After Xiao Jingyan and the other two entered the palace, Princess Xiao Jingning returned to her own Xiao Attraction Pavilion.
The two of them walked forward in silence without any intention of speaking. They also acted as if they didn't see the palace servants who were saluting on both sides. Only when they reached the front of the Residence Raising Hall did they stop and let the Yellow Gate Official outside the hall report.
Emperor Liang was a little surprised to hear that the two of them were seeking an audience. He quickly passed down the order. When he saw the expression on the princess 'face, he became even more suspicious. After they finished their national etiquette, he immediately asked,"Ni Huang, what's wrong? Who made you unhappy?"
Ni Huang pulled up her skirt and bowed. She raised her head and said,"Your Majesty, please make a decision for Ni Huang."
"Aiya, get up, quickly get up.。。”
Ni Huang remained on her knees and stared straight into Emperor Liang's eyes."Today, Imperial Consort Yue summoned Ni Huang into Zhaoren Palace in the name of talking about her hometown. However, she secretly tampered with the wine to confuse Ni Huang's mind. The Crown Prince took the opportunity to bring Sima Lei into the inner court and wanted to force Ni Huang to marry. I hope that Your Majesty will investigate this matter and give Ni Huang justice.”
Her words were simple and straightforward without any pretense. Instead, every word was shocking. Emperor Liang was already so angry that his entire body was trembling. He shouted,"Call the Imperial Consort and the Crown Prince! Quickly come to the Residence Nurturing Hall!"
This edict was passed down surprisingly quickly. Not long after, not only did those who should have come come, but those who should not have also come. Other than Imperial Consort Yue and the Crown Prince who were summoned, Prince Yu also appeared.
"Consort Yue! Crown Prince! Do you know your sins?" Before everyone could finish bowing, Emperor Liang shouted angrily.
Imperial Consort Yue looked surprised and bowed her head in fear,""ChenQie does not know what has angered ShengYan, please speak clearly, Your Majesty.”
"Are you still pretending not to know?" Emperor Liang slapped the table." What did you do to Ni Huang today? Speak!"
"Princess Ni Huang?" Imperial Consort Yue was even more surprised." This concubine invited the princess to a banquet today. Later, the princess couldn't take the alcohol and became drunk. This concubine and the Crown Prince were taking care of her when the Empress Dowager suddenly arrived and ordered Princess Jing Ning to take the princess away to rest.。。ChenQie does not know what happened after that. Could it be that the viscountess felt neglected because of the lack of hospitality?”
Ni Huang saw that she had pushed him clean and could not help but sneer. She said,"Your wine is really amazing. Just drinking a cup is like being poisoned by the poison of spring. Was there such a wine in the world? Moreover, I just drank that cup of wine and the Crown Prince brought Sima Lei in to pester me. Is this also a coincidence? If it wasn't for Xiao Chu's miraculous hand, I'm afraid I would have already lost my mind!”
"That wine is the Seven Mile Incense given by His Majesty. Although the wine is strong, only the princess would say that drinking it is like being poisoned by spring. Your Majesty can search in ChenQie's palace, there is absolutely no other wine. Moreover, the princess was probably drunk at that time. The one who came in was clearly only the Crown Prince, how could there be any Sima Lei? This matter could also be questioned by all the servants in Zhaoren Palace to see if there was a second person who saw Sima Lei come in.”
Ni Huang raised her eyebrows and said angrily,"Everyone in Zhaoren Palace is yours. You're denying it, who would dare to expose you?"”
Imperial Consort Yue did not refute her directly and continued to defend herself to Emperor Liang."Although the people of Zhaoren Palace serve ChenQie, everyone, including ChenQie, is His Majesty's servant. Under His Majesty's holiness, who would dare to deceive the Emperor?”
Her teeth were as sharp as knives, and her words were difficult to refute. Empress Yan could not hold back her anger and reprimanded,"You're really cunning and eloquent. Do you dare to do it but not admit it? Unfortunately, no matter how you deny it, you can't deny the truth. Could it be that the princess framed you for no reason?”
Noble Consort Yue said indifferently," I don't understand why the princess would make up this story for no reason, just like how I don't understand why the Empress would immediately believe the princess without any evidence and not trust me."。。”
Empress Yan's heart sank. She suddenly realized that she had done something wrong.
He should have watched from the side and not interrupted.
Originally, it was Princess Ni Huang who had sued the Imperial Consort. The Liang Emperor would not think that the princess was seeking humiliation and framing the Imperial Consort with the matter of a woman's innocence. However, the moment he intervened to protect Ni Huang, it seemed to have suddenly turned into a fight between the two palaces. The suspicious Emperor could not help but think twice.
Noble Consort Yue saw that the Emperor was frowning and deep in thought, so she slowly said," Furthermore, this concubine would like to ask the Empress to be a witness. After the princess was drunk, the Empress had once brought the Empress Dowager into the inner courtyard of Zhaoren Palace. May I ask if the Empress saw anyone harassing the princess at that time? Even if the Empress Dowager was too old to disturb her at this time, Princess Jing Ning was also present at that time. The Emperor could ask the Princess if she had seen any unsightly scenes when she came in.”
Ni Huang did not expect this Imperial Consort to be so sharp-tongued. She became even angrier and said,"That's because they came in time, and your vicious scheme failed.。。”
Noble Consort Yue turned around and did not flinch in the face of her blazing-like eyes. She said calmly,""Princess insists that I have ill intentions, so I don't want to argue."The princess is closer to the Empress and Prince Yu than to me and the Crown Prince. That's because our moral cultivation has failed. We don't dare to hold grudges. But may I ask, Princess, you said that you fell into my trap. Is your body injured? If I had really worked so hard to come up with a vicious plan, how could there be a niangniang who rushed in to save me at such a perfect time?”
Emperor Liang's brows twitched. He glanced at Prince He Yu from the corner of his eyes, as if he had been moved by these words.
Princess Ni Huang was so angry that her hands turned cold. She was afraid that even the tens of millions of enemy soldiers on the battlefield could not compare to this imperial consort in front of her. Just as she was about to curse back, a calm voice sounded from the side,"Imperial Father, your son can be a witness. When this son entered the inner court of Zhao Ren Palace, Sima Lei was indeed beside the princess and his actions were extremely improper.”
Imperial Consort Yue's body trembled, and she turned her head to stare at Xiao Jingyan in disbelief.
"Your son saw that the situation was urgent, so I could only be rude and want to forcefully bring the princess out.”Xiao Jingyan ignored her and continued," In order to stop me, the Imperial Consort and the Crown Prince ordered the guards to shoot arrows at the same time. I had no choice but to take the Crown Prince hostage to save my life and delay it until the Empress Dowager arrived. Your son knows that threatening the Crown Prince with a knife is not a misdemeanor, but I am not willing to hide the truth from my father. Father, please think carefully. If it wasn't for the fact that you were so flustered and angry, why would the Crown Prince want to kill your son to silence him?”
Even Prince He Yu did not know about this scene. Everyone was stunned. Noble Consort Yue did not expect Xiao Jingyan to have such courage. For a moment, her heart was in a mess and her face was as white as snow.
"Consort Yue! Is there such a thing?" Emperor Liang's expression was as dark as water, and he was already furious.
Noble Consort Yue gritted her teeth and raised her head." Since the Empress, the princess, and King Jing have repeatedly accused me of being guilty, I dare not defend myself, nor do I dare to ask for any evidence." I only hope that Your Majesty will be wise and make a decision. If Your Majesty also thinks that we are guilty, we will naturally admit our punishment and will not dare to complain.”
Her retreating in order to advance made Emperor Liang hesitate. If he didn't believe it, he would accuse her with one voice. If he believed it, he would feel that it was too unanimous. It was inevitable that his heart would beat wildly. Just as he was hesitating, the eunuch outside the palace reported,"Your Majesty, Commander Meng Zhi requests an audience."
Emperor Liang was dealing with such a serious matter and did not want to be disturbed. He waved his hand and said,"See you later."
The eunuch bowed and retreated. A moment later, he appeared again and said,""Your Majesty, Commander Meng has a message for this servant. He said that he captured an outsider Sima Lei who trespassed outside Zhao Ren Palace.”
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