The villain prince is three and a half years old

They all knew about the conflict between Concubine Rou and Xiao Yue. If she said there were other words engraved on it, even if it was the word "Rong", Concubine Xian would still believe that it was not Xiao Yue's doing, but Concubine Rou's words...

Empress Xian's faith was shaken.

She originally thought that there was a Mr. Horn in the cloth bag. Even if he was convicted, Xiao Yue would at most lose her reputation. However, she didn't expect that it was actually a voodoo doll!

"Didn't Madam Li search again?" Concubine Jing returned the doll to the Queen. "In witchcraft, besides dolls, there are also talismans!"

"We've searched everywhere. There's only the doll, no talisman." replied Li Ma.

Empress Yin was also puzzled. Why did Concubine Rong only place the puppet and not the talisman? Could it be that she felt that placing all the talismans was too deliberate? It was true that only the puppet and no talisman were more convincing. Concubine Rong had been clever this time.

Her eyes swept over Concubine Xian and the Ninth Prince again, and she could see Concubine Xian's anxiety and worry.

She thought to herself, it was fortunate that Concubine Rong had discovered the relationship between the two, otherwise, the Ninth Prince and Concubine Xian would have hit it off and might not have been able to compete for the throne!

We must not let the Ninth Prince fall into Concubine Xian's hands!

She looked at Xiao Yue and said coldly, "You're smart. You separated the doll and the talisman. Tell me, where is the talisman?"

"Please, Queen, please be clear!" Xiao Yue replied. She had no confidence in her acting skills and was determined to do less and say less.

"As expected of someone who dares to use witchcraft, you remain so calm even now," Queen Yin said sternly. "I will report today's events to the Emperor. Until then, Sister Xiao, please stay in Jingyixuan and don't go anywhere else!"

She turned around and said, "Sisters Xianfei and Jingfei are also witnesses. Would you be willing to go with me to the Yangxin Palace to report to the Emperor?"

"I still have things to do in the palace." Concubine Xian glanced at Xiao Yue, then left quickly to find someone to investigate.

"Sister, I'm just here to join in the fun. I won't be leaving." Concubine Jing didn't want to get involved in such things, so she left with Concubine Xian.

Queen Yin walked to the door and was surrounded by a group of low-ranking concubines. Jingyixuan was not big, and everyone could hear their conversation.

They talked at once, some asking questions, some expressing regret, some cursing, and some flattering.

A few others had already reached Concubine Rou's palace and told her what had happened. They hadn't seen the words on the puppet's feet, but they knew that Xiao Yue was in great trouble.

Chapter 44 Emperor Kangning's Gaze

Queen Yin entered the Yangxin Palace, met Emperor Kangning in the study, and reported the matter to him.

"I understand. You can go down." Emperor Kangning picked up his pen to review the memorials, his words cold.

"Your Majesty, this is..." Queen Yin stepped forward, grabbed Emperor Kangning's hand and urged him.

She was afraid of the long night and many dreams.

"Come, help the Queen down." Emperor Kangning said without even looking up, "I will deal with you after I finish my official duties."

The palace maids on both sides came forward and supported Queen Yin.

"I'll take my leave." Queen Yin bowed and left the study.

After stepping out of the Yangxin Palace and reaching the corner, she turned her head, glanced at the bright yellow tiles with resentment, and walked back to Kunning Palace.

"Please help me, Your Majesty. I really like the Ninth Prince very much." Rongpin knelt in front of Queen Yin and begged.

Queen Yin rubbed her forehead and looked at her with disgust. She thought this guy had become smarter, but it turns out he's still a fool! How could she possibly give the Ninth Prince to her?

"You are just a concubine, and you already have a prince." Queen Yin said softly.

"Is it okay as long as I don't have a prince?" Rongpin raised her head.

Even a ruthless Empress Yin felt a chill in her heart upon hearing these words. Even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs!

"Rou Fei will definitely ask for it, and maybe Xian Fei will ask for it too. Out of brotherly love for the Ninth Prince, it should be given to Rou Fei, and out of the kindness of the Third Prince and the Emperor, it should be given to Xian Fei. Don't worry, if it's possible, I will help you."

Rongpin went back happily.

……

In Yanghe Pavilion, Empress Xian told Ning Shouxu what had happened.

"What do you think, my son?" Concubine Xian looked at him. "Only Concubine Xiao is guilty, but the Ninth Prince is not in any danger."

"Is it possible to save him?" Ning Shouxu asked.

"It's difficult. The one who reported Xiao Zhaoyi was a maidservant beside Concubine Yu. She and Concubine Yu are now under the control of the Empress. The Imperial Household Department and the Palace Administration Department have all the evidence."

"Can your majesty trust Xiao Zhaoyi to do such a thing?"

"This..." Empress Xian hesitated.

"I'm going to see my father." Ning Shouxu looked determined.

"I don't believe her, but I believe my son. Let's go together." Concubine Xian walked behind Ning Shouxu.

Ning Shouxu was silent for a moment, then gave his reasons: "The Ninth Prince is cheerful and adorable, and the Seventh Princess is stubborn and sometimes bullies him, but he tolerates it. I don't believe a woman who harbors resentment enough to resort to witchcraft could raise a child like this!"

……

The Summer Palace, the main hall.

Concubine Rou sat on the armchair and asked the two children in front of her: "This is what happened. What do you think?"

The boy cursed angrily, "She's completely devoid of conscience! Her position as Zhaoyi was obtained by my mother, yet she dares to treat me like this! I'm going to find my father and ask him to punish her."

Concubine Rou didn't comment and turned to look at the girl: "What about you?"

The girl knelt down, her head resting on the tiles, without saying a word.

"Forget it." Concubine Rou sighed, "She is your biological mother after all. I will just pretend I don't know."

……

In Anming Palace, Concubine Yun walked into the side hall in a daze.

"Your Majesty, the master is doing this for your own good. You can rest assured. Call me if you need anything." The maid closed the door and locked it from the outside.

She was placed under house arrest.

Not only was Concubine Duan unwilling to speak for Xiao Yue, she also banned her from going to the Yangxin Palace.

Concubine Duan stated the pros and cons clearly and logically, saying that Xiao Yue was of no value and the Ninth Prince was just a little prince.

She was speechless and had nothing to say. She could only sit on the bed and stare blankly.

She thought of Nian'er. How was she going to explain this to Nian'er?

……

"Your Majesty, look."

Xu Zhongde handed over the memorial, Emperor Kangning took it and glanced at it briefly.

The memorial recorded the whereabouts of the concubines.

"Where is Concubine Jing?" Emperor Kangning threw the memorial aside and looked at Xu Zhongde.

"Concubine Jing is in her own palace and hasn't gone anywhere."

"She only joins in the fun in small matters and never gets involved in big ones!" Emperor Kangning snorted in dissatisfaction.

Xu Zhongde didn't dare to interrupt, this was an evaluation of the concubine!

"Have the Third Prince and Concubine Xian returned?" Emperor Kangning asked again.

"No, he's still guarding outside the Yangxin Palace." Xu Zhongde glanced at Emperor Kangning's expression and whispered, "Your Majesty, the winter night wind is fierce, you see..."

"Tell us more about what happened before." Emperor Kang Ning picked up the tea bowl and changed the subject.

"Yes." Xu Zhongde said slowly, "The day before yesterday, the laundry department sent over a piece of paper with Concubine Rou's name written on it, along with a talisman drawn with her birth date. They said it was found in a eunuch's laundry."

Xu Zhongde paused, and seeing that Emperor Kangning didn't respond, he continued, "Those eunuchs and palace maids often forget small things in their clothes. The maids in the laundry department are used to it. According to the rules, they should return them intact."

Emperor Kangning held the tea bowl, motionless, lost in thought.

"That eunuch deserved to be unlucky. The person who washed his clothes was a literate palace maid. She saw the contents of the paper and hurriedly sent it to the Imperial Household Department. Someone reported it to me, and I was investigating. This happened today." After Xu Zhongde finished speaking, he closed his mouth and stood aside.

"Interesting, the puppet is in Jingyixuan, but the talisman is in the Silijian!"

Emperor Kangning put down his tea bowl and asked, "Who is that eunuch?"

"The clothes were sent from Changqing Palace. It has been found out that the culprit is Xiao Liangzi, the eunuch who heads the Changqing Palace." Xu Zhongde said.

"Now that you've found out, why are you still standing there?" Emperor Kang Ning slammed the table.

"Yes! I'll catch him right now!" Xu Zhongde turned around immediately.

"Wait," Emperor Kangning stopped him, "After you leave, tell the Third Prince to go back safely."

"Yes!" Xu Zhongde breathed a sigh of relief.

Since the Third Prince was told to go back with peace of mind, everything is fine.

He told the Third Prince exactly what Emperor Kangning had said, then ran to the Imperial Household Department and ordered people to arrest Eunuch Liang.

He clicked slowly on purpose to be very conspicuous.

Sure enough, an old eunuch came over and asked, "Where are you going, Eunuch Xu?"

"Catch that daring dog slave!" Xu Zhongde laughed. He controlled most of the Imperial Household Department, and a small portion of power lay with the old eunuch.

Eunuch Liang cannot be caught. It would be best if there is no evidence to prove his wrongdoing. This is the only way to arouse associations and arouse suspicion in people.

It would be best if the news leaked from the old eunuch.

When he finished selecting the people and arrived at Changqing Palace, Eunuch Liang had indeed disappeared.

He reported to Emperor Kangning, who smashed a bowl of tea.

"Investigate!" Emperor Kangning said angrily.

"Yes." Xu Zhongde reminded quietly, "Your Majesty, the matter of Changqing Palace can be investigated slowly. If the matter of Xiao Zhaoyi is delayed for too long, I'm afraid it will be disastrous."

"Go and ask the Queen to release Xiao Yue, and also lock up Concubine Rong!" Emperor Kangning waved his hand.

This put the difficult problem on the Queen's shoulders. She had to find an excuse to put the matter to rest, and ultimately, Xiao Yue would be acquitted and Rongpin would be detained.

"Yes!" Xu Zhongde agreed.

The atmosphere in the study was much more relaxed. The eunuchs on both sides who were obeying orders breathed a sigh of relief. One picked up the broken pieces of the tea bowl, and the other brought new tea.

Emperor Kangning drank a sip and said, "What do you think they want? They can't even accommodate a Zhaoyi?"

"Your Majesty, please give me a hard time. I am a eunuch, how can I understand a woman's mind?"

Xu Zhongde made Emperor Kangning laugh with one sentence, and then said, "If you want me to find a reason, it can only be the Ninth Prince."

Emperor Kangning pondered for a moment and said, "You can ask the Ninth Prince to come and see him. No, let's wait until the Winter Plum Blossom Banquet to see him."

"Yes. I'll ask the eunuch to prepare the invitation right away." Xu Zhongde was delighted.

Emperor Kangning finally agreed to meet the Ninth Prince! And it was at the Winter Plum Blossom Banquet, a banquet where even the less favored concubines couldn't attend!

The fact that Xiao Zhaoyi went to this banquet proves that she is about to be promoted to concubine!

Chapter 45: Relegated to limbo

The cold winter air blew through the harem, the pond in the imperial garden froze, the masters went out less often, and the eunuchs and palace maids walked in a hurry on the road.

The atmosphere in the palace became solemn.

The queen did not keep the news secret, and everyone from concubines to palace maids and eunuchs knew about the voodoo doll.

They were either uneasy or gloating, and they all thought that Xiao Zhaoyi, who had a low presence, was about to fall.

Many concubines set their sights on the Ninth Prince and tried to build relationships with him, but they found that things were not as they expected.

Concubine Duan, Concubine Rou, and Concubine Jing got up early in the morning and immediately sent out palace maids and eunuchs to find out the news about Jingyixuan.

The palace maids and eunuchs came back and gave them a surprise.

"What? The guard outside Jingyixuan is gone!"

"What? Changqing Palace is surrounded!"

They were in a daze, suspecting that they had lost their minds due to sleep. Could it be that it was Concubine Rong who committed the crime yesterday, not Xiao Yue?

Otherwise, why is Jingyixuan fine, but Changqing Palace is in trouble!

They confirmed with people around them and found out that their memory was correct.

Then, even greater doubts arose in their minds.

What means did Xiao Zhaoyi use to turn the situation around in just one night!