"Now that the evidence is irrefutable, Consort Ning, what else do you have to say?"
Consort Ning: ...
Consort Ning stared at the Emperor, who stood high above her, in disbelief.
Huh? Conclusive evidence? What conclusive evidence? She didn't do anything, so how can there be conclusive evidence!
"Your Majesty, I don't understand what you're saying. The poisoning of Consort Ling has nothing to do with me."
If she didn't do it, she didn't do it. Even if the Emperor wants to force a confession here, he has to see if she's willing to cooperate.
Regardless of her reasons for targeting Consort Ling, even if she were targeting Consort Ling, it sounds ridiculous that she would try to make her confess based solely on the testimonies recorded by a few servants.
Hongli remained calm, as if he had anticipated that Consort Ning would speak in this manner.
He pointed to the fallen document, "It contains evidence obtained by the Censorate."
"Consort Ning, since you believe you have nothing to do with this, then explain yourself properly. What exactly were you doing on those days mentioned above?"
Hongli didn't really want to force a confession; his real aim was certain dates on the memorial.
Consort Ning knelt on the ground, her body straight and unyielding.
After bowing her head and replying "yes," she reached out and picked up the folded paper laid out on the ground, then looked up and began to read it quickly.
The more she looked, the more shocked she became. As Consort Ning stared at the days listed out one by one, her fingers unconsciously clenched, and her originally rosy nails turned white.
The dates recorded above are all times when she visited Yongshou Palace.
The earliest one even goes back to when Consort Ling bewitched her in order to deal with the Imperial Noble Consort.
"Your Majesty, the time above has been too long, and it should not be related to the poisoning of Consort Ling."
Furthermore, my visit to Yongshou Palace to pay my respects to Consort Ling was merely a routine exchange between concubines.
Subconsciously, Consort Ning concealed her contact with Consort Ling.
This contact refers more to some of the things that Consort Ning and Consort Ling said to each other.
It would be difficult for Consort Ling to speak now, so Consort Ning certainly couldn't tell the truth.
Unfortunately, the Emperor did not quite believe Consort Ning's explanation.
A single sentence, "You and Consort Ling's personal maid don't match up," successfully rendered Consort Ning speechless.
"I did not completely believe what that maid named Ping'er said, but since you and Consort Ling are not related, it seems that this cannot be fully explained."
At least Consort Ling wouldn't actually summon Consort Ning to Yongshou Palace just to chat and show concern for her.
Consort Ning: ...
Consort Ning's expression remained unchanged, but the shock in her eyes was no less.
Ning Fei pursed her lips and spoke, "Your Majesty, the Ping'er you mentioned, is she the maidservant of Consort Ling who has already left the palace?"
After returning from the Yuanmingyuan, many people around Consort Ling were replaced one after another.
Because of her age, Consort Ling specially requested an imperial decree to send away Ping'er, who had taken care of Consort Ling for a long time.
When Consort Ning heard the news, she even sent someone to keep an eye on Ping'er for a while.
Only after receiving news that the other party had actually entered the Wei family residence did Consort Ning choose to stop.
Now that the Emperor has said this, could it be that this Ping'er has been captured again?
The Wei family had fallen from power, but they were able to return to the capital from exile thanks to Consort Ling's ability to conceive and give birth. Otherwise, with all the Wei family members being commoners, how could they have lived in a large mansion in the capital?
Hongli nodded slightly, "It was Yongyan who personally escorted them here."
Yongyan mentioned that Consort Ling's unfortunate fate was due to someone deliberately framing her from the shadows, including the stroke she suffered at the Yuanmingyuan.
Hongli simply brushed it off, completely distancing himself from any connection to the matter.
Consort Ning understood that the Emperor was clearly trying to make her a scapegoat.
Consort Ling and she discussed how to target the Imperial Noble Consort so that their lineage could benefit.
All Consort Ning did was to inform the Imperial Noble Consort of the news in a timely manner so that she could extricate herself from the situation and avoid being implicated.
At the time of the Yuanmingyuan incident, it was not publicly acknowledged that it had anything to do with Consort Ning.
Now that the Yuanmingyuan incident is over, the victors are kings and the losers are villains. Consort Ling has been beaten down by someone who is now dragging her into this mess.
Consort Ning couldn't help but laugh, her voice rising from a soft tone to a louder one, causing Hongli to frown.
"Consort Ning, what are you laughing at? Do you think I would lie?"
Hongli was dissatisfied with Consort Ning's attitude and felt that Consort Ning was guilty and had something to hide.
These concubines, they seem calm and indifferent on ordinary days, but in reality, they have many desires.
At least Hongli didn't believe that Consort Ning didn't covet the dragon throne beneath him.
However, they lack the strength to do so and can only secretly covet the position. Once something happens to them, the various women in their harem will surely come out and fight over them.
His fingers involuntarily tightened around the handles on both sides; Hongli felt he couldn't let things continue like this.
He wanted to choose someone he was willing to abdicate in order to prove that he was still the emperor who had the final say.
"Your Majesty is wise and fair, I have nothing to say."
Consort Ning sneered, her words implying that the Emperor was trying to frame her, and that if you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext.
Hongli: ...
Hongli lost the desire to argue with Consort Ning. After waving her away, he ordered her to stay in the palace and not to go out.
Consort Ning: ...
Consort Ning turned and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, thinking to herself that she was being held captive in a disguised form.
It's ridiculous, all because of Consort Ling, who is lying in Yongshou Palace and whose fate is still unknown.
Does the Emperor truly care about Consort Ling? Or is he using her name to target him?
But what did she have that made her a target? Consort Ning sat in her sedan chair, pondering the matter, and finally turned her gaze to Imperial Noble Consort Chen Yuwei, who was recuperating at the Yuanmingyuan.
?
"Is this targeting me? Your Majesty is in a good mood. I've already gone into hiding."
Could it be that he couldn't escape the emperor's scheming after all? The old man is not broad-minded enough; he really needs to abdicate and give way to a more worthy successor.
“Your Majesty, now that Consort Ning is imprisoned, Prince Yongxing has no say in the court and has already pleaded with Prince Yonghu.”
The letters sent from the capital have piled up to about an inch thick.
Chen Yuwei had naturally seen them all, but the content was largely the same.
"What good will it do if I get my request? I can't go back and can't help you at all."
Previously, she personally handed over palace affairs to Consort Ning. After Consort Ning was imprisoned, the Emperor transferred the palace affairs to Consort Qing.
Originally, Chen Yuwei was also involved, but the Emperor took full responsibility, and Chen Yuwei only learned about it from the letters that were sent to her.
With a chuckle, Chen Yuwei waved for Xingkui to help her up and slowly returned to her room.
"Tell Yongxing to calm down. The Emperor has not abolished Consort Ning's title and rank, nor has Consort Ling died of illness."
"Given the current situation, it's just a matter of locking them up; let's wait and see."
Xingkui held Chen Yuwei's arm and whispered, asking her mistress if she had any thoughts.
Chen Yuwei shook her head. "I have no opinion." Consort Ling was willing to sacrifice herself, and Yongyan was ruthless to his own mother. Did she have to risk her life to retaliate? It was not worth it at all.
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