Chapter 125: There Must Be a Demon When Things Go Wrong
Upon hearing this, the Emperor’s expression changed: “Someone, summon the Imperial Physician! Conduct a thorough examination! Arrest this palace maid!”
The palace maid, her face still covered with a handkerchief, couldn’t help but close her eyes upon hearing this: It’s over! It’s truly over!
She knew that no matter what she said, she was doomed this time!
The Imperial Guards behind the Emperor immediately stepped forward to apprehend her.
Only then did Xingqing stand up.
Two Imperial Guards swiftly seized the palace maid!
Consort Liang was exceptionally angry. In the inner palace under her management, such an incident had actually occurred, especially when the Crown Prince had just returned.
She felt like she had been slapped in the face!
She even suspected that it was the work of a spy left behind by the former Empress!
Angrily, she said: “Pull down her face mask! Let this Consort see who she is! How audacious! To dare to poison the masters in the palace! A crime deserving of death! We must thoroughly investigate the person behind this!”
The guard immediately pulled down the palace maid’s face mask.
The Emperor frowned: “This palace maid looks familiar.”
Consort Liang was also taken aback when she saw the palace maid’s face. She glanced at the Empress Dowager. This was a second-rank palace maid from the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
The Palace of Compassion and Tranquility was as secure as a fortress. She had been unable to plant anyone there for so many years. How could this be someone from the Empress Dowager’s palace?
It was not her place to discipline those around the Empress Dowager.
Consort Liang found it difficult to speak.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager spoke: “This is a second-rank palace maid from this Empress’s palace! To dare to poison the masters, someone, beat her to death with rods!”
Everyone: “…”
The Emperor frowned, wanting to say something, but thinking of something, he ultimately remained silent.
He glanced at Xingqing and couldn’t help but wonder if the Empress Dowager intended to frame this girl and then have her entire family beheaded?
However, the Empress Dowager probably didn’t expect this girl to be so fierce, to have discovered the poison and even captured the culprit?
Thinking of this, the Emperor’s brows furrowed into a tangled mess. If the Empress Dowager was doing this, it was truly going too far.
It seemed that the Crown Prince’s request for so many rewards for Miss Shen was not without reason.
Offending the Empress Dowager, without some means of self-protection, one wouldn’t even know how they died.
He had witnessed how heartbroken the Empress Dowager was over Princess Pingyang’s death.
Consort Liang glanced at Xingqing and then at Princess Changle, momentarily puzzled by what was happening.
She remained silent, waiting to see how things would unfold.
Chu Tiankuo’s face remained expressionless, but he observed everyone’s expressions.
Xingqing was startled. She knew she shouldn’t speak at this moment, but she was also worried that misunderstanding the other party would cost them their life.
Xingqing wanted to say something. She subconsciously glanced at Chu Tiankuo, who subtly shook his head at her. Then, he took the initiative to speak: “Imperial Grandmother, this young lady only said that she saw this palace maid putting a pill into the tea. She doesn’t know what kind of pill it was. It could be a sugar pill! It’s better to wait for the Imperial Physician to examine it before carrying out the punishment!”
There were Imperial Physicians on duty in the palace. One was quickly summoned.
The Emperor strode over to where the tea and fresh fruit were placed: “Come with me. Tell the Imperial Physician which pot of tea she put the pill in!”
“Yes!” Xingqing breathed a sigh of relief and responded.
The group walked over.
Xingqing pointed out the pot of tea that had been poisoned.
The Imperial Physician stepped forward and examined it carefully. He then checked all the food on the table before reporting: “Your Majesty, only this pot of tea has been laced with arsenic.”
Just as the Empress Dowager was about to speak, the Emperor coldly snorted and kicked the palace maid: “How audacious! Take her away and hand her over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard for a thorough interrogation!”
Empress Dowager: “…”
The momo beside the Empress Dowager coldly glanced at the palace maid, her eyes filled with warning.
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The palace maid was led away, her face ashen.
Consort Liang then stepped forward: “For a palace maid to poison the Emperor and Empress Dowager in the palace, this is a lapse in this Consort’s management. Your Majesty, please allow this Consort to handle the interrogation! There’s no need to trouble the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is there?”
The Emperor shook his head: “Poisoning is a serious matter, and she is a palace maid from the Empress Dowager’s side. I must thoroughly investigate this to see who wants to harm the Empress Dowager! Mother, I apologize for the fright you’ve experienced. It is this son’s unfilial conduct.”
The Empress Dowager waved her hand and sat down: “This is not the Emperor’s fault! This Empress is fine! However, Miss Shen has saved this Empress and the Emperor’s lives this time! This child has made a great contribution. This Empress must give her a reward. This child is clever and witty, with a righteous heart. This Empress is very fond of her. This Empress is old and simply enjoys the company of young people. This Empress wishes to bestow upon her the title of County Princess, so that she can easily enter the palace with Princess Changle to accompany this Empress. What does the Emperor think?”
Surprise flashed in Consort Liang’s eyes.
Xingqing needed to register to enter the palace. As Consort Liang managed the inner palace, she naturally knew about this.
Moreover, she knew Xingqing’s identity.
After all, the suppression of that family in Futai County was something she had arranged through her own family to please the Empress Dowager.
Now, the Empress Dowager had suddenly brought her to the capital and even rewarded her with the title of County Princess?
Consort Liang instantly understood the purpose behind this series of events!
The Empress Dowager and Princess Changle intended to elevate this girl’s status so that she could be sent for a marriage alliance.
Therefore, if one were to ask who was the most venomous in this world, Consort Liang felt that she could never compare to the Empress Dowager.
The Emperor was surprised. Why would the Empress Dowager want to bestow the title of County Princess upon her?
This was completely unlike the Empress Dowager’s usual style.
There must be a demon when things go wrong!
However, he thought of the Crown Prince’s words earlier.
This was a good opportunity to give her a title as compensation.
It was not appropriate to refuse the Empress Dowager’s offer, and she had indeed made a contribution just now.
Since he was going to bestow a title, then he might as well directly bestow the title of Princess!
He would consider it a trial.
The Emperor nodded: “Mother is right. Miss Xingqing has saved the lives of both mother and son. She has made a great contribution. This Emperor shall bestow upon her the title of Princess Funing, so that she may enjoy abundant blessings and a peaceful life!”
Shen Ruolan was overjoyed. She had already considered the title of County Princess a blessing from heaven! She hadn’t expected the Emperor to bestow the title of Princess upon her daughter!
This wasn’t just a pie falling from the sky, but a meat-filled pie!
She quickly stepped forward and knelt down with Xingqing: “This common woman and Xingqing thank the Emperor and Empress Dowager for your immense kindness! May the Emperor and Empress Dowager enjoy boundless fortune and longevity!”
Xingqing came back to her senses and followed suit: “This common girl thanks the Emperor and Empress Dowager for your immense kindness! Long live the Emperor, long live, long live, long live! May the Empress Dowager live a thousand years, a thousand years, ten thousand years!”
The Empress Dowager smiled kindly: “Rise!”
Shen Ruolan stood up, her face still beaming with joy.
Now, Xingqing wouldn’t have to worry about not being qualified to marry into a prestigious family!
It was all thanks to the Princess who had spoken highly of Xingqing in front of the Empress Dowager.
Xingqing stood up, her face calm, neither happy nor sad.
She also understood now. As her sister had said, the Empress Dowager indeed had ulterior motives!
So, she actually didn’t need to capture that palace maid. She only needed to mention that a palace maid had secretly poisoned the tea?
The Empress Dowager probably wouldn’t have guessed that she could capture the palace maid from such a distance!
There was no other way. Her aunt had always gone mad, and she had always chased after her. This had honed her skills and speed in catching people!
Five chapters today, this extra chapter is dedicated to all the readers who have donated~
So sleepy, my eyelids are drooping~, good night everyone
