Ru Guo hadn't gone far from Cixi Palace when she ran into Eunuch Cui, who was looking for her.
"Miss Ruguo, the Empress Dowager wishes to see you. Please come with us to the Cining Palace!" Eunuch Cui said to Ruguo.
A hint of panic flashed across Ru Guo's face. "Eunuch Cui, what does the Empress Dowager want with me?"
"How could a servant like me know about my master's affairs! Besides, you'll find out when you go there!"
Ru Guo smiled sheepishly, "Eunuch Cui, this servant will go and tell the princess!"
"You don't need to worry about that. Someone will naturally go and tell the princess!"
"You'd better come with me quickly, otherwise, if the Empress Dowager blames us, neither of us can afford to suffer the consequences!" Eunuch Cui said with a gloomy face.
Ru Guo dared not refuse any longer and could only follow Eunuch Cui to Cining Palace.
Ruguo hoped to run into one or two acquaintances on the way so she could deliver a message to the Ninth Princess, but she didn't encounter anyone along the way.
As they got closer and closer to the Cining Palace, Ruguo completely gave up on her plans.
Eunuch Cui smiled disdainfully. Who would dare to come forward and inquire about the people sent by the Empress Dowager?
Inside the Cining Palace, everyone remained silent, and the atmosphere was extremely heavy.
The Imperial Noble Consort didn't know what the Empress Dowager was up to with such a grand display, but her intuition told her that this matter might implicate her.
"Your Majesty, the Ruguo fruit has been brought!" Eunuch Cui reported as he entered.
"Let her in!" the Empress Dowager said.
When Ruguo entered and saw so many people in the room, she was so frightened that she knelt down on the ground and stammered, "This servant greets His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince, and all the ladies and princes!"
The Empress Dowager simply kept Ruguo kneeling without saying a word, but her eyes remained fixed on Ruguo.
Not only the Empress Dowager was looking at Ruguo, but everyone else in the room was also looking at her.
Ruguo immediately felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, and lowered her head, not daring to make any move.
"Ruguo, do you know why I summoned you here?" The Empress Dowager finally spoke after a moment.
"This servant...this servant doesn't know!" Ruguo said, trembling.
"I don't know! Let me remind you, you know Li Zhong, right? He has already confessed everything, what else do you have to say? Murdering the Crown Prince is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!" The Empress Dowager looked as cold as ice.
"This servant...this servant..."
"What are you still trying to hide now? Speak up!" The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table.
The others in the room couldn't believe that Ruguo, a palace maid, would dare to plot against the Crown Prince. Some of them recognized Ruguo as the Ninth Princess's maid and were filled with doubt. How could this matter involve the Ninth Princess?
"Your Majesty, please forgive me! I will tell you everything. Please forgive me this time. I was forced into this situation. I had no choice but to do this!" Ru Guo cried.
"If you want me to spare you, then we'll see if you tell the truth," the Empress Dowager said, staring at Ruguo.
Ruguo knelt and moved forward a few steps, seemingly towards the Imperial Noble Consort. "Your Majesty, this servant has failed your trust and has not been able to complete the task you entrusted to me."
Please treat my family well! I will always be loyal to the Tongjia clan! Before anyone could react, blood trickled from the corner of Ruguo's mouth, and she collapsed to the ground, motionless.
"Ah!" Some of the timid concubines couldn't help but cry out in fright, but because the Empress Dowager was there, they could only continue to endure it.
Granny Su stepped forward and checked Ru Guo's breath, then said to the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, she's dead!"
"Don't think that you can escape this calamity just because you're dead! Throw her into a mass grave, and exile her family to Ningguta!" the Empress Dowager said coldly.
Upon hearing Ruguo's words, the Fourth Prince could no longer sit still. How could this matter involve Lady Tongjia?
He was about to stand up and say a few words in defense of Lady Tongjia, but the Crown Prince stopped him, saying, "Fourth Brother, you must not lose your composure at this time!"
"Second Brother!" The Fourth Prince looked at the Crown Prince gratefully, thankfully the Crown Prince believed him.
On the surface, the Imperial Noble Consort remained calm, but she was already restless. Now that Ruguo was dead, she pointed the finger at the Tongjia clan, and there was no way to verify the evidence!
The others were also filled with mixed thoughts. Could it really be that the Imperial Noble Consort was plotting to harm the Crown Prince? If something happened to the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince would become the most prestigious prince. Who wouldn't be tempted by power?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com