Wei Jingxuan lowered her head and stroked the brocade quilt covering her body, and said coldly: "According to your opinion, what are the chances of Concubine Yi being convicted?"
"This..." Zhuang Zhengzheng looked confused, thought for a while and shook his head: "I dare not speak nonsense, it depends on the emperor's holy will, or whether the empress can find evidence to exonerate Concubine Yi."
Wei Jingxuan glanced at him and said, "Don't beat around the bush with me. There are no outsiders here. It's okay to just say it."
Zhuang Zheng glanced at her secretly, cupped his hands and said: "Originally, according to the empress's plan, Concubine Yi should be questioned today, but the empress insisted on it, and things changed. Although three days is not a long time, one night is still easy.
There are many dreams, let alone three days. Therefore, I privately believe that this matter has changed greatly, and it is really difficult to make a conclusion at this time."
"You are right. It is indeed a long night with many dreams. If one of them is not good, everything I have done may be in vain." Wei Jingxuan looked at him and said: "I know that oleander can kill people, but it is a pity that Chonghua Palace
There are no other flowers and trees like oleander?"
Zhuang Zheng's eyelids twitched fiercely, and he said in a horrified voice: "What do you want to do, Madam?"
Wei Jingxuan pursed her lips and smiled and said: "When a person commits a serious crime, he or she will often choose to commit suicide because of inner panic and the inability to face the upcoming punishment." As she spoke, she raised her eyebrows and said, "Mr. Zhuang hasn't done it yet.
Answer my words."
Zhuang Zheng calmed down and said: "There are many flowers and trees that can kill people like oleander, such as lily of the valley, digitalis, mandala, etc., but they are not planted in these palaces, and it should be the same in Chonghua Palace.
No."
Wei Jingxuan wrinkled her eyelids and said, "So, even if Imperial Concubine Yi wants to commit suicide by taking poison, there is nothing she can do about it."
Zhuang Zheng hesitated for a moment and said: "With all due respect, I may not allow the emperor to grant death to the imperial concubine in this case, but reprimand is inevitable, so why would the empress need to take risks like this again?"
Wei Jingxuan sneered: "Mr. Zhuang thinks that a mere scorn can offset my thoughts for so many days. Is there still a lost dragon fetus?"
Zhuang Zheng frowned and said, "I understand your Majesty's intention, but Chonghua Palace has been sealed. It would be too dangerous to do what the Imperial Majesty said. Please think again!"
Wei Jingxuan stared at her pale, almost transparent fingers and said coldly: "Since I entered the palace in the third year of Qianlong's reign, there is no danger in any step I take. Danger and opportunity have always gone hand in hand."
Zhuang Zheng was silent for a long time and said: "But Wei Chen also said just now that there are no poisonous things in Chonghua Palace. If arsenic, aconite and other poisons are used, I am afraid that the emperor will be suspicious and conclude that Concubine Yi did not commit suicide.
Sometimes, it will be self-defeating and detrimental to the empress."
Wei Jingxuan said coldly: "According to you, suicide is not feasible?"
"At least it's not advisable to use poison." After Zhuang Zheng said this, the room fell silent. After a long time, Wei Jingxuan was heard to say: "I know, please step back."
After Zhuang Zheng bowed his hands and stepped back, Xiao Yuanzi said softly: "Master, you have just had a miscarriage, so you should not overthink it. I will wait for you to sleep for a while."
Wei Jingxuan said a little irritably: "If the matter of Chonghua Palace is not resolved, I will not be able to sleep."
"But Dr. Zhuang said that the method of poisoning is not applicable, otherwise..." He said cautiously: "Let's wait until next time. We can deal with Concubine Yi once, and we can deal with her twice. Master, there is no need to rush."
Wei Jingxuan sneered and said: "To put it lightly, do you think Concubine Yi or the Queen will give me such a chance again?" Before Xiao Yuanzi could answer, she shook her head and said: "No, so this time
No words can make Concubine Yi escape unscathed." After a moment of silence, she said: "Go to see Liu Qi as soon as possible, speak more pleasantly, and see if he can find a way to meet Xiao Mencius. This chess piece...
…Maybe it can come in handy.”
Xiao Yuanzi nodded in agreement, and after nightfall, he quietly went to the House of Internal Affairs, where Liu Qi was responsible for cleaning. He saw the latter without much effort, and after being dragged to a hidden corner
, Xiao Yuanzi said softly: "Master urged me to come see Brother Liu as soon as he woke up. He was afraid that something would happen to you. Now I feel relieved to see that you are fine."
"It's okay now, but in three days..." Liu Qi said uneasily: "If the Queen finds out that I'm lying, she will definitely kill me. I... I don't know what to do."
"It's okay. As long as we insist that Concubine Yi is the master recommended by Concubine Yi, then this is the truth. If the queen can't find anything, Concubine Yi can't escape."
Liu Qi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It would be great if this were the case. These days have been really difficult."
"By the way, does Brother Liu know if there are any other entrances and exits in Chonghua Palace besides the front and back doors?" Xiao Yuanzi's words made Liu Qi very strange and said: "Every palace has only front and back doors. Do you know that?
Yes, there are other discrepancies there, why are you asking about this?"
Xiao Yuanzi thought about it and said: "It's not for you, Brother Liu. Since the master promised to save you, he will definitely not break his promise, but Concubine Yi will not. Once she escapes, she will do everything possible to harm you and take your life."
, to avenge today."
Liu Qi said in shock: "Didn't you just say that Concubine Yi would be difficult to escape? Why did you say that she would escape in the blink of an eye? Which statement is true and which statement is false?"
"Every sentence is true. It is difficult for Concubine Yi to escape, but if the Queen helps her to speak like that, the Emperor will probably not punish her severely. He will most likely punish her by demoting her to a concubine or a concubine. Then she will still be a concubine.
It is not easy for the master of the palace to deal with you."
Hearing this, Liu Qi panicked and said eagerly: "Then... what should we do?"
Xiao Yuanzi whispered something in his ear. Liu Qi was so shocked that he almost jumped up and stammered out, "You...you...you're crazy!"
"Brother Liu!" Xiao Yuanzi took his hand and said, "Master, why are you willing to do this? But if you don't, your life will be in danger. Master is thinking about you!"
Liu Qi shook his hand away hard, shaking his head like a drum, "No, absolutely not, how could I..." After a moment of pause, he added: "Besides, Xiao Mencius will definitely not agree."
"Little Mencius has already offended Concubine Yi, but he didn't know it. If he doesn't do this, what awaits him will be death. As long as Brother Liu can persuade him, he will definitely..."
"Stop talking!" Liu Qi interrupted him excitedly, "Anyway, I won't agree to anything on this matter. You can go back."