Seizing the throne, abolishing the adopted son, the imperial concubine rose to prominence

"The Queen is right."

The emperor's tone was indifferent, and his face showed no emotion. The queen tightened the handkerchief in her hand, and her eyes drooped gloomily.

She realized that she had made a mistake. When the emperor asked her to stop spreading rumors, she shouldn't have been jealous and resentful and secretly allowed the palace servants to continue spreading these rumors.

She paid too much attention to the emperor's weighing of pros and cons, and forgot that the emperor was also an ordinary man, and he would not allow the woman he valued to be slandered and defamed all the time.

However, after this, the queen also confirmed that the emperor treated Gu Youning differently. What she feared might happen. The emperor had feelings for Gu Youning that went beyond favor.

The three people in the hall were waiting for Cao Zhong's return with their own thoughts.

A quarter of an hour later, Cao Zhong came out of the palace with several palace maids.

"I have thoroughly interrogated the people from the Shanggong Bureau. Before the lady died yesterday, she had an argument with Xu Sizhi."

Cao Zhong stood at the front and reported.

"I did scold Caiyi yesterday. It was because she neglected her duties and didn't do what I asked her to do. As the head of the Sizhifang, it's common for me to reprimand the women under my command. I didn't expect Caiyi to have such a strong temper and actually take her own life."

Although Xu Sizhi showed regret on his face, there was not much panic in his eyes. The death of a palace maid in the palace was a very common thing. Moreover, she was the empress dowager's person, and the queen would certainly not dare to touch her easily.

I just don’t know who brought this matter to the emperor and the empress, and whether someone wants to replace me.

"Report to the masters what you just said to us."

Cao Zhong, however, looked at the female historians and ordinary palace maids behind him.

"Xu Sizhi didn't just scold Caiyi yesterday. I heard slapping sounds coming from Xu Sizhi's room."

"After Caiyi was taken away by Xu Sizhi yesterday, we servants haven't seen her since."

"I seemed to hear sobbing sounds last night, as if someone's mouth was blocked and they couldn't shout out."

"Cai Yi said yesterday that she had great fortune and would definitely help me in the future. How could she have committed suicide last night?"

The four palace maids behind were all beaten with sticks and could only crawl on the ground to answer.

"You are talking nonsense."

Xu Sizhi stared at the palace maids with his triangular eyes, but the palace maids were so scared that they were shaking and didn't even dare to raise their heads.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, these palace maids have probably been disciplined and punished by me on a daily basis, and they have long harbored resentment. Eunuch Cao's torture will naturally force them to confess their faults."

Xu Sizhi cried out that he was innocent.

"Is Xu Sizhi saying that we were forced to confess?"

"Although Caiyi's body had been soaked in water for a night, the palm prints on her face were still clearly visible, even breaking the skin. There were also scars all over her knees and body."

"Xu Sizhi's method of disciplining the palace servants is truly astonishing to us."

Cao Zhong snorted coldly.

"I was so angry yesterday that I punished you harshly."

Xu Sizhi didn't expect that Cao Zhong had noticed all this, and a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes.

But as a female official, even if she used rough methods to punish the people in the room, at most she would be scolded a few times.

"I'm afraid Xu Sizhi doesn't know that it's not just these few palace maids who confessed today. Could it be that all the female officials and palace maids in the Sizhi Office are against Xu Sizhi? Oh, and many people from the other four offices of the Shanggong Bureau also saw Xu Sizhi angrily push Caiyi into your room yesterday."

"Could it be that Cai Yi's great fortune is hindering Xu Sizhi's future?"

Cao Zhong was naturally unhappy about being accused of torture and forced confession.

Although Xu Sizhi was valued by the Empress Dowager, he had realized today that the Emperor would definitely make the decision for Concubine Gu and the eldest prince.

"I have been in the palace for many years, and have been appointed by the Empress Dowager as the Secretary of Registrar. How could I care about a mere female historian? Moreover, Caiyi has always been foolish and reckless. I don't know how many troubles she has caused on a daily basis. There are many female historians in the Registrar's Office who are more outstanding than her."

Xu Sizhi was making convincing arguments, but the Queen was completely confused. What a fool he was.

"Since this female historian is so useless, why did the Imperial Household Department send her to Jing'an Residence to deliver clothes? Does the Imperial Household Department not take Concubine Gu and the Crown Prince seriously and are just giving them a perfunctory treatment?"

Cao Zhong sneered.

"This... Princess Shouchang a few days ago ordered the craftsmanship department to make several intricately designed cloaks with gold embroidery. Everyone has been busy these days, and only this colorful dress has time. That's why I sent her to deliver the dress to Concubine Gu."

Xu Sizhi was stunned by the question, but he quickly reacted.

Although Princess Shouchang was not the empress dowager's biological daughter, she was deeply loved by the empress dowager, and everyone in the harem had to give her face.

She thought that this reason was both sufficient and reasonable, but she didn't know that the queen was extremely angry at the moment.

Every word Xu Sizhi said indicated that she had a close relationship with the Queen Mother and was dependent on the Cui family, but she was also a member of the Cui family, even though they were not aunt and niece.

Every word of these deepened the emperor's suspicion of her.

She vaguely felt that today's events were completely out of her control.

She thought that she could take advantage of the Empress Dowager's worry to make Concubine Gu and her son suffer or even be despised and neglected, but she didn't know who ruined her plan and made things superfluous, which aroused the Emperor's suspicion. She thought that for the sake of the Chen family, if she attributed the matter to Concubine Chen, the Emperor would make a big deal out of a small matter. She thought that even if the Emperor valued Changchun Palace, he would at most ask a few questions and let her deal with it severely, but she didn't expect that the Emperor would take action personally this time.

What was even more shocking was that none of her previous arrangements were used.

From the beginning till now, nothing has developed as she had expected.

"Your Majesty, Shouchang has been spoiled by his mother and has become a bit willful. A few days ago, he ordered the caning of Lan Sizhen, who has always been cautious in his work. It is normal that Xu Sizhi dare not neglect him in the slightest."

But she couldn't sit still and wait for death.

There should be no conclusive evidence on Cao Zhong to prove that it was Xu Sizhi who harmed Caiyi. The emperor's suspicion of her cannot be redeemed for the time being, but there is a long way to go. As long as the emperor is wary of the Zheng family's military power, he will let her sit firmly on the throne of queen.

"What happened today was indeed due to my inability to take care of the harem. I have been in poor health recently and am truly unable to handle harem affairs."

"Gu Jieyu is now the highest-ranking woman in the harem besides me. She has recently suffered a lot of grievances due to my mother's health. I request an imperial decree to appoint Gu Jieyu as Zhaoyi. This will not only make up for Gu Jieyu's grievances, but also give her a legitimate position to help me manage the affairs of the six palaces."

Zhaoyi is the head of the nine concubines, and the queen is really willing to let her go.

Gu Youning lowered her eyes and stood up, bowing respectfully. "I have no merits, so I dare not take on the position of Zhaoyi. Moreover, I am clumsy and inexperienced, so I cannot bear the responsibility of assisting the six palaces. I am afraid that I will disappoint your kindness."