"Now, take off your shoes."
The group looked at each other in bewilderment and then began to take off their shoes.
Shen Tangning's gaze fell on one of the people, noticing that her face was abnormally pale and her eyes showed panic. She narrowed her eyes slightly.
In front of His Majesty, no one dared to disobey. Everyone gritted their teeth, took off their shoes, and waited anxiously for the inspection.
Chi Yan inspected from the front, his eyes sharp: "Hold the shoes with both hands, soles facing up, and do not make any other movements."
His gaze swept quickly and precisely, soon locking onto a pair of slightly trembling hands.
Unexpectedly, the person was neither a member of the Imperial Guard nor the Crown Prince's tutor, but was dressed as a palace maid, presumably someone who served Consort Rou.
Before he could make a move, the large wolfhound excitedly pounced on him, pinning him to the ground, its tail wagging excitedly behind it.
"Ah! Get away!"
The palace maid was pinned to the ground, her terror visibly palpable.
This large wolfhound was enormous with sharp teeth and was far from cute. Its attack was fierce, and the palace maid rolled her eyes, almost fainting from fright.
Everyone was shocked; no one expected that the person behind the scenes was actually an inconspicuous palace maid.
Chi Yan stopped in front of the palace maid, picked up an embroidered shoe that had fallen to the ground, and examined it carefully with the sole facing up:
Much of the white powder was rubbed off, but it wasn't very noticeable unless you looked closely. Some powder also got on the side of the shoe, probably because I didn't notice it in my panic.
With the evidence irrefutable, Chi Yan glanced at the palace maid and said, "Take her down."
He then playfully ruffled the dog's hair and praised it, saying, "Well done, I'll give you meat when we get back."
Big Black's tail wagged even more merrily.
Consort Rou's eyes widened in shock: "Qiluo, it's you?!"
Emperor Chongde looked over, and she explained with a forced expression, "Qiluo is a second-class palace maid in my palace. I never expected that she would betray her master!"
A hint of sorrow flashed in her eyes: "I have always treated you well, why did you betray me?"
Qi Luo was forced to kneel on the ground, her face blank and dejected. Knowing that she was doomed, she did not defend herself.
Chi Yan raised an eyebrow: "Where did you, a palace maid, get a poisonous snake? Do you have accomplices?"
A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. She glanced at him quickly, but refused to tell him the truth.
Emperor Chongde's eyes were icy cold, as if he were looking at a dead object: "She's got a tough tongue, but lock her up in the imperial prison. I don't believe she won't confess!"
...
What a dramatic turn of events! It turns out that the one who murdered Consort Rou was her personal maid.
In conclusion, this matter has come to a temporary end.
The group, still shaken, dispersed, probably unable to get a good night's sleep.
Inside the tent, after seeing the emperor off, Consort Rou's eyes turned cold. She clutched her lower abdomen, lost in thought, and after a long while, spoke softly:
"Please convey my message to the Fourth Prince: the Empress has been kind to me, and I will not harm her. His reach is far too far!"
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