Yuan Yao immediately looked at Jiang Lanyue.
Princess Lan Yue described how her mother sprinkled sugar water into the dessert, just as she said she didn't know the food sent from Qianhua Palace was poisonous...
Innocent, bewildered, surprised and suspicious.
She was like a frightened little animal, bewildered and pitiful.
She was just telling the truth, like any innocent child.
However, she had no idea that her words had completely confirmed her mother's guilt in killing her son.
Consort Li shook her head, tears streaming down her face, "I never imagined things would turn out this way..."
The voice was indescribably desolate, even tinged with self-mockery.
Jiang Lanyue crawled on her knees, crying, and walked up to Consort Li. She grabbed Consort Li's wrist with both hands and said, "Mother, please don't do this. I'm scared... My brother is gone. Think of me. You still have me."
Yes, Chen'er is gone.
Consort Li's eyes were glazed over, and tears kept falling.
She lost her son, and she lost everything.
Her daughter, whom she hadn't paid much attention to in recent years, was timid and weak, but at this moment she stood up and forced her to admit to the poisoning...
This daughter is only seven years old.
The future holds countless possibilities...
Consort Li looked down at Jiang Lanyue: "Since Chen'er was born, your mother has rarely cared for you. I am sorry. Now, you have grown up."
Jiang Lanyue sobbed softly, "Mother..."
Consort Li looked at her, her eyes filled with tears and a smile.
At this moment, the Ninth Prince spoke up: "Consort Li, have you thought about what you're going to say?"
Consort Li looked up, took a deep breath, and suddenly pushed Jiang Lanyue away: "Your Majesty, it is I! I am useless. I gave birth to a stupid prince and have disgraced Your Majesty and the royal family!"
Over the years, the concubines have tried every means to find doctors and medicines, but Chen'er has not only not become smarter, but his body has become weaker and weaker.
Seeing that Chen'er was beyond saving, I thought I could take advantage of him while he was still alive and gamble with him!
"You..." The emperor's face trembled with rage: "You poisonous woman!"
Consort Li smiled sadly and continued, "I know that with His Excellency dominating the court and the harem, many people must want to get rid of him. Since others want to get rid of him, why can't I?"
"Sacrificing a sickly and useless little prince to get rid of the Ninth Prince is worthwhile! Perhaps His Majesty will even remember my contributions and promote me by one rank, allowing me and Yue'er to live a life worthy of others..."
The emperor's face contorted with rage as he pointed a finger at Consort Li: "You've gone mad! You're absolutely insane!"
"Yes, I've gone mad!" Consort Li looked up at him directly: "These things were all done by me alone, and have nothing to do with anyone else in Fangfei Palace, let alone Lan Yue!"
Your Majesty, all these years, I have failed as a mother, my eyes only set on wealth and glory!
Chen'er is nothing more than a bargaining chip I use to win favor, while Lan Yue... I had her curry favor with the Empress and the other princes and princesses just so that Chen'er and I could have an easier life...
"The mistakes and crimes were all committed by me, Your Majesty. Please spare the others and grant me death!"
The emperor pointed at Consort Li for a long time, his lips trembling and his face turning pale.
Suddenly, he raised his foot and kicked hard.
Consort Li was kicked away like a rag doll, crashing heavily to the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Jiang Lanyue clutched her chest and exclaimed, "Mother!"
Consort Li barely opened her eyes, glanced at her, and then fainted.
The emperor roared, "Guards, bring the poisoned wine!"
Poisoned wine?
Is this a death sentence for Consort Li?
Yuan Yao glanced at Jiang Lanyue.
Jiang Lanyue crawled to Consort Li's side, using both hands and feet. She raised her sleeve to wipe the blood from Consort Li's mouth and face, but instead of pleading, she kept crying, "Mother, wake up, Yue'er is scared..."
The Ninth Prince glanced at it coldly and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, it would be too boring to just order someone to die."
"Wouldn't it be more punitive to punish her by making her live, forever tormented by the pain of killing her own child?"
Upon hearing this, the emperor nodded firmly: "A-Yuan, you are right!"
After speaking, the emperor stopped the palace servants who were preparing the poisoned wine and announced: "Consort Li, née Chen, is vicious and cruel. She poisoned the imperial heirs and framed loyal officials. She has violated the virtues of a woman. Considering that she once bore me children, I will spare her life, but strip her of her title and banish her to the Cold Palace!"
Having been banished to the Cold Palace, Consort Li's future is likely hopeless.
Yuan Yao looked at Jiang Lanyue.
This princess is quite interesting.
I don't know if it's genuine naiveté or feigned naiveté...
Consort Li was deposed, and the news spread throughout the palace.
At the same time, the upbringing of Princess Lan Yue has also become a point of contention.
The next day.
From the Empress down to the concubines of the various palaces, everyone was summoned to Yong'an Palace.
Yuan Yao acted coquettishly, begging the Ninth Prince to take her along.
She really wanted to know who would dare to support Jiang Lanyue.
Behind the screen, Yuan Yao nestled in the arms of the Ninth Prince.
The Ninth Prince picked up a cup of warm milk and fed it to Yuan Yao: "Here, have another sip."
Yuan Yao patted her round little belly: "Daddy, I'm not drinking anymore. If I drink any more, my belly will burst."
"Really? Then, let Daddy rub it for you." After saying that, the Ninth Prince's large hand landed on Yuan Yao's little belly and gently massaged it.
"Ah! It feels so good!" Yuan Yao exclaimed in her sweet, childlike voice.
As soon as she finished speaking, the emperor snorted coldly, "You two seem to have a deep father-daughter bond!"
His voice carried a hint of bitter jealousy.
The Ninth Prince glanced at him sideways with a dismissive look.
The emperor suddenly felt bored, picked up a cup of tea, and took a small sip.
Yuan Yao nestled closer to the Ninth Prince's embrace and asked softly, "Father, does the Emperor... not like Yao'er?"
The Ninth Prince smiled and said, "It's alright, it's enough that Father likes you."
Yuan Yao whispered, "Okay..."
She really wanted to ask the emperor what she had done to offend him.
Could it be...
Was the emperor jealous?
The better the Ninth Prince treated her, the greater the Emperor's hostility towards her.
He must be jealous of her!
Yuan Yao was particularly curious about what had happened between the Ninth Prince and the Emperor in the past...
Soon, the Empress arrived with a group of imperial concubines.
There were beauties of all shapes and sizes, some voluptuous and others aloof, some with long legs and others petite... all dressed in colorful and beautiful palace gowns, so captivating that Yuan Yao couldn't take his eyes off them.
After they were seated, the emperor said, "Bring Princess Lan Yue over."
The young eunuch obeyed the order and quickly brought Lan Yue over.
Upon entering the main hall, Lan Yue shrank back and knelt on the ground in fright.
The emperor spoke, "You must already know about the matter of Fangfei Palace."
Consort Li has been banished to the Cold Palace, Fangfei Palace is empty, and Princess Lanyue is young and frail with no one to care for her. Therefore, I have summoned you all here to discuss her future.”
Upon hearing this, the concubines began exchanging glances.
A moment later, many of the palace concubines began to refuse.
"Your Majesty, I am in poor health and fear I will not have the strength to take care of the princess."
"I have never raised a child, nor can I take care of the princess."
"My child is only two years old. If I were to raise another princess, I fear I would not be able to take good care of the young prince..."
"..."
After all that talk, no one wanted Lan Yue.
At this moment, a concubine spoke up: "In my humble opinion, Princess Lan Yue is soft-hearted and timid. It would be best to send her to His Majesty's Qianhua Palace to train her."
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