The ice in the hall had melted three jars,
but at this time, everyone was shocked by the malicious thoughts behind Consort Yun’s plot against the Empress.
They were horrified in their hearts, and naturally felt a chill, so they did not feel hot anymore.
The attendants in front of the throne dragged Consort Yun to take her to execution,
Consort Yun broke free from them with great strength, and crawled to Xiao Jingheng’s feet, grabbing his clothes and begging for mercy,
“Your Majesty, please show mercy! Your servant has... all this was instigated by Empress Dowager!”
Dozens of eyes with various thoughts simultaneously looked towards Consort Chen,
as if taking her as a target, eager to shoot through her.
But Consort Chen?
Her eyes drifted around, also at a loss.
The Empress cried out in anguish, "Consort Chen! You and I have been at odds with each other, and I could tolerate you many times! But... how vicious your heart is!”
Consort Chen glanced at the Empress, and also saw Xiao Jingheng's increasingly cold eyes.
But she maintained her usual arrogance, and snapped at the Empress before Xiao Jingheng could question her,
"This is baseless, don't look at me like that!"
The Empress wept, "If it weren't for you, why would Consort Yun suddenly bite you like this?"
Consort Chen sneered, "Whatever Consortium Yun says is true? Then if she says that I am the Queen Mother of the Nine Heavens, then in the future, the Empress might as well stop worshiping the Bodhisattva, and simply worship me instead of the temple!"
"Consort Chen." Xiao Jingheng sternly shouted to stop her, "Do not be rude in front of the Empress."
Consort Chen bowed slightly, and her tone softened a little, "Your servant understands."
After speaking, she glared at Consort Yun, pacing around her,
"You said I ordered you to do this? Then tell everyone, when did I order you? And what benefits did I give you that made you willingly commit this crime that would lead to the execution of your clan!"
Seeing Consort Yun stuttering under her questioning, Consort Chen calmly said to the other consorts,
"You have all witnessed the enmity between me and Consort Yun. When paying respects to the Empress, out of five times, at least three or two times I would bicker with her."
She suddenly stopped and stood still in front of Consort Yun, staring at her fiercely,
"Since you are so afraid of me, how dare you still provoke me in front of so many people? Doesn't this contradict yourself when you say it?"
Facing Consort Chen's continuous questions, Consort Yun was clearly at a loss to respond.
When she tried to defend herself, she stammered, making Xiao Jingheng feel more suspicious about this matter.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived~"
Just as Junning Palace was in chaos, the Empress Dowager also arrived to join in the excitement.
At that time, the Empress Dowager entered slowly with the support of Song Zhao. The consorts all paid their respects to the Empress Dowager in full etiquette, and Xiao Jingheng asked,
"Why did Mother come?"
The Empress Dowager said unpleasantly, "How can I turn a deaf ear when the back palace is in such a state?"
She went forward and took the Empress's hands, full of distress, and said, "Good child, don't cry anymore. If someone really plotted against you, Mother will definitely give you an explanation."
After speaking, she glared at Consort Yun and Consort Chen with gloomy eyes.
Song Zhao explained to Xiao Jingheng,
"I was originally accompanying the Empress Dowager to chat idly while walking in the courtyard. When I saw two young eunuchs outside discussing something, I called them over to ask, and only then did I know that it was because the Empress had a recurrence of heart problems. The Empress Dowager and I were both worried about the Empress, so we rushed over together."
Xiao Jingheng nodded, and gently said, "It's hot, and you must have been tired rushing over here. Bring the cooling jars to the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yi."
As the palace maid moved the cooling jars, Song Zhao supported the Empress Dowager to her seat.
After sitting down, the Empress Dowager beckoned outside the door, and a white-bearded man in plain clothes entered humbly.
The Empress Dowager introduced him to everyone, "This is Divine Doctor Yu, the emperor has met him before."
Divine Doctor Yu bowed to Xiao Jingheng. Xiao Jingheng observed him for a while and recognized him.
"Divine Doctor Yu is a famous divine doctor in the capital. My late father wanted to keep him in the palace, but Divine Doctor Yu was used to living freely, and was unwilling to stay, so he did not force him. Over the years, whenever he was free, he would come to the palace to regulate my mother's health."
The Empress Dowager nodded, and said, "The Empress was injured after premature labor and could no longer conceive. She has always been melancholy and unhappy. I thought that since the imperial doctors in the palace could not cure her, I might as well invite famous doctors from outside the palace to diagnose and treat her together. So I summoned Divine Doctor Yu into the palace to see if he has a way to help her."
After speaking, she glanced at Divine Doctor Yu, "First go take the Empress's pulse to see if she is well."
At that time, the Empress felt like thunder in her ears, and her scalp tingled.
If Frosty had not supported her, she would have collapsed to the ground in weakness.
Since this doctor was invited by the Empress Dowager, and everyone was watching, the Empress could not refuse no matter what. She could only grit her teeth and say,
"Then please ask Divine Doctor Yu to come in and examine me."
After the Empress entered the inner hall with Divine Doctor Yu, the Empress Dowager immediately darkened her face,
"What is the meaning of this? I just heard outside that the Empress' health has deteriorated, and it was Consort Chen who made Consort Yun harm her?"
Consort Chen was not afraid at all, and reprimanded loudly,
"I have never done such a dirty thing. If the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty do not believe me, and Consort Yun insists it was me... "
She knelt on the ground, back straight, loud voice booming,
"Then I ask Your Majesty to take Consort Yun to the Interrogation Bureau, pierce her fingers with silver needles, put her feet in ant nests, and subject her to all those tortures that torment people without killing them! I think by then, she will naturally spit out the truth and restore justice for me."
Seeing Consort Chen's demeanor of righteousness without fear of shadows, Xiao Jingheng did not suspect her much either.
Plotting against the Empress was a capital crime, so whatever torture used on Consort Yun now was justified.
So he ordered as Consort Chen suggested,
"Servant Jiang De, do as Consort Chen said."
"Your servant obeys the order!"
Seven or eight eunuchs immediately swarmed towards Consort Yun, scaring her until her eyebrows flew around.
She immediately fell to the ground, kowtowing desperately, crying out,
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, Empress Dowager, please forgive me! Your servant dare not conceal again!
All this... was originally forced by the Empress! It was the Empress who forced your servant to wrongly accuse Consort Chen!"
