"Miaoyu, you …"
Several women of the Chen family who attended the banquet with her changed their expressions. They immediately came over and pulled her sleeves.
The broken bracelet belonged to Imperial Concubine Cui. The evidence pointed to the wife of Earl Li. If she stood up for her now, she would offend Imperial Concubine Cui. The Chen family had been on the side of the King of Shu for a long time. Her current actions were likely to cause misunderstandings to Imperial Concubine Cui.
"Whether it is slander or not, the truth will be revealed after the palace guards investigate." Imperial Concubine Cui's expression had returned to calmness, but everyone could hear the suppressed anger in her voice.
She looked down at the broken bracelet on the ground. As the legitimate daughter of the Cui family and an imperial concubine in the palace, even though she had seen all kinds of treasures, the destruction of this jade bracelet still made her very sad.
What's more, the woman was the wife of Earl Li of Chang 'an. Naturally, she would not let it go so easily.
The silver-haired woman turned her head and looked at Ruyi, asking, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Ruyi smiled and said, "Thank you for just now."
Imperial Concubine Cui leaned over and said, "Why is the bracelet here? Did someone deliberately frame you?"
Ruyi looked at the maid who was covering her face. The maid's eyes were slightly averted.
The sound of orderly footsteps came from outside the door. A group of Imperial Guards walked in quickly from outside. The leader of the Imperial Guards walked straight to Imperial Concubine Cui and said respectfully, "Greetings, Imperial Concubine!"
Imperial Concubine Cui said coldly, "Investigate carefully. I don't want to wrongly accuse anyone. You must find out who did it!"
"Yes!" The leader of the imperial guards bowed and answered.
…
…
"I, I was just running over there and accidentally bumped into Madam Li. The bracelet fell out of her sleeve and broke …" The maid recounted what had happened in front of the leader of the imperial guards.
The imperial guards did not expect things to turn out like this.
When someone passed the message just now, they just said that Imperial Concubine Cui lost the bracelet and no one went out of the hall. As long as the palace maids or the harem maids searched everyone, it would be easy to find out who took Imperial Concubine Cui's bracelet.
However, there was no need to investigate now.
"Mrs. Li, is this true?" He looked at the woman standing there and asked. He was a little hesitant.
Everyone had heard of the famous County Earl Li. He didn't even care about the King of Shu and was favored by His Majesty. If this matter was not handled well, it would be a big deal.
Ruyi pointed to the maid and said, "The bracelet fell out of her sleeve and fell to the ground."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was silence in the hall. Even Imperial Concubine Cui had a stunned expression on her face.
That maid was the personal maid of Noble Consort Cui. Could it be that this maid stole the bracelet and accidentally broke it, so she simply framed Madam Li?
Or could it be that she was simply following someone's orders to frame him?
The former was naturally impossible. How could a mere maidservant have such guts? Once she was found out, she would not be able to survive in the imperial harem.
Imperial Concubine Cui's face was cold and she said, "You mean that I deliberately framed you?"
"It's obvious that you stole the bracelet. How dare you frame Imperial Concubine Cui!" A woman in a palace dress walked out from behind Imperial Concubine Cui, pointed at Ruyi, and said sternly.
"It's obvious that you stole the bracelet. How dare you frame Imperial Concubine Cui!" A woman in palace attire walked out from behind Imperial Concubine Cui. She pointed at Ruyi and said sternly.
Third Miss Chen walked in front of Ruyi, looked at the woman and said softly, "Princess Hui, this matter has not been decided yet. Please watch your words."
"Princess Hui, let's wait for the result of this matter before saying these words." A beautiful woman in a palace dress beside Imperial Concubine Cui also said.
"Princess Hui, let's wait for the result of this matter before saying these words," a beautiful lady in palace attire beside Noble Consort Cui also said.
Princess Hui's expression changed. Even Concubine Yan stood out, so she couldn't say anything else.
Although her sister was an imperial concubine, in the harem, other than the Empress, His Majesty's most favored concubine was Concubine Yan. If not for the Cui family, the title of imperial concubine would have fallen into someone else's hands at a young age.
The guard leader hesitated for a moment and said, "Imperial Concubine, I'm afraid this matter will have to be decided by His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress …"
This matter involved Guifei Niangniang and Li Xianbo's wife, so he couldn't make the decision. The Empress was the master of the harem, so it was appropriate for her to deal with the womenfolk. Moreover, the Empress and His Majesty were in the palace on the side, so they could report in a moment.
"What happened?"
A voice rang out from behind. The dozen or so imperial guards consciously opened up a path. When they saw the two young men walking in from outside, many people in the hall revealed looks of surprise.
"Li, Li Xianbo …" The guard leader walked over and immediately said, "Greetings, Your Highness, greetings, Li Xianbo."
Seeing that familiar face, Third Miss Chen's face showed a trace of a complicated expression. Ruyi stood where she was, while the imperial concubine walked in the direction of Li Xuan.
"What happened?" Li Yi looked at the guard leader and asked.
"Your Excellency Li, it's like this …" The guard leader described what just happened to him.
"He is Li Xianbo?"
"How did he get in?"
"My wife did such a thing. I'm afraid Li Xianbo is going to lose face today …"
…
There was a burst of whispers in the hall, and many people pointed at them. Concubine Cui looked at Li Yi with an unfathomable expression.
"I see." After hearing the guard leader's words, Li Yi nodded and walked in front of the maid.
The maid raised her head and avoided his eyes. She didn't dare to look at him.
Slap!
Li Yi slapped the maid's face, looked at her and asked coldly, "Who gave you the courage?"
The strength of this slap was much greater than the previous one. The maid stumbled and fell to the ground, a trace of blood flowing from the corner of her mouth.
The slap was crisp, and then there was a long silence in the hall.
Third Miss Chen's slap just now was because the maid was disrespectful to Countess Chen. Although her behavior was a bit extreme, even Concubine Cui couldn't say anything.
But County Uncle Li slapped Concubine Cui fiercely in front of everyone. Didn't he look down on Concubine Cui?
"How dare you! How did you get in? "
After a long time, a sharp voice finally sounded. Concubine Hui pointed at Li Yi, and then pointed at the guards and said, "Is this a place where anyone can come in? Take him down quickly!"
"The Secret Bureau is ordered by His Majesty to maintain the security of Hibiscus Garden tonight. Concubine Cui lost her bracelet, so we have to investigate it carefully." Li Yi took out a plate and looked at the woman in the court dress and asked, "Auntie, may I ask who you are?"
"Auntie, auntie …" The woman in the court dress opened her mouth and blushed.
Pfft …
Several young women in the back couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh.
"Don't be rude." Third Miss Chen stepped forward and looked at him, saying, "This is Concubine Hui."
"So this is Concubine Hui. My apologies, my apologies." Li Yi glanced at the woman and then cupped his hands to Concubine Cui, saying, "Concubine Cui, don't worry. The Secret Bureau will definitely investigate this case clearly."
Concubine Cui glanced at him and asked, "Oh, how are you going to investigate?"
Li Yi pointed at the maid and said, "This bold b * tch dared to steal Concubine Cui's bracelet and put the blame on others. Concubine Cui, don't worry. Even if she doesn't confess now, she will confess everything when she arrives at the Secret Bureau."
Many people in the hall were stunned by his words.
Li Xianbo was really … really unreasonable.
He made a conclusion without even investigating. Whether the maid did it or not, when she arrived at the Secret Bureau, it was not up to her whether she confessed or not.
Wasn't it too obvious that he was protecting Madam?
It was said that Li Xianbo was arrogant because of the favor. Now, he even looked down on Concubine Cui …
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