Chapter 156 Investigation
His words were resounding and his courage was commendable, which made everyone take notice, with Hongzhao's expression being the most peculiar.
Kang Changzai is usually quite unassuming, so why is she, who is six months pregnant, so determined to get involved with him? It's really strange that she'd rather risk her child than let him get away with this.
Yinzhen sat upright, supporting himself on his knees. His eyes were like unfathomable deep pools, and he smiled faintly with his thin lips slightly pursed. The smile was so chilling that it made people feel uneasy.
"If what you say is true, then someone is deliberately trying to harm Consort Kang? Since you are so certain of this, why not lay everything out and explain yourself clearly? What is your speculation, and what is your evidence?"
The old woman stared intently at Hongzhao with her slanted eyes, the hatred in her gaze barely concealed. Her chest heaved violently as she struggled to move forward—"It's the Crown Prince! He's so young yet he's already so vicious! He deliberately chose the place where our young mistress goes for her daily walks to play football, and then took the opportunity to throw the ball into our young mistress's stomach!"
"Your Majesty, you have always indulged the Crown Prince, which has given him a vicious heart that cannot tolerate his own brothers. Your Majesty, you cannot ignore the fact that he used his own brother to harm his unborn half-brother!" Her voice was filled with sorrow and grief. If one did not know the inside story, one would really sigh and say that she was a loyal servant.
After these words were spoken, almost everyone present, except for Consort Jing, was no longer standing. Neither the imperial physicians nor the servants remained standing; all of them knelt down, their legs trembling, wishing they were born without ears.
This is the crown prince! Has this old woman gone mad?!
"How dare you spout nonsense before the Emperor!" Consort Jing took two steps forward and pointed at her, so angry that she could hardly breathe, and even her fingertips trembled slightly—"Slandering the Crown Prince without any evidence or proof, I think you don't want your tongue anymore!"
Consort Jing rarely spoke so sharply and sternly, and even Yinzhen couldn't help but take notice.
Although Hongzhou was young, he had grown up in the deep palace and naturally understood what was being said. He was still sobbing and hadn't recovered when he hurriedly got up and spoke up: "You old woman, you're talking nonsense and slandering my fifth brother. I fell because something slippery under my feet caused me to trip. What does it have to do with my fifth brother?"
The little boy spoke with a serious expression, his voice terribly nasal, and he sobbed as he spoke, which melted Hongzhao's heart.
Yinzhen stared at her with cold eyes without saying a word, and the hall fell silent.
"emperor."
A weak voice came from inside the hall; it was Consort Kang.
"Your Majesty, please do not be too harsh on the Crown Prince. He is still young and his mind is not yet settled. I believe the Crown Prince now knows his mistake and will not dare to do it again. I will not pursue the matter further, and I beg Your Majesty not to pursue it further either."
Her feigned magnanimity in saying this almost confirmed that the Crown Prince was behind it.
Yinzhen stared intently inside, rubbing his palms for a long while before slowly nodding – “Good, very good. Does anyone else have anything to say? Why don’t you all say it today, so that I can… take a look together.” Hongzhao could even detect a hint of gritted teeth in the last syllable of his voice.
He felt no unease whatsoever. Hongzhao looked down at his hand, which was hidden under his sleeve, and found it held tightly in a pair of warm, thick hands that had not let go.
In the few moments of silence that Yinzhen waited in, Hongzhao had a sudden thought and turned on the mind-reading device. Instantly, a flood of complex emotions rushed into his mind.
"Granny Zhu said that the Empress had two difficult births out of the three times she gave birth, and was almost framed. That's why the Emperor cherishes the Crown Prince so much. Now that I'm like this, I'm afraid the Emperor will cherish me even more since he has a son in his old age."
“Even if the Crown Prince can’t make way for my son, I’ve suffered such a great injustice and I’m still so magnanimous. I’m sure the Emperor won’t be stingy with promoting me. Now that I’m a Noble Lady, and I’ll have a child, I’ll be a Consort. Then I can raise my own son myself.”
"The Empress's family background was not as good as mine. She only became Empress because she was able to bear children. If I give birth to the dragon prince that the Emperor likes, I will naturally be better than her."
Hongzhao tilted his head slightly, raising an eyebrow as he looked into the inner chamber behind the gauze curtain. This Consort Kang actually wanted to imitate her mother? What was this called? Kang Kang Lei Ying? Did she think she could also give birth to an auspicious child? Or even a dragon and a phoenix? In a month when the gender was still uncertain, how could she be so certain that she would target him, the Crown Prince, first?
But then there was Granny Zhu, whom they had just mentioned... Hongzhao turned his gaze to the person in front of him, whose neck was stubbed out like a rooster's; this must be the old woman.
He squinted and stared straight at her, then turned on the mind reader again.
What I heard this time was much more interesting than what Consort Kang had just said.
“Since no one is speaking, then there is nothing.” Yinzhen shrugged and spoke to Su Peisheng without moving, “Throw this old woman into the Shenxing Division. Make sure she reveals who the mastermind is. Su Peisheng, you will handle this matter personally.”
He spoke with an extremely calm expression, yet this very calmness made him even more terrifying than when he usually shouted at people, making them afraid to look him in the eye.
"Consort Kang is described as insane, disturbing the palace, slandering the Crown Prince, and making unwarranted comments about the heir apparent. She is hereby deposed and reduced to a commoner. Once her child is born, she will be sent to the Cold Palace. Her family members are to be imprisoned in the Imperial Prison to await interrogation. I want to see what they are up to."
As soon as the command was given, Granny Zhu and Consort Kang panicked. Granny Zhu's voice was so shrill that the guards beside her quickly shoved the handkerchief into her mouth the moment she opened her mouth, so as not to disturb the emperor's hearing.
"Your Majesty, I do not know what wrong I have committed! Please tell me clearly!" Even through the gauze curtain, it was clear that Consort Kang had practically sprung up from the bed, her voice loud and clear, indicating her confidence.
As expected, seduction requires talent. She suddenly realized that her reaction was too strong, but at this moment, she didn't care about her family anymore, as it would bring disaster upon them.
"I have already said that I will not pursue the Crown Prince's fault. It is one thing for Your Majesty to not pursue the matter in order to cover up the Crown Prince's wrongdoing, but do you really want to eliminate him completely and destroy the evidence?"
Her words were certainly not polite, after all, in her opinion, this method was flawless, and the timing and reasons were all perfectly legitimate. The emperor wouldn't punish her without even investigating!
No one of high rank or power could tolerate such a rude question. Especially not the most honorable person in the world, the Emperor.
Just as Yinzhen was about to speak with a cold look in his eyes, a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
"Of course we will investigate. Even if His Majesty doesn't, I will not let it go easily!"
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