Chapter 104 Consort Yue's Identity Exposed
Consort Yue gritted her teeth, not daring to speak.
A palace maid took the wine cup that Xie Yunchuan had picked up. Xie Yunchuan bowed and said, "Father, please calm down. I have only found a few pieces of evidence. What if it is a misunderstanding?"
What's the misunderstanding?
Xie Yuxiao had just thrown away a wine glass, and this time he wanted to throw away the wine pot as well.
The concubines in his harem were actually spies from the Song Kingdom.
And he never noticed?
Xie Yuxiao restrained himself until he saw Sheng Sheng's worried expression, which stopped him from throwing another wine pot.
In the Kingdom of Yu, only members of the royal family are allowed to train their own secret guards.
Xie Yuxiao's secret guards were hidden outside the residences of various court officials and in the corners of the city, but not in the inner palace.
Firstly, it was inconvenient for secret guards to spy on the lives of the concubines. Secondly, although Xie Yuxiao knew that the concubines occasionally had disputes, he never thought about other aspects.
Xie Yuxiao: "For the sake of our years of friendship, now that you have admitted it yourself, I will leave you to live out your days in the Cold Palace."
Consort Yue didn't know how they found her. Did they already realize that her identity was unusual?
Consort Yue could only stubbornly resist, saying, "Your Majesty, I don't know what you're talking about."
Xie Yuxiao took a deep breath. Seeing this, Xie Yunchuan had no choice but to expose her: "Consort Yue is really good at hiding her identity, otherwise no one would have known for so many years. If Consort Jing hadn't been confined to her quarters, and everyone in the palace hadn't thought that Consort Jing had lost power, which made Consort Yue's life difficult as well, Consort Yue wouldn't have taken such a risky path and exposed herself, would she?"
Sheng Sheng added insult to injury: "Consort Yue is truly incompetent. How can a qualified undercover agent be so greedy for a life of luxury? No wonder Consort Yue is incompetent; what kind of spy can't stand hardship after getting used to a good life? Consort Yue has been in the palace for so many years, has your original ambition been worn away? The Song Dynasty should be grateful to have a spy like you for the rest of its life."
These words caused a great uproar in the Golden Palace. (A secret agent from the Song Kingdom?)
Who is it, Consort Yue?
Inside the Golden Hall, a great deal of discussion arose, and the court officials engaged in a passionate debate.
Even the concubines who had been quietly observing the situation were shocked.
"Is it true? Is Consort Yue a spy for the Song Kingdom?"
"No way, I even listened to music with her before!"
“I entered the palace the same year as her. I always thought she was unusually quiet, and I thought she was just introverted. Now it seems she was just feeling guilty!”
Besides the discussion about Consort Yue's identity, there was another person in the palace who was also thrust into the spotlight.
"Consort Yue is a spy for the Song Kingdom, then that one..."
"Yes, then hasn't that hostage prince from the Song Kingdom been secretly seeing her all along?"
"No way, His Highness the hostage has had a hard time in the palace these past few years. Consort Yue has been doing so well under Consort Jing's care, how could she not secretly take care of him?"
"That's true. Just now, Consort Yue was trying to shift the blame onto Pei Ji!"
"What if it's just acting?"
"Who knows? But if the Song Kingdom had planted spies for so long, how come the Song Kingdom was still defeated three years ago...?"
Sheng Sheng frowned slightly, looking at Pei Ji with some concern.
The crowd was buzzing with discussion, but Pei Ji seemed oblivious, remaining calmly seated to the side.
Just as everyone was discussing this, Zhu Yue, dressed in a black outfit, strode in, his sword still stained with blood.
Behind her, two imperial guards were escorting a woman in; she was the maidservant who had been seen by Consort Yue at Changyin Pavilion.
Zhu Yue knelt on one knee, her voice as cold as ice: "Your Majesty, according to the information in Consort Yue's secret letter, we have located her contact point in the capital, which has been sealed off. This person is Consort Yue's head maid, and when I found her, she was about to escape the city on horseback!"
Zhu Yue was originally Xie Yuxiao's person, so any talk of perjury or framing is useless now.
Xie Yuxiao grunted in response, coldly staring at the palace maid dressed in plain clothes who was tied up: "Why did you try to escape?"
Knowing that she was about to die, the palace maid decided to take someone down with her.
She gave Consort Yue a reproachful and malicious look, and confessed everything: "Your Majesty, spare my life. I have followed Consort Yue in the palace for many years and have been advising her. But since Consort Yue was implicated after Consort Jing was confined to her quarters, she has been looking for another way out. That's why she suddenly set her sights on the Second Princess that day at Changyin Pavilion."
Not only was being banished to the Cold Palace, but Consort Yue seemed to have gone mad, determined to take revenge on the Second Princess. This servant couldn't dissuade her, knowing that Consort Yue's actions would surely lead to trouble, and that I would be implicated and face certain death. So... I slipped out of the palace, trying to escape... Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! I'll tell you anything, Your Majesty, please spare me!"
Consort Yue suddenly stood up and shouted, "You're talking nonsense! You vile woman, I've treated you to good food and drink, and you've betrayed me like this!"
Those who were nearby were startled by the sound, like frightened little rabbits, but they didn't want to leave the front line of watching the drama, so they clung to Xie Yunchuan's back and cautiously peeked out to continue watching.
"Your Majesty, I have served you for eight years. Don't you know who I am? How could I possibly be a citizen of the Song Dynasty!"
"Yes, since you know that Pei Ji is a hostage sent by the Song Kingdom, and you are a Song citizen, how could you falsely accuse your own prince?"
Consort Yue was taken aback, then quickly nodded: "That's right, if I were truly a citizen of the Song Kingdom, how could I possibly frame my own prince!"
Xie Yunchuan changed the subject: "But the problem is, you've never treated him like your own prince. Pei Ji was in Yu for three years, and his share was always being skimped on, but you never asked him a single question. You just watched him suffer. You've never really looked at him properly, so naturally you wouldn't think that framing him would have any consequences."
Consort Yue's thoughts were exposed; she had indeed never taken this hostage seriously.
Firstly, because the Song Kingdom had never sent any message about taking care of this prince, and secondly, because Pei Ji only brought one attendant with him, it was clear that the Song Kingdom did not care about this prince at all.
Secondly, she valued her life. What if Pei Ji, a mere child, found out that she was a spy from the Song Kingdom and accidentally revealed her identity?
In fact, when Consort Yue heard that Xie Yuxiao said he would treat Pei Ji well, she hesitated whether to go to him. But not long after, Pei Ji had all his dues deducted and was a pitiful little man who could be bullied by everyone in the palace.
Consort Yue gave up on that idea. Not only could Pei Ji not give her any benefits, but she might even have to take care of him. So why should she go to him?
Consort Yue was now caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to nod or shake her head.
Under immense pressure, Consort Yue lost her composure and became helpless, resorting only to rebuttals.
"You're talking nonsense, you're talking nonsense!"
"Judging from the contents of your letter, Pei Ji didn't even know you existed," Xie Yunchuan added.
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