vrcanaries Chapter 80: Grounded Again
Chapter 80: Grounded Again
"And the emperor was staying in Yongshou Palace at the time, which is very close to my Qixiang Palace." Concubine Jia explained to Ruyi kindly.
"I was pregnant and slept late. The guards found the stolen goods and wanted to give them to the emperor, but unfortunately the emperor was already asleep. So I kept them for him and will present them to him when he is ready today."
Ruyi held the gold paper, and the small object originally stored in it fell into her palm. A lotus seed also fell to the ground with her movement and landed at Concubine Jia's feet.
It was a hot summer day, but Ruyi felt as if she was in a world of ice and snow. Her heart was cold and painful. She had always been a peaceful person, but why did someone target and frame her again and again?
Langya saw Ruyi staring at the stolen goods without saying anything. She did not defend herself, but was furious and said angrily, "Noble Concubine Xian, we have caught you with the stolen goods. Do you admit your guilt?"
This awakened Ruyi from her self-pity. She looked at Concubine Jia and said, "Perhaps someone deliberately framed me, imitated my handwriting, and added many objects that symbolize love between men and women."
"Your Majesty, this is not credible." Ruyi turned her head to look at the emperor, but the emperor still avoided her gaze.
This action made Ruyi feel very aggrieved. Others didn't believe her, so did he... not believe her either?
"The daylily pattern on the paper symbolizes unity of heart and mutual understanding. The lotus seeds inside echo the poems written in the letter, and there is also a heart-shaped knot hanging on the hand." Jin Yuyan explained the meaning of each one.
Zhenshu picked up the lotus seeds at Jiafei's feet to prevent her from accidentally stepping on them and hurting herself again. She then placed the lotus seeds on the table next to Ruyi.
Ruyi held the letter paper and the lotus seeds in her hand, her eyes fixed on the lotus seeds on the table.
Zhenshu's action was really intended to insult her, and she deliberately picked up the object and placed it next to her.
"But these are not the most important things, because they could all be forged by someone else. We just need to look at the handwriting to see if it is written by Concubine Xian herself." Concubine Jia pretended to defend Ruyi and smiled lightly.
"Your Majesty, this was really not written by me." Ruyi insisted on her innocence at this moment and firmly denied it.
The emperor sighed and asked her, "What were you doing when you discovered the assassin?"
"I was just getting ready to go to bed.惢心 has been with me the whole time and can testify to that." Ruyi replied.
"惢心 was originally someone close to Concubine Xian, so such testimony is naturally not counted." Concubine Jia raised her eyes and looked at Ruyi.
She looked thoughtful. "Last night, when the Yikun Palace was attacked by an assassin, I heard that the master locked himself in the attic of the Anhua Palace and did not see anyone. If he wanted to go out, this not-so-high obstacle would not stop him."
"Besides, the assassin and the master are dressed similarly. It would be surprising if all this were just a coincidence."
The emperor continued to fan away the heat in his heart, "There are many kinds of coincidences in the world."
Ruyi received the emperor's support, and she felt more confident. She questioned Concubine Jia with a sharp look, "I and the emperor have a good relationship, how could I have an affair with someone else?"
"Noble Concubine Xian has been repeatedly confined by the Emperor recently. I think she must be unhappy." Jin Yuyan sighed.
"You go to Anhua Palace twice a day, and often joke with the master, and do not observe the separation of men and women. I wonder if you have said or done something wrong and were reprimanded by the emperor, so you want to take revenge."
"Your Majesty, I am following your holy wishes and praying for the war in Jinchuan." Ruyi turned her head and looked at the emperor again. Jin Yuyan's conspiracy was thorough and vicious. She was powerless to resist. Now all her hopes rested on the emperor's trust.
"I have never let you stay with the master day and night." This was the first time the emperor looked up at her, his eyes were cold, and beneath the frozen surface was a flame of anger.
Facing these things at this moment, the emperor only felt more and more annoyed.
The war never stopped. The previous dynasty was already in turmoil, and now the harem was gradually becoming chaotic.
A few days ago, Ruyi caused Concubine Jia a lot of trouble, and today she was ambiguous with the master, completely forgetting that she was still the emperor's concubine.
Hongli's confusion and annoyance were beyond words. He remembered the friendship between them as childhood sweethearts and knew that Ruyi would never have any private relationship with anyone else.
But he had just been punished a few days ago for failing to discipline his servants, so how come he hadn't made any progress? Even an assassin had sneaked into the heavily guarded harem.
Had all her maids and eunuchs gone to sleep? Why was there no one on duty outside the palace?
If Sanbao hadn't had something to do and happened to discover it, maybe the assassin wanted to witness how his concubine slept?
When the emperor asked this, Ruyi felt her heart suddenly turn cold. She was numbed by the cold-bloodedness of the royal family. Her face was sad and she had no intention of refutation.
I could only shake my head and say, "Your Majesty, I have never done this."
"We'll know whether it's done or not if we try." Jia Fei took advantage of Ruyi's dejection and added insult to injury. She immediately requested that惢心, who was mentioned in the letter, be taken to the Ministry of Punishment for severe torture.
"No,惢心 must not enter the Ministry of Punishment." Ruyi immediately objected. If she was willing to ignore惢心 and something happened to her, Jiang Yubi, Li Yu and Jiang Fu would probably bear a grudge against her.
"惢心 is just a palace maid. If Concubine Xian intended to avoid people, how could she tell惢心?" Langya looked at the emperor and disagreed with this method, thinking it was too bloody.
Ruyi glanced at the Queen coldly, she was just trying to pretend to be virtuous and gain fame.
If it were only her and the Queen here, the Queen would definitely escort惢心 to the Ministry of Punishment immediately, and would want to immediately accuse her of adultery.
Yes, no.
Langya felt that Suo Xin was a loyal servant and would not tell the truth. It would be better to take Concubine Xian to the Ministry of Punishment and torture her severely.
Although she thought so, she did not say it out loud, because the emperor was angry now, but based on his protective attitude, if she was anxious to deal with Concubine Xian at this moment, the emperor would blame her for being impatient later.
Not worth the candle.
It would be better to just stay by and say some useless words of comfort.
"The palace maids also came from the Eight Banners. How can they be punished at will?" The emperor was angry, but he was still rational and rejected Concubine Jia's proposal.
Concubine Jia hated that Ruyi had such a big face that the emperor could accommodate her like this. And the queen also changed her anxious look when she saw Ruyi.
It’s weird.
"Okay, you go back first and don't go out unless necessary." The emperor didn't want to hear about this matter anymore, and said to Ruyi, which meant he was going to drive her away.
Ruyi was still distraught over Hongli's questioning. She responded woodenly and then left the Yangxin Palace.
Li Yu followed his duty and escorted Ruyi out of the Yangxin Palace, and then told惢心, "Take good care of Concubine Xian."
惢心 nodded, still thinking about how her master had just protected her and disagreed with her entering the Ministry of Punishment.