Chapter 540 Zongzheng Wuxie, it's your turn!

Before the woman could even beg for mercy, the guards beside the Chu Emperor stepped forward and pulled out knives.

The woman's elderly father and mother immediately rushed out, crying and begging for mercy.

"Your Majesty, please spare her."

"Your Majesty, it is all my fault for failing to properly educate my daughter. If anyone should be punished, it is me!"

"Yuan Niang—Waaah—Your Majesty, please spare her! She's still so young. How can she get married after her mouth has been cut off..."

The Chu Emperor remained unmoved, simply propping his head up and coldly retorting, "Noisy."

"Since you're so reluctant to let her go, then you'll all suffer with her. Wouldn't that be sharing the hardships?"

Screams rang out one after another.

The lips of the family of three were cut off together and then thrown to the black dog standing nearby.

Sparrow couldn't bear to watch.

Li Qingluo also looked away.

Even though she had seen the Seventh Princess many times since childhood, a look of sorrow appeared on her face at this moment.

Then a nanny whispered, "This old man, Lord Wei, seems to be frequently visiting His Highness the Crown Prince's residence lately..."

Zongzheng Xingyao glanced at Li Qingluo.

Seeing her timid and hesitant appearance, he whispered to the nanny, "Don't talk nonsense!"

After what just happened, who would dare to lose their composure?

Even though they were all terrified inside, they all pretended to be happy on the surface.

The Chu emperor was not lustful.

Therefore, he only had a few maids massaging his legs, and no beautiful women in his arms.

Li Qingluo remained kneeling quietly beside the Seventh Princess, occasionally sipping a small cup of wine, while silently waiting in her heart.

This Chu emperor seemed cruel and inhumane, yet he had just punished the fourth prince and then executed the crown prince's men in front of everyone.

It was obvious that the Empress's complexion was no longer as rosy as before.

The crown prince was extremely uneasy.

Li Qingluo took everything in view and thought to herself: No rush, something new will soon make you and your son happy again.

Just then, a line of guards hurried over.

Holding a black box in her hands, she knelt before the Chu Emperor and reported loudly, "Your Majesty, just now when we passed by the East Palace, an old nanny ran out carrying this box, saying that she wanted to accuse His Highness the Crown Prince of using witchcraft to try to kill people."

"Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Sorcery?

This was a secret that had been constantly prohibited throughout the Great Chu Dynasty, yet had never been brought into the open!

Unexpectedly, something like this also happened in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace?

Moreover, is this going to bring the Crown Prince into the open?

Everyone couldn't help but crane their necks in curiosity.

The crown prince was still completely bewildered, and when the empress looked at him anxiously, he could only shake his head silently.

Upon hearing this, the Chu Emperor sat up straight with a gloomy face.

He yanked open the black box, revealing a tiny figure inside covered in needles.

After Emperor Chu saw the birth date and time on the chart, his expression changed drastically.

"Someone come here!"

"Arrest the Crown Prince!"

The Emperor of Chu was furious and threw the effigy at the Crown Prince's head.

"What else do you have to say for yourself!"

"I have already appointed you as Crown Prince, so what is there left for you to complain about?"

"Is it because you think I've lived too long and haven't made way for you yet, so you're in a hurry to use this witchcraft to shorten my lifespan?"

"brute!"

"I will kill you first today—"

The Chu emperor drew his sword and was about to stab the terrified crown prince.

The empress lunged forward and grabbed the sword.

"emperor--"

"Our son must be innocent!"

“He has been kind since childhood, and would not even step on an ant. He has always been respectful and filial to Your Majesty. How could he do such a rebellious thing?”

"Your Majesty, someone must be trying to frame my son!"

"Please spare his life! At least give my son a chance to prove his innocence!"

The empress was terrified and wept continuously, screaming in a hoarse voice.

Both hands were cut and bleeding profusely, yet they still clung tightly, afraid to let go.

Seeing her like this, the Chu Emperor thought of his mother again.

He naturally had no feelings for the Empress.

However, it's because she was the legal wife.

His own mother, the Empress Dowager, had also suffered countless grievances as the principal wife.

That's why we give her extra patience and respect.

At this moment, seeing the terrified Crown Prince and the panicked Empress, Emperor Chu finally managed to suppress his emotions and calm down.

"check!"

Soon, the old woman was captured and taken to the Snow-Treading Terrace.

Before the Crown Prince could speak, the Empress rushed over to him.

"How could it be you?"

"Granny Huang, you are the Crown Prince's wet nurse—the Crown Prince has always treated you like family, yet you have betrayed him!"

"Who was it? Who exactly ordered you to frame the Crown Prince?"

The Empress screamed wildly, as if she wanted to go over and strangle the old woman herself.

Granny Huang offered no explanation.

A single, heart-wrenching cry rang out: "Your Highness, it is this old servant who has failed you—"

After saying that, she slammed herself against a nearby rock.

Blood streamed down her entire old face, and by the time the crown prince picked her up, weeping, she was already beyond saving.

He could only say haltingly, "Someone took the lives of this old servant...and his entire family..."

"This old servant will be determined to... frame Your Highness today..."

"This old servant is caught in the middle..."

"It is this old servant's fault..."

"Your Highness, you didn't do that..."

"This old servant knows..."

After saying that, Granny Huang died with her eyes wide open.

The incident happened so suddenly and violently that everyone who witnessed it was stunned.

The prince sobbed, "It's my fault, I failed to protect you, wet nurse—"

The Chu emperor was furious.

"Continue the investigation!"

Soon, everyone in the Crown Prince's palace was brought over.

Everyone testified that they had never seen the box.

Even the Crown Princess swore on behalf of her entire family that she had never seen such a thing before.

Finally, the clues became increasingly clear, pointing to the Fourth Prince's residence.

Empress: "Your Majesty, haven't you seen it clearly yet? Someone is trying to frame the Crown Prince today, and also wants me to lose my only son!"

"He and his mother have always forcefully suppressed the Crown Prince."

The Chu Emperor understood, of course.

He pondered for a long time before giving a heavy order: "Someone, bring Consort Ning here."

Consort Ning was the mother of the Fourth Prince.

She was also the concubine who received the most favor in the palace.

The Chu emperor did not spend much time in the harem.

Aside from attending to the Empress's monthly duties, Consort Ning was the woman who occupied the most days in Emperor Chu's harem.

She and her family all enjoyed the glory.

The fourth prince's status rose because his mother was favored, and he gained more and more followers.

Even at today's Empress's birthday banquet, when Consort Ning claimed she wasn't feeling well, Emperor Chu personally assured her that she didn't have to attend.

It was confirmed that Zongzheng Wuxie had killed the entire Wuyue Sect for his own selfish reasons because he wanted to offer the legendary treasure that could grant immortality to Consort Ning.

But now, the good days for Consort Ning and the Fourth Prince are coming to an end.

After exchanging a glance, Jin Hua and Li Qingluo drank their wine glasses in one gulp.

Since arriving in Nan'an, Li Qingluo has been running a restaurant on the surface, but secretly he has been having Sha Yi and his men constantly investigate every move of the Fourth Prince's residence.

Even now, Sha Liu has infiltrated the Fourth Prince's residence through disguise.

As for Granny Huang's betrayal, it was because of Jin Hua's Gu worm.

Granny Huang had done many wrong things with the Empress, so she deserved to die.

To this day, it has been planned for several months.

Zongzheng Wuxie, it's your turn now!