Chapter 172 Denial
He had previously thought that the sudden melting of snow in the middle of winter and flooding into people's homes was too outrageous. But now it seemed that it was more of a man-made disaster than a natural disaster.
Huang Zhaozhong looked at the emperor's expression and said, "After this person was sent to the Jingzhao Yin Mansion, I asked him about the whole story. I didn't dare to interrogate him on my own, for fear that there really was a fox demon causing trouble. So I immediately sent him to the palace away from the eyes and ears."
The emperor looked at the girl with sinister eyes, sharp as a knife, and said, "Take her away for interrogation."
These four words frightened the girl so much that she started to convulse.
Before the eunuch chief steward could take the order and arrest her, she said in a trembling voice, "No need to interrogate me, I will confess everything.
It was Lord Xiang who brought me to Kyoto. Because I look like General Su, he asked me to pretend to be General Su to seduce the prince. "
Huang Zhaozhong immediately rebuked him coldly, "Nonsense, who are you? Even if Lord Xiang is using you, how could he let you know his identity? This is really ridiculous."
The girl was trembling so much that she was about to faint.
"I am from Jiangsu, and was originally a dancer at Hongxiufang. I was redeemed and brought to Kyoto. The person who brought me here did not tell me who I was supposed to imitate, nor did he tell me who asked me to do so.
But yesterday at Qingquan Temple, I heard someone mention that Mrs. Zhao was very lucky. She served as Mr. Xiang's wet nurse and had no worries about food and clothing all her life. In her old age, she even found a beautiful daughter.
Huang Zhaozhong snorted coldly, "But he just mentioned Lord Xiang, and you can conclude that it was Lord Xiang who asked you to pretend to be General Su to harm others? It's too easy for you to make accusations."
The girl cried, "If it wasn't for Lord Xiang, who would have used Mrs. Zhao? If you want to use someone to harm others, the person must at least be someone you can trust.
Your Majesty, I am just a weak woman, my life is as fragile as paper, but I could have saved my life. Not to mention that Lord Xiang is powerful, even if he is some other wealthy businessman or official, I cannot afford to offend him. I have no choice but to do what he asks. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy."
She was really frightened at first.
But after he confessed, he became much calmer.
She now wants to clear herself and save her life.
The emperor stared at her coldly, and waited for her to finish her words, "Take him away for trial!"
It’s still these four words.
The chief eunuch immediately dragged the man away after receiving the order.
The emperor turned to Huang Zhaozhong and asked, "Where is Mrs. Zhao?"
"He is still imprisoned in the Jingzhao Yin Mansion Prison. It is too risky to bring two people into the palace at once. I can only keep one and take the other with me."
Huang Zhaozhong’s meaning was very clear. He was afraid that someone would kill to silence him.
After all, it's a fox demon, and it involves the dead General Su and the prince. This is a very big matter.
The emperor's face was gloomy. "Call Mrs. Zhao and Xiang Zheng."
Not long after the oral order was passed on, Xiang Zheng was brought over. The speed was so fast that even the emperor was amazed. However, he was told that Xiang Zheng was going to the palace to see the Empress Dowager.
The eunuch's reply filled the emperor's gloomy face with rage.
Before, he was still wondering what all this commotion, the backflow of snow water, and the rampant rumors were about. Was someone trying to shake the foundation of the country?
Now he finally understood.
It's aimed at the Crown Prince and the Duke of Zhenguo!
No wonder all the previous rumors more or less involved the Crown Princess.
When Xiang Zheng was brought in, the interrogation by the chief eunuch had just ended. He watched the chief eunuch drag the girl to the imperial study, his heart pounding like thunder.
How is that possible!
When did Jingzhao Yin bring people into the palace?
How come he didn't receive any news?
he……
He was just about to go to the Queen Mother's bedroom, but before he even arrived there, he was summoned here. Now...how could he explain that he was going to the Queen Mother's?
It seemed as if countless small insects were flapping their wings beside his ears. Xiang Zheng felt flustered for a moment, as if he had walked into a trap set up by someone.
Otherwise, why would everything be so coincidental?
Glancing at the girl, Xiang Zheng reminded himself that this person didn't know him and he had not reached the last step yet.
Xiang Zheng calmly entered the imperial study, bowed and greeted in an orderly manner.
The emperor slammed the table and said, "Xiang Zheng, do you admit your guilt?"
Xiang Zheng knelt down with a look of bewilderment and surprise on his face, "Your Majesty, please understand."
"you say!"
The emperor said to the girl lying on the ground, whose flesh and blood were blurred by torture instruments.
At the same time, the chief eunuch brought a jade pendant to the emperor.
The girl had been severely punished, so she could not speak as fluently as before. She spoke in a trembling and intermittent voice, "It was Master Xiang who instructed me to imitate General Su to seduce the Crown Prince. Mrs. Zhao was with me, and she was responsible for conveying Master Xiang's arrangement to me."
Xiang Zheng's blood ran cold, and he felt a complete shock, "Nonsense, I don't even know you."
The girl collapsed on the ground, weak and exhausted. "I haven't seen Lord Xiang either, but I know it's you. Mrs. Zhao mentioned you. It's impossible for her to work for others and murder the prince. Is she crazy?"
Xiang Zheng ignored the girl and clasped his fists to the emperor, "Your Majesty, please be wise. I am loyal to you, and I have no grudges against the Crown Prince. How could I harm the Crown Prince?"
Huang Zhaozhong said dimly: "Anyone who sees her face will be shocked at first, but Lord Xiang is calm. Have you seen her before?"
Xiang Zheng was stunned, then subconsciously realized that he had just missed something.
"Indeed, I have seen it. Mrs. Zhao, who suffered the most from the flooding of Tongqian Alley, was the one who served my wet nurse. Since my wet nurse passed away, I sometimes miss her too much and would go to Mrs. Zhao's place to sit. When her place was hit by a disaster, I would naturally go to visit her.
I have seen her at Mrs. Zhao's house. She had lost her memory and collapsed at the door of Mrs. Zhao's house in the coldest days of winter. Mrs. Zhao took pity on her and saved her.
I was also shocked by her appearance at the time, but I also felt that there were many strange things in the world, and besides, that person was already dead, so I didn't make any more fuss.
I never thought that the situation would turn out like this today. If I had thought of what would happen today, I would never have let Mrs. Zhao save people out of kindness.
This is simply the Wolf of Zhongshan.
I have no grudge against you. Who on earth has instructed you to frame me like this? "
This girl's accusation against Xiang Zheng really has no real evidence. She only relies on her own guesses, and these guesses are her own words.
Even though the emperor had already convicted Xiang Zheng in his heart, he had no evidence to support his charge and could not really do anything to him.
"Are you here to see the Queen Mother?"
"Yes, I was sorting out official documents at home when the Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace. Before I even saw the Empress Dowager, I was summoned to the Imperial Study."
You were the ones who sent me the message. As for why the Queen Mother sent me the message, I don’t know.
