After being reborn, the empress only wanted to seduce the emperor and seize the empress's posit

Chapter 21 Let’s turn the situation around!
With trembling hands, Han Yizhi took out an exquisite sachet from his bosom, which was embroidered with intricate patterns.

His voice trembled as he said, "Your Majesty, this is a token of love given to me by Consort Lu. I did not want to betray her, but I was forced into this situation!"

Seeing this, Consort Xian smiled triumphantly and quickly chimed in, "Your Majesty, Consort Lu has committed adultery in the harem, and the evidence is irrefutable. She should be executed to uphold justice in the palace!"

After saying that, she gently swung her sleeves, her eyes filled with smugness and ruthlessness.

"This Consort Lu is Consort Xian's own sister. Consort Xian is truly putting righteousness before family," Consort Liang said with a hint of sarcasm.

Consort Xian said with a righteous expression, "Your Highness is too kind. Although Consort Lu is my sister, I cannot show favoritism."

Xiao Jingheng felt something was off about this matter, but he still had a sliver of faith in Lu Jingning: "Consort Lu, what else do you have to say?"

Lu Jingning took the sachet from Han Yizhi's hand, smelled it, and said, "This concubine dislikes wisteria flowers the most. The sachets I usually embroider are almost always filled with pear blossoms or lilies, but this sachet is filled with wisteria flowers. Your Majesty can certainly investigate."

Before Xiao Jingheng could speak, Consort Xian immediately retorted, "Your Majesty, you see, Consort Lu has already given herself away. This sachet clearly contains lilies, but she claims it's wisteria."

Lu Jingning had never seen such a foolish person. "If this sachet was given to me by Your Majesty, how would Consort Xian know what flowers are inside? It is obvious that Consort Xian gave this sachet to Guard Han so that he could slander me. Moreover, before I entered the palace, Consort Xian and I were sisters. It would not be difficult for her to get my sachet."

Consort Xian realized that Lu Jingning had tricked her into revealing information, and she panicked: "Your Majesty, I didn't. This is just Lu Jingning's excuse."

"Your Majesty, Xia'er is my maid. Why is she speaking up for Consort Xian? This shows that Xia'er has been bribed by Consort Xian."

Xiao Jingheng's gaze lingered between Lu Jingning and Consort Xian, but he ultimately seemed more inclined to believe that Lu Jingning was innocent.

The Empress spoke at the opportune moment, her voice clear and authoritative: "Xia'er, as a maidservant to Consort Lu, you should know the rules of the palace. To slander one's mistress is a capital offense. Do you understand what that means?"

As she spoke, she gently raised her hand and pointed to Xia'er, who was trembling beside her.

Xia'er knelt on the ground, her face as pale as paper, her body trembling with fear, her eyes filled with despair and struggle.

She immediately kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this servant did not mean to slander you, Your Highness. It was Consort Xian who imprisoned my younger brother, and I was forced to slander you."

"That jade pendant was also given to me by Consort Xian, who asked me to place it in Your Highness's palace. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Seeing this, Han Yizhi quickly changed his story: "Your Majesty, I was also oppressed by Consort Xian. I accepted Consort Xian's money to save my mother's life, and I agreed to slander Consort Lu out of gratitude."

Xiao Jingheng's face turned ashen with rage. He strode forward and kicked Consort Xian hard in the shoulder, knocking her to the ground.

Consort Xian screamed and fell to the ground in a disheveled state, her hair disheveled. Her former pride and smugness vanished in an instant.

Xiao Jingheng's eyes were cold, but he gently helped Lu Jingning up and said softly, "You've been wronged."

Lu Jingning's eyes reddened, tears welling up, but he held them back, shook his head slightly, and said in a choked voice, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

At this moment, Consort Xian struggled to crawl to the Emperor's feet, grabbed the hem of his robe, and cried out, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! This is all a misunderstanding!"

Consort Xian wondered why these two had suddenly turned against her. Could it be...?

"Your Majesty, it was Lu Jingning, it must be her! She's the one who sent Xia'er and that adulterer to frame me! Your Majesty, you must believe me!"

Xiao Jingheng disgustedly shook off her hand, his gaze sharp as if he wanted to tear her to pieces. "Your Majesty, since Consort Xian says she is innocent, why not ask Xia'er where her brother is? If he is indeed in Consort Xian's hands, wouldn't that prove what she said?" Lu Jingning said slowly to Xiao Jingheng with a determined look in her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng nodded, finding the words quite reasonable. He immediately summoned Zhou Shuo, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and said in a deep voice, "Take a team of men and leave the palace immediately. You must find the younger brother Xia'er mentioned and ensure his safety."

After receiving the order, Zhou Shuo quickly assembled his men and went out of the palace to search.

Consort Xian refused to accept her fate and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, my maidservant witnessed Lu Jingning and that guard meeting in secret at night. I am not lying."

With tears glistening in her eyes, Lu Jingning's voice trembled but remained firm as she spoke to Xiao Jingheng, "Your Majesty, the matter is this: that day, I accidentally fell into the lake, and Guard Han saved my life. I originally intended to repay his kindness by giving him some rewards, so I asked Chun'er to find him. Guard Han did indeed come to Chengqian Palace that night, but it was merely because I wanted to repay my savior."

After saying this, she gently bent down, touching her forehead to the ground, and tears dripped onto the cold stone slab, making a soft but clear sound.

Xiao Jingheng felt sorry for Lu Jingning. She was just an ordinary guard who saved her once, and she was so grateful. How bad could such a woman be?

It was Consort Xian who, out of jealousy, repeatedly harmed Zhao Zhao, which was truly despicable.

He looked at Consort Xian and asked in an icy tone, "What else do you have to say?"

Consort Xian's face was deathly pale, her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a single word. Her eyes were wide open, filled with terror and resentment.

She collapsed to the ground, only then realizing that Xia'er had long since submitted to Lu Jingning, and that this was nothing more than a trap set by Xia'er, which she had fallen for.

An hour later, Zhou Shuo returned with a thin, frail little boy and reported, "Your Majesty, there is indeed a child hidden in that manor."

Xia'er looked at her frail younger brother and quickly hugged him, bursting into tears: "Your Majesty, it's all my fault! Please spare my brother! I'm willing to die to atone for my sins!"

Xia'er's younger brother trembled all over and nestled in Xia'er's arms.

Upon seeing this, Lu Jingning immediately pleaded for Xia'er: "Your Majesty, Xia'er was forced into this situation. If my brother were imprisoned, I fear I might also do something against my conscience. Although Xia'er has made a mistake, everyone makes mistakes. Please forgive her this time."

Xiao Jingheng helped Lu Jingning up with a pained expression, his eyes full of tenderness and pity. Then he turned his head and gave Xia'er a cold look. Finally, he just sighed and said, "I will spare your life this time, but I will deduct a year's salary from your salary. If you commit the offense again, I will not let you off lightly."

Xia'er kowtowed repeatedly to express her gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Excellency," and then hugged her younger brother tightly.

Xiao Jingheng turned to look at Lu Jingning and said gently, "What do you plan to do with that guard?"

Lu Jingning frowned slightly, gazing into the distance as if lost in thought.

She sighed softly, her voice barely audible: "Although he was coerced, if His Majesty does not trust me today, I fear I will die without a burial place. But since Guard Han saved my life, let him be stripped of his post and join the army."

Xiao Jingheng nodded: "Let's do as Consort Lu says."

Han Yizhi kowtowed heavily: "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Consort Lu." Joining the army to fight on the battlefield and protect the country was his wish.

Moreover, she had no one in the court who could help her. If he could gain military merit, he could be of great help to her. He couldn't be happier.

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(End of this chapter)