Both Dongfang Yi and Helian Qi had fallen into a coma. The former was severely injured externally, making it difficult for her to regain consciousness quickly for the time being. The latter, on the other hand, was too weak to be running around recklessly. His injury had left him so feeble that he couldn't wake up.
Both of them were in the Queen's Palace. When the Empress Dowager heard the news, she rushed over immediately.
She was overjoyed to learn that the Emperor had regained consciousness. She was so happy that she almost fainted. It was Nanny Li who told her to stay calm. Only then did she gather her thoughts and hurry over.
At first, when she learned that the Emperor had rushed to Dongfang Yi's palace as soon as he woke up, she felt a bit displeased. But then she remembered that Doctor Bai Juechen was found by her with great effort. Since he had done some meritorious deeds, she didn't want to blame him anymore.
However, when she arrived at the Queen's Palace, she heard Ruyi say that the Emperor had fallen into a coma again, and even Dongfang Yi was seriously injured and unconscious. Immediately, she rushed into the inner chamber. Sure enough, she saw the two of them lying on the bed, seemingly unconscious.
"What on earth has happened!" she roared angrily, her brows furrowed so tightly that they seemed to knot.
"It... It was Concubine Chu who came here and beat the Queen. The Emperor rushed over to stop her, but then they both fell into a coma!" Xiaolan replied from the side. When she said the words "Concubine Chu", her voice was filled with gritted teeth, as if she harbored great hatred.
The Empress Dowager frowned tightly upon hearing this. Then she said in a deep voice, "Is what you said true? If there is a single false word, you know my methods!"
There was great pressure in her words. After all, the Empress Dowager didn't dislike Concubine Chu as much as she disliked the Nangong family. She only thought that Concubine Chu was a concubine daughter who was not favored in the Dongfang family when she was young. And Dongfang Yi was far less talented than her. So after Concubine Chu entered the palace, the Empress Dowager thought highly of her and even intended to promote her. Therefore, when she heard what Xiaolan said, she was still a bit reluctant to believe it.
Just then, Donghua walked in from outside the inner chamber. She bowed slightly to the woman in front of her and then said, "Your Majesty, what Xiaolan said is absolutely true. When Concubine Chu came here, she brought dozens of palace servants with her. They all witnessed the violent act. If Your Majesty has any doubts, you can naturally ask them!"
Although she wasn't a witness herself, she had heard the whole story from Xiaolan. She guessed that Concubine Chu thought the Queen was weak and had no protection from the Emperor, so she became so arrogant and domineering that she brought so many palace servants here.
After hearing her words, the Empress Dowager frowned even more tightly. She felt that what she said made sense. After all, when everyone keeps saying the same thing, it becomes the truth, and the truth will eventually come to light.
On the other hand, in Concubine Chu's Palace.
After what happened in the morning, Concubine Chu was extremely frightened. But she didn't want to die, so she had to find a way to survive.
So when she heard that Helian Qi and the others had fallen into a coma, she felt secretly delighted. This meant that she still had a chance.
So she immediately sent a message to the Nangong family, telling them what had happened to her today. She also informed them that the Emperor had woken up, and all their previous plans had fallen through. She demanded that they must find a way to protect her life. Otherwise, she would expose all the things she knew.
After all, they were all in the same boat. At this moment, no one could get through this safely.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but sneer. No matter what the result of this was, she had to take a desperate chance.
Then she gathered all the palace servants who had gone to the Queen's Palace with her. She announced that she would reward them, but in fact, she was going to gather them together and kill them all, so that there would be fewer loopholes for herself.
After hearing this order, the palace servants were a bit skeptical. But unfortunately, the reward was very generous. No one could resist the temptation of silver.
So they all gathered in the inner courtyard. Concubine Chu stood at the highest point and counted their numbers with her eyes. She found that there were only fourteen people. But she remembered that she had brought fifteen people there. So she frowned and asked her personal maid, "Is there one missing?!"
At this moment, she wouldn't allow any fish to slip through the net.
But the maid shook her head and replied, "There is really no one missing. Your Majesty brought a total of fifteen people there."
"Oh? But there are only fourteen people here!" Concubine Chu continued to ask, her eyes narrowing slightly, with a hint of danger.
"Ah! The fifteenth person is me, your servant." The maid replied with a smile on her lips. Her tone was very brisk, as if she didn't feel anything inappropriate. After all, she was the personal maid, and she had to follow her mistress wherever she went. Since her mistress said she wanted to bring fifteen people with her, she naturally counted herself in.
Concubine Chu frowned slightly upon hearing this. As if she had thought of something, she smiled with pursed lips. Then she turned her head, as if the words she had just asked were not from her.
Then she sent people to distribute all the silver. Just as the group of palace servants were overjoyed, thinking they were about to get rich.
Concubine Chu suddenly said in a deep voice, "I'm using this silver to buy your lives. You can rest in peace."
As soon as she finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the crowd. But then there erupted a great cry of pain. They all shouted, "Your Majesty, we don't want this silver anymore! Please spare our lives..."
For a moment, the cries for mercy filled Concubine Chu's Palace. Concubine Chu completely ignored their pleas for help. Instead, she turned around and waved her hand backwards. Then some strong palace servants appeared from the side.
They covered the mouths of those who were shouting wildly, in order to prevent them from making any more noise. After all, the sound was too easy to arouse suspicion.
Then the group of palace servants picked up their daggers and began the slaughter. Since the people being executed had their mouths covered, they couldn't make much noise even when they were in pain. There were only muffled groans, followed by the sound of bodies falling to the ground.
After the commotion behind her completely stopped, Concubine Chu finally turned around. Looking at the scene of blood flowing continuously in front of her, she finally hooked the corners of her lips in satisfaction. And the maid beside her had never seen such a scene before. By this time, she was already scared out of her wits, and her body was still trembling constantly.
Seeing her appearance, Concubine Chu couldn't help but sneer. Then she picked up a piece of gold and handed it over. Then she said, "You've served me for so long. It's really not easy for you!"