Concubine Yi didn't understand what was going on, and knowing that the Queen was coming, she said, "I'll take my leave first."
"Go." The Queen Mother waved her hand and sent her away.
After Concubine Yi left, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but say disappointedly: "What ability does Xia Zian have to make the old ancestor think so highly of her? I used to think she was unique, but now it seems that she just wants to consolidate Ajie's support."
Eunuch Sun laughed, "Empress Dowager, this Hu Huanxi has been hiding from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but this time he took the initiative to invite him out and caused a big uproar. Who do you think is behind this?"
"You mean, this was all designed by her?" asked the Queen Mother.
Eunuch Sun said: "It's not difficult to guess."
The Queen Mother couldn't help but think for a moment, "If she did it, this is not bad. At least I found an excuse."
"In fact, what she wants to do is to give you this excuse. After all, you have to issue the decree, right? The Queen has already granted the marriage. If you want to cancel the marriage, you have to step in. Xia Zian has built a step for you, you just need to follow it."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Well, let's hear what the Queen has to say. She has already got such a big piece of fat pork in her mouth, so she must be reluctant to give it up."
"Of course, although Prime Minister Xia is suppressed by the prince now, he has many followers and will not leave the front line easily. He is still worth using."
As they were talking, they heard that the queen had arrived.
The Empress Dowager did not wait for her to kneel down and pay her respects, and she went straight to the point of attacking, "Look at the woman you found for the Crown Prince. She is so rude and violent. I was just about to issue an edict approving this marriage, but this mess happened. Can you teach me whether I can still issue this edict?"
Although the Queen had thought that the Queen Mother would be unhappy before she came, she did not expect her to be so angry. She was at a loss and sighed softly, "Forgive me, Mother. I did not know she was such a person."
"Now you decide what to do. Your decree has been issued. If I depose you, I will be disrespecting you as the queen."
The Queen thought for a moment and said, "What your mother knows now may not be the whole truth. Why don't you let me find out first?"
The Queen Mother knew that she would not give up so quickly, and she was not in a hurry. After all, this thing had already happened, and it was deliberately arranged by someone, so it was impossible to reverse the situation.
"You go and investigate thoroughly. If the charges are true and she did beat someone in the street, then the government should handle the case accordingly." The Empress Dowager said sternly.
The queen had no choice but to say, "Yes, I will summon Lord Liang, the prefect of Jingzhao, to ask him about this."
After the Queen went there, she did not ask the Jingzhao Yin for information. She knew there was no need to find out. With Xia Wan'er's personality, she was capable of doing such a thing.
However, there is something strange about Hu Huanxi's side. Originally, when the Taifu went to propose marriage, the Hu family had always been making excuses, especially Hu Huanxi, who avoided meeting them. Now, they suddenly invited him and made a big fuss about it, which really made people suspicious.
The queen thought for a moment and ordered someone to summon Nanny Yang and Pan Dan to the palace to ask about Xia Zian's whereabouts.
Nanny Yang directly told the Queen that Xia Zian was now in hiding because she anticipated that the epidemic would drag her down, so she hid herself first.
The queen didn't trust Nanny Yang, so she asked Pan Dan again.
Pan Dan said: "What Madam said is true. Xia Zian has indeed left the Prime Minister's Residence and is hiding in the Chen family's courtyard. And according to my investigation, she has no contact with the Hu family."
The Queen hummed, looked at Nanny Yang and asked, "Xia Zi'an and Xia Wan'er are not on good terms, but I haven't heard of any trouble between them recently. Do you know anything about this in the palace?"
Nanny Yang told the Queen the truth about Lan Yu and Xia Wan'er's collusion to harm Guiyuan, and deliberately concealed the fact that Xiaosun was sold to Zuiyue Tower. Pan Dan also did not know about this, so Nanny Yang's words did not arouse the Queen's suspicion.
After confirming that Xia Zian and Hu Huanxi did not join forces, the Queen felt relieved. It seemed that Hu Huanxi was intentionally trying to get close to the Prince
If this is the case, we really cannot offend the Hu family.
Thinking of this, the Queen ordered someone to send a letter to the Grand Tutor, asking the Ministry of Justice to handle the matter impartially.
The Ministry of Justice received an order that since the case was handled impartially, it should be transferred back to the Jingzhao Yin Yamen.
After going around in circles, they returned to Lord Liang. Lord Liang covered his head and groaned inwardly.
It's not easy to offend these two ladies. Xia Wan'er has the prime minister's mansion, and the Hu family has strong financial resources.
The master was thoughtful and advised, "Sir, why do you have to think so much? Didn't I tell you to handle it impartially? Then handle it impartially. You are also following the emperor's order."
Lord Liang was awakened by the words of his lawyer. He looked through the family files and followed the laws. He was sentenced to fifteen days in prison for assault and false accusation because the circumstances were not serious.
Duke Jin found Prime Minister Xia and said, "I have tried my best. I said before that if she is willing to apologize, the matter will be over. But she refused to apologize, so I have to let the government handle it."
Prime Minister Xia knew that the Duke of Jin had also helped, so he thanked him and sent him away.
After turning around, his face turned green. He looked at the old lady and sneered, "How could the royal family want a daughter-in-law like this? This marriage is ruined!"
The old lady closed her eyes and said calmly, "A rotten tree cannot be carved. It seems that all our efforts so far have been in vain."
"What should I do now?" Prime Minister Xia couldn't help but worry. He was still unwilling to give up his dream of becoming the emperor's father-in-law, and his cooperation with the Grand Tutor was going relatively smoothly. This time, the zombie disease was about to take effect, and he should be credited for this matter.
"You go talk to the Grand Tutor first. I hope there is still room for maneuver." The old lady couldn't bear to see her efforts go to waste. Although she had wanted to rely on the noble concubine before, the current situation of the zombie disease was indeed a favorable situation.
"What if it doesn't work?" asked Prime Minister Xia.
The old lady thought for a moment and said, "Let Duke Jin wait for two more days. If there is really no room for maneuver, then make plans."
"What does mother want?" Prime Minister Xia vaguely guessed what she was thinking.
The old lady looked at him and said, "If Xia Wan'er can't marry the prince, there's no point in you following the Grand Tutor. You'd better keep some leverage in your hand so that you can talk to the noble concubine later."
Taking the evidence against the Grand Tutor with him would indeed make the Noble Concubine look at him differently, but Prime Minister Xia still felt that if there was still hope for the Crown Prince, he should not move.
Aunt Cuiyu asked, "Do you want to visit the Second Miss in prison?"
"Although this marriage has almost fallen through, it has not yet been finalized. I have to go and see her." The old lady thought for a moment, looked at Prime Minister Xia and said, "You go there in person and warn her not to cause trouble in prison."
"I wonder if it's still useful to force her to apologize now?" asked Aunt Cuiyu.
Prime Minister Xia shook his head. "It's useless. Once the judgment comes into effect, it must be executed. Even an apology is useless. We gave her a chance during the reconciliation."
"What a waste!" said the old lady contemptuously.
Prime Minister Xia went to the prison to visit Xia Wan'er. Xia Wan'er burst into tears and cried to the sky, asking Prime Minister Xia to take her out.
Prime Minister Xia said coldly: "The palace is furious now. Whether you can keep your status as the future Crown Princess is another matter. If you continue to quarrel, you will not be able to leave for ten days, even ten months."
"Father, believe me, Hu Huanxi really beat me. Look, all the wounds on my body were caused by her." Xia Wan'er said crying.
(End of this chapter)