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

Chapter 195

The emperor frowned, stepped forward, took the rag doll out of the box, and glanced at it.

He looked up at Empress Chu.

"Your Majesty, this doll is just wearing clothes that are somewhat similar to yours. There's nothing strange about it. Why are you saying it's something that will harm you?"

Empress Chu was dumbfounded!

She disregarded her manners, rushed forward, snatched the rag doll from the emperor, and examined it from all angles.

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

She saw it clearly just now; the box contained the doll with silver needles stuck in it and stained with blood, definitely not this ordinary rag doll!

When was this replaced?

Empress Chu suddenly turned to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, the doll I saw just now was not this one! Someone must have switched it when no one was paying attention!"

Consort Jing immediately seized the opportunity to interject, "Your Majesty, what you're saying is nothing but sophistry. Everyone is here, in full view of everyone, who could possibly switch such a big doll?"

Empress Chu ignored her and shouted sternly, "Guards! Search the palace!"

The emperor did not stop it, but his expression darkened slightly as he waited to see if Empress Chu could find any results from the search.

Several nannies and palace maids came in and began to search everyone present except the emperor and empress, and then they began to search the front hall where they were.

Empress Chu kept a close eye on everyone, especially Shen Lingjun, Madam Wen, and the palace servants from Changxin Palace who were closest to the box, not missing a single clue.

These are the people most likely to have switched the dolls!

Consort Jing knew that Shen Lingjun must have secretly switched the dolls. She was extremely nervous, fearing that the dolls would be found out from Shen Lingjun.

But she dared not show anything, and could only sit there with her heart pounding, her whole body tense, not daring to even breathe.

However, the palace servants thoroughly searched the entire front hall and all the people inside, but found nothing.

The doll was bigger than a palm. It was summer, and everyone was dressed very lightly, so it was easy to see whether anyone was hiding something on their body.

The palace servants searched further but found nothing, so they could only grit their teeth and shake their heads at Empress Chu with trepidation.

Empress Chu was absolutely devastated!

How could such a large doll be hidden without a trace?

Empress Chu angrily retorted, "How could we not find it! It must be because you bunch of good-for-nothings didn't search carefully enough!"

As she spoke, she rushed forward without hesitation and personally tore at Shen Lingjun's clothes!

Consort Jing quickly stepped in front of Shen Lingjun and said sternly, "Your Majesty the Empress! Don't go too far!"

She said indignantly, "When you came to Changxin Palace today, one of your eunuchs came in with a box containing a rag doll. The rag doll was only wearing clothes that were slightly similar to yours, and you accused me of using witchcraft to curse you. What kind of logic is that! Now that I have pointed it out, you insist that I have switched the doll and are making things up out of nothing. Even if you are the Empress, you shouldn't be so unreasonable!"

Consort Jing's words were clear and forceful, leaving Empress Chu speechless and her face turning purple.

"How dare you! You are merely a concubine, how dare you speak to me like that!"

In her rage, Empress Chu abandoned all decorum and reason, raising her hand to strike Consort Jing.

"enough!"

The emperor roared, his voice resounding throughout the entire hall, startling everyone present.

Empress Chu also stopped, finally regaining her senses, her face filled with fear and panic.

She knelt before the emperor again, weeping, "Your Majesty, I really did see that witchcraft doll just now. It looked exactly like me, covered in blood and with silver needles stuck in it. Consort Jing really wanted to curse me! But somehow they managed to steal and hide the doll..."

What she said was absolutely the truth!