People on the street were talking about all sorts of things. Some even knew a thing or two about Ren Nuanyun's dance moves and the clothes she wore, as if they had seen it with their own eyes.
At the same time, Qu Qingxi was not idle either. She also had Qinglan Pavilion release a message that Ren Nuanyun was born with the destiny of a phoenix, and whoever obtains this woman will rule the world.
The saying "He who wins this woman wins the world" carried considerable power in this era of absolute imperial authority.
Qu Qingxi wanted to elevate Ren Nuanyun to the highest point, making her believe she had everything, and then suddenly realize that it was all a dream. Falling from the highest point must have been a very unpleasant experience.
Before Ren Nuanyun could react, news came from the palace that Qu Qingxi was to come to the palace to meet the emperor.
When Qu Qingxi heard the news, she showed no surprise.
This time, both the Emperor and Qu Qingran were framed, and they were both more resentful and hated the person who framed them more than the other.
Qu Qingxi was not surprised when Qu Qingran revealed her identity.
Qu Qingxi changed her clothes and then followed the palace staff into the palace.
The eunuch led Qu Qingxi directly to the imperial study. When Qu Qingxi entered, the emperor was sitting there with a majestic expression, and Qu Qingran, dressed in palace attire, was standing next to him.
"Your Majesty, this humble woman pays her respects to the Emperor and Consort Shu." Qu Qingxi could skip bowing to Qu Qingran, but she had to bow to the Emperor. As for Consort Shu, Qu Qingxi only mentioned her casually to avoid them finding any more excuses.
Qu Qingran saw Qu Qingxi kneeling on the ground and a smug look flashed across her face. So what if she's the Princess Consort of Nanqing? Humph, she still has to kneel down and pay her respects to her.
The Emperor did not call Qu Qingxi to rise, but went straight to asking, "Qu Qingxi, at the welcoming banquet for the Zhou Dynasty envoys, you went out halfway through. What were you doing there?"
Is this how they start questioning me? However, since the Emperor would ask such a question, he must know something. Qu Qingxi was prepared.
"Your Majesty, that night, I was just enjoying the show in my seat when a palace maid suddenly came in and whispered in my ear that the prince was looking for me."
"I followed the palace maid out, and we walked all the way to the artificial hill in the Imperial Garden. The maid said that His Highness was waiting for me up there, and then she hurriedly turned and left."
"Oh? Did you see Liu Feng over there?" the Emperor asked, his voice unreadable.
"I saw Your Highness over there," Qu Qingxi said, bowing her head sadly in a convincing manner.
"When I saw Your Highness and Princess Anping talking there, I was so sad that I turned around and left, returning to the banquet." Qu Qingxi took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes, looking very distressed.
"During this time, have you seen anyone else?" Upon hearing this, the Emperor merely stared coldly at the person kneeling on the ground. Qu Qingxi's eyes were slightly red, and she seemed to have been stimulated by that scene, appearing very sad.
"Apart from those palace maids and women, I didn't encounter anyone else." Qu Qingxi nodded slightly and answered righteously.
"Qu Qingxi, you're talking nonsense! You clearly met with me that night, how dare you say you haven't met anyone else!" Qu Qingran, who was standing to the side, immediately retorted angrily upon hearing this.
"What is Consort Shu talking about? I didn't see Consort Shu that night," Qu Qingxi said, looking up with an innocent expression.
"How dare you! The Emperor is right here! What does he want to ask? How dare you lie and not tell the truth? Do you want to commit the crime of deceiving the Emperor?" Qu Qingran shouted angrily when she saw that Qu Qingxi did not admit it and even pretended to be innocent.
"Your Majesty, I dare not. It is only because Your Majesty is seated here that I can speak the truth. Everything I have said is true. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly." Qu Qingxi said, then lowered her head in grievance.
"You said you only met a palace maid that night, but Consort Shu said you also met with her that night. Whom should I believe?"
Qu Qingxi's expression was serious, and her attitude and tone were very sincere, not like she was lying. At this moment, the Emperor did not know who to believe. After all, he knew what kind of relationship existed between Qu Qingxi and Qu Qingran.
"Your Majesty, I dare not lie. I do not know why Consort Shu would say such a thing." Qu Qingxi shook her head, looking somewhat at a loss.
"Qu Qingxi, you're clearly lying! You clearly saw me that night, why won't you admit it?" Qu Qingran was furious when she saw Qu Qingxi blatantly lying and refusing to admit that she had met her.
At the same time, she also regretted that she had gone to see Qu Qingxi alone. If there had been other people that night, they could have been brought over now to expose Qu Qingxi's true colors.
"Your Highness, I did not see you that night. I don't know why Your Highness insists that we met that night."
"How about this, I'll ask Consort Shu a few questions, and this problem will be easily solved. Then we'll know whether we actually met that night."
Before Qu Qingran could say anything, the Emperor spoke up, "Speak."
"First, I would like to ask Your Highness, if we really did meet that night, where did Your Highness see me?"
"I..." Qu Qingran was speechless. She glanced at the Emperor subconsciously, but dared not answer. She could not say that she met Qu Qingxi in front of the artificial hill. The Emperor was already disgusted by her relationship with the Prince of Nanqing. If the Emperor knew that she had gone there that night, he would definitely not let her off the hook.
Seeing that Qu Qingran's expression was somewhat unpleasant, Qu Qingxi continued, "Secondly, I would like to ask, if I have indeed met Consort Shu, then why would Consort Shu have seen me? I followed the palace maid all the way to the rockery, and I did not encounter anyone along the way. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may ask that palace maid."
"I only went out with the palace maids because the Prince had business to attend to. Why didn't Consort Shu stay in the palace to enjoy the performance, but instead left as well? The palace is so large, why did Consort Shu happen to say she saw me?"
Before Qu Qingran could say anything, Qu Qingxi spoke again, "Third, if Consort Shu says she has seen me, then please provide evidence. We can't just accept whatever Consort Shu says, can we?"
"You, I..." Qu Qingxi's words left Qu Qingran speechless. Qu Qingran's face turned red, but she couldn't say anything.
Qu Qingxi spoke logically and calmly throughout, and did not seem to be lying at all, which was consistent with the Emperor's previous investigation results.
She didn't even hide the fact that she saw He Liufeng talking to Xu Yanyan. Although she didn't want to admit it, the Emperor still favored Qu Qingxi.
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