Legend of Zhen Huan: Zhen Huan is reborn

108 When the Wall Falls, Everyone Pushes Back

(Jingren Palace)

"I am naturally aware that Hua Fei's brother was demoted and reprimanded for being disrespectful to the Emperor. You sisters have many complaints about Hua Fei's temperament, but we are all in the Forbidden City and are both the Emperor's concubines. At this moment, we should comfort each other and show our deep sisterly love." Yixiu pretended to be gentle and spoke softly.

When the concubines heard this, they all echoed: "Your Majesty is right, and we will obey you."

"Having said that, although Concubine Hua deserves sympathy, her brother Nian Gengyao's situation is also the result of his own actions. He usually acts flamboyantly and arrogantly, and he does not know how to be humble even when facing the emperor. If he had repented and reformed earlier, he would not have ended up being impeached by the ministers and ruined his reputation today." Yixiu spoke slowly, revealing a bit of helplessness and emotion in her tone.

"Noble Lady Cao, you suddenly stood up, but what's the important matter?" Seeing this, Yixiu's face changed slightly, and there was some confusion and inquiry in her tone.

"I am guilty, and I beg Your Majesty to forgive me." Cao Qinmo bowed and saluted, her words full of self-blame.

"What on earth has happened that makes you so anxious and uneasy?" Yixiu asked, secretly speculating in his heart.

"I have something hidden in my heart that I have not revealed for a long time, but now the situation forces me to do so and I can no longer conceal it. I must tell you the truth." Cao Qinmo's expression was solemn, and her words revealed an indescribable heaviness.

"Tell me in detail what kind of secret this is." Yixiu looked solemn and looked at Cao Qinmo with sharp eyes.

"Your Majesty, several years ago, in the Old Summer Palace, Concubine Hua secretly instructed to mix cassava flour into Princess Wen Yi's water chestnut soup, intending to poison the princess. She also made an elaborate plan to pin the crime on Concubine Xi, but the law was long and her plan failed. She then instructed Xiao Tang from the imperial kitchen to take the blame in an attempt to cover up the truth." Every word of Cao Qinmo's words was shocking, shocking everyone present.

"Since you have known about this for a long time, why are you willing to reveal the truth only today?" Yixiu frowned, his tone full of confusion and accusation.

"At first, I was deceived by Concubine Hua and mistakenly thought that Concubine Xi was the mastermind. I was filled with resentment and confusion. Until one day, I saw Concubine Hua instructing Xiao Tang to take the blame, and the truth was revealed to the world." Cao Qinmo burst into tears, her words full of helplessness and grievance, "However, Concubine Hua accidentally discovered me. She threatened me with the custody of the princess and forced me to keep the secret. I was terrified and could only swallow my anger. I didn't dare to speak until today."

"Alas, Princess Wen Yi is so young and innocent, but she has to endure such an unexpected disaster. It is really heartbreaking. I can deeply understand Concubine Cao's feelings. As a mother, who would want to see her own flesh and blood taken away by others? The worry and fear are beyond words." Lu Yingfeng sighed lightly, her eyes full of sympathy and worry.

"The case of Princess Wen Yi's poisoning that day was indeed full of suspicious points. Anyone in the palace could become a suspect. However, the Emperor, considering the reputation of the palace ladies, was unwilling to investigate further, resulting in the truth having not been revealed to the world until now. If this was indeed done by Concubine Hua, then she is truly as vicious as a snake and scorpion, and is outrageous. Even if she is not the princess's biological mother, she should not be so cruel to an innocent child. It is truly unjust." Yixiu's face was solemn, and her words revealed her extreme indignation and confusion at Concubine Hua's behavior.

"But your majesty, Xiao Tang has met with misfortune, and it may be difficult to find conclusive evidence in this matter." Feng Ruozhao interrupted at the right time, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"Not only did Concubine Hua instigate two palace maids to give false testimony, claiming that they had seen Concubine Xi passing by my residence with their own eyes, but Concubine Jing and Concubine Rou also verified that it was a false accusation out of thin air. Concubine Hua's intentions are obvious, and her methods are so vicious that it is outrageous. My daughter Wen Yi, who was still in her infancy, suffered such an unexpected disaster and was used like a pawn. It is truly pitiful and lamentable." After Cao Qin finished speaking, she was already crying, and the pain in her heart was evident.

"Empress Xi, since this matter has affected you, do you have anything to say?" Yixiu looked at Zhen Huan with deep eyes.

"Your Majesty, I was indeed wronged in what happened that day. Although I feel aggrieved, I also know that the innocent are innocent and the turbid are turbid." Zhen Huan bowed slightly and spoke earnestly.

"I know what's going on. Please sit down." Yixiu nodded slightly, indicating that Zhen Huan didn't need to be polite.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration." After thanking her, Zhen Huan slowly sat down. Although there was still a hint of imperceptible worry in her expression, she had gradually regained her usual calmness and composure.

"Jiang Fuhai." Yixiu called softly, with unquestionable majesty in his voice.

Jiang Fuhai quickly stepped into the hall upon hearing the voice, bowed, and said respectfully: "Your servant is here, please give your instructions, Your Majesty."

"Go and ask Concubine Hua to come over, and tell her that I have something important to discuss with you." Yixiu's tone was calm, but there was a power in her that could not be ignored.

Jiang Fuhai heard this and quickly responded, "Well, I will go and invite Concubine Hua right away."

After saying that, he turned around and walked away quickly, carrying out Yixiu's orders.

(Long Street)

Nian Shilan had a sad face as she slowly sat in the sedan chair. The sedan chair swayed gently with the footsteps of the palace servants, making bursts of "creaking" sounds.

Just like the unspeakable sorrow in her heart at the moment, echoing in the silent palace road, it made her look even more lonely and helpless.

"Your Majesty, the latest decree from the general has been delivered." Zhou Ninghai bowed and reported, his tone somewhat solemn.

"What specific instructions does the emperor have on this?" Upon hearing this, Nian Shilan frowned slightly, and his tone revealed a hint of anxiety and uneasiness.

"This... this decree..." Zhou Ninghai looked embarrassed and hesitant, as if every word was as heavy as a thousand pounds and difficult to speak.

He hesitated again and again, but finally lowered his head, his voice low and trembling: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty's treatment of the general was quite severe..."

Nian Shilan's eyes froze when she heard this, but she quickly regained her composure. She glanced at Zhou Ninghai calmly, and said with an unquestionable firmness: "You said it, what should I be afraid of? No matter what the will is, I must face it calmly."

"Strip away your title of Grand General and Grand Tutor, remove your first-class meritorious title, and also revoke the posts of the two young masters, Nian Fu and Nian Xing." Zhou Ninghai read out the decree word by word, carefully observing Nian Shilan's expression with each word.

After hearing this, Nian Shilan's face suddenly changed, with a trace of disbelief and anger flashing in her eyes: "I can understand that my brother was punished for his mistakes, but why did he implicate Nian Fu and Nian Xing? They have never done anything wrong!"

Although her voice was soft, it revealed deep pain and unwillingness.

"The Emperor's wrath has not subsided yet, otherwise why would he still refuse to see the Empress?" Zhou Ninghai replied in a low voice, with a hint of helplessness and consolation in his words.

He knew very well how Nian Shilan felt at the moment, but he could only try his best to comfort her, hoping that she could accept this cruel reality.

Just when the atmosphere was tense, Jiang Fuhai appeared at the right time. He performed a standard palace etiquette and said respectfully: "Good luck to the Empress Hua."

Nian Shilan was immersed in anger and resentment, and did not show much enthusiasm for Jiang Fuhai's arrival. She just asked coldly: "What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty, the Queen invites you to go to Jingren Palace immediately." Although Jiang Fuhai's voice was soft, it was clearly heard by Nian Shilan.

Hearing this, she sneered, as if mocking the various calculations and conspiracies in the palace, and then said, "Okay, I also want to see the queen, let's go!"

After saying this, she sat up straight, letting the palace servants lift the sedan chair and slowly drive it towards the Jingren Palace. Every step seemed to speak of her inner determination and indomitable spirit.

(Jingren Palace)

As soon as Nian Shilan stepped into Jingren Palace, she heard Cao Qinmo's voice of betrayal. She was so furious that she couldn't control herself.

Without thinking too much, she quickly stepped forward and kicked Cao Qinmo hard, knocking him to the ground.

"Bitch!" Nian Shilan shouted angrily, her voice filled with anger and disappointment, as if she wanted to vent all her resentment on this kick.

Cao Qinmo was caught off guard and kicked so hard that he fell to the ground, his face pale and his eyes full of fear and regret.

"Hua Fei, what are you doing? Jingren Palace is not a place where you can act so unruly as you please!" Upon seeing this, Yi Xiu frowned and scolded in a stern tone.

Upon hearing this, Nian Shilan did not restrain herself at all. Instead, she sneered and responded with disdain: "So what if you don't allow me to be presumptuous? I have been presumptuous many times, is this the only time I need to do so?!"

Her voice was full of provocation and arrogance, as if she didn't care about any rules and only acted according to her own will.

I immediately took the silk handkerchief at hand, stepped closer and closer, waved it at Cao Qinmo, and shouted angrily: "Bitch! How dare you betray me? Have you forgotten who single-handedly helped you to reach your current position? And who has tried so hard to please me? I trusted you so much, but you betrayed me like this!"

Yixiu was also overwhelmed at this moment. She said firmly: "You have all heard that Concubine Shi Hua admitted that she had a close relationship with Concubine Cao. From this point of view, every word of Concubine Cao's words should be regarded as true and without doubt!"

Then, she turned to the maid standing beside her and ordered, "Jianqiu, report to the emperor immediately and order the Ministry of Punishment to conduct a strict interrogation of the people in Yikun Palace and make sure to find out the truth!"

"Yes, sir." Jianqiu responded and turned to leave.

Nian Shilan pointed her finger at Zhen Huan first, then turned to the Queen, her eyes wandering between the crowd, "Is it you, or Her Majesty the Queen, or which one of you secretly instructed such a despicable person to slander me!"

"No one has any intention to harm Your Majesty. As the saying goes, if you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself." Zhen Huan responded calmly.

Nian Shilan sneered, and glanced around fiercely, saying disdainfully: "The world is so fickle, everyone will only take advantage of others' misfortunes, and when the wall falls, everyone will push it down, humph!"

Seeing this, Yixiu sighed softly, with a tone of majesty and helplessness in her voice: "Seeing how you look now, I am too lazy to ask any more questions. You should go back to the palace first, and don't continue to lose your composure here, being as rude as a shrew in the market. After all, you are still the emperor's concubine, and you should pay attention to your manners."

Upon hearing this, Nian Shilan stroked her clothes gently, straightened her appearance, raised a proud arc at the corner of her mouth, and said: "If the Queen has any questions, you can come to Yikun Palace in person. I will be waiting for you here, hum!"

After saying this, she turned and walked away, with unquestionable dignity and pride in her steps.

"I've suffered a lot from her over the years. Today I finally have the chance to hold my head high. It's really gratifying!" Lu Yingfeng couldn't hide his joy and said happily.

"Everyone in the Yikun Palace, without exception, must be investigated. There must not be any omissions. Especially Zhou Ninghai, he is a key target!" Yixiu's eyes revealed firmness and determination, and her words were full of unquestionable power.