Chapter 610: Something’s Wrong!

Chapter 610: Something's Wrong!

"Miss Shen, what took you so long?"

Because Shen Nan had just appeared behind everyone while they were suspecting her, and the woman in the room had already been brought out, Shen Zhuyu's sudden appearance didn't surprise them as much.

Shen Zhuyu smiled gently, "I had a bit too much wine earlier and felt a bit dizzy, so I went for a stroll in the plum garden. On the way, I ran into Consort Ru, and we enjoyed the scenery together."

Just then, Consort Ru also walked in slowly behind her: "Your Majesty, I went to the plum garden earlier to admire the blossoms and happened to meet Miss Shen, so we chatted for a bit."

With their explanation, it dawned on everyone that today's incident had nothing to do with the Shen family after all. It was probably just Fang Li putting on a one-man show.

Who in the palace today would favor the Fang family enough to take such a big risk to frame Fang Li?

Even though they thought so, they didn't want to stir up trouble at this critical moment, so they all looked at Emperor Xuanming, waiting for the emperor's decision.

"Eunuch Ming, get to the bottom of this matter. Until this is cleared up, Fang Li will be temporarily held in the inner prison!"

Emperor Xuanming felt he had been tricked, and this matter was not as simple as it appeared on the surface, so he did not let it go lightly.

Fang Li was stunned: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty... I am truly wronged!"

Several eunuchs stepped forward without a second thought to restrain Fang Li, who could only look pleadingly at Lady Lu for help: "Aunt, Aunt..."

However, no matter how capable Lady Lu was, she couldn't sway the emperor's decision, let alone the fact that she wasn't very capable herself. She could only say in irritation, "Fang Li, no matter what, you messed up today. Just cooperate with the Ministry of Internal Affairs' investigation, and you might get off easier."

Fang Li knew Lady Lu couldn't save him, and in despair, he stopped struggling.

Just as everyone thought this matter was about to end, Su Youyue, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly exclaimed softly.

"Why does this palace maid still have her chastity mark?"

Everyone was stunned and looked at the palace maid on the ground.

The palace maid, who had been still for a while, was startled and then looked down at her exposed arm, quickly pulling it back.

But the matron was quicker, rolling up her sleeve.

On her fair arm, there was a bright red chastity mark.

Although the chastity mark had been proven to be ineffective, the tradition left by Dongrong still had many women marking it, and many people still firmly believed in its effectiveness.

Seeing that the palace maid still had the chastity mark, some immediately thought that this woman was still a virgin, so how could she have been intimate with Fang Li earlier?

Did they not succeed?

But if they really didn't, shouldn't Fang Li have cried out his innocence earlier?

Fang Li, convinced he had been set up today, hated the person who framed him so much that he wanted to tear them apart. After being reminded, something suddenly flashed in his mind.

Then Fang Li, as if discovering a new continent, suddenly shouted, "No, the woman I was with earlier was definitely not a virgin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted again.

And Su Youyue's lips curled up as she suddenly looked at Consort Ru and Shen Zhuyu.

"Consort Ru, are you feeling okay? You look so pale. I know a bit about medicine; would you like me to check on you?"

Many people turned around at the sound and saw that Consort Ru's face was indeed extremely pale.

Consort Ru swiftly composed herself: "Yes, I’m feeling a little under the weather, but it's nothing serious. Let’s first figure out what’s really happening."

Shen Zhuyu moved to assist Consort Ru, but Consort Ru deftly sidestepped her, and Shen Zhuyu’s face froze momentarily.

Seeing their reactions, Su Youyue’s smile widened, and she arched an eyebrow at Shen Zhuyu.

But Shen Zhuyu merely returned the smile.

Su Youyue casually averted her gaze, no longer looking at her.

How amusing.

She had explicitly ordered Zhe Jing to send the drugged Shen Zhuyu into the room, but what emerged was a palace maid.

Consort Ru also stepped forward to vouch that Shen Zhuyu had been by her side the entire time.

Consort Ru was the mother of the Fifth Prince, and Shen Zhuyu had been involved with the Fifth Prince for a long time. Consort Ru couldn’t possibly have been ignorant of this.

It was likely the Fifth Prince who stepped in, begging Consort Ru for assistance, and Consort Ru consented to cover for them.

But now that Shen Zhuyu and Fang Li had slept together, whether it was a setup or not, Consort Ru and the Fifth Prince might no longer consider Shen Zhuyu as a candidate for the prince's consort. However, they absolutely could not tolerate the fact that Shen Zhuyu had already lost her virginity and kept it hidden from them.

This made them appear utterly foolish.

Earlier, when she mentioned the palace maid's chastity mark, she was essentially rolling the dice, betting that the palace maid Consort Ru and the Fifth Prince had quickly found to take the blame was still a virgin and would have the traditional Dongrong chastity mark on her arm.

In reality, the palace maid hadn’t shown the mark at all; it was only because of her guilty conscience that she inadvertently exposed herself.

Shen Zhuyu, however, appeared unfazed. Even after losing so badly, she could still smile at her.

She likely harbored a death wish for Su Youyue.

But Su Youyue had merely returned the grand gift Shen Zhuyu had given her.

The crowd was already abuzz with chatter again due to this sudden turn of events, starting to suspect that the palace maid was indeed taking the fall for someone. So, who was it that had been with Fang Li today? Eyes darted around the room like searchlights.

Su Youyue's gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, trying to see who else might have been involved in today's events, when she suddenly caught a glimpse of regret on Shen Yuansong's face.

She smirked mischievously but remained silent, turning her attention to Emperor Xuanming, whose brows were deeply furrowed.

"Take this palace maid to the Heavenly Punishment Bureau and interrogate her thoroughly. I want to see who has the audacity to do this!"

At the mention of the Heavenly Punishment Bureau, everyone present paled.

The tortures there were beyond human endurance.

It seemed the Emperor was truly enraged this time.

Ordinary criminals were usually interrogated by the Internal Affairs Bureau or the Inner Prison; the Heavenly Punishment Bureau was rarely used!

The person behind this palace maid should be trembling with fear... No prisoner had ever withstood the interrogations of the Heavenly Punishment Bureau.

Many in the room changed their expressions, especially Madam Fang, who couldn't help but shiver, a flash of fear in her eyes, though she tried desperately to suppress it, not daring to let it show.

After Fang Li and the palace maid were taken away, Emperor Xuanming left in anger, and the palace banquet ended abruptly. The guests, each lost in their own thoughts, departed the palace early.

Su Youyue had wanted to see Xie Yuan again but missed the opportunity. Thinking that Tuoba Xiao was still in the palace, she didn't feel too regretful.

After today's encounter, Xie Yuan's mask had grown even shorter.

Does this mean he is now less under control...

Thinking about the sacred medicine again gave Su Youyue a headache.

With the formula, she had already prepared the sacred medicine.

But trying to create an antidote was truly baffling; she even started to believe that she could never create the antidote on her own.

If only more healers were available to assist her...