Chapter 2: Laodeng, Speak More

Chapter 2: Laodeng, Speak More

Mo Cangyan listened to the woman's ridicule, veins popping on his forehead as he tightened his grip on her waist.

Feng Xiyao frowned, "Pinching me won't help. When you're left with nothing but your underwear after being deceived, I'll mock you even in my ghostly form!"

"..."

Suppressing his anger, Mo Cangyan spoke, "Summon the imperial physician!"

The physician waiting at the door promptly entered and examined the "adulterer" on the ground as per the Emperor's order. After a while, he reported.

"Your Majesty, this person indeed died from excessive indulgence in pleasures. However..."

"What else?"

After a moment of hesitation, the physician continued, "He didn't die today. Back when I was young, an elder in my family was an undertaker, so I know a bit about it. Judging by the purple-black color of his lips, he has been dead for a day. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't appear like this after just a few hours!"

Upon hearing this, anyone with common sense could deduce what had truly happened.

Feng Xiyao exclaimed joyously, "Laodeng, speak up more! Let this foolish tyrant see for himself if he's wronged his beautiful, virtuous, and kind empress!"

Mo Cangyan was disinclined to hear any further slander against him. He instructed the imperial physician to administer the antidote to her promptly.

After Feng Xiyao swallowed the antidote, it took her a while before she regained her composure.

Now able to speak, she immediately turned her fury towards the stunned Shufei.

"Shufei, I've never wronged you, so why would you conspire with Yu'er to frame me?"

Caught off guard, Shufei quickly responded, "Empress, you're spouting lies! It's you who lacks propriety, sneaking around to satisfy your desires. Yet, you have the audacity to accuse me of framing you!"

The Empress had never been favored by the Emperor and held little power. Even the influential palace maids in the palace looked down upon her. Shufei had often made life difficult for her in the past, and now, even less so.

"You claim I'm framing you, Shufei. Then tell me, why did you secretly meet with Yu'er yesterday?"

"And how is it that you and your maid could instantly appear in my quarters when the scandalous news broke? Plus, this man on the ground just happened to die from excessive indulgence. Don't all these seem too convenient?"

Consort Shu was startled that the Empress knew about her encounter with Yu'er. She reacted like an enraged wildcat whose tail had been stepped on, shrieking in protest.

"Feng Xiyao, you still dare to deny it? We all saw it happen. The evidence is right before you. Don't you dare implicate your family as well?"

Feng Xiyao sneered in response.

"In the book, the Empress Feng was driven to her death precisely in this manner. Drugged and unable to speak, she was met with disbelief from the tyrant. When Consort Shu mentioned her family, she became hopeless and hung herself. Even when the truth was later revealed, no one cared anymore."

"The prime minister, her father, suffered persecution because of this incident and was later framed and imprisoned. Her mother, unable to bear the pain, took her own life. Her young sister was sold to a brothel, going from a wealthy lady to a despised courtesan. The entire family was ruined by Consort Shu's actions."

"Though this is not my original life, having inherited this body, I will not allow history to repeat itself."

Listening to Feng Xiyao's inward resentment, Mo Cangyan's lips curved into a smile. He withdrew the sword at Yu'er's throat, curious to see how this Empress would prevent such a repetition.

"Consort Shu, you haven't answered my question. Why did you meet my servant girl in the middle of the night?"

Consort Shu glared at her fiercely. "What proof do you have?"

Feng Xiyao laughed coldly. "Ruyi saw it with her own eyes."

Speaking of which, she took out a handkerchief from her bosom. "Moreover, I found something you dropped when you hastily left last night."

In truth, the handkerchief wasn't picked up by her; it was Ruyi who found it and gave it to her. Ruyi also mentioned overhearing Concubine Shu and Yu'er in conversation.

Upon seeing the embroidered handkerchief in Feng Xiyao's hand, Concubine Shu instinctively reached out to snatch it back.

Feng Xiyao raised her hand to evade. "What are you doing, Concubine Shu? Trying to destroy evidence?"

Concubine Shu gritted her teeth, unsure of what to say.

Feng Xiyao turned around and crouched down to look at Yu'er.

"Yu'er, I've always treated you kindly. Not only did I cure your father's cold, but I also arranged for your brother to attend a private school. I know that you're not an ungrateful person."

"Tell me, did Concubine Shu threaten your family to force your compliance? If you reveal the truth now, I'll beg the Emperor on your behalf and have your family pardoned!"

Merely using threats and coercion wouldn't suffice; she needed to combine both kindness and authority. Feng Xiyao knew how she treated Yu'er, and if it were just her own life at stake, Yu'er wouldn't dare to collaborate with Concubine Shu to frame her.

Sure enough, after Feng Xiyao finished speaking, Yu'er fell silent for a moment. With tears welling up in her eyes, she looked at Feng Xiyao and then fervently bowed her head.

"Empress, forgive me, I was wrong! It's..."

Before Yu'er could finish, Concubine Shu swiftly interrupted.

"Foolish dog servant, you dare to deceive the Emperor? I trusted your words and believed that the Empress was unfaithful. Do you and your family wish for death?"

Concubine Shu kept mentioning her family, causing Feng Xiyao to rise abruptly and slap her across the face.

"Concubine Shu, how daring of you! The Emperor and I have yet to speak, when did it become your turn to voice out?!"

"..."

Stunned by the blow, Concubine Shu took a long while to regain her senses. When she realized she had been struck by Feng Xiyao, a woman akin to a discarded empress, she screamed and charged at her in retaliation.

From the side, Mo Cangyan, who had been silent for a while, kicked Concubine Shu away with great force. She collided with a pillar and slid down its surface.

He spoke softly yet ominously, "You, continue!"

"A tyrant, you finally show some humanity!"

Feng Xiyao couldn't help but commend.

The corners of Mo Cangyan's mouth twitched. Having seen this much, if he still couldn't figure out the truth, then he truly was as brainless as that dead woman had said.

He just needed a witness to prove his queen's innocence and silence the public's gossip. Otherwise, these people would have already been beheaded.

Upon seeing Concubine Shu's fate, Yu'er trembled in fear and burst into tears, screaming.

"Your Majesty, spare me! It was Concubine Shu who made your servant do it!"

Scared witless, Yu'er immediately confessed everything.

Concubine Shu and her cousin were having an affair near the Cold Palace, and they were unexpectedly caught in the act by Yu'er, who had taken a shortcut after visiting her family outside the palace.

Originally, Concubine Shu intended to kill Yu'er to cover up their secret. But then, she thought of using this opportunity to frame the unpopular queen with Yu'er's family as leverage.

"Your Majesty, this servant truly knows her mistake!"

Seeing that the truth was about to come to light, Concubine Shu hurriedly crawled over to cling to the Emperor's leg, begging desperately, "Your Majesty, this concubine realizes her mistake. I was momentarily possessed by evil spirits. Please, Your Majesty, forgive me!"

Mo Cangyan kicked her down again and grabbed her cheek, "Not only will I not forgive you, but your entire family will also perish alongside you!"

Then, he coldly commanded, "Bring her lover here to be executed!"

In truth, Mo Cangyan had long wished to punish the queen's maternal family. Relying on her status as a concubine, her brothers had been seizing women from the common folk, while her father in the court had been forming factions everywhere. This was the perfect opportunity for a thorough investigation and punishment.

"But Your Majesty, this concubine has served you for so many years! If it weren't for your neglect, how could this concubine have strayed and done such a thing out of loneliness?"

He hadn't favored any of these women in three years!

Feng Xiyao was stunned by this massive revelation.

"The tyrant hasn't favored any of the women in his harem? Impossible, he's been on the throne for three years now… Could it be that the tyrant is… incapable?"

At this thought, Feng Xiyao discreetly glanced at the tyrant's legs. Her gaze fell upon his straight, muscular thighs. Despite the thick dragon robe he wore, she could clearly see the protruding area between his legs.

It certainly looked quite substantial just from the appearance.

At the sound of Concubine Shu's remark, she turned her lips in disdain.

"Looks good but useless!"

Feng Xiyao withdrew her gaze, only to meet the tyrant's piercing stare. His profound eyes seemed to hold turbulent waves, filled with ferocity as if he wished to devour her alive.