Golden branches and jade leaves

Chapter 17
There are not many high-ranking concubines. Apart from the queen, there is only the imperial concubine Ni Yelin of the first rank. Among the four concubines of the first rank, Concubine Chen Shu died on the day of the assassin. Concubine Yun and Concubine Wen, as well as Luo Zhaoyi and Shen Xiuyuan among the nine concubines.

After a while, the palaces of these people were searched.

Gao Shengnuo came back with a group of young eunuchs and said: "Report to the emperor, the search has been completed."

"What was the result? But Musk was found in that palace?" Qi Long asked impatiently.

"Uh, the slave first found musk in the concubine Xian's palace..." Gao Shengnuo lowered his head and said.

"Ah, this concubine has absolutely no intention of murdering the emperor's heir, please be enlightened by the emperor!" Concubine Li Xian hurriedly ran out of the queue, knelt down and said eagerly: "The concubine wanted to try using musk on a whim a few days ago, so I sent someone from The Ministry of Internal Affairs has received a small amount, which has already been recorded, and it has only been used once after receiving it. It is only half of the money, and the rest is kept in the palace. Please learn from the emperor! There is absolutely no falsehood! I dare not do it To do something inhumane like murdering the emperor's heir..." She complained in panic.

Concubine Li Xian has always been timid and fearful, even though she came from a noble family, and she entered the Eastern Palace to serve Qi Long when he was still the crown prince.After Qi Long succeeded to the throne, all the old people in the East Palace received generous rewards, so she was one of the four concubines who fell out of favor. Now seeing that she was suspected of murdering the emperor's heir for no reason, she was so frightened that her face paled and her face turned pale.

Qi Long paid attention to He Yuwang, and He Yuwang hurriedly checked the books on file, checked, and said after a while: "It is true, the concubine Xian only went to pick up the musk on December [-]th, and she got four taels of it." .”

Gao Shengnuo hurriedly presented the bag of musk found in the palace of the concubine Xian. A young eunuch took out a silver scale, weighed it a little, and reported back: "Your Majesty, there are indeed more than three, two or nine dollars left."

Less than half the money is far from enough for the amount contained in the package of anti-fetal medicine.

"Well," Qi Long nodded, signaling to Concubine Xian to excuse herself, Concubine Xian then breathed a sigh of relief and sat back.

"Is there anyone else?" Ni Guifei asked.

"This... and..." Gao Shengnuo raised his head and hesitated for a moment, and said, "There is also Empress Yun..."

"What?!" Concubine Yun exclaimed, "How could there be musk in my place?"

"If you go back to your mother, I did find a pack of musk from your place, and..." He hesitated to speak.

"And what?" Concubine Ni leaned over and asked, "This matter has a lot to do with it, so don't lie."

"Yes! Your Majesty." Gao Shengnuo turned to look at He Yuwang.

He Yuwang stepped forward and reported, "And the package of musk that Empress Yunfei received has not been recorded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Hearing this sentence, the concubines below suddenly whispered.

"You are lying! You are lying!" Concubine Yun shouted in a panic. She immediately left her seat and knelt down, and said to Qi Long: "The emperor should also know that the spices used by concubines have always been peaceful and indifferent. Incense, Lihe incense, Yinyue incense, etc., never use musk, please learn from the emperor, my concubine has been wronged!"

At this time, a little eunuch behind Gao Shengnuo stepped forward with a silver plate and presented the things.

"The concubine doesn't know how that pack of musk came from." Concubine Yun looked at the pack of musk that was exuding a faint fragrance on the plate, and shouted: "How could the concubine order Zheng Guizhen to harm Su concubine's child? Please the emperor and the empress are the masters of the concubine. Since the concubine entered the palace, she has not had a deep relationship with the sisters in the palace, and she has not spoken to Concubine Zheng a few times. How to instruct her? Let alone The concubine has served His Majesty for a long time, but His Majesty still doesn't know the character of the concubine, and it is absolutely impossible for him to do such vicious and vicious things."

The queen said earnestly from the side: "According to my concubine's knowledge, Concubine Yun and Concubine Zheng are indeed not close at all, the two have no friendship. I'm afraid this matter is strange."

Seeing that what Concubine Yun and the Empress said were reasonable, Qi Long couldn't help but nodded.

Ni Yelin chuckled and said, "If you didn't instigate Zheng Guibin, why did you rush to kill her to silence her?"

When this statement came out, the whole audience was shocked.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean, concubine...don't you understand?" Concubine Yun replied somewhat flusteredly.

"Let me ask you, were you sitting with Concubine Zheng during the night banquet in Xiangyuan?"

"The concubine is right." Concubine Yun agreed in her mouth, but she was thinking quickly in her heart.

"When the group of violent and lawless people charged up and murdered all the concubines and sisters, you two hid together. You saw the danger of those assassins' swords, and you actually pulled Zheng Guifei to block the assassins, and pushed her to the assassin's knife forcefully. , so that Zheng Guifei, who would not have been killed, died in Huangquan..." Ni Guifei talked eloquently, as if she had witnessed it with her own eyes.

All the concubines below suddenly burst into discussion.

Concubine Yun turned pale with shock.Although it was not intentional, Zheng Guibin's death has always been a shadow in her heart that cannot be erased.Afterwards, she specially sent someone to test and inquire about the movement, and she was relieved after making sure that no one saw it.

There was a panic that day, everyone was only focused on running for their lives, no one paid special attention to her at all, and she and Zheng Guibin rolled down on the ground and hugged each other, the movement of her pulling Zheng Guibin was just a casual effort, The range of motion is small, so it shouldn't be noticed in the first place.

But she actually saw it!

First, she was accused of poisoning the emperor's heir for no reason, and then the most fearful and worrying thing these days was exposed in public by her most dangerous enemy. Concubine Yun was in a trance for a while.

In an instant, her complexion changed several times, and countless thoughts passed through her mind.

How to do? !

Already stolen and captured, pleaded guilty?no!Absolutely cannot admit it!Even though the killing of the noble concubine was an unintentional act due to the crisis of the situation, it was enough to degrade him, and now he was also involved in the crime of murdering the emperor's heir.Absolutely can't let the crime of murder and silence be completely confirmed.

"Why did the imperial concubine say this? On the day of the assassin, as soon as the group of thugs pulled out their knives, the maidservant fainted from fright. The maidservant is incompetent, far less brave than the imperial concubine. I don't know why the noble concubine said that the maidservant killed people and silenced her." What do you mean?" Concubine Yun wept.

What she said was respectful, but the meaning in her words was to satirize Concubine Ni Gui's behavior of hiding behind Qi Taki at that time. Ni Yelin hated her, but she couldn't help but secretly startled. She peeked at Qi Taki's expression of no displeasure, so she felt relieved .

At this time, the queen said to Concubine Ni: "Your concubine just said that Concubine Yun pulled Zheng Guifei to block the sword, resulting in Zheng Guifei's death, but it was true? Which hand was used at that time, how did you block it? You can clearly see it?"

Ni Yelin was speechless immediately, she couldn't say that she didn't see it, Xia Zhen must have told herself afterwards.

"The fact that Concubine Yun and Concubine Zheng are sitting close together is just a matter of etiquette. It would be rash to implicate the killing with a sword because of this. What's more, the situation was critical and bizarre, and my sister was also nervous. It's normal to see it, isn't it?" the queen said thoughtfully.

Concubine Yun hurriedly cried sadly: "The concubine is cowardly, and absolutely dare not commit such a crime of killing human life. The elder sister of the noble concubine always dislikes the concubine, and at that time the concubine fell with Zheng Guifei , Concubine Zheng Gui unfortunately died, and it is inevitable for my concubine to be suspected, but the emperor and empress are both strict and fair, and they are clear about every detail, so I must return my concubine's innocence."

"You..." Ni Yelin was at a loss for words for a moment.

"Don't mention the matter of the assassin that day." Qi Long interrupted displeasedly, his behavior was not very honorable that day, of course he didn't want to mention it. "Besides, what's being tried right now is the murder of the dragon's fetus. Why is it being involved in that day again?"

Concubine Ni secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Queen and Concubine Ni asked each other several times, but Concubine Yun insisted on complaining and did not let go.

Xianglin was already trembling with fright, and couldn't even speak clearly.

Physician Liu only knows one thing about medicine, and he doesn't help the rest.

"Your Majesty, there are many doubts about this matter. I'm afraid it still needs to be investigated in detail. However, Concubine Zheng Gui has already died. It is better to restrain Concubine Yun and guard her feet, and then try again at another day." It is of great importance and needs to be investigated in detail later.”

"Your Majesty, Concubine Yun said just now that she has a shallow friendship with Zheng Guipin, but who knows that this is not a family statement? Secretly making poison and murdering the emperor's heir must not be done by one person alone. It is better to call Juhe The palace people interrogate strictly, and they will definitely find clues." Ni Guifei said unrelentingly.

Now that the situation is at a stalemate, Qi Taki doesn't know what to do for a while.

"Your majesty, the concubine's child has just been lost, how could she do such a thing that both people and gods are angry with?" Concubine Yun said with tears in her eyes, looking up at Qi Long, mournfully.

Seeing Concubine Yun's charming and charming demeanor, and thinking of the tender and affectionate companionship between the two of them in the past, Qi Long couldn't help but couldn't bear it for a moment.

The woman in front of her... She also conceived a child for herself...

"Your Majesty," Su Mi also came out at this time and said, "Don't pursue this matter anymore. The concubine's children are already suffering, and they have no fate in this world. Your Majesty, Sister Yun is also..." Huarong said as she spoke. Dismal, weeping.

"Sister Concubine Su's words are wrong. Now that there are all witnesses and evidences, the matter of murdering the emperor's heir is so serious, how can we just leave it aside without pursuing it, and if this matter is not dealt with strictly, what is the etiquette of the harem? What are the rules of the ancestors? And As soon as the harem competition for favor and frame-up started, the rest followed suit one after another, and I am afraid that there will never be peace in the palace of this dynasty." Ni Guifei's voice was all serious, and she said righteously: "Is it true that Yunfei has murdered the emperor's heir at this time? Doubtful, but as long as you search the Juhe Palace in detail and interrogate its maids and servants, you will definitely be able to draw conclusions."

Seeing Qi Long's thoughts moved, Concubine Ni said again: "Your Majesty, this move is also to remove the suspicion of Concubine Yun's younger sister. If you don't find out, listen to the family's words and close the case in such a hurry, and Concubine Yun will always carry the murderer on your back forever. Suspected heir, how to live in the harem? After such a thorough investigation, the truth will be revealed to the world, if Concubine Yun is innocent, she will naturally be upright and not afraid of being crooked, and return her innocent reputation."

"Yu Gong, it is for the safety of His Majesty's harem, and Yu private, it is for the sake of Concubine Yun's innocence. Both of them should thoroughly investigate this matter."

After finishing speaking, Ni Yelin calmly knelt down on the ground and said: "I ask the emperor to deal with it fairly! With the heart of comforting all concubines, I will never hope to follow suit."

These words were analyzed in detail, they were reasonable and reasonable, Qi Long said with a moved face: "The concubine is still right, this matter is of great importance, we have to pursue it, I just follow Yelin's opinion." He ordered: "Come on! Temporarily detain Concubine Yun in the palace, Gao Shengnuo, and arrest all the people in Juhe Palace, hand them over to the empress and Concubine Ni for interrogation, we must find out the cause of this matter."

This sound was like a bolt from the blue, Concubine Yun was in a daze, she looked at Qi Taki in disbelief, but Qi Taki didn't even look at her, he was busy getting up and supporting Su Mi's delicate body.

"Your Majesty..." Concubine Yun couldn't help shouting, her voice was mournful.

Qi Long turned around when he heard the sound, and said to her who was still kneeling down: "This move is also for your sake. If you are innocent, once the truth is found out, your reputation will definitely be returned."

For my sake? !Concubine Yun was in a trance for a while, once the courtiers of Juhe Palace were interrogated, with Concubine Ni's influence, it would not be easy to find a few court ladies and eunuchs to frame her as a frame-up, I am afraid that this time she would be doomed.

She immediately looked at the queen, hoping that she could speak to stop it, but unfortunately the queen did not look at her at this time, she was comforting Concubine Li Xian who was frightened just now.

She wanted to yell out, but she couldn't. Saying such words without any basis would only make others think that she was framing Concubine Ni, and even Qi Long thought that she was guilty of a crime.

What's more, at this moment, Qi Long didn't see her at all.

Because of this exhaustion, Su Mi's face turned pale again, and Qi Taki supported her distressedly: "You are not in good health, and your injuries have not healed, so don't leave any root causes of the disease, and call the imperial doctor to come and have a look first." .”

"Your majesty, there is nothing wrong with my concubine, I am just a little tired, there is no need to call the imperial physician, besides," Su Mi said with a smile, "Isn't the imperial physician here now?"

"Oh, I almost forgot," Qi Long remembered that Liu Chengcheng was here, and said again: "There are many people and noisy here, since you are tired, why don't we go back to Caiwei Palace now, you have been tired all morning , should also take a good rest."

While speaking, he helped Su Mi out of Fengyi Palace.

Seeing the close figures of the two and the considerate smile on Qi Long's face, Concubine Yun's face was ashen, her bright eyes dimmed instantly, and even Yun Jin who was wandering on her body seemed to have lost its color.

She stared blankly at Qi Taki, that was the husband she was destined to serve and rely on for the rest of her life. At this time, he was holding another slender and beautiful woman by the waist, just like he held her...

Everything in front of me is so far away and unreal, the unparalleled love I used to have, the midnight whispers between the two of them, the tenderness of the past and the moon, the vows of eternal love between the beds in the Nuan Pavilion...all seem like thousands of years ago. Like a magnificent and illusory dream a hundred years ago, it vanishes into thin air the moment you open your eyes, drifting away without a trace...

Why?Why?How could this happen to me?How could he be reduced to this point?

It's all her!She suddenly raised her head and stared fiercely at the woman in beautiful clothes who was still sitting leisurely at the top.

Ni Yelin smiled calmly, lifted the brocade handkerchief to cover her mouth, and sighed weakly and infinitely, "Oh, I'm really tired today, let's finish the tasks assigned by the emperor as soon as possible, right? Empress Empress .”

The queen was talking to Concubine Li Xian beside her, when she heard Concubine Ni's words, she raised her head and said, "Since the emperor said to do what my sister says, let's do what my sister wants." Her demeanor was still calm and dignified, her tone was still gentle and noble, It's just that he didn't look at Concubine Yun from the beginning to the end.

The concubines in the harem looked at Concubine Yun, who was kneeling in the hall, whose brilliance seemed to have faded in an instant, with puzzlement, sympathy and pity in their eyes...but more gloating.

Everyone knows that Concubine Yun is a thing of the past.

(End of this chapter)