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

Chapter 41 The Truth (Part 1)

Xiao Jingheng's gaze swept over the young palace maid who was firmly controlled by the Imperial Guards.

"Bring that palace maid before me."

As he spoke, he gently raised his hand, gesturing for the person to be brought over.

Zhou Shuo immediately understood, stepped forward a few paces, and brought the trembling palace maid to Xiao Jingheng.

The young palace maid's face was as pale as paper, her lips were tightly pressed together, and her eyes were filled with fear and helplessness.

She knelt on the cold stone bricks, her body trembling with fear, her voice barely a whisper: "It wasn't me... I really didn't do it..."

Tears welled up in her eyes but did not fall. Her panicked eyes looked around helplessly before finally settling on Madam Lu.

Through the gaze of the young palace maid, Lu Jingning noticed that she was looking at Madam Lu, and she already had a general idea in her mind.

Consort Liang frowned, approaching the young palace maid step by step, her voice carrying an undeniable authority: "Speak! Why did you harm the eldest princess?"

The palace maid knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly until her forehead was red and swollen, looking utterly disheveled.

She kept shaking her head, her voice trembling with tears: "Your Highness, it really wasn't me. Even if I had ten lives, I wouldn't dare to lay a hand on the eldest princess!"

Xiao Jingheng's gaze was as cold as a knife. He spoke slowly, each word carrying immense weight: "You should know what the Censorate is, right?"

The palace maid trembled as if struck by lightning, her face turning ashen instantly.

She could only look helplessly at Madam Lu, her eyes filled with despair. In the end, she could only lower her head helplessly, tears finally streaming down her face, but she still couldn't utter a single word.

Suddenly, Lu Jingning caught a very subtle nod from Madam Lu, and a hint of cunning and coldness flashed in her eyes.

Immediately afterwards, the palace maid seemed to grasp at the last straw, using all her strength, her trembling fingers tightly gripping Lu Jingning's skirt, tears streaming down her face like broken beads.

"Consort Lu, please save me! You can't just watch me die!" The palace maid's voice was filled with despair and tears, her eyes wide open, pleading as she looked at Lu Jingning.

Lu Jingning's heart tightened; she had ultimately fallen into their trap.

The palace maid screamed hoarsely, her hands gripping Lu Jingning's skirt tightly, her voice trembling with hysterical cries: "Noble Lady Lu, I'm doing this for you, you can't abandon me!"

Seeing this, Consort Zhen became even more convinced of her guess. She stood up, pointed her finger directly at Lu Jingning, and said in a sharp voice, "Your Majesty, this palace maid has confessed that it was Noble Lady Lu who instructed her. Please, Your Majesty, do justice for the Imperial Concubine and the Grand Princess!"

On the other side, Madam Lu's face was full of smug satisfaction.

"Your Majesty, I dare to speak." The Empress stepped forward again. She knew that Lu Jingning had been framed and she could not stand idly by.

“Consort Lu has always been gentle and virtuous, how could she do such a thing? Moreover, how could she not know the strict rules of the palace, and would never easily instruct others to do such a heinous act? Your Majesty, I am willing to stake my life on this matter, there must be something fishy about it, and I hope Your Majesty will investigate thoroughly.”

Having said that, the Empress looked earnestly at the Emperor, hoping he wouldn't believe the palace maid's nonsense. Consort Zhen's lips curled into a mocking smile, her gaze sweeping over the Empress, her tone laced with contempt: "Your Majesty's favoritism towards Consort Lu, is there some unspeakable secret? Or are you simply trying to maintain your authority, even at the cost of distorting the facts?"

Consort Liang grabbed Consort Zhen's hand, stopping her inappropriate words, her eyes filled with reproach: "Consort Zhen, you must not be rude. Her Majesty the Empress is the mother of the nation, and she has her own considerations and fairness. How can you be so presumptuous?"

Lu Jingning's gaze left Madam Lu and returned to the palace maid.

Her voice was calm and firm, carrying an undeniable power: "Let me ask you, how did I order you to assassinate the eldest princess? When and where did I order you to assassinate the eldest princess?"

Her eyes were clear, as if they could see into the deepest part of people's hearts.

"I... I was..." Upon hearing this, a hint of panic flashed in the palace maid's eyes. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time. She just gripped Lu Jingning's skirt even tighter.

Lu Jingning gently bent down, her gaze fixed on the palace maid, her eyes filled with both authority and pity. She slowly spoke, "You say I ordered you to harm the princess, so why can't you say anything?"

The palace maid trembled, her fear deepening. She stammered, her voice barely audible, "Yes, it was you who told me this privately a few days ago in Chengqian Palace..."

As she spoke, she stole a glance at Lu Jingning. She saw that Lu Guiren's face was calm and resolute, and his clear eyes seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts and look straight into the depths of her soul.

Lu Jingning shook his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips, a smile that carried an undeniable firmness: "Chengqian Palace? When have I ever seen you in private? You should think before you lie. These past few days, I've been discussing matters with the Empress in Changchun Palace every day. When have I had time to let you harm the princess? Hmm?"

"Your Majesty, I can testify that Consort Lu was indeed in Changchun Palace every day for the past few days, discussing matters with me."

After speaking, she turned around gently, her gaze soft yet firm as she looked at Lu Jingning, as if silently giving her strength.

Upon hearing this, the palace maid's face turned deathly pale. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Lu Jingning met the Emperor's gaze, her eyes gleaming with unyielding light: "Your Majesty, I have a clear conscience. This person is clearly slandering me. If it were truly me, I would hide the palace maid away rather than openly suspect her. This matter is a frame-up; I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

Her voice, though soft, was powerful and resonant, echoing throughout the hall.

Seeing Lu Jingning's appearance, Consort Liang was already nine-tenths convinced of her. The palace maid's words were incoherent and she had casually revealed the mastermind, so she said it was not credible.

Emperor Xiao Jingheng was furious, his voice booming like thunder in the hall: "I'm giving you one last chance. If you don't tell the truth, I'll take your life immediately!"

The palace maid's face was almost transparent; fear was suffocating her. She trembled, her eyes staring blankly at the ground, unable to utter a single word.

Seeing this, Lu Jingning sighed softly. She slowly approached the palace maid, her voice gentle yet firm: "Don't be afraid. As long as you tell the truth, no one can hurt you. Think of your family; they are still waiting for you to return. Tell me, who instructed you to frame me?"

The palace maid trembled, a struggle flashing in her eyes, and she looked at Madam Lu again.

Madam Lu's mouth opened and closed, then the palace maid gritted her teeth: "It was Consort Lu who instructed me; I am not lying."

(End of this chapter)