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

While waiting, some concubines came after hearing the news.

He found someone he knew in the crowd, and asked in a low voice what had happened, and was surprised at the punishment meted out to Concubine Jian and the others.

The virtuous concubine served the emperor half a bowl of soup, put down the bowl, and walked in front of everyone with a sullen face.

"Your Majesty is here, and you all don't know how to be quiet? A concubine's virtue is primarily to be quiet and gentle. You are whispering like common women, not even remotely behaving like noble concubines in the palace. You are bringing shame to the royal family. Your Majesty is kind and tolerant, and you too should know your limits!"

The concubines all fell silent.

Looking at the emperor's expression, he dared not whisper any more.

"The Queen has arrived——"

The small Guanlan Courtyard once again gathered the emperor, empress and many concubines.

The queen held the hand of her maid Bai Lu and walked slowly into the room to greet the emperor.

The emperor said "hmm" lightly and said nothing.

The queen felt disappointed, but she had long been accustomed to the emperor's indifference. She stood aside and was about to ask what was going on.

The virtuous concubine spoke first, smiling.

"The Queen doesn't look very energetic today and moves slowly. Could she be ill?"

The Queen's maid, Bai Lu, quickly said, "Your Majesty, the Queen has been very busy lately preparing for the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. She had already gone to bed when she heard something was going on here and got up to come over. She was a little dizzy from being awakened suddenly, but she's not sick."

The virtuous concubine smiled and said, "I see. However, I had previously said that if the Queen was unable to organize the birthday banquet, I could provide some assistance. However, the Queen refused, preferring to exhaust herself and suffer a headache rather than allow others to interfere. I could only secretly feel sorry for the Queen, but I could do nothing to help her.

However, Her Majesty seems to be a little weaker. Your Majesty is busy with many state affairs every day, but he is still in good spirits. The Empress is far less healthy than Your Majesty and should take good care of herself.

I have many medicinal recipes here, if Her Majesty the Queen doesn't mind, please use them."

These words made the queen's eyes flash with a sharp light.

She secretly resented the virtuous concubine for mocking her.

He also mocked her authoritarianism in public.

"I appreciate your kindness, Concubine Xian.

But I have always been in good health and eat a lot of whole grains. A headache or fever is nothing. Your Majesty, there is no need to worry.

The birthday banquet has been prepared, so there is no need for you to worry about it.

I just listened to the virtuous concubine's lecture, and it makes a lot of sense. The virtue of a concubine is first and foremost to be demure and gentle. As long as the virtuous concubine serves Your Majesty with tenderness, you will be sharing the worries of both me and Your Majesty."

The queen smiled and responded slowly.

The word "concubine" is emphasized to let the virtuous concubine remember her identity and not to indulge in unrealistic thoughts.

The two of them exchanged sharp words.

The concubines below each had their own thoughts and remained silent.

The emperor suddenly put down the teacup and knocked it on the table with a clang.

The virtuous concubine and the queen quickly restrained themselves and dared not argue anymore.

"Your Majesty, would you like another bowl of soup?" the virtuous concubine asked carefully.

The emperor said calmly, "No need."

The virtuous concubine stepped aside and secretly glared at the queen several times.

If it weren’t for the Queen, His Majesty would still be enjoying the soup she offered!

After a while, Cao Bin came back.

Gong Zhengsi still has a lot of ability in investigating things.

It has been found out that there is indeed something wrong with Zhishu's jar of apricot blossom wine.

The two imperial doctors on duty at night followed the people from the Palace Administration Office and reported:

"The wine contains moon fragrance, which is... a drug that makes people lose their minds and become obsessed with sexual intercourse."

The imperial physician lowered his head and reported the truth in a cold sweat.

There was an uproar in the crowd.

"Your Majesty, my wine contains only apricot blossoms picked last year and a little wine starter. It contains no inappropriate ingredients. I guarantee this with my life!"

Zhishu's expression was cold and her tone was firm.

The Queen frowned and stared at the imperial physician: "Have you examined it carefully? This is a matter of great importance. Do you know the consequences of making a mistake?"

The two doctors knelt on the ground and said, "We dare not be careless. We have both examined it ourselves and there is no way we are wrong."

"No wonder Ying Cainu was able to rise to such a high position. It turns out she relied on such dirty tricks..."

"Shh! Don't talk, or you'll be punished!"

The chatter in the crowd was less than before and soon died down.

The emperor looked ugly.

His eyes fell on Zhishu.

Zhishu said frankly, "I don't know why the wine was contaminated. I don't know if someone tampered with it. Your Majesty, please send someone to investigate carefully, especially those who serve me. They have many opportunities to do something wrong."

There were two palace maids and two eunuchs around her. Xiao Luzi had died, and the palace maid who had been molested was hiding under the quilt in the room. The other eunuch was guarding the house. At this time, only the palace maid Suizi was around.

After receiving a signal from the emperor, Cao Bin ordered the people from the Palace Administration Office to take Suizi away for interrogation.

Suizi broke free and knelt down at Zhishu's feet, crying.

"This servant will not go to the torture chamber. This servant is afraid... My dear, you cannot allow anyone to interrogate this servant. Going to the torture chamber is like losing half my life. This servant has devoted all her heart to serving you and has never done anything else!

Your wine jar is buried under the flower tree and no one is allowed to move it. We servants have never touched it and have no chance to do so. Didn’t you always dig it yourself, pour the wine in it, and then bury it yourself, my lady?

My Lord, please have mercy on me!"

The virtuous concubine ordered the people of the Palace Administration Office: "Why don't you take her away? Let her make a scene in front of the emperor!"

The people from the Palace Administration Office went to drag the man away again.

Suizi hugged Zhishu's legs tightly and refused to let go.

The Queen frowned and said, "What a disgrace! Don't disturb His Majesty's peace."

A concubine in the crowd said weakly, "There's no need to torture this maid. If Ying Cainu has a clear conscience, just have her house and yard searched. If there's nothing else dirty, just this jar of wine, then maybe she was really framed with wine."

The virtuous concubine's eyes were half-closed and looked sharp.

The Queen sighed and said, "This is a solution. It will prevent the palace maids from being tortured. If they are wrongly accused, it will affect Ying Cainu's reputation and people will say that she is harsh to her servants."

"Sakura, what do you think?"

Zhishu sneered, "If the Empress insists on searching my room, I dare not resist. However, wouldn't it be bad for my reputation if I were searched innocently?"

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian raised her eyebrows and laughed before the Queen could say, "Although Ying Cainu's words are offensive, they make sense. I think it would be better to torture her palace maids."

Either they can be tortured to find out that something is wrong, or Ying Cainu can be tortured to find out that something is wrong. Isn't that fair?"

Zhishu's eyes swept over the Queen and Concubine Xian.

He bowed to Concubine Xian and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

At this point, she had already determined who was behind it.

I can't help but admire Fei Wan sincerely.

Because Fei Wan had already guessed the mastermind behind the scenes a day ago!

Everything that happened tonight was exactly as Fei Wan had expected.

"My lady, my lady! You can't send me to the torture chamber for trial. Although I have served you for a short time, I have always been loyal to you, my lady! I have never told anyone about the things you did in private..."

When Suko was dragged by Gong Zhengji's men again, she cried out in excitement.

Stupid.

Fei Wan sneered secretly in the inner room.

Arranging such a stupid person to carry out the denunciation only shows that the person who planned it is too weak.

He was so weak that she felt that the victory was unfair.

In the main room, Zhishu snorted coldly.

"Whatever I did in private, Suizi, you might as well tell me in public and see if I'm afraid you won't talk nonsense!"

The words have not yet fallen.

Sitting on the seat, the emperor suddenly shook and his face turned pale.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?!"

Concubine Xian and Cao Bin both rushed forward to support him.