Wanxin informed Empress Shen and Prince Ding of what had happened in the Zichen Palace as quickly as possible.
After hearing this, the mother and son were disappointed that Yun Zhuo had not been killed, but they were also relieved that Yun Zhuo had not been reinstated as crown prince.
However, what relieved Empress Shen the most was that she had finally pinned all the blame on the Sixth Prince, and she could completely extricate herself from this matter unscathed.
I fear that after this incident, Yun Zhuo will be even more difficult to deal with in the future.
Just then, Cui Shao from the Zichen Palace came over in person: "His Majesty has decreed that I invite Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness Prince Ding to come to the Zichen Palace."
Empress Shen and Yun Chi exchanged a glance, a strong sense of foreboding creeping into their hearts. For a trivial matter, the Emperor would never summon the Empress to the Zichen Palace.
The Zichen Hall was where the emperor would summon his ministers to discuss state affairs.
Empress Shen feigned surprise and asked indirectly, "Isn't the Sixth Prince being interrogated in the Zichen Palace about framing the Crown Prince? What important matter does His Majesty wish to summon me to at this time? As a woman of the inner palace, it is not convenient for me to judge cases, is it?"
Cui Shao said, "This humble servant is only responsible for conveying the Emperor's wishes; as for what those wishes are, this humble servant does not know."
Empress Shen gave him a deep look.
He was truly the emperor's most loyal servant, yet he couldn't get any information out of him. Moreover, judging from the several guards behind him, he clearly wasn't there to "invite" the mother and son, but rather to demand that they go.
The emperor favored her; otherwise, he would not have made her the new empress after the death of the previous empress.
But now, the emperor has sent Cui Shao to "invite" her and Yun Chi to the Zichen Palace. Why is that?
The situation must be very serious!
Not long ago, she thought she could get away unscathed. Was she too optimistic? Did she do something that was reported to the emperor? What could it be?
As Empress Shen stood up, preparing to leave with Cui Shao, she suddenly twisted her ankle and fell to the side. Wanxin quickly caught her.
"Create new chaos to divert the Emperor's attention," Empress Shen whispered in Wanxin's ear.
Cui Shao had already looked over.
Wanxin said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. You and the Emperor are a loving couple, so you will surely be alright. I will wait for your safe return."
Empress Shen and Yun Chi followed Cui Shao toward the Zichen Palace.
Wanxin watched their figures disappear, thinking that the Yu Prince's family was still trapped in prison. If something happened to the Yu Prince's family, the Empress would be suspected by the Emperor, but the Emperor couldn't care less about that now.
Yes, she can cause trouble for the people in the Prince Yu's mansion!
Burn them to the ground!
However, she had only walked a hundred paces when a guard came to block her way: "Miss Wanxin, His Majesty requests your presence at the Zichen Palace."
Wanxin was terrified.
...
Inside the Zichen Hall.
The ministers stood on both sides.
Empress Shen and Yun Chi walked past the group of officials and then saw Yun Zhuo sitting in a chair.
He wore a white brocade robe, his dark hair half-tied up, the rest cascading down his back and over his shoulders, making his face appear extremely pale, as if he might die at any moment—even in this state, he hadn't died out there! He really should have died out there!
Yun Zhuo, who had been keeping his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, met the gazes of the mother and son, and gave them a barely perceptible smile.
Empress Shen and Yun Chi: "..."
Upon closer inspection, the faint smile had vanished, as if the smile they had just seen was merely an illusion on their part.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Empress Shen and Yun Chi knelt down one after the other to pay their respects.
The emperor did not immediately tell them to rise, so the mother and son remained kneeling, feeling a chilling aura wash over them from above, almost suffocating them.
"Your Majesty..." Empress Shen decided to speak first, but something fell down first, right at her feet.
Then came the Emperor's voice, barely containing his anger: "Empress, look at this! Now explain to me what this is all about!"
Empress Shen gasped for breath and reached out to pick up the thing the Emperor had dropped at her feet. It was a letter, clean and neat, showing that the recipient had kept it in good condition.
After unfolding the letter, a jade pendant with a phoenix pattern fell out.
Empress Shen was startled; it was her jade pendant!
What alarmed her even more was the contents of the letter.
The note read: "The evidence of the Crown Prince's treason has been prepared. We must solidify his guilt by the Lantern Festival. Wanxin will help you arrange 'witnesses.' Remember, after the deed is done, leave no one alive."
Another eunuch came over with a tray, knelt before Empress Shen, and said, "Your Majesty, this is something we found in the Sixth Prince's Consort's hair."
It was a white cloth, but it was stained with blood, though the words "Empress" could still be faintly seen written on it.
Empress Shen's face gradually turned pale, and her thin body, kneeling on the ground, swayed precariously.
"Your Majesty, I do not understand what this means. I have never written such a letter, nor do I understand why the Sixth Prince's Consort would have such a blood-written letter hidden in her hair!"
The emperor rose from his dragon throne, walked down the high platform, and stood before Empress Shen, looking down at her.
"This letter was found in Lao Liu's secret compartment. The handwriting and the jade pendant on it are both from your hand!"
"It is clear that you were the one who devised the plan and helped the Sixth Prince to murder the Crown Prince!"
"As for why there was a blood letter accusing the Empress hidden in the Sixth Prince's wife's hair bun—it was because you saw that the Sixth Prince's misdeeds had been exposed and were afraid that the Princess Consort would identify him, so you ordered the Sixth Prince to poison his Princess Consort!"
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
