The servants escorted Granny Wang into the inner room. Ulanara sat on the bed, leaning against a pillow, her face somewhat somber.
He waved for everyone else to leave, leaving only his two personal maids, Qingci and Qinglan, to serve him in the inner room.
"Granny, you, how could you..."
Ulanara felt conflicted, somewhat disappointed in her son.
She so wished that Granny Wang could be a person who knew and obeyed etiquette. Now that she had seen her do something wrong, she was the most heartbroken person besides the victim.
"My lady, this old servant knows his mistake. This old servant was bewitched and committed such a grave error. My lady, please forgive this old servant. This old servant truly knows his mistake."
Seeing the disappointment in her mistress's eyes, Wang Mama felt a pang of pain in her heart. Without arguing, she directly begged for mercy.
Qingci presented the things she had just prepared to bury under the big tree and explained in a low voice, "Master, this powder is indeed poisonous."
Ulanara looked up at Granny Wang and asked, "Granny, tell me honestly, what exactly did you do?"
“My lady, I discovered that Princess Wuya had drugged Princess Li, so I thought of turning the tables and drugging the First Prince as well, then framing Princess Wuya. I was truly bewitched at the time, and now I realize how wrong I was. Fortunately, the First Prince is unharmed, so please spare me. If the prince had found out, my life would have been in danger.”
Granny Wang cried her eyes out, tears streaming down her face, and sincerely recounted everything she had done.
The more she listened, the heavier Ulanara's heart became.
Granny, it's easier said than done to forgive you. Who is the master? This matter is of great importance. He will definitely investigate to the end. It's only a matter of time before it's discovered. How can I possibly forgive you?
Shaking her head inwardly, she felt helpless and disappointed. "Granny, I was already preparing to send you back to the manor to live out your days in peace. How could you have made such a grave mistake?"
Looking up at Wang Mama's face one last time, Ulanara lowered her eyes and made a heavy decision in her heart.
He waved his hand, signaling Qingci to have her men temporarily confine Granny Wang to her quarters. The rest could wait until tomorrow.
The next day, Yinzhen had something to attend to, and Ulanara sent someone to invite him, but they were unsuccessful.
On the third day, when Su Peisheng handed over the collected evidence to the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen learned that his wife had sent someone over.
He first took the evidence and glanced at it briefly. He was surprised to find that it was Wuya who had done it. Considering that the backyard was managed by the Fujin (the wife of the emperor), Yinzhen thought for a moment and then took the evidence to the main courtyard.
The wife was still in confinement after childbirth, and in principle, the couple should not meet directly. However, Ulanara felt guilty and wanted to discuss important matters, so she had the screen in the middle removed so that they could talk face to face.
Led by Qingci into the inner room, Yinzhen noticed that the screen in the middle was gone and was a little puzzled. He then realized that his wife must have something to say, so he left Su Peisheng outside the door.
Ulanara dismissed the rest of the servants, leaving only the couple in the room.
"I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness. I have failed in my duty to manage my servants, which has led to the serious crime committed by the maidservant by my side. Please forgive me!"
Ulanara was dressed in her nightgown, without any makeup, and had a serious and sincere expression on her face.
He stepped forward to help his wife up, and asked, puzzled, "Wife, what do you mean by this?"
Ulanara bowed her head and explained, recounting Wang Mama's actions and how she discovered her wrongdoing. She then recounted everything about Wang Mama's temporary imprisonment.
He was horrified. All that Su Peisheng had found out was the work of Wuya alone, and there were still some suspicious points that had not been investigated.
If the Fujin (principal wife) doesn't admit that it was her maid Wang who did it, wouldn't that be like planting a scourge in the backyard? Then Hongyao, or the other children, would be in danger.
Thinking of this, Yinzhen's gaze towards his wife changed somewhat. Ever since she entered the household, he knew that she was a person who valued rules and regulations.
She never expected that her own wet nurse would make a mistake, yet she would still uphold justice and not cover it up or hide it, which shows how good her heart and noble her character are.
Even Yinzhen couldn't help but sigh, "With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"
With Su Peisheng's investigation results and the Fujin's confession revealing Wang Mama's plan, the truth of the matter was fully revealed.
Wang Mama's crime of murdering the imperial heir was extremely serious. However, considering that the Fujin (Prince Consort) had not concealed the crime and had voluntarily revealed the details, Yinzhen pondered for a moment and sentenced Wang Mama to forty strokes of the cane and expulsion from the prince's residence.
As for Lady Wuya, because of her kinship with Consort De, Yinzhen could not punish her directly. He first confined her to her quarters, and then dealt with her after reporting to his mother in the palace.
In the afternoon, Su Peisheng brought Wang Mama to the front yard and notified all the palace maids and eunuchs in the mansion to come and watch.
The palace maids and eunuchs stood in several rows, and Su Peisheng inspected them one by one, his eyes cold and full of chill.
"Don't blame me for not reminding you. I've notified you to come and witness the execution, so watch carefully and remember this matter well! Watch your skin; this is the consequence of plotting against the imperial heir. If such things are discovered again in the future, you'd better think twice before you live!"
After speaking, Su Peisheng ignored the fearful, apprehensive, or reluctant looks in everyone's eyes and ordered the execution to begin.
Granny Wang was gagged and unable to speak. She lay on the execution bench, her eyes filled with terror.
As the paddle struck her body again and again, she could at first groan a few times, but then she gradually lost her strength.
Thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty.
After the beating, Granny Wang had already fainted and was unconscious. Behind her, there was a red, bloody mess around her waist and hips.
Su Peisheng spoke sternly for a long time before letting everyone go back.
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