The emperor suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Empress Shen's hands: "Empress, explain yourself! Tell me, tell everyone, what Ye Qingxue said is not true!"
The emperor looked at her earnestly: "As long as you explain, no matter what you say, I will believe you!"
Empress Shen looked at him, smiled, and raised her hand to stroke his face: "Your Majesty, Ye Qingxue's words are of course all slander against me and Chi'er. I will always be your Empress, and Chi'er will always be your son."
Her expression was so resolute.
It was as if Madam Shen's testimony had never existed; and Ye Qingxue's accusations were completely fabricated!
Her gaze passed over the emperor and landed on Ye Qingxue. "Right, Miss Ye?"
She paused for a moment, then continued, "You should know that falsely accusing the Empress and the Prince is a capital offense. You and those around you will not survive. If you take all the blame now, I will, seeing that you have some courage, plead with the Emperor to grant you leniency and spare the lives of those around you."
This is urging Ye Qingxue to make a decision quickly.
Otherwise, Granny Xing and the other relatives from the Jingzhou estate would not survive.
Ye Qingxue held a sword in one hand and clenched her fist in the other, her fingertips digging deep into her palm, drawing blood that dripped onto the ground.
Everyone looked at her, puzzled.
Just a moment ago she was holding the sword, wishing she could kill Empress Shen, but why did she suddenly stop all her actions?
The events just now happened too suddenly and too quickly. No one knew what the jade pendant in Empress Shen's hand represented, nor did anyone hear what Empress Shen said in Ye Qingxue's ear.
Could it be that what Ye Qingxue just said wasn't true?
Is it possible that Empress Shen and Prince Ding have been framed now?
For a moment, everyone was unsure of what to do, their thoughts wavering.
As for the emperor, after listening to Empress Shen's words, he felt as if a surge of power had been injected into his body.
He immediately glared at Ye Qingxue and scolded, "Since you framed the Empress and Chi'er, why don't you quickly admit it and beg for forgiveness?"
Ye Qingxue did not look at the emperor, but only at Empress Shen.
Their eyes met, like invisible blades clashing in the air. Blood was still dripping from Ye Qingxue's palm, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
"Does Empress Shen think that's all I'm capable of? No, my abilities are yet to come!"
Empress Shen's heart skipped a beat. She saw Ye Qingxue suddenly turn around and pull the little girl, who had been held captive by Dong Bai, to her side, with her long sword held against the little girl's neck.
Empress Shen instinctively reached out, wanting to pull the little girl to her side and protect her.
But there was a distance between them, and when she reached out, she couldn't pull the little girl over, or even touch her clothes.
The little girl trembled in Ye Qingxue's arms, her face pale, tears streaming down her face.
Ye Qingxue said, "Every word I have said from beginning to end is true, and there are witnesses to prove that what I said is true!"
"Empress Shen, do you think that by refusing to acknowledge this little girl as your biological child, you can threaten me with the lives of Granny Xing and the other relatives in Jingzhou Manor?"
Empress Shen was too clever; even now, she has never admitted that this little girl was her biological child.
Empress Shen deliberately ignored the little girl.
Therefore, Empress Shen was certain that she would not think of taking the little girl hostage in a tense situation!
Now, Ye Qingxue had the little girl pinned under the longsword, the blade pressed against the little girl's fair and slender neck.
With just a little force, the little girl's neck would be severed, and blood would spurt out.
Ye Qingxue's voice was as cold as snow: "Empress Shen, if you want your daughter to live, hand over Granny Xing and the others to me!"
Empress Shen's face turned pale and then red.
She never acknowledged the child from beginning to end, just to avoid giving them any leverage!
Ye Qingxue still found out!
She left her hometown and entered the palace for more than ten years, working so hard to help Yun Chi plan for the position of crown prince, exhausting all her efforts to help Yun Chi ascend the throne as soon as possible. What was her purpose?
All for the sake of her daughter, so that she could be well cared for in the Heavenly Eagle Holy Kingdom; so that one day, when her great cause was accomplished, the Heavenly Eagle King would take over the Great Zhou and turn the Great Zhou into the territory of the Heavenly Eagle Holy Kingdom, and she could reunite with her daughter.
She did all of this for her daughter!
But now, Ye Qingxue has a long sword held to her throat, and her life could be taken away at any moment!
If her daughter dies, what's the point of all this?
Ye Qingxue's tone was icy: "I'll count to three. If Empress Shen still can't make a decision, I'll send your daughter to the Yellow Springs first. Even if you kill Granny Xing and the others, at least your daughter will be buried with them, so she won't be alone on her journey to the Yellow Springs!"
The crowd's gazes darted back and forth between Ye Qingxue and Empress Shen, so Ye Qingxue's sudden stop was because Empress Shen had a hostage in her hands.
But! But is this little girl truly Empress Shen's child? If Empress Shen were to release Granny Xing and the others, whom Ye Qingxue mentioned, for the sake of this child…
Then the answer is obvious!
"One, two..." Ye Qingxue had already started counting, her eyes fixed on Empress Shen.
Just as the word "three" was about to slip out, Empress Shen hurriedly shouted, "I promise you! Don't hurt her! I promise you, release Granny Xing and the others!"
Ye Qingxue's expression remained unchanged, without even the slightest relaxation.
She said, "Dongbai, go and ask Empress Shen for the person. If I don't see Granny Xing and the others appear here safely within a quarter of an hour, I will cut off one of this little girl's fingers."
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