Upon hearing Song Xizhi's words, the Empress Dowager abruptly raised her head and realized that Song Xizhi was also there.
It's just that she was so focused on Princess Jingyue that she didn't notice Song Xizhi was also there.
She frowned deeply: "What's going on? What do you mean by sending you to jail for a body search and torture? Who would dare do that?"
Princess Jingyue hurriedly said, "Grandmother, she is not a good person at all! You should remove her from her position as a judge and lock her up in the Heavenly Prison!"
"Your Majesty, I saw her forcefully break into the palace gates late at night! She was acting suspiciously, so I tried to stop her for questioning, but Consort Zhen slapped me twice!"
"If she didn't have something to hide and wasn't meeting with thieves in the palace, why would she linger in the palace for so long after the birthday banquet had ended and all the ladies had left? What else could it be but something she did wrong?"
"Jingyue begs the Empress Dowager to investigate in detail what kind of shady people Song Xizhi has met while staying in the palace for so long!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager's chest trembled, and even Princess Jingyue in her arms was caught off guard and fell to the ground by her movement.
Princess Jingyue gasped in surprise, then her heart began to pound wildly.
Very good!
The situation changed instantly when the Empress Dowager arrived. Not only would she escape any punishment, but Song Xizhi would likely be in deep trouble!
Looking at Song Xizhi's restless and uneasy demeanor, she knew that she was no good person in private.
If the Empress Dowager agrees to investigate who Song Xizhi met and what he did tonight, he will probably end up being dismissed from his post and imprisoned in the imperial prison, just as she wishes.
Consort Liang listened in silence, feeling that there was still room for maneuver. She turned her hopeful gaze toward the Empress Dowager.
What could be seen was the Empress Dowager's face, clouded with gloom.
Consort Liang was startled, feeling as if her heart had suddenly skipped a beat.
Princess Jingyue's words still echoed in the Empress Dowager's ears. The Empress Dowager clutched her chest, took a moment to catch her breath, and then asked again, "Jingyue, are you saying that the whole thing is because you wanted to arrest Song Xizhi and send him to the imperial prison?"
Princess Jingyue nodded: "Who knows what kind of wicked people she was with and what bad things she did while wandering around the palace so late at night?"
The Empress Dowager was almost laughing in anger. The inner hall fell silent instantly, and all that could be heard was the Empress Dowager softly chanting "Amitabha" a few times.
"A bad person? What bad thing did they do?"
Then came the Empress Dowager's cold voice: "Do you know that she left the palace so late because of your little imperial uncle? She is your little imperial uncle's savior. If it weren't for her, your little imperial uncle would have lost his life!"
"Not only that, she is also the guardian of the Great Dragon Vein. She brought me the birthday gifts from Master Yuanhui, and she also invited the gods and Buddhas to celebrate my birthday!"
"But you want to strip her naked and send her to the prison? You...you...!"
"You say she was having an affair with a villain, and I kept her there until then. What crime do you think I should be charged with?"
By the end, the Empress Dowager was so angry that she could barely speak.
Who could have imagined imprisoning the guardian of the great dragon vein, a skilled physician, and the close friend of Master Yuanhui in the Heavenly Prison?
The inner palace fell silent. No one present had expected that the Empress Dowager's attitude would suddenly change, and she would stand on Song Xizhi's side without hesitation.
Even the emperor was somewhat surprised. The long speech he originally wanted to deliver was now stuck in his throat, and he even lost his breath.
Princess Jingyue turned pale with fright upon hearing the Empress Dowager's stern words.
"Grandmother...Grandmother? How can you speak up for her!"
She knew nothing about being a guardian of the dragon vein or the savior of the young imperial uncle!
Seeing that she was unrepentant, the Empress Dowager's expression grew even more indifferent: "I forgot to tell the Emperor that I intend to have Prince Ning recognize Song Xizhi as his adopted daughter."
The main hall fell silent once again. The windows of the inner hall seemed to have been blown open by the wind, and the wooden window frames made a soft sound as they bumped against the palace walls.
Emperor Guangqi was caught off guard by these words, and his lips trembled.
"Mother, you..."
The Empress Dowager shook her head, then changed the subject: "Unfortunately, Prince Ning was absolutely unwilling, and I had no choice but to grant her the title of Lady of the Township."
Princess Jingyue's eyes narrowed sharply. She never expected that her beloved grandmother would show such favor to a lowly maid like Song Xizhi.
She shook her head, her voice trembling with tears, her eyes red and swollen; she looked very pitiful.
"Grandmother, Grandmother! I am your grandson! I am your grandson!"
"How could you do this to her? She hit me so hard, it hurts so much!"
Looking at Princess Jingyue's unrepentant appearance, the Empress Dowager shook her head, her eyes filled with a hint of pity.
“Jingyue is far too spoiled. If you continue like this, you will only harm yourself and others, and even the entire Daqian! Your temperament is no longer suitable for staying in the palace!”
Princess Jingyue's mouth dropped open in disbelief, she simply couldn't believe her ears: "Grandmother? Grandmother?"
"What are you saying? You're going to abandon your own granddaughter for such a lowly woman? You're going to banish Jingyue from the palace for such a lowly woman? You might as well take my life!"
Princess Jingyue could hardly believe what she was hearing, and she screamed almost hysterically.
Seeing Princess Jingyue's condition, Consort Liang was also moved to tears. She practically scrambled forward to cover Princess Jingyue's mouth.
But it was too late.
Princess Jingyue is rambling and has said many unpleasant things.
The Empress Dowager's expression grew increasingly disappointed, and her face also turned cold and stern.
“Since you, Jingyue, feel that her status is insufficient and that she is a lowly person who has caused her to be bullied in the palace, then I think that the title of Township Lady is also insufficient. So let’s make Song Xizhi a County Lady.”
She paused inexplicably after saying this, and when she looked at Princess Jingyue again, her face was full of pity:
"Princess Jingyue's words and actions have been disgraceful and have truly disappointed me. By my decree, Jingyue is stripped of her title, demoted to the rank of Lady of the Township, and banished from the palace to a Buddhist temple to practice Buddhism with her hair intact, where she may spend her days with the ancient Buddha and the dim lamp."
The Empress Dowager's words sent a jolt through everyone's chest.
Demoting her to the rank of village princess was already the last shred of dignity Princess Jingyue retained. Everyone knew what it really meant for an unfavored woman to be sent to a remote Buddhist temple.
They're practically indistinguishable from the living dead.
The emperor frowned slightly, wanting to dissuade her, but the empress dowager had already made up her mind.
If we don't take decisive action now and continue to indulge Jingyue's reckless behavior, we will be harming the great cause of the imperial court!
Not only did Song Xizhi rise two ranks, but she also became a village lady, while Song Xizhi became a county princess. She became someone even more lowly than Song Xizhi!
Princess Jingyue listened to these words with a pale face, and in an instant, as if her soul had been ripped out, she fainted.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
