flstandardbreds Chapter 116 Countermeasures
Chapter 116 Countermeasures
In Jingren Palace, Xia Dongchun was talking to the queen.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. My father has dealt with all the people involved!" Xia Dongchun had a smile in her eyes. She had been in the cold palace for more than a year, and finally An Lingrong could go in and taste the suffering she had suffered!
The Queen smiled and praised: "Yes, I was right about you!"
He silently calculated that although it didn't achieve the desired effect, now that he had gotten rid of An Lingrong, he had also resolved a major worry. If Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang abandoned An Lingrong to protect themselves, An Lingrong would definitely resent him. Then, after a few months, if he could release her from the cold palace, she would be grateful and would be able to use her for his own benefit. Then, let them fight each other!
Thinking of this, the smile on the queen's face grew deeper and deeper.
In Yonghe Palace, Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang were discussing countermeasures.
"What happened today was a trap they had carefully prepared, and they were just waiting for us to jump into it!" Shen Meizhuang's face turned pale, and her hands were shaking.
Zhen Huan took a few deep breaths and forced herself to calm down. "I'm afraid there's a traitor in my palace. How could someone take Jinxi's purse and banknotes? And how did that musk get into the palace?"
Shen Meizhuang's eyes were slightly red. "I understand Rong'er's meaning. She took on all the charges because she was afraid that we would be implicated. After all, we are pregnant, which would give her more reason to harm Noble Lady Fucha's child."
"Huan'er, based on your understanding of the emperor, do you think the emperor will believe that Rong'er is the murderer?" Shen Meizhuang asked.
Zhen Huan thought for a moment. "Although the evidence seems solid, there's a lot more going on. I can see that the Emperor wants Rong'er to take the blame and implicate me and the Zhen family. Rong'er also saw what the Emperor meant, so she confessed. The Emperor sent Rong'er to the cold palace because Madam Fucha used the Fucha family to force him to do so. He might not have truly intended this punishment."
"This plan can firstly cause Noble Lady Fucha to have a miscarriage. Secondly, it can involve the three of us. The Guanyin painting was given to Rong'er by me. If it involves you, none of us three can escape. Now she is alone in the cold palace. If we don't save her, then we will get rid of Rong'er, who is our confidant, and it will also alienate the three of us." Shen Meizhuang analyzed slowly.
Zhen Huan nodded and asked her own question, "Sister is right! But there are quite a few people involved in this scheme. Besides Xiao Linzi and Fu Xi, there are also spies in Noble Lady Fucha's palace and in my palace. People who know you sent the Guanyin painting, people who know Rong'er sent the Guanyin painting, people who sent musk into the palace, and people who found the banknotes. Who in the palace has such great power to mobilize so many confidants?"
Shen Meizhuang was also puzzled. "Even the Queen would have a hard time doing this, right?"
Jin Xi stood aside and listened to their conversation quietly, then suddenly said, "Xia Changzai can do it!"
"What?" Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang were both surprised.
Jin Xi stepped forward and explained, "Xia Dongchun, her father is a Baoyi Zuoling."
Shen Meizhuang murmured, "The Baoyi Zuoling of the Upper Three Banners is composed of the imperial family's servants and is affiliated with the Ministry of Internal Affairs!"
Baoyi Zuoling is the chief steward of the royal servants. As the saying goes, the county magistrate is not as good as the current manager. This is an official position with low rank but considerable power.
Jinxi nodded in agreement.
Zhen Huan suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. Ever since Xia Shi's return to favor, I've been feeling a bit strange. Xia Shi is stupid and not particularly good-looking. Why would the Queen go to such great lengths to help her? It turns out she's after her father's power!"
Shen Meizhuang also said, "The last time the purslane incident was left unresolved, it was probably for this reason."
Jin Xi asked, "What are the two ladies going to do?"
Shen Meizhuang pondered for a moment and said, "Huan'er, you check the purse and banknotes carefully, and then go and test the emperor's attitude. As for me...
Before the two of them finished speaking, they heard voices outside the palace chanting, "The Emperor has arrived!"
The two looked at each other, stood up and walked out of the hall.
"No need to be so polite!" Yongzheng waved his hand casually and sat on the couch.
"I was planning to go see you after seeing Concubine Hui, but I didn't expect you to be here too. This way, I saved myself a trip." Yongzheng looked at the two of them and asked, "I've been so busy today that I haven't had time to ask how you are doing."
The two of them did not speak at the same time.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Yongzheng sat up straight and stretched out his hand to pull Zhen Huan.
Zhen Huan took a step back and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I was framed by a villain and I feel upset and uncomfortable. I've asked Su Ye to take my pulse. Just get some rest!"
When she mentioned this, Yongzheng said, "I didn't know Concubine Wen was such a vicious person."
Shen Meizhuang was anxious. She didn't care about her impropriety in front of the emperor. She stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, do you really believe that Rong'er was responsible for this?"
Yongzheng's eyes flickered slightly, "Oh? Huipin has any objections?"
"Since I entered the palace, I have had a close relationship with Rong'er. I know that she is well-behaved and kind, with a pure heart, and she will definitely not do such a harmful thing!" Shen Meizhuang was not afraid of Yongzheng's scrutinizing gaze at all.
"It's difficult to paint a tiger's bones, even if you can only paint its skin. You can know a person's face but not his heart. How could you not know this truth if you've read poetry and books?"
Shen Meizhuang also risked her life and told the truth, "It is precisely because I know her thoughts that I trust her even more. And Your Majesty, you know that the Guanyin painting was originally given to Rong'er by me, but Rong'er just didn't tell me!"
These words made Yongzheng frown and he began to think carefully.
Zhen Huan spoke earnestly, "Your Majesty, Noble Lady Fucha's child is also yours. I love you deeply, how could I harm your child? Besides, both I and Sister Mei are pregnant now, and your Majesty dotes on us. Noble Lady Fucha poses no threat to us at all, so why would we risk losing our favor by harming her?"
Shen Meizhuang continued, "Your Majesty, the person behind this first caused Noble Lady Fucha to have a miscarriage, and then pinned the blame on me and Huan'er. She wanted to catch the three of us all in one fell swoop, but now Rong'er has been forced to confess in order to protect us."
After listening to what the two said, Yongzheng thought carefully about what happened today. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. Everyone in the palace knew his attitude towards Noble Lady Fucha. There was really no need for the three of them to take such a big risk for someone who was not favored.
Moreover, the person behind the scenes wanted to use one child to get rid of four concubines. This is too ugly. You must know that you can't eat too much!
"But now the evidence is irrefutable, and Concubine Wen has confessed. If you want to change your confession, you need stronger evidence."
Shen Meizhuang continued to plead, "Your Majesty, the cold palace is extremely cold and gloomy. Rong'er is weak, how can she withstand it..."
"Stop talking. I have to give an explanation to Fucha." After saying that, Yongzheng stood up and left!
After Yongzheng left, the hall was silent for a while.
"Huan'er, I'm afraid all eyes in the palace are on you and me right now. It's not convenient for us to go to the cold palace to make arrangements. I'll ask Concubine Jing to send some things in, so that Rong'er can suffer less.
However, we need to find out the truth quickly. I’m afraid she’s in trouble in the cold palace, and Rong’er is not in good health…” Shen Meizhuang’s voice choked as she spoke, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Zhen Huan held her hand tightly and comforted her, "Sister, you must take care of the baby in your belly. Rong'er suffered for us because she wanted us to take good care of the baby!"
Shen Meizhuang nodded, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said with all her might, "I know, but when I think of Rong'er suffering in the cold palace, my heart aches."