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

"This servant... This servant doesn't know about this. The Imperial Concubine only asked this servant to do this one thing and didn't say anything else."

After the palace maid said this, she fell to the ground, barely breathing.

"Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with me. I learned on the second day of my confinement that my sister was pregnant with the dragon heir. Your Majesty also knows how long I have been longing for this child. I was so focused on taking care of my sister and the dragon fetus that I had no time for anything else."

"Furthermore, I have been confined to Cheng'an Palace. Apart from Li Yuanpan and the palace servants from the Monk's Food Bureau, no one else is allowed to enter or leave Cheng'an Palace."

"The eunuchs guarding the palace gates know this very well."

Concubine Zheng held Caifu's hand and stood up, her angry and cold eyes swept across the palace maid.

"The Imperial Concubine also said that Cheng'an Palace is not without people coming in and out. As long as there are people coming in and out, information can be spread inside and outside. This does not clear your suspicion."

Li Cairen said.

This Li Cairen spoke several times in accordance with the Queen's wishes, so she must be the Queen's person, Gu Youning thought to himself.

Just based on a few words from a palace maid, not only would Concubine Zheng be punished, even the emperor would not easily believe it.

If the queen was the person behind the scenes, she should know that in addition to oleander powder, the medicine soup also contains arsenic.

But the palace maid just now never mentioned that the queen must have a backup plan.

"This maid is indeed unfamiliar. She doesn't look like someone who serves the master. Even if Sister Zheng has some ideas, she wouldn't randomly assign a maid to do this."

The queen shook her head.

"The Imperial Concubine is the most favored of the six palaces. Naturally, there are many palace maids willing to serve Cheng'an Palace. Perhaps there is more than just this one palace maid."

At this time, Lady Lu, who was kneeling on the ground, spoke.

"Looking at the maid's appearance, it doesn't seem like she's lying. If she wanted to frame the Imperial Concubine, she would have confessed long ago. Why would she have to endure all this torture before she could speak?"

At this moment, Lady Lu just wanted to clear herself of suspicion.

"Mrs. Lu, you..."

"What about me? Your Majesty, can't you let me speak?"

Just as Concubine Zheng was about to shout angrily, she was interrupted by Concubine Lu with a delicate and aggrieved look on her face.

"Come here, search Roufu Palace."

The emperor had a sullen face.

"The slave obeys."

The eunuch from the Ministry of Punishment immediately took the order and left.

"Cai Nu!"

As soon as the eunuch from the Ministry of Punishment left, a cry of surprise came from the concubines of lower rank standing behind him.

"What happened to Zhao Cainv?"

The queen was kind and gentle again at this moment.

"No...it's okay. I was just scared when I saw this palace maid."

It would have been fine if the queen hadn't asked, but as soon as she did, Zhao Cainv fell to her knees with a thud, her whole body trembling.

Such a big commotion naturally attracted everyone's attention, and everyone then remembered that Zhao Cainv also lived in Roufu Palace.

However, in Roufu Palace, Concubine Lu was favored and Lu Yu was arrogant, so Zhao Cainv naturally had no chance to stand out.

Originally, it would have been nothing for Zhao Cainv to say that she was afraid. After all, the miserable appearance of the palace maid was truly unbearable to look at. But it happened just when the emperor said he wanted to search the palace.

Concubine Zheng and her servant looked at each other quickly. Zhao Cainv's father was a captain of a thousand men under Duke Zheng.

However, Zhao Cainv was not very talented or pretty, and Concubine Zheng looked down on her. The two did not have much interaction in the harem. At most, when they were paying their respects in Fengyi Palace, Zhao Cainv followed the crowd in flattering Concubine Zheng.

But in the eyes of others, Zhao Cainu has a close connection with Cheng'an Palace.

Especially at this sensitive time.

Concubine Zheng frowned fiercely, wondering who was deliberately plotting against her.

Her eyes swept across the faces of the Queen and Gu Youning. Her fight with the Queen was an open matter, but as for Gu Youning, the two of them had a falling out after the last incident with the peony flowers.

Could it be that this time the two of them are joining forces to deal with me?

She subconsciously looked at the emperor above her. Would the emperor believe her?

When Gu Youning saw the anxious look on Concubine Zheng’s face, he knew that what happened today was probably not done by Concubine Zheng.

The news she got from He Jin was that Concubine Zheng had been very quiet these days and Zheng Baolin was pregnant. Given her personality, what she wanted most was probably to gain the emperor's trust and love, then lift the confinement, and then deal with her.

Princess Shouchang, the medicinal soup, the palace maid who spoke only after being tortured, the eye-catching Zhao Cainv, and Gu Youning, who had experienced court struggles in his previous life and went to the Dali Temple to judge cases in order to clear up unjust cases, quickly sorted out the connection between the incidents.

Gu Youning could guess where things were headed without having to wait for the people from the Ministry of Punishment to come back.

But how will she cope?

Because of what happened recently, Xiao Heng is now wary of the Queen and the Imperial Concubine. As long as there is solid evidence, he will definitely believe that what happened today was done by Imperial Concubine Zheng.

The incident happened suddenly, and it was difficult for her to blame the queen.

Whether it was the Queen or Concubine Zheng, for her, the Queen was naturally the more thoughtful and more difficult to deal with. She had originally wanted to let Concubine Zheng come out and fight with the Queen, but now she was afraid that it was no longer possible.

Gu Youning's eyes swept across Lu Yunu who was kneeling on the ground. Thinking of the rumors from his previous life, he made a decision in his heart.

No matter what, Concubine Zheng was one of the culprits who killed Zheng'er in her previous life, and she must avenge this.

After this incident, the emperor's favor towards Concubine Zheng should have disappeared completely.

It would be better for both Concubine Zheng and the emperor if this matter fell on her than on the empress.

The main hall at the rear had been uninhabited for a long time. Although there was a charcoal fire burning, it was still a bit cool compared to other residences, especially for someone as cold-averse as Lady Wen. Her face had already turned pale from the cold, but she endured it out of pride in her status.

"Give."

Gu Youning woke up from his previous thoughts, and seeing the appearance of Lady Wen, he hurriedly handed over his heater.

"No, you can do it yourself..."

As soon as Lady Wen entered the hall, she found that Gu Youning looked pale and was obviously not feeling well. How could he be willing to take the heater?

But her hand that was trying to refuse was held by Gu Youning, and the heater was stuffed into her arms without any explanation.

"You can't handle the cold, dear."

In his previous life, Gu Youning lived to the age of knowing the destiny. He looked at the awkward and simple Lady Wen as if she were a child.

"Thanks……"

Hearing the gentle "good boy", Lady Wen's eyes instantly turned red. She had been spoiled at home since she was a child. Her parents and brothers all cared for her and loved her very much. Whenever she was unhappy, they would run to her and comfort her softly.

Therefore, she was willing to enter the Eastern Palace for the sake of her family. Even after she lost her child and lost the opportunity to be a mother forever, although she felt resentful in her heart, she could not bear to bear a grudge against her family because she had once received their unreserved love.

In the past two years, she has been like a hedgehog, pricking people everywhere. All the women in the palace dislike her, but it doesn't matter. She also doesn't like the dirty thoughts under their luxurious appearance.

However, just this one word of "good boy" made her feel as if she had returned to the carefree days in her boudoir, where she was cared for by her family.

"Come here, place this brazier in front of Concubine Gu and Concubine Wen."

The emperor on the throne suddenly spoke.

"I thank you for your kindness."

Gu Youning turned her head and looked at the emperor in surprise. She really didn't expect that the emperor would notice their little action at this time.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Lady Wen also thanked the emperor and her attitude towards him was much better than before.

"Put it towards Lady Wen."

Gu Youning instructed the two eunuchs who were carrying the brazier.

"It's rare for Concubine Gu to get along so well with Lady Wen. I wonder when this bond between the two began?"

The Queen sighed with relief.

"Lady Wen has gifted me with many precious headgear, so I am naturally willing to return the favor."

Gu Youning touched the crystal clear jadeite bracelet on her wrist with a look of joy on her face.

"This bracelet is decent enough, but not emerald green enough. I'll pick out a better one for Zhaoyi someday."

"Empress, the bond between this concubine and Zhaoyi is naturally a good one. Unlike some people, even their hearts are evil."

Lady Wen smiled and said to Gu Youning in a cold voice.