Chapter 104
Speaking of this, Xiao Yanzi hurriedly grabbed Ziwei's hand, her eyes full of begging: "Tell the emperor quickly, everything is a misunderstanding. Ziwei, we are sworn sisters, and we have agreed to share the blessings. If you are in trouble, please help me plead for mercy, I really don’t want to die!”
However, facing Xiao Yanzi’s plea, Ziwei felt an indescribable joy in her heart. Over the past few days, Grandma Rong's brainwashing was gnawing at her heart like a poisonous snake, making her resentment towards Xiao Yanzi deepen day by day. At this moment, the truth was revealed. Instead of wanting to lend a helping hand, Ziwei wanted to step on the person who had taken everything away from her.
A sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth, and her eyes were full of ridicule: "Little Yanzi, you have always been fearless. You keep saying that your head will cost you your life. Why are you afraid now? Huh, it's really funny."
"Also It is said that good sisters share blessings and hardships. Obviously I am the emperor's biological daughter. In the end, you got the blessing and the glory and wealth were taken away by you, but I was reduced to a humble servant in the world. A good sister? ”
Ziwei's words were like sharp blades, piercing Xiao Yanzi's heart. She grinned and sneered, as if she wanted to pour out all her resentment: "You can be forgiven for doing evil, but you can't live for it if you do it yourself. You fell to this end, which is the retribution for being greedy and insatiable. You want me to help you. There is no way to plead for mercy.”
When Xiao Yanzi heard this, he was filled with anger. Fever, but she knew that she was powerless at this moment, so she could only pretend to be hurt, and looked at Ziwei heartbrokenly: "How can you say that to me? You are still the dignified, elegant, gentle and kind-hearted person I know. Ziwei?" Her eyes were full of disappointment and confusion, as if she was looking at a stranger.
The little swallow is approaching step by step, like the last fallen leaf in autumn, with endless sorrow and unwillingness, falling slowly and heavily in Ziwei's heart. Her eyes were red, as if two deep lakes were about to overflow with tears of sadness. Her voice trembled, and every word seemed to be forced out from the bottom of her heart: "You are so beautiful, how can you say such cruel words? This is not you, Ziwei!" Those eyes that once shone with smart light are now full of energy. Comprehension and pain, as if looking at a complete stranger.
Yong Qi stood aside, his heart seemed to be cut repeatedly by an invisible sharp blade, and the pain was so painful that he could hardly breathe. He looked at the scene in front of him with mixed feelings in his heart. The confrontation between Ziwei and Xiao Yanzi made him feel powerless and sad like never before. He stretched out his finger and pointed at Ziwei gently. His tone was mixed with blame and helplessness, and he said to Xiao Yanzi: "Little Yanzi, she is your sister. Do you really have the heart to watch her die? She risked her life. Entered the paddock and was almost hit by my arrow "Everything she did was for you. It's not what she wants to see when things develop to this point. Why can't you think more about her?" Yong Qi said with a deep sigh. A final elegy to this complex relationship.
After hearing this, Ziwei raised a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth. There was too much bitterness and sadness hidden in that smile. The sadness on her face became thicker and thicker, like frost condensing in winter, so cold that it made people feel chilling. "One is my best friend and the other is my brother. You both accuse me of being a victim. It's like drinking cold water in the cold winter. Every drop of it chills your heart. God's law is clear, aren't you afraid of retribution? If I am really a cold-blooded person. I have exposed your disguise a long time ago, so why wait until the emperor holds you accountable today?" Ziwei's voice was full of sarcasm and despair, and her fingers clenched the corners of her clothes tightly, as if they were Her only support.
She turned around suddenly and pointed at Yong Qi, her tone full of sarcasm and pain: "You said that everything Xiao Yanzi did was for me? When she first replaced my name, she knew I was in the period of filial piety, but she wore red and green clothes. Bright clothes were flaunting in the palace, making people laugh at Xia Yuhe She gave birth to an unfilial daughter. Why did she go around causing trouble, and after being punished by the emperor, she used my mother as a shield, pretending to be pitiful and claiming to be a motherless child?" Ziwei's words were like sharp arrows, shooting straight at me? Yong Qi left him speechless for a moment.
Yong Qi opened his mouth, but could only make a hesitant sound: "I——" His eyes were full of guilt and helplessness, as if Ziwei's words had hit the softest part of his heart.
Ziwei’s anger was like a volcano erupting and could no longer be suppressed. She shouted loudly: "Have you nothing to say? My best friend, my brother, Erkang, Ertai, Lingfei and others, you all plot against me. What have I done wrong? You want to do this?" To me?" Tears fell down her cheeks like broken beads, each drop carrying endless grievance and anger.
Erkang was secretly anxious when he saw this. He knew that things had gotten out of hand, and once Qianlong was held accountable, all of them would have to bear the blame. In order to get out of this predicament, he can only place his hope on Ziwei, the real princess. After all, the royal bloodline is like a death-free gold medal that can buy them a glimmer of life.
So, Erkang began to recall in public the scenes of him and Ziwei getting along day and night. Every detail of those days when they watched the snow and the moon together was vividly described. He believed that after hearing this, Qianlong would definitely suspect that there was already a physical relationship between them. In this unliberated era, closeness between men and women means losing virginity. In order to preserve her reputation, Ziwei has no choice but to marry Erkang.
After Qianlong heard this, his face instantly turned ashen, like the bottom of a pot, and his eyes flashed with anger. He couldn't accept the behavior of being entangled with a foreign man before getting married, and he couldn't understand how Xia Yuhe educated his daughter. Before, Xiao Yanzi would use his dead mother to avoid punishment every time he got into trouble, but now, Xia Yuhe's "credit card" has been completely maxed out.
Qianlong's anger erupted like a volcano. He poured out all his anger on Ziwei and Erkang, but did not reflect on his own mistakes at all. Although Ziwei didn't know Erkang's sinister intentions, her intuition told her that Erkang's words were not trustworthy. She said sarcastically: "How can you talk about your sincerity? You, Xiao Yanzi and others colluded to plot against me. Do you really think I am a fool? Don't think I don't know. Your purpose is just to take advantage of my royal blood. Changing the door for the Fu family. "
The conversation between Li Qingge and Grandma Rong before leaving was like a bright light that illuminated the fog in Ziwei's heart. When Grandma Rong was brainwashing Ziwei, she also mentioned the plot of your concubine and the Fu family, which made Ziwei even more angry. She finally understood that Er Kang's good intentions were also false. Listening to him say these words now, she felt nothing but hatred and disgust. She exposed his lies without mercy.
Erkang was choked by Ziwei's words and could not speak. He was stunned, as if a basin of cold water had been poured on his head. He never thought that Ziwei, who he had always regarded as a weak woman, could see through his mind so sharply. He opened his mouth to defend, but found that he was speechless.
A sly light flashed in Ziwei's eyes, and she sneered: "Did I say something wrong? I was stupid before, so I would believe your lies, but now I understand, don't lie to me with sweet words anymore "The crime of deceiving the emperor is a capital crime, and none of you can escape it today." Her voice was full of determination and determination, as if she had prepared for the worst.
Erkang, Ertai and others were stunned by Ziwei's words. They had never thought that this concubine could actually uncover the power-hungry plot of the previous harem. Qianlong was even more furious after hearing this. He stood up and shouted angrily: "You ignorant slaves, how dare you plot against my bloodline. Do you really think that I don't dare to kill you because of your concubine's favor?"
Erkang was so frightened that he trembled all over, kowtowed quickly and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, I really have no intention of scheming against Ziwei. I am sincere to Ziwei." His voice was full of fear and sincerity, but Qianlong did not let it go. Moved.
Er Tai also echoed and said: "Your Majesty, it's not that I didn't report the knowledge, but the Emperor had already recognized Princess Huanzhu at that time. If the truth is revealed, wouldn't it cost Xiao Yanzi's innocent life? Furthermore, Say, Little Swallow’s appearance Now she has brought a lot of joy to the emperor. The emperor once said that she is your pistachio. I really can't bear to let you down, so I keep hiding it." His words were full of helplessness and hardship, trying to find a trace of their behavior. Reasonable explanation.
Er Kang further explained: "Your Majesty, let's be honest. If the ministers really have evil intentions and plots, why don't they kill Ziwei when the Emperor has recognized Princess Huanzhu? Once Ziwei dies, The truth will be buried forever. I am not deceiving you. I really love the emperor and cannot bear to hurt you." His words were sincere, trying to touch Qianlong's heart.
Yong Qi also took over the conversation. He looked at Qianlong with admiration, and his voice was full of affection and determination: "Yes, Huang Ama, if we really wanted to hide it, we would have killed Ziwei long ago. The precious one is in disbelief. "Don't you still believe in your son? He grew up beside Huang Ama and was educated and trained by Huang Ama. How can he be the kind of person who conspires to deceive the emperor and rebel against his superiors?" His words were full of doubts. Qianlong's admiration and trust, trying to impress Qianlong with his identity and emotions.
These words were both soft and hard, making sense and arousing the affection between father and son. Qianlong's heart softened after hearing this. He looked at Yongqi's familiar face, and an indescribable complex emotion surged in his heart. Yes, Yong Qi is a child he raised with his own hands. He is good at both civil and military skills, and is loyal and kind. How could he be such a sinister person?
However, Qianlong's anger did not completely subside. He knew the seriousness of this matter, which was not only related to the royal family's face, but also related to the stability of the imperial power. He must find a suitable solution that can not only maintain the dignity of the royal family, but also calm the turmoil. So, after he pondered for a moment, he slowly said: "This matter is of great importance, and I need time to think it over. You should step back first, and I will make a decision after I find out the truth."
Qianlong's A big problem is that he has an extraordinary love of face, which is as smooth as a mirror and cannot tolerate any flaws. As a son, Yong Qi knew this character very well, so he skillfully grasped this weakness, like a precise luthier, gently plucking the heartstrings.
Seeing that Qianlong's expression softened slightly, Yongqi continued to say softly like spring breeze and rain: "Huang Ama, although Xiao Yanzi has deceived you, her feelings for you are still there. It’s so sincere. When you think about these days, how can the laughter she brought you be ordinary?” The woman, who was lazy but extremely witty, also had a wave of eyes at this moment, and quickly answered: "Yes, Huang Ama, I really didn't mean to deceive. Everything was a mistake, and I became like this. How many times, I want to tell the truth, but when I see your loving eyes, my heart softens. How I long to have a father like you!”
Seeing this, Erkang quickly joined the torrent of emotions: "Your Majesty, this dispute between true and false is actually a beautiful misunderstanding. We know full well that this is the crime of deceiving the emperor, but we can't extricate ourselves. Just because we I love you too much, and I always want to find a way to get the best of both worlds, which can not only help Ziwei, but also give the little swallow a good home, so I have postponed it until now!"
Er! Not to be outdone, Tai added eagerly: "Your Majesty, although Xiao Yanzi is not genuine, her feelings for you are extremely sincere. For the sake of her sincerity, forgive her for this deception. Let’s go.”
Everyone fell to their knees, their words filled with Qiong Yao’s affection and sincerity, as if a carefully choreographed drama was slowly unfolding in the hall.
Qianlong's mind was already swaying like duckweed. At this moment, he was even more shocked by this demonic brainwashing and almost lost in it.
Fu Longan, Granny Tian, Li Yu and others were all stunned, as if they had witnessed the most incredible spectacle in the world. They were both speechless and secretly admired. These people's talkative skills and brainwashing abilities were truly rare.
Just when Qianlong's heart began to soften and he wanted to minimize the serious matter, a majestic and cold female voice suddenly sounded outside the palace, like thunder piercing the sky, shaking everyone's heart.
"What a group of eloquent people. With such good eloquence, it would be really unfair not to sing in opera!"
As the voice fell, Li Qingge, dressed in a purple dragon robe, held up his hand. Holding Grandma Rong's hand, she slowly walked into the hall. There was a half-smile on her face, as if she was very interested in this good show.
Qianlong was shocked and lost his voice: "Jin...Queen of Great Yan, you, why are you here?"
Yongqi, Erkang and others saw the Lord of Great Yan coming in person, and they all He felt a chill in his heart and quickly saluted. Although Fulong'an hated Li Qingge deeply, he could only bow his head and surrender in the face of imperial power and force.
Li Qingge glanced at the crowd, and a charming smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "If I don't come to enjoy this show of authenticity and fakeness, wouldn't I be living up to your hard-working performance?"
Qianlong wrinkled He frowned, obviously surprised by Li Qingge's sudden appearance. Seeing Li Qingge take the lead, Grandma Rong secretly admired her foresight. It turned out that Li Qingge had communicated with the Queen for a long time, and he foresaw that the true and false secrets of Princess were about to be exposed. Based on the evidence the queen had, it was not difficult to prove this matter, but considering Qianlong's soft-eared nature, they were worried that the brainwashing ability of the protagonist group would make Qianlong soft-hearted, so they decided to let Li Qingge take action personally.
Xiao Yanzi and others secretly complained when they saw that Li Qingge suppressed Qianlong's momentum as soon as he appeared and targeted them. Li Qingge turned his eyes and looked at Er Kang first. His voice was cold and majestic: "Li Daitao's sin of deceiving the emperor and confusing the royal bloodline is unexpectedly said by you to be loyal to the emperor and love the emperor. If everyone uses 'love' If he deceives and conceals things in the name of others, wouldn’t the country be in chaos?”
Li Qingge was well aware of Qianlong’s character weaknesses, so her words hit home and raised the matter to the level of national interests. . Sure enough, Qianlong's face immediately became as gloomy as water, as green as if he was about to split. Xiao Yanzi and others were so frightened that their faces turned pale. They did not expect that Queen Dayan's words would shatter their excuses into pieces.
Qianlong looked stern and said indifferently: "Queen Dayan is right. If everyone is like you, the country will no longer be a country. How can you confuse the royal blood and punish the crime? Is it easy to let it go with a few words? If I hold it high and put it down lightly today, you will definitely become more and more lawless in the future. "
Li Qingge thought that because of this, the protagonist group felt that Qianlong was easy to talk to. No matter how much trouble he caused, the kind and wise Emperor Amma would forgive them. However, this indulgence only makes them more unscrupulous. Li Qingge's sympathy for Qianlong lasted only three seconds, but when he thought of all the bad things he had done, his heart hardened again.
She said sternly: "The state has national laws, and families have family rules. Princes who break the law are as guilty as the common people, and no one can violate them. Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, am I right?" There was a trace of emotion in her faint words. Qianlong could not avoid the heavy pressure.
Qianlong's expression changed slightly, and he nodded: "The Queen is right. The state has national laws, and families have family rules. If you make a mistake, you are wrong. If you break the law, you must bear legal responsibility." He knew very well that Li Qingge also understood the seriousness of this matter as to why he came here. If it is not handled well, it will not only affect the country of the Qing Dynasty, but also cause variables in the previously negotiated peace concession agreement.
Thinking of this, Qianlong felt a terrible headache. These damn guys really hurt him. Severe punishment! Must be severely punished to the end!
After hearing Li Qingge turn things around with just a few words, Yong Qi was so angry that he was shaking all over. He glared at Li Qingge and wanted to refute, but was slapped hard in the face by Qianlong. "Shut up, you traitor!" Qianlong roared angrily, and in a flash he was in front of Yongqi. This slap not only interrupted Yong Qi's words, but also interrupted the unwillingness and anger in his heart.
"Ah!!!"
In the Yangxin Hall, an exclamation broke the original tranquility. Yong Qi covered her face tightly with her hands, her astonished expression seemed to be frozen, her eyes widened, staring at Qianlong in disbelief. This was the first time in his life that he had been slapped, and the person who did it was actually his father. Endless doubts and humiliation surged in Yongqi's heart. He never thought that his words would almost push the Aixinjueluo royal family into the abyss of destruction. Li Qingge, a woman who once harbored resentment for being neglected and abandoned, had as little affection for the Aixinjueluo family as paper. If they hadn't still cared about the bond between the queen and her blood, Dayan's cavalry would have already laid waste to the capital, making them prisoners. Qianlong felt like a clear mirror in his heart, so he considered abdication and turning enemies into friends to continue the family lineage. However, Yongqi, this unsatisfactory son, actually talked nonsense in front of Li Qingge, claiming that this was a royal family matter and outsiders had no right to interfere. If Li Qingge was regarded as an outsider, she would have no reason to show mercy to the Qing royal family. When Qianlong thought that his previous efforts might be in vain, he wanted to strangle this traitor to death immediately.
After Yongqi was beaten, his heart was filled with grievances. He never noticed that Qianlong's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and his thunderous fury made the entire Yangxin Palace tremble.
“You are an unfaithful and unfilial son, you have deceived the emperor and plotted evil, and now you dare to talk nonsense in front of me. If I had known that you would become like this, I would have Concubine Yu should be given sterilization medicine so that you will never come to this world." Qianlong's words hurt Yongqi's heart like a knife.
I remember that when Queen Xiaoxian passed away, the eldest elder brother Yonghuang and the third elder brother Yongzhang were scolded by Qianlong as "disloyal and unfilial" because they did not cry enough. Emperors always rule the world with filial piety. How can an unfilial prince inherit the throne? This sentence completely shattered Yongqi's dream of being an emperor.
As if struck by lightning, Yong Qi hurriedly knelt down in front of Qianlong, tugged on the corner of Qianlong's clothes and cried bitterly: "Emperor Ama, I am wronged. You are my father, how can I do it?" Dare you be disloyal and unfilial?"
Li Qingge sneered from the side: "You If you are really filial, you will not deceive an old father who is over fifty years old. If such behavior can be called filial piety, it is really a great act of filial piety."
"Queen Dayan, you..." Yong Qi was so angry that she couldn't speak, and felt a rage burning in her heart.
"What's wrong with me? Did I say something wrong? For a wild girl of unknown origin, you risked your own sister's life and death, and colluded with outsiders to make her a slave. Your love It's really great." Li Qingge's words were full of sarcasm and disdain.
When the little swallow heard this, he shrank into a ball in fear. She used to be a woman who was fearless, but since she went to Dayan and suffered the torture of a serious prisoner, her heart was filled with fear. She almost collapsed when she thought of the jailer's cruelty and the howling of wolves in the middle of the night. The jailers are so scary, let alone the Queen of Great Yan? Its methods are definitely more terrifying.
"Your Majesty the Queen, we, we didn't provoke you, why do you have to force us like this? This is all a misunderstanding, and by mistake, I became Princess Huanzhu. These people in the palace With such a high position and authority, what can I do?" Xiao Yanzi said weakly, her voice full of helplessness and fear.
Ziwei sneered on the side: "Innocent? If you really don't want to be a princess, then why are you still happily causing trouble every day? Let everyone in the palace mistakenly think that my mother does not educate her children? If you really You didn’t mean to replace my identity. Then you When you broke into Kunning Palace and insulted the queen as an old witch, the queen wanted to practice her family's rules. Why did you say that you were the Emperor's personal concubine, and that you were not bound by the rules and that no one could teach you a lesson? "
Little Yanzi was speechless and felt a panic in her heart. She had indeed flaunted her power and enjoyed the honor of the royal family in the name of Princess Huanzhu, but she never imagined that she would be in the predicament she is in today.
Li Qingge took over the conversation and repeatedly said: "That's right, although I didn't stay in the Qing Palace for a long time, I often heard that you showed off your power in the name of Princess Huanzhu. I wish the whole world could It’s disgusting to know that you are enjoying the glory and glory of the royal family and not repenting yet.”
Xiao Yanzi blushed and felt ashamed. She comes from a humble background and only knows how to be arrogant and impulsive. How can she be the match for Li Qingge and Ziwei? Seeing that she was about to fall into a desperate situation, she began to betray her friends, and the first one she betrayed was her concubine.
"I'm sorry, Emperor Ama. All of this was taught by your concubine. She said that I was genuine, and the people from the Fu family also threatened me to keep the secret strictly, otherwise there would be only death. I am just a businessman. Girl, how did you know that What's at stake? I was coaxed and frightened by them, so I took Ziwei's position. I'm really innocent. I beg the emperor to be clear about it. I beg your majesty to make the decision!" Xiao Yanzi shouted, kowtowing as if This will clear your name.
When Erkang saw Xiao Yanzi blaming his concubine and his family, he suddenly became anxious and roared: "Little Yanzi, how dare you..."
"Shut up!" Qianlong Interrupting his words, he angrily said: "The queen and I haven't spoken yet, you How can a coated servant interrupt? Li Yu, go and summon the imperial concubine."
Li Yu turned around and was about to go to Yanxi Palace when he suddenly heard a sharp voice: "What is real and fake? Gege? Oh my God, how could such a thing happen?”
Everyone followed the sound and saw Lamei walking in, supporting your concubine. Your concubine's face was very panicked, and she had obviously learned about the situation in the Yangxin Hall.
At this moment, your concubine’s heart was in a state of confusion. The little eunuch she bribed with a lot of money was in the Yangxin Palace. As soon as she learned that Xiao Yanzi and others had been summoned to interrogate the crime, she hurried to Yanxi Palace to report the news. When your concubine heard this, she almost fainted. Xiaoyanzi is actually a fake princess? This sudden turn of events caught her off guard.
However, your concubine has been ups and downs in the harem for twenty years, experienced great storms, and has not lost in battles of wits and courage with the queen for many years, and she is still relatively calm. She knew that this matter could not be avoided, so she simply came to the Yangxin Hall. After all, she was pregnant, and for the sake of the emperor's heir, the emperor could not deal with her.
"Your Majesty, you are here at the right time. Xiao Yanzi said that you threatened her not to tell the truth, otherwise you would take her life. Is there such a thing?" Qianlong asked sharply, with a very serious look on his face. He stared closely into his concubine's eyes, trying to detect any trace of panic or uneasiness.
The concubine's heart tightened, but on the surface she pretended to be calm and replied: "It's unfair, Your Majesty. How dare I deceive you? I don't even know what is true or false." "I beg the emperor to understand." She knelt down and wrung her hands together, trying to hide her inner panic.
When Li Qingge heard this, he frowned slightly, a hint of impatience flashed in his eyes, and then rolled his eyes, as if he was speechless at this farce. She stood aside, with a graceful figure and an elegant long dress swaying gently in the wind, which was in sharp contrast to the turmoil in the palace.
Mother Rong, the old woman who was usually silent and watching with cold eyes, suddenly spoke at this moment, her voice was thin but her words were clear: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being bold. I still remember that time, The slave and the Queen went to Shufangzhai to visit Huanzhuge who was injured by an arrow and fell into coma. Ge, that scene is still vivid in my mind, as if it happened yesterday. At that time, in front of the emperor and many maids and eunuchs, the imperial concubine was full of praise for Xiao Yanzi's appearance, saying that she looked like the emperor in everything, especially her eyes. and eyebrows, it’s as if they were copied directly from your Majesty. , the intimacy born from the same mother is hard to ignore. It is precisely because of these words and those so-called tokens that your Majesty is convinced that the little swallow is the pearl you left behind. Your Majesty, you still remember those. Days?"
Qianlong looked slightly moved when he heard this and nodded. , a trace of memory flashed in his eyes: "Yes, yes. In the beginning, it was indeed your concubine who said that Xiao Yanzi looked like me, and the token I left for Yu He, that led to this misunderstanding." His tone There was a trace of helplessness in it, and admitting the mistake of Princess was undoubtedly a disgraceful thing for the king of a country. Qianlong himself felt embarrassed and could not easily admit that he had misjudged the situation.
At this time, Aunt Rong coughed lightly, and Qianlong seemed to have found the steps, and hurriedly put the blame on his concubine. He muttered to himself: This woman misled me. How could I be a stupid emperor? It was just that I was temporarily blinded.
Looking at Qianlong's eagerness to shirk responsibility, Li Qingge couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, and was speechless in his heart. She thought to herself, this emperor is really good at making excuses. He clearly made a mistake in his judgment, but he put all the blame on others.
Your concubine had a look of astonishment on her face, with mixed feelings in her heart. She never thought that her casual words would become the basis for the emperor to blame her. She cursed in her heart: Isn't this too shameless? It was obviously the emperor who saw the token himself and made random guesses. I just mentioned it casually. Why is it all the blame on me?
Seeing that his concubine did not refute, Qianlong became even more convinced of his judgment. He gushed, "In addition to saying that Xiao Yanzi looks like me, you and the Fu family conspired to bring Ziwei and Jinsuo into the palace to serve as maids. You also said that it was unfair. Do you think I am a fool? Your concubine. , You are so brave!"
When the concubine heard Qianlong's anger, she was so frightened that she broke into a cold sweat. She hurriedly adjusted her breathing, trying to calm herself down. She turned her head rapidly, looking for an excuse to escape. Finally, she defended herself and said: "Your Majesty, I am really unjust. When I first saw Xia Yuhe's token, I thought that the little swallow might be your flesh and blood. As for Ziwei and Jinsuo entering the palace, it is really It was difficult to refuse Xiao Yanzi's repeated pleas. Xiao Yanzi said that the two of them were lonely. With no help, I thought that saving people's lives would be better than building a seven-level pagoda. I was afraid that they would starve to death outside, so I made such an arrangement. I really didn't know that Ziwei is your flesh and blood, the emperor. I have a good heart. Ah!”
Your concubine spoke sincerely, with a hint of grievance and helplessness in her tone. She knew in her heart that at this point, it was already difficult to be alone. In this case, let's go with the flow and say that like Qianlong, he was deceived by this girl Xiao Yanzi.
Li Qingge watched with cold eyes, unable to help but admire the concubine's cunning and adaptability. She thought to herself, this concubine is really a powerful character. The queen cannot defeat her, not because of bad luck, but because her skills are inferior to others.
At this moment, Xiao Yanzi suddenly became furious and pointed at your concubine's nose and said loudly: "How could you not know? Erkang's mother is your cousin, and she has been talking to you for a long time. You have no children under your knees. See Yongqi fell in love with me, I just wanted to win over this invisible prince who is most likely to inherit the throne, so I agreed to help me. Now that the secret has been exposed, don’t even think about it.”
There is something in Xiao Yanzi’s words. Anger and determination. I don’t know if it’s because of the heroine’s halo. She is usually careless and confused, but at a critical moment, her IQ suddenly rises. She remembered her concubine’s usual efforts to please Yong Qi, and immediately understood the stakes. She thought to herself that since she couldn't escape, neither could anyone else involved in the matter. The law does not punish everyone, and the more people are implicated, the more unwilling the Queen is to be punished severely, and the more likely she is to save her life.
With Xiao Yanzi’s accusation, the atmosphere in the palace suddenly became tense. Qianlong's face was terrifyingly gloomy. He stared at his concubine with wide eyes, as if he wanted to see through her. Concubine Ling's face was pale and the corners of her mouth were trembling slightly. She was obviously frightened by Xiao Yanzi's accusation.
How will this farce end? Will your concubine be able to resolve the crisis with eloquent words, or will Qianlong be angry and punish her severely? Everything is full of unknowns and variables. Li Qingge, on the other hand, stood aside, watching the changes in the palace with cold eyes, thinking about his position and choices in his heart.
When Qianlong heard this, his face turned ashen instantly like the sky before a storm, and his anger was like a huge wave swept up by the strong wind. He roared: "The rules in the palace are strict, like copper and iron walls. Children are strictly prohibited. If the concubine has any relationship with the adult prince, You dare to get involved with Yongqi. Are you hoping that Concubine Yu will die soon so that you can use Xiao Yanzi's help to make Yongqi recognize you as his mother, hoping to be named the Holy Mother Queen Mother by him in the future? The reverberation in the splendid but cold palace made people's hearts tremble.
When the imperial concubine heard this, she was as shocked as if she had been struck by lightning. She couldn't recover for a while, and her heart was filled with murmurs like a surging river. Her face, which usually carried a gentle smile, was as pale as snowflakes in winter, and her eyes shone with unbelievable light. She secretly thought to herself that what she wanted in her dream was not the supreme position of Queen Mother, where the mother would be more valuable than her son, and she would enjoy endless glory and wealth. But this seat must be sealed by one's own son, in order to sit firmly and feel at ease.
She wooed Xiao Yanzi, on the one hand, she wanted to gain some benefits from her favor, and on the other hand, she wanted to get rid of Yongqi, Qianlong's favorite son, and the one who might inherit the throne in the future, so that she could His son paved a smooth road to the throne. She thought her plan was perfect, but she didn't expect Qianlong to expose it so bluntly.
In shock, your concubine began to sob and cry, her tears rolling down her delicate but helpless face like broken pearls. "It's unjust! I'm wronged! How can I dare to dream about the Holy Mother and the Queen Mother? Since ancient times, it has always been the right to establish a legitimate son. Your Majesty, you have your legitimate son Yong Cang. How can I get your concubine Yong Qi to be the emperor? How dare I have that? Such unreasonable thoughts? This little swallow is about to die. Just bite people. Your Majesty, please don’t listen to her lies. Don’t be deceived by the slanderous words and wrongly blame your concubine who has been with you for more than ten years!” Her voice was filled with tears, but she still maintained her tone. The tenderness in the sadness tried to touch Qianlong's heart.
When Qianlong heard this, the anger in his heart subsided a little, and was replaced by a trace of wavering. He did think about passing the throne to the queen's child, whether it was the twelfth elder brother or the fifth elder brother. What your concubine said is not unreasonable. He frowned and glanced at everyone, as if searching for the truth.
At this moment, Ziwei suddenly spoke coldly, her voice was like the cold wind in winter, biting and cold. "Your Majesty, it is a blessing for the country to have an older monarch. Although the twelfth elder brother is a direct descendant, how can he compare with the older fifth elder brother Yongqi who is both civil and military? Since your concubine is I already know that Xiao Yanzi is fake, and I also know that the fifth elder brother likes her, so I try my best to please her. I think she must have evil intentions in doing this." Her eyes were as sharp as a knife, and she seemed to be piercing her. See her through.
Ziwei hated Xiao Yanzi and Ling Fei so much that she wanted to take this opportunity to drag a few more people into the water to relieve her anger. Xiao Yanzi also wanted to recruit a few more people to share the responsibility, so he and Ziwei reached a consensus, and together they insisted that the concubine and other people involved in the case would not be let go. Their voices one after another, like the chirping of cicadas in summer, are disturbing.
For a while, the Nourishing Heart Hall was as noisy as a market, with so many people and it was like a farce. Li Qingge and Grandma Rong sat aside, watching the scene and finding it quite interesting. A playful smile appeared at the corner of Li Qingge's lips, and a cunning light shone in her clear, watery eyes. She whispered to Aunt Rong: "The drama in the palace is really more exciting than the drama troupe outside the palace." Aunt Rong also smiled and nodded, and the two looked at each other and smiled, as if they were watching a show. Free drama.
Qianlong had a terrible headache and was helpless. He yelled: "That's enough! Shut up! You people are bullying the emperor, you are all sinners!" His voice was as deafening as thunder, and the whole palace seemed to tremble.
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent instantly, leaving only the rapid breathing and heartbeat of everyone. Qianlong's gaze swept over everyone like a sharp sword, as if he wanted to read through their thoughts.
Just when Qianlong was about to pronounce the sentence, your concubine suddenly screamed, her voice full of pain and panic. Then Lamei exclaimed: "It's not good, my mother is frightened, I'm afraid she's going to have a miscarriage." Her voice was sharp and harsh, like lightning piercing the night sky.