"The steward of Shangxiangfang in the palace is a person who is very good at distinguishing fragrances. Why don't the emperor go and have a look, because I don't know what harm this fragrance powder has." Jinfei heard the words, her expression was a little nervous, and she said hastily.
Concubine Ming snorted, "Fragrant powder, fragrant powder, and fragrant powder again, it was because of the fragrant powder earlier, the Ai family wants to see what's so tricky about this fragrant powder."
When Emperor Ning heard the words, he summoned Eunuch Zheng and asked him to call the steward of Shangxiangfang. The palace people in Changchun Palace had already gathered outside the palace, kneeling on the snow.
Concubine Ming snorted and said, "You are the ones going to bed tonight? You should talk about it, what strange things happened tonight? Did you hear any noises?"
The court lady and attendants kneeling on the snow kowtowed several times. After a long while, one of the servants timidly said, "I only heard a few cat meows, but it seems that I am not in our palace. The masters in the womb these days They all love to raise cats, so the slave didn't pay too much attention to it, and nothing else happened."
"The servants didn't see anything else either." All the servants said hastily.
Concubine Ming smiled coldly, "One or two of them didn't see anything, could it be that there is a haunted scene in Changchun Palace? Come and drag Ai's family down, twenty boards per person."
All of a sudden, there was a wailing sound outside the hall, Yun Chang's eyes flashed a touch of coldness, it really is the usual method of the Li family, taking out their anger on the palace people at every turn, human life is really very important in their eyes Not worth much.
As soon as the group of palace people were pulled down, Eunuch Zheng walked in with the steward of Shangxiangfang. The steward of Shangxiangfang was a nanny in her thirties. After entering, she hurriedly saluted, " The slaves have seen the emperor, the concubines, and the masters..."
Concubine Ming was panicking, so she waved her hands indiscriminately and said, "Princess Yunshang said, the quilt is covered with incense powder, go and see, is it really as Princess Yunshang said?"
The nanny hurriedly responded, stepped forward and took up the quilt with both hands, sniffed lightly, her expression condensed for a while, as if she was a little uncertain, she sniffed again, then went to the hall and knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, the incense powder on this quilt is harmful, so it must not be kept."
"Harmful thing?" Emperor Ning's expression froze when he heard the words, "Tell me, what does that thing do?"
The nun hurriedly said, "The incense powder on this quilt, if the servants smell it correctly, it should be called summoning incense. Its fragrance is very unique and can attract all kinds of things, such as ants, snakes, centipedes and other things. For some animals, fortunately, it is winter now, and there are few small things that can come out. If it comes to summer, the consequences will be disastrous."
The faces of everyone in the hall suddenly turned pale. Concubine Ming tightly clenched the pear blossom wood chair in her hand, biting her teeth tightly, "Mother Yu, when did you change this quilt?"
Mother Yu heard this and said quickly, "I just changed it today. The previous quilt was dirty with an ingot jumping on it yesterday. The servant girl thought that Fumei sent her a quilt cover embroidered by herself a few days ago. The first one was dug out and replaced on a special trip."
"Fumei?" Concubine Ming turned her head to look at Li Fuyi, her eyes were full of doubts, "Is this sent by Fumei?"
Li Fuyi bit his lips, and quickly knelt down in the tunnel, "It's true that the concubine sent it, but the concubine really didn't do anything in it, the same with the cat before, and now this quilt cover, aunt, this It's clearly a conspiracy against the concubine..."
Yun Chang glanced at the cat on the ground, then at the quilt, bit her lips and said, "Madam, if this quilt is placed in the bedroom, will the fragrance float outside the hall?" Pointing to the miserable cat on the ground, he frowned and said, "The cat died inexplicably in the dormitory of the empress dowager, but none of the eunuchs and maids saw anything unusual. Could it be this scent that attracted the cat, but because the window was closed, it slammed into the window desperately and died?"
After hearing the words, Madam Yu said, "Princess, is she joking? How could this fragrance waft to the outside? Besides, if a cat hits the window, wouldn't everyone be able to hear it?"
Yun Shang nodded, "That's right, it's just that Chang'er really can't think of other possibilities. The palace people in the palace didn't hear any abnormal noise, but the newly changed quilt happened to have that summoning incense on it."
As soon as Yun Shang finished speaking, another voice sounded again, "Looking at it, it seems somewhat possible." It was Lan Guifei...
Hearing this, Yun Shang couldn't help a smile from the corner of her mouth, tsk, this person who was talking thoughtlessly was talking, but when he heard footsteps, a servant came in and said, "Ms. The old mama couldn't bear the beating, she said she was willing to recruit."
Concubine Ming shook her body when she heard the words, and hurriedly raised her voice, "Bring it in for Ai's family."
Outside, a servant dragged in a dying old nanny. When the old nanny saw Concubine Ming, she immediately fell on the ground, crying heartbroken, "The old slave has recruited, the old slave has recruited, please don't beat the imperial concubine." .”
Concubine Ming smiled coldly, "Is this Nanny Cui who is in charge of training and cleaning the maids?"
The old mother quickly kowtowed and said, "It's an old slave."
"Then tell me, what's going on here?" Concubine Ming picked up the teacup, even though she was extremely angry, she still looked calm and unhurried.
Nanny Cui quickly said, "It's all my fault that this old slave is delusional and greedy for that bit of money. This dead cat was put by this old slave, and the incense powder in the quilt was also put by this old slave. This old slave did this only because, That man wants to blame Fumei."
"That person?" Concubine Ming frowned slightly, and snorted, "Then tell me, who is that person?"
Nanny Cui kowtowed and said, "This old slave would say that I just begged the concubine to keep this old slave alive, and this old slave doesn't want to die..."
Concubine Ming snorted, "She is afraid of death, but she still doesn't forget to beg for her own life. It's okay if the family agrees. There are so many people sitting here, let them be a witness."
Nanny Cui quickly said, "The old slave thanked the concubine for not killing her, that person is..."
Nanny Cui turned her face, looked around the crowd, and then raised her finger to point at a person, "It's Concubine Lan Gui..."
Everyone was shocked, but Concubine Lan was so shocked that she didn't recover for a long time. Concubine Ming frowned even more, and said with a cold smile, "Since you dare to blame others at this time, it seems that I haven't hit hard yet, come here, pull it down, and continue beating..."
Nanny Cui quickly kowtowed several times and said, "Everything that this old slave said is true, is it possible that the empress dowager wants to keep her word?"
"Well, you said that Concubine Lan Gui ordered you, so what evidence do you have?" Concubine Ming shot at Nanny Cui like a sharp knife, Yun Chang lowered her head slightly, thinking secretly.
Concubine Ming did not believe that Madam Cui said that everything was instigated by Concubine Lan, it should be because Concubine Lan was originally someone close to the Empress. Lan Guifei Yunshang had also investigated, her father was only a seventh-rank sesame official, Lan Guifei was able to rise from a small maid to the position of noble concubine, there must be a lot of credit from the queen, it can be said that Lan Gui Concubine, it was the empress who took great pains to train her. I am afraid that she also helped the empress do a lot of harmful things before.
From the corner of her eye, Yun Chang looked at the concubine who was sitting next to her, who seemed to be a little careless, but secretly a little scared in her heart. The incense powder just now was secretly given to me by my concubine mother. I always thought that my concubine had lived in the cold palace for more than ten years, even if she had her own influence, it would be pitiful. It's just that I didn't expect that this move, although Concubine Ming still didn't believe it, would definitely make Concubine Lan no longer able to stand up in the end.
My own mother and concubine are really a hidden one. What happened at the palace banquet today must have been used by Concubine Ming to test herself, but Concubine Mu was able to take this opportunity to beat back and cut off one of the Queen's hands...
Mother Cui quickly said, "This old slave has evidence. If there is evidence, the evidence will be sewn inside the quilt on this old slave's bed."
When Emperor Ning heard the words, he turned his head and ordered the servants around him to take people to check. After a while, the servants brought back something, which was packed in a blue sachet, but Yun Chang didn't know what it was Things, I just saw that after Concubine Ming got the things, the expression on her face suddenly became very exciting.
When Emperor Ning saw this, he went up to take a look, then turned his head, and his eyes fell on Concubine Lan Gui, "Oh, I remember, Concubine Lan, when your father came to the imperial city to report on his work at the beginning of the year, Lane bought a few yards. At that time, you talked with me, saying that your father is getting old and will not be able to serve Ningguo in two years, so you took them over and lived in the imperial city. Take care. However, I don’t know why the house deed under your father’s name is in the hands of Nanny Cui? Is there your handwriting on it?”
Concubine Lan's face turned pale when she heard the words, she quickly stood up and said, "How could it be? My father said that he was tossing back and forth, fearing that something might happen on the road, and he lost the deed, so he put it here with my concubine. The concubine body has been well kept, how could it be in the hands of Cui Momo, and the concubine body is not familiar with Cui Momo."
Cui Mama heard the words, and quickly raised her voice, "Your concubine, you obviously gave this to this old slave. The old slave is old and has nothing to do. Logically speaking, he should be safe and sound. After the remaining two years, I will be sent out of the palace after two years. The old slave risked the crime of beheading to work for your concubine because your concubine said she had a yard in Osmanthus Lane , I am willing to give this old slave to the elderly, so that the old slave can have a place to stay after leaving the palace. The old slave couldn't hold back for a moment, so he accepted it... "
"Nonsense!" Concubine Lan quickly said, "Your Majesty, I swear that I have never done such a thing. The house deed must be fake. The house deeds are all in the concubine's palace, and they are placed on the piano in the bedroom." In the dark compartment of the harp on the table."
Emperor Ning smiled and threw the house deed in the sachet on the ground, "Look, is this your handwriting? Is this your house deed?"
Concubine Lan didn't even look at it, her expression was somewhat stubborn, although her face was pale, but her back was straight, "You don't need to look at me, it will definitely not belong to me."
Emperor Ning stared at Concubine Lan Gui for a long time before saying, "Come here, go to Concubine Lan Gui's palace and find the Qin she mentioned, and bring it here."
There was a low answering sound from outside, but no one spoke in the hall. Concubine Lan felt that it seemed a long time before she heard the sound of footsteps. Concubine Lan shook her body, turned her head away, and saw the attendant holding her The piano that he usually plays came over.
Emperor Ning said, "Since you set up a hidden compartment in the qin, why don't you find out the house deed in the qin and show us?"
Concubine Lan couldn't care about anything else, stood up quickly, took the piano, twisted the tail of the piano, and saw a hidden compartment behind the body of the piano, but there was no house deed that Concubine Lan mentioned, only one paper bag.
Only then did Concubine Lan show a somewhat panicked look, "How could it be? Where is my deed?" As she spoke, she touched the secret compartment again, but accidentally dropped the paper bag in the secret compartment on the ground , the paper bag fell apart, and a faint fragrance permeated the hall. Shang Shangge's steward looked upright, and quickly said, "This is also the summoning incense..."
When Emperor Ning heard the words, the blue veins on his forehead popped up. He walked from the seat of Concubine Ming to the hall, and kicked Concubine Lan Gui, "Didn't you say that the house deed is in the zither? Why is there no house deed, but why? Is there such a harmful summoning incense?"
Concubine Lan's complexion turned blue, and she quickly said, "I don't know, I don't know why this summoning incense appears here, and my house deed is gone..."
Emperor Ning snorted coldly, "I don't know? Who knows that there are hidden compartments in this piano?"
Concubine Lan shook her head, "No one knows, but these things are really not done by concubines."
Concubine Ming always felt very strange in her heart, her gaze was considered sharp, but it was just Concubine Lan's reaction just now, but it didn't look like a fake, people are often the easiest to reveal their true nature when it is most critical.
Concubine Ming thought about it, and raised her voice, "Emperor, don't worry, don't be wronged. Concubine Lan Gui is usually honest, but today she suddenly did such a rebellious thing. It's a bit strange. Since Concubine Lan Gui said that this incense powder is not hers, this matter is easy to handle. Everyone in the palace has different rules for receiving things. The steward of Shangxiangfang will tell you what materials are needed for this incense powder Made? Who got these materials?"
The nanny in charge of Shangxiangfang responded, "This incense powder is made from the secretion of a kind of nepenthes flower, dried and ground into powder, and then some medicinal materials are added, because a small amount will attract insects. Because of the effect of ants, it is often used in the palace to mix some insecticides to kill mice and cockroaches. Because in winter, there are very few mice and insects, but few palaces come to receive this medicine, but Jinglan Palace A few days ago, I sent a maid to get some, saying that I don't know what happened, there is a lot less food in the kitchen, maybe it's because of rats, and I got five or six doses at once, saying it's for next year Use it, and I don’t bother to run around to get it all the time. However, it’s useless just to get the powder of nepenthes here. To make the powder, you need a few medicinal materials. Hospital… "
When Concubine Lan heard this, she smiled miserably, with a somewhat desolate look on her face, "Yes, a few days ago, a court lady reported to my concubine that there was a rat in the kitchen and she was going to get some medicine powder. The concubine never cared too much about small things, so I agreed, but didn't want to, but it became the last straw that overwhelmed the concubine."
Emperor Ning said coldly, "It's already at this time, what are you still doing with such a pitiful appearance, now that you have all the witnesses, what else do you have to say?"
Concubine Lan Gui smiled, and knelt down on the ground, "If you want to commit a crime, there is nothing to worry about, and my concubine has nothing to say."
Emperor Ning raised his hands and said, "Come here, Concubine Lan Gui has a vicious heart, and she has been thrown into limbo..."
Concubine Ming frowned, and opened her mouth to say something, but she just opened her mouth, but she didn't say anything, what did she say, that she felt something strange? However, there is no evidence to refute it. Or if Concubine Lan is the empress's person, she would definitely not do such a thing. However, forming cliques, even in the harem, was something the emperor feared.
Concubine Ming stared back and forth at everyone for a long while, but found nothing. Concubine Jin was a character before, but she stayed in the cold palace for more than ten years and had nothing left. Now it's too late to save the child in her belly. Care to calculate these? Yunshang... has been staying in Ningguo Temple since she was a child, no matter how exquisite her mind is, it is impossible to do such a thing in the palace without anyone noticing.
Concubine Ming frowned. There might be no peace in the harem. Thinking about it, she became even more flustered, and raised her voice, "Send Cui Momo, the traitor's slave, to Yexiangfang."
Even though Yexiangfang sounds like a good name, it's just that it's a place to collect the waste from every palace in the palace. Although Concubine Ming had previously agreed to Nanny Cui to spare her name, but there were still ways to make her life worse than death.
Nanny Cui didn't seem to care, and muttered to herself, "It's good to be alive, it's good to be alive." Then she was dragged down.
It seemed that the truth of this farce had come to light, Concubine Ming waved her hand, saying that she was a bit tired, and everyone was tired after making such a fuss in the middle of the night, so they returned to her palace one after another.
"I'm very happy, that Concubine Lan Gui has harmed many people as a queen, but now she is getting retribution..." Qianyin said with a smile.
Yun Shang was silent all the way, as if she was thinking about something, sitting on the soft couch was also a little absent-minded, Qin Yi came to ask her to soak her feet for a long time before answering, but just after soaking her feet, she suddenly stood up ,"I see."
Qin Yi and Qian Yin looked at each other, "Princess, what do you know?"
Yun Shang smiled slightly and said, "Got it, Concubine Lan Gui was anxious for a while before, and gave up the house deed and put it in the secret compartment of her qin. At that time, someone went to Concubine Lan's palace first and took the deed from Qin After leaving, I even put that incense powder in, this trick is absolutely perfect..."
Qin Yi smiled, "Could it be that the princess has been thinking about this?"
Yun Shang smiled slightly and didn't answer, but the smiling expression revealed a lot. Qin Yi and Qian Yin looked at each other, sighed, did not speak again, and waited for Yun Shang to settle down.