The Fourth Prince was taken aback. He took a deep breath, sat down, and stared at Lady Fucha, asking, "What did you say? What do you know about Consort Xi and the young prince?"
Empress Fucha glanced at the palace servants standing around and gestured for the Fourth Prince to dismiss them. The Fourth Prince waved his hand, and Su Peisheng led all the palace servants out.
The Fourth Prince then slowly asked, "Tell me everything you know! If you tell even the slightest lie, I will not forgive you..."
Lady Fucha knelt on the ground and quickly kowtowed, replying, "Your Majesty, I dare not. I know I am a sinner and hope to atone for my sins. I will never deceive Your Majesty again... It is Lady Wuya!"
Fourth Master was taken aback, and unable to contain himself, he hurriedly asked, "Wuya? What is her relationship with Lanqin and Hongfu?"
Empress Fucha said, "When I was imprisoned in the Cold Palace, I met Lady Uya. The Cold Palace was lonely and desolate, so Lady Uya became a little closer to me. I didn't know what Lady Uya was thinking, so I naturally didn't guard against her. I never thought she was this kind of person..."
"Explain yourself more clearly..." Fourth Master said, "What did Lady Wuya do?"
Fucha nodded and said, "When I was in the Cold Palace, Uya told me that she hated Consort Xi, saying that Consort Xi had monopolized the Fourth Prince's favor, which was why she was trapped in the Cold Palace and could not be free."
The Fourth Prince knew that Lady Wuya harbored resentment towards Lanqin. Lady Fucha was right. The Fourth Prince said, "She still hasn't reformed and remains stubbornly unrepentant..."
Empress Fucha said with remorse, "Your Majesty was foolish. I thought she was just saying it and didn't take it seriously. But I never imagined... I never imagined that after His Majesty's great achievements, Your Majesty and I were released together. Remembering the friendship we shared in the Cold Palace, I had more contact with Your Majesty... only then did I discover..."
The Fourth Master was extremely anxious and asked urgently, "What have you discovered?"
Empress Fucha gently wiped away her tears and said with a wronged expression, "Your Majesty, I have discovered that Lady Wuya actually knows witchcraft..."
The Fourth Prince flew into a rage, slamming his fist on the table, which startled Lady Fucha, causing her to tremble violently.
"Witchcraft is a forbidden art in the imperial palace. No matter how bold she is, she wouldn't dare to use witchcraft..." the Fourth Prince rebuked angrily.
Empress Fucha tearfully pleaded, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I hadn't paid any attention at first, nor did I recognize those as witchcraft. But every time I visited Lady Wuya at Qixiang Palace, I would hear her speaking strange and mysterious words in the palace. Out of curiosity, I listened for a few moments..."
Empress Fucha sobbed, "Uya is cursing Consort Xi! I'm terrified and don't know what to do. It wasn't until a few days ago, when I heard that Consort Xi had a persistent high fever at the Yuanmingyuan Garden, and the young prince at Yikun Palace was also suffering from the same condition, that I realized what was going on..."
The Fourth Master's expression was grave and he was very displeased: "Did you look carefully?"
Empress Fucha cried out, “I have not uttered a single lie. I saw with my own eyes that Lady Uya was holding a small cloth doll, then pricking it with needles and chanting incantations… I have heard from elders that these are all forms of witchcraft. I dare not conceal this, which is why I have come to see Your Majesty…”
"Why are you so certain that Lanqin's fever and the death of the young prince are related to Lady Wuya?" Fourth Prince stared at Lady Fucha and asked calmly.
Empress Fucha hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, think about it. Why did Consort Xi suddenly develop a high fever that wouldn't go down? And the little prince is the same. There have never been any ghost stories in the palace. If it's not due to witchcraft, how could he have fallen ill so strangely?"
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