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

"I also think we can summon Lan Sizhen to ask him."

Lady Lu also spoke in a delicate voice.

"Your Majesty, several sisters all recognize Lan Sizhen as a person. What do you think..."

Several concubines of higher rank shared the same opinion, and the empress looked at the emperor with some embarrassment.

"Lan Sizhen is an old man from the previous emperor's time. He is quite methodical in his conduct. I also feel that I should summon him to question him, lest some people, not only have ulterior motives but also throw dirty water on others."

Without waiting for the emperor to speak, Queen Mother Cui spoke angrily.

Gu Youning felt a little relieved. As long as the empress dowager insisted, the emperor could not just put the blame on his aunt.

"Cao Zhong, pass the message to Lan Sizhen."

The emperor's face did not look good.

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the faces of He Chongyuan and his servant froze for a moment, and there was even a hint of guilt in Jinzhu's eyes.

After seeing this, Gu Youning felt more at ease. As long as these two people were guilty, his aunt would have a better chance of getting away with it.

……

"This servant pays respects to the masters."

Although he was woken up from his sleep, Lan Sizhen was still dressed meticulously, with every detail of his body fitting perfectly.

"Lan Sizhen, was it you who made this pine and crane hairpin for longevity and sent it to Guanju Palace?"

The queen signaled to the palace maid behind her to open the box and place it in front of Lan Sizhen.

It was only then that Gu Youning knew what the hairpin looked like. He saw that the crane's head was blood red and looked very scary.

Seeing blood on her birthday, no wonder the Queen Mother was so furious.

People who respect Buddha are naturally taboo about these things, and the people who are behind the attack are indeed cruel.

Gu Youning casually glanced at the people in the back hall, especially the concubines who stuck their heads out to see what was going on, but he didn't notice anything unusual. Even Concubine Zheng just covered her mouth with a handkerchief and looked terrified, but there was a glimmer of surprise in her eyes.

As for the Queen, as the organizer of this birthday banquet, it is impossible for her to ruin her own reputation.

Moreover, Gu Youning felt that the queen did not have too much fear of He Chongyuan.

If it wasn't the palace concubine, Gu Youning had another guess in his heart.

"Your Highness, I was indeed commissioned by He Chongyuan to create this pine and crane hairpin for the Empress Dowager's birthday. However, when it was delivered to Guanju Palace, it was intact and not in its current state."

At this moment, Lan Sizhen's steady voice sounded in the hall.

"How did Sizhen know that this hairpin was intact? Since you left, neither the master nor we have touched this box. We only opened it today when we went to the Queen Mother, and it is in this state."

Jinzhu questioned.

"When I delivered the hairpin to Guanju Palace, I asked Chongyuan to examine it carefully. Eunuch Luo from the Ministry of Internal Affairs was also present at the time, and there was nothing unusual about the hairpin."

Lan Sizhen replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"I was fortunate enough to receive a few compliments from Chongyuan."

"If there was something unusual about this pine crane at that time, it wouldn't have gone unnoticed."

Lan Sizhen bowed slightly in the direction of He Chongyuan.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the back hall looked at them in a strange way. The master and servant of Guanju Palace had just kept saying that they had never opened it to look at it, but it turned out that they had actually inspected it on the spot.

The Queen Mother had a look of disgust on her face, the Empress frowned, and as for the Emperor, his expression showed no emotion at this moment.

"Lan Sizhen did demonstrate it to me that day, but I trusted his craftsmanship and did not examine the hairpin carefully."

He Chongyuan's face was tense, but she still knelt in a proud posture.

"This box contains a birthday gift for the Queen Mother. My master knew that the Queen Mother had some misunderstandings about her, so she was naturally more cautious, fearing that the Queen Mother would be displeased. Therefore, after that day, the master had this box carefully put away, and no one was allowed to touch it."

"According to Lan Sizhen, this hairpin was in good condition when it was delivered to Guanju Palace. I'm also confused as to why it changed in appearance after just a few days."

Jinzhu immediately added.

Gu Youning lowered his eyes slightly. Jinzhu was a capable person. With just a few words, she pointed the suspicion to her aunt who was deliberately framing He Chongyuan.

However, seeing that his aunt did not look panicked at all, Gu Youning was not worried for the time being.

"Miss Jinzhu is wrong. The back of this box must have been opened."

Faced with the accusation, Lan Sizhen did not directly refute it, but said calmly.

"impossible……"

"You, the master and the servant, can throw dirty water on others, but Lan Sizhen is not allowed to argue a little?"

Lady Wen interrupted Jinzhu impatiently.

The Queen Mother had just said this about throwing dirty water, so although the Queen did not agree on the surface, she could not scold her like she had done before.

"To prevent this birthday gift from shaking when walking around and damaging it, the treasure room not only padded it with soft silk cloth, but also put some thought into its placement. There is a wooden buckle at the bottom of the box to hold the hairpin in place."

"Also, the direction of this hairpin is wrong. It is extremely inconvenient for the master to pick it up."

Lan Sizhen said it all in one breath.

Everyone's eyes were just on the crane's head, but when they looked again, they found that the hairpin was placed incorrectly.

Not to mention Lan Sizhen, even an ordinary palace maid in Sizhen's room could not have made such a mistake.

This hairpin has indeed been taken out by someone.

Jinzhu's face turned pale.

She really couldn't find any other reason to defend her master now, but whoever wanted to harm her master would plant a stake in Guanju Palace to do this.

Gu Youning finally relaxed completely, and the blame on his aunt was finally absolved.

"Does He Chongyuan have anything else to say?"

The emperor's gaze fell on the person kneeling below.

"I have no right to defend myself in this matter."

He Chongyuan glanced at the emperor sadly.

"Cao Zhong, pass on the decree. He Chongyuan failed to discipline her subordinates, causing damage to the Empress Dowager's birthday ceremony. She is demoted to a talented person."

"And he knelt for three months in the Baohua Hall to pray for the Empress Dowager."

The emperor gave the order in a cold voice.

"What do you think, Mother?"

"Let's do as the Emperor wishes, but as a sign of sincerity, please remove the charcoal fires in the Baohua Hall during the third month."

Being demoted from a ninth concubine to a talented lady was a severe punishment. As for kneeling in the Baohua Palace without charcoal fire for three months, it was enough to torment a person. Empress Dowager Cui finally vented her anger.

"I thank the Emperor and the Queen Mother for their grace."

He Chongyuan bowed calmly.

"what……"

"Ouch!"

Seeing that Lady Wen was about to speak again, Gu Youning tilted his body and fell onto her.

"Master be careful."

Although Tan Yin supported her in time, Gu Youning still grabbed Lady Wen's sleeve.

In this case, Lady Wen naturally couldn't say what she just said.

"Gu Jieyu is probably drunk and sleepy again. It's getting late, and the Queen Mother must be tired too."

The Queen chuckled and spoke.

"I will take you back to the palace."

The emperor personally helped the empress dowager to her feet.

"Farewell, Queen Mother..."

Gu Youning got up along with the other concubines.

"Go back to the palace."

Concubine Zheng glanced at the ground, supported by her maid, and walked away in a good mood.

Gu Youning and his aunt looked at each other secretly and walked out of the hall.

But she didn't expect that Lady Wen would follow her.