usatvline Chapter 579 A strange combination of circumstances
Chapter 579 A strange combination of circumstances
The two brothers had already had some grudge against each other, and they immediately drew their swords against each other.
But the effect of the medicine on Xiao Huaijin's body had not yet worn off, and His Majesty was still angry. Therefore, although Xiao Huaijin was a martial arts master, he was too tired to fight and was unwilling to be ruthless to Xiao Chengzhang, so he was seriously injured.
And what about her?
She explained to Xiao Chengzhang several times and found a lot of evidence to prove her and Xiao Huaijin's innocence.
But at that time, His Majesty had been blinded by hatred. Although he believed that he had no personal feelings for Xiao Huaijin, he did not believe that this matter had nothing to do with Xiao Huaijin.
In other words, he believed that all this happened as Xiao Huaijin's deliberate revenge.
Shen Shuyi narrowed his eyes: "Revenge?"
Xiang Fei nodded, with a hint of bitterness in her eyes: "Yes, revenge. Xiao Huaijin has always liked Yin Qiling, but at that palace banquet, Your Majesty and Yin Qiling had a relationship by mistake and were caught."
Your Majesty at that time was severely rebuked and scolded by the late emperor for this.
The Yin family is also a noble and famous family, so they can't afford to lose face. Even if Xiao Chengzhang has no love for Yin Qiling, he can't let this good friend who grew up with him lose face.
In this way, Yin Qiling became another concubine of Xiao Chengzhang, and two people who had no feelings for each other were forcibly tied together.
Shen Shuyi listened to Xiang Fei's words and gradually sorted out his thoughts.
This means that at the palace banquet that year, the current emperor and Yin Qiling were first caught having an affair, which led to a rift between the brothers, and then Xiao Huaijin chose the fourth prince Xiao Zeduan, who was the most fiercest contender for the throne with Xiao Chengzhang.
Xiao Chengzhang was dissatisfied and explained to Xiao Huaijin that he was framed, but in the end, Xiao Huaijin still chose to stand on Xiao Zeduan's camp.
As a result, Xiao Chengzhang was disappointed and tried his best to prove that Xiao Huaijin's choice was wrong.
But at that time, Xiao Chengzhang should not have had any hatred towards Xiao Huaijin, but rather a variety of complex emotions such as indebtedness, anger, resentment and disappointment.
But since Xiao Huaijin stood on Xiao Zeduan's side, the two brothers were bound to fight. As time went by, their feelings naturally became distant and the gap between them grew deeper and deeper.
Later, when Xiao Huaijin had a secret meeting with Xiangfei, Xiao Chengzhang thought that he was deliberately humiliating him and taking revenge on him. From then on, the two brothers became complete enemies, and Xiao Chengzhang completely hated his brother whom he had admired in his childhood.
Yuan Shulei smiled bitterly and said, "Once involved in the struggle for the throne, there will inevitably be bloodshed. Since the two of them did not choose to stand together, it is inevitable that someone close to them will die at the hands of the other party. The hatred is getting deeper and deeper, and the feud is getting bigger and bigger. In the end, it is not to say that they are enemies, but they are strangers."
At this point, Shen Shuyi finally understood why the Empress Dowager was so obsessed with this matter.
The most painful thing for a mother is to watch her two beloved children killing each other.
Even though Xiao Huaijin is dead, this matter will always be a knot in her heart.
"Later, how did the second prince die?" Shen Shuyi asked.
Xiang Fei shook her head: "I don't know the details. After Your Majesty won the throne, he completely strangled the Fourth Prince's party, but he was ultimately unable to wield the butcher knife against this brother."
But even so, he still ordered Xiao Huaijin to be confined in the Second Prince's Mansion, put him under house arrest, and not allowed to visit.
Not long after that, the second prince died of illness.
"I only know that Xiao Huaijin lost a lot of weight in the following days. I heard that he was bedridden and no longer as glorious as he was before. Later, his health deteriorated and he passed away not long after."
Shen Shu thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know that when the second prince died, he was poisoned?"
Xiang Fei was stunned for a moment: "Is it your Majesty?"
Shen Shuyi shook her head: "I am not sure yet. It was only a few days ago when I visited the corpse of the late Second Prince at night that I learned that he was poisoned."
Concubine Xiang frowned, and for a moment she couldn't figure out what was going on with the poison in Xiao Huaijin's body.
Shen Shuyi knew her guess, but she didn't think that the poison was given by Emperor Qianwu. She still believed that the poison was related to Concubine Rou.
What's more, if we look at it from an outside perspective, the three women back then all married Emperor Qianwu?
The most harmless and in need of protection Concubine Rou became the Ninth Prince's consort, while Concubine Xiang, whom Emperor Qianwu truly loved, and Yin Qiling, who had a more prominent family background, became concubines?
Aren’t there too many coincidences here?
Shen Shu pondered for a moment and continued, "Your Majesty, do you know the details of the secret meeting between the Second Prince and Yin Qiling at the palace banquet? The Second Prince and Miss Yin are both outstanding people. Since they have no feelings for each other, how could they be easily plotted against?"
Xiang Fei shook her head and looked away.
"Not many people know about this. I only know that the late emperor had a favorite concubine named Gong. This concubine was also the biological mother of the late Fourth Prince. The Empress Dowager hated this person very much. She said that the reason Xiao Huaijin and Yin Qiling made such a big mistake at the palace banquet was because of this concubine..."
Shen Shuyi frowned: "But, Madam, someone who can plot against His Majesty and Yin Qiling at the same time must not be an ordinary person."
Xiang Fei also frowned and looked directly at Shen Shuyi: "What do you mean?"
Shen Shuyi said slowly: "I just feel that if it weren't for someone Xiao Huaijin and Yin Qiling trusted, how could they have succeeded so easily?"
Xiang Fei was stunned for a moment and remained silent for a long time.
"Songyi, do you know something?" After a while, Concubine Xiang withdrew her thoughts and looked at the nanny who seemed a little cunning before.
The nanny seemed a little dazed, as if she was trapped in some memories.
Yuan Shulei did not urge her, but looked at Shen Shuyi and said, "After the death of the second prince, Sister Qiling was very unhappy. After His Majesty ascended the throne, she was unwilling to accept the title, but because she was pregnant, she had been holding on. She passed away a few years after giving birth to the child."
"After what happened at the palace banquet that day, most of Sister Qiwen's close associates were dealt with. Only Songyi escaped because she was late returning home after delivering something to me."
"She is the capable nanny who has watched Sister Qiwen grow up since she was a child. If you want to know anything, just ask her."
Shen Shuyi was a little surprised. She really didn't expect that this nanny would be an old friend of Yin Qiling.
Just listening to these words, she couldn't help feeling sad.
It seems that what happened that day was discovered by many people, but the masters kept their mouths shut and the servants were all dealt with.
"Madam Songyi, do you remember how Senior Yin was lured over to have a 'secret meeting' with His Majesty?"
Nanny Songyi thought carefully for a long time, and slowly said: "At the palace banquet that day, Concubine Rou was supposed to have a performance at the palace banquet, but the day before the palace banquet, Concubine Rou was beaten by Marquis Zhaowu, and her body was covered with bruises and there were few good places left on her body."
"She tried hard not to say anything until the palace banquet when the young lady saw her pale face and difficulty in moving, and then she realized something was wrong."