Chapter 198: Those Who Err Must Be Punished
Jiang Ruanxi looked toward the voice and discovered it was actually He Sheng.
She hadn’t expected He Sheng to appear here.
She was a bit surprised, after all, Lin Feng currently seemed to have no official position, so she didn’t need to be arranged to come in.
Jiang Ruanxi composed her emotions and said politely, “First Madam Lin.”
He Sheng looked at the person before her who was full of noble dignity, thought of the events that had happened during this time, and felt a faint bitterness in her heart, “Crown Princess, regarding the matter last time, I failed to recognize a great figure and mistook you; it was my fault. I hope the Crown Princess won’t take it to heart.”
So she had come to apologize.
“First Madam Lin is joking. The matter you mentioned, I no longer remember it.”
Suddenly, she saw the palace maids and eunuchs ahead appearing panicked and walking very hurriedly. A bad premonition arose in her heart, and she no longer wanted to feign politeness with He Sheng. Impatiently, she said, “First Madam Lin, is there something else? If not, in the future, don’t come to me to chatter about such trivial matters. This palace is very busy and has no time to discuss insignificant things with you.”
After speaking, she went directly ahead, not even giving her a glance.
He Sheng’s face immediately turned deathly pale.
A few days ago, Lin Feng had somehow obtained information and learned that Madam Zhou was killed by her. He came to question her. Although she denied it, Lin Feng clearly didn’t believe her.
These past few days, he had been very indifferent to her. She was also afraid in her heart that Lin Feng would find out something, and she was wondering why Lin Feng knew about this matter.
Thinking about the events that had happened during this time, it must be that someone had leaked it, and the only person she had offended was the Crown Princess, so she suspected this matter was related to the Crown Princess.
Originally today, she had no chance to enter the palace, but she returned to her maternal home and begged her mother, which gave her this opportunity to enter the palace.
Now it seemed she had come correctly.
The current Crown Princess was very disgusted with her, proving that she had guessed right; this matter was truly done by the Crown Princess.
It seemed she needed to carefully consider the matters ahead.
“Hurry and have them examine His Majesty. If something happens to him, none of you will keep your heads.”
Jiang Ruanxi had just approached Emperor Qin’s bedchamber when the Imperial Consort’s stern scolding voice came from inside.
After she entered, she saw a group of imperial physicians with pale faces, trembling as they stood to one side, some busy at the bedside.
After Jiang Ruanxi entered, she stood in an inconspicuous place.
“How is it?”
“Replying to the Imperial Consort, His Majesty’s heart muscle is damaged, which is why he has fallen into a coma.”
Before the Imperial Consort could speak, Consort Qi, who was wearing light cyan clothing on the side, said indifferently, “Clearly he was fine this morning, so how did he suddenly fall into a coma? Could it be that he was angered into it?”
The Imperial Consort gave her a glare, “You’re right, but who would make His Majesty so angry. Who saw His Majesty this morning?”
The Imperial Consort indifferently swept a glance over the imperial concubines present, each of them lowering their heads.
Finally, her gaze settled on Consort Qi. Consort Qi stepped forward with a smile, “Isn’t today the day the Crown Princess enters the palace to pay respects? Only the Crown Princess has seen His Majesty.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s brows furrowed slightly. The Imperial Consort’s eyes flashed, and she scolded lowly, “Consort Qi, don’t speak carelessly. The Crown Prince is now married, and His Majesty is overjoyed. How could he be angry because of the Crown Princess?”
“Then how to explain that His Majesty has always been very healthy, but after seeing the Crown Princess, he fell ill and into a coma. Not only His Majesty in a coma, even the Empress has fallen ill. You all say, His Majesty and the Empress have both seen the Crown Princess, and both have fallen ill. How could this matter be such a coincidence? Don’t you think so?”
The imperial concubines in the room all felt it made sense, their gazes complexly turning toward Jiang Ruanxi standing in the corner.
She had originally planned to keep a low profile and be an invisible person, but now it seemed that wouldn’t work.
Everyone thought that with the Empress Dowager saying this, and Wei Chang not by her side, a girl from the countryside would surely be very anxious and afraid.
But in reality, seeing she couldn’t hide, Jiang Ruanxi simply stepped forward openly.
Standing calmly in the middle without humility or arrogance, “Consort Qi is joking. This morning, besides seeing the Emperor and the Empress, I and the Crown Prince also saw the Empress Dowager. Moreover, it is said that the Emperor and the Empress go to the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber every day to pay respects. According to Consort Qi’s meaning, anyone who saw both the Emperor and the Empress today would be suspected of angering them. Wouldn’t that also include the Empress Dowager?”
The implication of Jiang Ruanxi’s words was very clear: she had seen them, but also saw the Empress Dowager. How come only the Emperor and the Empress fell ill, but the Empress Dowager was fine?
This could only mean these were coincidences.
Moreover, the Empress Dowager also had suspicion, so why suspect only her?
“Shut up!” Consort Qi flew into a rage, “What is your identity that you dare drag the Empress Dowager into this?”
Even if Emperor Qin and the Empress died right in front of the Empress Dowager, it would have nothing to do with her.
Jiang Ruanxi saying this was clearly trying to make her offend the Empress Dowager.
Consort Qi really hadn’t expected that this Crown Princess appeared soft and weak, but she was actually so sharp-tongued.
“Enough.” At this time, an elderly voice rang out.
Everyone looked toward the door and discovered it was actually the Empress Dowager.
“Greetings to the Empress Dowager.” Everyone knelt down together.
Consort Qi’s face became extremely unsightly. The Empress Dowager had just arrived—hadn’t she heard all of Jiang Ruanxi’s words?
At this moment, could it be…
“His Majesty is currently in a coma, and the most urgent matter now is to wake him up. As for other matters…” The Empress Dowager swept a glance over everyone, “We will discuss later.”
The Empress Dowager’s gaze fell on the Imperial Consort and Consort Qi, “Imperial Consort, now that the Empress is ill, you are the highest in the palace. In such a situation, you failed to manage the imperial concubines and allowed Consort Qi to mislead people here.”
The Imperial Consort was stunned, not expecting the fire to burn onto herself. She lowly admitted her wrong, “Empress Dowager, please forgive me; it is this concubine’s fault.”
“Since that’s the case, those who do wrong should be punished. Consort Qi, fifty slaps on the mouth; Imperial Consort, thirty.”
The Imperial Consort was stunned. Only when the palace maids came over to hold her up did she react that the Empress Dowager was angry.
“Empress Dowager, I know I was wrong.” But unfortunately, the Empress Dowager ignored her, and the ruler in the palace maid’s hand fell on her face.
The wailing cries of the Imperial Consort and Consort Qi made everyone not only afraid, fearing the fire would burn onto themselves.
After the beating, Consort Qi and the Imperial Consort’s faces were already swollen like pig heads.
“His Majesty is currently in a coma with uncertain life or death. The most urgent matter is to save him. With His Majesty’s condition still unclear, Consort Qi is here spreading rumors and delusions, calling all the noblewomen of the court into the imperial palace to attend to the sick, and stirring up trouble here. Could it be that relying on His Majesty’s favor toward you these years, you have forgotten who is in charge in the imperial palace?
