mynovelweb Chapter 118: Killing Concubine Xiao with a Stick
Chapter 118: Killing Concubine Xiao with a Stick
At three quarters past the hour of the twilight, Emperor Longqing asked the imperial kitchen to bring some tonic medicine as usual. Coincidentally, the imperial physician Han came to check the emperor's pulse and noticed that the medicine was of a very strange color. He took a sip and his face suddenly changed drastically. He said that it was mixed with opium, a banned drug of the previous dynasty. The palace servant who delivered the medicine seemed to sense something was wrong and bit his tongue to commit suicide before the Imperial Guards caught him.
Emperor Longqing was furious and immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to investigate. It was discovered that the palace maid who delivered the medicine was from Concubine Xiao's palace. Later, a large amount of opium was found planted in Concubine Xiao's garden.
In the Chaolu Palace, Emperor Longqing sat firmly on the high platform, and kneeling below were Concubine Xiao, the ninth prince, and Princess Mingyue Liu Yue.
"Father! Mother must have been wronged! Mother has only love and reliance on you, how could she blame you, father! Someone must have framed her!" Princess Mingyue knelt down at the feet of Emperor Longqing, crying and kowtowed again and again.
The Ninth Prince lowered his eyes and thought, who wanted to harm him? The Crown Prince or the Fifth Brother? Or the Eighth Brother?
Concubine Xiao's beautiful face was now tearful: "Your Majesty! That is not opium at all! I don't even know what opium is!"
"Then what is this!" Princess Pingchang, who was standing nearby, sneered and pointed at the bright red flower lying on the ground. The roots of the flower were still covered with moist soil. "Empress Xiao, this was pulled out from your bedroom by the Imperial Guards. The evidence is irrefutable. Are you still trying to quibble?"
Concubine Xiao looked like she had no idea what the other person was talking about. "Your Majesty, that is red poppy! It is what I have been taking all along! If you crush it and apply it on your face, it will make your skin smoother! If you mix it with tonics and take it, it can delay aging!"
She still doesn't understand how this everyday skin care product could become a disaster?
Stupid woman! Princess Pingchang complained in her heart while staring at Concubine Xiao with a fierce look and a cold smile: "Ofurong is also known as red poppy. It is an addictive substance. It was banned in the previous dynasty. Concubine Xiao said she didn't know?"
"What forbidden things? I really don't know!" Concubine Xiao felt wronged.
"Since you didn't know, why did you let the little palace maid put this medicine in father's tonic? I think you are imitating the imperial concubine of the previous dynasty and want to kill father!"
Concubine Xiao was so frightened that she screamed, "I absolutely did not do that! What little palace maid? I don't understand a word you said! Princess! Please don't accuse me!"
"Is it me who is trying to bite you, or is it you, Concubine Xiao, who is guilty of your crime?"
The two quarreled endlessly, and Emperor Longqing shouted, "Enough! Both of you, shut up!"
Emperor Long Qing looked at the lady in gorgeous clothes at the bottom of the stairs and slowly called out, "Princess Xiao."
Concubine Xiao's face lit up with joy. With the attitude of a victor, she glared at Princess Pingchang fiercely, and then immediately fell to the ground: "I am here."
White smoke was curling up from the incense burner on the high platform. The handsome face of Emperor Longqing was covered by the smoke, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry. His voice was deep, as if he was recalling something: "How long have you been with me?"
Concubine Xiao was even more proud in her heart, because she knew that His Majesty had feelings for her. Especially in recent years, as the Ninth Prince grew up, Emperor Longqing valued him more and more. How could he punish her for a few small red poppies?
"Your Majesty, I have been following you since you were the fifth prince. It has been seventeen years now!"
"It's been seventeen years..." Emperor Longqing sighed, "Concubine Xiao, you have given birth to a son and a daughter for me. You have worked so hard."
"It is my blessing to be able to give birth to an heir for the saint!" Concubine Xiao raised a confident smile.
"Then I will grant you... to be beaten to death!"
There was dead silence in the Chaolu Palace; even Princess Mingyue's crying had stopped.
Everyone looked at Emperor Longqing with disbelief.
Princess Pingchang and the Crown Prince looked at each other. They both thought that in this situation, no matter how angry their father was, at most he would demote Concubine Xiao to a concubine. They didn't expect that he would actually be beaten to death in court. It was really unexpected!
He was both surprised and happy at the same time. He was happy that if he could successfully overthrow Concubine Xiao, it would be the most painful blow to the Ninth Prince who was already on the rise. But he was surprised that his father actually cared so much about opium!
Moreover, in recent years, my father has become more and more tyrannical and moody, and his thoughts have become more and more unpredictable. He even killed the concubine who had been with him for so many years!
This doesn't bode well.
The Ninth Prince's pupils widened, and Princess Mingyue was so frightened that she dared not even breathe. It took her a long time to react and she began to cry and beg for mercy.
Princess Xiao was as dull as a puppet.
How could it be possible? How could the saint kill her? She was the favored Concubine Xiao!
Xu Yue's crying woke Concubine Xiao up instantly. She dragged her legs and hurriedly crawled to the dragon throne of Emperor Longqing: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You can't be so cruel to me! I really don't know anything!"
However, Emperor Longqing looked at her with an extremely cold look. After sleeping in the same bed for fifteen years, Concubine Xiao only realized now that she could not see through the man in front of her at all!
She raised her last hope and crawled to the side of her only son, the Ninth Prince Xu Kuo, and tugged at the hem of his python robe, begging desperately: "Kuo'er! Please plead for me! I was really framed! Kuo'er!"
Xu Kuo's eyes flashed with pity, and just as he was about to speak, he heard the man in the seat of honor say calmly, "Anyone who asks for mercy will be punished with the same crime!"
Princess Mingyue’s cries suddenly stopped. Xu Kuo widened his eyes, and finally brushed away the hands that were grabbing the corner of his clothes.
Concubine Xiao's body slumped to one side, her eyes like dry wells, without any light in them.
Concubine Xiao is dead, beaten to death in court!
The news spread throughout Gu's private school early in the morning. In addition, Zhou Muqi's desk in the academy was empty, which further verified the authenticity of the news.
Everyone was speculating what terrible thing Concubine Xiao must have done to make Emperor Long Qing so angry. Only Xie Xiyi had a pale face and was in disbelief. He slowly turned his gaze to the woman in green.
Yesterday, Concubine Xiao ordered Xie Lanzhao to enter the palace. She was quite proud of herself, thinking that she would definitely suffer a heavy loss. However, she did not expect that the man not only came back intact, but was also sent back personally by Princess Pingchang's sedan chair!
Xie Xiyi was puzzled. When did Xie Lanzhao try to curry favor with the princess?
What surprised her even more was that news came out early this morning that Concubine Xiao was beaten to death. But what unforgivable thing did Concubine Xiao do to deserve such a tragic end? Or was this big move the work of her, Xie Lanzhao?
terrible!
Xie Xiyi couldn't help but shiver and was in a daze the whole morning. His original plan to comfort Zhou Muqi after class was extinguished in an instant.
In the evening, it started to drizzle.
Feng Jia stood in a room on the top floor of Tianrun Restaurant, overlooking the downstairs. There was no light in the room, and it was so dark that one could not see one's hand in front of one's face.
After a while, she hung the window again, walked to the table, poured herself a cup of hot tea, and waited quietly.
As the night deepened, the hustle and bustle of the hawkers outside gradually faded away, and the only sound left was the sound of rain hitting the window pages.
Suddenly, the window creaked as if it was blown by the wind, and then there was the sound of several heavy objects falling to the ground. It was very light, but in such a quiet night, it was audible clearly.
Suddenly, a cold light shone on Feng Jia's eyes. Her eyebrows did not move at all, but the boiling hot tea in her hand spilled out.
The tea splashed onto the cold sword. The man was stunned. Before he could react, he felt a murderous intent coming towards him and immediately raised his sword to block it.
The sharp black iron claws scraped against his black iron sword, making a sharp golden sound. His heart suddenly tightened and he knew he had fallen into a trap.