I used the space to empty the pirates' private vault.

Chapter 239: Concubine Xiao's heart is in a mess

"Yes, Princess! Xiangye was walking too fast and bumped into my shoulder, causing me to almost knock over the porridge and cakes on the tray. That's why I quarreled with her."

After Hongying said this, she was suddenly shocked and panicked. How could she have forgotten about this matter? This was terrible.

Thinking about how Miss Jiang had just discovered that the pastries she brought contained arsenic, it couldn't be that someone had planted it there at that time.

Hongying muttered to herself.

"Then why didn't you mention this just now?" Princess Cang Yue asked.

If she hadn't suddenly remembered that Hongying had muttered something behind her on the way to Yongshou Palace, she probably wouldn't have remembered this incident now.

Hongying looked at Princess Cangyue's increasingly serious expression and knew that she was in big trouble this time.

She couldn't help but regret it. She was so frightened just now that she didn't think of this matter. Now that the princess has told it, her fate may be miserable.

"Xian Ye, the maid of Concubine Xiao?"

When the emperor heard the name, his eyebrows slightly frowned, and a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes. He didn't seem to have much impression of this name.

At this time, Hongying told everyone the whole story in detail: "This morning, I went to the imperial kitchen according to the princess's instructions and took away the meal that the princess prepared for the queen mother."

"I came out of the imperial kitchen and walked to a corner of the corridor. I ran into Concubine Xiao's maid Xiang Ye leading two young maids hurriedly heading towards the imperial kitchen."

"I saw Xiangye walking hurriedly, looking a little flustered, as if she had something important to do. When I passed by them, Xiangye's shoulder accidentally bumped into me, almost knocking over the things in my hand, so I had a quarrel with Xiangye."

"After returning to the princess, I was still angry. Then, I couldn't help but complain to my companions about what happened just now."

However, what she did not expect was that her casual complaints were heard by the princess.

After everyone listened to Hongying's words quietly, the entire palace became silent for a moment, as if even the sound of a needle falling to the ground could be heard clearly.

Everyone had different expressions on their faces.

At this time, the old emperor, who was sitting in the chair next to the empress dowager, was thinking solemnly. There was a complex light flashing in his deep eyes, as if he was thinking about something important.

After a moment of silence, the old emperor suddenly said, "Little Li, go and invite Concubine Xiao and all the maids around her immediately. Remember, don't tell anyone a word on the way!"

Hearing the emperor's order, Eunuch Li standing beside him did not dare to delay for a moment and immediately bowed and said, "As you command, Your Majesty!"

After saying this, he turned around and left Yongshou Palace, and quickly summoned a few young eunuchs to rush towards the palace where Concubine Xiao was.

After a long time, when everyone was anxiously waiting, Concubine Xiao appeared in the hall with Xiang Ye and a group of palace maids.

Concubine Xiao looked pale and a little flustered, with beads of sweat on her forehead. She walked quickly to the emperor, knelt on her knees, bowed her head and said nothing.

At the same time, the palace maids who came with Concubine Xiao also imitated their master's actions and knelt in a row. The whole scene was extremely solemn and dignified.

Among these palace maids were Xiangye, whom Hongying met today, and one of the young palace maids.

The old emperor slowly stood up from his chair and walked slowly towards Concubine Xiao. Every step he took seemed so heavy and majestic.

Finally, he stopped in front of Concubine Xiao, lowered his eyes slightly, and stared at her closely.

"Princess Xiao, raise your head and look directly at me." The old emperor's voice was low and powerful, carrying an irresistible pressure.

After she finished speaking, Concubine Xiao tried hard to remain calm, but her heart was already in turmoil.

She took a deep breath, then slowly raised her head and bravely met the emperor's sharp hawk-like gaze.

The emperor stared at Concubine Xiao, with a complex light flashing in his eyes, as if he wanted to see through her appearance to her true thoughts deep in her heart.

After a while, the emperor asked, "Do you know why I summoned you here today?"

Concubine Xiao's heart tightened, and she quickly knelt down and replied, "Your Majesty, please tell me clearly, I really don't know!"

Her voice was trembling, and she was obviously very nervous about the question.

The emperor raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a barely perceptible sneer.

He continued, "Then, turn your head to the right and look at the dead cat on the table in the Queen Mother's Palace. It died because it accidentally ate cakes mixed with arsenic."

While saying this, the emperor's eyes never left Concubine Xiao's, as if he wanted to capture any slight change in her expression.

When Concubine Xiao saw the dead white cat on the table, her heart suddenly shook and a chill ran down her spine.

She stared at the white cat with her eyes wide open, her lips trembling slightly, but she dared not make a sound.

However, she tried hard to suppress her inner fear, and her face quickly changed into a terrified yet innocent expression.

"Your Majesty, what is going on?"

Concubine Xiao's voice was trembling slightly, and she seemed like she might collapse at any moment.

She looked at the emperor cautiously, her eyes full of confusion and anxiety.

The emperor looked at Concubine Xiao coldly, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing an unfathomable smile.

"I also want to ask my beloved concubine."

His tone was as calm as a pool of stagnant water, without the slightest ripple.

Concubine Xiao's heart tightened. She felt the coldness in the emperor's eyes and said calmly, "Your Majesty, please don't tease me. How could I know? I have always been doing my duty in the palace and have never left the palace."

She lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes, and her pitiful appearance made people feel pity. But only Concubine Xiao herself knew that her heart was already in a mess at this moment.

"Is there a palace maid named Xiangye by your side? Did she take people to the imperial kitchen this morning?" The emperor asked Concubine Xiao with sharp eyes.

"Your Majesty, yes, Xiangye is indeed a person in my palace, and my daily meals are served by Xiangye." The concubine answered cautiously, knowing in her heart that today's events were not good.

"Did she tell you that she had an argument with Cang Yue's maid on her way to the imperial kitchen this morning?"

The emperor continued to question, with a barely perceptible seriousness in his tone.

"Oh, I have heard about this from Xiangye. I just reprimanded her in my palace. I can assure your majesty that after this lesson, Xiangye will never make the same mistake again!"

The concubine hurriedly said that she had already disciplined Xiangye.