I thought it would take some time for the trouble to break out, but I didn't expect it to happen in just five or six days.
Concubine Yi came into Yingyan Pavilion and felt unwell. After careful investigation, she unexpectedly found musk in the calming incense that she had been using recently.
Musk is a forbidden item in the harem, but its efficacy is self-evident.
Concubine Yi was still pregnant, and such dirty things were found in her palace. One can imagine what the person behind the scenes was thinking.
Wu had suffered a miscarriage before for unknown reasons, so Ning Chen would definitely investigate it thoroughly this time.
For a time, every corner of the palace was tightly guarded by people sent from Jiuchen Palace, and no one was allowed to enter or leave at will until the matter was investigated thoroughly.
Whenever something happened in the past, everyone was always called together, but now the entire harem is under house arrest, which shows that Ning Chen is extremely angry.
The main reason was that more than one person in the harem was pregnant. The Queen's pregnancy was not yet stable, and Concubine Yang was about to give birth. At this time, musk appeared in Concubine Yi's palace, and the other two places were also afraid.
The fact that musk could be placed in the incense burner in the inner room of Yingyan Pavilion clearly meant that something went wrong with the people around Concubine Yi.
Ning Chen showed no mercy and even arrested Concubine Yi's two dowry maids, Yunxi and Yunxiu, for interrogation.
The entire harem had a rather oppressive feeling as if a storm was about to come.
Concubine Yi was frightened and had a miscarriage due to inhaling musk for too long. She has to stay in bed for now, but fortunately she has secured the baby.
But her act of saving it made the people behind her sweat.
In Yuxiu Pavilion, Ye Jun just felt very uncomfortable.
She is now quite conspicuous among the concubines in the harem, so she has to be cautious.
Thinking of this, he ordered Huiyue, Nanzhi and Baizhu to search his yard inside and out.
I didn't find anything unusual, so I'm stable for now.
One afternoon, the people in the palace were in a panic. Eunuchs from the Ministry of Punishment went in and out of Yingyan Pavilion, taking away batches of slaves.
At dinner time, the kitchen served a table full of delicious dishes as usual.
Adhering to the principle that man is iron and food is steel, Ye Jun still eats well and sleeps well.
Maybe God was afraid that she would be hungry and have no strength to fight, so less than a cup of tea after she finished eating, people from the Ministry of Punishment arrived.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I'm here on the orders of the Emperor to find a palace maid." The leading eunuch said respectfully.
It was obvious that Ning Chen had given the hint, otherwise it wouldn't be so polite.
Ye Jun felt cold in his heart.
This is a blessing, not a disaster; if it were a disaster, it would be unavoidable.
"Whoever you want to see, just bring him there. I won't hide anything from you."
She was so generous and calm, and not impatient, that the chief eunuch looked at her with a higher regard.
I'm used to seeing the concubines panicking, getting angry, or trying to remain calm when something happens in the palace, but this one today seems to be able to sit still.
However, being able to sit still does not necessarily mean one is innocent. Perhaps one is being clever and thinks one will not be found out
The chief eunuch pondered in his mind, but remained respectful on the surface.
It is not easy to offend people in the palace, as power and favor change rapidly.
After a while, the third-class maid Liu Zhi was taken away.
The place where she lived was searched thoroughly, but in the end nothing was found.
Lu He thought of what happened a few days ago and her face turned pale.
As soon as the group left, he immediately told them about what happened that day when he sent Qiwen away.
Nan Zhi became anxious after hearing this.
"Jieyu, this bastard must have been bribed by someone and done something dirty. What if Jieyu is implicated? What shall we do?"
"Yao Shi has the merit of saving the emperor, and was given such a high position as Xiu Yi. Even if Concubine Yi gave birth, she couldn't surpass her. There is even a gap between her and me, so it's hard to say whether it was her or not."
The main reason is that it is too obvious. Wouldn't it be possible to find the key by checking it out
If it is true, it is too bold and an open conspiracy.
"The enemy is in the dark and I am in the light. Now I am making many mistakes. Just wait." Ye Jun frowned.
Huiyue bit her lip and stopped Nanzhi who wanted to say more. The two followed her into the inner room.
"Please help me wash and change clothes first. I think someone will come to invite me in an hour or two."
I can't sleep today.
The two girls thought to themselves, how can you still be in the mood to wash up at this moment
But since the master has given the order, we have to do it and make arrangements immediately.
After Ye Jun took a shower and changed her clothes, before she had time to put on makeup and tie her hair, she heard Yuan Jiu's voice outside.
Needless to say, I came to invite her.
"Some things still require Concubine Jie to accompany me to Jiuchen Palace to explain things clearly in front of the Emperor." Yuan Jiu said.
"Please wait a moment, eunuch. I will comb my hair. It would be inappropriate to face the emperor like this. It would be ungentlemanly." Ye Jun sat calmly.
Yuan Jiu didn't care about this little thing and naturally agreed.
With shaking hands, Huiyue quickly combed her hair into a simple bun, and secured it with two carved white jade hairpins. That was it.
In order to prevent the master and servant from colluding with each other, Yuan Jiu only took Ye Jun away, and the rest were left in Yuxiu Pavilion and were not allowed to follow.
When they arrived at Jiuchen Palace, Ning Chen and the Queen sat at the top, with Concubine Shu and Concubine Wende sitting below them. There were no other concubines.
Ye Jun first bowed politely.
"Ming Jieyu still has the mind to take a bath, but your lowly servant has done such a heinous thing, do you know your crime?"
Concubine Shu is always the first one to lose her temper, and this time is no exception.
"How could a third-class palace maid have such a precious thing as musk? I guess she was instructed by someone." Concubine Wende agreed softly.
Although his tone was light, the pair of eyes staring at Ye Jun were very cold.
Ye Jun did not respond, but just raised his chin slightly and looked at the man sitting in the main seat.
When their eyes met, Ning Chen's heart calmed down.
"I asked you to come here to investigate a case, not to make a scene."
Concubine Shu and Concubine Wende were ready to make a move just a second ago, but now it was as if a bucket of cold water was poured on them. They were stunned for a moment and then went to the main seat at the same time.
Then he saw that Ning Chen's eyes were very calm, and following his gaze, he saw Ye Jun who was equally calm.
Everyone present, including the queen who had not spoken just now, was surprised by Ning Chen's attitude.
After all, the news from the Ministry of Punishment was that the maid named Liuzhi confessed that she was the one who drugged Concubine Yi.
Unlike the Queen and the other two who were surprised, Ye Jun felt slightly relieved.
She and Ning Chen finally established some trust, which paid off to her long-term planning.
"Your Majesty, I am not afraid of any slander. I will not take the blame for something I have not done. Empty words are not enough to convince people. Please allow me to confront the maid face to face."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I trust Concubine Ming. Why don't you ask the Ministry of Punishment to bring the maid up first?"
The Queen immediately agreed.
Naturally, she was unwilling to side with Ye Jun, but she also noticed that Ning Chen was partial to Ye Jun.
The more anxious Concubine Wende and Concubine Shu were to convict Ye, the more her words in defense of Ye highlighted her virtue and magnanimity.
In the past, Concubine Wende was used to doing this kind of things, which made the emperor think she was gentle and tolerant. Now, it is time for her to be a good person.
The Queen glanced at Concubine Wende inconspicuously. Besides, she still had to keep Ye to compete with Concubine Wende.
Ning Chen had always trusted Ye Jun to some extent, and now with the Queen's intercession, he naturally went down the stairs and ordered someone to bring Liu Zhi up.