The emperor tried to pull Consort Ning away, but he couldn't budge her at all; her strength was surprisingly great. The emperor became even angrier: "What are you all standing there for? Seize her!"
The guards then realized what was happening and quickly stepped forward, grabbing Consort Ning and pulling her back to create distance between her and the emperor.
"Haha, go ahead and search my palace. You'll find out once you search! I still keep Princess Huaiming's belongings from before she died as a memento. I want to constantly remind myself how amazing I am—I killed both the prince and the princess, and no one knows!"
Consort Ning seemed to have gone mad.
Her words only added fuel to the fire, making the emperor's anger escalate, and he eventually ordered a search of Consort Ning's palace.
"Your Majesty, we found these two items in Consort Ning's palace. This box is empty, but there is still some powder left; and this box contains a blood-stained hairpin."
Consort Ning laughed: "That's just the dust of a fleeting dream; that hairpin was worn by Princess Huaiming before she died, and I took it off after she died."
The emperor's face was cold and stern. He ordered the imperial physician to examine the poison and also summoned the nanny and maidservants from Princess Huaiming's side to identify the hairpin.
The imperial physician said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, this is indeed the poison of 'Floating Dream'."
The nanny and palace maid cried and said, "Your Majesty, the princess was indeed wearing this hairpin on the night she disappeared."
Consort Ning said, "Your Majesty, do you believe me now? Do you believe that I am the murderer who killed the Ninth Prince and Princess Huaiming?"
The emperor's eyes were filled with malice, and he remained silent for a moment.
Ye Qingxue's fingertips dug into Yun Zhuo's palm. It was obvious that Consort Ning was deliberately taking the blame for the crimes of Prince Xuan and his wife onto herself in order to save their lives.
Surely the Emperor wouldn't be foolish enough to believe that?
However, if it was Prince Xuan and his wife who did it, why would there be poison and Princess Huaiming's blood-stained hairpin in Consort Ning's palace?
Judging from Yun Xun's reaction just now, he obviously didn't know his mother's plan. Could it be that Ji Mingwei had made preparations in advance, so that if things were exposed, she would make Consort Ning take the blame?
This is not impossible. After all, Yunxun is Consort Ning's child. A mother will do anything for her child, even if it means sacrificing her own life.
Ye Qingxue thought of Xiao Bao.
If she could exchange her life for Xiaobao's, she would do it without hesitation.
But would the emperor believe it?
Ji Mingwei burst into tears: "Mother, you're so foolish! My husband told me that he would be content as long as you were healthy, living a carefree life as a prince and having a few children. What you've done has broken his heart!"
As if unable to bear such a blow, Ji Mingwei hugged Yun Xun and cried with him.
Yun Xun seemed to understand. He was stunned and momentarily forgot how to react, or rather, he didn't know how to react.
—For the sake of his own and Ji Mingwei's lives, should he disregard his mother's life and death?
Yun Xun's throat was dry, his heart was soaked in bitterness, and he was being slowly tortured by a dull knife. He couldn't speak.
“Father…” Ye Qingxue pulled Yun Zhuo forward again, trying to stop Consort Ning from taking the blame, but Consort Ning suddenly broke free from the guards’ restraints and lunged at the emperor again.
Before the emperor could act, she whispered in his ear, "This matter concerns Your Majesty's reputation for centuries to come. Your Majesty had better let me finish speaking!"
The emperor's hand finally landed on her arm, slowly tightening his grip on her arm. He looked down at her face, his teeth clenched, and said, "Speak."
"Does the Emperor know why I've feigned madness for over ten years? Because I've discovered the Emperor's secret—"
"Your Majesty should remember that you actually discovered me that night. I was so frightened that I jumped into the water, which you all thought was an accidental fall. After waking up, I went mad, but I was just pretending to be mad to save my life."
"As the emperor, you have always wanted Yun Zhuo dead, but you have never succeeded. If he knew your secret, he might even kill his father and the emperor. You are no match for him and Ye Qingxue."
What? !
The emperor's hand almost crushed her arm.
Consort Ning's face paled for a moment, but she didn't seem to care.
She whispered in the emperor's ear, "Your Majesty, don't worry. I've already sent someone to Liangzhou to hide this secret."
"Now all the evidence points to the fact that I really killed the Ninth Prince and Princess Huaiming. Tonight I even set fire to the Ninth Prince's mourning hall and burned Prince Jing to death. Your Majesty can execute me."
"However, if Your Majesty does not want the secret to be exposed, it would be best not to kill my sons, but simply demote them to Liangzhou. Otherwise, once my sons die, the secret hidden in Liangzhou will be revealed."
"The emperor's wish to be a wise ruler, to create a prosperous era, and to be remembered for all time is about to be completely thwarted, and he will also have to bear the infamy of the ages."
Consort Ning smiled, but her eyes were filled with sorrow: "Your Majesty, please choose for yourself."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com