Chapter 461 Zhao Zhaoyi's Background
Zhao Shuning spoke quietly, "You were the ones who took the initiative to find me, rescued me, revealed my identity, and promised me endless wealth and glory. Yet, now, you're pushing me out to take the blame without blinking an eye."
"Aunt, I wasn't the one who betrayed you first. You were the one who abandoned me first. I've been a very calculative person since I was a child. I'll always repay others for what they have done to me."
After hearing these words, Zhao Zhaoyi felt that she had really saved an ungrateful person.
"You are truly a disaster, a monster! You should have died long ago!"
Zhao Shuning smiled coldly, "Yeah, I should have died a long time ago. I shouldn't even have been born into this world. Do I have any choice in all this?"
"My beastly father should never have allowed me to be his offspring. And you, for your own selfish reasons, shouldn't have rescued me from prison. You reap what you sow. This is all your own fault."
When Zhao Zhaoyi heard her say "beast father", her face couldn't help but tremble and anger appeared in her eyes.
Zhao Shuning smiled calmly, "My dear aunt, now that things have come to this, do you think you can keep everything a secret? Instead of wasting your breath in vain, why not just tell it all? Maybe you can even leave your body intact."
Zhao Zhaoyi collapsed to the ground in despair, with cold tears on her face.
She doesn't want to die!
Especially when you have stood at the highest peak and are at the peak of your career, and then suddenly fall from a height, the huge drop is enough to break a person's mind.
There was no need for Zhao Zhaoyi to admit it herself, as the words of the aunt and niece had already given everyone the answer.
Emperor Defeng's eyes were filled with disgust. "Come here, drag them away!"
Imperial Concubine Rou spoke up, "Your Majesty, I have something else I want to ask Zhao Zhaoyi."
Emperor Defeng nodded in agreement.
Imperial Concubine Rou fixed her gaze on Zhao Zhaoyi. "More than a decade ago, Concubine Hui was pregnant, but she miscarried unexpectedly. I gifted her a Ganoderma lucidum. Under the deliberate guidance of someone with ulterior motives, she has always believed that the Ganoderma lucidum I gave her was faulty and caused her miscarriage. She has held a grudge against me for over a decade because of this. Was this your doing?"
Zhao Zhaoyi flatly denied it, "I don't know anything about this."
Concubine Rou knew she wouldn't admit it, so she said in a cold tone, "If you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself. Zhao Zhaoyi, you can deny it, but can the people around you be as stubborn as you?"
"That Nanny Shen beside you doesn't look like someone who can handle things. If you don't tell me now, I'll let her confront you face to face."
Zhao Zhaoyi's eyes flashed.
Imperial Concubine Rou was initially unsure, but seeing this, how could she not understand? This matter truly had something to do with her.
This was the first time Emperor Defeng heard of this, and his face immediately turned gloomy.
"Zhao, you'd better tell me the truth, otherwise, I will definitely torture you to death!"
Zhao Zhaoyi shuddered violently.
Lingchi execution, just hearing these four words, it seems as if I can feel the pain deep in my bones.
"Your Majesty, please spare me. This was not done by me. It was Nanny Shen who acted on her own initiative and did it privately. I only found out about it later..."
She pushed all the responsibilities away, trying to clear herself of any responsibility.
But we are not fools, how can we not guess the truth?
The more she defended herself and refused to admit it, the more her suspicion became confirmed.
The veins on Emperor Defeng's forehead were throbbing.
"You vicious woman! How dare you murder the heir to the throne? Who gave you the guts?"
Prince Rui spoke up, "Brother, I also have something I want to ask Zhao Zhaoyi."
Emperor Defeng was already a little impatient, but he still had more patience with Prince Rui.
For some reason, Zhao Zhaoyi had a bad feeling in her heart.
This hunch was soon confirmed.
Prince Rui directly asked a question that made her tremble with fear.
"The tablet of the eldest prince in the Empress's palace has been tampered with, causing the Empress to become increasingly weak and vulnerable. Is this also related to you?"
These words startled everyone present, and Xiao Baozhu's eyes widened instantly.
Zhao Zhaoyi's eyes flashed quickly, and then she immediately cried out for justice.
"It's unfair, such an injustice. This was clearly Concubine Li's doing, so how can it be put on my head? Now that my mother and I have become the dogs that everyone wants to beat, all the dirty things are being pinned on us. How can this be justified?"
As Zhao Zhaoyi spoke, she began to wipe her tears, looking extremely sad.
"Your Majesty, this matter was decided by you that day, and now Prince Rui has brought up the past and is trying to put the blame on me. I'm fine with being wronged, but isn't this questioning your original decision?"
What a great way to divert the trouble away.
In just a few words, he shifted the focus of the matter to Prince Rui.
Prince Rui immediately apologized, "Your Majesty, I have no intention of questioning you. I just heard about Concubine Hui's past, and a sudden association occurred to my mind. If it was a misunderstanding, I am willing to accept the punishment. However, if there is indeed another hidden story, I will not let this traitor get away with it."
Xiao Baozhu also stood up, "Father, what the Emperor's uncle said is absolutely right! Is there any hidden truth behind this matter? We must find out!"
Xiao Wanzhen was also agitated. "Father, Mother must have been wrongly accused! Mother was the one who handled the tablet in the first place. How could she be so foolish as to tamper with it? This must have been a deliberate frame-up! Zhao Zhaoyi is vicious, and the Zhao family has long harbored rebellious intentions. They've been meticulously planting spies in various families for over a decade. Zhao Zhaoyi is the most likely suspect in this matter!"
Zhao Zhaoyi was accused by everyone and her face showed panic.
Emperor Defeng's face was gloomy. "Zhao Zhaoyi, I'll give you one last chance. Are you involved in this matter? If you really did it, if you confess now, I can show mercy and leave you with an intact body."
Zhao Zhaoyi's voice trembled, her eyes wandering, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I did not do anything. I was truly wronged..."
Emperor Defeng looked at Xiao Yanlin again, "Old Eight, I'll give you a chance as well. If you knew about this, I'll also credit you with this achievement."
Xiao Yanlin's eyes were vacant and unfocused, as if he was wandering in his thoughts.
After hearing Emperor Defeng's question, it took him a long time to react.
He slowly shook his head, "This son is not aware of this matter. Father, mother and consort would never do such a thing. Please investigate thoroughly."
It is not easy to investigate the incident after more than ten years.
There was no way they would admit it and add another charge to their charges.
"Alright, alright, since you all refuse to admit it, then let me investigate thoroughly!"
At this moment, a voice suddenly came from the side.
"Your Majesty, I have a way that might make Zhao Zhaoyi tell the truth."
The person who spoke was Zhao Shuning.
In an instant, everyone looked at her.
Zhao Zhaoyi's face tensed, Xiao Yanlin's eyes were gloomy, but Zhao Shuning turned a blind eye to it.
Emperor Defeng said in a deep voice, "Tell me, what do you have in mind?"
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