Xia Dongchun from Legend of Zhen Huan: I want to live till the last episode

Seeing Yinzhen coming, the queen took the lead in standing up and bowing: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. May your Highness be blessed with good health."

Yinzhen sat in the main seat, and the queen sat on the side.

"No matter whether Concubine Zhao made a mistake or not, or how big her mistake was, she is pregnant now, and she shouldn't be asked to kneel." Yinzhen looked at the queen disapprovingly, and said to Xia Dongchun, "Don't cry, get up first."

Xia Dongchun then stood up with the help of Yun Ling, sat back down, and wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief.

"I heard that the palace maid confessed?" Yinzhen asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Queen replied, her tone somewhat helpless, "The maids from the Ministry of Punishment said that Ningfang couldn't bear the torture and confessed everything, but Ningfang said... that it was Concubine Zhao who ordered her to do so. That's why I asked someone to invite Concubine Zhao to come over for questioning to see if there is any misunderstanding."

"Hmm?" Yinzhen's eyes fell on Xia Dongchun as the queen spoke, and his tone could not tell whether he was happy or angry. "Zhaopin, what do you say?"

Xia Dongchun wiped her tears and said the same thing: "I have never seen this palace maid named Ningfang before, how can I control her? But I don't know why Ningfang wants to rape me."

Yinzhen did not comment and called Su Peisheng over: "Su Peisheng, go to the Ministry of Punishment and bring the maid here. I want to ask her in person."

"Okay." Su Peisheng received the order, turned around and hurried out.

"Okay, stop crying," Yinzhen said again, "Look, your face is all red from crying. What will it look like if someone sees you?"

The tone was still gentle, but Xia Dongchun did not feel relieved. She still had to think about what to do when the palace maid came later.

After all, she has served Yinzhen for such a long time, and she can more or less understand his suspicion.

"Your Majesty is right. Concubine Zhao should also be more careful. After all, nothing is more important than the dragon fetus. Even if you can bear crying like this, the heir in your belly will not be able to bear it." The queen also advised in a hypocritical manner.

Xia Dongchun said immediately, "Yes, I understand. I naturally put the heir first. I just heard about this matter for the first time and was really scared and wronged. That's why I lost my composure. Now the emperor is here. The emperor is so wise and the queen is so virtuous. I believe that the emperor and the queen will find out the truth and clear my name."

After saying this, Xia Dongchun felt tired. She was such a straightforward person before entering the palace, but now she would say such flattering words.

But these words were indeed useful. After listening to them, Yinzhen said, "You have always been sensible."

About an incense stick of time later, Su Peisheng came back. He must have walked in a hurry on the way. It was a cold day and Su Peisheng was sweating all over.

But Ningfang did not come with Su Peisheng. Those who came with Su Peisheng were Concubine Qi, Concubine Xin and An Lingrong.

"Your servant pays respects to the Emperor and the Empress." The three people first paid respects to Yinzhen and the Empress, and then greeted Concubine Duan, Concubine Jing, Zhen Huan and Xia Dongchun respectively.

"Why are you here?" Yinzhen frowned.

Concubine Qi was the first to speak: "In reply to the emperor, I, Concubine Xin, and Concubine An originally came to pay respects to the Empress, and wanted to chat with her for a while, but unexpectedly met Eunuch Su on the way, so we followed him along."

"Where is the palace maid named Ningfang?" Yinzhen waved his hand, motioning the three of them to sit down, then turned to Su Peisheng.

Su Peisheng wiped the sweat off his head, glanced at Xia Dongchun, and said in an awkward tone: "Your Majesty, I hurried to the Ministry of Punishment, but the maids there told me that Ningfang... Ningfang bit her tongue and committed suicide. She could not be saved. She is dead now."

"What did you say?" Yinzhen's tone turned cold.

Xia Dongchun was also shocked, and couldn't help but clench the handkerchief in her hand - Ningfang died not earlier or later, but at this time, leaving only those words identifying her. Now that she is dead and there is no evidence, how can she defend herself?

"Your servant, you servant didn't know what happened. Because I was worried, I took a special look and found that he had indeed died." Su Peisheng said.

"Your Majesty, this..." The Queen hesitated to speak.

"Your Majesty, I also heard on the way that Ningfang could not bear the torture and gave away Concubine Zhao. Now it just so happened that Concubine Zhao was summoned to Jingren Palace by the Empress, and Your Majesty just happened to want to see Ningfang, and just so happened... Ningfang committed suicide. Don't Your Majesty think this is too much of a coincidence?" Concubine Qi glanced at Xia Dongchun and said to Yinzhen.

"What Noble Lady Qi means is..." Seeing that Yinzhen did not respond to her, the Queen spoke.

Noble Lady Qi stood up and said, "In my humble opinion, Ningfang must have committed suicide at this time at the behest of Concubine Zhao, in order to avoid the possibility of death without any evidence."

After saying this, before anyone could stop her, Concubine Qi continued, "I think this was done by Concubine Zhao. This is a done deal. Your Majesty, Empress, let's think about it. Once this happens, who will be the one to reap the benefits? Isn't it Concubine Zhao?"

"Lady Qi, please stop slandering me!" Xia Dongchun shouted, "You and I have always had a bad relationship, so your arbitrary speculations are even more untrustworthy!"

"Any speculation?" Seeing that Yinzhen had not spoken to interrupt her, Concubine Qi became more confident, "I dare not accept what Concubine Zhao said. We are not fools. Whether this matter succeeds or not, you are the one who benefits. Once this happens, Princess Wen Yi made a mistake and lost the emperor's love. Isn't your daughter Princess Lingyuan the only one who is favored? Besides, now you and Concubine Chun are the only ones who are pregnant in the palace. If this matter succeeds, you will be the only concubine in the palace who is pregnant. Isn't it more to your liking?"

"Lady Qi, it's a pity that you don't write the script." Xia Dongchun retorted, "Ningfang committing suicide at this time is the most disadvantageous to me. Yes, as Lady Qi said, once Ningfang dies, there will be no evidence. Then the only person who can prove my innocence will be gone. How could I possibly want Ningfang to commit suicide? It is obvious that I am the one who wants her to live the most. Your grand theory just now is simply ridiculous!"