After being sentenced to death, she came to her senses.

In contrast, Consort Hui remained calm.

Having clashed with Consort Ning for so many years, how could he not know what kind of person she was?

This is just the beginning; we'll see just how crazy the Empress really is.

To fight against someone like Consort Ning, you have to be even more mad than her.

"This servant..." Xueyan opened her mouth, but some words got stuck in her throat, and she couldn't continue speaking.

The Empress Dowager did not want the matter to escalate, so she simply said coldly, "I am tired, all of you may leave."

She wanted to clear the area first, and deal with the rest after everyone had left.

Otherwise, with so many people talking, who knows what might happen?

Consort Hui was a sensible person. At this time, she would definitely stand on the side of the Empress Dowager. Although she hated Consort Ning to the bone, she would never be the one to take the lead. So she bowed and said, "Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager got up to leave. At that moment, a voice came from outside the hall, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"For an empress to commit adultery with a court official is a heinous crime, how can it be left unpunished?"

In the blink of an eye, the Empress strode in, the hair ornament in her hair swaying slightly, and her cold and dignified face came into everyone's view.

In fact, many people present wanted to leave as soon as possible. This matter had far-reaching implications, and the Empress Dowager had tried to send people away several times, simply because she was afraid that if this matter got out, it would damage the dignity of the royal family.

But the Empress's appearance forced them to stay put, even though they should have gotten up and left.

"See the Queen..."

Everyone bowed, and the Empress nodded slightly. She walked solemnly to the Empress Dowager, first bowing deeply to her, then offering her birthday wishes. After that, her gaze fell on Xueyan, and she said in a neither humble nor arrogant tone, "Mother, this matter concerns the innocence of the concubines, and it must be thoroughly investigated."

Now that things have come to this point, the Empress Dowager understands that her intervention is for the sake of the royal family's reputation. However, if these people can escalate the situation and cause a complete breakdown, it would not do her much harm.

Therefore, the Empress Dowager sat down with a cold face, her tone icy as she said, "Since that's the case, then let's investigate to the end." Her fingertips tapped heavily on the armrest of the phoenix chair, making a dull thud. "But—"

The Empress Dowager's gaze was sharp as she slowly swept over everyone in the hall: "If anyone dares to use this opportunity to stir up trouble and slander the imperial heir, I will not let them off lightly!"

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Consort Hui secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The Empress also revealed a faint smile and silently glanced at Consort Ning's face, only to see that Consort Ning's expression was indifferent, without the slightest ripple, as if the matter before her had nothing to do with her.

Consort Ning was used to this; remaining calm and composed in the face of adversity was her consistent style.

The Empress was neither surprised nor concerned. Instead, she looked at Xueyan and said in a deep but authoritative voice, “Tell me everything you know, and I will surely give you justice.”

Xueyan was already somewhat moved, but the Empress's words immediately brought her back to her senses.

Having already died once, she should know that if it weren't for Consort Hui saving her life in that critical moment, she wouldn't be standing here now, nor would she have any chance of survival.

Thinking of this, Xueyan's face turned ashen, and when she looked at Consort Ning again, her eyes burst with surging hatred. "Your Highness used to be very good to me, but since entering the palace, Your Highness has become a completely different person. No one in the palace dares to oppose you. Anyone who poses a threat to you either dies a tragic accident or is unable to have children again."

At this point, she glanced specifically at Consort Hui. Although she didn't say it explicitly, her words conveyed her meaning to everyone.

Consort Hui had been childless for many years, and everyone thought it was due to her poor health, but now it seems there was another reason.

The Empress Dowager was also shocked. She showed some pity for Consort Hui, noticing that Consort Hui's expression was indifferent, without even a change in expression, except for a subtle, barely perceptible hatred that occasionally showed through her.

Clearly, she wasn't without hatred, but rather afraid to.

This subtle change in emotion was noticed by the Empress Dowager, who could be described as having performed just right. Of course, it wasn't just the Empress Dowager; among all the people present, Consort Hui's expression of not daring to be angry or speak out struck a chord, and the image of Consort Ning from past rumors was once again deeply imprinted in their minds.

Everyone in the harem felt insecure, all because of Consort Ning.

Most people have heard of these things, but they haven't been shown so directly as now, which is truly shocking.

"So, according to you, the concubines in the harem have no children, all thanks to me? In that case, I would like to ask, as the head of the six palaces and the mother of the nation, why can't the Empress protect them?" Consort Ning chuckled lightly, her gaze falling indifferently on the Empress.

Even when everyone was pointing fingers at her, she remained calm and ignored the gossip. Instead, she turned the tables on the Empress with a single sentence.

To kill someone is to destroy their spirit, not to let their virtue match their position.

The Empress stared blankly at Consort Ning, her eyes swirling with emotion, but her expression remained calm. She sneered, "The chaos in the harem was all caused by you. It's not that I don't want to protect you, but that I can't. You have the Shang family behind you, the Grand Tutor, and are showered with favor. How could I possibly touch you?"

"As you say, I have indeed mismanaged the palace. Therefore, I will immediately relinquish the position of the head of the six palaces and let the capable person take it. As for you, Shang Linglan, the evil deeds you have committed in this harem are too numerous to count. Today, you must pay the price for your actions!"

The Empress's voice was hoarse and dignified, each word dripping with emotion, causing many concubines and palace servants who had suffered under Consort Ning's oppression to tremble. At the same time, they were also afraid of being drawn into the conflict.

Neither of these two people are people they can afford to offend; if they make a mistake, it will lead to their annihilation.

They are not like the Empress, who went mad because of the Second Prince's downfall, nor are they like Consort Ning, who holds a high position and power and fights desperately against him. In the end, the only one who will fail is themselves.

"So, this whole charade was orchestrated by the Empress?" Consort Ning remained calm, as if these matters had nothing to do with her.

The Empress chuckled lightly and said nonchalantly, "So what if it is, so what if it isn't? Xueyan, tell the Empress Dowager what you know."

This time, Xueyan did not waver, but told everything she knew, including the feud between Fang Xiaoran's mother, Bai Qiqi, and Consort Ning.

This matter could have been glossed over, but Xueyan seemed to be acting on someone else's orders, determined to drag Fang Xiaoran into this mess.

"Consort Ning persecuted the imperial heirs, suppressed the concubines, and colluded with foreign officials. There is irrefutable evidence for every single one of these acts!"

Xueyan knelt on the ground, her gaze resolute. The Empress's eyes darkened, and with a wave of her hand, the palace servants immediately presented all the evidence of her crimes.

Palace intrigues are commonplace, and as long as they don't cross the line, no one asks about them. In addition, Consort Ning's power is immense, so no one dares to bring it up. However, colluding with foreign officials to harm the imperial heir is a serious crime. Xueyan even stated that the Seventh Prince is not of royal blood at all, but is the son of Consort Ning and the Grand Tutor.

These words caused a stir throughout the room.

Everyone present had different expressions, all looking at Consort Ning in disbelief.

As a concubine in the imperial harem, and holding a position equivalent to a secondary empress, how could Consort Ning not know that this was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of her family? Such actions were clearly a contempt for imperial authority.

After listening to Xueyan and the testimonies of the other witnesses, the Empress Dowager's face darkened, and her icy eyes swept over Consort Ning. She said coldly, "What else do you have to say?"

Consort Ning's lips curved slightly, her fingertips gently tracing the gold embroidery on her sleeve, remaining composed and unhurried.

"You think you can frame me based on just a few letters?" She chuckled, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall. "They're nothing but clumsy tricks imitating my handwriting. I could forge thousands of these letters with a flick of my wrist. Does Your Majesty really intend to convict someone based on these alone?"

"Letters can be forged, but what about the tokens of communication, and the evidence of your persecution of the imperial heirs? Are those also forged?" The Empress's eyes narrowed, and her voice was low.

Then she ordered someone to present a brocade box, "And this, your palace maid admitted that you instructed her to put musk in Consort Xuan's tea!"

Inside the box was a packet of medicinal powder. The imperial physician examined it on the spot and confirmed that it was a potent drug that could cause miscarriage.

A flicker of panic crossed Consort Ning's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and sneered, "The token you claim to be a keepsake was stolen from Chengqian Palace and used to harm me. As for this musk, so what if I made it? Consort Xuan has bewitched the harem and seduced the Emperor. As a Consort, I assist in managing the six palaces. What's wrong with dealing with a vixen who bewitches the Emperor?"