Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1637 Suspicion of Master Xingchen (Bonus Chapter for 257 Million Reward Points)

What a brilliant move – retreating to advance, using minimal force to achieve maximum effect!

"All right."

Consort Zhuang stopped and turned around, her gaze calmly sweeping over the anxious faces before her. She reassured them, "You have all heard what the Imperial Noble Consort said."

"Your Majesty is the ruler of the world and is busy with countless affairs of state. The primary duty of the concubines in the harem is to fulfill their duties so that Your Majesty has no worries."

"Your Majesty's diligence in governing is a blessing to all the people. We should be grateful and not let personal feelings interfere."

Seeing that the newcomers still wanted to speak, Consort Zhuang continued, "Her Majesty the Imperial Noble Consort holds the Phoenix Seal and manages the six palaces. Her thoughts and considerations are more comprehensive and far-sighted. There is a reason why she said that."

"When the younger sisters first enter the palace, they should be even more careful in their words and deeds, and take chastity, quietness and humility as their foundation. They should not harbor resentment, nor should they presume to guess the emperor's intentions."

These words completely extinguished any hope the newlyweds might have of having Consort Zhuang step forward.

They understood that the Imperial Concubine was not planning to take any further action and was instead asking them to behave themselves.

Consort Tang's eyes were slightly red, and she wanted to say something, but Consort Wei gently tugged at her sleeve.

Consort Wei lowered her eyes and said respectfully, "Your Highness's teachings are correct, we understand!"

Consort Jiang curtsied and said gently, "This concubine will remember Your Highness's teachings!"

With their hopes dashed, the newlyweds, like flowers battered by frost, bowed and took their leave, dispersing in twos and threes.

Consort Zhuang sighed softly.

Only Consort Mei accompanied her to Changchun Palace.

Since everyone here was one of their own, Consort Mei felt no restraint. She looked at Consort Zhuang with her alluring eyes and asked, "Cousin, did you notice anything unusual at Yongshou Palace today?"

Consort Zhuang recalled the scenes in Yongshou Palace and pondered, "The Imperial Noble Consort's attire was very appropriate, and her complexion was rosy and healthy. She spoke with composure and ease, and did not show any panic, resentment, or forced smiles."

"In this light, His Majesty's long absence from the inner palace should have nothing to do with the Imperial Noble Consort."

Consort Mei asked anxiously, "Are we just going to wait like this?"

She entered the palace to vie for the emperor's favor and to bear a prince.

The longer the time goes, the greater the variables.

The Zhuang family sent her to the palace not so that she could wait patiently.

"Don't be impatient."

Consort Zhuang looked at Consort Mei and admonished her, "How many times have I taught you to remain calm in the face of adversity?"

"The Imperial Noble Consort was able to maintain her position not only because of the Emperor's favor, but also because of her composure. If she can remain calm, why can't we?"

"We must not panic before the situation becomes clear."

Consort Mei's lips moved, but she ultimately swallowed back the words she was about to say: "Yes..."

……

Manager Tao entered the secret room and went straight to the point with Li Changde: "Sir, the matter of Huichen's private seal has been investigated and clarified."

Li Changde immediately said, "Speak!"

Manager Tao respectfully said, "After a thorough investigation of the servants and old monks who have lived in Fatu Temple for many years, as well as checking the registers of the monastic discipline hall's items over the years, it was found that about five years ago, when Huichen was first promoted to the position of deacon of the monastic discipline hall, he lost a private seal."

"It's just that that happened so long ago that not many people know about it. It would have been difficult to find out without repeated inquiries."

"After confirming it repeatedly, this is the one we have now."

Li Changde narrowed his eyes: "So, someone deliberately wrote some ambiguous words on the Xuan paper and then stamped it with Huichen's lost private seal from many years ago, with the aim of diverting trouble to him?"

Manager Tao cautiously replied, "At present, this seems to be the most likely scenario."

"This person's intentions are malicious. If it weren't for your keen observation and persistent investigation, Your Excellency, Huichen's crime of corrupting the palace would have been difficult to clear her name."

Li Changde, however, did not feel at ease.

Discovering the evidence was fabricated is certainly progress. But it also means the real adulterer is still lurking in the shadows, meticulous and cunning, willing to use the head of the disciplinary hall as a scapegoat.

If Huichen is not the adulterer, then where is the adulterer?

Lady Chu refused to confess even at the cost of her life, and Consort Feng did not offer any further response.

The trail seems to have gone cold again.

A cold glint flashed in Li Changde's eyes: "Forged paper, inserted into scriptures, and then 'accidentally' discovered by you..."

"This person must be very familiar with Fatu Temple and took advantage of your investigative mindset. Among the monks in the temple... who has such cunning?"

"And who else needs to push Huichen out to take the blame?"

At this moment, another bodyguard entered and presented Li Changde with a secret report that he had just received.

Li Changde unfolded it, scanned the few lines of text on it, and his already solemn expression instantly turned extremely ugly!

Manager Tao noticed his unusual behavior and dared not disturb him.

Even Lee Chang-deok, who had seen many storms, was not at peace at this moment!

"Father-in-law?"

Manager Tao tentatively called out.

Li Changde was silent for a moment, then looked up at Steward Tao and asked, word by word, "Tao Shun, what... do you think of Master Xingchen?"

Tao Shun was taken aback, not understanding why, but still respectfully replied, "Master Xingchen is a highly respected monk of our time, with profound Buddhist knowledge and noble virtue. In the hearts of believers in the capital and throughout the world, he is like a lotus throne before the Buddha, pure and immaculate, worthy of our utmost respect!"

This is a recognized fact.

Li Changde asked with a complicated expression, "What if we suspect that something has already become defiled beneath the lotus platform?"

Steward Tao was startled: "Sir, are you saying... Master Xingchen is involved in this matter?"

"How, how is this possible?!"

To doubt Master Xingchen is to blaspheme Buddhism!

Li Changde pushed the secret report he had just received in front of Steward Tao.

Manager Tao quickly took it and flipped through it.

The handwriting on the secret report was very concise, but the content was alarming—

A detailed investigation into Empress Dowager Gongsu's actions before her death revealed that during her final days, eminent monks from Fatu Temple visited the palace almost daily to chant sutras and offer prayers. Among them, the monk who visited most frequently and presided over the most religious ceremonies was none other than the renowned Master Xingchen.

This matter was not a secret at the time; it was simply a normal thing for the high monks of Fatu Temple to chant sutras and pray for the emperor in the palace, so no one investigated it further.

Steward Tao tried to find a reasonable explanation: "It was common for the Empress Dowager Gongsu to be ill before her death and invite eminent monks to the palace to chant scriptures and pray for her well-being."

"There have been similar examples in previous dynasties as well."

Li Changde said in a low voice, "It's a common occurrence."

"But both Lady Chu and Lady Feng had already lost their virginity before entering the palace. The old woman He who helped them get away with it was Empress Dowager Gongsu's person."

"The adulterer of the Chu and Feng families is a monk from Fatu Temple."

"The piece of Xuan paper used to fabricate evidence was also found at Fatu Temple."

"Master Xingchen was also a high-ranking monk of Fatu Temple, and he frequently visited Cining Palace before Empress Dowager Gongsu passed away."

"Each item, together, is connected..."

With each word Li Changde spoke, Steward Tao's face paled a little more.

These things, taken individually, each have their own reasons, but when connected...

"no, I can not……"