ebookland Chapter 288 Lady Li
Chapter 288 Lady Li
Chapter 288 Lady Li
The young palace maid tilted her head, trying hard to recall, and said, "At the time, I only glanced at her briefly and thought I saw that she looked a little flustered, but I was busy arranging the dishes and didn't think much of it."
As for the sound… Oh, right, this servant thinks I heard a slight rustling sound, like someone bumping into something in a hurry.”
Su Yinyin and the Regent exchanged a glance. Su Yinyin said, "That 'rustling' sound might be the sound of the maid accidentally bumping into something while she was carving the words. It seems we are one step closer to the truth."
The Regent then solemnly addressed the staff of the Imperial Kitchen: “None of you are allowed to leave this place before the investigation results are available. Anyone who disobeys will be treated as an accomplice.”
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, their faces filled with fear and obedience.
Meanwhile, the emperor and empress dowager, who remained at the birthday banquet, were extremely anxious.
The Empress Dowager said with deep concern, "Your Majesty, if this incident is not thoroughly investigated, I fear it will cause panic in the palace, and who knows what even more terrible things might happen in the future."
The emperor's brows were furrowed, like a heavy mountain, and he comforted her, "Mother, rest assured, the Regent and the Princess Protector have gone to investigate, and I believe the truth will be revealed soon."
Those who dare to offend the Empress Dowager will not be spared by me; they will pay a heavy price for their actions.
Before long, a guard rushed over with a maid. The maid looked terrified, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness.
Upon entering the imperial kitchen, he knelt down with a thud, trembling uncontrollably, like a fallen leaf in the cold wind.
The Regent's gaze was sharp as two swords as he stared at the maid and asked coldly, "Are you Consort Li's personal maid? Someone just saw you near the royal kitchen."
Just as the Empress Dowager's longevity noodles were about to be served, words cursing the Empress Dowager appeared at the bottom of the bowl. Do you know your crime?
The maid was so frightened that her face turned ashen, and large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. She kowtowed desperately, her forehead hitting the ground with a loud "thump".
She cried out, "Your Highness, Princess, spare me! I know nothing! I was just on my master's orders to fetch some snacks from the Imperial Kitchen. I was just passing by and had nothing to do with the curse!"
Su Yinyin stepped forward, slowly squatted down, looked directly into the maid's eyes, trying to find a flaw in her gaze, and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm asking you, why did your master suddenly send you to fetch some snacks at this time?"
Why do you look so flustered? And what was that rustling sound the little palace maid heard just now?
If you confess truthfully, the Empress and the Regent may show leniency. But if you utter even half a lie, do not blame me for being merciless.
The maid hesitated for a moment, a struggle flashing in her eyes, her heart torn between honesty and concealment.
Finally, she gritted her teeth and argued, "Princess, Your Highness, this servant was indeed ordered by my master to fetch some snacks."
But when I got here, I suddenly heard a strange noise. I was frightened and wanted to leave quickly, so I may have seemed a little flustered.
That rustling sound... I have no idea what it was!
Su Yinyin sneered inwardly. She knew that this maid was definitely hiding something, but it was difficult to get her to tell the truth in a short time.
Suddenly, she had a flash of inspiration and came up with a solution.
Su Yinyin stood up and said to the Regent, "Regent, since she refuses to tell the truth, it just so happens that I have the Divine Physician's Truth-Telling Pill."
"Once you take this pill, all your secrets will be revealed."
A hint of surprise flashed in Regent Zhou Yuan's eyes as he said, "Such a miraculous thing exists, that's wonderful. Yinyin, there's no time to lose, let her take it."
Su Yinyin shook her head and said, "No rush, quickly bring Li Cai to the banquet."
"Let's conduct the trial in front of His Majesty. This way, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager can witness our investigation and uncover the truth, and Lady Li will have no grounds for rebuttal."
Regent Zhou Yuan immediately understood Su Yinyin's intention and nodded in acknowledgment.
He quickly ordered the guards, "Go to Lady Li's palace immediately and bring her to the birthday banquet. Do not fail to do so." The guards obeyed and left like the wind.
Su Yinyin turned to look at the maid and said coldly, "You'd better think carefully about how to deal with this. If you utter even half a lie in front of His Majesty and everyone else, it won't be as simple as just being given a lenient punishment."
Upon hearing this, the maid trembled even more violently, her eyes filled with fear as if she were seeing an endless abyss.
She knew she was going to die. Her only hope was to save her master, so that her family could survive.
Before long, the guards arrived in haste with Lady Li.
Lady Li saw the Regent and Su Yinyin waiting for her at the door.
Li Cairen's face was as pale as paper, and her eyes were filled with panic, like those of a frightened bird.
The group walked into the banquet hall together.
Upon entering the banquet hall, Lady Li knelt down with a thud, her voice trembling as she said, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I do not know why I have been brought here. I beg Your Majesty and Empress Dowager to enlighten me."
Li Cai was trembling with fear, as if she had a live, jumping rabbit in her hand, but she tried her best to calm herself down and put on an innocent look.
She never imagined that her meticulously planned scheme would be exposed so quickly, and that it would be brought before His Majesty.
She thought she had done so discreetly that she shouldn't have been caught red-handed, but why...!
The Emperor and Empress Dowager guessed what was going on after seeing the Regent and Su Yinyin.
Then, the emperor's face darkened like the sky before a storm, and he roared, "Lady Li, do you know your crime?"
Lady Li said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, I do not know, I do not know what crime I have committed."
Princess Siran and Princess Yinhan, who were standing to the side, saw that Consort Li was trembling and knew that she was a coward.
Regent Zhou Yuan said, "Someone has accused your personal maid of carving curse words on the bottom of the Empress Dowager's longevity noodle bowl, and you were the one who ordered it. How do you explain this?"
Upon hearing this, Lady Li raised her head in alarm, her eyes filled with panic and helplessness. She kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I am innocent! I have never done this. Someone must be framing me and trying to make me bear this false accusation."
Su Yinyin stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Consort Li like a sword, and said, "Consort Li, do you still want to deny it now? That maid is right here. We just interrogated her in the Imperial Kitchen, and she has already confessed that she was acting on your orders."
If you confess now, perhaps His Majesty and the Empress Dowager will show leniency; otherwise…
A venomous glint flashed in Consort Li's eyes as she glared at the maid like a venomous snake and cursed, "You vile maid, how dare you slander me! It must be the Princess Protector who gave you favors to let you implicate me."
Upon hearing Li Cairen's words, everyone couldn't help but turn their gaze to Su Yinyin.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were also filled with doubt. Why was Consort Li so certain that Su Yinyin had given the palace maids around her the benefits?
Su Yinyin entered the palace only a handful of times, so logically she shouldn't have had any interaction with Consort Li.
Su Yinyin sneered and said, "Why would I, the Empress, want to implicate a mere concubine like you?"
I have no past grievances or present grudges with you, so there's no need for me to do such a despicable thing.
As for you, if you don't have something to hide, why are you so agitated and eager to throw mud at me?
What else could your actions be but a sign of guilt?
Li Cairen was speechless after Su Yinyin's words, her face turning red and white in turns, like a palette of colors.
But she still persisted, saying, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, she...she's just making excuses! She must be trying to frame me because I didn't pay my respects to the princess."