Liu Zhi shook her head, sobbing uncontrollably, and said, "This matter has nothing to do with Your Highness. It was someone from the manor who sent the medicine, telling me to put it in Your Highness's food, or else they would kill my mother and younger brother."

"Your family" naturally refers to Consort Wan's maternal family.

The Shen family, one of the four great families in the capital.

Upon hearing this, Consort Wan slowly opened her eyes wide, her eyes filled with disbelief. Then, her back bent over little by little, and she slumped to the ground.

"Liu Zhi, is what you say true?" Consort Wan asked, unwilling to give up.

Knowing she could no longer face Consort Wan, Liu Zhi turned her head to the side and cried, "Your Majesty, I am so sorry, but I beg you to plead with the household for my mother and younger brother, for the sake of how many years I have taken care of you!"

Liu Zhi did not receive Wan Fei's promise.

She had fainted from the shock!

Looking at the person lying on the ground, Jian Yang finally understood that it wasn't that she had a strong mentality, but that she simply didn't know what had happened!

"Guards, lock this vile woman in the imperial prison and interrogate her thoroughly. Make sure she reveals all her accomplices!"

"Effective immediately, Consort Wan is stripped of her rank of Consort and demoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine!"

"Go to the Shen residence immediately and bring the person who murdered the Empress to justice. Until the Shen residence hands over the murderer, no one is allowed to leave or come in freely!"

The emperor's pent-up anger finally erupted!

It's said that an emperor's anger is for the sake of a beautiful woman, but no matter how Jian Yang looks at it, she feels that this dog emperor is acting a bit too much.

It's somewhat like using this as an excuse to make a fuss.

After all, she wasn't his confidante, and she wasn't worth him getting angry over!

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely seek justice for you." The Emperor patted her shoulder reassuringly.

Jian Yang gave a professional, fake smile: "Your Majesty, I am very relieved."

The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement, "The Empress has been frightened. I will have Qin Mama send some calming medicine to your palace later."

Jian Yang continued to smile: "Thank you for your mercy, Mother."

And so, this matter was temporarily put to rest.

Jian Yangqie just felt something was off.

But she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong with her.

She kept thinking about it until she went to bed.

Seeing that she looked absent-minded after returning from Tangli Palace, Lianxia quickly advised, "Your Majesty, you should go to sleep early, otherwise you'll get those dark circles under your eyes again."

Hmm, that makes sense!

The world is vast, but beauty is the greatest.

Jian Yang immediately crawled into bed, intending to think about it again tomorrow.

But when she closed her eyes, she heard Zhang Gonggong's familiar voice.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Jian Yang rolled her eyes.

I miserably got out of bed again.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Zhou Jingzhi waved his hand: "It's chilly at night, why is the Empress dressed so lightly?"

Seeing that the Empress was only wearing a thin layer of clothing, he couldn't help but frown.

hehe!

Jian Yang smiled on the outside, but cursed inwardly. She was about to go to sleep, how could she not be dressed lightly?

Lianxia quickly brought her outer robe and draped it over her shoulders.

"I wonder what brings Your Majesty to see me so late at night?"

The Emperor said solemnly, "I have come to tell the Empress that the Shen family has handed over their steward. It is said that the steward was the one who plotted to murder the Empress, and he has insisted on taking all the blame."

That's it?

The emperor was taken aback.

Jian Yang quickly coughed lightly to cover up her embarrassment.

"What I mean is, what is Your Majesty's view on this matter?"

The emperor said solemnly, "Since the Shen family says that the steward is the culprit who plotted to murder the empress, I have no choice but to accept it."

Jian Yang: "?"

I'm speechless!

He believes everything people say; is this person even the emperor?!

How could you be so pathetic?!

Jian Yang roared inwardly!

She realized that this emperor was a real coward.

In the morning, they said they would severely punish the murderer, but in the evening, the Shen family just threw out a scapegoat to fool him, and he actually accepted it!

As for why we should acknowledge it...

That means there's definitely nothing they can do about it.

He may seem like a high and mighty emperor, but in reality, he can't even defeat a clan.

Rubbish!

"Your Majesty," Jian Yang said calmly, "the four great families disregard the Emperor's authority and trample on imperial power at will. Can you truly tolerate this?"

Zhou Jingzhi looked at her with a flickering gaze: "What are the Empress's thoughts?"

Jian Yang said solemnly, "Now that we've opened this door, we should take this opportunity to investigate thoroughly. The four major families control half the country. Your Majesty, may I ask if you truly allow others to sleep peacefully beside your bed?"

The emperor suddenly raised his head: "The empress is right."

If that makes sense, then go and arrest them!

"But..." the emperor changed the subject, "I have only recently ascended the throne and my foundation is not yet solid. I am currently unable to contend with the power of the four great families. I must ask the empress and the prime minister to handle this matter!"

Jian Yang: "???"

Holy crap, so this is what they were waiting for all along!

Although the emperor was a real coward, he was a true capitalist.

They never forget to exploit her, their laborer!

But she had already uttered those bold words.

Words spoken are like water spilled; they cannot be taken back.

Since the emperor has assigned them work again, what can they do?

We have no choice but to roll up our sleeves and get to work!

Moreover, this matter concerns her safety, and she has an obligation to investigate it thoroughly.

However, if you want a horse to run, you must feed it good grass.

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