"Jiaojiao, are you sure you're not mistaken? How could Miss Jiang's jade pendant be hidden so close to Young Master Kou's body?"
"She was Prince Jing's concubine."
Consort Xi looked surprised and suspicious.
Jiang Jiaojiao said decisively, "That's definitely right. My second sister accidentally lost this jade pendant at the White Horse Temple, and I was the one who found it. When I returned it to her, she gave me a rouge shop as a token of her gratitude!"
"This is the jade pendant left by my aunt before she passed away. My second sister treasures it the most and never takes it off. How could it be here? Could it be that my second sister is confused and has lost it again?"
"My second sister is really something. How can she lose such precious things again and again?"
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, not expecting such a turn of events.
But Jiang Jiaojiao spoke earnestly and sincerely, not like she was lying. Everyone's expressions were different, especially the Empress, whose expression was as if she had swallowed something disgusting.
Jiang Jiaojiao didn't let her off the hook.
Instead, she continued her outspoken performance, "How could Her Majesty the Empress think this jade pendant belongs to the Noble Consort? Did Her Majesty also bestow an identical jade pendant upon her?"
The Empress's expression changed slightly, but she quickly returned to normal: "I just thought it looked familiar; perhaps I was mistaken."
Jiang Jiaojiao sneered inwardly, but pretended to suddenly realize something: "So Your Highness was mistaken, which means that the Imperial Concubine has no connection with this jade pendant?"
The Empress gritted her teeth, a barely perceptible glint of hatred flashing in her eyes, and forced back her anger, saying, "The night was dark; I was indeed mistaken."
“I have never received such a unique jade pendant.”
Chen Jin'er didn't forget to add insult to injury, laughing, "The personal items that Her Majesty bestowed upon me are all carefully kept in my box. They are all top-quality items. If I lose them, I won't be able to explain myself no matter what."
Ever since Jiao Jiao told me the cause of her death in her previous life...
Chen Jin'er valued her personal belongings above all else, locking them in layers of boxes just to prevent this from happening. Today, she finally understood the cause of her death in her previous life.
Using her lost jade pendant from the White Horse Temple as bait, they falsely accused her of having an affair with the Third Prince.
That's truly a brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone.
Jiang Jiaojiao echoed, nodding, "Auntie is not from a wealthy family. This jade pendant is just a keepsake. It can't compare to the Empress's reward."
“Young Master Kou, do you remember where you found this jade pendant? You are a man after all, so it would be better if I returned the jade pendant to my second sister.”
As Jiang Jiaojiao spoke, she openly extended her hand and asked the Empress for the jade pendant, "Your Majesty, could you please give this jade pendant to me so that I can pass it on to my second sister?"
"I will definitely remind my second sister to be careful and not to lose such personal items again."
"Fortunately, it was I who saw and recognized her today, otherwise... who knows what kind of trouble would have ensued."
Jiang Jiaojiao's lips curled up into a bright smile, as beautiful and delicate as a flower blooming in spring.
The Empress's expression was stiff and gloomy, her eyes flashing with anger and resentment. She reluctantly handed the jade pendant back to Jiang Jiaojiao.
"How come I never knew Miss Jiang had such a good way of speaking?"
All that talk about being stupid, clumsy, and honest is fake!
Under the cover of night, the Empress's eyes, fixed on Jiang Jiaojiao and Prince Chen, held an intense rage.
good!
well!
What a pair of idiots, pretending to be crazy and conspiring together!
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."
"Young Master Kou, really! This purse was a gift from your sweetheart, how could you put other people's things in it? Oh dear—"
Jiang Jiaojiao suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes widening as if she had discovered an unbelievable secret, "Could it be...could it be that your sweetheart is..."
He hesitated, then stopped. I understood, but I didn't say anything.
Jiang Jiaojiao's expression said it all; sweat instantly soaked through Kou Da Gongzi's chubby body, along with her panic and fear that she couldn't hide.
They practically had the words written all over their faces: a guilty conscience.
The emperor's face was grim, his sharp eyes fixed on Young Master Kou, his gaze flashing with undisguised rage.
The Empress gritted her teeth, wishing she could tear Jiang Xue to pieces.
What a fine Jiang Xue!
She actually sent her personal jade pendant as Consort Xi's jade pendant; she must be in cahoots with Jiang Jiaojiao!
Bitch—
The Empress felt that she had been deceived by Jiang Xue's "pretend" jealousy and resentment towards Jiang Jiaojiao!
Fortunately...
She had other plans!
The Empress suddenly opened the porcelain bottle in her hand with force, and a strong, pungent smell wafted out. After taking a light sniff, her face instantly turned extremely gloomy.
\"presumptuous--"
"How could you carry such filthy things on you!"
"What are your intentions, Physician Xu?!"
The Empress roared, shoving the porcelain bottle at the imperial physician, and coldly said, "Look at this thing!"
Physician Xu took the porcelain bottle, examined it carefully, and then a look of astonishment appeared on his face.
He knelt on the ground in fear and answered tremblingly: "Your Majesty, this substance contains extremely strong musk, snow lotus, lingzhi, toad venom, and datura."
Physician Xu named dozens of medicinal herbs in succession.
The faces of everyone who heard this turned grim. Putting aside everything else, even those who don't know much about medicine know that musk, toad venom, and datura are highly poisonous.
The Yellow Emperor flew into a rage and pointed directly at Young Master Kou, "What are you doing!"
"Your Majesty, spare me! I'm innocent! I absolutely did not poison the imperial fetus! This... these are just some health-enhancing pills!"
Young Master Kou screamed in horror.
Poisoning the imperial heir is a crime punishable by the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan!
He couldn't believe it. Jiang Xue... had hidden something so deadly among the things she gave him! What kind of hatred was this? It was enough to kill his entire clan!
At this moment, Young Master Kou's romantic mind was fully awakened!
He recalled their meeting at Fanlou, where Jiang Xue and Jiang Jiaojiao confronted each other. He should have been wary then, but... for some reason, every time he saw her, especially her tears, he felt like he had lost his mind.
She believes everything she says.
She said she hated the cruel twist of fate; the jade pendant and the purse were just a thought, but he actually believed it and carried them with him every day.
She told him to deliver a gift to the Imperial Concubine on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival to ease the misunderstanding between the Imperial Concubine and Jiang Jiaojiao, and he believed her.
But he never expected this.
She didn't send him here to deliver gifts; she sent him to his death! The lives of his entire clan!
At this moment, Young Master Kou's blood turned completely cold.
"strangeness……"
Suddenly, a surprised voice rang out.
Jiang Jiaojiao pondered for a moment and said, "If the intention is to harm the imperial heir, why would you put snow lotus and lingzhi, which are detoxifying and life-prolonging herbs, into this pill?"
"I heard that Miss Jiang is skilled in medicine, and it's true."
The Empress smiled slightly, praising him with a half-smile.
"What explanation does Physician Xu offer?"
Physician Xu's expression was somewhat strange. After a long silence, he slowly said, "Because this medicine is not intended to harm the imperial heir, but rather..."
He paused for a moment.
Physician Xu looked at Consort Xi and spoke with difficulty, "It's to disrupt the pulse during pregnancy, making it impossible for people to tell the gestational age of the fetus..."
These words were spoken.
A deathly silence fell over the surroundings instantly.
Jiang Jiaojiao even saw a restrained smugness on the Empress's face. Yes, this was the Empress's final move. Sometimes, killing doesn't necessarily require bloodshed.
She wasn't targeting the imperial heirs, but rather the emperor's heart.
Chen Jin'er slowly raised her head. Under the moonlight, her figure seemed to be shrouded in a layer of silver gauze, making her even more charming and beautiful.
"Your Majesty...can you trust your concubine?"
Chen Jin'er remained surprisingly calm, her voice melodious, carrying a hint of charm and naivety, without the expected panic or kneeling to beg for mercy.
The empress's expression stiffened.
A sense of foreboding suddenly arose in my heart.
But... a voice in my heart kept screaming, the evidence was irrefutable, Consort Xi must be pretending to be calm, gambling with the last bit of gratitude and the one in a million Emperor's trust.
She was also looking forward to it.
What choice will the emperor make?
...
By confusing the royal bloodline and having affairs with the imperial concubines, Young Master Kou felt that his crimes had escalated from the confiscation of his family property and the extermination of his clan to... the confiscation of his family property and the extermination of his entire extended family.
The palace maids and eunuchs all held their breath.
Their faces were filled with horror and despair. After hearing such a secret, did they still have a chance to survive?
finally.
In the stillness of the night.
The emperor took a step forward, his steps heavy. He bowed slightly, as if bearing the weight of the entire world, and slowly draped his crimson-gold embroidered dragon shawl over Chen Jin'er's shoulders.
His movements were gentle and slow, and his eyes revealed an undisguised weariness and disappointment.
At this moment, he didn't seem like an emperor, but more like an ordinary husband, gently reminding her, "It's late, my beloved concubine should rest."
Then I looked up.
His gaze was icy, piercing the Empress, radiating majesty, as he transformed back into the ruthless emperor.
"Someone come here—"
"The Empress is ill. Send her back to the palace to recuperate. She is not allowed to leave without imperial decree. All matters concerning the inner palace shall be managed by Consort Xi, with Consort Zhang assisting."
The empress's eyes widened instantly, as if she had fallen from the clouds into a valley, unable to believe what she was hearing.
"What?!"
The emperor's gaze was intense, his eyes cold and sharp, like two swords piercing straight to the heart.
"The seventh prince told me a few days ago that he would invite me to a banquet and a play on Mid-Autumn Festival. I didn't believe him, but after watching it tonight... it was quite a show."
"The Empress's acting skills are really good."
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