dognovel Chapter 1656 At least Nian Nian is completely clean (268 million reward points added)
Chapter 1656 At least Nian Nian is completely clean (268 million reward points added)
"Among them, the one who went the most was the Imperial Concubine. The Imperial Concubine was a Buddhist. When she was still in her boudoir, she would go to Fatu Temple to burn incense on the first and fifteenth of every month, saying that she was praying for her parents at home, without fail, rain or shine."
"Secondly, it is Consort Yue who goes there every spring and autumn, saying that she likes the tranquility of the temple."
"And Consort Mei, she went three times."
"Consort Tang went twice, both times accompanying her mother to pray for peace and good fortune."
"Consort Su went there once, after recovering from her illness, to fulfill her vow."
"Empress Kang, Empress Xian... most of the old people who came from the Prince's residence have also been there."
"You could count the number of people who haven't been to Fatu Temple on one hand..."
In Li Changde's view, this is actually a very normal thing.
It wasn't that all the ladies-in-waiting were Buddhists. Rather, these women rarely left their homes, and the only opportunity they had to go out was to visit a temple to offer incense.
Therefore, many noble ladies would use the excuse of worshipping Buddha to go out for some fresh air.
Fatu Temple, being a royal temple, was naturally the best choice for those noble ladies.
If this is used to determine whether they had affairs with the monks of Fatu Temple, then the entire imperial harem would be wiped out...
That's not the right way either.
Nangong Xuanyu opened the booklet, which recorded page after page the women's activities before entering the palace.
On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, a certain person went to Fatu Temple to offer incense. The number of people accompanying them, the length of their stay, and the amount of money donated for incense oil...
They all seem innocent and reasonable.
If Li Changde understood this principle, how could Nangong Xuanyu not understand it? Of course, he wouldn't believe that all the women in the harem who had been to Fatu Temple had some unclear relationship with Xingchen.
But the emperor's anger was still hard to quell!
"Ninety percent?"
Nangong Xuanyu scoffed, "Then should I be glad that at least 10% of my harem is still clean?"
Li Changde knew that His Majesty was speaking in anger, so he didn't dare to reply.
Nangong Xuanyu threw the booklet back onto the imperial desk, looked at Li Changde, and asked irritably, "In your opinion, how many people in my harem are still innocent?"
A cold sweat broke out on Li Changde's back, and he knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty is wise! This servant... this servant dares not make a rash judgment."
"Fatu Temple is very popular, and it's common for noble ladies and wives in the capital to go there to offer incense. It's also quite common for the concubines and young ladies of the inner palace to visit Fatu Temple before entering the palace..."
"If we conclude from this that they have an affair with Xingchen, then...then the harem is probably..."
Nangong Xuanyu understood Li Changde's meaning.
If we really investigated according to this standard, the imperial harem would be turned upside down!
Which noble ladies or daughters of officials in the capital didn't visit a temple when they were still young?
Fatu Temple is a royal temple with a thriving incense offering tradition. Going there to offer incense is both a sign of status and in accordance with the rules, so it is by no means wrong.
But Nangong Xuanyu couldn't help but wonder how many people's backyards that lewd monk Xingchen had plunged into.
"His Majesty……"
Li Changde said, "This servant dares to say something... If Xingchen truly harbors the intention to confuse the royal bloodline, then his target should be the concubines after His Majesty ascends the throne."
“When Your Majesty was still a prince, who could have predicted that you would eventually ascend the throne? Therefore, the ladies who came from the prince’s residence should be considered innocent.”
Nangong Xuanyu also knew that no matter how powerful Xingchen was, it was impossible for him to have predicted that Xingchen would ascend the throne many years ago.
When the old man from the Prince's residence entered the palace, he was still just a prince. If Xingchen had started making plans back then, he would be giving him far too much credit.
Therefore, the target... can only be the concubines selected to enter the palace after he ascends the throne.
However... most of the women who entered the palace through these two selections had also visited Fatu Temple to worship Buddha.
The reason is the same as above.
Nangong Xuanyu's brows furrowed even more.
He suddenly asked, "...The Imperial Noble Consort has never been to Fatu Temple?"
The emperor's words did not imply doubt about Shen Zhinian.
Instead, it was Niannian who was the woman he cared about most and the only one he truly loved.
It is the pure land in his heart.
That's why he wanted to get some comfort from her.
Li Changde bowed and said, "Your Majesty, indeed."
"Before the Imperial Noble Consort entered the palace, the Shen family was just a minor official of the sixth rank, not even considered important in the capital. This servant has investigated and found that the Imperial Noble Consort was still a concubine's daughter at that time, not favored by her stepmother, and rarely had the opportunity to go out, let alone visit royal temples."
"It was the Imperial Noble Consort's elder sister, Shen Nanqiao, who visited Fatu Temple once. However, that was many years ago, and Shen Nanqiao has long since been executed."
Even if Li Changde isn't mentioned, Nangong Xuanyu doesn't remember that Shen Zhinian has such a low-status older sister.
The dead are not important.
The important thing is to keep thinking about it.
The emperor confirmed, "She's never been there even once?"
Not even once.
Li Changde sighed and said, "This servant sent people to the Shen residence to inquire, and also asked the old people who served in the Shen family. When the Imperial Noble Consort was in her boudoir... she had a very difficult time and indeed did not go out very often."
Nangong Xuanyu finally relaxed.
Fortunately.
At least Nian Nian is completely clean!
He himself found the idea laughable when it first came to mind.
He is the emperor, the husband of all the women in the harem, yet now he has to feel fortunate for one woman's purity.
Although Nangong Xuanyu was unwilling to admit it, he was still relieved.
At least in the corrupt and filthy harem, there was still a pure land.
At least the person he cherished most had never had any connection with that bald monk.
The emperor said, "Let's change direction. There's no need to investigate who has been to Fatu Temple."
"Over the years, who has Cha Xingchen actively approached? Under the guise of lecturing on scriptures, giving away medicine, and interpreting divination slips, which imperial concubines has he contacted?"
Li Changde said respectfully: "Yes!"
In the days that followed, he uncovered many of the spies that Empress Dowager Gongsu had left in the palace.
Li Changde investigated these undercover agents.
It's fine if we don't investigate, but once we do, it'll be a disaster!
He actually discovered a shocking secret...
"……His Majesty."
Li Changde walked in from outside, bowing deeply, his expression more solemn than ever before.
Nangong Xuanyu knew that Li Changde's current state meant he must have discovered something.
He put down the memorial and sat up straight: "Speak."
Li Changde dismissed everyone and knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty, this servant... this servant has discovered an old matter from the time of the late Emperor..."
Nangong Xuanyu frowned: "The late emperor?"
That happened so many years ago.
"What old story?"
Li Changde took a deep breath before mustering the courage to ask, "Does Your Majesty still remember the late Emperor's Consort Yun?"
Nangong Xuanyu searched his memory for this name.
It is said that the late emperor's concubine, Yunfei, was extremely beautiful, but died young. When Nangong Xuanyu was only one or two years old, Yunfei passed away, and he was unaware of the details.
The emperor asked, "What does this have to do with Consort Yun?"