ebookland Chapter 250 Cui's False Accusation
Chapter 250 Cui's False Accusation
Longevity Palace
At this moment, in Changshou Palace, not only was the Empress Dowager sitting in the main seat with a majestic expression, but also the Empress, Consort Liang, Consort Duan, Consort Jiang, and the proud Consort Zhen.
The Empress Dowager looked at Cui, who was kneeling on the ground and bound hand and foot, and questioned her in a cold voice:
"You audacious woman! How dare you attempt to murder the Imperial Concubine! Tell me, who gave you permission to do this?"
At this moment, everyone present wished to hear the words "Consort Lan" from her mouth, because they all hated Consort Lan to the core.
Since entering this place, Cui has been trembling, but she is only trembling on the surface. In her heart, she has already thought of a solution.
Seeing that she did not speak, the Empress pressed on with her question:
"The Empress Dowager is asking you a question, can't you hear her? Guards, slap her!"
As soon as the Empress finished speaking, two maids stepped forward aggressively. Just as their slaps were about to fall, Madam Cui hurriedly waved her hands and said:
"I said, I said..."
As Cui twisted her tightly bound body, she nodded to the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, I'll tell you everything."
The Empress Dowager frowned and nodded, saying:
"Alright, then tell me, where did you get the arsenic? Who ordered you to poison Consort Zhen? And who do you plan to poison next?"
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, the ladies all looked intently at Cui, hoping to hear what they wanted to hear from her.
After swallowing hard, Cui's eyes darted around, and she replied in a trembling voice:
"It was...it was the Crown Princess who told me to do this."
what?
what?
Upon hearing this, everyone present showed expressions of surprise. Even Consort Liang, who disliked Lan Zhi the most, was the first to express disbelief.
"Nonsense! Why would the Crown Princess want to harm Consort Zhen? Besides, even if she wanted to, why would she come after you? If you dare to frame her, be careful the Empress Dowager will cut out your tongue."
Upon seeing this, Cui hurriedly shook her head, "That's because Your Majesty doesn't know about my relationship with her. If you did, you wouldn't say that."
Upon hearing this, the Empress was the first to become interested.
"You're saying the Crown Princess has a relationship with you? What is your relationship?"
At this point, as if remembering something, she asked again,
"By the way, you're from the same place, aren't you neighbors?"
Cui shook her head directly.
“We are not neighbors, she is... she is my daughter, my eldest daughter.”
"what?"
These words left everyone present stunned, and Consort Liang's pupils dilated in shock.
The Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with disbelief, and she pressed for an answer.
"What did you just say? Who is your daughter?"
Since Madam Cui intended to pin the blame on Lan Zhi, she replied without hesitation:
“Lan Zhi, Lan Zhi is my daughter, my eldest daughter…”
"Consort Nalan?"
“She is my youngest daughter. I also have a son who works as a steward in the Crown Prince’s residence. His name is Ling Jiawei.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager's face turned even more unpleasant, and the atmosphere at the scene became tense. Everyone held their breath and dared not even breathe loudly.
The Empress Dowager gathered her thoughts, her eyes revealing a deep, questioning look.
"Your eldest daughter married the Crown Prince, and your youngest daughter married the Emperor. Are you implying that the two sisters should marry the Emperor and his son?"
Seeing that the Empress Dowager had shifted her attention to this place, Lady Cui hurriedly and anxiously admitted her mistake.
"Yes, it was my fault for failing to discipline my daughter properly. I beg Your Majesty to punish me. But the poisoning of Consort Zhen was truly ordered by Lan Zhi. She hates Consort Zhen for giving Consort Liang advice on arranging a concubine for the Crown Prince, so she wanted to get rid of Consort Zhen first, and then... and then..."
"And then what? Get rid of me?"
Consort Liang interrupted, "Are you saying that she's going to get rid of me next?"
Cui swallowed hard, feigning panic, first nodding, then shaking her head.
"No...no...no..."
"Someone, summon the Crown Prince and Crown Princess..."
The Empress Dowager had barely finished speaking when the Empress hurriedly tried to stop her.
"Mother, the Crown Prince has always protected Lan Zhi without any reason. If the Crown Prince is summoned as well, it will be quite difficult for you to find out anything."
The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and felt that her words made sense, so she immediately nodded and said:
"Then just summon the Crown Princess and tell her to come to Changshou Palace immediately. Today I want to see who dares to cause trouble in the harem..."
……
Prince's Mansion
Lan Zhi never dreamed that she would be sitting at home when disaster would strike from the sky.
Today is the three-day homecoming day for Zhu Fangfei. In the morning, after much persuasion, Wei Jianning finally agreed to accompany Zhu Fangfei to the Grand Commandant's residence. However, he said that he could only take Zhu Fangfei to the Grand Commandant's residence and say hello to Zhu Kui before he had to go to the palace to attend to state affairs.
The Emperor hasn't reviewed any memorials for several days, and there's a backlog in the Imperial Study. He needs to deal with it as soon as possible.
As long as he goes to the Grand Commandant's residence, it will be enough to give Zhu Fangfei face. As for how long he stays there, Lan Zhi doesn't want to ask any more questions.
"Master, something terrible has happened!"
Ah Qi rushed in, carrying a teacup in his hand. Before he even got close, he impatiently called out:
"problem occurs."
Lan Zhi frowned slightly and said with a helpless reproach:
"Didn't I tell you, if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up? What's your rush?"
Ah Qi put down the tea tray in his hand, swallowed hard, and said breathlessly:
“I just ran over from the front yard. I heard that someone from Changshou Palace came and said that you need to come to the palace immediately.”
"Oh? So urgent, what's wrong?"
"I don't know, but judging from their demeanor, they seem to have ill intentions!"
She had barely finished speaking when Ling Jiawei strode in.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has decreed that you must enter the palace immediately."
"Did something happen?"
Ling Jiawei shook his head.
"I asked, but they wouldn't say. They just said the Empress Dowager was waiting and that I should take a palace carriage; the carriage was right outside the gate..."
Lan Zhi's expression changed slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.
She hasn't done anything wrong, so what's there to be afraid of?
Perhaps the Empress Dowager is feeling unwell and wants to summon her to the palace for a checkup.
Thinking of this, she stood up and said:
"Ah Qi, help me change my clothes..."
Zhenlan Garden
Ling Lanhua held a piece of apple to the Emperor's lips, but just as he was about to open his mouth to take it, she mischievously took it away.
"Your Majesty, apples are the most common fruit, how come you can never get enough of them?"
The Emperor looked at her with doting eyes and waved his hand, saying:
"The most common fruits are the most nutritious, unlike those exotic fruits that may look good but don't taste good!"
"Then tell me, am I like this ordinary apple, or one of those rare and exotic fruits?"
The Emperor hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and pulled her hand to his chest, saying with slightly narrowed eyes:
"You, no matter what kind of fruit it is, I have already treasured it here."
"emperor……"
Ling Lanhua leaned closer to the Emperor in a coquettish manner and stuffed the piece of apple back into his mouth.
At this moment, Xiaofang stood at the door, constantly giving her meaningful glances.
Although she felt it was inappropriate for Xiao Fang to bother her at this time, she quickly left after finding an excuse with the Emperor.
"You're becoming more and more ill-mannered. You know I'm taking care of the Emperor, so why do you keep calling me here?"