Immediately afterwards, a group of people rushed to Concubine Chu's palace. By now, Concubine Chu had been discovered in time and was saved by the guards. At this moment, she was lying on the bed, looking pale. The red mark on her neck was quite eye - catching.
Before Dongfang Yi entered the inner chamber, she said to the guard beside her, "Go and invite the emperor."
Then she strode in. After seeing Concubine Chu on the couch, she first sneered coldly and then asked, "Not dead?"
Hearing this, Concubine Chu wanted to say something, but coughed a couple of times out of control. In the end, she couldn't say a word.
Looking at her, Dongfang Yi knew that her suicide attempt was not an act. But how could she die so easily? She must have some purpose, so it was normal that she didn't die.
The guard beside her lowered his head and replied, "When we came to deliver lunch to Concubine Chu, we found her hanging from the beam. Fortunately, we saved her in time, otherwise..."
He didn't finish his sentence, for if he did, it would be disrespectful. Hearing this, Concubine Chu curled her lips where no one could see.
This was a carefully - planned suicide attempt. No matter how hoarse she had been last night, no one came to ask about her. So she could only come up with this idea. Otherwise, how could she attract people?
She calculated the time when the guard would enter the palace to deliver lunch. Before that, she hung the rope and hanged herself just a second before they came in. Once they found her, they would surely save her. So she only suffered some skin injuries and her life was not in danger.
Within a quarter of an hour, Helian Qi also rushed over. He looked coldly at the rope hanging from the beam and then at Concubine Chu on the couch. The displeasure in his eyes became even more intense.
"Why did you try to hang yourself?!" he asked coldly.
Dongfang Yi beside him couldn't help sneering and said, "What else could it be? She just wants to draw us here. She'll see how this woman will act next."
Concubine Chu struggled to get out of bed. Then, with red eyes, she said, "Since Your Majesty doesn't believe that I didn't try to assassinate the empress, I can only prove my innocence with my death!"
Helian Qi raised his eyebrows and then asked, "There were so many people present who saw the poisonous snake crawling out of your sleeve. Is that false?"
"It's not false, but I was framed!" she continued, staring with wide eyes to defend herself.
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi laughed and then asked, "Then tell me who exactly framed you for trying to assassinate me?!"
Concubine Chu obviously didn't expect her to interrupt. Although she was displeased, she endured it and continued, "It was Concubine Yao!"
"She sent a box of things to me when I went to the empress's palace. On the surface, it was a gesture of friendship, but in fact, it was a plot to frame me. That snake must be one of her poisonous creatures!"
As soon as she said the name Concubine Yao, the two people beside her both paused. They were secretly delighted. Did that woman leave some loopholes?
"Summon Concubine Yao!" Helian Qi coldly ordered. Then he supported Dongfang Yi and sat down on the armchair beside them.
Although Concubine Chu was unhappy that the woman in front of her was treated so well, she didn't dare to say a word now. She could only lower her head and grit her teeth, hating her deeply in her heart.
Within a quarter of an hour, Concubine Yao rushed over. First, she bowed respectfully to the two people sitting in front of her and then said, "Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty and the empress. May the new year be auspicious!"
Looking at the calm woman in front of her, Dongfang Yi couldn't help doubting Concubine Chu's words. If her words were true, this woman was too calm.
Concubine Chu beside her was the first to shout loudly, "Concubine Yao, you bitch! You dared to frame me!"
She had wanted to scold her for a long time. After she guessed that it was Concubine Yao who had harmed her yesterday, she couldn't control her anger. Now that she saw her, she couldn't help scolding.
"Concubine Chu, what are you talking about? Your servant doesn't understand. What framing? You must have remembered wrong!" Concubine Yao frowned, looking completely innocent.
Concubine Chu sneered. She thought that Concubine Yao still dared to tell lies with her eyes open. So she continued, "You bitch! You didn't talk like this when you came to see me yesterday afternoon. And that box of treasures you sent is still here!"
Hearing this, the confused look on Concubine Yao's face deepened. Then she turned to Helian Qi and said, "Your Majesty, your servant really doesn't know what Concubine Chu is talking about. Your servant didn't come here yesterday afternoon at all."
Hearing this, everyone was stunned. They thought such words couldn't be said casually, for according to Concubine Chu, Concubine Yao had come with something.
Concubine Chu laughed twice and then taunted, "Concubine Yao, you're too eager to exonerate yourself. Have you forgotten the things you sent?!"
This was exactly what they wanted to ask.
But no matter how they argued, it was useless. So Helian Qi sent someone to carry in the box that Concubine Chu had mentioned. They slowly opened it in front of everyone.
However, what was inside the box was unexpected.
There was no so - called treasure at all. There was only half a box of soil.
Seeing this, Concubine Chu was shocked. As if she couldn't believe it, she shouted, "This is impossible!"
She clearly remembered that there were many treasures inside, and each one was a special item from the Southern Neighboring Country. How could it turn into half a box of soil now?
Concubine Yao beside her covered her mouth and said uncomfortably, "Your servant didn't expect Concubine Chu to use such a despicable means to accuse your servant. Would your servant send half a box of soil to her? It's absurd!"
Dongfang Yi and Helian Qi looked at each other, full of doubts.
Compared with Concubine Yao, they were more likely to believe Concubine Chu's confession. But unexpectedly, the box of treasures had turned into soil. How could this be explained? It couldn't be that Concubine Yao had sent soil in the first place.
"What's going on?!" Dongfang Yi couldn't help asking.
Concubine Chu immediately loudly defended herself, "Your servant doesn't know either. Your servant clearly remembered that it was a box of treasures! It must be Concubine Yao. She must have used some sorcery to make it like this!"