Chapter Thirty-One: The Truth Comes Out
Huo Lin's eyes grew even colder, and his displeasure spread undisguisedly.
[The sweet and sour pork ribs finally managed to mess with Yu Changzai's brain.]
[Do you think I can't see through such an obvious frame-up?]
Listening to Huo Lin's thoughts, Jiang Huan actually guessed it.
Before she fainted, she was thinking that Yu Changzai's appearance was too coincidental, and she guessed that she had done something to frame her.
They're really calculating! But there are bad guys among the crowd!
If she hadn't fainted just before Huo Lin started eating, it would have been really hard to clear her name.
Although it almost poisoned her to death, by some twist of fate it saved her life.
Jiang Huan sat up and got off the bed. Her face was still a little pale, but her aura was not weak at all.
Today, my luck turned around!
She looked down at Consort Yu and said, "The imperial physician has confirmed that the poison in the vegetable is the same one that I was poisoned with."
"If I really poisoned the Emperor, then I would be far too careless!"
Yu Chang looked up at the person standing next to Huo Lin, her heart clenching with jealousy.
She saved the Emperor; she should be the one standing beside him!
Jiang Huan! What makes Jiang Huan so special?!
Yu Changzai glared at Jiang Huan with eyes wide with rage, determined to prove Jiang Huan's poisoning today no matter what!
"Stop feigning sympathy! You must have staged this whole thing to deceive the Emperor!"
Jiang Huan felt a little dizzy, rubbed her forehead, and was quite angry at Consort Yu.
What's wrong with this person? They're like a cornered dog, biting people indiscriminately.
Huo Lin noticed Jiang Huan's movements, his cold eyes narrowed, and he quickly walked over.
Where does it hurt?
"I feel a little dizzy," Jiang Huan said in a muffled voice, her body swaying unsteadily.
Huo Lin frowned, remained silent, and carried Jiang Huan back to the bed.
"Don't worry about things that aren't your concern; I'll take care of them."
[Consort Zhuang is furious! Who will cook me a grand meal? Sweet and sour pork ribs, perhaps?!]
[To be honest, Consort Zhuang's poisoning was a completely undeserved misfortune, entirely due to my involvement. It seems I should treat Consort Zhuang better from now on.]
Wait, she won't be angry with me, will she? The kind of angry that she'll retire from cooking and never cook again...?
Jiang Huan secretly gave Huo Lin a few more points.
Yes, this time my thoughts won't be noisy at all. If you like what you hear, please share.
Moreover, it seems that he has already determined the truth of the matter.
That's great, that's impressive too.
Yu Chang knelt on the ground, watching Huo Lin gently place Jiang Huan on the bed.
Their eyes met, an unspoken ambiguity lingering between them.
She had been in the harem for so many years, and when had she ever seen anyone receive such treatment?
This is the Emperor, the Emperor whom so many concubines in the harem try every means to get close to, the supreme ruler.
A mere Jiang Huan so easily won the Emperor's favor.
If no one suppresses her, she'll be so arrogant and unruly that she won't have a place in the harem in the future!
"Your Majesty!" Consort Yu suddenly exclaimed, her eyes burning red with jealousy.
"Your Majesty, look carefully! She's the one who poisoned you!!"
Huo Lin covered Jiang Huan with the blanket again and turned around.
A cold light gleamed in his deep eyes, and the gold dragon patterns on his black robe swayed as he moved, as if they could break free from his clothes at any moment.
One step, two steps...
Huo Lin stood in front of Yu Changzai, his calm voice carrying an imposing aura.
"Wang Degui, show her the evidence you found."
Upon hearing the word "evidence," Yu Changzai's face turned pale instantly, and her previous resentment and jealousy vanished.
She lowered her head, her eyes darting left and right.
Evidence? What do you mean? Does the Emperor know something?
Just as Yu Chang was feeling uneasy and unsure of what to do, Wang Degui stepped forward.
He produced the confessions of the palace servants in the imperial kitchen, the bribes, and the poison.
The items were laid out in front of me one by one, like death warrants.
Huo Lin snorted coldly, his sharp gaze piercing straight at her.
"Are you still going to try to argue with me?"
Yu Changzai's fingers gripped the ground so tightly that he didn't even realize his nails were sticking up.
No, she can't admit it!
If we admit it, everything is over!
"I'm innocent!" Consort Yu grabbed Huo Lin's leg and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please investigate! It must be Consort Zhuang who framed me! I have never had anyone poison you!"
"Utterly foolish!" Huo Lin frowned, and Wang Degui immediately broke out in a cold sweat, ordering several palace servants to pull Consort Yu away.
"If you have any grievances, go to the Cold Palace to tell them."
He was unwilling to waste any more time on fools, and with a slap of his lips, he issued an ultimatum.
“Jinhua Palace is unlucky. Consort Zhuang will move to Weiyang Palace from now on.”
What?
Jiang Huan's head was tucked under the covers, with only a small section showing.
"Your Majesty, my original place was quite nice..."
Jiang Huan knew that Huo Lin was trying to make it up to her, but she still understood the saying that the bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow against it.
Although she was vying for favor in order to move out of Jinhua Palace, now was not the time to be high-profile.
Today's events will soon spread throughout the harem. If she really moves into Weiyang Palace, it will cause a huge uproar, and endless jealousy will be impossible to guard against.
One Yu Changzai had already cost her half her life, let alone the thousands upon thousands of Yu Changzai hiding in the shadows.
Huo Lin had already made up his mind: "That courtyard is warm in winter and cool in summer, and it has many exotic flowers and rare herbs, with excellent scenery, making it suitable for recuperation."
"This is my arrangement. Whoever dares to disobey, I will speak to her personally."
"After you arrive, if there is anything you want to eat or use, just have your maid fetch it. Anyone who dares to mistreat you will not be spared by me."
[Consort Zhuang, you must recover quickly! My pregnancy, the rise and fall of the nation, all rest in your hands!]
[Simply bestowing rewards cannot demonstrate my sincerity, Consort Zhuang. Do you understand?]
[If you understand, repay me with delicious food!]
Jiang Huan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
She moved out of Jinhua Palace because she wanted to live a peaceful life.
It seems she now has to be extra careful.
Jiang Huan nodded. She was adept at reading people's expressions; if she refused again, she would be disrespecting Huo Lin.
He hasn't mentioned fighting and killing in a long time, and I don't want to get into trouble.
"Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your kindness."
The imperial harem is both the place with the most secrets and the place with the fewest secrets.
The fact that Consort Yu poisoned the Emperor caused a huge uproar in the harem, even alarming the Empress Dowager who rarely left her residence, and she specially summoned Consort Jia.
Consort Jia, while hating Consort Yu for her utter failures, also told the Empress Dowager everything she knew.
She was cunning and intentionally or unintentionally mentioned the Emperor's decision to have Jiang Huan move into Weiyang Palace.
"Weiyang Palace? Wasn't that just renovated?" The Empress Dowager held her prayer beads in her hand, her brows furrowing slightly, but her expression remained unchanged.
"Yes, the Emperor himself issued the decree, saying that the scenery of Weiyang Palace is beautiful and it is a good place for Consort Zhuang to recuperate."
The prayer beads in her hand suddenly stopped. She had warned Jiang Huan earlier, but Jiang Huan not only ignored her warning but also became ambitious and eager for quick success.
It is not a good sign that a person of high status is being valued so much by the emperor.
The Empress Dowager wanted to give Jiang Huan another warning, but she also knew Huo Lin's temper.
We need to slowly find a way to cure her.
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