Harem Daily Life

Tao Yanyan knew with her peripheral vision that Li Cairen was looking at her, but she didn't bother to look back and just blinked, as if she didn't care at all about the secret that Li Cairen was telling her.

Li Cairen suddenly felt like she had punched cotton and felt very depressed.

"Ah, that little maid was really scared. Only after I asked her repeatedly did she tell the truth." After she finished speaking, she glanced at Concubine De who was clenching her fists beside her and said, "It turns out that the third prince's fall into the water was not an accident, but was pushed into the water by the eldest prince."

As soon as she finished speaking, Concubine Shu angrily said, "On that day, Kang'er was clearly accompanied by the eldest prince, and the eldest prince was the most suspicious, but he refused to admit it. If someone hadn't exposed this, Concubine De would not have known what a good son she had raised!"

Concubine De was also angry and said, "The Queen Mother later issued an imperial decree, saying that the whole palace should look for witnesses, and even offered a high reward, but no one came forward. Why did a young palace maid come forward to identify the eldest prince not long after Li Cairen returned to the palace? Queen Mother, I suspect that someone deliberately framed the prince. Please investigate!"

Shu Fei sneered, "Li Cairen is not of high rank, why would she risk standing up for the little palace maid to expose this matter and make enemies with you for nothing? I can only say that this matter must be true, otherwise Li Cairen would not take the risk. Queen Mother, I believe what Li Cairen said, and I ask the Queen Mother to make the decision for me and Kang'er, severely punish the eldest prince, and punish De Fei for her improper education of the prince."

Tao Yanyan really couldn't understand it now. Didn't Li Cairen have a problem with the Queen Mother? Now she was on Shu Fei's side to deal with De Fei?

The Queen Mother looked at Concubine Shu, then Concubine De, and finally her gaze fell on Concubine Li: "Although I do want to find out the truth about Kang'er falling into the water that day, I am also skeptical about what you said. It's not that I haven't been tricked by you in the past. You have no credibility in my eyes."

The Queen Mother spoke bluntly, and Li Cairen was about to lose expression. She helped Shu Fei, the Queen Mother's own grandson, and still got slapped in the face by the Queen Mother?

It’s so infuriating!

"If the Queen Mother doesn't believe it, you can summon the little palace maid to confront her. The little palace maid said that she was not the only one who saw it at the time. There was another person present." After saying this, Li Cairen looked at Mingyue who was standing behind Concubine Tao, as if she was watching a good show. "I wonder if Concubine Tao's maid told the Queen after she went back that she was also present that day."

Everyone's eyes turned towards Tao Yanyan.

Mingyue clenched her hands tightly in her sleeves. She was always calm and composed, but at this moment she couldn't help but panic.

The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes and said, "Noble Concubine Tao, if your maidservant testifies, I can believe it."

Li Cairen choked and glared at Tao Yanyan angrily. She hated the empress dowager for preferring to believe what a servant said instead of what she said!

Mingyue glanced at her master, and after getting the hint from her master, she stepped forward and knelt down, saying, "Empress Dowager, it's not that I didn't come to report it before, it's just that I was too far away and couldn't see clearly. I didn't want to make a rash judgment, so I didn't say anything."

Shu Fei said coldly: "Now whatever you say is based on your mouth. You are probably timid and afraid of trouble, and you are only concerned about protecting the eldest prince!"

When Shu Fei thought about her small and thin son being pushed into the water and how Concubine Tao's maid saw it but kept it secret, she was so angry that she wanted to drag the person down and beat him with dozens of boards.

"And Concubine Tao, don't say you didn't know about it. The Queen Mother treated you so well, but her grandson was pushed into the water and you just stood by and watched. Do you have any filial piety towards the Queen Mother?" Concubine Shu looked at Tao Yanyan coldly and questioned.

Tao Yanyan bowed to the Queen Mother and said, "Please forgive me, Queen Mother. I did hear Mingyue talk about this incident, but Mingyue was too far away that day and the trees blocked my view, so I really didn't see what happened clearly. I wanted to report it to the Queen Mother at that time, but I didn't know how to say it. It only took a moment for the two children to come into contact with each other and for the Third Prince to fall into the water. How can I make a conclusion without seeing it clearly? I hope the Queen Mother will understand."

Li Cairen's eyes darkened. She couldn't let Concubine Tao escape easily today. She sighed, "Queen Dowager, why don't you call the little palace maid up and tell us everything that happened that day."

The Queen Mother gave Eunuch Qin a look, and Eunuch Qin went downstairs to bring people.

The little palace maid walked up to the hall tremblingly, and knelt on the ground trembling as soon as she came in.

"Don't be afraid. I am here today. Tell me everything you saw, and I will judge for you."

The little palace maid then raised her head slightly, looked at the concubines sitting on both sides, and said, "Please forgive me, Queen Mother. I heard the imperial decree but did not dare to come forward. Firstly, I was too insignificant to speak out; secondly, the scene was too scary and I was afraid."

After she finished speaking, she glanced at Concubine De and immediately lowered her head again.

"I did see it. It was the First Prince who pushed the Third Prince into the water. I can swear to heaven that I am not lying."

Concubine De’s face was pale and her hands were shaking slightly.

"I was frightened for many days until I accidentally discovered that the other person I saw that day was Concubine Tao's personal maid. Only then did I have some courage and wanted to stand up. Later, I was fortunate enough to meet Li Cairen again. I had no worries and told Li Cairen about this matter without any worries."

Li Cairen glanced at Tao Yanyan and said, "Ah, they are both palace maids, one speaks out for justice, while the other keeps it secret. The Imperial Concubine really taught her well, to make the servants like this."

Shu Fei's face was livid: "Imperial Concubine Tao, although I don't have a close relationship with you, the Third Prince is your Majesty's flesh and blood. How can you watch him being harmed and remain indifferent? You are pregnant yourself, can't you understand a mother's heart?"

Tao Yanyan said coldly: "I've already said that my maid was standing far away and didn't see it clearly. What do you want me to say?"

"Hmph, I think you are just quibbling. You are probably hoping that the rest of us princes will fight with each other so that you can be the one who benefits in the end!" Shu Fei said in a cold tone.

De Fei clenched her fist and said, "Shu Fei, the Imperial Concubine said that her maid didn't see clearly, but you kept forcing people to identify him. You are trying to induce a confession. Queen Mother, the eldest prince has always been well-behaved and would not do such a thing to harm his brothers. Afterwards, I repeatedly asked him, and he said that he did not push the third prince. Queen Mother, how can a child lie? I hope that the Queen Mother will not listen to the one-sided words of this little palace maid and frame the eldest prince!"

Tao Yanyan's eyes darkened. Although she knew what the eldest prince had done, she had chosen to conceal the matter that day, so she had to keep it a secret. Otherwise, Mingyue would become a thorn in the Defei's side, and she would also become a thorn in the Defei's side. Although she said she was not afraid of her, it was annoying to have so many enemies.

Since you have chosen to protect yourself, you have no choice but to go down this path until the end.

Besides, the eldest prince fell into the water a few days ago. Didn’t Shu Fei take revenge on him?

The Queen Mother was also in a dilemma for a moment. After so many days, it was indeed difficult for her to make a judgment on the matter again.

"The little palace maid took the risk to come forward. Regardless of whether what she said is true or not, it deserves recognition. I will reward her with twenty taels of silver."

Defei wanted to say something more, but was stopped by the Queen Mother: "Defei, no matter whether the eldest prince pushed the third prince or not, all the testimonies are against him now. He is my grandson, and the third prince is also my grandson. They are both my dearest. How about this, you go back and discipline the eldest prince. Fortunately, the third prince did not suffer any irreparable harm, so this time, I will spare the eldest prince. But if it happens again, the prison of the clan house has not been opened for many years. If he wants to go in and live there, it is not impossible."

Concubine De's face turned pale, and she begged for mercy again and again: "Please forgive me, Queen Dowager. Please look carefully. The eldest prince is not that bad!"

The Queen Mother ignored her and said to Shu Fei: "Keep a good eye on the Third Prince. You are also responsible for his accident that day. This matter ends here and do not mention it again."

Shu Fei wanted to say something, but the Queen Mother gave her a look and she had to shut up.

Seeing that Imperial Concubine Tao was still staying out of the matter, Li Cairen raised her eyebrows and asked, "But Imperial Concubine Tao knew about it but didn't report it. Isn't that inappropriate?"

Tao Yanyan looked at Li Cairen with cold eyes: "Li Cairen was stabbed and her ears were injured. Didn't you hear what I said just now? If you didn't see it clearly, then you didn't see it clearly. Do you want my maid to make up the story?"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone outside announced that His Majesty had arrived.

Several people paused their quarrel and greeted the emperor respectfully.

He Linzhang frowned when he saw how lively it was. He bowed to the Queen Mother and walked over to Tao Yanyan, helping her sit down. "If you have anything to say, please tell me slowly. Look how angry you are."

Shu Fei snorted coldly: "Your Majesty didn't even ask what happened, but you comforted the Imperial Concubine first? The Imperial Concubine feels wronged, but don't I feel wronged too?"