In the Imperial Palace of the Kingdom of Qi.
Zhao Rao ignored Cheng Zheng and insisted on going back to the Imperial Palace to look for Concubine De. When she arrived at Concubine De's palace, she found out that Zhao Yong was also there.
Concubine De knelt in front of Zhao Yong. Her beautiful face was pale and her eyes were calm, as if she had expected this. However, Zhao Lan and the Second Prince, who were also kneeling beside her, looked anxious.
"Jin 'er, what are you doing here?" Zhao Yong saw Zhao Rao barging in before he could ask questions. He looked at Cheng Zheng unhappily.
Cheng Zheng pretended not to see the displeasure in Zhao Yong's eyes. He bowed and stood aside silently.
Zhao Rao's gaze shifted from Zhao Yong to Concubine De, who was kneeling on the ground. She asked word by word, "You poisoned my mother, didn't you?"
"You have no evidence. Don't accuse my mother!" The Second Prince was already anxious when he saw Zhao Rao. He suspected that she had set up a trap to frame his mother.
"Imperial Father, Imperial Mother has always been kind and gentle. She would never do anything that would harm the heavens. Please, Imperial Father, help Imperial Mother." Zhao Lan's face turned pale. She did not know how much evidence her father had. She only knew that her mother must not be convicted.
Zhao Rao ignored the Second Prince and the others. She only looked at Concubine De coldly.
"Jin 'er, stand aside. The two of you stand up too." Zhao Yong said calmly. He had originally wanted to interrogate Concubine De alone. He did not expect the Second Prince to know about it. It seemed that his harem was being watched.
Zhao Lan and the Second Prince looked at each other nervously. They had been afraid of Zhao Yong since they were young and had never dared to defy him. Hearing his words, they stood up and stood opposite Zhao Rao.
The Second Prince stared at Zhao Rao coldly. He secretly swore that when he ascended the throne, the first person he would kill would be the First Princess to avenge his mother.
Cheng Zheng looked at them calmly and finally looked at Zhao Rao worriedly.
Zhao Yong sat on the armchair. He had been thinking about how to deal with Concubine De last night. Let her die? That would be too easy for her. Later, he realized that he was not worried about what would happen to Concubine De, but what he should do to make up for Zhao Rao.
"Concubine De, you know that the late Empress treated you well. Tell me, why did you do this?" Zhao Yong asked in a low voice.
Although Cheng Ying was spoiled and arrogant, she never used petty tricks to deal with other women in the palace. She had her own pride. Even if she hated him for spoiling Concubine De, she was more angry that Concubine De betrayed her. At most, she just ignored Concubine De and did not do anything. He was very clear about this.
It was precisely because of Cheng Ying's personality that he had never thought of crippling her.
"Father …" The Second Prince was anxious. His father's words clearly meant that his mother poisoned the late Empress. The late Empress had been dead for so many years. How could he know that his mother killed her? It must be Zhao Rao playing tricks behind the scenes.
Zhao Yong's sharp and cold gaze swept over the Second Prince, immediately silencing him, not daring to speak again.
"Your Majesty, this concubine did not kill the late Empress." Concubine De lowered her head and said in a low voice. In fact, she knew that no matter how much she refuted, it was useless. If there was no evidence, the Emperor would not appear here to question her. Beauty Wang would not be found and given the title of Hui Pin. She raised her head to look at Zhao Yong, but saw that his eyes were as cold as water. It seemed that he was waiting for her to continue. At this moment, Concubine De understood that the Emperor knew everything.
"This concubine did not harm the late Empress's heart … … She died, and this concubine was very sad." Concubine De buried her head in the ground, "This concubine only … … only wanted to protect myself, wanted to protect my child."
Zhao Rao looked at her coldly. Hearing that she finally admitted, for some reason, her heart felt even more sour. So what if the truth was revealed? Would Imperial Mother know?
"Mother!" The Second Prince and Zhao Lan spoke at the same time. They did not think that Concubine De would admit it so quickly.
"The late Empress did not harm you." Zhao Yong said coldly, "What are you protecting yourself for? You drugged her, and you still say that you did not harm her heart? "
Concubine De said, "If she gave birth to a prince, she would definitely not tolerate this concubine's child. This concubine does not dare to gamble. The late Empress did not harm this concubine, but there were many people who wanted to help her get rid of this concubine. The Second Prince was also poisoned when he was young. Your Majesty, you know that even if the late Empress did not do it, she also knew about it. She did not stop those people from harming this concubine's child."
"My Imperial Mother used to see you as a sister and confidant. You betrayed her, it was like stabbing a knife into her heart. You still expect my Imperial Mother to protect you and your child. Others harmed your child, and you actually resent my Imperial Mother?" Zhao Rao was so angry that her chest violently heaved. If she was her Imperial Mother, she would have already killed Concubine De at all costs. Would she still let her give birth to a child? Her Imperial Mother was sometimes a little strong, but she was kind at heart. Otherwise, why would she let Concubine De give birth to two children?
Zhao Rao's words were questioning Concubine De, but in fact, she was also resenting Zhao Yong. Hearing this, Zhao Yong only lowered his eyes and did not say anything.
Concubine De gently shook her head, "I know that I have wronged the late Empress and Eldest Princess. I have never thought that I would kill the late Empress."
At that time, she seemed to be possessed. Seeing that the Emperor was treating the Empress better and better, it seemed that there was no longer the momentum of tit-for-tat. She was very clear that if the Empress gave birth to a prince, she and her two children would not have a good life. She only wanted the Empress to have a miscarriage, but she had never thought of killing her.
"You are very clear about my Imperial Mother's physical condition at that time. She was originally depressed, and her body was weak and could not be provoked at all. You drugged her, and still said that you did not mean to kill her?" Zhao Rao asked sternly.
"If the late Empress had not been too strong and forced her, my Imperial Mother would not have thought of such a way to protect herself." The Second Prince defended Concubine De.
Zhao Yong faintly looked at everyone, "All of you, shut up!"
Concubine De kowtowed heavily to Zhao Yong, "Your Majesty, I know that I deserve to die. I beg Your Majesty to punish me. I only hope that Your Majesty can be more lenient to the Third Princess and the Second Prince. They do not know anything, and what I have done has nothing to do with them."
"What about the other concubines?" There was no pity or softheartedness in Zhao Yong's eyes. She did not mean to kill the late Empress, but did she mean to kill the others unintentionally?
Concubine De's face turned pale. She remembered that Beauty Wang's matter had been found out. What she had done in the past could no longer be hidden from Zhao Yong.
"Do you have anything else to say?" Zhao Yong asked.
"I …" Concubine De's face turned pale, "I just don't want anyone to compete with me …"
She wanted Zhao Yong to only dote on her, and to only have the Second Prince in the palace. She did not know when her heart had become so big. The Emperor clearly only doted on her, although it was only to suppress the Empress, she was infatuated with the happiness of being doted on alone.
At that time, she crazily wanted to grasp this feeling of happiness, so she did a lot of things that she still felt terrible when she thought about it.
...
(Nine-headed Bird Academy)
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