PDLP Chapter 468: The Imperial Concubine is Pure and Elegant (218)
Chapter 468: The Imperial Concubine is Pure and Elegant (218)
Chapter 468: The Imperial Concubine Is Pure and Elegant (Two Hundred and Eighteen)
The Dark Guard said:
"Your Majesty, there are rumors that a man in black entered Caiwei Palace. I have discovered that this is true, but that man is not one of Concubine Ji's men. Concubine Ji's men now all obey the orders of Wu Lan, the young emissary of the Wu clan. I have found that Wu Lan contacted Wu Meng last month."
Liang Sheng thought of the unattractive little palace maid beside Ji Wei, and then of Wu Meng who was trapped in the dark cell and unable to live or die, as well as his wife and children who died tragically. He sneered and signaled the secret guard to continue.
"Also, the corpse in the abandoned palace was discovered by the man in black, led by Commander Shi. When his subordinates found him, he had already crossed the wall and left the palace."
"Does this man in black have a grudge against Concubine Ji? And what is the identity of that dead woman?"
"At the moment, I can only confirm that the man in black is not one of Concubine Ji's men, otherwise they wouldn't have exposed the body in the abandoned palace. The female corpse was burned beyond recognition. I have sent people to investigate her identity, but there has been no progress so far. After Commander Shi went to the abandoned palace, my people saw a man sneaking out of the palace with something in his arms. There were some items that pregnant women would use left in the abandoned palace. After analysis, I speculate that the female corpse must have given birth before her death. In addition, Concubine Ji drank a drug to induce labor on the day of her birth."
Liang Sheng already understood what the secret guard had not said explicitly. He was not surprised by Ji Wei's behavior. He just felt that he had been blind to favor such a woman.
He would not let Wu Lan, the person behind the scenes, go, but his future plans still required Wu Lan's cooperation, so he spared her life for the time being.
"During my absence, did Xuan Yunian reach out to the harem?"
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister rarely visits the harem and has only met with the Empress Dowager twice. The safety of the palace is primarily the responsibility of Commander Shi. Furthermore, ever since General Ji returned to the capital and the Empress Dowager returned the Phoenix Seal, the Empress has been frequently interfering in the affairs of Caiwei Palace. There have also been new developments with Old Lady Wang. I think the truth is about to be revealed."
"Well, you go down first."
Three days later, in the evening, Ji Jiuyuan hurried to the palace and knelt outside the imperial study to ask for an audience with Emperor Liang.
Le Chang looked at the imposing general in white, shook his head and told Ji Jiuyuan that the emperor had important matters to attend to and had no time to summon him today.
Ji Jiuyuan did not leave, but knelt silently outside the door.
Liang Sheng threw the memorial aside and sneered, "I'm truly soft-hearted. I've allowed these people to indulge their greed, leading to the current situation. First, they fabricated the story of the Phoenix's fate to deceive the late emperor, then they framed Li'er and plotted to murder the prince. The Ji family is growing bolder. Ji Shilan does have some manpower, and they quickly brought in reinforcements, but this time, I'm truly not that merciful."
Half an hour later, Liang Sheng met Ji Jiuyuan. Before Ji Jiuyuan could plead for mercy, Liang Sheng said:
"I know what you want to say, but last time I gave the Ji family a chance because you were my study partner and your family had made great contributions in defending the border. It was your sister who didn't cherish the opportunity. After you returned to the capital, instead of persuading her to behave herself, you encouraged her ambition and dared to frame the Imperial Noble Consort and murder the heir."
Ji Jiuyuan knelt on the ground and pleaded, "I understand that the Queen has committed heinous crimes, and I have betrayed the Emperor's trust. But she is my sister. My father and I are away from home all year round, and my mother has been in charge of the household. My sister has also been raised with a twisted mind. It is the Ji family's fault for not raising their daughter well. I am willing to take the punishment for my sister. I only ask that you spare her life!"
Liang Sheng laughed and said, "Oh, Ji Jiuyuan, how dare you take the punishment on behalf of the Queen?"
After staying inside for a quarter of an hour, Ji Jiuyuan walked out with a dejected look on his face. He kowtowed to the emperor at the door before leaving the palace.
That evening, news spread from the palace that the queen had suddenly fallen seriously ill and had passed away. The tolling of funeral bells filled the palace and slowly spread outside.