After the emperor read her mind, the salted fish concubine effortlessly won the title of empress.

Chapter 128 The Emperor is truly enraged!

Lady Song's cries for justice echoed throughout the entire palace, terrifying everyone who heard them.

The Song family remained calm, unsurprised by this outcome.

Being able to take this foolish half-sister with her reduces her regrets. It's just a shame that Shen Shixi, that bitch, is too clever; she couldn't even poison her to death.

What a lucky escape!

In a short time, Cen Yin did not find out everything, but it was clear that the Emperor did not care whether he found out or not.

When he's truly enraged, he'd rather kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.

Everyone understands this principle, but the more you understand it, the more chilling life in the harem becomes.

For example, Consort Qiong, Consort De, Yuan Zhaoyue, and even the Empress—those who were harmed, when has the Emperor ever investigated them like this!

The emperor made it very clear that he would not interfere as long as people did not cross his bottom line.

Play however you like.

Therefore, Shen Shixi is his bottom line.

Shen Shixi didn't know, because even if the Song sisters shouted themselves hoarse, the message wouldn't reach her palace.

The Zhaoyang Palace strengthened its defenses, and those who served her closely became more vigilant, protecting Shen Shixi completely. Outside, heavy snow began to fall, but inside the palace, it was warm and cozy, and she was quietly recuperating.

Actually, there's not much to take care of. It got much better after taking one dose of medicine, but since I've started acting, I have to keep acting.

If something that was almost dead suddenly comes back to life, that's like "the boy who cried wolf."

Li Yuanke summoned Song Piyang to the warm pavilion of Qianyuan Palace.

Song Piyang arrived as soon as he was summoned, while Li Yuanke arrived a little late. He waited outside for quite a while, and was so cold that he was completely stunned.

As you enter, you are greeted by a warm breeze, mixed with a faint fragrance.

The incense mingled with the Emperor's own scent.

Song Piyang dared not ponder the matter further, for the emperor hurled an inkstone at him, shouting angrily, "Song Piyang, what a fine daughter you've raised! She's vicious and wicked, and dares to send her into the palace to harm my...beloved concubine!"

He really couldn't think of any words to replace Shen Shixi.

Song Piyang was hit squarely on the shoulder, and the pain was so intense that he couldn't speak. He kept kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.

He was unaware of what was happening in the palace.

Who would bother watching the emperor's harem all this time?

Unless there's an ulterior motive.

Li Fude recounted the whole story: "Little Song accused her sister of plotting to harm Consort Yuan. Although Great Song has not confessed yet, the person who poisoned her was from her palace, and there is corroborating evidence. Great Song conspired with that palace maid named Huanzhu, and the poison was also found in Great Song's palace."

It would be impossible to say that Madam Song knew absolutely nothing about it, especially since she and Shen Shixi were already at odds.

As her younger sister, Madam Song had always taken care of her, so it would be impossible for her not to know the truth.

Li Yuanke truly did not wrong the two men; he simply lacked the patience to play along with them. It was fine if he refused to confess. As an emperor, was it too much to want two lives?

Cen Yin arrived quickly, and the servants of the Song family, who were close to him, recruited everyone they could.

What a joke! All three races have people they care about!

As for how Madam Song knew that Shen Shixi had gone back to pick persimmons, it was when Shen Shixi and Lin Guiyou arranged to meet yesterday that Madam Song found out. Moreover, Consort De had mentioned it two months ago, saying that Shen Shixi was staring at the persimmons on those trees.

That's how it is in the palace; there are no secrets at all. The key is that Shen Shixi is too dazzling, and everyone is watching her.

It was also the Song family who poisoned Consort Qiong. At that time, she already knew that her unborn child was in danger. She felt that if Shen Shixi had killed her child, the emperor would feel guilty towards her if he was unwilling to punish Shen Shixi. As compensation, he would raise her rank and give her a child as a consolation.

Leaving aside the fact that she poisoned herself with acacia seeds to frame Shen Shixi, she put the poison in her tea, which she didn't actually intend to drink.

Consort Xue was pregnant for three months when she was drugged and miscarried. Consort Rong loved calligraphy and painting, so she added musk to the ink. She used it day after day, and the imperial fetus was doomed sooner or later.

Huanzhu was deliberately kept in the palace by her, all for this day. The persimmons on the persimmon tree were poisoned by Huanzhu, which she had ordered her to do.

There were also palace servants who were sweeping the persimmon orchard who testified that they had indeed seen Huanzhu there, acting suspiciously. At the time, they thought she was going to pick some persimmons to eat, so no one paid any attention.

Xiao Songshi naturally knew that the head palace maid, Qianyun, had been bribed by Xiao Songshi to poison her sister's medicine. She had also told her that since she was going to die, she should take care of Consort Yuan before she died.

The Song family already hated Shen Shixi. She was demoted to the rank of Jieyu, while Shen Shixi was promoted to Zhaoyi in the blink of an eye, a higher rank than she had ever held. This made it even harder for her to suppress her hatred.

Song Piyang, tears streaming down his face, cried, "This sinful subject has nothing to say. I submit to Your Majesty's judgment. I have no face to face Your Majesty and only beg for death!"

Whether the imperial court and the harem are connected or not depends entirely on the emperor's decision.

This is the second time Song has committed a crime. Even if he needs people again, he won't have the patience for this. After all, there are quite a few people waiting to be used by him.

The emperor showed no mercy, ordering Cen Yin, "Imprison him in the imperial prison and await further punishment! The birth mother and stepmother of the two Song families were negligent in their upbringing, and their adopted daughter committed numerous misdeeds, repeatedly causing chaos in the palace; both are to be executed!"

The emperor was truly enraged!

Whether it's reasonable or illegal, it doesn't matter.

Cen Yin felt great sympathy for Song Piyang. He was a very capable man, but unfortunately, his whole family was a hindrance.

When Shen Shixi found out, he didn't say anything. Song Piyang was a capable person, so it was good to give him a warning. The reform of the Ministry of Personnel required a person with a firm will and no distractions.

With the deaths of the two Song women, Song Piyang's hopes were completely dashed, and he could now be properly employed by Li Yuanke.

But Li Yuanke is unlikely to show mercy anytime soon; he intends to completely subdue Song Piyang.

After experiencing life and death, one will understand many truths.

Song Piyang was stripped of his official robes and sent to the imperial prison. Li Yuanke returned to Zhaoyang Palace and stayed by Shen Shixi's side all night without closing his eyes. Only when Shen Shixi was sleeping soundly like a pig at the hour of Tianming did he close his eyes for a short while.

When attending court, he naturally didn't have a good temper or a pleasant expression.

The court officials had all heard about what was happening in the inner palace. In particular, Song Piyang had been imprisoned. This was the first time that the inner palace had been involved with the court.

Yang Tingyue came to visit her on the Empress Dowager's orders. Upon entering Zhaoyang Palace, Yang Tingyue's eyes never stopped scanning it. "Wow, Shen Shixi, Zhaoyang Palace is even better than Fengyi Palace, it rivals Cining Palace!"

It wasn't too obvious from the outside, but the further you went into the inner palace, the more luxurious it became, dazzling the eyes.

That's equally enviable.

Shen Shixi lay on the couch, watching the snowflakes fluttering outside the window. This heavy snowfall had been going on for quite a while.

"I'd like to trouble you to make this trip," Shen Shixi said.

If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's influence, Shen Shixi would never have let her in. Many concubines have come over in the past few days, but apart from the Empress's people, none of them have been allowed to enter.

"Why haven't I seen you in so long?" Shen Shixi asked.

Yang Tingyue held her teacup, lowered her head, and after a long while said, "I don't have a mother anymore. My mother has passed away."

Tears streamed down her face.

Shen Shixi then noticed that she was dressed very simply, and only wore a white jade hairpin and a pearl headband.

"You weren't very filial to your mother when she was alive, so what's the use of crying now? Wasn't she always in poor health? This day was bound to come sooner or later. Aren't you mentally prepared?"

Shen Shixi frowned. Although she felt sorry for her, she didn't have much conscience to forgive her and didn't want to waste it.

Yang Tingyue cried, "Don't you have any heart? My mother is gone, can't you even say a few words of comfort to me?"

Shen Shixi laughed in anger, "Don't you know what kind of relationship we have? Why should I comfort you? Just because you came to see me on the Empress Dowager's orders?"

If you don't come, Aunt Qingruo will naturally come. I'd rather you didn't come at all. You come and start crying and wailing. Who are you trying to impress? The Emperor isn't here!

"Ugh! I hate you so much, Shen Shixi! How can you be so annoying?!"

She was so angry that she stood up and raised her fist to swing at Shen Shixi, but even if she had a hundred times the courage, she wouldn't dare to lay a hand on Shen Shixi.

Shen Shixi stopped teasing her. "You have to observe three years of mourning now, so you can't be the emperor's concubine. In three more years, you'll be twenty years old."

"Nineteen? Where did you get twenty?" Yang Tingyue bit her lip, unable to hold back. "My aunt said that while I'm still in mourning, she wants me to go to the palace."

When I mentioned it, she actually laughed.

Shen Shixi was stunned. "What did you say?"

She's gone crazy from wanting a man; she's even neglecting her filial duties!

Yang Tingyue was very smug. "I know you can't tolerate me. What a pity, you're not the Empress, so you can't control the Emperor's concubines. Besides, I was arranged by the Empress Dowager. Do you dare to stop me?"

Shen Shixi scoffed, "Why would I stop you? Yang Tingyue, I stopped you back then for your own good. Although we've been fighting since we were kids, and you hate me, to be honest, I wish I could beat you to death too."

Now that you're walking right into my trap, determined to come to the palace to die, why should I stop you? Why shouldn't I grant your wish?

"What do you want?" Yang Tingyue asked warily.

(I wrote this chapter last night and didn't have time to revise it, so I haven't posted it yet. I'll finish writing the previous case together. See you tomorrow! Don't forget to check out my page, my darlings!)

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