Chapter 0030: Framing

Chapter 0030: Framing

Physician Wu was an official, not a eunuch, so he couldn't be subjected to torture easily.

Moreover, he could explain everything in detail; he wasn't the one who actually acted.

However, he was indeed not clean, having some connections with the noble consort.

But he couldn't provide any useful information, so he was dismissed and permanently barred from official service.

A few subordinates were dealt with as well.

On the surface, it seemed like the noble consort was implicated in this affair.

But neither the noble consort herself nor her close associates were directly involved.

So, even the Emperor couldn't officially charge her.

The investigation was supposed to continue, as the Emperor's fury meant he couldn't just ignore it.

However, some had other plans.

After a few days of recovery, Consort Jin, in her palace, 'caught' Lancuo attempting to harm the crown prince.

This was another huge incident.

Lancuo was at a loss for words, merely denying any wrongdoing, but everyone claimed she looked suspicious. Upon searching, she was found carrying scissors.

Crying and kowtowing until her forehead bled, Lancuo insisted the scissors were not hers and that she was only covering the crown prince with a blanket.

And there was no one else in the room at the time.

Consort Jin De, pale-faced, sat there, "Many people attend to the crown prince. Usually, there are wet nurses around when he sleeps. How come there was no one there?"

"Your Highness, it's my fault. It was Miss Lancuo who earlier said you summoned me, so I left. I never expected... I only thought, since Miss Lancuo is one of your attendants, she wouldn't do such a thing."

Since they were 'catching a thief', the evidence couldn't be incomplete.

So, it wasn’t long before various pieces of incriminating evidence against Lancuo were presented.

Consort Jin De had known from early on in the mansion that Lancuo was the Empress’s person. She couldn't have just arranged this now; it must have been premeditated.

This time, using her miscarriage as a pretext, she probably intended not only to eliminate the Empress’s planted agents but also to distance herself from the Empress.

Everyone looked at the evidence, piece by piece, all pointing directly to the Empress.

He Jinli watched this performance without getting angry again.

He just watched and listened.

When it seemed enough, he finally said, "Empress, do you have anything to say?"

The Empress knelt down, "Your Majesty, not just Lancuo, everyone in the harem is arranged by me. When Consort Jin De entered the Eastern Palace, she was just a servant. She herself asked me for reliable people due to her lowly birth. So, I gave her eight people to use. Now, if Lancuo harbors evil intentions and tries to frame me, I cannot accept that."

"So, Your Majesty, are you admitting that this person is yours?" the noble consort asked.

"Noble Consort, don't talk nonsense. As I said, I have a hand in arranging attendants throughout the harem. I am the Empress, and it is my duty," the Empress retorted angrily, her eyebrows raised.

"Since the Empress says so, take this wretched girl away to the Internal Punishment Department," He Jinli ordered.

Lancuo kept kowtowing, but no one sympathized with her now.

It seemed Lancuo's death was inevitable.

The incriminating scissors lay there.

They weren't the broken kind used by women in the palace, but regular scissors.

Since she was caught with a lethal weapon, it was perceived as an intent to harm the crown prince, signifying the scissors could be used to kill.

At that moment, the scissors were right beside her.

And she was about to be taken to the Internal Punishment Department...

What kind of place was that?

No one who entered there could come out intact. Especially someone like her; survival was impossible.

But couldn't she choose how to die?

Lancuo reaching for those scissors seemed almost expected.

Yun Li, kneeling behind, watched all this, thinking how clever Consort Jin De was.

Before her death, Lancuo shouted just one sentence: "Consort Jin De, you deserve to die."

Blood splattered on the spot.

He Jinli's robe was splashed with the blood gushing from Lancuo's chest, yet he remained unmoved.

Everyone was kneeling, silent as if frozen, after many had screamed out in the moment before, only to quiet down again.

After a long while, He Jinli suddenly said, "In that case, this woman harbored evil intentions. Consort Jin De, was she also responsible for your miscarriage?"

At this moment, Consort Jin De seemed utterly drained: "Your Majesty... I don't know... I don't believe she was the Empress's person. Please... please discern the truth, Your Majesty. The Empress couldn't have harmed me."

He Jinli lowered his head, helping her up: "What Ya Han said is true, your sisterly bond with the Empress is deep."

His voice was gentle, but Consort Jin De couldn’t help but start trembling.

"My consort's health is still frail; you shouldn't be kneeling like this. Rest well," He Jinli said with a smile.

"Someone, drag away this woman’s corpse. Since she conspired against the heir to the throne, her entire family shall be executed," He Jinli said lightly.

This made everyone present feel frightened.

The Empress was still kneeling, but He Jinli helped her up: "Yi Yao, there's no need to be nervous, I believe you."

"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful," the Empress sighed in relief.

"Alright, everyone may leave," the Emperor stood up. "Meng Chang, conduct a thorough search of the entire harem immediately. Any weapon like this found in private possession shall be punishable by death."

"Yes!" Meng Chang responded.

The crowd shuddered again, some faces turning pale.

"Return to your palaces. The Empress will send people to assist Meng Chang’s men in the search. No one is to leave their quarters until tomorrow."

As He Jinli spoke, he started to leave and then noticed someone kneeling behind.

Pointing, he said, "You, come with me."

Yun Li didn’t see clearly, but Meng Chang did: "Qi Baolin, His Majesty is calling for you."

Yun Li was speechless, wondering why she was summoned at this time.

Not daring to waste time, she quickly stood and followed.

Leaving Zhaohua Palace, Yun Li gestured to Zhuyu, who nodded and ran off.

Meng Chang saw this but pretended not to notice.

The Emperor walked briskly, with Yun Li jogging behind, but fortunately, she had trained in her youth, managing not to appear too disheveled.

They returned to Zhengyang Palace, and He Jinli had yet to change his clothes.

Yun Li followed in silence.

It was only when He Jinli asked, "Has my consort stepped down?"

Yun Li stepped forward, "Your Majesty, since the culprit has been executed, it's not good to have her blood on your robe."

He Jinli looked down, seeing the red bloodstains on his dark robe. The deep marks of the yet-to-dry blood were hardly noticeable against the black fabric.

"Is my consort frightened?" He Jinli grasped Yun Li's chin.

Yun Li nodded, "When I was young, I saw servants being punished at home, but I've never witnessed such a gruesome scene. She deserved death, but I am still scared."

Being scared is natural, especially when the Emperor is in such a rage. Pretending not to be scared would be foolish.

He Jinli stroked her chin, "You are refreshingly honest."

Yun Li looked at him with her narrow eyes and didn't speak, just blinked a few times.

He Jinli released her, "Assist me in changing."

Yun Li complied, helping him change out of the blood-stained attire. The robe, naturally, couldn’t be worn again and would be put away after being cleaned.

He changed into another robe, still dark in color, but embroidered with a dragon pattern in silver thread.