mesbooks Chapter 169 Severe Punishment
Chapter 169 Severe Punishment
Hearing that Shu Fei's words hinted at making things difficult for the emperor, Ruyi subconsciously protected the emperor. She spoke lightly and took the blame on herself.
"It is my intention. Witchcraft is a taboo in the palace. This is a matter of great importance. Naturally, I should report this matter to the emperor and get to the bottom of it..."
She said this in a neutral tone, as if she was trying to excuse herself.
Unfortunately, before she could finish, someone jumped out to object.
Concubine Mei showed disdain and said in a cold voice, "Your Highness, I think you are just using this as an excuse for personal gain. Everyone knows that you dislike Concubine Ling. When something happens, you rush to find her and blame her, without any regard for the dragon fetus in her belly. You don't even have reliable evidence to get to the bottom of it. Empress, although you are the Empress, in this harem, the Emperor is the most important master. You are too arbitrary and tyrannical."
After saying this, Bai Ruiji stared at Ruyi with burning eyes.
She said this with sarcasm, directly addressing Ruyi, saying that she was abusing her position as Queen, harboring jealousy and pressuring the favored concubines.
The emperor's expression changed and he couldn't help but glance at Ruyi.
Noticing the emperor's gaze, Ruyi felt a little annoyed.
She did all this for the emperor, to maintain the emperor's face. Why did the emperor look at her like that?
If everyone here can spread rumors and slander the queen at will, where is the emperor's dignity?
Before she could say anything, someone jumped out to defend her.
"Princess Mei, I know you're close to Concubine Ling, but a country has its own laws, and a family has its own rules. It's absolutely unreasonable to let Concubine Ling off lightly just because she's pregnant. Whether Concubine Ling allowed her mother to practice witchcraft in the palace, and whether she secretly instructed Granny Tian to spread rumors about the Empress, remains undetermined. Your eagerness to exonerate Concubine Ling makes you seem like you're covering up for her."
Hai Lan couldn't stand seeing Yan Wan and her gang being so arrogant, so she immediately jumped out to criticize her.
Concubine Mei didn't buy her tricks and retorted without hesitation.
"You didn't even have any evidence to accuse Concubine Ling, but I've already made her a suspect just because I complained about her. Concubine Yu, I know you're close to the Empress, but you can't just frame someone without any evidence!"
"That's enough, shut up!"
The emperor's head hurt from the noise, and he shouted loudly, and the hall instantly became quiet. The atmosphere in the hall was even more tense.
When Ruyi saw Yanwan looking so relaxed and at ease, she felt vaguely uneasy.
Why is it that at this point, Concubine Ling is not panicking but rather so calm?
Hailan felt something was wrong.
They were too impatient and rushed to prove Concubine Ling's guilt without even finding any evidence. Now it seems that Concubine Ling can only get away with it this time.
Fortunately, at this time, Jinbao brought Grandma Tian in.
"Your Majesty, Grandma Tian has brought it."
Seeing the new witness coming, Hai Lan breathed a sigh of relief and gave Ruyi a reassuring look, signaling her not to panic, as they still had bargaining chips.
She didn't believe that all the things that happened to Grandma Tian were done by her alone.
Grandma Tian was covered in dirt, her face was pale, her eyes were red and swollen, and her hair was a mess. Even though her face had been cleaned, it was still possible to see that she had been severely tortured.
"Grandma Tian? How did you get beaten like this?"
Seeing her like this, Yanwan screamed in surprise.
It seems unimaginable that Grandma Tian actually received such a severe punishment.
"Empress Ling Fei, it's my fault for causing you trouble. I can't deliver your baby."
Grandma Tian looked at Yanwan with an apologetic look on her face, tears in her eyes, and she was breathing heavily while speaking, looking exhausted from the torture.
"Your Majesty, Grandma Tian is the only midwife in the palace who can accurately determine the fetal position. How can you use such a harsh punishment? Concubine Ling will give birth soon. Who will deliver her then?"
Seeing Grandma Tian's miserable condition, Yingpin said worriedly.
She had a point.
The emperor frowned even deeper when he heard this. He turned his head to look at Ruyi who was sitting beside him, and doubts appeared in his eyes.
Concubine Ling was about to give birth, so why did the Queen choose such a day to torture Grandma Tian?
The Queen is as calm as a chrysanthemum and has never paid attention to the rumors in the palace. Why is she so impatient today, ignoring the pregnant concubines and torturing Grandma Tian, the only person in the palace who can feel the fetal position?
Even if it concerns the reputation of the Queen, she has also ordered the rumors to be quelled. Couldn't the Queen wait until Concubine Ling gave birth before torturing her? Why did she have to do it at this time?
In his opinion, the Queen had always disliked Concubine Ling, and there was a possibility that she was taking advantage of the situation to make things difficult for her and the unborn child in her womb.
After all, without Grandma Tian, Concubine Ling's childbirth would be a bit more difficult...
After all, the child in Concubine Ling's belly is her own...
The emperor couldn't bear to think too much about it. After all, he had chosen the queen himself and she had been with him since the time he lived in the palace. He would rather think that the queen acted rashly out of jealousy than believe that the queen was such a vicious person.
"Empress, Yingpin is right. Concubine Ling is about to give birth. It's a bit too much to torture Grandma Tian like this."
The emperor scolded coldly.
"emperor?"
Ruyi looked at the emperor with an innocent look on her face, in disbelief, her eyes filled with resentment.
She didn't expect that the emperor would start to blame her after just a few words from others.
Compared to the pain she had experienced these days, the emperor's duties made her eyes bloodshot and her internal organs ached.
"Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with the Empress. I was ordered by the Empress to thoroughly investigate the rumors in the palace. They concern the Empress and the Thirteenth Prince, so I sent Grandma Tian to the Ministry of Punishment for severe interrogation."
Seeing that the emperor was about to vent his anger on Ruyi after hearing just a few words, Hai Lan could no longer sit still and quickly jumped out to take the blame on herself.
"Concubine Yu, you and the Empress are the best friends in this palace. You said you were following the Empress' orders to thoroughly investigate the palace rumors, but wasn't this torture also the Empress's intention? You are so anxious to clear the Empress of responsibility. I think you have ulterior motives and want to use this opportunity to murder the dragon heir in Concubine Ling's womb..."
Yihuan looked at Hailan angrily.
Grandma Tian was an expert midwife in the palace. No dragon heir in the palace had not been born without her care. Yet, she tortured Concubine Ling so harshly before she gave birth. She didn't believe that the Queen's party had nothing to hide.
Yan Wan had said that the baby in her belly was hers. Now, others were going to do something to her child. How could she remain calm?
"Sister Shu Fei, what you said is serious. Everyone knows that the Queen is aloof from worldly matters. How could she consider the feelings of us concubines when doing things..."
Ruiji sneered and fiddled with the armor on her fingertips nonchalantly while speaking. In this Yikun Palace, she seemed even more arrogant than Ruyi, the mistress of the first palace.
Her words seemed to be speaking for Ruyi, but in fact she was accusing Ruyi of not being competent as the queen, selfishly caring only about herself, and not considering the concubine who was about to give birth after nine months of pregnancy.
She is the empress, the emperor's legitimate wife, and the children of concubines have to call her "Empress Mother".
Not to mention the relationship between her and Concubine Ling, just looking at the current situation, she has no motherly heart.
No wonder the emperor sent the two little princes to be raised elsewhere and not let them get close to the queen, otherwise she would have spoiled these good children.
"That's enough. Stop talking."
The emperor was really annoyed by the endless chatter of the few people.
The few people fell silent instantly, and after the emperor finished speaking, he turned his gaze back to Grandma Tian.
He really didn't want the topic to stay on the Queen, so he asked about Grandma Tian.
"Grandma Tian, the Queen said you were spreading rumors in the palace. Is that true?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes were focused on Grandma Tian.
Upon hearing this, Grandma Tian's face showed a hint of cruelty, and she looked at Ruyi with resentment.
"Yes, the rumors about the Empress in the palace were all spread intentionally by me..."
Grandma Tian admitted it with difficulty, and her lips were trembling as she spoke.
"The Empress has treated you well, how could you be so heartless? I sent someone to search your room and found many banknotes. Concubine Ling previously said they were given to you by her. Tell me now! Did Concubine Ling bribe you to secretly slander the Empress?"
Seeing that Grandma Tian readily admitted that she was the one who spread the rumor, Hai Lan became very anxious, thinking that she had caught Concubine Ling, and questioned her harshly.
The current situation is very unfavorable to them, so they can only turn their attention to Concubine Ling to find a breakthrough.