Gongshang Confidante

Hall of Condensation

Concubine Xue Gui stood in front of the window with an anxious expression, unconsciously pulling the silk in her hand, until a black shadow flashed into the hall, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I have failed", "Ah!", Concubine Xue Gui whispered and stepped back. After two steps, he said from embarrassment into anger, "Those trash!",

"The man had guards and two masters by his side. He only suffered a small loss. The one who missed took poison and committed suicide, leaving no one alive." The man bowed and said,

Concubine Xue Gui breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Have you handed over the order from the palace to the third prince?", "The prince is already on his way back to the capital, and should arrive in two days."

Concubine Xue calmed down, and said, "It's not suitable to stay here for a long time, you should leave as soon as possible", "Yes", the man replied, his figure flashed and disappeared in front of the window.

Concubine Xue's expression was uncertain, she paced back and forth, countless thoughts flashed in her mind, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty is here", the palace maid opened the door and spoke, the abrupt voice startled Concubine Xue, she showed a look of panic, and then she was angry Raising his hand, he slapped her hard, and reprimanded, "There are no rules at all." The maid covered her face aggrievedly, bowed her head and stepped back.

Concubine Xue Gui took a deep breath, calmed down, and slowly walked out to greet her, she had already smiled sweetly and said, "The concubine sees the emperor",

Emperor Jing Hong had a sullen face, blue eyes, and a tired face. Since the death of nobleman Xixi, he has hardly slept well.The tragic scene of nobleman Xi dying, the beautiful image of Concubine Mei, who was so magnificent in those days, and her morbid state of being neglected and emaciated, all flashed before his eyes.

Li Chengqian poured tea and served it. Emperor Jing Hong took a sip of the tea and ordered Li Chengqian to open the box. Inside lay a complete string of Buddhist beads and dozens of scattered Buddhist beads. He said to Concubine Xue coldly, "Say it ! Tell me well, what have you done!".

Concubine Xue glanced at the Buddhist beads with her eyelids, and prostrated herself, "I don't know what the emperor wants my concubine to say?" Emperor Jing Hong placed the teacup on the table heavily, and said, "I want to ask you, why are there two strings of Buddhist beads? Do you have mandala incense?! Xue Ningrong! You have ulterior motives!!",

Concubine Xue Gui knelt down on the ground, kowtowed and said, "The strange sandalwood bestowed by the emperor back then could only be carved into a string of Buddhist beads, but now there are two strings of the same rare sandalwood beads. I am afraid that rare sandalwood is not hard to find in the world. two……",

Emperor Jing Hong waved his hand impatiently, Li Chengqian held a yellowed old booklet, and walked up to him respectfully, "Li Chengqian, read!" Emperor Jing Hong said, and Li Chengqian read aloud, "Jingli 11 Year, Ladong, Concubine Mei’s birthday, Concubine Xue’s congratulatory gift, a string of odd sandalwood Buddha beads, a coral white jade belt...",

"Now, what can you say?!" Emperor Jing Hong was unexpectedly calm, and only Concubine Xue knew that the calmer he was, the more turbulent his anger was.

"Your Majesty, the Qitan buddha beads were made by the concubine's father and given as a gift to the concubine. I will not set incense to harm the concubine. The concubine speculates that there may be someone with ulterior motives. After the concubine gave the beads, They tried to frame the concubine, I hope the Holy Lord will see clearly and give justice to the concubine," Concubine Xue argued clearly one by one.

Convicting Concubine Xue Gui with only a string of Buddhist beads, if there is no basis for her words, catching the thief and taking the stolen goods, I am afraid it will only cause dissatisfaction with the Xue family, and it will be difficult to convince the court.

Emperor Jing Hong was silent, stroked the wrench in his hand, and turned it gently. Li Chengqian bowed and whispered a few words in his ear. Emperor Jing Hong nodded and said, "Xuan!", Li Chengqian ordered the little eunuch , Said, "Xuanrong Cuihuan enters the palace!".

Concubine Xue Gui had never heard of this person before, she gritted her teeth, knelt on the ground, her eyes filled with tears, she looked at Emperor Jing Hong, but he turned a blind eye, her tired and haggard face was full of sadness and anger.

The nails in Concubine Xue's sleeves dug into her palms, Concubine Mei, Concubine Mei, that noble person is dead, but she actually involved Concubine Mei, whom the Emperor cared about most, damn it.

Li Chengqian bowed and said, "When the emperor ordered the servant to investigate the origin of the Buddhist beads, it happened that I got news from Aunt Rong who had served Concubine Mei back then. She has left the palace since Concubine Mei died. It was someone close to Concubine Mei, who thought they had seen Qitan Buddha beads, so they went there in person, who knows..."

Li Chengqian hadn't finished speaking when he saw an elderly woman in plain clothes walk into the hall, knelt down to pray for blessings, and behaved well, it was obvious that she had stayed in the palace before.

"The maidservant kowtowed to the emperor", Rong Cui made a big salute, and from the corner of her eyes, she saw the concubine Xue Gui who was being supported by the maid, her eyes were full of hatred, tears flowed down her face, and she whispered, "I beg the emperor to seek justice for Concubine Mei!",

"Get up and talk," Emperor Jing Hong couldn't help sighing when he saw the maid next to Concubine Mei in the past, "I remember when I first saw you, you were still the little girl who was by Concubine Mei's side. ",

Rong Cuihuan raised her sleeves and wiped her tears, and said in a sobbing voice, "I never thought that I would see the emperor again in this life, the empress died unjustly, I beg the emperor to make the decision for the empress",

Emperor Jing Hong said, "You know what happened back then, just tell it." Rong Cuihuan replied, "The servant did not know..." Concubine Xue Gui, who was watching coldly, had a mocking smile on her lips, but listened Rong Cuihuan continued, "But the servant girl saved the next person back then, she knew about it, it's just..."

"I knew about it, why didn't I announce it?" Emperor Jing Hong frowned, and looked sideways at Li Chengqian, "Your Majesty, this man is physically disabled, and the slaves are terrified, afraid to frighten the Emperor," Li Chengqian replied.

"Son of Heaven, Shengwei, what are you afraid of, Xuan!" Emperor Jing Hong said, Li Chengqian hastily ordered the person to be brought in, Xue Guifei sneered and mocked her face, she was shocked when she saw the person coming, and lowered her head in a concealed manner, His face was pale early, but in a flash, he managed to stabilize his mind.

The person who came was sitting on the lift chair, his hands showing his sleeves were skinny, shriveled, haggard, with only a pair of cloudy eyes, since he entered the palace, he had been staring at Concubine Xue, the corners of his mouth were twitching, his expression was quite excited, and he babbled. Huh, it's missing a piece of tongue!

Emperor Jing Hong was startled, his back was tilted slightly, his face was uneasy, and he said, "Limbs are mutilated, tortured with tongue twisting, hands can't write, mouth can't speak, what's the use of announcing him to enter the palace?!",

Li Chengqian hurriedly knelt down, the eunuch lifted the man from the chair, and made a gesture to ask him to kneel on the ground, Emperor Jing Hong waved his hands and said, "Excuse me, I think he is handicapped, so give me a seat."

Concubine Xue Gui raised the corners of her mouth, glanced at Li Chengqian, and said, "Could it be that the two of you deliberately teased the emperor and shocked the holy face, what should you do?" "I dare not!" Rong Cuihuan said, her tone was unexpectedly Unexpectedly calm.

Seeing Rong Cuihua calmly responding without saying a word, Concubine Xue was slightly surprised, her eyes flickered slightly, as if she was remembering something, and just about to speak, she heard a voice as thin as a child, resounding strangely out of thin air. In the hall, the voice was crisp and clear, "The slaves kowtow to the emperor, long live the emperor, long live long live!".

Emperor Jing Hong frowned, looked up and down, and saw the man's thin body huddled in a chair, lowered his head, his lips were tightly closed, but a voice came out, and said, "My maidservant's name is Bi'er. Ventriloquism, later entered the palace with the imperial concubine and served in the Ningrong Hall...",

"Shut up, lowly maidservant!" Concubine Xue Gui blurted out, her complexion changed drastically, she lost her usual demeanor, and hurriedly said to Emperor Jing Hong, "Your Majesty, this slave messed up the palace back then. After a little punishment, she was expelled from the palace, and now she is doing everything possible to enter the palace to slander the concubine, the emperor can't believe her words!! Come on! Drag her down!!",

Bi'er's dry eyes were filled with tears, her ventriloquist was trembling slightly, and she said, "This servant made a mistake and received this heavy punishment. I don't have a single complaint. But this servant is just trying to survive, just to repay Aunt Rong for saving her life." En, seek justice for Concubine Mei who died unjustly, and let the wicked get what they deserve!!".

The words were mournful, the lips were tightly closed, and the sharp ventriloquist sounded out of thin air in the hall, making people shudder. Concubine Xue Gui's face changed again and again, she looked at Emperor Jing Hong hurriedly, and said eagerly, "This person is talking nonsense. Nonsense, let me drag you down!",

"Everyone back down! Bi'er, come here one by one!" Emperor Jing Hong stopped the eunuch who stepped forward, looked at Concubine Xue Gui coldly, picked up the teacup, stared at the green buds and clear water in the cup, Putting down the teacup again, stroking the wrench between his fingers, he was very preoccupied.

"Back then, Concubine Mei was pregnant with His Majesty's first child and received all the favors. It was rumored in the palace that the emperor's golden mouth had been opened. After Concubine Mei gave birth to the dragon's veins, she was promoted to be a noble concubine. The father of the servant is from the Xue family. Slave, married into the palace with Concubine Xue, is Concubine Xue's dowry maid," Bi'er said slowly,

Concubine Xue Gui looked uneasy, and was about to reprimand her, but was caught by Emperor Jing Hong's sharp eyes, so she had to keep her mouth shut.

"During winter is approaching, and Concubine Mei's birthday is approaching, the emperor held a grand banquet in the plum forest. Thousands of plum blossoms are in full bloom, exquisite glass,...",

Emperor Jing Hong fell into the thoughts of that year. In order to welcome Concubine Mei’s birthday and the upcoming baby, in the plum forest, colored glazes were decorated with changing multicolored petals, dozens of pure white cranes danced lightly, the plum blossoms were burning, and the fragrance was wafting. It is overflowing and dazzling, but it is no match for the sweet smile that Concubine Mei looks back at.

"Concubine Xue led the servants to a remote side hall, took out the Qitan Buddha beads from the hidden compartment of the bookshelf, and ordered the servants not to open them, and only sent them as congratulatory gifts on Concubine Mei's birthday. The servants knew that the Qitan Buddha beads were valuable, but they Put it on the shelf, asked Concubine Xue too much, and was reprimanded by Concubine Xue",

"Ridiculous! How can I believe what you say!" Concubine Xue Gui finally couldn't help scolding, Bi'er flinched, looked at Emperor Jing Hong, saw him nodding, Fang continued, "After Concubine Mei gave birth to the princess , lack of energy, especially after the princess left the palace, she became sick with longing, so... ",

"So what?" Emperor Jing Hong asked, Bi'er bowed her head and said, "Concubine Xue knows that slaves can ventriloquist, so she went to Meiyuan to find an opportunity, and deliberately dismissed Concubine Mei's maid, and let the slaves hide outside the window, learn, learn...", Bi'er seemed to be afraid and didn't dare to speak anymore.

"Go on!" Emperor Jing Hong stopped his hand on the wrench finger and said sharply, Bi'er trembled, and said bravely, "Let the servants hide outside the window and imitate the cry of a baby. Listening to it made her feel uneasy and suspicious...it was often said that the princess was back...the maid thought that Concubine Mei was suffering from hysteria and panicked, but she didn't dare to report...'.