory to arouse suspicion. Later, under the dressing table drawer of Concubine Xian's bedroom, he found a bag of cinnabar stained with the smell of agarwood incense, and only then did he realize Concubine Xian's sin. The concubine has been thinking, if Concubine Xian really did such a thing, since she bought off Xiao Luzi and Xiao Anzi, then why is it difficult for her to take cinnabar, why must she put it under the dressing table drawer in her bedroom? If Concubine Xian really didn't know about that bag of cinnabar, who could enter and leave her bedroom at will, and the smell of agarwood incense could be left for so long without being noticed by Concubine Xian? ”

Concubine Shu said disdainfully: "Then it can only be Concubine Xian's close maid?" She took a chopstick dish and ate it, looked at Ah Ji and said, "It seems that this kind of thing, except for the concubine of the day, no one else can do it." ”

Jia Concubine shook her head in disgust and said, "What I said that day was conclusive, but today I panicked." Your Majesty, Concubine Shen is really suspicious. ”

The disgust in the emperor's eyes was already obvious, he clenched the wine cup in his hand, and said coldly: "What you did back then is related to the lives of my two emperors, if you don't tell the truth today, you will swallow the cinnabar that I rewarded you with, and I will then order the people of the Shen Penal Division to bury you alive with cinnabar." Weigh it up for yourself! ”

Ah Ji was so frightened that his face was colorless, and he was dressed in a powder blue silk painted robe with eight plum orchids and bamboo chrysanthemums, and his robe trembled like a rippling lake. Ruyi's gaze at her was as indifferent as frost, without the slightest hint of pity, and then said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the concubines have been thinking that Ah Ji does not have the ability to find so many cinnabars, buy so many people, arrange them in such detail one by one, and lay a net to unjustly harm the concubines. Although she has always had the heart to admire the emperor's grace, she may not have the heart to put her concubines to death at that time. The concubine wanted to know who was behind the scenes. ”

"Concubine?" The emperor chuckled and said, "If she had not been instructed to do so many evil things, she would have murdered the emperor's heir herself." Where is she still worthy of being my concubine, all along, she is just your maidservant, what you want to do, it's up to you! ”

Ruyi bowed and said, "Then the concubine is presumptuous." If Ah Zhen refuses to tell the truth, the concubine will let her pour a spoonful of cinnabar with refined mercury, which will corrode her internal organs after being poured into a large amount, and the process from poisoning to death is extremely painful. But if Ah Ji finds out who instigated it, at most it is only a crime of slander, and it does not involve murdering the emperor's heir, and the concubine is willing to ask the emperor to spare her life. ”

The emperor talked and laughed calmly, looked at the queen and said: "Ah Ji is the person of Concubine Xian, so it is naturally handled by Concubine Xian." Queen, don't you say? ”

The queen smiled faintly: "The emperor is right. It's just that...... Concubine Xian's punishment sounded too terrible. ”

The emperor said indifferently: "For such a heartless person, such a punishment is not exaggerated at all. Concubine Xian, I promise you. ”

Ah Ji knew that he was hopeless, and looked at Hui Guifei as if asking for help, and called: "Guifei Niangniang......"

Concubine Hui immediately cleared her eyes and said, "Oh, what are you calling this palace for!" Don't come to implicate Hongu! Concubine Xian, it's all up to you. ”

Before she finished speaking, she only heard a "coo" on the ground, but Ah Zhen had already fainted.

The emperor saw that Ah Zhen fainted and fell to the ground without being stimulated, so he ordered: "Today is the Spring Festival family banquet held by me and the queen, and this matter should not be mentioned at this time. It's just that when I saw the queen, I thought of Prince Duanhui, who died young, and remembered that the children of Concubine Mei and Concubine Yi were stillborn, and they died in an unknown way, so I couldn't help but inquire carefully. ”

When the queen heard him mention the second elder brother, she couldn't help but feel sad: "The emperor and his concubines are both parents, how can they not be sad?" Although this matter was mentioned at the concubine's Spring Festival family banquet, if it can be revealed, it can be regarded as the best congratulatory gift for the concubine. If it's late today, if there is anything the emperor will wait for tomorrow to inquire, after tossing for so long, please ask the emperor to rest early. ”

The emperor bowed his head and said, "I originally wanted to accompany the empress, but I was not interested in it tonight. Li Yu, drive back to the Heart Cultivation Palace. I need to be quiet. ”

Li Yu hurriedly said: "Please." What should I do with him? ”

A trace of coldness flashed in the emperor's eyes: "Take it to the side hall of the Heart Cultivation Palace, and someone will look at her, and she will not be allowed to find a short-term view or die for any reason." ”

This sentence clearly has a deep meaning. Concubine Hui unconsciously shrunk her body, touched the Su embroidery pattern on the cuffs, and forced herself to calm down. When the concubines saw this, they also took their leave. Concubine Hui deliberately fell behind, and looked at the queen with some concern, and the queen said lightly: "Don't do your business, what are you doing in this palace?" ”

Concubine Hui said timidly: "Yes." But if Ah Ji bites out our ......"

"Bite us out?" The queen sneered lightly and said idly, "You are a concubine, and this palace is the queen, what are we afraid of?" ”

Concubine Hui was still not at ease, and took a step forward and said, "But doesn't the queen think it's strange?" Today is obviously the mother's Spring Festival family banquet, why does the emperor have to attack today and strictly judge this matter? Could it be that the emperor is even suspicious of his mother? ”

The queen's expression froze, a trace of panic flashed, and she quickly said solemnly: "Presumptuous! The emperor just cares about the emperor's heir and is suspicious. It's just an accident to mention it at the Spring Festival banquet in this palace, you don't want to think nonsense, let alone talk nonsense when you think of something, and mess up with yourself. ”

Concubine Hui rarely saw the queen speak so violently, so she hurriedly lowered her head and did not dare to speak.

The queen took Su Xin's hand and turned to the dormitory, took off her clothes, looked at the Hehuan bronze mirror on the dressing table for a while, and lowered her voice and said: "Su Xin, the emperor won't really be suspicious of the palace, right?" ”

Su Xin hung the queen's big coat on the boxwood hanger and meticulously arranged it, and said: "The queen is at ease, didn't the emperor say it, and it was also because he thought about our early death of Prince Duanhui, so he couldn't help it." The emperor still wants to have another brother with his mother. In the final analysis, the emperor always cares about the mother, not to mention, we still have the third princess. The emperor doesn't know how much he likes the third princess. ”

"The eldest princess born in this palace and the second princess born to Concubine Zhe both died early, although the emperor has several elder brothers, but the princess only has this one, which is very cherished. The so-called pearl in the palm of your hand is about the same. The queen took off the Dongzhu earrings, sighed and sighed and stroked her lower abdomen, "It's just that this palace is the same as the emperor, how much I hope to have another brother, who can inherit the country for the emperor and continue the bloodline." ”

Su Xin hung up her clothes, untied her bun for the queen, and took off the beaded flowers: "Don't worry, the emperor has promised to accompany the mother often, as long as the mother takes care of her body, she will soon be pregnant with the prince." ”

The queen bowed her head and said, "Yes." Do you remember to remind Qilu in the Tai Hospital, and give the uterus a few doses of fetal pills that are easy to conceive. ”

Su Xin smiled: "Yes." It's funny when it comes to fetal pills. There is no one in the palace who is more diligent than Concubine Hui who drinks fetal pills, and she can't wait to drink it as water. But the more you drink, the worse your body becomes, didn't Niangniang pay attention, Concubine Hui's face has become more and more ugly in the past two years, and she has become a papier-mâché beauty. ”

The queen said: "This palace is sometimes suspicious. That bracelet, Concubine Xian and she both have it, and they can't conceive children, how can they still make their bodies weak? It's also thanks to Qilu who is personally treating her, but there is no improvement at all. ”

"That's just her own bliss. Even if Concubine Hui's father was so relied on by the emperor in the previous dynasty, and she was favored in the harem, she couldn't give birth to children, and it was useless as usual. Forever, you can only live by clinging to your mother. ”