vrcanaries Chapter 388 Exposing Consort Yue
Chapter 388 Exposing Consort Yue
"The three assassins who were just silenced confessed that you were the mastermind behind it all. How do you explain that?" Emperor Changlong's gaze towards Consort Yue was like ice, chilling to the extreme.
Consort Yue underestimated Emperor Changlong's trust in Song Siyao and Shen Pei.
"Your Majesty, doesn't this further prove that the Crown Princess is framing me? As everyone knows, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are deeply in love. In order to avenge the Crown Princess, the two of them conspired to plan this assassination, with the aim of killing me." Consort Yue said frankly.
"Yaoyao, besides the assassin's confession, do you have any other evidence?" Emperor Changlong asked.
Song Siyao had roughly understood the whole story from Emperor Changlong's words.
The survivors of the assassination attempt on Emperor Changlong were silenced.
But the assassin had already revealed the mastermind before he died.
When she arrived, Emperor Changlong was not there. Later, she appeared here with Consort Yue and Shen Pei. The most reasonable explanation is that Emperor Changlong led people to search for the person who committed the murder to cover it up.
Clearly, the person who committed the murder to cover it up was not found during the search.
Emperor Changlong asked her if she had any other evidence; in fact, it was he who wanted other evidence.
Once the seed of doubt is planted, all suspicions will grow wildly like weeds, and all suspicions will want to be proven.
Song Siyao certainly has evidence.
Consort Yue was bait in Song Siyao's hands, and of course, she needed to understand bait.
"Yes, there is evidence, not just of this assassination attempt, but of others as well."
When Consort Yue heard Song Siyao's answer, her heart, which had just settled, jumped again.
She remembered her master saying that Song Siyao was the variable in all the plans.
Fear gripped her heart, and she focused all her attention on dealing with Song Siyao.
"Crown Princess, bring on all the other tricks you have to frame me," Consort Yue said with a disdainful look.
"Father, I have investigated and confirmed the truth of the case that Consort Yue was pushed by Lady Min, causing her to miscarry. Consort Yue was not pregnant at all." Song Siyao's voice was like a thunderbolt.
Consort Yue's expression changed, and she shouted, "Are you lying? How could I not be pregnant? The Emperor has already seen my pregnant belly, and Imperial Physician Zhang, who took my pulse, can also testify to that."
"Your Majesty, summon Imperial Physician Zhang," Song Siyao said to Emperor Changlong.
"Summon Imperial Physician Zhang!"
Imperial Physician Zhang arrived quickly and saw that the Imperial Study was surrounded by Imperial Guards.
Upon entering the hall, he saw Emperor Changlong sitting on the dragon throne with a serious expression, while Consort Yue stood to the side, giving him a deep look with an unnatural expression.
Song Siyao and Shen Pei were also there. They glanced at him but didn't take him seriously at all.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject pays his respects." Imperial Physician Zhang knelt on the ground, trying to control the trembling in his voice.
The atmosphere inside the hall was so oppressive that he could hardly breathe, as if there was a mountain above his head that could collapse at any moment and crush him to pieces.
Emperor Changlong stared at Physician Zhang, a veteran official of the court.
"Imperial Physician Zhang, how have you been treating Consort Yue? She miscarried some time ago, why hasn't she recovered yet?" Emperor Changlong demanded.
Upon hearing this, Imperial Physician Zhang felt a slight sense of relief. "Your Majesty, Consort Yue has a special constitution, and the pregnancy is quite advanced, which has damaged her health. It will take some time for her to fully recover."
"You're lying!" Emperor Changlong's face darkened. "Consort Yue is not pregnant at all; you've been deceiving me all along!"
Physician Zhang suddenly looked up, then quickly lowered his head again. In that instant, his mind raced through a thousand thoughts.
In the end, he decided to deny it to the death.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent! I have practiced medicine for many years and my skills have been recognized by Your Majesty. How could I have made a mistake?"
"It seems you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin!" Emperor Changlong said coldly. "Guards, bring the torture!"
The tortures in the palace were terrifying, and the elderly Imperial Physician Zhang could not withstand them. He confessed before he could even endure one severe torture.
"Your Majesty, it was Consort Yue who threatened me with the lives of my entire family, forcing me to fake her pregnancy and miscarriage."
"You're lying!" Consort Yue's expression changed drastically. She was losing her composure and looked at Emperor Changlong. "Your Majesty, this is a forced confession. Physician Zhang's words cannot be taken as evidence!"
Emperor Changlong completely ignored Consort Yue's words and asked Imperial Physician Zhang in a deep voice, "When Consort Yue miscarried, I saw the fully formed child. What happened?"
"This humble servant does not know where the child came from. The child was prepared long ago by Consort Yue," Imperial Physician Zhang said weakly.
"Consort Yue, where did the child come from?" Emperor Changlong looked at Consort Yue with an unprecedented coldness in his eyes.
Consort Yue knelt on the ground with a thud. "Your Majesty, I don't know what Imperial Physician Zhang is talking about. I am an orphan girl, and I have only been able to live safely until now thanks to Your Majesty's favor. Where would I have the means to find a fully formed child?"
She began to sob, “Your Majesty, I am well aware of the Crown Princess’s current status. If she wants to take revenge on me, finding a child or bribing a royal physician would be an easy thing for her.”
"Your Majesty, if you do not do justice for me, I will not be able to live. Please, Your Majesty, save me."
Having already confessed, Imperial Physician Zhang no longer concealed anything, attempting to atone for his sins: "Your Majesty, I have evidence that Consort Yue bribed me."
"Produce the evidence!" Emperor Changlong ordered.
Shen Pei led his men to the Zhang residence to search for evidence. By the time the evidence was brought to the Imperial Study, it was already dawn.
"Consort Yue, the evidence is overwhelming. What else do you have to say?" Emperor Changlong asked angrily.
"Your Majesty, I have my reasons. I love you so much, but I have been unable to conceive. I am terrified, which is why I asked Physician Zhang for help."
Consort Yue looked up at Emperor Changlong and said, “Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. My mistake was loving you too much. But if I were given a chance to do it all over again, I would make the same choice, because I do not regret loving you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, leaving a trail on her pale, delicate face, making her look even more beautiful, and one felt an urge to tear their heart out for her.
However, Emperor Changlong remained unmoved.
"Why did you frame the Min family?" Emperor Changlong asked.
"I am jealous of her. I want Your Majesty to belong to me alone." Consort Yue gazed at Emperor Changlong, trying to win back the favor he once had for her.
According to her answer, the matter between her and Consort Jia was just a jealous rivalry among the concubines in the harem. Given Emperor Changlong's past favor towards her, this matter would be minimized, and she would not be severely punished.
At this moment, Song Si, who had been observing Consort Yue, spoke up, "Your Majesty, I have found the person who killed the assassin to silence him."
"Who is it?" Emperor Changlong asked.
“It’s her!” Song Siyao pointed at Consort Yue.