Quick Wear: The host is really just a substitute!

Chapter 156 The Five Powers of Imperial Concubine* (5)

The Lantern Festival in the palace is different from that outside the palace. There is no guessing riddles by lantern light, nor romantic stories of talented men and beautiful women meeting each other.

It is called a festival, but strictly speaking it is the last carnival of the Spring Festival holiday for officials from various departments.

The emperor painted big pictures and his ministers spoke flattering words, but it had nothing to do with the concubines in the harem.

Throughout the dynasties, only the queen was qualified to participate.

After Xiao Guixi's queen passed away, the throne was passed down according to the rank of concubines until there was someone at the top of the rank.

So tonight's dinner party is for Song Yuesheng and Wen Man.

"Your Highness, I saw the Ministry of Internal Affairs sending many gifts to Ronghua Palace early this morning. They all think that Your Highness is destined to have a bad ending tonight. Your Highness, why aren't you in a hurry?"

Qiao Yue angrily spoke up for Song Yuesheng.

"She is the only imperial concubine who shines tonight, so the Imperial Household Department has to rush to curry favor with her." Song Yuesheng smiled indifferently, "Not only the Imperial Household Department, don't the ladies in other palaces also frequently go to Ronghua Palace?"

Seeing that Qiao Yue's brows were not relaxed at all, she stretched out her hand and pinched her face: "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. They will naturally look for another more powerful person to support them. It's human nature. Don't get angry and hurt yourself."

Qiao Xin was worried: "But, Madam, the emperor came the other day and took away all the medicine bottles in your room. Madam, your plan of pretending to be sick is going to fail."

Yesterday, Concubine Li and Concubine Chen came to visit the Empress, and she had been serving them. This morning, when she was cleaning the room, she found that all the medicine bottles were missing.

After several inquiries, she learned from the palace maid in the small kitchen that it was done by His Majesty.

But after she told the Queen an hour ago, the Queen was as nonchalant as she is now.

"If there is no medicine, there are other ways."

Song Yuesheng smiled and waved at the two of them. "I'm a little sleepy and want to sleep for a while. Remember to call me in an hour."

The banquet will begin in three hours.

She wasted an hour, and Qiao Yue and Qiao Xin went to the Imperial Hospital to see the imperial physician and it took a total of 25 minutes. If Wen Man disturbed them for a while longer, Xiao Guixi would come to question them...

Great, it's about time.

Song Yuesheng was lying on the bed, chatting idly with the sparrow spirit.

"Sparrow Spirit, you said before that you reported to your superiors that the hero had some inexplicable memories. What's the situation now?"

The blue sparrow's little claw sprained.

Oops!

It forgot to ask.

Stay calm, stay calm. Don’t let Sister Yue find out.

It lied against its conscience, "Sister Yue, the headquarters is responding as slowly as a snail. I'm afraid it will take a long time."

Heaven and earth can bear witness that Sister Yue is so amazing that it has to say this.

Headquarters, please don't reduce your salary or demote me because of a small white lie!

In order to prevent Song Yuesheng from asking more questions, Lan Maque quickly changed the subject, "Sister Yue, you're not going to the party, are you going to use the old trick?"

"If you already know, why ask?"

Song Yuesheng looked at the bed curtains.

The Sparrow Spirit's superior is unreliable.

The efficiency is too slow.

She said that every host performing a task should be provided with a customer service function so that they can complain or report at any time.

At the same time, Ronghua Palace.

"The materials sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs are all of the finest quality. Your Majesty will surely outshine all the other beauties tonight."

Taoxiang was picking out the decorations on the table while speaking compliments.

“It’s not that exaggerated.”

Wen Man refused but the smile on her face did not diminish as she walked back and forth looking at herself in the bronze mirror.

Her clothes were like the rising morning glow in the sky, colorful yet not tacky.

The fabric was embroidered with delicate peacock patterns, and the feather patterns were clearly visible. The hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps, as light as flowing water. The jade belt around her waist was inlaid with gems, shining brightly, reflecting the peacock on her clothes, making her look even more luxurious.

Her hair was carefully combed into a high bun, with gold and jade hairpins inserted in it, sparkling with a faint luster.

Every strand of hair has been carefully groomed, smooth and shiny, as smooth as silk.

The earrings and necklace are also dazzling, complementing her clothes and makeup, making her look even more radiant.

Wen Man gently stroked the peacock pattern delicately embroidered on her sleeve, but a surge of hatred surged in her heart.

If she hadn't died, she would have embroidered a phoenix, not a peacock, something that is not presentable.

She exhaled slowly.

It's ok.

Three hours later, Song Yuesheng would die.

Xiao Guixi, who does not keep his word, is not far away.

At this time in the imperial study, Xiao Guixi finished browsing Li Jieyu's files and comforted the people beside him: "Lord Li, the people from the Nine Punishments Department have found out the cause of your daughter's death and have already sent for help."

"I thank your Majesty." Lord Li bowed.

It was normal for someone to die in the palace. He did not dream of finding the real murderer who killed his daughter. He just hoped that the matter could be resolved quickly and let his daughter's body leave the cold Nine Punishments Bureau.

the other side.

Wen Man leisurely admired the gifts from other concubines and snorted coldly.

If Xiao Guixi hadn't betrayed her, these would have belonged to her.

Suddenly, someone broke in.

The smell of blood almost made Wen Man vomit.

She tilted her head, glanced at the person who came, and glared at him angrily: "Secretary Zhao, this is Ronghua Palace, not your Jiuxingsi. You trespassed into the harem without being summoned. Aren't you afraid that I will tell His Majesty and punish you for trespassing?"

Zhao Tisi maintained his usual calmness and dignity, and spoke in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Your humble servant has followed the order of His Majesty to thoroughly investigate the death of Concubine Li. Your Majesty, Your Majesty has requested that you and your personal maid accompany this humble servant to the Imperial Study now."

Faced with this sudden request, a hint of doubt and uneasiness flashed in Wen Man's eyes. She frowned slightly, and there was a hint of coldness in her voice.

"Zhao Tisi, are you doubting me and thinking that I am the murderer?"

"Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. This case is of great importance and naturally requires your Majesty and the Supreme Court Minister to personally investigate it."

Zhao Tisi's answer was flawless and he did not directly respond to Wen Man's question.

Wen Man sneered, with a hint of disdain and arrogance hidden in that smile: "Go if you want to. Am I afraid of your Nine Punishment Department?"

She knew very well that Yan Ge's medicine was a rare poison in the world, and even the best coroner in the capital would find it difficult to detect.

She thought she had done a clean job and no one could find out, so why should she be afraid of the interrogation of the Nine Punishment Department?

She tidied her clothes, called Taoxiang, and went to the imperial study with Zhao Tisi.

After arriving at the imperial study, Wen Man took the lead and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, Zhao Ti Si wrongly accused me of murdering Sister Li. I hope Your Majesty will clear my name."

"clean?"

Xiao Guixi snorted coldly and pointed at the case file on the table. "Zhao Tisi only detected fingerprints of you and your maid on a medicine bottle. They also used some on the death row prisoner in advance. The cause of death is the same as that of Li Jieyu. Concubine Wen, do you have any explanation?"

"I am innocent. Your Majesty, how can you use a medicine bottle of unknown origin to convict me?"

Xiao Guixi lifted the handkerchief on the table, revealing a porcelain vase.

He said, "On the day of the incident, you and your maid left Ning Huaxuan with Song Yuesheng, and you put the medicine bottle on Song Yuesheng's maid. Do you dare to say that you didn't know anything about it?"

Wen Man's pupils dilated instantly, and she was thinking about how to deal with the situation.

"My concubine... my concubine..."

"Snapped!"

She turned around and slapped Taoxiang in the face.

"Taoxiang, I said Sister Li locked me up in the woodshed for my own good. Who allowed you to steal the medicine and kill Sister Li?"