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

As soon as Zhichun finished speaking, a palace maid with a haggard face was brought up by the eunuchs of Fengyi Palace.

This palace maid is Jinhua, who works for the Wen family's eldest wife.

When Gu Youning saw the brocade painting, he felt relieved.

Jinhua has already settled down Mrs. Wen, the family member she cares about, so it is impossible for her to betray Mrs. Wen at this time.

"Jinhua, you are the head maid serving Lady Wen, and you probably know the most about Lady Wen's affairs. Has Lady Wen ever deducted Lady Lin's share?"

Zhichun asked solemnly.

"Yes Yes……"

"Your Majesty, this is all my fault."

While Jinhua was still hesitating, Gu Youning suddenly took off his fox fur lined cloak and put it on Lady Wen, who was shivering badly, then knelt beside Lady Wen.

Lady Wen was stunned. Before she could feel the warmth, she subconsciously wanted to take off her cloak, but Gu Youning held her hand.

Be good, I’m here.

Gu Youning didn't say anything when he spoke to Lady Wen, but Lady Wen still understood his meaning from his lip movements.

Lady Wen really stopped moving.

Gu Youning also breathed a sigh of relief. She was afraid that Concubine Wen did not want to implicate her and would rush to say something she shouldn't, which would give the Queen a handle.

"Gu Zhaoyi, I know you've been getting along intimately with Lady Wen recently, but being unfilial to the Empress Dowager is not uncommon. You can't just take the blame for this."

Gu Youning sneered in his heart. The Queen seemed to be trying to persuade him earnestly not to get involved, but in fact, every word she said was intended to prove his guilt.

"Your Majesty, your words are too harsh. How dare I be accused of being unfilial to the Empress Dowager?"

She came to save people, not to die.

The queen was choked by this straightforward question. She did intend to use this incident to spare Gu Youning. After all, Gu Youning disliked Lin Yunv, and everyone in the palace knew it. If Concubine Wen helped her vent her anger, it would be justified.

"It's just that what happened today is indeed inseparable from me. If the Queen wants to punish me, please punish me as well."

"Sister Gu, how could this matter have anything to do with you?"

Lin Yunv seemed to be so anxious that she was about to cry.

"Lady Wen has withheld Lady Lin's expenses and allowed the palace maids to destroy the blood sutra that Lady Lin copied for the Queen Mother. This matter must be punished."

"Even if Concubine Gu tried to stop the palace maid from talking, it would be of no use."

The queen looked at Gu Youning with a gloomy face.

"I'm not trying to excuse Lady Wen, but I've noticed that Lady Lin and the maids around her have a deep misunderstanding of Lady Wen, and I'm afraid I'm responsible for this."

Gu Youning calculated the time secretly in her heart. If Xiao Shengzi's invitation was successful, the emperor should have arrived at Zhaoqing Palace by now. All she had to do was to delay the time as much as possible. After all, the emperor had to witness this great show in person.

Lin Yunv is determined to get the upper hand today. As for the Queen, she will aggravate the Emperor's dissatisfaction with her and completely extinguish the affection they once had as a couple in adversity in the Emperor's heart.

"What Concubine Gu meant by this is that Lady Wen treated Lady Lin harshly because of you?"

The queen asked with a sneer as she looked at the two people kneeling side by side.

There is no such thing as sisterly love in the harem. It seems that Lin Yunv's information is correct. Concubine Wen has indeed transferred the Wen family's manpower in the harem to Gu Youning, otherwise Gu Youning would not be protecting Concubine Wen so recklessly at this moment.

"The Queen..."

Concubine Wen knew that she was not good at these twists and turns of words, so she knelt silently, but when she heard the Queen trying to shift the blame to Gu Youning several times, she really couldn't help it.

"Empress, Lady Wen cannot possibly treat Lady Lin harshly."

Gu Youning didn't let Lady Wen finish her words.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard the eunuch's announcement from behind.

"Your Majesty! Why is the Emperor…"

Zhichun's expression changed slightly.

"Go and welcome him!"

The Queen cast a gloomy glance at Gu Youning, who was kneeling below, and walked down the steps holding Zhichun's hand: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

Gu Youning and Concubine Wen also saluted the emperor.

"Is the Queen interrogating someone?"

The emperor's eyes swept across the woman's thin figure and looked at the queen solemnly.

"Lady Wen treated her fellow concubines harshly, and she also burned the blood sutra that Lady Lin had copied to pray for her mother, the Queen Mother. I was completely forced to take action."

"As for Consort Gu..."

"Your Majesty, I understand that Lady Wen would not bully Lady Lin. As for the bloody period incident, the only people present at the time were Lady Wen's maid and Lady Lin's master and servant. I feel..."

Gu Youning interrupted the queen in a hurry.

The Queen had no intention of stopping it. It was a good thing that Gu Youning was willing to take the blame, so she wouldn't have to offend the Wen family openly. But when she heard Gu Youning's next words, her face turned cold.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Concubine Wen's maid Jinhua just wanted to confess something, but Concubine Gu refused to let her speak."

Zhichun said from the side.

Hearing this, Gu Youning did not look at the emperor pleadingly, but lowered his head slightly and lowered his eyes.

The emperor noticed the woman's nervousness and clenched his hands behind his back, but since the queen had said this, he could only let the palace maid speak first.

"Jinhua, tell me everything you know. The Emperor and the Empress are here, so there's no need to be afraid."

Zhichun looked at the emperor's expression and said to Jinhua beside him.

"This servant... This servant is sorry, Master."

Jinhua knelt down on the ground as soon as she said this.

A look of anticipation flashed across the queen's face, while the emperor frowned unconsciously.

Ning'er is the most gentle and kind person, and Concubine Wen is her only friend in the palace. She will probably protect her at all costs.

"Let's go inside first."

The emperor said this calmly and walked into the house.

The queen's eyes dimmed slightly, and she supported Zhichun and followed the emperor.

After hearing this, Tan Yin and Jin Qin hurriedly helped their masters up, and Gu Youning quickly whispered something in Tan Yin's ear.

Tan Yin's eyes fixed and she stepped aside. Gu Youning naturally supported Lady Wen, whose legs were already weak and stiff from kneeling.

After Gu Youning and Lady Wen entered the house, Tan Yin whispered a few words to He'er and followed them in as if nothing had happened.

After entering the house, although Lady Wen was shivering from the cold and her face was pale, she still wanted to take off her cloak and return it to Gu Youning, but was stopped by Gu Youning.

It was very cold in Tingyu Pavilion, but she could still bear it. However, Lady Wen could not stand the cold to begin with, and she didn't know how uncomfortable she was feeling at the moment.

"Miss."

But the next moment, Cao Zhong stood in front of Gu Youning, holding the emperor's sable cloak and bowing.

"This...I thank the emperor for his reward."

Gu Youning glanced at the emperor who was sitting on the throne with a calm expression and said with emotion.

When Tan Yin saw this, she hurried forward to help her master put on the cloak.

When the Queen saw this scene, she turned her head slightly, and the beads hanging from the bottom of her Five Phoenixes Facing the Sun hairpin swayed in a sharp arc.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I shouldn't be ungrateful and betray my master by being tempted by profit."

At this time, Jinhua, who was brought in by the eunuch of Fengyi Palace, spoke.