After hearing this, the Queen sent the guards away, stared at Madam Linglong and asked, "What did you say? It was a painting by Yuan? How could it be in your hands? And how could it be a gift for Prime Minister Xia?"
"Empress, this is absolutely true. This painting was really made by Yuan. She was supposed to give it to Prince An. The maid who served Yuan that day was bribed by me, and the painting eventually fell into my hands." Madam Linglong only hoped that the queen would believe her, and she didn't care about anything else.
The Queen was furious. "Nonsense, how could this painting be given to Prince An? Yuan is already married to the Prime Minister. If you say she gave the painting to Prince An, doesn't that mean she cheated on her husband? You are such a stubborn person that you still want to frame Yuan."
"No, no," Madam Linglong saw that the queen was still furious, and hurriedly explained: "This painting is not a token of love. I heard from the maid beside Yuan that this painting was given to Prince An by Yuan to inform Prince An that she has found a good match, so that Prince An does not need to wait for her."
Madam Linglong was afraid that the Queen would not believe it, so she crawled over and pointed at the kingfisher in the painting, "If the Queen does not believe it, please look here. This kingfisher is Yuan, whose maiden name is Yuan Cuiyu, and the locust tree where the kingfisher landed refers to Prime Minister Xia Huaijun. As for the other flowers and plants, such as plum blossoms and hibiscus flowers, whether they represent subversion of the court or rebellion, I really don't know."
The Queen said coldly, "Keep quibbling. You can certainly say that it was Yuan who did it. Just now in the Queen Mother's Palace, you said that you didn't like her. You also pushed the blame on her for Xia Zian's regret of the engagement. Do you really think I'm a fool? You won't be allowed to quibble about this matter. I will arrest you first, and then hand you over to the Regent to punish you for treason."
Madam Linglong was so frightened that she was almost terrified. The Regent had already spoken against her twice today. If she was handed over to the Regent, she would definitely be dead.
She climbed forward and kowtowed vigorously, explaining with a trembling body: "Queen, please allow me to report. I really did not wrongly accuse Yuan Shi. It was indeed Yuan Shi who did it. Yes, Xia Zian's regret for breaking off the engagement was related to me. It's not that I don't want to marry Wan'er to King Liang, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince liked Wan'er first, so I have no choice."
When the queen heard this, she suddenly became angry and ordered sternly, "You still dare to quibble? Come on, slap me in the face!"
Nanny Yang strode into the hall, as if she had been prepared, and took out a flat wooden board from her sleeve pocket. This board was specially used to punish palace maids and eunuchs who made mistakes. A few hits with this board would make their mouths swollen.
Nanny Yang had always hated Madam Linglong's rudeness to her in the Prime Minister's Residence. When she received the order from the Empress Dowager, she grabbed Madam Linglong by the collar and pulled her up. She held the board in her right hand and hit Madam Linglong on the face.
The pig-killing-like scream made Prime Minister Xia, who was watching in the West Wing, feel ashamed. He felt insulted and thought that this woman was very stupid and could not even see through the Queen's strategy of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west.
She had just admitted that the broken engagement had something to do with her, and she also said frankly that the prince liked Wan'er. How could the queen not be disgusted when she said this under such circumstances
Prime Minister Xia also understood that the Empress Dowager wanted to keep the peace, but the Queen did not.
He had long known that the queen was narrow-minded and would take revenge, but the funny thing was that he had just thought that the matter had just passed.
From the Regent deliberately ordering people to spread the rumor to their hasty entry into the palace to plead guilty, this series of plans were all within the Regent's expectations. He wanted to stand up for that little bitch.
Prime Minister Xia's hatred for Zi'an deepened.
After being hit with the board for more than a dozen times, Madam Linglong became dizzy and almost fainted on the ground.
When Nanny Yang let go of her, she slid to the ground. Her cheeks and lips were swollen, and blood was oozing from the corners of her mouth, sticking to her loose hair. She looked extremely miserable.
Zi'an watched from behind with no expression on his face.
She didn't even feel relieved since it wasn't her who did it.
The smell of blood in the hall reminded her of the moment when she first traveled through time. The desperate and miserable cry of the original owner echoed in her mind. That young life was lost at the hands of Madam Linglong and Prince Murong Qiao.
She swore that she would avenge the original owner.
Madam Linglong prostrated herself on the ground, crying uncomfortably, "My Queen, please believe me, this painting was really made by Yuan."
The queen sneered, "Well, since you said it was Yuan who did it, I will let her enter the palace to confront you."
Madam Linglong secretly complained in her heart, how could Yuan be willing to admit that the painting was made by her? Moreover, after this matter was exposed, the Prime Minister would definitely be angry with her for cheating.
But, at this point, what else can we do
When Nanny Yang left the palace again to pick up Yuan, the Queen ordered that Madam Linglong, who had treasonous ambitions, be temporarily detained in the torture chamber.
Prime Minister Xia's face was pale. He was thrown into the torture chamber. Even if he could come out alive, he would have lost half his life.
When Concubine Mei saw this, she wanted to leave.
Prime Minister Xia gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, no matter what, she is still a member of my residence. Please help me this time for my sake."
Mei Fei looked at him, "What kind of vision do you have? How can Yuan not be a thousand times better than her? You have pampered this woman like a treasure for more than ten years. Now I can understand Yuan's indifference to you."
Prime Minister Xia said gloomily, "I know, but please help me this time for the sake of the Third Prince's future. If she is accused of treason, I will also be implicated. Therefore, this painting, regardless of whether it is real or fake, must have been painted by Yuan."
"Even if it is eventually proven that this painting was made by Yuan, you will still be implicated," Concubine Mei reminded him.
Prime Minister Xia was silent for a while. "Half of the officials in this court admire her talent. She will not be convicted. Someone will help her. Prince An will be the first to prevent her from being convicted, because this painting is given to Prince An."
Concubine Mei was stunned. She didn't expect him to say such a thing.
Although Concubine Mei didn't like Yuan, she couldn't help but feel sad for her.
"This painting," Mei Fei couldn't help but say, "You heard what Chen Linglong said. On that day, Yuan Shi thought she had found her home..."
Concubine Mei stopped talking because she felt that it was meaningless to say this with her status.
It was just out of indignation as a fellow woman.
Prime Minister Xia didn't say anything. He had suffered such a heavy blow today that he couldn't sort out his thoughts.
He had married Yuan and felt happy. However, ever since Linglong came into the mansion, she had completely changed. She was cold and indifferent. Did she really think that he would only be with her for the rest of his life
Even ordinary men had three wives and four concubines. He was the prime minister of the dynasty, but he only had one wife and one concubine, which was rare.
She is so ungrateful!
(End of this chapter)