Chapter 219 Testifying

Chapter 219: Testimony

"Still not telling the truth?"

Ji Yuntang's grip on her chin tightened.

The next second, she reached up and pulled a palm-length silver needle from Gui's hair.

"Then why did you hide a needle in your hair?"

In the palace, checking a woman's chastity usually only required removing her pants to examine the hymen; no tools were needed, let alone such a long silver needle.

And a normal person wouldn't hide a silver needle in their hair.

Ji Yuntang felt that Nanny Gui was insulting her intelligence.

"If you don't tell the truth, I'll report this to the Emperor and Empress and let them see your malicious intent.

"Since Vice Minister Xu of the Dali Temple is also here, we'll see whether you speak or not under his eighteen forms of torture."

"If you don't talk, Vice Minister Xu has ways to make you speak. It depends on whether your old body can handle that."

After saying this, Ji Yuntang made as if to leave with the needle, which terrified Nanny Gui.

Even if she had the greatest courage, she wouldn't dare to bring this before the Emperor and Empress.

She was just a maidservant, and she hadn't lived enough yet; she didn't want to spend her remaining years in agony in the Dali Temple prison.

"I'll talk, I'll talk. It was my sister who ordered me to do this."

"Your sister?" Ji Yuntang frowned and demanded, "Who is your sister?"

"My sister is Nanny Sun, who serves Consort Li. Because you once hit her, she holds a grudge against you. This time, she told me to tamper with your examination."

"All of this was my sister's idea; it has nothing to do with me. Please, Princess Ye, spare me this once!"

Nanny Gui knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face. She knew full well that Nanny Sun didn't have the guts; she was just a messenger.

In reality, everything was ordered by Consort Li.

She didn't dare to expose Consort Li, so she had to let Nanny Sun take the fall.

Nanny Gui believed that since Consort Li was back in the Emperor's good graces, and Nanny Sun was her right-hand woman, she would protect her.

As for herself, it was different.

If something went wrong, she'd be dead with no one to back her up.

How could Ji Yuntang not understand this? Nanny Sun was backed by Consort Li; without her orders, would she dare to harm her?

Ji Yuntang sneered inwardly. She couldn't take down Consort Li right now, but killing Nanny Sun was good enough.

Those two were in cahoots. Nanny Sun had often advised Consort Li on how to harm Luo Junhe, so killing her would be revenge for Luo Junhe.

"I can give you the antidote, but you must come with me to testify before the Emperor and Empress, repeating exactly what you just said.

"If you lie even once, I'll make you wish you were dead."

Ji Yuntang stared at Nanny Gui with a piercing, murderous gaze.

After seeing what Ji Yuntang could do, Nanny Gui was scared out of her wits and deeply regretted taking this task.

She might end up dead right here today.

She nodded like crazy, "Princess Ye, rest assured. I'll do whatever you say. I swear I won't say a wrong word."

Once she said that, Ji Yuntang jabbed the silver needle into Nanny Gui's leg twice.

A sharp sting shot through her leg, and Nanny Gui suddenly found her legs got their strength back and she could stand up.

Her eyes darted around, and she changed her mind.

Now that her legs worked again, she didn't have to let Ji Yuntang push her around.

When she reached the Emperor, she could claim that Ji Yuntang was scared the exam would show she wasn't a virgin, so she poisoned her and threatened her to shift the blame onto Nanny Sun, thus framing Consort Li.

The second that thought crossed her mind, Nanny Gui felt another pain in her knees, and with a thud, she hit the ground again.

This pain was way worse than before.

She was horrified to feel not just her muscles but even her bones aching.

"Drop your little tricks. I forgot to tell you, I didn't fully heal you; I just let you stand for now.

"If you don't get the antidote within an hour, your legs will only worsen, and eventually your whole lower body will rot and become paralyzed.

"You think the palace would keep a useless cripple around? After you're useless, you know exactly what will happen to you, right?"

Nanny Gui's heart skipped a beat.

She knew exactly what happened to useless people in the palace.

It was nothing more than being stabbed to death, thrown into the wilderness, and eaten by wild dogs.

She came to the palace to be someone and get rich; how could she be okay with ending up like that?

After experiencing her legs failing twice, Nanny Gui finally realized that Ji Yuntang wasn't bluffing.

If she said it, she would do it.

Ji Yuntang wasn't in a rush. She looked down at the kneeling Nanny Gui and said coolly,

"If you come with me to testify, you can clear your name and live, and I'll give you the antidote.

"If you don't, another nanny can check me instead, but from now on, you'll be a useless cripple.

"I've given you your only way out. The choice is yours. You've got no beef with me. You don't wanna die for someone else's hate, do you?"

These words hit home with Nanny Gui.

She had nothing to do with this matter; it was Nanny Sun who told her to tamper with the examination, so she hid the needle.

Why should she pay for someone else's screw-up?

Even if that person is her own sister, who brought her into the palace, she's got no right to make her pay with her life.

With that thought, Nanny Gui's eyes turned fierce. As if making a decision, she wiped her tears.

"Princess Ye, I am willing to go with you to testify before the Emperor and Empress."

Ji Yuntang raised an eyebrow. "If you'd thought so from the start, you'd have spared yourself some pain."

She pricked Nanny Gui's leg a few more times with a silver needle, and Nanny Gui stood up again.

In the Hall of State Affairs, the entire room waited anxiously.

After Consort Li had applied pressure to Emperor Jingyang to the point of drowsiness, she quickly distanced herself from him.

Taking advantage of the others' inattention, Luo Qianxue slipped over to Consort Li's side and whispered, "Mother Consort, do you think that bitch has really lost her virginity?"

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