Chapter 173 Bad News
While they were talking, Mrs. Zhao was brought in.
A commoner who had never had the chance to enter the palace in his entire life was escorted here in chains for the first time.
All the way from the palace gate to the imperial study, Mrs. Zhao looked at the maids and concubines coming and going in the palace, and at the red bricks and green tiles. When she arrived at the door of the imperial study, she closed her eyes, and her shoulders relaxed as if she had made some huge decision.
The doors and windows were closed in winter. The girl had been severely tortured, and the sandalwood lingering in the house could not cover up the bloody smell.
As soon as Mrs. Zhao was pushed in, she fell to the ground trembling, and was finally dragged forward by two young eunuchs.
She was so frightened that she forgot even to greet others.
The emperor didn't care about these. He stared at Mrs. Zhao with his eagle-like eyes like iron hooks, "How did Xiang Zheng instruct you? Tell the truth!"
Mrs. Zhao was so frightened that she was shaking. She looked at Xiang Zheng, then at the woman, and finally burst into tears. She seemed to have calmed down a bit after she started crying. "No one told me to do that. I made the decision on my own."
In front of the emperor, she was so frightened that she didn't even know the most basic respectful titles and just kept saying "myself".
"You decided it yourself? What did you decide?" Huang Zhaozhong scolded coldly.
Mrs. Zhao sniffed and wiped away her tears. "A few days ago, Lord Xiang came to see me, and I heard his followers mention to him in the yard that a prostitute was found in Hongxiufang, Suzhou, and that person looked exactly like General Su.
At that time, they were just telling it as a funny story.
But I heard someone mention that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seems to be deeply in love with General Su.
Mr. Xiang has been very kind to me. I have always wanted to repay him but I don’t know where to start.
After hearing those words that day, I later heard people say that the Duke of Zhenguo had been arrested, and it was estimated that several court officials who had been close to the Duke of Zhenguo would also be dealt with soon. I was afraid that Lord Xiang would be implicated by the Duke of Zhenguo.
So, I came up with this idea. I wanted to use her to confuse His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. As long as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is willing to give the Duke of Zhenguo a way out, Lord Xiang will be safe.
It was me who had her redeemed from Suzhou, and arranged for her to learn some of General Su's habitual moves.
As for the backflow of snow water in Tongqian Hutong, it was also my own fault. I blocked the drainage outlet and melted the snow water with hot water. In order to attract His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I even sent someone to send a message to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
I did it all by myself, it has nothing to do with Xiang!"
Mrs. Zhao took on everything.
The emperor's face turned pale, "Do you know what the crime of deceiving the emperor is?"
Mrs. Zhao collapsed on the ground. "I know. I'm telling the truth. I can't let Mr. Xiang down."
"You said you sent someone to Suzhou to buy the person. Who did you send?" Huang Zhaozhong asked.
Mrs. Zhao said, "He was a street thug. I don't remember him."
"Take him away!" the emperor shouted angrily and gave the order with a wave of his hand.
The chief eunuch immediately took the man away.
Despite the severe punishment, Mrs. Zhao still insisted that she was the one who did it and that Xiang Zheng had nothing to do with it.
The girl's confession was all her own guesswork. She had no real evidence to point directly to Xiang Zheng, and Mrs. Zhao insisted on denying her confession. For a time, Xiang Zheng was saved.
The cold sweat on his vest soaked his clothes, and his lowered hands trembled constantly where no one could see.
Fortunately, he had made arrangements in advance, otherwise he would have failed today because of this.
It’s a pity that such a good game of chess was ruined like this.
If Mrs. Zhao did not give Xiang Zheng away, the emperor would not be able to convict him.
When Xiang Zheng came out of the imperial study, a maid from the Empress Dowager's bedroom was already waiting outside the imperial study. She told him that the Empress Dowager had already received the news and he didn't need to go there for the time being.
Xiang Zheng left the palace and suddenly asked Huang Zhaozhong, "Master Huang, why did Qingquan Temple suddenly collapse?"
Although Huang Zhaozhong was an enemy of the Duke of Zhenguo, he was not a member of the Prince's party.
Today, Huang Zhaozhong unexpectedly sent the girl directly into the palace, disrupting Xiang Zheng's entire plan, but he was unwilling to offend this young court official who was promoted by the emperor himself.
Huang Zhaozhong has always enforced the law impartially. Since there was no concrete evidence to prove that Xiang Zheng was guilty, he treated Xiang Zheng politely as a colleague.
"When I entered the palace, there was no news from there. Because it happened suddenly and there were rumors of evildoers, I didn't dare to delay. I guess if I go back now, the results of the investigation will be out. If Lord Xiang is curious, you may as well go back to the government office with me."
Xiang Zheng smiled and waved his hands, "I don't want to get involved in this matter. I was scared to death just now."
As he spoke, he sighed with deep emotion, "Mrs. Zhao has always been a coward. She actually did something like this. It's really... unpredictable."
Huang Zhaozhong smiled and said nothing more. The two of them went their separate ways in front of the palace gate.
Xiang Zheng got on the sedan chair, and there was already someone inside.
The man's face was gloomy, and he rebuked with dissatisfaction, "This matter was messed up."
Xiang Zheng lowered his eyebrows and said, "I really don't know where the mistake was made. It happened too suddenly. Everything was going on in an orderly manner before. Fortunately, you reminded me this time and arranged for Mrs. Zhao in advance, otherwise..."
Xiang Zheng is still frightened.
"Go and investigate. If we can't find out who is behind this, we won't be able to take any action in the future!"
"Yes." Xiang Zheng bowed his head and replied. After a moment of silence, he said, "Is the old prince in good health? I haven't paid my respects to him for a long time."
The man sneered, "You should go to pay your respects after you have done your job well. If you go now, you might piss off the old prince to death."
Xiang Zheng smiled awkwardly.
The carriage rumbled as it sped towards Xiang Mansion. While passing through the surging crowd on Gulou Street, the carriage almost collided with another oncoming carriage. When the two carriages passed each other, Xiang Zheng was the only one left in the carriage.
He took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat off his face, then told the driver, "Go to Qingquan Temple."
The Queen Mother's bedroom.
The queen mother finished the medicine with a bad look on her face, pushed the medicine bowl away, put a candied fruit in her mouth, turned to her trusted nanny and said, "Xiang Zheng's matter turned out like this, he got away with it, but it hurt us badly. Is there any news from the imperial study?"
That is true.
The emperor had no real evidence to convict Xiang Zheng, but he knew very well that this was done against Rong Que and for the sake of the Duke of Zhenguo.
He couldn't deal with Xiang Zheng, so the anger in his heart could only be directed at the Duke of Zhenguo.
I just don’t know how the emperor is going to vent his anger…
The Queen Mother was anxious and uneasy. Just as she asked this question, she heard hurried footsteps outside the door.
The Queen actually stumbled in with the young eunuch who was sent by the Queen Mother to get information.
"Mother is in trouble." The Queen came running in crying, "Your Majesty has issued an order, sentencing my father to immediate execution."
The Queen Mother felt a mouthful of blood rushing up from her throat. She opened her mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood.
