I thought she was going to die here, but then she revealed the vicious things her beloved concubine had done to the princes and princesses. If that's true too...

The emperor is the most suspicious person, without exception, but Yun Qingluo caught a glimpse of panic in the emperor's eyes.

Why is he panicking? Yun Qingluo squinted, and suddenly a light flashed in her mind, reminding her of some things from her past life.

With a cold expression, the emperor ordered his men, "Go, bring Han Shaoqing here. Then convey my decree to summon the people from the Censorate and have them go directly to the Imperial Concubine's palace to interrogate everyone. Do not let a single one escape. Make sure you get to the bottom of this."

"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will take care of it immediately," the chief eunuch beside the emperor said, raising an eyebrow.

Everyone present could only wait where they were.

Yun Tao quietly went to the carriage and brought Yun Qingluo a cloak. Yun Qingluo felt the warmth and looked at Yun Tao.

Yun Tao whispered, "Your Highness, please wear more clothes and don't catch a cold. Before the Prince went to war, he specifically instructed me to take good care of you..."

At this point, she changed the subject, "Hmph, if the Prince were here, the Princess and the young master wouldn't have to suffer such humiliation. These people are only so presumptuous because the Prince isn't here."

Seeing that Yun Tao was still quite angry, Yun Qingluo tugged at her hand, "This princess will naturally not let them off the hook either."

After a while, the emperor grew impatient and was about to send someone to urge them on when the Grand Eunuch and Han Shaoqing walked over with a wooden box.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject pays his respects..." Han Shaoqing stepped forward and said.

The emperor frowned, seemingly impatient. "Stop with the formalities, what's the result?"

Yun Qingluo glanced at the emperor; it was a pity this man wasn't an actor.

Han Shaoqing seemed hesitant and said in a low voice, "All the confessions are in the box. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

As the Imperial Noble Consort watched the Emperor take out the blood-stained confession from the box, her legs went weak and she collapsed to the ground.

Over the years, she had been showered with favor, and the people in the palace had also been spoiled. Unexpectedly, after suffering some physical pain, they released her.

The emperor picked up the testimony and quickly scanned it, his face expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Yun Qingluo glanced at the emperor out of the corner of her eye. The emperor's ability to keep his emotions hidden was on full display at this moment, but Yun Qingluo could also vaguely sense from his aura that he was angry, and quite angry at that.

As time passed, Yun Qingluo felt as if she had been standing there forever, before the emperor's hand trembled slightly.

Immediately, the emperor raised his head and threw the paper at the Imperial Noble Consort's face. "All these years, I have bestowed upon you the highest favors, only for you to harm my offspring?"

The emperor's voice was calm, revealing no anger, but the imperial concubine, who was his bedmate, knew that the emperor was on the verge of exploding in rage.

The Imperial Noble Consort removed the paper covering her face and knelt down in a panic, kowtowing. "Your Majesty, I am innocent! I am innocent! Your Majesty has been so good to me, how could I have done such a heinous thing? It must be the people in the palace spreading rumors."

The emperor said calmly, "At this point, you still want to argue?"

The Imperial Noble Consort trembled, then suddenly her face contorted with madness as she burst into laughter. "Heh heh, Your Majesty, I have been with you since you were in the Eastern Palace. All these years, why have I had no children? Doesn't Your Majesty know the answer?"

Because of her powerful family background, because she is infertile and has no other desire for that position, and because she knows how to assess situations and won't do anything to put him in a difficult position, she has had enough over the years.

The emperor's expression changed slightly, and he sighed, "Was it you who framed the princess?"

The Imperial Noble Consort looked up at the Emperor. At this moment, she seemed not to understand him. No, perhaps she never had ever understood him.

He didn't love her.

Even now, he still wants to pin the blame on her. Over the years, how many heinous things has she done to consolidate her throne?

He knew which of the royal children she had killed.

Even tigers don't eat their cubs, hahaha, she should have thought of that sooner.

"Yes, she is indeed from my palace. I instructed her to drug the horse and put bells in its ears." The Imperial Noble Consort looked coldly at Yun Qingluo.

Han Shaoqing angrily asked, "Why did you do this?"

Why?

The Imperial Noble Consort sneered. What else could it be? Of course, he wanted to kill the Regent, so she would cut off the Regent's left and right arms for him.

"I can't stand her, can't I kill her to vent my anger?" the Imperial Noble Consort said coldly.

Seeing such a grand spectacle, the people below, though eager to discuss it, all lowered their heads, knelt on the ground, and dared not utter a sound.

Are royal matters something they can listen to?

Do they deserve it?

But some people below couldn't resist their gossipy nature and cautiously looked up at the platform.

The emperor noticed the commotion below and realized that family scandals should not be aired in public.

"Since you framed the Imperial Concubine, I hereby strip you of your title and banish you to the Cold Palace, where you shall never leave again. Guards, prepare the decree."

After the emperor finished speaking, he glanced at the people kneeling below and said, "Now that I have given you an explanation, you may all disperse. Where are the Imperial Guards? Clear the area."

Yun Qingluo knew that what followed was the main event, but she didn't want to hear about their old, trivial matters.

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. Now that the person behind this has been found, I will take my leave. My pregnancy is unstable, so I will return to my residence to rest and will come to the palace to express my gratitude another day," Yun Qingluo said, bowing to the emperor.

The emperor was in a state of turmoil. Out of sight, out of mind, he waved his hand, dismissing Yun Qingluo.

Yun Qingluo led her people off the stage.

He heard a sigh carried on the wind:

"Oh, you're so foolish."

"Your Majesty, I am tired. Over the years, I have taken lives and have nightmares. I wonder if Your Majesty is sleeping well? Hehe, I was really foolish. These sins were all committed by me and have nothing to do with Your Majesty. Of course Your Majesty can sleep well."

"I know I've wronged you, but you were the one who chose this path in the first place..."

"Your Majesty, have you ever loved me even a little bit?"

Upon hearing this question, Yun Qingluo paused for a moment, then resumed her normal pace.

Looking at the sky in the distance, one can see that even the most pitiful person has something hateful about them.

In her previous life, the Imperial Noble Consort helped the Emperor do many things that were inconvenient for him as an emperor. Now, she is reaping what she sowed.

but!

Now that the empress has been deposed and the imperial concubine has been punished, the emperor has lost two major supporters and is now a lone commander, which can be considered a happy event.

Sitting in the carriage, Yun Tao was still somewhat resentful, "Why didn't the Emperor order her to be killed? To murder the Regent's Consort would be punishable by the extermination of nine generations of her family."

Seeing Yun Tao pouting and sulking, Yun Qingluo smiled and explained, "Entering the palace is like entering a deep sea. Death would be a relief for her. To grow old alone is the cruelest punishment for a woman."