Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 193

The emperor's expression changed again as expected.

Consort Jing's words were more impactful than Empress Chu's. This was because the many misfortunes befell the princes had always been a deep, hidden pain in the Emperor's heart.

He used to even think that the imperial bloodline was inherently too noble to continue, which was why it was so full of misfortunes.

But if all of this is man-made...

It's absolutely terrifying to think about!

This was the first time Empress Chu had been so bluntly exposed, and she almost flew into a rage.

"Consort Jing, how dare you! You have committed such a heinous crime, yet you still dare to spread false rumors and bewitch the Emperor here, attempting to absolve yourself of responsibility!"

Empress Chu also turned to the Emperor, kowtowed, and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Jing is practicing witchcraft, which is a capital offense. Now, in order to save her own life, she will of course desperately try to defend herself and falsely accuse others! You cannot believe the nonsense of a criminal facing death!"

Empress Chu and Consort Jing each held their own version of events, leaving the Emperor caught in a dilemma, finding both sides equally reasonable.

Moreover, this matter is of utmost importance, and it is not something he can make a judgment or decision on casually.

The emperor was now in a real predicament.

Empress Chu seized the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, you have always been the most wise and fair. You never listen to just one side of the story. You always look at the evidence. The unearthed doll is now physical evidence. I beg Your Majesty to continue investigating the witness testimonies!"

At this moment, all the palace servants of Changxin Palace had been gathered here, and the emperor scanned the crowd.

He shouted, "Guards! Drag all the palace servants from Changxin Palace away and torture them severely!"

The palace servants of Changxin Palace were terrified when they heard that they were to be severely tortured.

Immediately, a young palace maid, looking terrified, rushed out, knelt before the emperor, and prostrated herself on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I confess! I saw it! I saw that the day after Consort Jing gave birth to the little prince, just as she was able to walk, she went to the tree in the outer courtyard and buried a box inside!"

Empress Chu immediately said, "Your Majesty, look, someone really saw it! Now there are witnesses and physical evidence, and Consort Jing's crime is irrefutable. She was practicing this sorcery in the palace and cursing me!"

Consort Jing immediately realized that Empress Chu must have bribed this young palace maid to bury the items in Changxin Palace.

But when she tried to argue again, the emperor looked at her, and that look silenced her instantly.

She understood the meaning in the emperor's eyes.

The situation has escalated to this point and is completely out of control. Empress Chu and she have completely broken off relations, and the Emperor must deal with one of them to quell the matter.

This emperor was not the kind of impartial and incorruptible ruler who would not insist on investigating the truth to the end, nor did he have the wisdom, time, or energy for it.

If one side had to be dealt with, the obvious choice would be to deal with her, who was of lower status than the Empress and for whom there was "evidence and witness testimony."

Whether she was innocent or not was not that important to the emperor.

As expected, the Emperor said, "Consort Jing practiced witchcraft in the palace, a crime deserving death. However, considering that she just gave birth to the seventh prince and rendered meritorious service, she is spared the death penalty, but her rank is demoted to Baolin, and she is relocated to the West Third Palace, never to leave again!"

Then he said to Empress Chu, "Empress, you are the head of the empress's palace, so the seventh prince will be raised by you."

Empress Chu was secretly overjoyed.

Sure enough, as long as she presented complete evidence on the surface, making the case seem plausible, the emperor never investigated it thoroughly.