"Your Majesty, it is the eldest daughter of the Han family, the eldest son of the Han family, and two imperial guards."
The one who came out to report was Xiao Tao, the maidservant beside the Empress Dowager. It was she who summoned Wang Shuqing to the Empress Dowager's bedroom.
The three were still locked in a fierce battle in the room, and obscene sounds continued to reach Li Mufeng's ears. His face was extremely ugly, and his well-defined knuckles clenched tightly.
"Why? Why did this happen? During this time, she was entangled with Chu Yunmo. Later, she found out that Chu Yunmo had ulterior motives for approaching her. She thought that after the Empress Dowager's matter was over, she would propose to her again. How did she get involved with her own younger brother, Han Ruobin? Is she that thirsty?"
The one who couldn't accept it the most was Wang Shuqing. She shook her head frantically, staggered a few steps, and then frantically pushed aside the people in front of her. What she saw was four people, two men and two women. She angrily pulled the people who were passionately fighting on the bed apart, and then shouted,
"Ruyi, is that you?"
Seeing that it wasn't her daughter and son on the bed, Wang Shuqing breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Ruyi? Isn't that Consort Zhen?"
"The Consort Zhen was caught in the act with two men during the fire some time ago, and was caught red-handed by the Emperor and Prince Longxuan. Why is she doing it again today..."
"A leopard can't change its spots. Even now that the Emperor has bestowed upon her the title of Consort Zhen, she still acts so shamelessly."
...
With everyone buzzing with discussion, Li Mufeng's anxious heart finally calmed down, and his face unexpectedly brightened.
"This woman is a pleasant surprise. I was just thinking about how to deal with her, but she ruined her own future. It saved me a lot of trouble."
Thinking of all this, Li Mufeng cupped his hands in greeting.
"Father, Consort Zhen, as a role model in the harem, has led the way in engaging in licentious behavior within the palace. This matter must be severely punished. If it is not severely punished, I fear that others will follow suit, and the harem will descend into chaos. The entire royal family will become a laughingstock."
Li Hongwen's face turned ashen. Although he didn't like Han Ruyi, she was still someone he had slept with and who had been made a concubine. Now that she had done such a thing, it was a disgrace to him.
"Guards, drag this slut out and behead her along with her lover."
Li Hongwen's tone left no room for refusal, and several imperial guards dragged the people inside out without further ado. The effects of the drug were still present, and the four of them were reluctant to part. Li Mufeng had someone bring a basin of water, and with a "splash," they finally came to their senses.
"Ah...who? Who dares to splash me?"
Han Ruyi screamed and shouted angrily. Perhaps feeling a cool sensation on her chest, she looked down and screamed again.
"Ah...ah..."
"Your Highness Consort Zhen, you have greatly disappointed the Empress Dowager."
Granny Cui shook her head and had someone throw a piece of clothing to Han Ruyi, as a way to cover her up.
Eunuch Zhou hurriedly dismissed everyone, since Han Ruyi's status was now different; she was Emperor Li Hongwen's woman.
"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! This servant..."
The two men had barely uttered two words when they suddenly coughed up black blood and died.
Wang Feng stepped forward to investigate and replied.
"Your Majesty, these two have died from poisoning."
"Blood Purple Rose" couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth in the crowd.
"Your Majesty, sob...it was that vile woman Han Ziwei who knocked me unconscious! Please, do justice for me! Sob..."
At this moment, Han Ruyi had fully regained consciousness and lunged at Emperor Li Hongwen.
"Ruyi, you can't slander Ziwei like that. She's your sister."
Wang Shuqing was heartbroken.
"You vile woman, it's one thing for you to scheme against me, but to commit such lewd acts in the harem is another. Guards, drag her out and beat her to death."
Emperor Li Hongwen was already seething with anger, and now he finally found a way to vent it. He didn't care why Han Ruyi had done such a thing.
His heart belonged only to Consort An, the mother of Li Mufeng. Now that he had a relationship with Han Ruyi, he felt sorry for Consort An.
"Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, save me..."
Seeing that Li Hongwen was determined to kill her, Han Ruyi lunged at Empress Dowager Feng Xiuzhen.
"Your Majesty, as the ruler of a country, you cannot act so rashly."
Ruyi was wearing Han Ziwei's clothes, which was strange. And Chunxiu, she was dressed in the attire of the young master of the Han family—wasn't that odd?
Xiao Tao reported Han Ziwei and Han Ruobin's attire to Empress Dowager Feng Xiuzhen, speaking in a deep voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty, it was Han Ziwei who knocked me unconscious. She dressed me in her clothes. If you don't believe me, ask Chunxiu."
Han Ruyi pointed to the person next to her who was also disheveled. This person was the maid who had led Han Ziwei and Han Ruobin here.
Chunxiu lay prostrate on the ground, too ashamed to look up, and trembling with fear. Now that her name had been called, she stammered...
"It was...it was the eldest daughter of the Han family who knocked me unconscious! I beg...I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for me and Consort Zhen, sob sob..."
"To plot against Consort Zhen is to damage the reputation of the royal family. Your Majesty, this matter must be severely punished."
Empress Dowager Feng Xiuzhen said in a deep voice.
"No, it's impossible, Your Majesty. My daughter and son are of pure and kind nature and would never do such a wicked thing. Please investigate thoroughly, Your Majesty."
Wang Shuqing knelt down with a thud. If this were true, not only would Ziwei and Ruobin be doomed, but the entire Prime Minister's mansion would also be implicated.
"Father, we haven't found Ziwei yet. Why don't we find her first and then make a decision?"
Li Mufeng spoke again, his heart pounding with anxiety. After all, Empress Dowager Feng Xiuzhen was right. Right now, Han Ruyi was wearing Han Ziwei's clothes, and it would be difficult for her to clear her name in this matter.
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