74 The Choice of the Great Swan

◎Princess, I truly dare not deceive the Emperor and the Empress.◎

"Bullshit! I'll smash your mouth open! See if you dare to spout nonsense again!"

Madam Guo's eyes flickered slightly, then she looked at the Emperor. "So it's Xiao Jiu... Your Majesty, our Rong'er has suffered a great injustice! You must do justice for us, mother and daughter."

The emperor looked at his beloved concubine, whose eyes were fixed on him with a tender gaze, and his heart burned with desire. He longed to embrace her and shower her with affection immediately.

However, looking at the empress sitting to the side and the ministers standing on the left and right sides below, he suppressed the urge to pull the delicate beauty into his arms and ravage her.

The Empress said, "Consort Guo, Consort Zhao, don't rush. It's only just begun. The words of a mere eunuch are not to be trusted."

Madam Zhao noticed that Madam Guo kept glancing at the Emperor. Ever since the Emperor entered the room, his eyes had never left her.

As a concubine without a son, she was not favored. Fortunately, she gave birth to a daughter. She only wanted to live a peaceful life. No matter how the Empress and Madam Guo fought, she did not want to get involved or let Xiao Jiu get involved in the palace struggle.

Confined within the palace and deprived of her freedom, she longed for her daughter to be free from the high walls of Changyang Palace and to live a more unrestrained life.

So, since Xiao Jiu and the Second Princess were close on weekdays, she didn't tell her about these sordid things in order to make her daughter happy, and let her do as she pleased. Unexpectedly, her indulgence led Xiao Jiu into the trap set by Guo Ji and her daughter.

She looked at the Empress with mixed feelings. If it weren't for the Empress today, the Second Princess's scheme would probably have succeeded.

However, she really couldn't understand what benefit this would bring to the Second Princess. Wasn't the Second Princess very fond of Sima Xiuyuan? Why would she scheme to have Xiao Jiu and Sima Xiuyuan together...?

Regardless, now that the Empress's men have brought Xiao Jiu back, she and Consort Guo are now irreconcilable enemies.

She had to make up her mind. Thinking of this, Zhao Ji snorted coldly, "Sister Guo, you are too hasty. It's just the words of a mere eunuch. It would be better to let Her Majesty the Empress continue to investigate thoroughly, so as not to slander either Xiao Jiu or the Second Princess."

He then said to the Empress, "I urge Your Majesty to investigate today's events thoroughly. Xiao Jiu is usually a bit naive and innocent, but she may have the strength, but she doesn't have the brains to do these things."

Everyone recalled how the Ninth Princess used to tease cats and dogs in the palace, acting all high and mighty. This was truly her mother, who knew her daughter's character so well. It was indeed unlike the Ninth Princess to do such a thing.

Zhao Ji knelt on the ground, "I fear that the person with ill intentions will not only harm my Xiao Jiu, but also harbor other malicious intentions. What should we do? Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, please be sure to clear Xiao Jiu's name."

Although Zhao Ji had a fiery temper, she was not stupid. At present, her only choice was to firmly stand on the side of the Empress. Moreover, she had no choice but to stand on the side.

Since the Empress has already sent the young lady back to the palace, Guo Ji's plan has long been seen through by the Empress. That fool Guo Ji is still so smug. She wants to see if Guo Ji can have the last laugh!

Zhao Ji lowered her head, but her eyes couldn't help but look at the Emperor. This time, could Guo Ji still be forgiven because of the Emperor's favor?

Standing next to Qi Gu, Zhang Jun, seeing her amused expression, whispered to her, "Why do you look so unconcerned? But I don't care about you, this is between the Second Princess and the Ninth Princess."

Qi Gu glanced at the swan lying prostrate on the ground and shook her head, "That's not necessarily true."

Zhang Jun wanted to ask more questions, but he couldn't help feeling a sharp gaze directed at him. He looked in the direction the gaze was coming from and saw it was Sima Xiuyuan.

For some reason, Zhang Jun felt that his gaze carried a sense of rejection, like the white fox king he encountered in winter, giving other animals that had entered his territory a cold look that said, "This is my territory."

Zhang Jun felt as if the temperature around him had frozen, and he couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't offended him.

Zhang Jun, a man who had spent most of his life in the military, suddenly shivered. Qi Gu asked, "Cousin, do you... have a cold?"

Zhang Jun looked at Sima Hong beside Qi Gu and said, "Ah, it's nothing. I just felt that this palace was in disrepair and a bit cold." He then asked Sima Xiuyuan, "By the way, Xiuyuan, didn't you go to change your clothes? Why are you here?"

Qi Gu also looked at Sima Hong and asked curiously, "Yes, sworn brother, I came here to find Ninth Sister, so why are you here?" She hadn't even had time to ask why Sima Hong was under that wall.

Sima Hong looked down at Qi Gu, "I remember saying that I am not your sworn brother, we just now..."

Qi Gu quickly interrupted him: "Lord Sima, be careful what you say..."

"What did you just say?"

"It's nothing. It's not good for you if your cousin knows too much, really." Qi Gu turned to the kneeling Hong Hu guiltily.

Zhang Jun looked at his cousin and Sima Xiuyuan with a curious expression, as if he had something on his mind but couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Seeing that Qi Gu was staring at Hong Hu, he asked, "That's not right, cousin. Wasn't that palace maid serving you? How come she was captured by Aunt's people?"

Qi Gu said, "I'm afraid we'll have to ask Honghu about that." Honghu was Guo Ji's person in her previous life, and she had already asked Fulian to keep an eye on her. She didn't expect there to be such an unexpected "surprise".

Seeing Zhao Ji kneel, Guo Ji also knelt down gracefully, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, you must also stand up for me and Rong'er! What this eunuch said is only one side of the story. Isn't there Honghu by the side of the eldest princess?"

Madam Guo pointed her pale finger at Honghu, "Tell me, are you colluding with this eunuch to harm my Rong'er!"

Seeing Madam Guo's feigned concern, Qi Gu was also eager to hear what Hong Hu had to say. So she walked up to Hong Hu and said, "Hong Hu, tell me, why did you lead me here today? Madam Guo has to serve the Emperor and take care of my second sister and brother. How could she remember the name of a lowly servant like you? You're quite memorable." Qi Gu's words carried a hint of sarcasm.

The swan shakily raised its head and looked at the eldest princess, who still had a relaxed smile on her lips.

She didn't know how much the eldest princess knew, or when she found out, but today, if she didn't do as that person said, she would have no way to survive.

Honghu lowered her head, thinking that she had no way out. "Princess, I, I..." Honghu kowtowed, "Princess, I really dare not deceive the Emperor and the Empress. Please spare my life. I dare not... I really dare not frame the Ninth Princess. This servant does not want to die."

This reversal caught everyone off guard. Didn't what the palace maid Honghu said mean that the eldest princess framed the ninth princess...?

In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to the Empress, who remained seated calmly, as steady as a mountain.

Wei Xin turned her gaze to Honghu as if looking at a dead man. How could a sparrow know the ambitions of a swan? It's a pity that even with a heart higher than the sky, one must also have the fate to achieve it. It's rare to see a servant so foolish.

"So, it was you, eldest sister... I know you've suffered outside the palace all these years, but ever since you entered the palace, I've always put you first and respected you in everything. Why did you frame me, and even implicate Xiuyuan and Xiao Jiu..." The second princess's voice was filled with fear and tears.

As Qi Gu's uncle, Zhang Tian was unaware of the inside story, but seeing that Hong Hu's words were very unfavorable to Qi Gu, and that was unfavorable to Qi Gu, it was also unfavorable to his sister, he was about to stand up for his niece, but was stopped by a look from his sister.

Emperor Jin Yuan, seated at the head of the table, looked at his daughter. Did she harbor resentment about what happened back then? Everyone present today—Wei Xin, Zhang Tian, ​​and Jiang Shi—knew about his shameful escape.

Emperor Jin Yuan's eyes darkened slightly, "Qi Gu, you..."

The Empress glanced at the Emperor sideways. "Your Majesty, why don't we wait until Aunt Qi has finished asking her questions?" Though her words were a question, they carried an air of unyielding authority.

Emperor Jin Yuan wanted to lash out, but seeing the Empress's expression and Zhang Tian's silent face, which looked extremely unpleasant, he ultimately stopped talking.

Upon seeing this, the Empress couldn't help but sneer inwardly; this was her husband.

Like the Empress, Qi Gu remained calm and composed even when Hong Hu spoke, asking, "Hong Hu, since you have already made your choice, then tell me how I instructed you, so that everyone can know how ruthless I am."

"Your Highness, I was wrong, it's all my fault..." Honghu's fearful appearance made it seem as if she were a loyal but incompetent servant begging for forgiveness from her master. However, Honghu wasn't incompetent; she was just too efficient.

Qi Gu squatted down, stopped in front of Hong Hu, and stared into her eyes. "Hong Hu, speak up. You have to speak up eventually."

"Eldest sister, are you openly threatening this palace maid, trying to force her to change her mind because of your threats?" The second princess leaned against Madam Guo, pressing closer step by step.

Qi Gu stood up and shrugged at the Second Princess. "Second Sister, I just wanted Honghu to be more clear-headed so that everyone could understand. Is that not allowed?"

Honghu raised her prostrate body and said, "Princess, I... I want to live. I'm so sorry." As if finally making up her mind, she knelt and turned towards the Emperor's direction: "Your Majesty, since the Princess entered the palace, she has secretly fallen in love with Lord Sima. However, Lord Sima has never been kind to the Princess. That day, the Princess took two pills, saying that if Lord Sima took the pills, they would consummate their relationship, and Lord Sima would marry the Princess. Today, during the banquet, she instructed me to put the pills in Lord Sima's wine, but I was too frightened and failed to put the pills in the wine cup. Unexpectedly, the Ninth Princess suddenly spilled the wine on Lord Sima's clothes. Seeing that she could not find another opportunity to drug him, the Princess wanted me to put the pills on the Ninth Princess to frame her. However, we have not been able to find the Ninth Princess. It seems that the Ninth Princess is lucky and has returned to the palace on her own..."

"Your Majesty, spare my life! Spare my life!" He cried as he pulled out a handkerchief from his bosom. When he opened the handkerchief, there was a red pill inside: "This is the pill that the eldest princess gave me."

Honghu's words were watertight, and most importantly, he had evidence in his possession. At this point, everything made sense.

Even Zhao Ji, who was standing to the side, began to feel uneasy. Could it be that the eldest princess was really behind what happened today? But she soon realized something was wrong. If the eldest princess was behind it, then why send Xiao Jiu back? Wouldn't that be redundant?

What a brilliant and flawless drama! Qi Gu thought, if it weren't for her... she probably wouldn't be able to clear her name today, even if she jumped into the Yellow River, for the crimes of drugging and framing the Ninth Princess.

[Author's Note]

Reverse, reverse, and reverse again [sunglasses]