Chapter 95: Song Qingzhi, Death

Helian Qi’s face was as dark as water, he picked up the envelope and opened it.

This was indeed a letter written by Song Chengyi, but at the end of the last page, there was an extra sentence about giving the inkstone to Ning Wanyin.

This was written by Song Qingzhi imitating Song Chengyi’s handwriting.

They often practiced calligraphy together, she was very familiar with Song Chengyi’s handwriting, her imitation was nine out of ten similar, it was hard to tell the difference.

If it weren’t for the inkstone, it wouldn’t be in Ning Wanyin’s hands.

This letter served as physical evidence, and with Song Qingzhi and her maid as witnesses, it could be considered that there was both physical and eyewitness evidence…

“Song, did you see Ning Wanyin holding the inkstone, missing your brother?” Helian Qi suppressed his anger and coldly swept his gaze over Song Qingzhi.

Song Qingzhi thought that Helian Qi was angry with Ning Wanyin, a surge of joy rose in her heart.

Great!

She knew that no man could tolerate his woman having an affair with another man.

She could finally bring Ning Wanyin down!

Although she felt a little guilty towards her brother, her hatred for Ning Wanyin prevailed, Song Qingzhi affirmed, “This inkstone was a collection of my brother’s when he was young, before I entered the palace, I often saw it on the antique shelf, I’m very familiar with it, I couldn’t have mistaken it.”

“My brother cherished this inkstone, he never dared to use it. It seems that this object has a special meaning to them both.”

These words were adding fuel to the fire, she was making up out of thin air that Ning Wanyin and Song Chengyi had known each other for many years…

“You have such audacity!” Helian Qi was furious, he threw the letter in his hand at Song Qingzhi, “You’re deceiving the emperor, slandering the imperial concubine, and plotting against your own brother, such a disloyal and unrighteous person deserves to die. Wang Degui, order, execute Song!”

He didn’t want to let Song Qingzhi live for another moment!

Song Qingzhi’s face changed instantly, “Your Majesty, I’m telling the truth…”

“Truth? The box of gifts you gave her, they’re all in my hands, including the inkstone you mentioned.” Helian Qi said coldly.

Song Qingzhi was incredulous, “How is that possible…”

Generally speaking, the things concubines gave to the emperor were prepared by themselves. Who would help another concubine to attract the emperor’s attention?

Moreover, giving gifts to the emperor was a matter that required careful consideration, not just any item could be given, and the emperor wouldn’t accept just any item.

If the gift was inappropriate, at best, the person and the gift would be sent back, at worst, it would anger the emperor.

So, how could Ning Wanyin be willing to give her things to the emperor? And what reason did she use, and the emperor actually accepted them?

This… was simply unimaginable.

Song Qingzhi hadn’t thought of this at all, she was stunned for a moment.

Wang Degui was also stunned, he quickly ordered eunuchs to drag Song Qingzhi away.

“Your Majesty… how can you be so cruel, your concubine has always been devoted to you…” Song Qingzhi struggled, she looked at Helian Qi with tears in her eyes.

When he was dealing with Ning Wanyin, he had first confined her and then investigated.

Why, when it came to her…

The emperor didn’t show any mercy, he directly executed her!

The emperor was clearly partial to her, he was partial to her in every way!

“Drag her away!” Helian Qi said impatiently.

Song Qingzhi was dragged away by two eunuchs in despair, along with her maid Shi’er, the mistress and her maid were taken away.

This punishment was too swift.

So much so that Ning Wanyin had just heard that there was a commotion outside Yonghe Palace, she had just changed her clothes and came out, she only saw Song…

Song Qingzhi was dragged away…

Ning Wanyin’s face showed three parts confusion, she bowed to Helian Qi, “Your concubine greets Your Majesty! What happened…?”

“She framed you, I had her executed.” Helian Qi’s eyes still held a trace of anger.

He had spared Song Qingzhi’s life for the sake of the Song family’s reputation, but that didn’t mean she could deceive the emperor again and again.

There was only one chance.

She didn’t repent, she became even more arrogant, she deserved to die.

Ning Wanyin was first surprised, then she looked dejected, “Your concubine never had any grievances with her, I didn’t expect that she… Thank you, Your Majesty, for your sharp eyes and for upholding justice for your concubine.”

“Wanyin, you’ve been wronged, go back and rest, I’m going to court. Come to Qianxin Palace for lunch.” Helian Qi’s gaze fell on her, it softened a lot.

“Yes.” Ning Wanyin accepted the order.

After seeing the emperor off.

Lianrui helped Ning Wanyin back to her bedroom and sighed, “This Song Qingzhi is truly evil! It’s a good thing Mistress gave all those gifts to His Majesty.”

Ning Wanyin was very calm, she had always been on guard against everyone. She had done the same with Tang Miaoling.

No matter whether others wanted to deal with her or not, she was always prepared.

As for Song Qingzhi framing her again, it was all within her expectations.

Ning Wanyin had never thought that she would really live peacefully with Song Qingzhi.

Why would she spare her enemy’s life?

She had been waiting for Song Qingzhi to make a move.

From the moment the emperor showed mercy and demoted Song, Ning Wanyin knew that Song Qingzhi would eventually retaliate against her.

She had dealt with her, and as a result, her child was gone, and her rank was demoted. Would she blame herself for being cruel?

No, it was easier to blame others.

Demoting her wasn’t the end, being sent to the cold palace wasn’t the end either, in Ning Wanyin’s eyes, the enemy only died, then this round would be over.

And whether there would be a second round, it would depend on what her family did.

“Keep an eye on the Song family’s reaction in the court.” Ning Wanyin instructed.

Lianrui accepted the order.

…

In Jingxi Palace.

Concubine Shu sat in front of the Buddha statue, leisurely tapping the wooden fish.

Everything was going according to her plan, no one could see her hand in it.

The most brilliant part of the plan, of course, wasn’t ordering someone to do something.

It was using the situation and the circumstances to push the chess pieces onto this path.

Song Qingzhi didn’t know that she had been pushed to this point by someone behind the scenes.

Concubine Shu was best at this kind of trick.

She had used Fang Zhaoyi like this, and she had used Song Qingzhi as well.

“Human nature has weaknesses, as long as you find the weakness, you can make them unknowingly work for you.” Concubine Shu was quite satisfied with her methods.

She had killed Ning Wanyin, but no one knew it was related to her. Even Song Qingzhi herself didn’t know.

“Mistress, it’s not good—” Zhenzhu rushed in and reported, “Song has been executed!”

“What?” Concubine Shu was startled, “What happened?”

Zhenzhu immediately recounted the events at the gate of Yonghe Palace, “That inkstone was actually in His Majesty’s hands all along…”

Concubine Shu’s face darkened.

This round, she could win against any concubine, but she had been completely defeated when facing Ning Wanyin.

She had won every time, unexpectedly.

Concubine Shu felt a surge of anger and helplessness.

Ning Wanyin was too difficult to kill.

After tapping the wooden fish for another half an hour, Concubine Shu calmed down and said, “Forget it, it’s not just me who’s having a headache. The Cen family and the Xue family both want her dead, let’s see what happens.”

…

Helian Qi returned to Qianxin Palace to review memorials after finishing court.

Wang Degui stepped forward and reported, “Your Majesty, Song and her maid Shi’er have both been executed. During the execution, the maid confessed everything. The last sentence in the letter was forged by Song. Song Da Ren didn’t pass anything to Ning Jiejue…”

“Song was unhappy with Ning Jiejue’s favor, so she deliberately framed her.”

Helian Qi’s face was as dark as water, “Heh—”

“Throw the case file to Song Gu, convey my oral decree, Song Gu is incompetent in managing his family, he is to be fined half a year’s salary!”

Helian Qi rarely reprimanded a high official.

Song Qingzhi’s death didn’t cause much of a stir in the harem, but the Song family in the court submitted a bunch of apologies because of her.

The Song family had always been proud, they hadn’t chosen a Song woman from their clan to present to the emperor.

This matter was temporarily settled.

In early September, good news came from the front lines.

A great victory in the southwest!