nyslfriends Chapter 236 The Incident
Chapter 236 The Incident
Consort Zhen wept, "Your Majesty, my heart for you is as clear as day and night! Since I saw you once, I have longed for you day and night..."
"etc!"
Shen Shixi interrupted her, about to get off the bed, "Confess after I leave. Sorry, it gave me goosebumps! Caiying, help me put on my shoes!"
Caiying brought in melon seeds, tea, and cantaloupe. "Your Highness, are we leaving already?"
Li Yuange grabbed her, and Shen Shixi, caught off guard, fell into his arms. Luckily, she didn't hit her head on the armrest. Li Yuange pressed her down and said to Zhen Meiren, "If you're here to say this, then get out!"
Zhen Meiren looked at Shen Shixi with resentment.
[Li Yuanke is seriously ill! He's stirred up so much hatred for me. Look at Consort Zhen, she looks like she's about to devour me.]
Li Yuanke said, "You know in your heart what really happened between you and Prince Changle. Prince Changle originally wanted to marry you, but the Empress Dowager disagreed. The Empress Dowager allowed you to enter the palace, and that's when you broke up with him."
After entering the palace, you did indeed only see him privately once, but your palace maids met with Prince Chang Le several times and said what to him. I do not wish to say it outright. For the sake of the Second Princess, I have not punished you. If you insist on seeking death and dare to deceive the Emperor, I may grant your wish!
Consort Zhen was dumbfounded. "Your Majesty, after seeing Your Majesty, I felt deep affection for you and did not deceive you. Your Majesty! Even if I said something to Prince Chang Le, it was only because of Lady Zheng."
She harmed me, and I was banished to the Cold Palace. I worry day and night that she will hold a grudge against me. When I was pregnant with the Second Princess, I couldn't even sleep soundly. I wanted to tell the Emperor, but I had no chance to see him. I miss the Emperor so much!
Li Yuanke's brows were furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly. He said to the Empress, "Consort Zhen is confined to her palace. She is not allowed to step outside the palace, and no one is permitted to visit her without my permission!"
Caught off guard, the Empress cried out, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhen is truly innocent! I beg Your Majesty to consider her unwavering devotion to Your Majesty and her merit in bearing an heir, and to show her leniency!"
Li Yuanke said coldly, "Such rumors are circulating in the harem. What will the world think of me? The source of this is in the Empress's palace. Shouldn't I suspect that the Empress is behind this?"
The Empress knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, please understand! I am the Empress, and we are husband and wife. If Your Majesty loses face, I lose face. How could I do such an absurd thing? Your Majesty, I am innocent!"
Li Yuanke said, "The responsibility of the harem is to continue the imperial line. Those who succeed in raising offspring will be rewarded generously by me. However, if they harbor any rebellious thoughts, I will not let them off lightly!"
What is the mind of delusion and rebellion? It is the delusion and rebellion.
Shen Shixi understood, as did the Empress and Consort Zhen.
It means, don't talk about love and affection in front of me; your responsibility is to have children.
[That bastard Li Yuanke is truly heartless and ungrateful. Will this scoundrel be strangled to death by the concubines in the harem in a fit of rage?]
The Empress and Consort Zhen slunk away.
From beginning to end, the Emperor kept Consort Chenyuan on his knees.
Imperial Noble Consort Chenyuan was so disrespectful to the Empress today. She did not bow, did not use honorifics, and even usurped the position that rightfully belonged to the Empress. Her rebellious intentions are obvious.
The emperor remained silent and even indulged the emperor.
Upon reaching the fork in the road, Consort Zhen said, "Thank you so much for Your Majesty's words of defense today. I am deeply grateful. Please take good care of yourself, Your Majesty!"
The Empress comforted her, "If there's another chance, I will still try to help you."
Consort Zhen said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Please hurry!"
"I understand!"
Shen Shixi stayed at Qianyuan Palace for lunch and then took a nap. Li Yuanke got busy, so she went back.
Lan Ying brought Guan Hua in and said, "Your Highness, Guan Hua has something to say."
Guan Hua presented a handkerchief for washing one's face. "Your Majesty, this is a handkerchief given to me by Cao Zhong, the eunuch of Huilan Palace. From the outside, it looks exactly the same as the one used in Your Majesty's palace. They both came from the Imperial Household Department."
However, this handkerchief is covered in medicinal powder that dissolves instantly in water. The powder is poisonous; even a tiny bit will cause festering sores that will never heal. This person is malicious and clearly intends to kill the Empress.
Qinghao took the handkerchief, smelled it, and was shocked. "Your Majesty, this has powder of snake scorpion grass on it. This powder dissolves in water and is colorless and odorless. Even I might not be able to tell. If it ruins Your Majesty's skin, there will be no cure."
Snake grass, also known as "snake-repelling grass," is a grass that even venomous snakes fear, which shows how toxic it is.
Shen Shixi said, "A handsome reward for viewing the painting! Chao En, go and bring Cao Zhong here. Except for those in the Empress Dowager's palace, summon all the palace maids and eunuchs from the rest of the palace, including Fengyi Palace. Anyone who dares not come will be punished the same as Cao Zhong!"
"yes!"
In Fengyi Palace, the Empress, upon hearing this, felt utterly humiliated. "What is Shen Shixi trying to do? How dare she order around the people in my palace? Does she even respect me, the Empress?"
Granny Qu said, "Your Highness, now that this matter has occurred, it's best not to confront her directly, lest you give her a handle to use against you."
"Let them go. I want to see what Shen Shixi is up to."
Tingqin said, "Your Majesty, this servant will not go. This servant is from the Empress's side. How dare she, a mere concubine, bully Your Majesty?"
The Empress thought for a moment, then said, "You should still go and take a look!"
Listening to the zither, he said, "Yes!"
Cao Zhong was tied to a stool with his hands and feet bound together, and his mouth was stuffed with cloth as he struggled desperately.
A chair sat atop the high steps of Zhaoyang Palace. Shen Shixi sat there, holding a cup of tea, and took a sip. "Is everyone here? Let's count the heads and see who dares not to come!"
"Your Majesty, everyone has arrived!"
Even people from the Empress's palace have arrived.
Apart from those who were confined to their quarters, the concubines and others also arrived one after another. Seeing Shen Shixi's cold expression, none of them dared to ask any questions.
Shen Shixi did not order a seat to be offered, but said, "Remove the cloth from his mouth and make him confess. My men never die unjustly."
Cao Zhong cried out, "I'm innocent! Your Highness, I didn't do anything!"
Guan Hua emerged trembling with fear. "You were the one who told me to give the Imperial Noble Consort the handkerchief stained with snake and scorpion powder. You intended to poison her. Who's accusing you?"
Cao Zhong's eyes widened like saucers, staring at Guan Hua with murderous intent. "You...it was you! You betrayed me! You betrayed me, you bitch! I treated you so well!"
Guan Hua said, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Didn't you approach me just to make a move against Zhaoyang Palace?"
She must be crazy to betray the Imperial Noble Consort.
As soon as she reported it, the Imperial Noble Consort rewarded her with two hundred taels of silver.
"Very good!" Shen Shixi said, "If you have anything else to say, say it all at once!"
Cao Zhongdao said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! I did not do it. I did not know beforehand that the handkerchief was poisoned..."
Shen Shixi asked, "Who gave you the handkerchief? Explain clearly, and I might let you die a little easier."
"I didn't, I'm innocent..."
"Beat him to death! Beat him slowly, don't kill him in one go. Let him take one last look at this world before he dies!"
Bang bang bang!
The sound of the staff striking flesh rang out, each sound deafening, as if striking the hearts of everyone present.
"This servant is willing to say that it was Wu Yingde from the Imperial Household Department who gave it to me..."
Shen Shixi sneered, "Continue! Beat him to death! You wouldn't speak before, but now you will. Did I give you permission to speak? Summon Sun Qingcheng, the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, to see me!"