Seeing the look of disgust in Jian Yang's eyes, Xiahou Riyue was instantly filled with anger.
He finally realized what was happening.
This was most likely a trap set by Jian Yang to humiliate him!
So he flicked his sleeves and said angrily, "The Empress, a woman of high status, is making fun of an official of the court! I will definitely report this to the Emperor!"
Jian Yang twitched her lips, thinking to herself, "Where did this lunatic come from? I'll see if I even talk to you!"
Xiahou Riyue finally lost his patience and started to walk out.
Suddenly, a strange fragrance filled the hall, originating from the charcoal fire.
He took a light sniff and immediately felt his mouth dry, his heart racing, and his mind becoming somewhat scattered.
As the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he deals with cases all year round and inevitably comes into contact with some strange and unusual poisons.
His body's reaction at that moment reminded him that the fragrance was clearly unusual!
Xiahou Riyue immediately regretted it.
If he had known this would happen, he shouldn't have trusted Jian Yang and gone to the palace. This woman really was trying to scheme against him!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he couldn't help but turn his head and glare at her fiercely.
But then they discovered that she had covered her mouth and nose with a sachet at some point, her eyes filled with confusion and anger.
She seemed completely unaware of what was happening before her eyes...
"What are you looking at? Are you waiting to be framed?"
If she still can't react by this point, she must be out of her mind.
This is clearly a setup by someone to harm her and Xiahou.
If the charge of "adultery" against the two is proven, not only will she be subjected to a thousand cuts, but their families will likely also be implicated.
That's too ruthless!
Unfortunately, Xiahou Riyue seemed like a fool.
What kind of time is this to be fighting with her!
Jian Yang glared at him, took a deep breath from her medicine pouch, and then rushed out the door with renewed vigor.
Fortunately, the person who set up the trap did not lock the door.
They probably never thought they could escape.
After taking a few deep breaths of fresh air, she immediately grabbed a patrolling guard and shouted, "Quickly, go and fetch the Empress Dowager! Be quick!"
The guards were so frightened that they ran as fast as they could toward Fuxi Palace.
The old woman hiding in the shadows saw Jian Yang escape and immediately cried out in alarm, then turned and ran.
A moment later, the Empress Dowager rushed over, surrounded by a group of palace servants. She immediately saw Jian Yang, who was in a disheveled state, sitting in the pavilion and crying.
Beside him, Xiahou Riyue, carried out by guards, collapsed to the ground, his mind seemingly unclear, yet his face was strangely flushed.
"Empress, what's going on?" The Empress Dowager spoke with an air of authority, though she was not angry.
Upon seeing his powerful backer arrive, Jian Yang immediately put on an even more convincing performance, crying even more pitifully than before, "Mother, I have been framed!"
Then, Jian Yang recounted to the Empress Dowager in detail how her clothes had been splashed with water, how she had been led into the palace, and how Xiahou Riyue had appeared.
The Empress Dowagers had been embroiled in palace intrigues for years, and these tricks were nothing new to them.
Just from Jian Yangyi's description, she knew that this was caused by the concubines in the harem.
"Guards!" the Empress Dowager roared in fury. "Bring those cleaning maids and the guiding matrons here at once!"
Before long, the cleaning maid was brought before the Empress Dowager.
Although the old woman who was supposed to lead the way was also brought along, she knew that the matter had been exposed, so she had hanged herself early on and was already dead.
Faced with the Empress Dowager's pressure and Jian Yang's questioning, the young palace maid could not bear the psychological pressure and burst into tears.
"It was Consort Chu who forced me to do this! Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, spare my life! Your Majesty the Empress, spare my life!"
Upon hearing that it was indeed the concubines in the harem causing trouble, the Empress Dowager was immediately enraged!
"Summon Consort Chu!"
The cleaning maid was dragged aside, and less than a quarter of an hour later, Consort Chu was escorted forward by the guards.
Upon seeing the Empress Dowager and Jian Yang, Consort Chu immediately feigned ignorance, saying, "Your subject does not know what mistake I have made to anger Mother so much?"
"Consort Chu!" The Empress Dowager said coldly, "I'm giving you one last chance. If you tell the truth, I'll spare your family."
Consort Chu immediately kowtowed, her eyes brimming with tears, "Mother, I truly do not understand what I have done wrong. Please do not believe the slander of others."
The Empress Dowager roared, "Bring them up here!"
The bodies of the cleaning maid and the old nanny were carried over again.
"Tell me, who ordered you to do this?"
The young palace maid immediately pointed at Consort Chu, trembling, and said, "It was Consort Chu who threatened me with the lives of my parents. If I didn't comply, she would kill my parents."
"You little hussy, how dare you spout such slander!"
Consort Chu wished she could tear her mouth apart immediately, but with the Empress Dowager present, she could only cry and sob incessantly, "Mother, I am innocent, I am innocent!"
Just then, a group of guards carrying a brocade box quickly walked to the Empress Dowager's side.
"Your Majesty, this was found under Consort Chu's bed in her palace, and it has the same smell as the poison that Her Majesty the Empress was poisoned with."
The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed with ruthlessness: "Consort Chu, what else do you have to say!"
With both witnesses and physical evidence at hand, it was impossible for Consort Chu to deny anything further.
She collapsed to the ground, her lips trembling. "Mother, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me this time, I beg you..."
"Guards, throw Consort Chu into the imperial prison! All officials in the Chu family shall be dismissed and investigated. A final decision will be made after the Emperor returns to court!"
The Empress Dowager quickly arranged everything.
Jian Yang watched in awe.
Tsk tsk tsk, as expected of the Empress Dowager!
With that kind of aura and those kinds of methods, you can't help but admire them.
As for the palace maids who were responsible for cleaning, according to the law, they should be beaten to death with sticks and their bodies dumped in a mass grave.
Jian Yang knew that the child was also being coerced and was already a pitiful person, so how could he resist Consort Chu's coercion?
So she pleaded with the Empress Dowager to spare the child's life.
The young palace maid was naturally moved to tears.
News of Consort Chu's imprisonment and the downfall of the Chu family quickly reached Consort Yu's ears.
She couldn't help but sneer, "That idiot, it was definitely the right thing to do not have any hope for her."
Upon hearing this, the maid Jingyue asked timidly, "Your Highness, Consort Chu has been imprisoned and will inevitably be subjected to severe torture. What if she can't withstand the torture and exposes you?"
Consort Yu sneered, "What does this have to do with me? I only told her about Lord Xiahou and the Empress's past. I didn't get involved in anything else!"
As for the things that Consort Chu had done, she had anticipated them long ago and even deliberately fanned the flames.
But if the Empress Dowager investigates, it will have nothing to do with her.
She was confident that she could exonerate herself completely.
Jingyue quickly praised, "Your Majesty truly has remarkable skills."
Consort Yu was very pleased. She picked up a delicate pastry, took a small bite, and was completely satisfied.
"Anyone who gets in my way while I'm enjoying my snacks shall die!"
The incident was quickly quelled thanks to the Empress Dowager's timely intervention.
Just when Jian Yang thought she could finally live a comfortable life, the imperial physician came to her door.
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