The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

Imperial Concubine Qing's expression remained calm as she replied calmly, "When I arrived, I heard that the torture had already begun. Not only Imperial Concubine Zhao, but Imperial Concubine Yue as well. I imagine the results of the torture are almost out by now."

He sighed, pretending not to notice the emperor's change of expression, and continued to himself, "The two concubines are both fragile and vulnerable, and it's pitiful that they have gone through such a disaster. However, the matter is of great importance, so the punishment is reasonable. The Empress Dowager has appointed people and ordered severe punishment, which shows how much she cares for the royal heir."

The emperor frowned and said, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Imperial Concubine Qing was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Your Majesty, wait a moment. I will personally go to the Palace Administration Office and urge them to compile the interrogation records and send them over as soon as possible."

But this was not what the emperor was worried about.

Without waiting for her to finish her words, he stood up and strode out.

"Cao Bin! Call the Palace Administrator!"

The other eunuchs stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Cao has been ordered to go on an errand and hasn't returned yet..."

"Then go and prepare the sedan chair, why are you babbling so much?"

The emperor snapped.

As he spoke, he strode down the imperial steps outside the hall.

The incident happened suddenly. The palace maids hurried to prepare the sedan chair, but it was too late because the emperor himself was walking very fast in front.

They had no choice but to have one group follow after him, while another group carried the sedan chair and followed behind.

Soon they were all gone.

Concubine Qing covered her chest and coughed for a while, then helped her maid and slowly walked out of Chenqian Palace.

He stood silently for a moment, looking in the direction where the emperor was leaving.

It was almost noon, the sunlight was dazzling in the blue sky, and the wind was silent.

Concubine Qing covered her forehead with a scarf and looked out at the distant palace wall with glazed tiles. The skyline was clear blue.

"It's such a beautiful autumn day," she sighed, "but it's also a time of trouble."

Several ministers left the hall one after another, and Lu Guinian took over the conversation.

"It is better to have more troubles in the palace and the court so that the people of the world can live and work in peace and contentment."

Imperial Concubine Qing smiled faintly, "That would be best. As long as there isn't any trouble here that causes unrest outside."

Lu Guinian declared loudly, "Your Majesty is wise and intelligent, and all the gentlemen are loyal and supportive. Even if there are occasional mischief by villains, there is nothing to worry about."

"I don't understand what's going on outside. Concubines, just serve His Majesty well."

Concubine Qing withdrew her gaze, turned around and nodded slightly to several court officials, then turned and left as they respectfully saw her off.

When Lu Guinian lowered his head, he felt Concubine Qing's gaze passing over his head, which seemed quite meaningful.

However, when he looked up again, the imperial concubine, who was thin and seemed to be in poor health, had already walked far away.

After a brief contact, he already knew that Concubine Qing was not as sickly as she seemed, but a person with deep scheming.

I smelled the same scent from Concubine Qing.

But he didn't care.

At least today, this imperial concubine is on the side of Concubine Zhao.

I just hope that Concubine Zhao won't suffer too much in the punishment at the Palace Administration Office, and that she can cheer up as soon as possible.

The road ahead is quite dangerous.

*

"You won't tell us? You're still being stubborn? Confess to us now and explain every detail of how you murdered the heir to the throne! Otherwise, we won't be patient anymore!"

In a cell in the torture chamber.

Chai Siyan and his group of evil spirits.

The maidservant was the most vicious, the one who cursed the most fiercely and struck the hardest. Dissatisfied that the others weren't beating her hard enough, she grabbed the stick and took the fight herself, raising it high and bringing it down hard on Concubine Yue.

After Fei Wan was woken up by the splashing water, she was suppressed again and this time she couldn't struggle anymore.

He could only watch Concubine Yue being tortured.

Concubine Yue's dress was also stained with blood.

He lay on the bench, twitching in pain.

I don't even have the strength to cry out in pain.

Fei Wan kept warning them that Concubine Yue's status was different, and even if she was convicted, she wouldn't be killed. The Zhenguo Mansion wouldn't let anyone who harmed her go.

But in return, he was hit even harder.

Chai Siyan walked over, took a torture board, and pressed it against Fei Wan's head.

"No matter how big the Zhenguo Mansion is, can it be bigger than the Royal Family? We are carrying out our duties according to orders. The golden medal of Ciyun Palace is here. Do you think the Zhenguo Mansion dares to cause trouble to the Empress Dowager? Empress Zhao, you have been favored by the Emperor for several months, but after all, you have the same background as us. Now that you have fallen to this point, don't try to scare anyone with your big words."

"I advise you to confess honestly, and you'll suffer less. If you delay any longer, Concubine Yue will be crippled! If you delay any longer, you'll have to endure another round too. Do you want to try? Or, should we try a different torture device?"

She pushed the board down, pressing Feiwan's head hard to the ground.

After waiting for a while, Fei Wan didn't "confess".

He pointed to a pliers hanging on the wall and said, "That one, it's commonly used and very useful."

A palace maid brought over the pliers.

Chai Siyan took it and bent down to put it on Fei Wan's hand.

The maidservant who was beating Concubine Yue stopped and panted, leaning on the board. "Auntie, what's so fun about the handcuffs? They only make you scream when you clamp them on your hands. It's nothing like the board. It makes a very crisp sound when it hits your body."

Chai Siyan raised the corner of his lips and said, "Let's use the pliers. She didn't seem to be afraid of the pain even after being beaten for a long time."

As he said that, he pried Fei Wan's fingers apart and forced them on.

The maidservant dropped the board and came over, "Why don't you do it, Auntie? Let me do it."

Chai Siyan was distracted for a moment and was scratched by the struggling Fei Wan. The back of his hand felt stinging and he couldn't help but cry out in pain.

The maidservant immediately slapped Fei Wan in the face: "She dared to hurt others when she was about to die! Aunt, leave her to me. Concubine Zhao has been in the limelight for so long, it's time to return to the bottom and taste what it's like to be a servant."

Her eyes were so vicious.

Chai Siyan was stunned.

"Then...you come."

He handed the torture instruments to her and walked away.

The palace maid took the pliers in her hand, stretched it a few times to test its strength, and then held it in her hand and looked at it carefully with squinted eyes.

"Oh, what a wonderful thing! Madam Zhao Fei, look, it's so sturdy. Made of bamboo strips and tied with a hemp rope, with just a gentle squeeze, the thin bamboo strips will pinch your fingers and dig into your flesh. It's incredibly painful. Are you afraid? If you are, then confess quickly, okay?"

She discussed it in a slow and gentle voice.

The gentle tone of voice made the surrounding companions feel a little uneasy.

Fei Wan spoke weakly, "I... didn't do it. Even if I'm beaten to death, there's nothing... to confess. If you harm the imperial concubine, you will... be convicted, and your family will be implicated..."

Chai Siyan frowned and urged: "Stop talking nonsense with her and get started."

"Yes, Auntie!"

The maidservant grinned, swung the pliers with a loud noise, and squatted in front of Fei Wan.

Have Fei Wan picked up and made to kneel on the ground.

Then he pried Fei Wan's fingers apart one by one and forced them into the gaps on the pliers.

Fei Wan struggled, and the process was not smooth.

But there were many palace maids, and they worked together to suppress her and finally put the harem on her.

The maidservant was very careful and adjusted the direction of the bamboo strips to ensure that the thinnest part would touch Fei Wan's fingers.

"Empress Zhao, this is your last chance. Will you confess? Otherwise, if I tug the rope lightly, these bamboo strips will tighten, digging into your skin and flesh, locking your finger bones... Oh, you still have old wounds on your hands. They haven't healed yet, right? Don't worry, once I strangle you, all your fingers will be broken, and the old injuries won't be a problem anymore, haha..."

The palace maid laughed loudly, as shrill as a demon.

boom!

At this moment, the tightly closed cell door was kicked open by someone from outside.

The palace maid's laughter stopped abruptly and she looked towards the door in surprise.

"Who dares to be so presumptuous as to obstruct the Palace Justice Department's investigation?"