An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

Chapter 462 The whole story

"To answer your Majesty, I did leave for a while while making snacks, but I did not see anyone approach the stove."

Shunxi kowtowed, but he was the one who did these things in secret, and no one had approached the stove while he was away, so he could only say these specious words to temporarily prevent Concubine Sheng from investigating.

Unfortunately, Ling Rong was not fooled by his superficial words, "So... this poison was handled by you, Shunxi, you don't want me to think that someone has approached during this period of time, it would be best to mobilize a large number of people to check everyone in the imperial kitchen.

There are always people with dirty hands in the imperial kitchen or anywhere else, so it is not impossible to find a scapegoat.

However, I don't have the energy to investigate carefully, and Doctor Wei also clearly stated that arsenic was mixed with flour, so the food must have been poisoned in the imperial kitchen.

Since you can't think of anyone who has approached the stove or is suspicious, there is only one possibility, that is, you were instructed by someone to put arsenic in it."

Ling Rong saw Shun Xi was stunned for a moment, and then she deliberately sneered, "Why, are you scared now? When you poisoned the princess's cakes with arsenic, why didn't you foresee the tragic situation today?"

"My Lady, I really didn't poison you," Shunxi said, looking extremely pale but still pretending to be calm, "Although I made this thing myself, I did leave it during the production process.

It's just that I didn't see it, so I can't just forge evidence. But I definitely didn't intend to murder the princess, someone must have deliberately framed me, please help me clear my name!"

Ling Rong sneered, "Frame-up? Then tell me who would frame you?"

“This…” Shunxi also knew that the Concubine Sheng in front of him was not a fool. If he didn’t name a suspicious person today, the crime would definitely be pinned on him. “I had some arguments with the eunuch Cunlu from the imperial kitchen recently. It is very likely that he held a grudge and put arsenic in the pine nut and lily pastry to frame me.

Moreover, he is a member of the imperial kitchen. Even if he approaches the stove, no one would think it is unusual. So it must be him. He must be framing the servants!"

Ling Rong narrowed her eyes, obviously not believing what he said, "Okay, since you have already given your suspect, then you can go with Cunlu to the Shenxing Division.

Zhaoshui, remember to tell the Ministry of Punishment to interrogate them severely. I want to see who is behind them."

Shunxi was dragged away, still shouting that he was innocent. Lingrong held the pearl flower on her head, looking indifferent. Soon Shunxi was dragged back, his ten fingers were almost broken, and he finally told the truth.

"To answer your Majesty, I poisoned the cakes at the behest of Concubine Wan.

But I didn't know that the poison was arsenic, and I thought it was just some drug that made people sleepy, so, because of the silver, I mixed the poison in against my will. "

"If so, who gave you the poison?"

Shunxi coughed twice, and some blood flowed out of his mouth. He didn't dare to let his master see these filthy things, so he raised his sleeves and wiped the corners of his mouth vigorously, "It was handed to me by Concubine Wan herself."

"What? How is this possible!"

Not only Lingrong couldn't believe it, even Concubine Qi and Xia Dongchun exclaimed in amazement. In this palace, only Concubine Qi was smart enough to do it herself. Now Concubine Wan, who was so smart, actually did the same. How could they not be surprised?

Lingrong had seen Zhen Huan's methods, so she naturally felt that Concubine Wan would not be so stupid. But since this servant said so, she had an excuse to invite Concubine Wan to Jingyang Palace. She would know whether it was true or false when Concubine Wan came.

"How is this possible? There are endless ways to harm people in this palace. Who would be stupid enough to do it themselves?" Xia Dongchun frowned and pointed the finger at Concubine Qi. "Could it be that you bribed Shunxi and deliberately framed her?"

"Your Highness, what you said is too serious. Not to mention that this was not done by me, even if it was done by me, someone would not use such a method that seems to have so many loopholes to frame me.

Even ants calling their friends when moving house, how come they suddenly can't find any loyal people and have to do it themselves?

You suspect me of poisoning you because I am suspicious. But if you suspect me of framing Concubine Wan in such a childish way, that would be a huge joke. Please forgive me for my harsh words and for contradicting you."

Lingrong listened to the verbal battle between the two and thought about Concubine Wan's situation in the palace. She actually believed that Concubine Wan would do it herself.

The reason is simple, it's just that everyone in Yongshou Palace is either the emperor's people or Lingrong's people. Since Concubine Wan entered the palace, she has never had a loyal servant.

Concubine Wan has no one to rely on except herself.

If she wanted to avenge her father and mother, the only way was to do it herself.

A moment later, Concubine Wan was brought over. When the emperor heard the news, he stopped reviewing memorials in the Yangxin Palace and immediately went to the Jingyang Palace in a sedan chair.

Look at the way he looks, he is worried about Concubine Wan. Concubine Qi is so jealous that she keeps tearing the handkerchief, and her beautiful face is almost distorted.

It's a pity that after the emperor entered the room, he never even looked at Concubine Qi. He first ordered Su Peisheng to ask about Huai Ke's condition, and then asked about the trial of Lingrong and Xia Dongchun's cases.

When the emperor heard Shunyi actually said that it was Concubine Wan who sent the arsenic personally, his eyebrows were twisted into a lump.

"How could a wicked servant deceive his master and make up such a lie!" The emperor slammed the table and frightened Shunxi. He was greedy by nature and never thought that his life would be in danger now. He was afraid that he would tell the whole story.

"Your Majesty, this was really done by Concubine Wan. Before dinner today, I was making cakes for Concubine Qi, and I heard Concubine Wan come to the imperial kitchen and said she wanted someone to make some snacks for her.

Thinking that there was something I could do to gain a reward from my two masters, I took the initiative to step forward and offer to share Concubine Wan's worries.

Concubine Wan then took out a packet of powder from her sleeve and gave the servant a bulging purse, telling the servant to put the powder into the flour, mix them together and make cakes.

I was curious and asked Concubine Wan what the powder was. Concubine Wan did not hide it and said it was a drug that made people sleepy.

Of course I dare not do such a harmful thing, but Concubine Wan assured me that she would not kill anyone and she just wanted to vent her hatred. As she said that, she gave me another bag of silver.

Concubine Wan also said that if I succeeded in this matter, not only would I be able to get a sum of money, but I would also be transferred to Yongshou Palace to be the head eunuch.

From now on, I and Concubine Wan are in the same boat, so it goes without saying that I will rely on this advantage in everything.

Because of the temptation of money and position, I agreed to Concubine Wan's request, but I didn't expect that the powder was not a drug that caused sleepiness, but arsenic that caused death!

Your Majesty, I was deceived by Concubine Wan and never really wanted to murder the princess. Your Majesty, please understand me!"

Shunxi cried and shouted, extremely frightened, wanting the emperor to redress his grievances. On the other hand, Concubine Wan did not show any fear at all, and was sitting quietly by the side, drinking the tea brought by Rushuang.

Seeing her neither humble nor arrogant appearance, Concubine Qi became even more angry. She hurriedly squatted down to salute and cried to the emperor about how she had been wronged.

"Your Majesty, I have been sending cakes and pastries to Princess Huai Ke recently. This matter is not hidden from others, and many concubines in the palace know about it.

Before, I was chatting with Concubine Xian at the gate of Chengqian Palace, and told her that she would send cakes to Jingyang Palace for dinner today.

Concubine Wan happened to hear it and ridiculed me. I walked and talked with her, and when we got to the Imperial Garden, we had a verbal dispute.

Concubine Qi wiped her tears and sobbed about the grievances between the Guaerjia clan and the Zhen clan. The Emperor was in charge of these matters and naturally knew them very well. That's why he didn't let Concubine Wan leave Yongshou Palace. On the one hand, it was to make it convenient for her to take medicine at any time, and on the other hand, it was to prevent her and Concubine Qi from causing any trouble.

However, he never expected that these two people, who had been quiet for quite some time, would suddenly cause a big incident of poisoning the princess. The emperor was so angry that even his eyes became a little fierce.

"I don't know where Concubine Wan heard some nonsense from, saying that I had someone kill the Zhen couple, so she holds a grudge against me and even spoke harshly, saying that she would kill me.

But she never expected that she wanted Huai Ke's life, and she wanted to frame the concubine and let her follow the princess.

If she only harmed the concubines, it would be fine. She could also say that it was because of family reasons and she did this because she was impulsive at the moment.

But she actually involved the princess in her conspiracy. Huai Ke was just a child and had lost her biological mother. Not to mention that she had not done anything wrong, even if she had done something wrong, she should not be punished by murder.

If Huai Ke really loses his life today, I will follow her and kowtow to Concubine Tian in the underworld, begging her to forgive me for causing trouble for Huai Ke!"

Concubine Qi was indeed a thoughtful person. She spoke while crying, and her words were more effective than tears. Xia Dongchun burst into tears after hearing them, and Lingrong couldn't help but sigh as well.

When the emperor thought of Huai Ke who had lost his mother and was tricked into eating arsenic, he was shocked. He sighed deeply and asked Concubine Qi to stand up.

After all, no matter whether it was done by Concubine Qi or Concubine Wan, this matter has nothing to do with Huai Ke. The emperor has been on the throne for a long time, so he can naturally see this clearly.

Lingrong was watching coldly from the side. Today's incident was very similar to the incident in her previous life when Wen Yi used cassava flour. The only difference was that it was not done by Zhen Huan in the previous life, but it was indeed done by Concubine Wan in this life.

But Zhen Huan couldn't explain it clearly at that time. She had a secret in her heart and didn't dare to say it. But Concubine Wan didn't care at all at this time, with a condescending attitude on her face that it had nothing to do with me.

Concubine Qi had already sat down, but Concubine Wan still said nothing and even drank her tea quietly until Lingrong called her. Then she put down the tea bowl and said that it was not her doing.

First, he refused to stand up and salute, and second, he refused to provide any evidence. However, his back was straight, and Lingrong didn't know how to continue the interrogation.

So Lingrong stopped talking and handed a handkerchief to Xia Dongchun, asking her to wipe her tears.

The two chatted, and Lingrong pointed out that the matter had nothing to do with her, and asked her to go and accompany Huai Ke, and also leave a good impression of a kind mother to the emperor.

Xia Dongchun knew that Ling Rong had good intentions, so he nodded in agreement and quietly went downstairs to accompany Huai Ke.

Of course the emperor saw it, but he also saw Xia Dongchun's tears and knew that she was going to see Huai Ke, so he did not stop her, but let her do it.

As soon as Xia Dongchun left, Concubine Qi was the only one left in the room, crying softly.

Lingrong became impatient and spoke up, asking Concubine Wan if she had any evidence to prove that it was not her who did it.

But Concubine Wan just glanced at it and continued to sit in the same place, "Where is the evidence? I am in Yongshou Palace and I never go out except to pay my respects to you, the queen.

How could I sneak into the imperial kitchen alone and ask this servant to poison and murder a princess who has nothing to do with me?

What's more, I am a woman, how could I possibly meet a eunuch in private? I cannot bear the reputation that would come with it."

"In that case," Ling Rong glanced at the emperor and saw that he had no intention of speaking, so she continued the interrogation. "Aunt Lianhua, please tell me, has Concubine Wan ever left Yongshou Palace and gone somewhere else?"

Lianhua had been serving beside him. When she heard Lingrong calling her, she immediately knelt down and said, "After paying respects today, my young master and Concubine Qi had a quarrel in the Imperial Garden, and she became upset, so she did not return to Yongshou Palace right away.

Instead, she rested for a while in the Wanshou Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. Later, the young lady got tired of sitting, so she took me and the maidservant with her to admire the magnolia flowers near the Fengxian Hall. "

Ling Rong nodded, and after thinking for a while, she asked another question, "During this period, have you been with Concubine Wan?"

"I have been accompanying the young lady almost all the time. It was only when we arrived at Fengxian Palace that the young lady coughed a few times and sent me to the Imperial Hospital to get some cough medicine.

The only time I was away from my mistress was when I was getting the medicine."

Lianhua explained it clearly, and Lingrong and the emperor naturally understood it. The Imperial Medical Bureau and the Imperial Kitchen were both in the South Three Buildings, not too far from the Fengxian Hall, but comparing the two, the Imperial Kitchen was closer.

Moreover, when Lianhua went to get medicine, she had to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau to find an imperial physician first, tell the physician her symptoms, and only after getting a prescription from the imperial physician could she go to the Imperial Pharmacy to get the medicine.

A lot of time was wasted in this back and forth. Concubine Wan had plenty of time to go to the imperial kitchen and ask Shunxi to poison and make cakes. She could also slowly go back to the outside of Fengxian Hall to see Magnolia and wait for Lianhua to come back.

Lingrong thought it through clearly, and the first thing she did was to check the emperor's expression. When the two of them exchanged glances, they knew that the other had understood the whole story.