As soon as these words came out, Meng Ning almost jumped up.

"No maid! The official investigation revealed that my maid is working as an errand at Huining Hall and has been doing her best. She never dares to neglect Madam Zhang, and she is even more sincere..."

Meng Ning knelt and walked over to beg Zhao Zhen for mercy.

Zhao Zhen was so angry that he kicked her to the ground.

"Trial! Take this evil maid to the Imperial City Prison and give me a good trial!"

"Official family..." Queen Cao walked closer, took a look at Zhang Xueyi, and said calmly: "This matter should not make a big deal. No matter how tight-lipped the Imperial City Prisoner is, he is not a mouthless bottle after all..."

Zhang Xueyi burst into tears as soon as she heard this.

Zhao Zhen sneered, "What is the queen afraid of?"

Empress Cao gently lifted her lips, "I'm afraid that if things get too big, the palace scandal will spread to the imperial city and be known to the whole world. It will affect the royal dignity and the emperor's reputation."

Zhao Zhen's expression really slowed down.

Compared to Zhang Xueyi, what he loves more is his country and the Zhao family.

Zhang Xueyi gritted his teeth and groaned, and asked pitifully: "Is it possible that this matter can just be forgotten?"

"Of course we can't just let it go." Empress Cao smiled slowly: "This evil maid will repay kindness with revenge. She has a grudge against the imperial concubine. It is not an exaggeration to cut her into pieces with a thousand cuts, but the officials are kind..."

After saying that, she glanced at the innocent Xin Yi, and the corners of her lips curved.

"In my opinion, if you beat him to death with a stick, you can just feed him to the dog."

Meng Ning almost fainted when she heard this.

"The official has mercy on me, the saint has mercy on me, my wife has mercy on me, my maid, my maid..."

At this point, Meng Ning seemed to realize that if she was beaten to death, this crime would be pinned on her head. Not only would she be punished, but all nine of her clans might also be punished...

Isn’t this a loss to oneself and an advantage to others?

Meng Ning made up her mind and kowtowed heavily in the eyes of Empress Cao who looked half-smiling but not even encouraging.

"My maid was ordered by Madam Zhou."

·

The hall was as silent as death.

Zhao Zhen looked shocked, with faint blue veins floating on his forehead, and he coldly rushed towards Meng Ning with uncontrollable anger.

"What did you say? Say it again."

Meng Ning's lips and tongue trembled, she didn't dare to speak anymore, and suddenly turned to Zhou Yiliu.

"Madam, please save my maid. Madam, please save your maid. This maid is doing this all for you..."

Zhou Yiliu: "It's ridiculous!"

She put her hands flat on her knees and looked at Zhao Zhen.

"She will be identified as a concubine by the palace maids of Ning Palace. Does that mean she is a concubine? Because she is humble, can she be criticized by others?"

Cao Yuzhang glanced at Zhao Zhen and said calmly: "Do the officials know why I refused to let you take me to the Imperial City Prison for trial?"

It’s a royal thing that I can’t understand.

Zhou Yiliu is pregnant, which is her biggest support.

In other words, whether she did it or not, Zhao Zhen will not touch her. If the matter gets serious, let alone whether it will affect the emperor's heir, let's just say that after the child is born in the future, there will be such a vicious person.

Mother, how should I deal with myself...

After all, Queen Cao knew very well.

It's one thing to peel off Zhou Yiliu's skin, but whether he can punish her... That depends on Zhang Xueyi's ability.

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen nodded and said calmly: "The queen is still thoughtful..."

Before his voice fell, he seemed to suddenly realize something and turned his head sharply, "So the queen already knew about it?"

"I don't know, I don't know." Cao Yuzhang looked at Zhou Yiliu calmly and paused, "But in this palace, anyone who dares to hurt the imperial concubine, no matter who... will damage the royal family's face."

Zhao Zhen remained silent.

He doesn't like this queen, probably for this reason. She is too calm, even if the sky falls, Cao Yuzhang can calmly analyze the pros and cons for him, like an empty shell. The name of this empty shell is "Queen", not his wife

.

"Ayima." Zhao Zhen named Xin Yi for the second time.

"You said you heard it in the backyard. Who is that person? If he is in the palace, point it out to me."

Xin Yi pouted and shook his head cautiously.

"I dare not say...I'm afraid."

Zhao Zhen: "I will make the decision for you, what are you afraid of? Tell me!"

Xin Yi's head lowered lower and lower, looking very hesitant, "I can't see people clearly, so telling them doesn't count. If the officials want to know, just ask my maid Xingyuan to identify them."

Xingyuan was quickly brought in.

She glanced at Xin Yi, knelt down in front of Zhao Zhen and kowtowed.

"When we return to the official's house, I will recognize that the person is Miss Xiuqin who is with Mrs. Zhou."

Zhao Zhen: "Why do you recognize her?"

Xingyuan said: "My maidservant and Xiuqin were working together at the eldest princess's residence. It was only after Lady Zhou entered the palace that she asked Xiuqin to come there."

Zhao Zhen stared at Zhou Yiliu with an angry expression.

"Why? I treat you well, why do you have to put your concubine to death?"

"Isn't it thin?" Zhou Yiliu suddenly raised his head, biting his lower lip palely, and said with tears: "Years ago, he left without saying goodbye, letting me marry someone else with a pregnant belly, and gave birth to a child who was looked down upon...many years later, he treated me as a biological child.

The sow feeds the child good food and drinks, and then disposes of it as she pleases..."

"Are you crazy?" Zhao Zhen looked at her in disbelief, unable to believe that she actually admitted it in person and said such a rebellious thing.

Zhou Yiliu smiled lowly.

At this point, the situation is over and there is no point in quibbling.

How many chips does she have left? How many are available?

...Zhao Zhen, the man she and Zhang Xueyi share.

Her life and death depended on Zhao Zhen's thoughts.

"Yes. I am crazy." Zhou Yiliu looked at Zhao Zhen with tears in his eyes, "Since I fell in love with the official, I have become very crazy. I have no matchmaker and no Ping to bear children for the official, and I am coaxed by the official...

Not only am I crazy, I’m stupid, I’m also jealous! I’m jealous that Concubine Zhang is favored by the official family, and I’m jealous that she is the most popular person in the official family…”

In fact, she didn't care so much when Zhang Xueyi died. It was Xin Yi's arrival that accelerated her murderous intention. But at this moment, Zhou Yiliu absolutely dared not admit that he wanted to harm Xin Yi because of his obsession with Fu Jiuqu, so he killed Zhang Xueyi.

Of course, she didn't dare to confess what Fu Jiuqu asked her to do...

That way, she will only die faster and more miserably.

"I have only done one wrong thing in my life..."

Zhou Yiliu stared at Zhao Zhen without blinking.

"The person I love doesn't love me."

Zhao Zhen stared at her in astonishment and was speechless for a long time.

"Kill me, official. To avenge your beloved concubine, kill me, a lowly, cattyleaf... lowly woman." Zhou Yiliu slowly closed his eyes, letting tears flow, his shoulders trembling, pitiful and helpless.

.

She was betting that Zhao Zhen had a kind and weak temperament and still felt pity for her.

"Your concubine... you have to take care of yourself after I leave."

"Who wants you to pretend to be a good person?" Zhang Xueyi was so angry that his eyes widened.

Zhou Yiliu gave a low smile, extremely sad and beautiful.

"You take care of yourself and live a thousand and a hundred years, so that the official family can live long and prosperous. Only if you take care of yourself and stay by the official's side can the official family be happy year after year...

As long as the dragon body of the official family is healthy, I am willing to fall into the animal realm and become an ox and a horse, serving as a slave for human beings from generation to generation..."

Every word, she burst into tears, full of affection.

Cao Yuzhang turned his face away silently, the corners of his lips slightly hooked, and his expression was calm and gentle.

After decades in the palace, she has seen enough...

Xin Yi sighed inwardly, just now she thought her tea skills were at the tenth level, but now compared with Zhou Yiliu, she knew what was ginger or spicy.

After all, she doesn't have such a thick skin and such a dark heart.

"The official family..."

Zhang Xueyi suddenly cried and howled without thinking, and dragged Zhao Zhen's sleeves.
To be continued...