Chapter 27, The Target of Public Criticism

Chapter 27, The Target of Public Criticism

Chapter 27, The Target of Public Criticism

Boom!

There was constant thunder outside.

Inside Linfeng Residence, the concubines exchanged glances and already understood the fear between them.

Luopin glanced around and smiled, "Lady Shu, you said it wasn't you, then tell me, why did Lady Zhang have a miscarriage after she came out of your Fanghua Palace?"

As soon as Luo Bin finished speaking, someone echoed her impatiently.

"That's right. This is too much of a coincidence. It's so coincidental that it makes people suspicious. Don't you think so, Lady Shu?"

Shen Qingtang raised his eyes. The person who spoke was Wan Jieyu, one of only three beauties selected to enter the palace in the previous session.

It took her three years to finally be promoted from an eighth-rank beauty to a seventh-rank concubine.

At this moment, she looked at Shen Qingtang with jealousy.

Shen Qingtang had no intention of taking her jealousy to heart.

"It is just as Concubine Wan said, so I think this was a deliberate murder." Shen Qingtang raised her chin slightly, "I am ignorant, can I ask the Queen for some advice?"

Queen Ye nodded calmly, "You can say whatever you want."

The palace hasn't been this lively for a long time. She wanted to see how this noble lady, who had captured the emperor's heart with her beauty, would get out of the quagmire without anyone to help her.

Queen Ye's eyes flashed, and she saw Shen Qingtang, who was put at the center of the storm by them, calmly and dignifiedly expressed her doubts.

"All the ladies said that Concubine Zhang had bleeding because she had been to my Fanghua Palace. Apart from this, is there any other evidence to prove that it was my fault?"

"this--"

The concubines looked at each other in bewilderment. Concubine Zhang was still unconscious and the imperial physician had not come out yet.

In addition to what I learned from Liu Zhaoyuan -

For a moment, everyone looked at Liu Zhaoyuan.

Liu Zhaoyuan herself felt panicked when she was suddenly stared at by so many people.

"Empress, Concubine Zhang did suddenly have her spotting after returning from Fanghua Palace. As for what she was exposed to in Fanghua Palace, how can this concubine know? You may as well call Luzhi to ask her and we will know."

She had been fine until now, but she had bleeding right after coming back from Fanghua Palace. If she hadn't been tricked by Shen Qingtang, her name Liu Linglong would have been written backwards!

Liu Zhaoyuan thought to herself and glared at Shen Qingtang, but she didn't expect to meet her eyes as deep as a dark pool.

thump!
Liu Zhaoyuan's heart skipped a beat and an inexplicable feeling of palpitations instantly overwhelmed her.

When she was in a trance and uneasy, she only heard Shen Qingtang's calm and cold voice slowly sounding in Linfengju.

"I don't know what Concubine Zhang has been exposed to that has made me the target of public criticism. After all, when I was in Fanghua Palace, I never even gave her a glass of water."

As soon as Shen Qingtang finished speaking, everyone burst into an uproar.

what?
Did they hear it correctly?

When a guest came to visit, Lady Shu didn't even offer a cup of tea. What kind of stingy person is she?!
Even Queen Ye couldn't help but look at her a few more times. Concubine Shu was ignorant of the ways of the world, but what about the palace maids serving in Fanghua Palace?
Queen Ye's eyes flickered. "Go and call Luzhi over. We'll know the truth once we ask her."

Aunt Ginkgo went there upon hearing the noise, and soon Green Branch, covered in blood, followed her out.

Just as Luzhi was about to salute, she was stopped by Queen Ye.

"Let me ask you, is there anything special about your young master's food and drink today?"

Luzhi knelt on the ground. "To answer the Queen, my lady's habits are the same as usual, nothing special." As she spoke, Luzhi secretly glanced at Shen Qingtang, who looked normal, and then added: "Even today in Fanghua Palace, my lady didn't eat anything else."

Even Luzhi confirmed it, so Liu Zhaoyuan and the others had no reason to attack Shen Qingtang with this.

Li Changzai, who was standing behind the crowd, took one look at Shen Qingtang, who seemed as independent as an orchid in a valley, and almost bit her teeth to pieces.

When she wanted to say something, Queen Ye gestured to Luzhi to get up first with a gentle look on her face.

"Mrs. Zhang has someone to serve her. You may as well think about it carefully. If you think of anything, you can tell me."

As she spoke, Queen Ye looked at Shen Qingtang with a gentle expression again. Seeing that her face was a little pale, but she still stood for a long time without being humble or arrogant, she allowed her to take a seat in a soothing manner.

"I am sorry to have wronged you today, but you should also know that the heir in Lady Zhang's belly is particularly precious. It is better to make groundless accusations than to ignore them. Fortunately, this matter has nothing to do with you."

"What the Queen said——"

"Empress, how is Concubine Zhang doing now?"

Shen Qingtang was halfway through his words when he was suddenly interrupted by a low voice coming from outside.

Except for Shen Qingtang, all the concubines and even the queen looked outside Linfengju with bright eyes. Some of them even quietly tidied up their appearance, staring at the source of the sound with their hook-like eyes.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome the Emperor. Long live the Emperor~"

In Linfengju, because of the arrival of Emperor Yuji, the thunder and lightning that were baring their fangs and claws among the clouds and rain seemed to be dormant under his majesty, and dared not roar wantonly. Only the sound of falling rain soaked people's hearts.

Emperor Ji helped Empress Ye up and walked through the crowd. All Shen Qingtang could see was the hem of his ink-black robe embroidered with red and gold auspicious cloud patterns, which flashed past his sight.

But after a moment, there was a shouting voice, indifferently coming.

"What did the imperial physician say about Concubine Zhang's bleeding?"

Empress Ye, who was sitting on the soft couch together with Emperor Yu Ji, had a dignified and solemn expression, but now she became more gentle and amiable.

"The imperial physician is still giving acupuncture. We will know the details after he comes out."

Emperor Yu Ji swept his eyes around, and his sharp eyes, which were hidden with a sharp edge, stayed on Shen Qingtang in the crowd for a moment, and then fell on Queen Ye.

"Just now when we were outside, I heard you mention that Concubine Shu was wronged. Why is that?" Emperor Yu Ji glanced at her with his phoenix eyes and couldn't help but frown.

I haven't seen you for a few hours, why does your face look so pale?

Sensing where Emperor Yu Ji was thinking, Empress Ye's eyes dimmed for a moment, but she soon returned to normal.

"Liu Zhaoyuan reported to me in the evening that Concubine Zhang suddenly had spotting after returning from Fanghua Palace. I asked Concubine Shu to ask her about it, but..." Empress Ye paused and said with reluctance, "Concubine Zhang seemed to be healthy and stable since her pregnancy, but I don't know why she suddenly had spotting. The imperial physician said that Concubine Zhang's pregnancy is very likely to be lost."

"What do the palace servants who serve Concubine Zhang say?"

Emperor Yuji's voice was as cold as water. With him around, the concubines dared not cause any more trouble. They only focused on sending their flirtatious glances, praying that their 'husband' would look at them. However, no matter how hard they tried, Emperor Yuji only paid attention to Concubine Zhang at this time.

The Queen pointed at Luzhi, and Luzhi, who recalled everything in detail, actually thought of a slight difference. She subconsciously glanced at Liu Zhaoyuan, then looked at Shen Qingtang who was sitting in the corner, and then knelt on the ground.

"In reply to your Majesty and Empress, I have thought carefully and found that today is indeed slightly different from the past."

"Say!"

Emperor Yuji's eyes were cold and sharp. Luzhi swallowed and crawled on the ground nervously.

If Lady Ruoshu knew that the pastries that the young lady sent her were her leftovers, she would probably be angry, right?

"When Yuxue was lost, the young lady used a piece of white jade lotus cake..."

(End of this chapter)