Rong Fei is not honored

Upon hearing His Majesty's words, Consort Tong and Consort Shen couldn't help but frown, and even Consort Xi, whose face had been ashen, showed a subtle reaction.

Subconscious reactions are the most genuine, so, His Majesty... actually trusts Consort Rong so much?

Ji Nai said helplessly, "Your Majesty, is this something I should be asking?"

The Empress is the head of the harem, and even if it concerns the Crown Prince, she has the right to intervene. But what is Ji Nai? She is one of Kangxi's concubines and the Crown Prince's stepmother. She has no power in the palace. Apart from having a higher rank, what difference is there between her and other concubines?

Emperor Kangxi was almost overwhelmed by Ji Nai's reaction. He subconsciously thought that Ji Nai was slacking off, and only after glaring at her did he realize that Ji Nai's position was indeed awkward.

Even if Emperor Kangxi trusted Ji Nai, few people would believe the "truth" she uncovered during her interrogation. Some might even maliciously speculate that Ji Nai played a dishonorable role in the affair.

Kangxi awkwardly touched his nose, then turned to Yinreng and changed his attitude again, "Speak!"

Yinreng trembled, unsure of what to say.

Kangxi was even more furious when he saw Yinreng's appearance. Although Ji Nai spoke tactfully, using the excuse that Consort Xi hid Yinreng to avoid escalating the situation, Kangxi knew perfectly well that there was something fishy going on.

The news has spread far and wide that it was Consort Xi who harmed Noble Lady Nara. Since none of the servants from the Hesheli family who were by Yinreng's side have shown up, Kangxi is almost certain that it was Yinreng who pushed her.

But he still hoped that Yinreng would confess himself, "Did you push Nara down?"

"……Yes."

"Do you know what the consequences would be if Noble Lady Nara's child were not saved? Do you want the whole world to know that the Crown Prince of our Great Qing Dynasty, at such a young age, already has the blood of his own brothers on his hands!"

"I... Your Majesty did not know she was pregnant."

"I didn't know she was also your stepmother. You were only five years old when you dared to lay a hand on my harem! So tyrannical..."

"Your Majesty!" Ji Nai hurriedly interrupted Kangxi, advising, "No matter how angry you are, you shouldn't say such harsh words to a child."

In truth, Ji Nai was also shocked. In his past life and in this life, Kangxi's attitude towards Yinreng was indeed quite different.

In his previous life, apart from treating Consort Tongjia and the other four consorts slightly better, the other consorts were no different from servants in Yinreng's eyes.

Yinreng's current state was entirely caused by Emperor Kangxi. Even his own brothers could only treat the Crown Prince with the deference of a subject; how could one expect Yinreng to treat the women of the harem well?

Ji Nai glanced at Yinreng, who was pursing his lips and stubbornly refusing to explain, and knew that the child was being stubborn again.

"The servants around Yinreng and Consort Nara are all here. Why don't we ask them first?"

Although Emperor Kangxi knew that Yinreng was still young, he was still somewhat disappointed. He preferred that Yinreng come forward and explain himself rather than learn the truth from a servant.

Cheng Rui and Saiyinchahun weren't like this when they were five years old.

Although Cheng Rui was afraid after making a mistake, he was brave enough to take responsibility and would always snuggle in his arms, crying and admitting his mistake. Saiyinchahun was more cunning. He would first try to destroy the evidence, and when he found that he could not do it perfectly, he would simply turn himself in in order to seek leniency.

Weren't they all children raised by his side? They received the best education, and even more so than his and Ji Nai's children, Yinreng had a maternal family capable of placing people in the palace.

If it were Yinqi who made the mistake today, even if he hid, Kangxi would only feel annoyed, not disappointed.

Sensing the watchful gaze of the Left Hall of Changchun Palace, Kangxi simply moved the interrogation to the main hall... and upon entering, he saw seven or eight servants bound up.

Kangxi immediately recognized that this was Jinai's doing. Tongjia was happy to see the Crown Prince make a fool of himself, Borjigit only cared about his own well-being, and Hesheli (Consort Xi) would not be too harsh on the servants around Yinreng because of her background.

The thought of why these servants were tied up infuriated Emperor Kangxi, who felt that his sons had been corrupted by these very people.

The servants who were struggling to stay still stopped when they saw the bright yellow figure. It wasn't that they weren't afraid, but they couldn't see their own place. Apart from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, who were even more noble than their masters, they didn't take anyone else seriously.

Therefore, it wasn't until Kangxi appeared that the fear, which had been masked by anger, surfaced. Of course, knowing fear didn't mean they were willing to admit they were wrong.

After being freed, several servants tumbled and crawled to their knees at Kangxi's feet, tearfully accusing Consort Rong of her atrocities and describing her as a wicked and scheming concubine who wanted to harm the Crown Prince.

"The Crown Prince is the foundation of the country. He only appeared here by chance. However, Consort Rong forced the Crown Prince to appear in public in order to ruin his reputation and pave the way for her own son."

"It is because we servants are useless and have been trapped that the Crown Prince has suffered this humiliation."

The tearful performance ignited a fire of anger in the hearts of those who saw the truth, and they couldn't help but feel disgust for their master, Yinreng, who was only five years old at the time.

What a touching display of master-servant affection! Rather than saying the crown prince was the most innocent and virtuous, it's more accurate to praise these lackeys for their ability to distort the truth.

Consort Tong first gave Consort Rong a mocking look, then sneered, "Do you know the crime of deceiving the emperor? Or has the Hesheli family become so powerful that they can control everything and become the Zhao Gao of the Qin Dynasty?"

Although Yinreng had not yet formally enrolled in school, he had already begun his education and naturally knew how vicious these words were. He glared at Consort Tong, who wanted to bring ruin to his maternal family, but because of his young age, he did not have time to organize his thoughts to refute her. However, the servant beside him spoke up again, dragging the Hesheli family into the abyss.

“How could this servant have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor? It was Consort Xi who pushed the person. If Consort Rong had no malicious intent, why did she insist on having the Crown Prince appear in public at this time? If you don’t believe me, you can ask Consort Xi.”

After speaking, he glanced at Consort Xi, thinking he had done so discreetly, but his gaze carried a hidden threat.

Does this mean everyone is a fool?

"Consort Xi is a member of the Hesheli family, so perhaps she would think of her family's interests, but what makes you think that the victim, Noble Lady Nara, would help cover it up, just because the murderer is the Crown Prince and you are worried about being retaliated against in the future?"

Ji Nai glanced quickly at Consort Tong and mentally gave her a thumbs up.

Only members of the Tong family would dare to speak such blunt truths.

Didn't you see that the faces of Emperor Kangxi and his son Yinreng turned as black as the bottom of a pot? Their gazes toward Lady Tongjia also turned unfriendly, but they still didn't lash out.

Kangxi saw the shadow of the Heseri clan in these servants—the same arrogance and self-righteousness. It was as if everyone was meant to be a stepping stone for the Heseri family, and should spare no effort to die for them.