OBS Chapter 300: What Nangong Xuanyu Saw (3 Reward Value Plus)
Chapter 300: What Nangong Xuanyu Saw (3 Reward Value Plus)
Thinking of this, Xiao Ruanzi felt relieved. A bit of confusion appeared in his eyes. He asked puzzledly, "My queen, didn't Madam Xiao and Eunuch Yuanbao say that the ring that His Majesty gave you from the private treasury is missing?"
"What about the banknotes found under Xiao Guzi's bed and the traitor you mentioned?"
"I am really stupid, please enlighten me, Madam!"
Xiao Ruanzi's look didn't seem to be pretending, as if he really didn't know about these things.
Shen Zhinian felt that he might really be innocent.
It is also possible that... everyone knows about how she cheated Xia Feng and the others last time, so Xiao Ruanzi won't be fooled.
But Shen Zhinian is not stupid. How could he use the same method twice in a row?
She leaned back and lay on the soft pillow, seeming to have lost all interest in interrogating: "I know the truth, and I wanted to give you a chance to repent, but you don't know how to cherish it, so don't blame me for being ruthless."
"Xiao Zhouzi, tie him up and send him directly to the Ministry of Punishment tomorrow morning! No... no need to wait, send him there overnight! Just say... my ring is missing and I found it under his bed."
Little Zhouzi stepped forward and said, "I obey your command!"
Xiao Ruanzi was a little confused.
The queen said he was a traitor, and he just had to deny it. Why didn't the queen put the blame on him, but instead brought up the theft of the ring?
The next second, Yuanbao solved Xiao Ruanzi's puzzlement.
He sighed, as if he couldn't bear it: "Look, the queen knows you are a traitor, but you still quibble and make the queen angry. Then the queen can only use extraordinary means to deal with you."
"If you confess to being a traitor, the most you'll lose is your own life. The Queen might even give you a lighter sentence."
"But stealing the imperial gift from His Majesty's private storehouse is a crime punishable by extermination of the clan! Do you want to die alone, or do you want to die with the Yellow Book?"
The Yellow Book is an identity certificate issued by the Ministry of Household Affairs, which records the number of people in each household, their names, genders, dates of birth, etc.
Madam Xiao frowned and said, "The Queen has spoken, Yuanbao, why are you still talking so much nonsense to this mean slave?"
"Xiao Zhouzi, hurry up and drag him away. Stop getting in the way of the Empress here."
Xiao Zhouzi immediately clamped Xiao Ruanzi up: "Yes!"
Shen Zhinian observed Xiao Ruanzi's reaction calmly.
From the beginning, she acted as if she knew the truth and was too lazy to ask, and wanted to send the person directly to the Ministry of Punishment.
There are only two paths before Xiao Ruanzi now.
Do you want to die alone, or do you want to die with your whole family?
If Xiao Ruanzi is really a traitor, he will definitely reveal his flaws in panic.
Little Ruanzi was still struggling, with a look of grievance on his face: "My Lady, I really don't know what you mean by a traitor, and I have never stolen your ring! You can't confuse right and wrong like this! My Lady..."
Shen Zhinian didn't even bother to look at him, as if she didn't want to watch his clumsy performance.
Xiao Zhouzi remembered what the Empress had told him before, that if the other party was dragged out of Zhongcui Palace and still insisted on saying this, it would temporarily prove his innocence. So Xiao Zhouzi still held him and dragged him outside.
Finally, when he was about to be dragged out of the room, Xiao Ruanzi couldn't hold it anymore -
My lady is serious!
She would really accuse him of stealing the imperial gift and have him and his entire family executed!
Wasn't the reason he helped that man to protect his family? If everyone on the Yellow Book was going to die, what was the point of him persisting?
"My lady! I will tell you everything! I will tell you everything!"
Shen Zhinian then raised his hand, signaling Xiao Zhouzi to let him go.
Little Ruanzi knelt on the ground and cried bitterly: "It's Concubine Liang! The master behind this servant...is Concubine Liang..."
"A few days ago, the confidant of Concubine Liang secretly found me and gave me an earring, asking me to drop it in the courtyard of Zhongcui Palace today..."
"I really know I was wrong! I will never dare to do it again! Please have mercy on me, Majesty! Please have mercy on me, Majesty!"
Except for Shen Zhinian's confidants, everyone thought that Dong Yan's earrings were found in Taiji Hall and this matter had nothing to do with Zhongcui Palace.
Xiao Ruanzi was able to accurately tell the story of the earrings, proving that he was indeed the mole!
It seems that all the logic makes sense.
Even the doubts in Fuqiu and the others' hearts were dispelled.
The Queen's previous speculation was probably overthinking. Concubine Liang was indeed the murderer who poisoned Concubine Liu and set up this trap.
But... Shen Zhinian always felt that something was wrong...
But I couldn't find any clue for a while.
Yuan Bao inadvertently glanced and saw His Majesty walking in from the door. He was immediately startled and knelt down to salute: "Your servant pays homage to His Majesty. Long live His Majesty!"
The remaining palace servants were also frightened, and when they realized what was happening, they knelt on the ground and said, "Your servants pay their respects to Your Majesty!"
Shen Zhinian's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't sure how much of what they had just said, Nangong Xuanyu had heard...
She has always maintained a pure and kind image in the emperor's heart. If he knew that Dong Yan's earrings were originally in Zhongcui Palace, he would definitely guess that she had them thrown into Taiji Palace and dragged Jiang Wange into the water.
Then he would understand that her harmless appearance in the past was just an act to deceive him...
After being in the palace for so long, this was the first time that Shen Zhinian felt guilty.
It's really thrilling!
She didn't know why, but at the same time she felt nervous, she felt an inexplicable excitement in her heart...
But now is not the time to confront the emperor.
Shen Zhinian didn't know how much he had heard, so of course he wouldn't confess. He pretended to be sad, but also a little surprised, and asked with a complicated expression: "...Why is His Majesty here?"
Then, with the help of Nanny Lin, she stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you..."
Nangong Xuanyu quickly raised his hand to stop Shen Zhinian, and strode to the bedside: "I have said many times that you are pregnant, so there is no need to be polite."
Shen Zhinian was a little unsure, so she could only test it: "Your Majesty, shouldn't you go to Concubine Wen's place? Why did you come to my Zhongcui Palace?"
When the emperor walked into Zhongcui Palace, he saw that all the palace servants were standing in the yard late at night.
Although he was doubtful, he wanted to give Nian Nian a surprise, so he raised his hand to signal them not to salute.
Who would have thought that as soon as he walked into the room, he would see Nian Nian leaning nonchalantly on the soft pillow, looking down at the servant kneeling on the ground. She had a pair of narrow fox eyes, with the tails slightly raised, and her eyes were cold and sharp, with a strong sense of oppression!
It was completely different from the charming and soft appearance he had seen in the past...
At that moment, Nangong Xuanyu almost thought he was dazzled.