Chapter 77: Pleading

Helian Qi sent Song Qingzhi back to Mozhu Xuan, bestowing upon her a mountain of nourishing herbs and ordering the imperial physician to conduct a thorough examination.

“Consort Song’s miscarriage, were there any traces of drug influence?” Helian Qi inquired of the imperial physician.

The imperial physician knelt and bowed, reporting, “The concubine had not come into contact with any unsuitable drugs; it was the fall that caused the miscarriage.”

“Are you doubting my words, Your Majesty? I was truly pushed down!” Song Qingzhi lay on the sickbed, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I am merely asking as a matter of course. Recall carefully, did you see Ning Jiejue push you with your own eyes? Or did you not see clearly who it was and simply assumed it was Ning Wanyin?” Helian Qi stared at Song Qingzhi, his gaze piercing.

He suspected that someone else had pushed Song Qingzhi.

But she hadn’t seen clearly…

She simply assumed it was Ning Wanyin because she was nearby.

“I saw it with my own eyes; it was Ning Jiejue who pushed me.” Song Qingzhi hadn’t expected the emperor to inquire so meticulously, as if he wanted to exonerate Ning Wanyin. She felt even more resentment in her heart; her child was gone…

Didn’t the emperor cherish Ning Wanyin so much that even knowing she had harmed her and his child, he still favored her? Did he insist that she change her story to say she fell by herself, to fulfill his desire to protect her? Song Qingzhi looked at Helian Qi with a resentful gaze.

The words of a scholar, each word piercing the heart.

If Helian Qi truly did that, wouldn’t he become a foolish ruler condemned by the entire court and scorned by the people?

Helian Qi was angered by her words, his expression turning cold, “I am merely seeking the truth and giving an account to the unborn royal heir.”

“Then Your Majesty, please kill Ning Wanyin and avenge my child!” Song Qingzhi said with hatred.

Seeing her so agitated, Helian Qi didn’t ask further, rising to his feet and saying, “Rest well. I will give you an explanation.”

After Helian Qi left.

Song Qingzhi was heartbroken and filled with regret.

She had finally become pregnant, and she could have surpassed Ning Wanyin’s favor through her child…

But now.

It was too late to regret; now she could only make Ning Wanyin pay for her child’s death!

…

Helian Qi returned to Qianxin Palace.

Zhuang Fei was already waiting at the palace gate.

“What are you doing here?” Helian Qi asked.

Zhuang Fei’s expression was displeased, and she said angrily, “Your Majesty, do you also think, like everyone else, that I am giving false testimony to help Ning Wanyin because of the life-saving grace?”

“I have no such intention.” Helian Qi said calmly. Although he said that, he didn’t truly believe Zhuang Fei’s testimony.

Zhuang Fei, Tang Miaoling, and Wei Yingya—their relationships with Ning Wanyin were all too subtle.

Of course, he didn’t believe the testimony of the concubines from the Xue and Cen factions either; their relationship with Ning Wanyin was like fire and water.

Helian Qi was more inclined to believe that there were no witnesses in this case.

The people who came forward were all taking sides for their own interests and relationships.

And Song Qingzhi’s words became the only testimony. It was impossible for her to deliberately fall and miscarry just to frame Ning Wanyin; it wouldn’t be worth it.

If she had a royal heir, she would soon be promoted to the rank of concubine, with a bright future ahead of her.

This was more beneficial than framing Ning Wanyin.

“Your Majesty, you just don’t believe me!” Zhuang Fei glared at him with dissatisfaction, full of grievance, “Your Majesty, what do you think is most important to me?”

“You.”

“I owe Ning Wanyin a debt of gratitude, and I also hate her. But no matter how I feel about her,

“No matter what, it has nothing to do with this matter! Whether it’s her or anyone else, whoever harmed your child, I won’t lie for them.”

“That Song woman, she’s deceiving you. Do you believe her but not me? I don’t know why she would harm herself, but what I said is the truth!”

Zhuang Fei stared at Helian Qi, each word deliberate.

She wasn’t pleading for Ning Wanyin; she was heartbroken because the emperor no longer trusted her.

They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts. In Zhuang Fei’s heart, whether he was the current emperor, the supreme ruler, or the neglected prince of the past, he was simply her lover.

The emperor had always treated her differently. All the women in the palace were outsiders; only she was always on the same side as the emperor.

But the emperor didn’t believe her…

Zhuang Fei’s watery eyes were red, tears falling one by one, “Qi Gege, how could I possibly deceive you? You… you believe an outsider…”

Qianxin Palace was very quiet.

Helian Qi looked at her silently, saying nothing.

Zhuang Fei was heartbroken and angry, covering her face and running out crying. The accompanying palace maids hurriedly bowed and followed after her.

Wang Degui hadn’t dared to take a deep breath the entire time.

The emperor had placed Ning Jiejue under house arrest, and Ning Jiejue hadn’t made a fuss, cried, or questioned the emperor why he didn’t believe her. It was Zhuang Fei, who had nothing to do with this matter, who was crying in anger…

Who would have thought?

“Wang Degui, send a few people to follow her. Don’t let her do anything rash in her grief.” Helian Qi instructed.

Wang Degui accepted the order and quickly sent eunuchs under his command to follow her.

Seeing the emperor’s face as dark as water, he tentatively asked, “Your Majesty, you care so much for Zhuang Fei, so you must believe her…”

“Zhuang Fei has always been straightforward, and there are indeed some suspicious points in this matter.” Helian Qi said casually.

But it didn’t make sense for Song Qingzhi to harm herself.

Just then, a eunuch came to report, “Your Majesty, Shun Bin is requesting an audience!”

Since the incident at Linlang Palace last time, Shun Bin hadn’t dared to go out. This was the first time she had left Changchun Palace.

“Let her in.” Helian Qi said.

Shun Bin entered the hall, knelt down and bowed, “Your servant greets Your Majesty—”

“No need, rise.” Helian Qi said.

But Shun Bin didn’t get up, saying, “Your servant believes that Ning Jiejue would not harm Consort Song; there must be some misunderstanding! Ning Jiejue has always taken good care of your servant; I don’t believe she is that kind of person. Please, Your Majesty, clear Ning Jiejue’s name!”

When she first heard about this, she was quite gleeful.

But then she thought, what would happen to her without Ning Wanyin?

She hurried to plead for her.

“Your Majesty, if Ning Jiejue was jealous of pregnant concubines, how could she have taken such good care of your servant? Your servant cannot live without Ning Jiejue; please, Your Majesty, reconsider!”

Helian Qi saw through Shun Bin’s intentions at a glance.

She was afraid without Ning Wanyin.

Ning Wanyin had indeed done a good job taking care of Shun Bin’s pregnancy.

“I understand what you mean. Go back and rest well; I will make a decision.” Helian Qi said.

Shun Bin couldn’t understand what the emperor meant by that, so she could only bow and withdraw with the help of the palace maids.

“Your Majesty, Shun Bin is truly loyal and righteous, and what she said is not without reason…” Wang Degui hinted, “Ning Jiejue has always taken good care of Shun Bin’s pregnancy.”

The emperor was looking for evidence to exonerate Ning Jiejue.

Clearly, he didn’t want Ning Jiejue to be the culprit, so he naturally followed the emperor’s wishes.

“Merits and demerits cannot be offset…” Helian Qi’s expression was gloomy. Even if she had many merits, she couldn’t offset the crime of harming the royal heir.