"No! Your Majesty! This is only the side of the story of those two palace maids! Even if I don't let anyone into the room, it's not a violation of palace rules!"

"The art of cursing is no small matter. How can you assume it was me just because I wouldn't let anyone into the room?"

"If this is all it takes to convict me... I won't admit it! I absolutely refuse to admit it!"

Aunt Zhang argued her case forcefully.

She knew how serious this matter was.

If she admits it, she will surely die.

It might even implicate Ru'er.

She absolutely refused to admit it; she was certain there was nothing in her room.

Even if so-called evidence is found elsewhere in Guangming Hall, she can still insist that it is not hers.

In short, she had no choice but to deny it!

Seeing her eyes darting around, the Empress Dowager grew increasingly disgusted with this Aunt Zhang.

Looking at her dressed in fine silks and adorned with expensive jewels, she was clearly a snobbish and greedy person.

Such people are most likely to harbor malicious intentions.

In addition, Zhang Yiniang's daughter was punished by the emperor and was caned, so she was bedridden for more than a month.

Her motive of seeking revenge for her daughter and murdering Gu Jieyu's unborn child is plausible.

In short, Aunt Zhang is definitely involved!

"Fine! I'll make sure you die knowing why!" she shouted, then said to the guards:

"Search every possible hiding place in the entire Guangming Hall! Don't overlook any small detail!"

"yes!"

The guards hurried along and began searching once again.

Aunt Zhang was flustered, but she still pretended to be calm.

Soon after, several guards came in to report the results.

They gained nothing.

"Your Majesty! Empress Dowager! Now you can prove my innocence! I only wanted some rooms where I could be alone and undisturbed, yet these two maids framed me for murdering Consort Gu's child! This is outrageous!"

The Empress Dowager looked grave, and Xiaolan and Xiaotao were also somewhat incredulous.

"How could there not be! Your Majesty, Aunt Zhang is really worried about her room! If she has done something wrong, she will definitely hide the evidence very well!"

The guard said, "Your Majesty, we have searched every inch of Zhang's room and found nothing suspicious."

"Not anywhere else?"

"The entire Guangming Hall has been searched, and indeed... nothing was found."

At this point, Aunt Zhang was ready to burst into unrestrained laughter.

She overestimated Gu Jiangli.

In reality, Gu Jiangli is still foolish.

She thought that with a few words and two palace maids to testify, she could use the Empress Dowager to convict her.

But without evidence, why should she be allowed to die?

"Empress Dowager! Your Majesty! No evidence of witchcraft has been found. I am innocent! Consort Gu's child was lost by accident. What does it have to do with me? Even if someone is to be held accountable, the imperial physicians bear more responsibility."

Aunt Zhang's words made the Empress Dowager's face turn extremely ugly.

Gu Jiangli silently cheered for the Empress Dowager in her heart.

Think about it again.

If Guangming Hall can't be found, aren't there other places?

At this moment, as if reading her mind, Xiaolan and Xiaotao's eyes flashed, and the two immediately said:

"Your Majesty! If Consort Zhang wanted to hide evidence of her crimes, she probably wouldn't have hidden it in Guangming Palace! She goes to Lanfang Palace every day to have heart-to-heart talks with Consort Gu!"

"This servant believes that if Consort Zhang truly harbors malicious intentions, the evidence might be hidden in Lanfang Palace!"

Aunt Zhang was furious: "Nonsense! I go to Lanfang Palace every day to see my daughter! I don't hide anything there!"

The two palace maids glared at her indignantly. Xiao Lan retorted, "What do you mean, 'no'? Aunt Zhang, you're not stupid. You know that if something is hidden in Guangming Hall, it's easy to find, and you'll be held accountable. But if it's placed in Lanfang Hall, it won't be so easy to find!"

Xiao Tao continued, "No wonder you go to Lanfang Palace every day! Maybe you brought the evidence with you when you went there one day!"

Gu Jiangli gave the two little cuties a thumbs up again.

That's so clever!

But on the surface, she still had to put on an act. "Xiao Lan, Xiao Tao, how could you say that? If Aunt Zhang really wanted to hide something in Lanfang Palace, wouldn't my sister know?"

"Or do you mean that my sister knew about this but didn't object, letting my aunt harm my child? How could that be?"

The two palace maids were anxious and were about to explain when the Empress Dowager spoke first.

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, "Hmph, how is it impossible? Child, have you forgotten? She falsely accused your maid of stealing and even ruined the sachet the Emperor gave you. You slapped her in the face."

"Consort Gu is more petty than a pinhead. If she wants revenge, it's not impossible that she and her mother could join forces to harm your child!"

Gu Jiangli covered her mouth in surprise, tears streaming down her face.

She shook her head helplessly, muttering, "No, how could that be? Even if my sister hates me and resents me, she wouldn't be so cruel as to harm an unborn child. She's not that wicked!"

Seeing her like this, the Empress Dowager could not hide the heartache on her face.

“Child, you really don’t understand people’s hearts. She was once deeply favored by the emperor, but now all that favor has been taken away by you. How can she swallow this resentment?”

Gu Jiangli cried even harder.

The Empress Dowager waved her hand and shouted, "Transfer everyone in the palace to Lanfang Palace! Even if we turn the world upside down, we must find it!"

The palace guards received orders and mobilized in full force.

Suddenly, the room felt much emptier.

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