When Lianyun got up early to comb Shen Qingwan's hair, she looked very happy. When she looked in the mirror, the little girl was smiling so hard that her teeth were showing.
"What's the matter? Is there any good news?" Shen Qingwan barely slept last night, but she still had a nightmare and didn't sleep well.
Although Lianyun was happy, she was still careful with her movements and gently combed the ends of her hair with a peach wood comb. "When I woke up this morning, I heard that the Emperor was going to execute Concubine Li!"
Beheading? Why would he be beheaded after just one night
"Who told you that?"
Lianyun didn't take it seriously and pointed out the window, "The servants in the mansion are talking about it."
Shen Qingwan simply inserted a hairpin into her bun and helped Lianyun out the door. Several maids who were sweeping the house were leaning against her bed and whispering to each other.
"Is what your brother Goudan said true?"
"How could it be false? Brother Goudan never lies! Last time he said that the beggar would be exiled to Ningguta, you saw for yourself later that he is not the kind of person who speaks nonsense. But, that is the empress in the palace? She is going to be beheaded? Tsk tsk, it is true that serving the emperor is like serving a tiger."
"Go to hell with you, you're just sour grapes! If I could be the queen, even for just one day, and then die, I'd be willing to do that!" Several little girls were laughing and playing, not noticing Shen Qingwan behind them at all, and just listened to what they said silently.
Lianyun usually didn't think of herself as someone superior to others. She played with these girls and didn't realize how vulgar her words were. She smiled and approached Shen Qingwan, "Your Majesty has been the Majesty for so long, you must be envious of them, right?"
After a long time without hearing Shen Qingwan's response, Lianyun turned around and saw her staring at the ground in the distance. Only then did she realize that she had said something wrong.
"Your Highness, I don't mean to compare you with those maids... Your Highness? Where are you going, Your Highness? Please wait for me!" When Lianyun lifted her skirt and followed, Shen Qingwan had already walked for a long distance.
Shen Qingwan couldn't understand. Hadn't the trial started in the past few days? Why was he going to be beheaded now
When the guards saw that it was Shen Qingwan who came, they did not stop her. Shen Qingwan walked into the study room unimpeded. Because she walked so fast, she was slightly out of breath.
Fu Yuheng was reviewing memorials with his head down. When he heard her footsteps, he didn't even look up. He picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and continued to write his comments. "Just relax. If you have anything to say, you can say it later."
"Your Majesty, I don't understand why you want to behead Concubine Li so quickly?"
"She deserves it." He didn't say much, just smiled faintly.
"Your Majesty! I haven't even interrogated Concubine Li yet. Is it inappropriate to execute her directly? Lianyun is my concubine's palace maid. Can't I interrogate Concubine Li myself?"
Fu Yuheng finally looked up at her, put down his pen, and stared at her with a frown, "Go back and calm down, then come and talk to me."
Sun Ning also came up at the right time and led the way for Shen Qingwan.
Shen Qingwan lowered her eyes slightly, bowed, and then left.
Lianyun caught up with him at this time, panting, waving her hand without saying anything, panting heavily, and took a long time to catch her breath before following Shen Qingwan back to the house, "Madam, what did you say to the emperor in the study just now?"
Shen Qingwan poured her a glass of water. The maids outside were still discussing Li Jieyu's matter. She seemed to be listening, but also seemed not to be listening. "If it was you, you could have found out the truth but didn't. Why?"
She seemed to speak unintentionally, and Lianyun smiled and said, "Your Majesty is confused. If it were me, I would either have been bribed or I would have a vested interest in this matter, and I would not investigate."
The emperor is second only to the emperor, so he must be rich. Why? Is there a vested interest in the emperor? Is there anyone who can threaten him and affect the case
But who could threaten the emperor? For a moment, Shen Qingwan was a little confused, but she felt that the answer seemed to be at hand, but she couldn't grasp it.
"My lady, what are you thinking about? Why are you so absorbed in thinking about it for so long?"
Shen Qingwan closed her eyes slightly, rested her chin on the table with one hand and shook her head gently, "Lianyun, I can't figure out why? If there is no threat or bribe, what other reason can make him give up?"
Lianyun thought it was a big deal, but when she heard this, she couldn't help laughing, "Are you stupid, Madam? If there's no threat, there's still feelings and favors? What if he owes someone a favor? Maybe the criminal is his relative?"
Yes! How could she have forgotten! If you think so, then the most likely person is Xiao Shushen! As Fu Yuheng's wife and his benefactor, if he knew it was her, it is most likely that he would not want to investigate further.
But given Fu Yuheng's personality, would he let it go so easily
Just when Shen Qingwan's mind was in a mess again, a maid outside said loudly, "My Lady Xianfei, my master wants you to go to the dam to inspect the seal mud. I hope you can wash up as soon as possible. My master is waiting for you in the main hall."
Lianyun responded and changed Shen Qingwan into clothes suitable for going out. As they walked, the two discussed the public security in Jiangnan today, which was completely different from when the flood first occurred.
Who would believe that when the flood first occurred, this place was a place where hungry victims would smash and loot, and all merchants would be scared away. However, in the past period of time, it has become a place where people live and work in peace and contentment.
"Your Majesty, the dam is almost finished, but the soldiers feel more at ease seeing you, so thank you for your understanding."
"It's okay." Although it was called an inspection, both of them knew that the dam had been repaired, but at the moment, calming the people and post-disaster reconstruction were equally important.
These days, Shen Qingwan has been sharing the joys and sorrows with the disaster victims in Jiangnan. It is no exaggeration to say that she has already become a belief in everyone's hearts.
Obviously it was just a small matter today, but she should have appeared at this time to give everyone some confidence.
After returning to the mansion, Shen Qingwan felt chest tightness and shortness of breath. She walked towards the pavilion in the lake and saw a dark figure hanging in the middle of the pavilion from afar, motionless. Shen Qingwan went over to identify the lifeless face. For a moment, she felt mixed emotions.
"Lianyun, give the order to bury him properly."
Everyone gathered around and the place became a mess, but Shen Qingwan was the only one who remained organized. She waved her hand and asked Lianyun to go and prepare.
When Fu Yuheng arrived, he saw her with lifeless eyes. Thinking of how he treated her before she left, he felt a little guilty.
"Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are determined by God. Don't be too sad. Maybe for her, passing away is a kind of relief, right?"
Shen Qingwan looked at the woman lying on the bed. There were obvious traces of tears on her face. She had just seen her daughter and now she was lying here.
I don’t know what Li Jieyu would think if she knew.