The sounds of whispering in the hall was like the sound of wind rustling leaves outside the window,
Although it was not loud, it was exceptionally clear, making one's heart uneasy.
Facing the sudden accusations, Rongyue still didn't know what had happened. She stared blankly at Xiao Yaozi,
"What are you talking about?"
Xiao Yaozi didn't change his words at all, and pointed at Cai Ying even more firmly,
"It's her! I won't make a mistake!"
Cai Ying was shocked and turned pale. She knelt down in fear, “Your Highness, I have never seen him before!"
Consort Hui sobbed silently, pleading with Xiao Jingheng to give Chengjing justice.
Consort Yun fanned the flames, "Concubine Shun, why did you do such a thing?"
Consort Yao's face also turned pale again and again. She was silent for a moment, and suddenly seemed to have thought of something. She pointed at Rongyue and questioned,
"That day when you came to celebrate my birthday, you were sneaking around suspiciously in my room. That wooden box containing the five poisons must have been left by you in my room at that time! Concubine Shun, I have always been close to you, why do you want to frame me like this?”
Ning Wanshuang lazily stroked her bun and said lightly, "Concubine Shun, now that things have come to this, won't you confess?"
Facing so many accusations and charges, Rongyue was at a loss for words.
She clenched her fists tightly, her fingertips digging into her flesh but she didn't feel the pain. "I didn't do it, what is there to confess?"
Xiao Jingheng had been frowning and silent at first, intending to give Rongyue a chance to defend herself.
But Rongyue was vague and didn't clarify her involvement, he endured for a while before finally asking solemnly,
"Was it you?"
Rongyue looked up in surprise and collided with Xiao Jingheng's sword-like gaze.
"Your Majesty? Do you think I would do such a thing? With my damaged body, I have no hope of ever conceiving again. Whether it is Consort Yi or the Third Prince, I have no reason to harm them!"
As usual, Concubine Li murmured, "Jealousy can breed hatred, isn't that reason enough?"
Li Changzai also said, "That's right. Previously when Consort Yi was ill, His Majesty was quite fond of Concubine Shun. But seeing that Consort Yi recovered, His Majesty hasn't flipped your name plaque even once after that. You must have felt jealous and unwilling in your heart, and made a mistake in the moment."
With Xiao Yaozi's testimony, not a single concubine in the hall believed Rongyue.
The blood drained from her face little by little, and after a brief stunned moment, she didn't answer anyone, but looked at Xiao Yaozi and asked,
"Are you sure you didn't see wrongly? It was Cai Ying who asked you to buy the five poisons?"
Xiao Yaozi said firmly and solemnly, "I won't be wrong!"
After taking a careful look around the hall, Rongyue seemed to have made up her mind.
Her voice became colder and colder, and she questioned sharply,
"But I really didn't do this. Cai Ying is my personal servant girl, and I believe she wouldn’t randomly buy those dirty things for no reason.
Now you are just babbling groundlessly without any real evidence. You readily admitted everything after just a few whips and beats. It’s hard for anyone to fully believe you. Let me ask you, are you willing to undergo extreme torture again to prove that your words are not false?"
Xiao Yaozi was stunned for a while, and quickly said, "This servant's words are absolutely true without any falsehood. No matter what extreme torture, this servant will not change his words!"
Hearing this, Rongyue was actually amused.
She looked at Xiao Jingheng and shook her head with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, all people want to live. Even if wanting death, they hope for a quick and painless one. But this servant is strange, he has already been beaten, yet is still willing to be tortured again to accuse me. He is quite righteous. But I find it strange, if he is really so principled, how could he have privately consorted with palace maids?"
Xiao Jingheng glared fiercely at Xiao Yaozi. Xiao Yaozi's face paled, and just as he was about to explain something,
Rongyue preempted him and continued asking, "Don't you still have family?"
Fright appeared in Xiao Yaozi's eyes. He stuttered, "I still have parents, younger siblings..."
"Very good." Hearing this, Rongyue had an idea.
Her expression was as cold as midwinter frost, and she pressed him relentlessly with her words,
"Since you said you were the one who gave the five poisons to Cai Ying, then you privately consorted with her, which is a grave crime in the palace. Moreover, what you gave to Cai Ying was poison, yet you bought and gave it to her without asking anything, leading to the Third Prince being paralyzed from the waist down today, and Consort Yi nearly dying. You are an accomplice in this, and cannot escape blame."
Then she turned and knelt upright before Xiao Jingheng, "Your Majesty, I have no defenses for this matter. If Your Majesty believes this matter was really done by me, then determine my crimes immediately.
But before that, I hope Your Majesty can bring Xiao Yaozi's family into the palace, and execute them in front of him, to uphold justice in the inner palace! After that I will accept my punishment, whether it is to kill or maim, it is up to Consort Yi and Consort Hui to decide."
Rongyue's expression was fearless and resolute, but Xiao Yaozi was so frightened he could barely stand steadily.
"I alone did the deed, I alone will bear the consequences! My family has nothing to do with this!"
Seeing Xiao Yaozi's strangeness, Xiao Jingheng deliberately went along with Rongyue's words, "Do as Concubine Shun says."
Xiao Yaozi knocked his forehead on the ground in fright again and again, begging Xiao Jingheng to show mercy to his family.
Consort Ying pressed her handkerchief to the powder on the tip of her nose, and said deeply,
"Won't you tell the truth yet? Confess everything honestly, and perhaps His Majesty may still be willing to show grace and spare your family's lives."
Hearing this, Xiao Yaozi wailed loudly, his psychological defenses completely collapsed, and he told Xiao Jingheng with tears streaming down his face,
"Begging Your Majesty to spare my family's lives. This servant was forced and had no choice..."
He suddenly raised his tear-streaked face and glared fiercely at Consort Yao, gritting his teeth and saying,
"It was all on Consort Yao's orders! She captured my parents and younger siblings, forcing me to frame Concubine Shun before Your Majesty! In fact, the person who asked me to buy the five poisons was one of the palace maids by her side! But my relatives are all in her hands, so I had no choice but to obey her orders!"
He almost roared as he accused Consort Yao.
Having said that, he kowtowed again and again to Xiao Jingheng, "This servant knows he was wrong, and does not fear death! But my family knew nothing! I was forced, so please show mercy, Your Majesty! Save my family!"
Faced with Xiao Yaozi's sudden turnaround, Consort Yao was so frightened that she lost all color.
She nearly collapsed to the ground, and had to be supported by palace maids to barely stand. Pointing at Xiao Yaozi, she scolded sharply,
"What nonsense are you talking about!? When did I ever order you to do these things? You..."
'Bang!'
The crisp sound of shattering porcelain abruptly cut off Consort Yao's words.
At the head seat, Xiao Jingheng was filled with anger.
He was obviously weary of listening to these messy affairs, and suddenly flung the vase in his hand to the ground.
The consorts were all frightened and knelt down, saying in unison,
"Your Majesty, calm your anger!"
