I insist

Chapter 285: The Frame-Up Fails

Xiao Guizi tiptoed into the room and saw Song Miqiu slumped over the table.

They carefully tried to help Song Miqiu to the bed behind the screen.

As soon as Xiao Guizi placed his hand on Song Miqiu's body, Song Miqiu opened her clear eyes.

The sudden opening of his eyes startled Xiao Guizi, who quickly let go of his hand and took two steps back. Before Xiao Guizi could react and make a sound...

Song Miqiu immediately took out white powder from her bosom and sprinkled it on the eunuch's face.

When Xiao Guizi came into contact with the powder, the effects kicked in immediately, and Xiao Guizi fell heavily to the ground.

Looking at the eunuch on the ground, Song Miqiu understood that even if he was stupid, he knew what the Empress Dowager wanted to do.

The old woman at the door saw that Xiao Guizi had been inside for a long time without making any noise, so she figured he must have succeeded.

He ran excitedly to the Empress Dowager's palace.

"Your Majesty, the matter is settled."

The old woman whispered in the Empress Dowager's ear.

The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded in satisfaction.

"You've accomplished your task, removing a thorn from my side. I will reward you handsomely."

The old woman beamed with joy when she heard that the Empress Dowager was going to reward her.

"I want to see how Song Miqiu explains this matter with a eunuch. I will go and invite the Emperor to let him see the truth about this old woman, Song Miqiu."

Let's see how Song Miqiu will win the Emperor's favor again.

A hint of hatred appeared on the Empress Dowager's gloomy face.

"Your Majesty, please be wise. This Song Miqiu is ungrateful and opposes Your Majesty at every turn. She will never be able to recover."

The old nanny also insidiously echoed the Empress Dowager.

Inside the Imperial Study

The Empress Dowager gently took the inkstone next to the Emperor and began grinding ink, casting her shadow on the Emperor's memorial.

The Empress Dowager insisted that this time the Emperor should also be brought over to see Song Miqiu's crimes.

The Emperor put down the memorial in his hand.

The Emperor stared at the Empress Dowager, lost in thought. It seemed like only yesterday that she was also beside him as he read a book. He was somewhat dazed, and the expression on her face was indescribable, as if a very, very long time had passed.

The Emperor composed himself and asked, "What brings you to the Imperial Study today?"

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "It's been a long time since I've seen you."

Upon hearing her say this, the Emperor realized that it had indeed been a long time since he had visited her, and made an excuse, saying, "I have been busy with state affairs every day."

"Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, something terrible has happened!" The old nanny knelt down before the Emperor and Empress Dowager, feigning a panicked expression.

"What kind of behavior is this, shouting and yelling in the Imperial Study! Is this how I've always taught you?"

The Empress Dowager had an imposing and awe-inspiring appearance.

The old woman immediately lowered her head and kowtowed in fear.

"Never mind, why is Granny Hua so flustered?" The Emperor stood up and walked to Granny Hua's side, stopping beside her.

Granny Hua quickly kowtowed to express her gratitude.

From her earlier flustered expression, she now seemed hesitant to speak.

"Speak quickly if you have something to say, why are you hesitating?"

The Empress Dowager knew perfectly well what was going on, but she still pretended to be nonchalant.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, this old servant saw something I shouldn't have seen in the side hall, and I don't know what to do! This time I have been so disrespectful."

Granny Hua looked extremely apprehensive.

"What shouldn't you see?" the Emperor asked, staring at Granny Hua.

"Granny Hua is also quite frightened. Let's go and see her together." The Empress Dowager immediately wanted to take the Emperor with her.

The emperor looked at the two, master and servant, and pondered in his heart, wanting to see what was going on.

"I'm going to see what's going on! Why are you in such a panic?"

The Emperor flicked his sleeves and put his hands behind his back, with the Empress Dowager following closely behind. The Empress Dowager and the nanny exchanged a smile.

Cining Palace

“This is the Emperor’s room,” Granny Hua said, pointing to the door.

The Empress Dowager asked in a soft voice, "Granny, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with my side hall?"

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's voice, Granny Hua respectfully replied, "Today, Imperial Physician Song went to the side hall of Cining Palace to wait for the Empress Dowager, but unexpectedly, he was here with..."

Granny Hua wore an expression of reluctance to speak.

When the Emperor heard Granny Hua mention Song Miqiu, his expression twitched slightly and his brows furrowed.

Song Miqiu heard the Emperor and Empress Dowager's voices in the room. That damned Empress Dowager is really a ruthless person. She even has to use such tricks to deal with an old woman. She cursed the Empress Dowager in her heart.

"That's really despicable."

Song Miqiu muttered softly in the room.

Song Miqiu thought that he couldn't let the Emperor and Empress Dowager catch him doing something wrong now.

Originally, there were only the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the nanny. Now, the side hall of Cining Palace is crowded with people. This was all arranged by the nanny, who wanted not only to embarrass Song Miqiu, but also to make him the target of public criticism.

"Your Majesty, what should we do about this?"

Before the Emperor even spoke, the Empress Dowager was already trying to frame Song Miqiu.

The Emperor turned to look at the Empress Dowager beside him. The Empress Dowager felt a little guilty under the Emperor's gaze, so she lowered her head and remained silent.

"Guards, come here and kick him away. I want to see if what the Empress Dowager said is true."

The emperor gave instructions to the guards dressed in black armor beside him.

The black-armored guard kicked the door open, but it bounced back, leaving only a crack.

The Emperor walked in front, followed by a group of palace maids and servants.

The Emperor's eyes quickly scanned the room; there was no one there. It was a simple, unobstructed view, and there was absolutely no one inside.

Seeing that the Emperor wasn't there, the Empress Dowager gestured to the nanny beside her. The nanny, receiving the Empress Dowager's signal, quickly pushed aside the screen blocking the room.

There was a bed inside, but no one was there.

The Empress Dowager and the nanny were greatly surprised.

"Where is he?!" The Empress Dowager glared at the old nanny, who shrank back.

"It was right here just now!" The old woman's tone became somewhat frightened.

The Empress Dowager was also embarrassed. What on earth had these lackeys done? Where were they?

"What exactly happened!" The Empress Dowager stared at the nanny with eyes as sharp as swords.

The old woman didn't know how to explain it at this point. She had indeed seen Song Miqiu fall down, and she had been guarding the door for a long time before leaving when there was no more movement.

The Emperor glared angrily at the Empress Dowager and the old nanny.

"Is this how you two make fun of me?"

The Empress Dowager and her nanny were so frightened by the Emperor's anger that they immediately knelt on the ground.

“This old servant saw it clearly. Physician Song and a eunuch were behaving intimately. They were not teasing Your Majesty. Your Majesty is wise.”

The old woman kowtowed repeatedly on the ground, her head hitting the ground with a "thump, thump..." sound.

“Your Majesty, the old nanny has been with me for a long time. I trust her and she won’t lie. I’m certain that Physician Song really has something to hide.”

The Empress Dowager also quickly spoke up for the old woman, insisting on dragging Song Miqiu into the mess.

Song Miqiu, listening from the window, was dumbfounded. Even though they couldn't catch the adulterer, they could still pin a charge of adultery on her.

The emperor was even more troubled by the two servants' back-and-forth singing.