It was already late when they arrived at the palace. Zhengyao, Ning'an, Mo Mao and Xiaoxi went straight to Kunning Palace.

The harem is divided into six east and west palaces. Each palace has two main halls, four side halls, and several side rooms. The main hall is for concubines with higher status, and the side halls are for concubines with lower status. The side rooms are It is for the servants to live in.

The main hall is divided into the main room, the east room, the west room, the east room (also called the warm pavilion or the inner room), and the west room (also called the warm pavilion or the inner room). There is a throne in the main room, usually for concubines to summon lower-level concubines. For receiving gifts, the east and west rooms are generally used for chatting, living, etc. The east and west rooms are bedrooms.

The same is true for the side halls. The main room is used to meet guests, and the east and west back rooms are used for rest, sleep and entertainment.

Kunning Palace belongs to the middle palace and is the head of the six palaces. The queen's bedroom is obviously more gorgeous than other palaces.

Kunning Palace sits in the north and faces south. It has 9 corridors in front and 3 rooms in depth. It has yellow glazed tiles on the roof of the verandah with double eaves. It was originally the queen's bedroom. Later, after several queens died in Jiajing, they no longer canonized the queen, so they let Concubine Shen and Concubine Li moved in one after another.

The original Kunning Palace was still very lively, but after Concubine Li died, the entire Kunning Palace became lifeless, making people feel chilly. In addition, Concubine Shen had gone to the Ancestral Temple to offer incense for half a month and had not returned yet. At this moment The Kunning Palace is even less popular, just like a cold palace.

Fortunately, after Ning'an came back, he instantly added a lot of laughter and enthusiasm to the palace, so Zhengyao and others did not feel deserted when they walked into the palace.

The maids and eunuchs in the palace also began to busy themselves with their own affairs. Chatting and arranging flowers, they seemed to be full of energy and not as sad and listless as before. It was just that they saw Zhengyao and others. After the person appeared, all kinds of uneasiness and fear were faintly revealed on Xi Er's face or expression.

After Zhengyao nodded to Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi clapped his hands knowingly, then stood in front of the threshold and said: "Sisters, hurry up and gather here. Princess and Master Li have something to ask everyone! In addition, the sisters in the room also Call them out together!"

Xiao Xi's status in the palace is still very good. After all, she is also the princess's gold medal personal maid. She can enter and leave Kunning Palace at will without anyone blocking her. She also has an extremely good relationship with Feng Bao, the head of the internal affairs, so the eunuchs are also good. , the palace maids, after hearing Xiao Xi's call, all crowded forward, and then several palace maids and eunuchs hurriedly ran into the room.

After a while, the palace maids and eunuchs lined up neatly in three rows at the entrance of the palace, with ten people in each row. These more than thirty people were only used to serve Concubine Shen and Concubine Li, and they did not count Concubine Shen. When the imperial concubine left the palace, she took a group of them with her. You can imagine how big this Kunning Palace is.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Zhengyao didn't want to delay any more, so he immediately stood up and said loudly: "Dear sisters, I have nothing to do with calling you here this time. I just want everyone to help me and understand some things. Just ask. Done."

Zhengyao's calm look seemed to tell everyone not to be too nervous, it was just an ordinary question.

In fact, it is no wonder that these palace maids and eunuchs have been here since the case of Concubine Li. Several waves of people have come here to question them. First, they were the commander of the imperial guards, then the head of the internal affairs, and then the Jin Yiwei. And the attitudes of these people were the same. Worse than the other, this makes them, the palace maids and eunuchs who have lived in the palace for a long time, have to be frightened. Whenever they see someone coming here, their faces will look particularly solemn, and this time is no exception.

Therefore, it is necessary to say this. First of all, the barriers in the mind are eliminated, and then the questioning will be much easier. It is best to talk like a casual chat, which may get twice the result with half the effort.

"Well, Mr. Li will not embarrass everyone, so you don't have to be nervous." Ning An also said.

After hearing what the princess said, the others were relieved and couldn't help but relax.

Afterwards, Xiao Xi introduced the palace maids and eunuchs to Zhengyao one by one, including their positions, jobs, and their deeds. After about a quarter of an hour, Zhengyao finally got to know the thirty people in front of him.

once.

However, Zhengyao's memory is very good. After listening to Xiaoxi's words, it seemed that even Ning An could not fully identify the group of people in front of him, but Zhengyao could already directly call out who they were.

"You are Xiaocui! Tell me, what were you doing when the incident occurred? Is there anything unusual happening in the palace?" Zhengyao then said to a woman in orange with a ponytail.

This woman in orange is exactly what Zhengyao calls Xiao Cui. She is the palace maid responsible for doing laundry for Concubine Li. It is hard to see that Concubine Li is the one on ordinary days. Unexpectedly, she was the first person Zhengyao asked about.

On the contrary, it made other palace maids and even Xiaocui herself feel a little strange.

There had been so many helpers before, but none of them seemed to have asked themselves much, but this time the first one they asked was themselves. It was obvious that Xiao Cui suddenly seemed a little nervous.

"Please... please forgive me! I... I have never done anything! I... I have so much courage, but... I don't dare to harm Concubine Li!" Xiao Cui obviously thought it was right.

Yao was doubting her, and when he saw her, he was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, stammering and shouting for mercy.

Zhengyao was speechless for a while, wasn't it just a simple question? Why make it look like he was going to the guillotine? This was completely different from the suspects he had met before when asking for confessions in the police station. He had met in the police station before.

When it comes to suspects, I ask the same question, but those suspects seem to be more reasonable than me, and they keep trying to sue me for slandering him, even if that person is really the criminal.

Zhengyao shook his head, then helped Xiaocui up, and said: "You get up first. I don't doubt you. I just want to know what you were doing at the time. Did you feel anything abnormal around you?"

Although Xiao Cui is just a laundry person, the clothes are not washed every day. Therefore, when there is nothing to do, I believe Xiao Cui will be very free. If there is nothing to do, she will look around and look at the things around her.

She really discovered something.

Xiaocui gradually calmed down and opened her mouth: "In fact... Xiaocui was just washing clothes for the two ladies and didn't know anything. Xiaocui was also sleeping in the room when the incident happened, and had no idea what happened in the palace.

What."

Zhengyao couldn't help but smile again and said: "Xiao Cui, don't be nervous. I'm just asking as usual. It's okay if you don't know. So before Concubine Li's death, especially in the first day or two, did you feel anything unusual?"

Ning An said again: "Well, you have to think clearly, whoever can tell the strange and unusual place will definitely be rewarded by this princess!"

Sometimes, if you want to ask something, you still need to use extraordinary means, such as using money. Naturally, Ning An is very familiar with this. He also knows a thing or two about the complex relationships in the palace and the secret transactions behind them. Of course, these

It was all informed by Xiao Xi.

"The first two days?" Xiao Cui suddenly fell into deep thought, trying hard to recall the situation at that time. After all, it is still very difficult to remember it all at once, unless it is something particularly profound.

Zheng Yao patiently guided everyone and said slowly: "Imagine the situation at that time. Concubine Li was suffering from a serious illness and was screaming in pain in bed. You were busy coming in and out, bringing tea and water.

At this time, someone should call the imperial doctor

Doctor, someone went to inform the emperor. Not long after, the imperial physician and the emperor came to see and treat Concubine Li. However, the imperial physician could only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. The emperor left the palace very unhappy, and the imperial doctors also left in a hurry.

Go, this time..."

"That's right! I remembered it!" Just as Zhengyao was leading him step by step, Xiaocui suddenly opened his eyes, then looked at Zhengyao and said, "I have thought of it! It should be Concubine Li who died.

The first day, Xiao Tao brought an incense burner from somewhere and gave it to Xiao Ju, saying that the incense burner can help to concentrate and relieve pain, Xiao Ju, do you still remember?"

After saying that, Xiaocui immediately turned her head and looked at the other palace maid on the left rear.

The palace maid named Xiao Ju also had a ponytail, a pair of bright eyes, a childish face that looked like a doll, and a petite body that seemed to be blown away by a gust of wind. And this Xiao Ju was for Concubine Li.

The maid who often cleans the palace seldom talks.

"Xiaoju?"

At this time, everyone looked at Xiaoju with strange eyes. It was obvious that no one seemed to know about this matter.

When Xiao Ju saw everyone looking at her like this, and Ning An didn't say a word, she immediately thought that a disaster was coming. Just like Xiao Cui before, she knelt down and said: "My lord, please forgive me! My lord, please forgive me! I feel that the body of Concubine Li is getting worse."

I am getting weaker and weaker. I heard that there is a kind of sandalwood scent

After burning, you can clear your mind and focus, relieve pain and revitalize your energy, so this slave specially asked Xiaotao to help find it. This slave had no idea that such a thing would happen! In ordinary days, Concubine Li is very kind to her, how could this be possible, how could she do this?

Do what the Empress of Shanghai did!"

Xiaoju was about to cry, and all the grievances in her heart overflowed with the crystal tears, as if there was an indescribable pain and heartache.

"Cencenizer? Why haven't you heard Jin Yiwei talk about it before?" Zhengyao was puzzled. Could it be that the incense burner was missed? After Zhengyao thought for a moment, he immediately looked at Xiaoju and said, "Then where is this incense burner now?"

Xiaoju didn't dare to show any slightness and immediately replied: "Sir, the incense burner is still placed in the palace, and the servants clean it several times every day to comfort the empress's spirit in heaven!"

"Okay then, get up and take me to have a look."

After saying that, Zhengyao helped Xiaoju up, turned around, and went to Concubine Li's former bedroom.
Chapter completed!