The man hesitated for a moment, his gaze involuntarily falling on Gu Yunjin standing to the side.
Gu Yunjin had already panicked.
His face turned pale, and his gaze kept turning towards Situ Mingji.
However, Situ Mingji didn't even glance at her.
Gu Yunjin felt her heart pounding as she listened to Gu Jingchun's words.
It was only then that she discovered that Situ Mingji had secretly arranged such a big thing behind her back.
Even more unexpectedly, Gu Jingchun managed to escape alive despite being surrounded by so many people!
One person was left alive.
Then, the man in black's gaze fell upon her.
She was so frightened that she was at a loss for what to do and almost immediately spoke.
Why are you looking at me like that?
When she looked up again, she realized that not only him, but everyone's eyes were on her.
Why are you all looking at me?
Gu Yunjin was almost going crazy; her voice was trembling.
"I didn't do this, it wasn't me, I don't even know him."
However, her words were not convincing at all.
The man in black had already knelt on the ground and was speaking tremblingly.
"Your Majesty, it was the Third Prince's Consort who instructed me to do it."
As he spoke, he took out a silver note, pressed his head to the ground, and then held the silver note high above his head.
Blood was flowing from his abdomen, and his hands were trembling uncontrollably; he looked like he could collapse at any moment.
Upon seeing this, Dexi immediately took the silver notes and presented them to Emperor Rongcheng.
Emperor Rongcheng's gaze fell on Gu Yunjin.
"Third Prince's Consort, do you have anything to say about this matter?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yunjin immediately stepped forward and knelt on the ground.
"Father, this matter has nothing to do with your daughter-in-law. Jingchun is your sister. Even if you hate her, you would never have someone kill her!"
Her face was full of pleading, her eyes brimming with tears, and she looked utterly pitiful.
It makes people wonder if this person deliberately framed Gu Yunjin.
At that moment, someone else entered the main hall.
There were two people who came.
One of them was a man sent by the Empress Dowager.
He knelt down immediately after entering.
"Your Majesty, I have come on the orders of the Empress Dowager to recount all the events of today for your consideration."
Emperor Rongcheng nodded, and then the man said, "Today, Young Master Gu was kidnapped, but escaped from an abandoned palace."
When the Empress Dowager learned of this, she ordered an investigation and found out the identities of the eunuchs who had kidnapped the young prince.
After some investigation, it was discovered that those eunuchs had recently been in contact with the Third Prince's Consort, and the Empress Dowager also found several items in their rooms.
As the man spoke, he took out several hairpins.
Upon seeing this, a murmur of discussion immediately arose among those present.
Wang Youqi immediately spoke up.
"Hey, isn't this the Third Prince's wife's hairpin?"
I saw you wearing it before.
The Third Prince's wife had been subtly implying how incredibly valuable the hairpin was, but now it's just been given away like that?
Gu Yunjin's face turned even paler.
She looked up in disbelief, then crawled forward a few steps, kowtowing as she spoke to Emperor Rongcheng:
"Your Majesty, this really wasn't made by my daughter-in-law, it wasn't me."
"Even if I were to do something, I wouldn't be that stupid as to give away my own hairpin that I usually wear. Wouldn't that just be leaving evidence for myself?"
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something, abruptly raised her head, and her gaze fell directly on Situ Mingji.
"It's you, isn't it?"
Did you do it?
She stretched out her hand, pointing directly in Situ Mingji's direction.
"It must be you?"
"You did this on purpose. You want to pin everything on me, don't you?"
Gu Yunjin's words shocked everyone present, and they all looked at Situ Mingji.
Situ Mingji, however, remained completely calm.
She slowly stood up, walked to the center, bowed to Emperor Rongcheng, and then said:
"Your Majesty, I do not know why the Third Prince's Consort would frame me, but I have nothing to do with this matter, and I would not harm Miss Gu without reason. I hope Your Majesty will investigate thoroughly."
Gu Yunjin immediately retorted:
"Who said you have no grudge against her? You are clearly jealous that His Highness the Crown Prince is going to marry her, so you want to kill her so that you can become the Crown Princess!"
Now they actually want to play the good guy and push all the blame onto me? Dream on!
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingchun and Shen Hechuan both turned their gazes to Situ Mingji.
Even Jiang Xianhao scrutinized her from head to toe.
However, Situ Mingji showed no panic on his face. Instead, he turned to look at Gu Yunjin and then chuckled softly.
"I think the Third Prince's wife saw that things had been exposed and she couldn't defend herself, so she thought of dragging someone down with her."
"However, the Third Prince's wife is about to make a mistake."
As she spoke, her gaze involuntarily swept over Gu Jingchun and Shen Hechuan before continuing:
"His Highness the Crown Prince is virtuous and talented, wise and insightful. It is only natural for me to admire him."
"However, I have met Miss Gu several times before and was also attracted by her beauty. I also understand His Highness the Crown Prince's feelings for Miss Gu."
"At that time, I gave up the idea and sincerely wished His Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Gu well."
"Besides, the palace is heavily guarded. I am merely the daughter of an official outside the palace, and I don't even have many opportunities to enter the palace. How could I possibly command so many people and accomplish such a great task?"
Situ Mingji's words were indeed wise.
She first expressed her feelings in a few words, implying that Gu Jingchun was only beautiful and that Shen Hechuan was bewitched by her beauty.
Afterwards, she further explained her identity, stating that she had no control over or arrangement of everything in the palace, thus completely distancing herself from the situation.
After she finished speaking, everyone present nodded in agreement, clearly believing Situ Mingji's explanation.
Upon hearing this, Wang Youqi looked at Gu Yunjin and gave a cold snort.
"Third Prince's Consort, I think you've been beaten senseless by the Third Prince. Who is Miss Situ?"
"She is the most talented woman in the capital, how could she do such a despicable thing?"
Gu Yunjin was about to go crazy when she heard about being beaten again.
Upon hearing this, she immediately glared at Wang Youqi.
"You're talking nonsense! She clearly did all of this!"
“I didn’t want to kill Gu Jingchun at all. It was clearly her who planned all of this, determined to kill Gu Jingchun and her son.”
Why are you protecting her at every turn?
What did she promise you in private?
Having said this, Gu Yunjin realized she had no other choice but to throw caution to the wind and burst into laughter.
"Wang Youqi, you should think this through. Cooperating with someone like her, who is a beast in human form, will only lead to being devoured without a trace in the end."
"Hahaha!"
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