0p0 Chapter 241
Chapter 241
"What Jin Shuyi said is true..." Bo Muxi nodded and said, "I am always busy with the affairs of the previous dynasty, and the queen has been wronged."
"Your Majesty is busy with government affairs, so even if I suffer a little, it's nothing..." The Queen changed the subject: "But, I have been thinking too much recently, and the baby in my belly has been moving frequently, so I must have suffered a little."
The queen touched her slightly bulging belly and said slowly, "Since this is the case, I will not let this matter go easily."
Shen Zhiyao's heart moved. The queen was indeed smart. She was blatantly using the banner of her unborn legitimate son to settle accounts with the troublemakers. Even if Queen Mother Zhao came, she would not be able to say anything.
The queen, who had just become a mother, was really angry this time. She saw that the emperor was trapping her for law enforcement, and she had no objection to this.
But the emperor didn't care at all that she was pregnant, which made the queen quite unhappy.
Naturally, she couldn't take her anger out on the emperor. At most, she could make Bo Muxi lose face. But she would never let off the concubines in the harem who took advantage of the situation and made trouble out of nothing.
"Well, does the Queen have any ideas?" Bo Muxi frowned, and her face was obviously a little embarrassed.
"Shijin, Changqi, the two of you will carefully explain to the emperor all the facts and evidence you have found." The queen did not look at Bo Muxi and spoke in a cold tone.
Bo Muxi touched his nose. Well, he had nothing to say about the Queen's anger.
Although the queen is usually respectful, when she really gets angry, the emperor has to be a little cautious. After all, she is his first wife who started a business with him.
Shijin and Changqi agreed, each holding two plates covered with red cloth, and placed them on the desk.
"Your Majesty, I and Chang Qi have been secretly investigating the rumors in the palace these days. There are quite a few ladies involved, and Zheng Fuxuan is the most prominent among them." Shi Jin said as she lifted the red cloth covering the table.
Bo Muxi frowned and looked over. Wow, there were so many pieces of evidence and testimonies!
The emperor picked up a roll of testimony with a grim expression and began to read it carefully.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent. How could I have the guts to spread these rumors..." Hu Xiaoyi was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and sobbed and begged.
"Madam Hu Xiaoyi, it is the servants in your mansion who are the most outrageous and spread the rumors the most. The testimony and evidence are all here, you can take a look." Shijin said.
Seeing that the emperor's face was becoming increasingly tense, Hu Xiaoyi dared not go forward to check and could only kneel down and wipe her tears.
"Who else is involved this time?" Bo Muxi threw the testimony in his hand on the table and asked in a cold voice.
Everyone was so frightened that they broke out in cold sweats, and those who felt guilty had already started trembling.
"In reply to the emperor, there are also Concubine Lu Shufei, Concubine Zhang, Concubine Zhu Baolin, and the three lower-ranking Baolins, they all spoke first, and their servants followed suit." Chang Qi bowed.
The concubines who were not named all breathed a sigh of relief and secretly said they were lucky.
In fact, the Queen has a very detailed list involving many people.
After much deliberation, the Queen only pointed out those who had obvious factions, and pointed the finger at Concubine Zhao.
As for the others, the queen pretended to be ignorant. There was no need to tear the relationship apart, nor was there any need to mobilize a large force to hold them accountable. She could just give them a warning in private.
Shen Zhiyao and the queen looked at each other, and the queen winked at her. Shen Zhiyao was instantly touched by her cuteness and couldn't help but smile.
Checking this list, it was something the two of them had discussed in advance. There was no need to save face for the emperor and suffer this loss in silence.
When these two ruthless characters join forces, they can really skin the enemy alive!
Bo Muxi thought for a while and did not deal with Hu Xiaoyi first. Instead, he looked at Concubine Zhao and asked, "Concubine Zhao, were you involved in this matter?"
Concubine Zhao's face turned pale. She immediately remembered what the Queen Mother said, that she would not care about her this time. She knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I really did not participate this time. I am busy teaching the eldest prince how to speak every day. How can I spare the energy for this? I beg Your Majesty to understand!"
"You really had no involvement at all?" Bo Muxi raised an eyebrow, obviously not quite believing it.
"At most, I just complained a few words in Qingquan Palace. I did not spread it intentionally." Concubine Zhao explained hurriedly.
"Concubine Zhao, Concubine Zhang and the others have always been close to you. Since you are in a high position, you should also give them some advice." Bo Muxi did not want to punish Concubine Zhao, after all, he had no evidence against her, but he had to give her a warning.
"For the sake of the eldest prince, I will not punish you severely. If you still do not know how to restrain yourself and do not control your good sisters, my eldest prince can also change his mother." Bo Muxi said coldly.
The eldest prince was already over four years old, and the emperor could still say such cruel words, which really hurt Concubine Zhao's heart.
"Yes, I will pay attention and restrain myself..." Concubine Zhao sobbed.
Shen Zhiyao looked at her coldly, thinking to herself: You who are making trouble out of nothing are not worthy of sympathy at all. If you dare to do trouble again next time, I will take the opportunity to deal with you severely!
"Hu Xiaoyi, what do you mean? How dare you frame the queen like this?" Bo Muxi turned to look at Hu Xiaoyi, who was kneeling on the ground and sobbing with her face covered.
"I am innocent..." Hu Xiaoyi just kept repeating this sentence over and over again.
"Unjust?" Bo Muxi picked up a book of testimony and threw it at her: "Open your eyes and see which sentence is unjust. Point it out to me!"
"I...I am definitely not the originator of the rumor. I just spread it...I beg the emperor to have mercy on me..." Hu Xiaoyi dared not protest anymore and could only admit it with tears.
She really cursed Prince Rui in her heart. It would have been fine if he had placed someone in her Zheng Fuxuan, but he also asked her to go there in person. Isn't this harming people?
"I have always taken good care of you for Prime Minister Hu's sake. Have I ever punished you severely for the many times you have gotten into trouble? I feel that I have done my best... You, you have a smart mind, but you are a fool! A fool who is too smart!"
Bo Muxi called Hu Xiaoyi stupid, but in fact he was secretly cursing Prime Minister Hu with great sorrow and indignation. How could he be so stupid?
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. I know I was wrong and will seriously reflect on it. I will never dare to do it again..." Hu Xiaoyi knelt on the ground and kowtowed, looking extremely pious.
From now on? Bo Muxi looked at her face that was very similar to Qin Man's and felt extremely heartbroken.
It's too late... One wrong step leads to all the wrong steps. How can there be a future?
"From now on, you should be a talented person again... I vaguely remember that you were a Baolin when you first entered the palace... I will punish you by confining you to your house for a month, so take care of yourself." Bo Muxi said meaningfully.
"Your servant... obeys your order... thank you..." Hu Xiaoyi, oh no, Hu Cairen's hypoglycemia has recurred and she is about to faint again.
Bo Muxi no longer had any sympathy and gave Lin En a look.
Lin En understood and quickly ordered someone to help Hu Cairen out.
The remaining few whose names had not been called were trembling with fear, and they knelt down to apologize without the emperor asking them any questions.
"Concubine Lu Shufei, you have the highest position among us. I remember that you were a person who never quarreled with others. How come you have become so strange now? You will be demoted to a noble concubine. This is your last chance. If you dare to disrespect the queen again, my patience will be completely gone." Bo Muxi said calmly.
"Yes, I accept your order and thank you." Concubine Lu was quite frank. She was forced into a corner by Concubine Zhao and had no choice. After being demoted, there were fewer things she could do, which was a relief.
"As for the rest of you, you will be fined half a year's salary. If you dare to do it again, you will be demoted immediately!" Bo Muxi said in a solemn voice.
Upon hearing this, several people breathed a sigh of relief and immediately knelt down to express their gratitude.
After the matter was dealt with, Bo Muxi looked at Shen Zhiyao and asked with a half-smile, "Jin Shuyi, you made irresponsible remarks about the prime minister. As a concubine, is this considered inappropriate? Should you be punished?"