Chapter 399: Old Friends Can’t Forget Old Friendships
The emperor ordered Shang Qiyan to thoroughly investigate the poisoning of the Daxiangguo Temple.
Two days later, new progress was made.
First of all, Shang Qiyan found out Huiming's origins. He was not a native of the capital, but came to Zhuo County on the edge of the capital with his mother to beg for food when he was seven years old.
On the way, Huiming and his mother were both infected with the plague. Both mother and son were starving and sick, and were about to die.
At that time, all parts of the capital were strictly guarded against the plague. Naturally, no one cared about beggars like them who were infected with the plague.
After it dies, burn it on the spot, which is considered disposal.
I happened to catch up with Chi Su and her family on their way to Zhuangzi in Zhuo County, and saw the mother and son on the roadside.
The Chi family felt pity for them and took them to Zhuangzi for treatment.
Huiming's mother didn't make it through after all, and the Chi family paid for the burial.
Huiming survived and became their family's servant.
But within a few years, because the young master of the Chi family was frail and sick, someone said that they could buy a substitute and send him to the temple, so that he could grow up safely.
In order to repay the Chi family's kindness, Huiming voluntarily entered the temple and became a monk.
It's just that the temple he went to at the beginning was not Daxiangguo Temple, but Lingkong Temple, which had been burned to a rubble field early this morning.
The monks there moved to other temples one after another.
Huiming was young and upright in appearance, so he was spotted by an old Zen master from Daxiangguo Temple and took him back.
After he arrived at Daxiangguo Temple, a few years later, the Chi family was sent to Shuzhou.
In fact, Huiming is already fifteen years old this year, but he is young and looks only about twelve years old.
The cause of his death was indeed hanging, not homicide.
A packet of crane-ding red was found on his body, and there was poison residue in the gaps between his fingernails.
Obviously, he hid the poison in his fingernails and then put his hand into the tea when the person was not prepared to poison him.
In addition, Chi Su confessed that all this was her own idea.
She resented the queen and the Yao family and always wanted revenge.
However, there was no chance. This time when she arrived at the Daxiangguo Temple, she met her old friend Huiming unexpectedly. She also learned that Huiming would serve tea to the queen later, so she felt that this was an excellent opportunity given by God.
So she secretly plotted this matter with Huiming. Huiming was grateful to the Chi family, so she agreed without hesitation.
"How credible do you think the palace maid's confession is?" the emperor asked Shang Qiyan after listening to his report.
"The old slave thinks that the two of them should have done this, but Chi Su said that it was all her own idea. This needs further investigation," Shang Qiyan said.
"Then continue your investigation! Don't forget to report it to the queen so that she can rest assured," the emperor said.
"Old slave, I obey." Shang Qiyan bowed and slowly withdrew.
The emperor took another look at the memorial on the table. He was as tired as a hill and could not help but frown.
Zhang Ze stepped forward and said wisely: "Your Majesty has been reviewing all morning. Why don't you go outside for a walk now? The weather is pleasant today and the flowers are blooming well."
"Let's go! Go to Furong Palace and have a look." The emperor said and stood up.
Zhang Ze quickly ordered the driver, and the emperor said: "There is no need to go to such trouble, just ask two people to follow me. Just walk down and enjoy the scenery along the way."
So Zhang Ze called another young eunuch, and the two of them followed the emperor to Concubine Fu.
Concubine Fu heard that the emperor was coming and quickly came out to greet him.
The emperor said: "Excuse me, I haven't been to your palace for a long time."
"The state affairs are busy, Your Majesty, thank you for your hard work." Concubine Fu said and brought tea with her own hands.
"The snacks you sent me a few days ago are quite good," the emperor said, "I always like to eat crispy snacks."
"I also made some today, but I didn't dare to send it to you for fear of disturbing the emperor. Your Majesty came just in time, and it's still hot!" He ordered someone to bring it over.
"Have you not been to the Queen's Palace these days?" the emperor asked after eating a piece of snack.
"I go to the Queen's Palace every day to pay my respects as usual. It's just that the Queen was frightened a few days ago and needs to rest, so she just saluted outside the door and came back," Concubine Fu said.
"The poisoner Chi Su is from your palace. Aren't you afraid that the queen will blame you?" the emperor asked.
"When something like this happened, I was naturally frightened and uneasy." Concubine Fu said, "I also wanted to apologize to the Queen in person many times, but I couldn't see her face."
"Some concubines have made mistakes. Even if the queen is not there, they will kneel outside and wait, or they will cry and beg in front of me." The emperor said, "Why don't you do the same?"
"I have also wanted to come, but doing so would be like embarrassing Your Majesty and the Queen." Concubine Fu said, "Such a big thing has happened, and it has not been thoroughly investigated. I can only ask for help, which will not only be useless."
, but it adds trouble and burden.
Fortunately, the Queen Mother was blessed by God and was not poisoned. As long as this matter is investigated, the truth will come to light one day. When the time comes, there will be no doubt what crime this concubine will be charged with."
After listening to Concubine Fu's words, the emperor was silent for a moment and said, "You are right. The more serious things happen, the more important it is to understand the general situation."
"Your Majesty is ridiculous, but in fact, my concubine failed to control her properly in this matter after all." Concubine Fu said, "I never imagined that this girl would dare to do such a treasonous thing."
"The Chi family is a martial artist. Although Chi Su is a woman, her temperament must be similar." The emperor said, "When the matter is found out, the Chi family must be dealt with together!"
Chi Su kept saying that he was dissatisfied with the queen and the Yao family, but after all, it was the emperor who ordered the Chi family to be deprived of their official positions and exiled.
So the emperor already had murderous intentions towards the Chi family.
"I heard that Your Majesty has given Eunuch Shang full authority to handle this matter, and he will definitely find out," said Concubine Fu. "Your Majesty must not be angry with such a confused and rebellious person, and must take care of the dragon body."
"You don't have to worry too much. If you are innocent, I will eventually clear your name." The emperor said.
"I would like to thank you, Your Majesty." Concubine Fu said, "Your Majesty, please have another cup of tea!"
In the prison cell of the Criminal Division.
Shang Qiyan stared at Chi Su's eyes, and his voice was not very harsh: "Chi Su, I still say the same thing, you should explain it as soon as possible. It will only benefit you and me, both above and below."
"Eunuch Shang, haven't you already found out about Huiming? He is my old friend, and I am his benefactor.
I have a grudge against the queen, and I know that he is a monk at the Daxiangguo Temple, so it is reasonable and reasonable to ask him to help poison. Other than that, I have nothing else to explain." Chi Su was also very calm.
"Chi Su, you and I don't see each other often. But you also know that I have always been gentle and don't like to use force." Shang Qiyan said, "You said this is reasonable, but I don't think so. Why is it such a coincidence?
You happened to bring poison with you when you left the palace, and your old friend Huiming happened to offer tea to the Queen.
You are usually unable to leave the palace, but as soon as you get there you can find Huiming, and he agrees to you right away, and the poisoning is successfully carried out. I didn't know that there are such smooth things in the world."