Baoding Temple

  "Concubine gives greetings to Noble Consort Shu" Su Jingfan walked in and paid her respects.

  "Zhen, no need for formalities, let's get started." The calm and collected Qiao Jingyu sitting at the top replied with a faint smile, not making things difficult for her.

  Su Jingxi slowly got up, and after a long time, the palace concubines couldn't help but gasp in unison when she slightly lifted her face. Su Jingxi found it amusing, as today she had deliberately dressed up.

  Flawless facial features, increasingly delicate and intricately depicted, outline an absolutely beautiful contour. On the cheeks that have not been powdered, a pair of dimples can be faintly seen, skin so tender it seems to break with a mere touch. The appearance is ethereal and otherworldly, the gaze flowing like a stream, the eyebrows and eyes filled with emotion, capable of taking one's breath away in an instant.

  A large peony, pale pink, soft smoke-like gauze, a water-blue trailing skirt with flying birds and flowers embroidered on it. The three thousand strands of hair are loosely tied up with only two crystal jade hairpins inserted slantingly. From afar, it looks simple and elegant, but up close, it's even more stunning, with an indescribable charm that is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.

  All the concubines couldn't help but feel a little jealous, as these days the Emperor would directly go to Guan Yu Palace after entering the harem, and wouldn't set foot in other places. With the Emperor's company and nourishment, she was naturally beautiful and delightful, unlike themselves who hadn't seen the sky for a long time, let alone received favor.

  "I don't know if Zhen sister knows why I called you here" Shu Guifei was also slightly stunned by her changed appearance, but quickly reacted.

  Compared to others, she had long discovered that Su Jing was a rare beauty, different from ordinary beauties who only had looks but lacked a few points of feeling. But on Su Jing's body, those few points of feeling could be sensed, and that was the spirit.

  Yes, the spirit of the person gives people a feeling that is not only beautiful but also immortal, yet it is not high and unapproachable, but rather visible and tangible, especially those eyes that are bright and clean, just like the person themselves.

  In this harem, it's almost impossible to find someone who can remain so clean. The heart's yuan is always reflected in the eyes and then on the face. "Appearance follows the heart" isn't unreasonable.

  And she Qiao Jingyu also didn't know if she was really as clean as she seemed on the surface, but being able to maintain this cleanliness for so long showed that she wasn't a simple person. Perhaps it was also too simple. It's likely that he liked this kind of unique comfort too.

  How can you not love sunshine after being in gloomy rainy weather for a long time?

  "Concubine is unlikely to be completely unaware, and it's likely that she can guess a little bit. If Your Ladyship has any questions, please feel free to ask, and the concubine will answer truthfully."

  As soon as the voice fell, others felt a sense of regret. Su Jing was still as foolish as ever. At this time, what should be done is to clear oneself of any involvement. After all, a floating corpse appeared in Lianhu Lake near Guanyin Temple, which is too ominous and makes people have misgivings, regardless of whether it has anything to do with themselves or not.

  Shu Gui Fei, however, had a different view of her. She couldn't help but feel a few strands of admiration in her eyes. Most people thought that clearing one's name was the most important thing, but they didn't know that having no estrangement and no suspicion was the principle that concubines in the palace should adhere to. Whether or not the Emperor believed it was the root of everything.

  "Since that's the case, I do have some doubts here and need Zhen sister to enlighten me. Also, I hope Zhen sister will speak the truth. Shu Gui Fei actually also believed in Su Jing Bian, but since the Empress had entrusted her with full authority to handle this matter, she couldn't not go through these formalities."

  Su Jing said with a smile: "Please ask, Your Ladyship."

  What was supposed to be an interrogation ended up being a conversation with a clever person. It didn't take long for the subtle changes in their back-and-forth dialogue to become apparent, making it necessary to reevaluate Su Jingxuan as a person.

  "Do you know the palace maid who drowned in Lotus Lake?"

  Su Jing let out a soft laugh and said, "If Your Majesty says so, then the concubine can only say that she doesn't know her. After all, the concubine really doesn't know which palace maid Your Majesty is referring to."

  Qiao Jingyu heard the words and smiled lightly, "It's either this palace or that palace maid, it must be Du Guipin's personal palace maid who has been serving in Zhiyuan Garden."

  "The princess mentioned it, and I remembered that the other day when I accompanied Du Guiren to Concubine's palace, there was a certain..." Su Jing furrowed her brow, thinking for a moment before answering truthfully.

  Su Jing's voice fell, and the people around her were silent, their eyes fixed on her face, trying to see something from it. Shu Gui Fei swept a glance at the crowd of concubines below "It was that one"

  Su Jing nodded "So what else does Your Ladyship want to ask"

  "There is already evidence that points to you and Du Guiren's conspiracy to harm Du Xiaoyi's child, and in order to cover it up cleanly, you killed and silenced them. What do you think about this, Zhen sister?"

  "Could it be that Zhen's sister is unable to think of an excuse and so has been silent for this long?" The Empress and the others, seeing her remain silent for a long time, sneered.

  Su Jingxiao used to think that Shu Fei's personality was straightforward and honest, but this kind of personality that bites anyone it catches is now more and more displeasing to the eye, especially when she bites her own people.

  "Shu Fei sister is indeed anxious to push the blame onto the concubine's head, it's always like this when she's in a hurry, but I'm afraid the truth will float to the surface." Su Jing said with a hint of sarcasm.

  The Empress Dowager obviously didn't expect Su Jing to dare use her sharp tongue on herself one day. It had been a long time since anyone dared point their spearhead at her. Reacting, she let out a snicker and said, "I was just joking, Zhen Ronghua, why must you become so flustered?"

  It's not that she can't say it, but Su Jing'er is no longer the same Su Jing'er who had just entered the palace. She hooked up the corner of her mouth and said, "How did Concubine Shu know that Concubine was annoyed? How did she know that Concubine was angry?"

  As soon as the words fell, a burst of shallow laughter erupted around her. Among the concubines present, except for Shu Gui Fei, more or less, openly or secretly, they had all been offended by Su Fei's sharp tongue at some point, and someone helped to vent their anger, making it a good show not to be missed.

  The Empress was just about to speak when a eunuch's voice came from outside: "The Emperor has arrived."

  "The imperial concubines and maidservants pay their respects to Your Majesty." Everyone bows.

  Zong Zhengjin walked in and immediately saw the lone figure standing in the middle of the hall, feeling a pang of sadness and desolation.

  On the surface, it doesn't seem like he's going all out with "Let's get started"

  "Thank you, Your Majesty"

  "Has the investigation found out who the murderer is?" Zong Zhengjin turned his head and asked Shu Gui Fei.

  The Empress Shu shook her head, "I don't know who the murderer is. Your Majesty should ask in person."

  "It's all right, you ask and I'll listen." Zong Zhengjin shook his head and said, "She has been standing for a long time and is uncomfortable. You pick the important ones to ask."

  In other words, it means believing Su Jing is not the mastermind behind the scenes, and people can naturally hear his meaning.

  "Yes." Shu Gui Fei nodded before speaking, "Zhen's younger sister has evidence to prove that on that night, the senior palace maid Dai Man who was by your side left the palace gate at the hour of hai and only returned when the palace gates were locked. Also, previously, Du Gui Ren went to Guan Yin Palace to speak with you for nearly an hour, I don't know what it's about, perhaps you can explain clearly."

  Su Jing smiled lightly and said, "Justice is in people's hearts, concubines believe that it can be clearly stated."

  "Duguiren came to the palace a few days ago because she heard that her mother's life was in danger and asked the concubine for help. The concubine thought of her own mother and agreed to help, so she sent someone to the Dufu to investigate the situation. These were all recorded by the Shanggongju. The empress sent someone to verify it."

  "Perhaps it's a deliberate scheme, on the surface like this but actually inside." Shu Fei whispered in a low voice, although her voice was small, everyone sitting next to her heard it, including Zong Zhengjin.

  "As for why Daiman went out that night, Su Jing didn't respond to her words and acted as if she hadn't heard them, shifting her gaze to the front"

  Zong Zhengjin met her gaze with a faint smile in his eyes "No need to explain this"

  That night, Daiman went out because she was actually staying in the Qianqing Palace. Daiman went to her place late at night to deliver a small box under her dresser, which contained his guilt-ridden "evidence".

  Originally, it could have been handed over to Su Shunan, but Dai Man's daughter has become more cautious since the last time and doesn't dare to easily trust anyone. Moreover, she thinks that there is something valuable in the box, so she doesn't dare to let others handle it.

  If Dai Man knew what was inside that box, he would probably be so embarrassed that his face would turn red.

  Others seeing the two of them, with their eyebrows and eyes exchanging subtle signals, suddenly felt a little uncomfortable in their hearts. They subtly turned their bodies away, their angry gaze could have pierced Su Jing's soul a hundred times.

  "Moreover, even if the floating corpse appears in Lianhu Lake, it cannot explain anything. Lianhu Lake is near Guan Yu Gong, but also near Chuxiu Gong, Changchun Gong and Ganquan Gong are not far apart either. In this case, Concubine thinks that it's not just her who has suspicions."

  "Moreover, if it were really the concubine's doing, the concubine thought that no one would be so foolish as to direct suspicion towards herself. Shouting 'thief' and catching a thief doesn't always work. Therefore, if Your Majesty truly suspects the concubine, the concubine begs for a thorough investigation to clear her name."

  "It's probably a case of the thief shouting to catch the thief." Xiang Jieyu immediately spoke up, and she was very unwilling to point her suspicion at Gan Quan Palace.

  Su Jing hooked the corner of her mouth, "The principle that one should not do to others what they would not have done to themselves is surely understood by everyone. Who actually did it, she must be clear in her heart. I advise that person a sentence: Heaven's fault can be avoided, but self-inflicted fault cannot be survived. It's better to take care of oneself."

  After finishing speaking, Su Jing knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty's concubines are willing to take a poisonous oath to prove their own innocence."

  Palace Concubine (Yi)

  Gong Shu