She said her health had always been poor because when she was the Crown Princess, she was harmed by a villain using witchcraft, which damaged her health and made it difficult for her to have children in the future.
"It is precisely because of this that the current Empress Dowager deeply abhors the art of witchcraft, and will severely punish anyone found to be using this evil art."
"During the conversation, she mentioned many details about this evil magic, such as birth dates and times, and needles inserted into dolls."
"After I learned that the Empress Dowager disliked this sorcery, I thought of using it to frame the mistress of the palace. So I wrote this plan into a letter and sent it out of the palace to my concubine."
Gu Jiangli lowered his eyes.
She learned what happened after that.
Gu Jiangru began to feign illness. The imperial physicians could not diagnose her condition, but she kept complaining of pain every day, and no medicine seemed to help.
Pretending to be sick is not difficult, and for Gu Jiangru, it was even less of a challenge.
The Empress Dowager is naturally sensitive to such matters and will definitely think in this direction. Once she finds out the so-called evidence, the matter will basically be settled.
When Gu Jiangru uttered the word "Empress," she was not surprised at all.
Because the Empress was truly extraordinary.
She turned around and asked again, "Then tell me, after framing her, did you really have someone falsely issue an order for the mistress to atone for her sins at home with her own death?"
Gu Jiangru crawled down to Gu Jiangli's feet and grabbed her cloak. "If I told you, would you believe me?"
"You speak first, and I will make my own judgment."
"Okay... then I'll tell you, it really wasn't me."
“I’ve already taken a huge risk by using witchcraft. I thought that with the Empress Dowager around, she would definitely not let the mistress off. There was no need for me to be so audacious as to falsely convey His Majesty’s decree and make the mistress atone with her death. Really… I also thought that the mistress was afraid of implicating you, so she committed suicide at home!”
Gu Jiangli closed her eyes and exhaled.
Therefore, someone else was falsely conveying the emperor's edict...
"I see."
After saying this, Gu Jiangli turned and left.
But Gu Jiangru clutched her cloak tightly, her face streaked with tears, trembling with fear as she said:
"Remember what you promised me! I don't want to go to a mass grave. You must make Father come and collect my body, and you must also make a cenotaph for my aunt..."
Gu Jiangli grabbed the cloak and forcefully snatched it back from Gu Jiangru's hands. Without a word, she stepped out of the Cold Palace with a cold face.
Gu Jiangru behind him was still crying and shouting desperately:
"You promised me! Gu Jiangli! Remember to have Father come and collect my body!"
Gu Jiangli's figure did not linger for her.
You can't go back on your word! I've told you everything!
"Don't send me to the mass grave! I'm scared!"
"Sister! I know I was wrong! I really know I was wrong, sister!"
Gu Jiangli paused, stopping at the end of the desolate palace road.
She seemed to sigh silently, and said in a very soft voice:
"When the Crown Prince was selecting a consort, the first requirement was that she must be the legitimate daughter of a family."
"Your mother didn't want you to be sad, and she was afraid that you would feel inferior because of your status as an illegitimate child. So she asked your father to take out the family's money and pull strings everywhere, saying that your talent and appearance were no less than mine, the legitimate daughter. That's how she managed to get your name on the list of the Crown Prince's concubines."
She didn't want to say anything more.
The Crown Prince's selection of consorts requires that they be born of the legitimate wife. Gu Jiangru must go with her older sister Gu Jiangli to have a chance to participate in the selection.
Unfortunately, the original owner, Gu Jiangli, suddenly fell ill and was unable to participate. Gu Jiangru, who was forcibly added to the list later, naturally lost this opportunity as well.
It's impossible for the Gu family to send Gu Jiangru, who doesn't meet the requirements, to the selection of a concubine without the participation of their legitimate daughter.
If anyone is to blame, it is the rules of the Crown Prince's residence at that time, and the differential treatment of legitimate and illegitimate children in society at that time.
However, the mistress was completely sincere towards Gu Jiangru, and there was no "charity" involved, nor was she worried that Gu Jiangru would steal her thunder.
Sobbing sounds came from behind Gu Jiangli.
She no longer wanted to investigate how much genuine remorse and self-blame was contained in that weeping.
All she knew was that Gu Jiangru's death was a foregone conclusion.
Meanwhile, her opponent was spitting out a poisonous tongue at her from some dark corner.
She didn't linger and walked back to Yunguang Palace with steady steps.
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