Ruguo's attempt to implicate the Tongjia clan was something Kangxi had not anticipated. He did not believe Ruguo's words and pondered how to protect the Imperial Noble Consort and the Tongjia clan in front of the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked around at everyone in the room, and finally her gaze fell on the Imperial Noble Consort.
"Imperial Noble Consort, do you recognize this palace maid?" the Empress Dowager asked calmly.
The Imperial Noble Consort rose and knelt respectfully on the ground. "Your Majesty, please understand! I do not know this palace maid, and the Tongjia clan would never do anything to harm the Crown Prince! I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and clear my name and the Tongjia clan's name!"
After speaking, he kowtowed three times to the Empress Dowager.
When the Imperial Noble Consort knelt down, the other concubines also got up and knelt down as well.
"Your Majesty, you know the character of the Imperial Noble Consort well; she would never do such a thing!" Consort Hui said.
"Empress Dowager, the princes and princesses in the palace all like to go to Chengqian Palace because the Imperial Noble Consort treats them like her own children!"
You are probably aware of how the Imperial Noble Consort treats the Crown Prince!
"We cannot conclude that the Imperial Noble Consort is involved in this matter based on the words of a palace maid!" It was Consort Rong who said this.
"I beg the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to investigate thoroughly and clear the name of the Imperial Noble Consort!" Consort Liang knelt behind the Imperial Noble Consort and said.
"We beg the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to investigate thoroughly!" the other concubines echoed.
The Fourth Prince is extremely anxious. If the Crown Prince hadn't asked the First Prince to stop him, he probably would have already rushed out.
The Empress Dowager looked at the people kneeling below and said solemnly, "I called you here today not for anything else, but to tell you not to have any improper thoughts. You all have princes by your side, so it's inevitable that you will have some ideas."
"But I advise you to give up this idea as soon as possible. If I find out that you are instigating your sons to kill each other, the cold palace will be the lightest punishment for you!" The Empress Dowager's eyes swept over everyone.
"Your Majesty, I will respectfully follow your instructions!"
"The Imperial Noble Consort, please stay. The rest of you may return!" the Empress Dowager said to the other concubines.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave!"
After the other concubines left, the Fourth Prince immediately pushed aside the First Prince and knelt before Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager. "Father, Ancestor, Mother would never harm Second Brother. Someone must have framed Mother!"
"Yes, Father Emperor, Ancestor, Consort Tong must have been framed!" The eldest prince and the third prince also pleaded for the Imperial Noble Consort.
"Father, Ancestor, I don't believe that Mother Tong would do such a thing. I know how Mother Tong has treated me. She has no reason to do this!" the Crown Prince said to Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager.
"Your Highness, take your brothers out first!" the Empress Dowager said to the Crown Prince.
"Grandmother, you must believe your mother!" the Fourth Prince pleaded.
"Fourth Prince, listen to the Empress Dowager and go out with your second brother first!" Kangxi finally spoke after a long silence.
"But..." The Fourth Prince was not at ease leaving the Imperial Noble Consort alone here.
"Yinzhen, go out. Your mother is fine. The Empress Dowager and your father will give your mother justice!" the Imperial Noble Consort said to the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince had no choice but to go out with the Crown Prince and the others.
"Imperial Noble Consort, you keep saying that I will give you justice, so can you explain why Ruguo is so determined to frame you?" The Empress Dowager looked at the Imperial Noble Consort with displeasure.
"Does the Empress Dowager intend to punish me because of what a palace maid said? Or does the Empress Dowager already believe that this matter is related to me and the Tongjia clan?" The Imperial Noble Consort stopped kneeling and stood up to ask in return.
"Are you questioning me? Do you have any respect for rules? How dare you be so insolent?" the Empress Dowager said, her eyes filled with anger.
"Insolence?" The Imperial Noble Consort sneered. "I'm afraid in the Empress Dowager's mind, I've already been insolent many times, so one more time won't make a difference!"
Empress Dowager, ever since I entered the palace, you have disliked me. No matter what I do, you are always wary of me.
Since I became Imperial Noble Consort, and Yinzhen took my name into his hands, you have become even more suspicious of me, always worried that I or Lady Tongjia might have designs on the position of Crown Prince.
If I may be so bold as to ask, since we are both Your Majesty's sons, is Yinzhen not worthy of being the Crown Prince? Yinzhen's talent and ability are in no way inferior to the Crown Prince's. Both Yinzhen and the Crown Prince are your grandsons, so why do you favor the Crown Prince?
Is it just because the Crown Prince is the legitimate son? Yinzhen's current status isn't bad either!
The Imperial Noble Consort seemed to have poured out all the grievances and resentments she had accumulated over the years, as well as her grievances for the Fourth Prince.
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