An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

At the Queen's command, all those who had drunk the cup of milk with Concubine Jing stood up. They were Huang Shi, the cook who made the milk, and Ling Jing and Qing Yuan, who were in charge of serving the dishes.

Lingjing was responsible for delivering the dishes from the imperial kitchen in the proper order, while Qingyuan was the maid responsible for serving the dishes for Concubine Jing's table.

There were not many people, so it didn't seem that difficult to investigate. But the emperor never cared about these "household affairs", so he gave it to the queen to handle.

As the head of the six palaces, the queen was adept at doing this. "The three of you tell me, has anyone else touched this milk before it was delivered to Concubine Jing's table?"

Huang Shi spoke first, "To answer your Majesty's question, this milk is easy to make, and I made it by myself. No one else touched it before Ling Jing came to serve the dish."

"When I served the dishes, I had to walk from the imperial kitchen to the main hall. During this time, I actually met many palace servants, but none of them had direct contact with milk."

Ling Jing began to recall all the people who passed by, "Only Lady Tian had touched the food box, because she said she felt a little stuffy and nauseous, and wanted a cup of tea to relieve it.

But when Lady Tian opened the lid and found that it was milk, she left without drinking it.

The Queen glanced at Concubine Tian, ​​but did not ask her to reply immediately. Instead, she asked Qingyuan, who was left, "Have you met anyone here?"

"In reply to the Queen, after I took it from Ling Jing, no one else touched it. I directly delivered it to Concubine Jing's desk."

The queen nodded slightly, and her eyes, like everyone else's, moved to Concubine Tian's face, "Concubine Tian, ​​why don't you tell me why you touched that glass of milk."

When Concubine Tian heard the question, she stood up quickly, but she hesitated when answering, "When Concubine Xu and Concubine Xu were chatting, I felt uncomfortable in my stomach because of the story she told, so I went to the bathroom.

But when I came back, the nausea in my chest was still there, so I thought about drinking some tea to suppress it.

I happened to meet the waiter, so I lifted the lid and took a look.

I didn’t know that the milk was for Concubine Jing, and I didn’t put anything in it.”

“But there were so many people serving food, why did you choose the Spirit Mirror?

You know, Concubine Jing is the only pregnant woman in the palace, and hers is the only tea that is made with milk."

The Queen spoke doubtfully, which made Concubine Tian even more unsure, "Because Ling Jing was the first one in the serving team, I happened to see her and just looked at what she had in her hand.

After all, the cuisines served in the palace were mostly the same, but they were just some dishes that only high-ranking concubines had, while concubines below the rank of noble lady did not have them.

So I thought of just drinking my own share and telling them not to have to serve.

However, I never thought that when I opened it, it would contain milk.

If I drink this, I will definitely not be able to suppress the nausea, so I did not drink it and asked Ling Jing to serve the dishes. "

What Concubine Tian said was logical. She looked at the emperor with some expectation in her eyes. "Please believe me, Your Majesty and Your Majesty. I have never thought of murdering the child in Concubine Jing's belly."

The Queen still believed it. She comforted Concubine Tian in a kind tone, "As long as there is suspicion, we must ask them clearly. If you are completely innocent, there is no need to be afraid of this temporary suspicion."

But the emperor said nothing and completely ignored Concubine Tian's pitiful look.

"In this case, there is a stalemate." The Queen sighed. She thought for a while and then looked at the Emperor again. "Your Majesty, since the medicine was put on the rim of the cup, the medicine must still be in the body of the person who put the medicine in. Why not check it out?"

For a concubine, a body search is extremely offensive, but in order to clear herself of suspicion, Concubine Tian had no choice but to agree.

Not only her, but also the palace maids around her and the seats she had sat on were checked, leaving no place unchecked.

Concubine Tian thought that after a thorough investigation, she had been cleared of suspicion.

Unexpectedly, the imperial physician actually found a packet of safflower on the seat where she was sitting.

The package was hidden under the tablecloth, which was quite thin. It would be difficult to find it without a careful search.

Seeing the package appear, the emperor finally looked at Concubine Tian. The anger in his eyes seemed real. "In this case, do you have anything else to say?"

"I..." Lady Tian looked at the package and shook her head like a rattle, "I don't know what this is and I have never seen it before.

Besides, this thing is pressed under the tablecloth, and it would take a lot of movement for a concubine to take it. How could I take a portion of the powder to harm someone in public and then put it back?"

Lingrong nodded on the side. It seemed that Concubine Tian was not so stupid as to defend herself.

“Besides, before I left, I was chatting with Concubine Xu, so I didn’t have the chance to do these things.

Lady Xu can testify for me on this point."

Concubine Tian no longer cared about the feud between herself and Zhen Huan. She looked at Zhen Huan expectantly, hoping that Zhen Huan would say something good for her.

Zhen Huan did stand up, bowed slightly, and agreed with Concubine Tian's opinion.

But she did not say what she and Concubine Tian talked about specifically, perhaps because she was afraid that the Emperor and the Empress would feel uncomfortable hearing it.

"Before Concubine Tian left, I chatted with Concubine Sheng for a few words, but I didn't see when Concubine Tian left."

Zhen Huan spoke the truth, which made Concubine Tian's face turn pale. Ling Rong had no choice but to stand up and talk about what had just happened.

"When Concubine Xu was chatting with Concubine Tian, ​​her back was turned to Concubine Tian, ​​so it was inevitable that she couldn't see.

But I happened to be facing her and could see it clearly. Concubine Tian did look like she was about to vomit, and she didn't even touch the tablecloth.

When Concubine Xu and Noble Lady chatted for a few words, Noble Lady Tian just left. "

Lingrong reconstructed the scene in detail, filling in the gaps that Zhen Huan had not seen.

There were two concubines who testified strongly, one of whom had a relatively bad relationship with Concubine Tian, ​​which was considered very strong evidence.

The emperor's expression finally eased a little. He nodded and asked Lingrong and the other three concubines to sit back in their seats.

"How are the other three palace servants investigating?"

"In reply to the emperor's words," Su Peisheng immediately stood up, "these three people did not carry anything like red flowers.

I have sent people to check the resting place and residence of the three people. We need to wait for a while."

Su Peisheng is already very familiar with these matters. He doesn't even need the emperor's instructions. He knows how to arrange people to investigate the case.

The emperor has always been satisfied with his intelligence, and today is no exception.

"Fortunately, nothing serious happened to Concubine Jing," the Queen took over the conversation, "The concubines in each palace should also pay attention to the palace servants around them. If you find anyone with the wrong idea, please tell me as soon as possible."

The concubines in all palaces responded immediately. After they fell silent, they dared not say anything else. They could only sit there obediently and wait for Su Peisheng to finish his investigation.

Not long after, Xiao Xiazi came back with a package in his hand, which he had searched out from the place where the spirit mirror was resting.

"Lingjing, please explain what this thing is."

The Queen's tone was gentle, and although there was no threat in her voice, it still sounded particularly frightening to Ling Jing. She shuddered and immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I bought this red flower from the Imperial Pharmacy.

It’s because, it’s because my menstruation has been irregular for the past few months, and the imperial physician said it was due to blood stasis, so he prescribed safflower and asked me to soak it in water and drink it.”

Because this involved a serious matter of murdering the royal heir, Ling Jing didn't care about being shy and told the reason why he took the red flower in no time.

The imperial physician present also agreed with her statement that safflower does have the effect of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, clearing the mind and calming the nerves.

"This reason... although it makes sense, safflower does have the effect of inducing abortion, and the Imperial Hospital will not prescribe the medicine easily."

Concubine Tian was eager to clear herself of suspicion, and she didn't care whether it was appropriate for her to speak at this time. "Your Majesty, you should also ask her which imperial physician was so bold as to prescribe this kind of medicine for her."

The Queen was obviously displeased at being ordered to do things by a minor noble lady like Concubine Tian. She glanced at Concubine Tian coldly and did not speak for a long time.

For a moment, no one in the main hall spoke. Concubine Tian only felt her whole body getting hot and sweat instantly broke out on her back.

After a long time, the Queen finally spoke, "Noble Lady Tian asked, so you should tell us something."

Ling Jing was so scared that her neck shrank and her head lowered even deeper, "I...I don't know that imperial physician, so I can't remember his name for a moment."

“I can’t remember the name,” the Queen and the Emperor looked at each other, “Then I don’t mind calling all the doctors here so you can identify them one by one.

By that time, I'm afraid I won't be able to plead for you and save your life.

Lingjing, you have to think it over carefully."

The emperor sat there with a dignified look on his face, and the queen spoke in a scary way.

Ling Jing could hardly kneel and subconsciously wanted to look in the direction of Concubine Qi.

"I...I only met that imperial physician by chance, and I can no longer remember what he looked like."

"Really?" The Queen almost smiled and said, "The imperial doctors in the palace all have good memories, especially those who prescribe medicine, they will remember everything.

If the doctor's testimony is inconsistent with yours, you should know the consequences."

"Empress!" Ling Jing had already been frightened by the Empress to the point of having her legs go limp. She quickly glanced at Concubine Qi, hoping that she could speak for her.

Concubine Qi was quite honest and straightforward. After receiving Ling Jing's gaze, she immediately wanted to say something.

But she opened her mouth several times, but couldn't think of where to start to speak for her.

Fortunately, Concubine Qi did not speak, and the emperor did not immediately suspect Concubine Qi.

"The Emperor is very busy and cannot afford to have you delay like this."

I don’t know if it was because Concubine Tian made her angry, but the Queen investigated very quickly this time, leaving everyone unable to react in time.

After all, she has always been known for her kindness and rarely acts so aggressively.

"I...I really don't remember that imperial physician, but if I could see him again, I would surely be able to remember him."

As soon as she said this, everyone knew that she was stalling for time, wanting the person behind the scenes to come up with some way to destroy the evidence.

But she completely forgot that all the concubines in the harem were gathered here, and no one could leave without the order of the emperor or the queen.

Seeing how ignorant she was, the emperor was unwilling to wait any longer and immediately wanted to drag her out and beat her to death. Ling Jing was so scared that she immediately cried out Concubine Qi's name.

"Empress Qi, please save me. I just followed your instructions and painted the red flower on the rim of the cup."

When Concubine Qi heard that the servant had exposed herself, she was immediately dumbfounded. She sat there blankly and even forgot to explain herself.

It was obvious that they were trying to frame Concubine Tian, ​​so why did this servant tell the truth?

This...how can this be good?

Cuiguo was smart and asked her to speak up to defend herself. Only then did Concubine Qi come to her senses and wipe her tears and shout that she was innocent.

"Your Majesty, it's not enough that this lowly maid has falsely accused Lady Tian, ​​now she has falsely accused me as well.

I have raised the prince, so how could I do something that is unworthy of being a mother?"

Perhaps Concubine Qi was really scared. Her words were sobbing and mixed with tears, which made people feel both annoyed and pitiful when listening to her.

The emperor looked at Concubine Qi deeply, his face was so dark that ink seemed to be dripping out.

Although he didn't think that Concubine Qi had the brains to set up such a scheme, but looking at her expression, how could he not know that this matter was related to her?

But she is Hongshi's mother. How could the emperor allow this matter to be revealed in front of everyone and fall on Concubine Qi's head?

“Your Majesty, this…” The Queen seemed a little hesitant. She looked at the look Concubine Qi was giving her and said, “Concubine Qi is honest and naive. She doesn’t seem like someone who would do such a thing.”

"How can a bad guy have the words 'bad guy' written on his face?" Concubine Tian became angry immediately when she saw that the object of suspicion was finally not herself.

She spoke with sarcasm, staring at Concubine Qi as if she wanted to see through her with her eyes, "Bad people never think they are bad people, and they even think they are disguised very well!

You blame others for the problems, but you are crying here."

This noble lady Tian was really straightforward. She regretted what she said after she said it.

She glanced at the emperor cautiously, and was so frightened by his expression that she immediately lowered her head like a quail.

But what she said did make some sense, and no one could say anything to refute it. Especially Concubine Qi, she even looked like she was seen through, and could only look at the emperor and the queen with sorrow.

"I...I really didn't do that. I'm afraid this servant is just making random accusations to save her own life."

"Your Majesty..." The Queen Mother called the Emperor. She leaned close to the Emperor's ear and whispered something.

The emperor nodded after hearing this. He still looked a little unhappy, but he did not immediately put the blame on Concubine Qi.

"Tomorrow, take this magic mirror to the Imperial Hospital and identify the doctors one by one to find out who gave her the red flower."