Ye Zhen thought that something might have happened to Hong Ling, but she never thought that she would see her again in such a way.
When Xue Lin carried Hong Ling to the Yong Shou Palace, she knew at a glance what had happened to her.
"What happened?" Ye Zhen's voice choked with sobs. Hong Ling was not an ordinary palace maid to her. They had been together for a long time. In her most lonely time, it was Hong Ling who accompanied her.
"Your Highness, we found Miss Hong Ling in the palace." Xue Lin lowered his head, not daring to tell Ye Zhen about Hong Ling's torture.
Ye Zhen took a deep breath and reached out to touch Hong Ling's face gently. It was already cold and there were bruises on her white cheeks. Although she had cleaned it up, some scars could not be completely covered.
Hong Ling's ten fingers were missing even her nails, and her neck was bruised. Ye Zhen closed her eyes. She could hardly imagine what Hong Ling had experienced.
"Bring me this consort's medicine box." Ye Zhen's eyes were slightly red as she endured the grief in her heart.
She could still save Hong Ling. She couldn't let Hong Ling die like this.
Dai Mei hurriedly went to the pharmacy and brought Ye Zhen's medicine box. "Your Highness …"
Ye Zhen took out all the spiritual spring water inside and poured it into Hong Ling's mouth. "Hong Ling, wake up. This consort forbids you to die. Do you hear me? Wake up … "
The spiritual spring water poured into Hong Ling's mouth overflowed and could no longer be fed into her body.
"Hong Ling, you can't die without this consort's permission! Do you hear me! "Ye Zhen shouted.
"Your Highness, Hong Ling … she can't wake up anymore." Xue Lin said in a low voice.
"Who is it?" Ye Zhen's heart surged with strong hatred. It had been a long time since she wanted to kill someone with her own hands.
"His Majesty found out that Lin Yan of Prince Yi's Mansion was Lu Lingzhi. When he brought people to Prince Yi's Mansion, Lin Yan had already disappeared. Later, with the help of Xiaoqi, they found Hongling in the temporary imperial residence outside the city. Mo Ronghui was also missing. "Xue Lin answered in a low voice. He had been protecting the Empress before and had a lot of contact with Hong Ling. Now, seeing her being tortured to death, he also felt sad.
Ye Zhen raised her head sharply. "Lu Lingzhi took Hong Ling?"
"Yes, but when we found Hongling, Lu Lingzhi and Mo Ronghui were gone." Xue Lin said, "the emperor and general Ye have gone out of the city to find them."
Lu Lingzhi … it really was him!
Ye Zhen couldn't help but regret it. If she had recognized him earlier in Prince Yi's Mansion that day, Hong Ling would not have such a fate today.
"Empress …" Xue Lin called out in a low voice. He couldn't let Hong Ling stay here forever.
"Bury Hong Ling in the Ye family's graveyard. She is an orphan and has no surname. Let her have the surname Ye." Ye Zhen stood up and pressed all the grief to the bottom of her heart. Now, no matter what she did, it was useless. She just wanted to find Lu Lingzhi and kill him.
"Yes, Your Highness." Xue Lin replied. He felt that although he didn't say what Hong Ling had suffered, the Empress should know.
Not long after, the palace maid came in to report that Princess Yi had asked for an audience.
Ye Zhen didn't really want to see Zhao Ning at this time. She knew that Zhao Ning certainly didn't know the identity of Lu Lingzhi, but Lu Lingzhi did live in Prince Yi's Mansion for several years. Prince Yi's Mansion became his protective shell.
"Let Princess Yi go back to rest." Ye Zhen said faintly. At least wait for her mood to calm down before seeing Zhao Ning.
After a while, the palace maid came in and said that Princess Yi refused to leave and was still waiting in the hall.
Mo Rongyi should not be in the capital at this time. He must have gone out of the city with Mo Rongzhan. Otherwise, he would not let Zhao Ning enter the palace at this time.
Thinking that Zhao Ning was still pregnant, Ye Zhen sighed. "Go and invite Princess Yi in."
Zhao Ning, who was waiting in the hall, was very nervous. She didn't know that Lin Zongguan, whom she had used for many years, was the enemy of the emperor and empress. Although she had never seen Lu Lingzhi, she had learned a lot from Mo Rongyi these days.
This person was no longer the enemy of the emperor and empress.
"Niang niang …" Zhao Ning still did not know the news of Hong Ling's death. Seeing Ye Zhen's gloomy face, she felt even more afraid. "Niang niang, I really didn't know that Lin Zongguan was Lu Lingzhi. If I knew, I would definitely tell you."
Seeing Zhao Ning kneeling on the ground, Ye Zhen said lightly, "Bengong believes that you didn't know. Get up, don't hurt your body by kneeling."
Dai Mei stepped forward and helped Zhao Ning up. Under Ye Zhen's signal, she brought a round stool.
"But … Lu Lingzhi has been hiding in the Prince's Mansion for many years. No matter what, I have failed in my duty." Zhao Ning felt very guilty. If it weren't for her carelessness, Lu Lingzhi would not have done so many bad things in the capital.
"Indeed, Lu Lingzhi could hide in Prince Yi's Mansion for so many years without being discovered. You are indeed responsible. However, you have never seen Lu Lingzhi. Yi is not in the capital, and he is the confidant that your imperial father entrusted to you. Apart from him, who else can you trust?" Ye Zhen snorted coldly. "Fortunately, you did not suspect him. Otherwise, he may not even let you off."
Zhao Ning looked up in surprise. Listening to the Empress's words, she really didn't blame her? "Why did Lu Lingzhi become … a chief eunuch? Imperial Father never told me his true identity."
Because Zhao Yong wanted to use Lu Lingzhi! Ye Zhen also hated Zhao Yong's ulterior motives. Originally, when she heard the news that he was critically ill, she wanted to send him some medicine. But now, hehe, he should die early!
"Your imperial father may not know that he is Lu Lingzhi. Perhaps … he has other arrangements." Ye Zhen said sarcastically.
Zhao Ning bowed her head, "Your Highness, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."
"Bengong believes you. I believe that you don't know that he is Lu Lingzhi. The Emperor will also believe in Wangye. If Yi knew that he was Lu Lingzhi, he would not let him continue to live in the Prince's Mansion. The two maids of Yi were arranged by Lu Lingzhi." Ye Zhen snorted. "Do you know what Lu Lingzhi has done?"
Zhao Ning said, "Apart from dealing with the affairs of the Prince's Mansion every day, he often hides in his room. His health doesn't seem to be very good."
Ye Zhen remembered what Duanmu Ya once said. He said that although Lu Lingzhi survived in Anhe City, his health was very poor and he could no longer have children. She always thought that Lu Lingzhi's health was too poor. She didn't expect that he had become a eunuch.
"Since the Emperor has found out his identity, he should know what he has done." Ye Zhen said, "You are still pregnant. Go back and rest. Don't worry about this matter anymore. However, the dowry you brought back from the Kingdom of Qi, you really need to check it carefully, lest there are still Lu Lingzhi's people among them."
Zhao Ning hurriedly said, "When I go back, I will change them all and send them back to the Kingdom of Qi."
"Go back." Ye Zhen said, "Take good care of yourself. Don't worry about this matter anymore."
"Yes, Your Highness." Zhao Ning felt guilty and uncomfortable, but what could she do now?
...
(Nine-headed Bird Academy)
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