Chapter Eighteen Mothers Are More Valuable than Children
"In the final analysis, the problem is, who put the sachet that was stained with fennel juice in Huanhua Palace?" Empress Ji took a sip of tea casually, and said, "Then I will ask Concubine Xuan first, the sachet, Does it belong to someone in your palace? Whose it belongs to? When did you disappear? Did you tell me? Why didn’t you track it down after you found out?”
Concubine Xuan took a deep breath, stabilized her mind, and said in a deep voice: "Returning to the empress's words: I took a look at that sachet, and it was indeed very similar to what I used for dowry. But who it is, I am also very curious here." It's hard to find out. Because sister Zhenfei sent someone to send a group of civet cats raised by Xuanqing Palace to Yanlan Palace last night. The concubine thought that those civet cats were ordered by the empress dowager to be released into the palace, so I dare not neglect, so They sent quite a few servants to receive it."
"Due to a lot of busy work, all the palace people were sweating all over, so they went to the side hall to wash and change clothes before returning to serve in front of the concubine. As a result, the changed clothes piled up and were accidentally knocked over by the little palace people. The candlesticks were all burned. Among them were several sachets, and the exact number has not yet been counted... Therefore, even if a palace official lost the sachet, I am afraid that they would not expect to go to the Huanhua Palace for a while, and would only think It was also burnt while running out of water."
Yun Fenghuang sneered: "It's really a coincidence, if it wasn't for a so-called accident, wouldn't we be able to find out?"
Who knows if you have a guilty conscience and destroyed the evidence?
"Sister Zhenfei said so." Concubine Xuan glanced at her, showing a slight sarcasm, "This morning, I asked my wet nurse to take good care of everyone around me, so as to avoid such messy things from happening again."
In the end who is guilty of a guilty conscience, you know it in your heart!
The two glared at each other, and once again asked the queen to call the shots.
Empress Ji said: "Well, about the sachet, I have some ideas in my mind. Then I will ask Concubine Zhen, the place where the sachet was found, and the palace people usually sweep it, have they ever wiped it? Did the palace person wipe it last time? Have you asked? Besides, from the time Xuanfei visited you yesterday to the time when you found the sachet, how many people had the opportunity to put the sachet in? Have all these palace officials been arrested and interrogated individually?"
Yun Fenghuang said: "Your Majesty, someone wiped that seat every day, and there was nothing there the day before. This was asked after the discovery of the sachet. And the relevant people have been interrogated separately, and no suspicious things have been found. .”
Concubine Xuan sneered, and said, "Sister Zhenfei trusts the people around her very much."
It's not empty talk!
"After all, there has never been a handy servant around Bengong." Yun Fenghuang glanced at her, and said with a half-smile, "Xuanqing Palace didn't go through the water just right, why didn't Bengong trust them?"
You yourself said that the people in your palace are hands and feet, but I never said that the people around you are useless!
The two glared at each other again, and asked the queen to call the shots.
Empress Ji was unhurried, as if she hadn't seen the tension between them, she still said kindly: "Since this is the case, then this matter is very clear: it has nothing to do with Concubine Xuan."
Concubine Xuan was startled, and immediately said: "I thank the Queen for upholding justice!"
"Dare to ask the empress, who did it to murder the concubine?" Zhenfei frowned, her tone was not very good, and asked forcefully, "Or does the empress think that the concubine has no way to control her?"
Empress Ji said lightly: "Concubine Zhen, when you sent the civet cat to Yanlan Palace last night, Concubine Xuan specially sent a servant to deal with this matter in order to show respect for Empress Ji. You are always respectful and considerate, so you send someone When I went to deliver the civet cats, did the servants also show up?"
Yun Fenghuang said: "Yes."
"Then it's over?" Empress Ji said, "Concubine Xuan visits you during the day, and you received her in the main hall. In this kind of place, who is not a close servant who is qualified to come in and out? If Concubine Xuan left the soaked The sachet of fenugreek juice, with your close servant at your side, how can it not be contaminated with a little smell? After entertaining Concubine Xuan with you like this, and then go to take care of the civet cats, those civet cats will definitely get restless on the spot... But you didn't do it from the beginning to the end Speaking of this matter, Yanlan Palace has also tacitly agreed that there is no problem when the civet cat is sent there."
"So it can be seen that the sachet was put into the Huanhua Hall after Concubine Xuan left, and even after the attendants sent by you, Concubine Zhen, to deal with civet cats left the main hall."
Empress Ji blew the tea foam from the tea bowl in front of her, and asked quietly, "Is there any problem with my speculation?"
"Your Majesty knows everything, and I am far beyond my reach!" Concubine Xuan raised the corners of her mouth and said softly, "My Majesty's conjecture is well-founded, and anyone who makes sense will be convinced!"
The implication is that if Concubine Zhen still has objections, it would be unreasonable.
Concubine Zhen glanced at her, and snorted: "The empress's words are reasonable, but I dare to ask her, who is the real culprit in this matter? Why do you want to target the concubine so much?"
There was silence in the hall for a while, everyone felt that Concubine Zhen was really shameless, is it still not clear what happened here?
It must be the thief in Yunfenghuang calling for the thief!
Fortunately, she still has the nerve to pester her!
Empress Ji was very kind, she was not angry, she thought about it seriously, and said: "Concubine Zhen, you were planning to send all civet cats to Yanlan Palace. The soaked sachet is not a big deal. After all, the sage juice itself is harmless to humans, but it can only attract civet cats."
"In the final analysis, things will be involved because when the people under your command gathered the civet cats, two of them ran out, didn't they?"
"It's because it's getting late, and the servants I sent to do this are all old people who have followed me since I entered the palace." Yun Fenghuang immediately alerted, "At that time, they were also The one who planned to catch the civet cat back immediately was the concubine who thought it was already so late, there was no need to delay the time because of the two civet cats, and cause any trouble to Yanlan Palace."
Empress Ji didn't mean to hold her servant accountable, but said kindly: "That's it. In my opinion, the real murderer behind the scenes is probably after knowing that these two civet cats escaped and hid in the Xuanqing Palace. The one who stuffed the sachet of fenugreek juice into Huanhua Palace—according to what Concubine Zhen said, it was already late at that time, and the people from Yanlan Palace had already left, and the Xuanqing Palace was also quickly locked. Who it is, Concubine Zhen will investigate on her own after she returns, and there will be a result soon."
Her speculation is reasonable, compared to when Yun Fenghuang said "I was pushed into the water", she immediately took action to clean up the palace for Yuan Niangniang, and now she just let Yun Fenghuang investigate the palace by herself, which is already very gentle and tolerant.
But Yun Fenghuang was still dissatisfied, and said with a frown: "Your Majesty, what you mean is that this incident was done by a concubine in the palace? But your concubine's speculation just now seems reasonable, but there is no real evidence at all. That's it To slander palace officials who work hard is too chilling!"
Without waiting for everyone to open their mouths, she continued, "Also, even if it was really done by the people in this palace, why didn't they do it sooner or later, and something happened as soon as Concubine Xuan left? This is too confusing. "
"Sister Zhenfei is still suspicious of the concubine's identity?" Concubine Xuan glanced at her and said lightly, "It's just that my sister keeps saying that the empress has no proof. Do you have proof yourself? So far, the whole thing has been done. You said it alone. The concubine has not yet questioned my sister, but my sister wants to question the fair empress, but it is too nonsense."
Yun Fenghuang sneered and said: "If you have never questioned Bengong, but still clamoring everywhere to give you justice, what are you doing? At such a young age, it is smooth to say that you do one thing and do another thing!"
"...Sister Zhenfei, please be careful." Concubine Xuan's eyes flashed with anger, "Could it be that my sister suspects that she is a concubine, and that concubine should be left to you without saying a word?"
Yun Fenghuang said: "I have been living a good life in Xuanqing Palace, raising the emperor's heir, but after you left, this happened and that happened, why? I shouldn't suspect you. Then how should you doubt it? Doubt that your concubine Xuan is a disaster star, where is it not peaceful? Or should I swallow my anger and bear the disaster you brought over?"
Concubine Xuan took a deep breath, turned her head to one side, and stopped talking to her!
Yun Fenghuang smiled sarcastically, and continued to talk to Empress Ji: "Your Majesty's understanding of Qiuhao's concubine status is not to be doubted, but your Majesty has been sick these days, and she seems to be unfamiliar with the affairs of the palace."
It was a step up for the queen, and then said, "As the empress said, the real murderer is indeed in the Huanhua Palace. The question is, would the murderer not understand such a simple truth? But why did he do it? Isn't it self-inflicted?"
Anyway, there can be no problem with her people.
Even if there was a problem, it was because everyone was loyal to her in the private sudden death scene, and her true concubine was the one who never betrayed Yu Xiayoufang!
Empress Ji stared at her for a while, then said softly: "Then what does Concubine Zhen think?"
"Let the Empress be the master!" Yun Fenghuang didn't respond and kicked the ball back.
The queen was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, leaned back, and said in a low voice: "I've been sick these days, today I feel better, but now I have a headache... Either way, it's not too early Now, let's go pay our respects to our loving mother, the Empress Dowager, lest the Empress Dowager wait for us, that would be unfilial. When I turn around, I will think about it carefully, how should I deal with this matter?"
Everyone looked at Yun Fenghuang, but Yun Fenghuang pursed his lips, made quick calculations, and nodded: "All are according to your mother."
So the queen got up and led a group of concubines to the Spring Palace.
Empress Dowager Yuan has already received the news. After calling for the seat, she asked about the Queen's recent situation: "The Ai family said earlier that if you are not feeling well, you can take a rest. Why bother with these vain rituals?"
"My daughter-in-law understands the love and care of the queen mother. It's just that today I feel a little better, and I'm a little quiet, so I just come to see you with them." Empress Ji smiled, "I'll go back and lie down later, it doesn't matter of."
Hearing this, I thought that mother-in-law is kind and daughter-in-law is filial piety—the two of you come and go to each other, and Empress Dowager Yuan looked at Yun Fenghuang: "What happened to Huanhua Palace yesterday? In the middle of the night, the emperor I yelled over, but I don't know what happened, so it's important?"
Seeing this, all the empresses and concubines were watching their hearts, looking obedient and obedient for fear of getting into trouble, but they couldn't hide their gloating eyes.
Especially Meng Youyi, who managed to bring Chunjia back to Yuzhen Palace yesterday, who was serving but was disturbed by Xuanqing Palace, the corners of her mouth were slightly curled up, with a half-smile, quietly watching the restless Concubine Zhen being taught by the Empress Dowager Yuan.
Then I heard the concubine Zhen swear: "The empress dowager, the emperor's heir is involved, and the concubine does not dare to be an expert, so I disturb your majesty, and I ask the empress to punish her!"
She dared to ask someone to go to Yuzhen Palace to call someone at night, so how could she not be prepared to be questioned by Queen Mother Yuan?
Anyway, the two children were raised in the side hall next to her bedroom. The civet cat found the main hall and said that it had disturbed the emperor's heir, and there was nothing wrong with it-now the six palaces are empty, and she is the only one raising the two emperor's heirs. It is a waste of a good mother's chance to use up her child!
"..." Sure enough, such a reason was offered, including the Queen Mother Yuan, who were speechless. Chunjia was already at this age, and there were only such a son and a daughter under her knees. No one dared to say that they were not important.
Especially Empress Dowager Yuan herself, did not emphasize once or twice that the emperor's heir is precious.
What else can I do now?
Sighing, calming down, "Forget it, the emperor is busy with government affairs, and you know it. Don't make such a fuss in the future. Is it good for you to tire the emperor?"
Without waiting for Yun Fenghuang to reply, he turned to the queen again, "It's rare that the queen is in good spirits, so teach these concubines the rules of the house, don't always cause one or two right and wrong, make the harem restless, and make the emperor worry !"
Empress Ji responded with a low eyebrow.
Empress Dowager Yuan looked on, quite bored, and waved her hand to let them go.
After leaving the door, Empress Ji ordered: "Concubine Xuan and Concubine Zhen come with me."