Chapter 177 The Cannon Fodder Concubine in the Harem—Interrogation

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." As soon as Emperor Jingping appeared, everyone bowed.

Consort Shu and Consort Li curtsied, while Yao Yao did not rise and continued to curtsy while still kneeling.

Emperor Jingping frowned when he saw Yaoyao lying prostrate on the ground. He looked sharply at Consort Shu and asked in an icy voice, "What happened here?"

Consort Shu was frightened by Emperor Jingping's sharp, hawk-like gaze. This was the first time Consort Shu had faced the emperor's ruthlessness directly, and that gaze pierced her heart like a sword.

Consort Shu trembled slightly.

At this moment, Consort Shu was filled with remorse. She shouldn't have come to Showa Palace with Consort Li, and she shouldn't have gotten involved in this matter!

Consort Shu was still quickly organizing her thoughts, trying to figure out how to extricate herself from this matter.

Seeing that Consort Shu remained silent, Consort Li began to preemptively accuse Consort Shu of being the villain:

"Your Majesty, I haven't been feeling well these past few days, and I've been listless all day. Look how much weight I've lost!"

"I consulted the imperial physicians again, but they couldn't diagnose the illness either. I was at my wit's end, so I consulted Master Hongyuan. Master Hongyuan said that someone was trying to harm me from behind. I had no choice but to lead a search party, and finally we found the needle-pricked doll at Sister Jia's place!"

"Your Majesty, look, my name is written here! I never imagined that Jia would hate me so much. I have never had any grudge against Jia. I don't know where her hatred comes from! I beg Your Majesty to do me justice!"

After she finished speaking, she gestured to the palace maid to present the doll with needles to the emperor.

After Consort Li finished her tearful accusations, Yao Yao neither raised her head, nor stood up, nor offered any explanation.

He lay motionless on the ground.

Emperor Jingping did not turn his gaze to the doll, but stared sharply at Consort Li, his voice icy as he questioned her:

"Consort Li, who gave you the authority to conduct such a high-profile search of the inner palace?"

The emperor's tone carried a hint of authority and questioning, giving people an invisible sense of pressure.

Consort Li was startled and stammered:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, yes... Your concubine... But... Consort Shu also agreed."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingping turned his gaze to Consort Shu and said sternly, "Consort Shu, so, you agreed to this?"

Consort Shu shook her head repeatedly, saying in a panic, "No...no...Your Majesty..."

Before Consort Shu could finish speaking, Emperor Jingping interrupted her, saying sternly:

"Consort Shu, I only entrusted you with the temporary management of the harem. Do you understand? Is this how you treat me? Do you think I'm dispensable? Who gave you the audacity!"

When the emperor was enraged, everyone was terrified.

Everyone knelt on the ground at the same time, with a loud thud, the sound of them all kneeling down was painful to hear.

Consort Shu and Consort Li were no exception; both knelt on the ground at the same time, making loud noises in an attempt to quell the emperor's anger.

Consort Shu quickly kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I was just worried about Consort Li's health and was confused for a moment, which is why I followed her here."

Consort Li dared not say anything at this moment. Her heart sank. She understood that this time, His Majesty would protect Xu Yaoyao no matter what!

Emperor Jingping snorted coldly, "You two are getting bolder and bolder, daring to search the inner palace without permission and disrupt the order of the palace."

He glanced at Yao Yao, who was still kneeling on the ground, and a hint of heartache flashed in his eyes.

"I will certainly investigate today's matter thoroughly, Wangbao."

Wang Bao quickly stepped forward: "Your servant is here!"

Emperor Jingping's voice seemed to come from hell, so cold it sent chills down one's spine:

"Take away every single palace servant present today, as well as those from Showa Palace, and have them interrogated by the secret guards and the Imperial Guards. Today, I want to know the outcome. If you don't get a result, you can forget about being the Grand Eunuch!"

Wang Bao hurriedly bowed his head and replied, "This servant obeys the decree!"

After bowing, Wang Bao hurriedly left, racing against time to find someone to take these people away for interrogation.

Emperor Jingping's face was so dark it seemed like it could drip water, and his voice carried a hint of authority and unquestionable force:

"Let me make this clear from the outset: I must thoroughly investigate what happened today! Once the truth is revealed, whoever is at fault will be severely punished without exception!"

Emperor Jingping's words rang in everyone's ears like a thunderclap.

Only then did they realize that the Emperor was serious! Everyone lowered their heads and dared not utter a word.

With the addition of the secret guards and the Imperial Guards, those who were feeling guilty began to tremble with fear.

"Get up, all of you," Emperor Jingping said calmly.

The crowd: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Hongguo quickly got up, went to Yaoyao's side, and helped her up.

Yaoyao's face was covered in tears, which flowed continuously as if a dam had burst.

Her eyes were swollen and red like ripe peaches, and her cheeks were flushed from crying.

Her lips were bitten so hard by her teeth that they almost bled. She tried desperately to hold back her tears, her reddened eyes filled with grievance.

When Emperor Jingping saw Yaoyao like this, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in his heart. He controlled the urge to embrace her, his lips pressed tightly together, and the anger in Emperor Jingping's heart burned even brighter.

Yao Yao stood silently to the side, her eyes meeting Emperor Jingping's for a few seconds. She saw the pity in His Majesty's eyes.

In a secluded corner where no one was watching, a faint smile curved her lips. She hadn't intended to harm anyone, but since the wicked had chosen to jump in, there was nothing she could do to help.

All the palace servants involved in the incident were taken away, except for Wang Bao's apprentice who remained to serve Emperor Jingping.

Emperor Jingping sat on the main seat in the main hall of the Zhaohe Palace, with Consort Shu, Consort Li, and Yaoyao seated below him.

The room was quiet; no one uttered a sound. Emperor Jingping calmly sipped his tea, showing no intention of speaking.

Yao Yao clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hands, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Her slightly trembling body and tightly clenched lips showed that she was trying her best to control her emotions.

Yao Yao kept looking around, seemingly seeking help, but then lowered her head in fear. Her whole demeanor was one of suppressed anger and pitiful vulnerability, evoking sympathy.

Consort Shu's face was so gloomy it seemed like it could drip water, and her originally fair complexion now appeared somewhat pale.

She furrowed her brows tightly, forming a deep "川" shape between her eyebrows, and pressed her lips into a straight line, as if she was trying her best to control her inner emotions.

Consort Li's eyes flickered from time to time, revealing a hint of unease and panic. Her hands were unconsciously clenched, her fingertips turning slightly white, showing her inner tension and anxiety.

He was restless, his eyes darting between the emperor on the throne and the outside, his expression full of anxiety.

He was like a volcano about to erupt; though calm on the surface, he was filled with suppressed fear inside.