lcionline Chapter 198: Taking the Person to the Ministry of Punishment
Chapter 198: Taking the Person to the Ministry of Punishment
Shen Zhinian swept the teacup to the ground again and tried it again in the same way.
Xia Feng's body shook violently, and a huge amount of humiliation and sadness welled up in her eyes. She knelt on the ground and said with tears in her eyes: "My queen, I can swear to heaven that this was not done by me!"
Madam Xiao said sternly, "Who would admit that they did something evil? I have seen many slaves like you in the palace!"
"Empress knows that you are the murderer, but you are still stubborn!"
Xia Feng's voice was full of grievance: "The last young lady I served committed a crime and was banished to the cold palace by His Majesty. Everyone in the palace thought I was unlucky and didn't want me."
"I was about to be assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to wash clothes in Xinzheku because I had nowhere else to go. But Your Majesty did not despise me and kept me here, and even gave me a new name."
"I have never seen a better master than Your Majesty in the palace. Not only is she generous with her rewards, she is also very lenient to the palace maids. Even if we are sometimes stupid and make small mistakes, Your Majesty rarely blames us. Unlike other masters, you never treat us as human beings."
"Your Highness has been so kind to me that I am willing to serve you like a slave to repay you for your kindness. How could I do something that would betray you?"
Shen Zhinian was indeed somewhat touched by what he heard, but in the end, reason prevailed and he continued to probe: "You are right. But there is no shortage of ungrateful people in the world who repay kindness with enmity."
"Your Majesty is right, but I still want to say one thing. Even though there are many people in the world who repay kindness with enmity, I am definitely not that kind of person!"
"I will prove my innocence to you, Madam!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a hint of determination flashed in Xia Feng's eyes, and he crashed into the corner of the table next to him!
Shen Zhinian's pupils shrank: "Little Zhouzi!"
Xiao Zhouzi reacted very quickly and stopped Xia Feng before she could even shout.
Handan and the others were also shocked by this unexpected change: "Why are you trying to commit suicide?"
Xia Feng's eyes were full of tears, but when she looked at Shen Zhinian, there was still no resentment, only gratitude: "I don't know why the queen determined that I was the murderer; I am insignificant and have no way to prove that I didn't do anything to murder the queen."
"The only way is to...die to show your determination!"
Shen Zhinian felt a little complicated.
But no matter what, she never lost her mind.
It is possible that Xia Feng is truly innocent, so she has a strong temper and would rather die to prove her guilt after being wrongly accused; it is also possible that she is the murderer and wants to use her death to cut off the clues and protect her real master.
After all, there is never a shortage of people with good acting skills in the harem.
We will have to wait until we have tested everyone to find out the truth.
"...Xiao Zhouzi, take her away first. Watch her carefully and don't let her commit suicide again."
"Slave, you obey!"
After Yuanbao cleaned up the scene again, Liuxu was brought in.
It’s the same process.
Looking at the blood-stained needle and listening to Shen Zhinian's scolding, Liu Xu's heart almost jumped out of her chest, and a flash of panic flashed in her eyes.
But she was able to lie in ambush beside Shen Zhinian for such a long time, and she was a very patient person. She quickly calmed down and looked aggrieved as if she had been wronged.
"My lady, I don't know what you are talking about..."
"I am loyal to you, Your Majesty, and the sun and the moon can attest to that! Please be careful and don't let the real murderer take advantage of the situation..."
Liu Xu's acting skills are indeed good, and her heart is strong enough. It's a pity that Shen Zhinian deliberately set up this trap and would not miss any of their subtle expressions.
At that moment, her flickering eyes did not escape Shen Zhinian's eyes.
"Have you ever heard a saying? If you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself!"
"Since you have served me for a long time, I will spare your life if you reveal the real culprit behind the scenes. Otherwise... don't blame me for not remembering the friendship between master and servant!"
Liu Xu's heart was pounding, she had never been so nervous before.
Do not!impossible!
Ever since she was assigned to be by Concubine Rou's side, she has been hiding herself very well. When doing her job, she is even more diligent than Concubine Rou's confidant and has never shown any sign of abnormality.
It didn't make sense that the Empress would discover the truth the first time I took action.
Maybe... Concubine Rou was just testing her.
She can't lose her composure!
Thinking of this, Liu Xu took a deep breath to calm her nervous mood, crawled to Shen Zhinian on her knees, grabbed the corner of her clothes, and cried bitterly: "My lady, I really don't have it!"
"Who is the one with bad intentions who slandered me in front of Your Majesty? Your Majesty, you have to believe me..."
Little did she know that Shen Zhinian had dealt with countless old foxes in her previous life. The moment Liu Xu revealed her flaw, her acting skills, which she was so proud of, seemed extremely poor in Shen Zhinian's eyes.
"Stubborn!"
Shen Zhinian pulled back the corner of his clothes, too lazy to talk nonsense with Liu Xu: "Take him to the Ministry of Punishment and hand him over to Su Quanye."
Su Quanye is the emperor's man and is only loyal to the emperor.
"Yes!"
Yuanbao twisted Liuxu and dragged the man outside.
Liu Xu was really panicked this time!
If she enters the Ministry of Punishment, will she still be alive? !
"Your Majesty! I am truly wronged! Please believe me! Your Majesty..."
Xiao Zhuzi skillfully took out a handkerchief from his arms and covered her mouth.
After all, the most important thing for serving in the palace is to be discerning. It would be his fault if this lowly maid disturbed the queen.
Handan breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally, the traitor has been found..."
Sun Changzai always knew that Sister Roupin was smart, but she didn't know she was so powerful!
Having witnessed Shen Zhinian's methods from beginning to end, she admired him, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a little scared...
Fortunately, she realized her mistake and did not choose to go against Sister Roupin. Otherwise, her little cleverness would not even be considered an appetizer for Sister Roupin, and she would have been with Liu Ruyan long ago...
Tang Luochuan stared at Shen Zhinian in amazement, his eyes brighter than ever before.
He once thought that Concubine Rou was a simple and kind-hearted girl. But he didn't expect that the truth was that she was far superior to ordinary people in both character and means!
The more Tang Luochuan got to know the real her, the more shocked he was by the strong contrast she brought!
But in just a moment, Tang Luochuan lowered his eyes, hiding all the emotions in his eyes.
Shen Zhinian said: "Handan, go and bring Qiuyue and Xiafeng over."
"Yes!"
Soon, the two arrived.
Shen Zhinian looked at them with a much gentler look in her eyes: "The real murderer is hiding too deeply, so I have no choice but to set up a trap to test him. Qiuyue, Xiafeng, you have been wronged today, so I will give each of you three months' salary as a reward."
They were already on their way here and heard Handan tell them the whole story.
In the harem, the lives of slaves are the least valuable.
If other masters encountered such a thing, as long as there was a trace of suspicion, the master would not hesitate to throw the person into the Ministry of Punishment for severe torture. No matter whether they were innocent or not, they would die or be disabled in the end.