The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Taiyu Hall.

The eunuch announced loudly, "If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court is adjourned."

Emperor Jing sat high in the hall, surveying the surroundings. He noticed that Prince Qing's seat was empty. Why hadn't he come? In an instant, Emperor Jing understood Prince Qing's meaning. He was avoiding suspicion. Jing Rou was still imprisoned in the palace. He must have a way to deal with her.

……

Yongfu Palace.

Jing Anle was lying in bed reading when Afang brought her a bowl of melon syrup. Looking at the rosy clouds in the sky, she said, "Princess, are we really going to ask for leave today and not go to class?"

The saying goes, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." If she doesn't put on airs after being wrongly accused for no reason, people will think Jing Anle is easy to bully!

“I’m not going!” Jing Anle said, then drank her melon syrup and said, “Afang, your cooking skills are really good, they’re comparable to those of the imperial kitchen chefs.”

When Afang heard Jing Anle praise her, she scratched her head shyly and said, "I'm glad the princess likes it!"

……

After the court session, Emperor Jing went to his study.

"A palace servant came to report that Princess Rou's maid was bitten to death by a poisonous snake last night," said Eunuch Wei.

A poisonous snake? Emperor Jing closed the memorial and said in a calm tone, "And what about Princess Rou?"

“The princess is fine, but she went to see Consort Li today and said…” Eunuch Wei glanced at Emperor Jing and dared not continue.

"say what?"

Emperor Jing looked up at Eunuch Wei and said, "Why are you speaking so hesitantly? Speak!"

Eunuch Wei lowered his head and continued, "Princess Rou said she suspects Princess Anle was behind it!"

Emperor Jing paused for a moment while writing, but then resumed his flowing calligraphy, saying, "Did Consort Li tell you?"

"This servant dares not conceal the truth; it was Qingyu, who served Consort Li, who told me."

This was naturally Consort Li's idea. She needed to let Emperor Jing know how Jing Rou was targeting Jing Anle, so that Emperor Jing would hate Jing Rou even more.

Emperor Jing naturally saw through these tricks, but Consort Li's calculations were indeed correct; Jing Anle was Emperor Jing's Achilles' heel.

"Your Majesty, Yang Rushan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, requests an audience!" A palace servant announced as he entered.

"Send it here!" Emperor Jing put down his pen, knowing in his heart that the matter had been resolved.

A moment later, a man dressed in a dark scarlet official robe entered, knelt down and bowed, saying, "Your subject Yang Rushan greets Your Majesty!"

Although Yang Rushan was over fifty years old, his voice was loud and powerful. He had followed Emperor Jing since he was still the crown prince and was a loyal and upright man.

"Please rise, Minister Yang."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Jing waved his hand, and Eunuch Wei immediately understood, leading the other palace servants out the door.

"Is there any result?"

Yang Rushan nodded. "The woman confessed, but only that the matter had nothing to do with Princess Rou. She refused to say anything else."

"Who has been to prison?"

Emperor Jing knew that this woman would not easily change her mind.

“Your Majesty is wise. The food deliveryman was a different person this morning, and after breakfast, the woman changed her testimony,” Yang Rushan said respectfully.

Emperor Jing's eyes were deep and unfathomable. He thought to himself, "Prince Qing, is this your plan?"

"Keep talking."

"I sent men to follow him, and they discovered that the slave trader was working as a handyman in a restaurant on East Street, but the owner behind the restaurant was an official." At this point, Yang Rushan looked up at Emperor Jing.

"Who?"

"The Marquis of Pingchang's residence!"

Emperor Jing narrowed his eyes. "The old Marquis of Pingchang has been bedridden for many years. How could he possibly cause any trouble?"

“Your Majesty, I was referring to his son, Murong Peifeng,” Yang Rushan continued.

Emperor Jing turned his head, slightly surprised. "Who?"

Although Murong Peifeng was granted the title of heir apparent through hereditary privilege, he had no official rank and therefore could not attend court. That is why Emperor Jing had little impression of him.

Yang Rushan continued, "Today is a short time, and I suspect this matter involves many people and requires a thorough investigation."

"Murong Peifeng!" Emperor Jing uttered a few words, his tone unusually cold. He was extremely intelligent and immediately understood Yang Rushan's meaning. He was implying that Murong Peifeng was probably colluding with other court officials to plot something big!

Emperor Jing simply walked to a chair and sat down. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I entrust this matter to you to investigate. Report back to me if anything comes up."

"Yes!"

After Yang Rushan left, Emperor Jing went through the relationships in his mind again: Murong Peifeng, Consort Li, Jing Rou... Could it be...? At this moment, a very bold idea came to Emperor Jing's mind.

"Eunuch Wei?"

Upon hearing Emperor Jing's voice, Eunuch Wei, who had been waiting at the door for a long time, hurriedly entered, his tone respectful, "Your Majesty!"

"By imperial decree, the matter concerning Consort Li has nothing to do with Princess Rou. She is to be awarded one hundred taels of gold and is permitted to leave the palace."

Eunuch Wei looked up at Emperor Jing, then lowered his head and said, "This servant obeys."

……

Rong'en Palace.

Since someone died in Chonghua Palace, Jingrou naturally wouldn't be allowed to stay there. Consort Li originally wanted to arrange another place for Jingrou to live, but Jingrou refused to live alone and insisted on staying with Consort Li. Consort Li had no choice but to let her live in a side hall.

"That Princess Rou is really something. She can't help us, but she still has to show up in front of us and disgust us," Qingyu said while massaging Consort Li's shoulders.

Consort Li scoffed dismissively and said, "She's not stupid. It's safer for her to stay in my palace than to be alone. If anything happens to her, it will be my responsibility. That's what she values."

"Fine, this way I'll appear more magnanimous. As for the future, we'll settle things slowly later!"

Qingyu nodded and said, "Your Majesty is right."

Just then, a palace maid came to report, "Your Highness, Eunuch Wei has arrived and is in the main hall!"

Eunuch Wei? Consort Li and Qingyu exchanged a glance. Although they didn't know what he meant, they quickly went to the main hall. When they arrived, they found that Jingrou was already waiting there.

"Is Your Majesty well?"

"You're too kind, Father-in-law!"

After some pleasantries, Eunuch Wei said, "Convey His Majesty's oral decree..."

Everyone present immediately knelt down to receive the imperial decree.

“The matter of Consort Li has nothing to do with Princess Rou. She is hereby awarded one hundred taels of gold and is permitted to leave the palace.”

After the decree was announced, the expressions of those present varied, but Jing Rou was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Consort Li's expression changed, her heart burning with a burning irritation, but on the surface she had to smile and congratulate Jing Rou, saying, "Congratulations on the Princess's exoneration."

Things have changed. Jing Rou, who was pitiful this morning, is now cleared of her crimes and is naturally back to being the noble Princess Rou. She said in a calm tone, "Thank you for your care, Consort Li. I will naturally repay you properly when I have the opportunity in the future."

Jing Rou emphasized the word "repayment" heavily. Repayment? Consort Li knew it wasn't repayment, but revenge.