The Self-cultivation of a Salted Fish Concubine

Mother Du pinched Taoyao's ear and said, "You silly girl, you dare to say anything in front of the master? I think you are tired of living?!"

Taoyao cried out, "Mom, please forgive me. I am only telling the truth."

Mother Du said angrily, "You are the master's confidant, and you say all kinds of scary things to the master. If you scare the master, I will skin you alive!"

Taoyao didn't dare to say anything more and just begged for mercy, and was driven out by Mother Du.

When Mother Du came back, she saw Concubine Jing Shu sitting quietly by the side, seemingly lost in thought, with a bad look on her face.

She said distressedly, "Master, are you frightened by that little hoof's words?"

Concubine Jing Shu shook her head. "I just think Xi Chongrong is...really cruel."

"She is cruel to others and to herself."

Mother Du: "Your Majesty, please don't blame me for being too talkative."

"In my opinion, the master shouldn't have gone there. He has been exposed to bad luck for no reason."

"What kind of personality does Xi Chongrong have? The master should have known it when she was still a girl. Once she makes a decision, she will not be changed even by nine bulls. She will also refuse to listen to any advice."

"When the master went to see her, she just thought the master was there to laugh at her."

"She has never been kind to anyone. Perhaps she drank poison tonight to commit suicide with the intention of implicating her master."

Concubine Jing Shu was a little lazy: "Maybe."

"But now that she's dead, none of this matters anymore."

"If the Emperor punishes me for this and takes away my authority to assist the six palaces, perhaps it would be a good thing."

The emperor was probably trying to punish her, but he wouldn't be able to find anyone to take over the palace affairs for a while.

When Concubine Jingshu thought of these bad things in the harem, she felt even more upset.

On the second day, Concubine Jingshu got up early as usual to prepare to go to the spirit chamber to mourn in front of the retired emperor.

While changing clothes, she suddenly asked, "Did you send Xi Chongrong's confession yesterday to the emperor?"

Tao Yao: "Your Majesty, the palace maids around Xi Chongrong went to see him off. The Emperor only read the confession and didn't say anything."

Concubine Jing Shu nodded: "Just give it to me."

"At least we met each other, and it's good enough that there are no regrets."

The more things Concubine Jing Shu experienced in the palace, the calmer her mentality became.

When she went out, she looked up at the sky and couldn't help but sigh: "What's wrong recently? The sky has been gloomy all the time?"

Tao Yao followed her master and was a little afraid to speak.

What happened to the master?

The weather was nice and clear, and it wasn't snowing. It was a rare good day.

Why do you suddenly say the sky is gloomy?

When Xi Chongrong's confession letter came before the emperor, he glanced at it casually, curled his lips, but did not smile.

"I didn't know Xi Chongrong was so talented."

This article, without any polishing, is already as good as many articles written by court ministers.

Eunuch Shi'an handed over tea and said respectfully, "When has our Great Yu Dynasty ever lacked talented people?"

"Which of the famous ladies in the capital doesn't have some talent? But not all of them are as vicious as Xi Chongrong."

The emperor glanced at Eunuch Shi'an and said, "I rarely see you say that."

Since Eunuch Shi'an can serve in the imperial court, he must be a seasoned veteran who has gained a lot of experience and is very good at speaking differently to different people.

It's rare to see him evaluate someone so bluntly.

Eunuch Shi'an smiled bitterly, "I saw Concubine Hui's body with my own eyes. It was covered in blood. Her chest had been pierced by more than a dozen hairpins, leaving it a bloody mess... I'm afraid of how someone could be so cruel without any grudges!"

If there is hatred or resentment, it is understandable that they would use such cruel means.

However, Concubine Hui and Xi Chongrong had no grudges against each other, and they killed each other just because things went wrong.

Too shocking!

Eunuch Shi'an: "I really don't understand where Xi Chongrong gets such resentment from."

"The Empress is not old enough, and everyone in and outside the palace knows it. Why would she want to get involved?!"

The emperor's expression was calm. He casually threw away the confession in his hand and said calmly, "Her father and brother were both killed by the people of the Xia Dynasty."

It's not surprising that he has resentment towards the Queen.

Eunuch Shi'an: "Then will the Emperor show some mercy?"

The emperor glanced at Eunuch Shi'an and said, "His father and brother have always protected their country, and our Yu Dynasty has never treated them unfairly."

"The descendants of the Duke of Su are incompetent. My father promised that his title would not be reduced for three generations. He never failed to reward them during festivals and even promoted many of the Yang family's sons. It's because they are so unmotivated."

"The queen married on behalf of the Xia Dynasty, and she was the Xia envoy. She also maintained peace between the two dynasties and prevented many wars."

The emperor said calmly, "The Yang family really doesn't know how to educate their children. That's why they raised someone as short-sighted as Xi Chongrong."

When Eunuch Shi'an heard this, he thought that the emperor would be merciless?

Just as the mourning hall was set up in Yongning Palace, the emperor's decree arrived.

"Xi Chongrong is cruel and vicious, and extremely jealous. He conspired with Consort Xue to murder Consort Hui. He was demoted to a commoner and not allowed to be buried in the imperial mausoleum!"

Concubine Jingshu was stunned.

Relegated to common people?

This means that after Xi Chongrong died, his funeral could not be held and he could not be buried in the imperial mausoleum.

Moreover, if the Eighth Prince had a mother who was demoted to a commoner due to a crime, his future would be very difficult.

Concubine Jingshu received the imperial edict on her behalf and had to dismantle the newly decorated mourning hall, leaving only a few people to mourn for Xi Chongrong.

Xi Chongrong's death was suppressed quietly.

When Concubine Shen heard the news, she immediately went to find Xie Run and said, "The Emperor actually punished Xi Chongrong, but only for her crime of murdering Concubine Hui!"

"Xi Chongrong has now deserved his punishment. His position has been stripped, and he cannot even be buried in the imperial mausoleum. It's a pity that the Eighth Prince has such a mother at such a young age. Who knows what kind of troubles he will face in the future."

Xie Run had a rare moment of free time, so he took a sash and prepared to embroider a handkerchief.

After hearing what Shenpin said, her eyes still fell on her hands, "The Queen's death must not be related to Xi Chongrong."

"Firstly, it gives the Xia Dynasty a handle to criticize the emperor. Secondly... it will easily dishearten the soldiers of the Yu Dynasty."

The fact that Xi Chongrong had sent a letter of confession to the emperor could not be concealed.

Xie Run sent someone to inquire and learned the contents of the confession. Only then did he know that Xi Chongrong's father and brother had both died on the front line fighting against the Xia Dynasty.

The Duke Su's Mansion fell into decline in an instant without anyone to support it, and Xi Chongrong went from being a noble lady in Kyoto to a tool for the Duke Su's Mansion to cling to her.

I'm afraid she hated the queen when she entered the palace.

Xie Run raised his head and said, "I have never understood why. Xi Chongrong has a prince and a high position, so why would he risk interfering in the Queen's affairs?"

"Until her confession was handed to the Emperor... Now it makes sense."

Concubine Shen looked bewildered: "Thank you, Sister. I also found out about the confession, but when was this written on it?"

Concubine Shen could read and write, but her cultural level was not high.

After listening to Xi Chongrong's confession, we only knew that Xi Chongrong admitted the crime of murdering Concubine Hui, cited the achievements of the Duke of Suguo's Mansion, and admitted his mistakes with tears in his eyes, only asking the emperor to spare the Duke of Suguo's Mansion and the Eighth Prince.

There was no mention at all that the Queen's death had anything to do with her.

Xie Run: "That's exactly where her cleverness lies."

The emperor clearly did not want the queen's death to be linked to the Yu Dynasty.

If Xi Chongrong dared to mention the Queen's death in her confession, the Emperor would probably deal with her and the Duke Su's Mansion directly.