Everyone in the hall had different thoughts, though most hoped that Ye Yun would be convicted and completely lose favor.
Moreover, if the crime of attempting to murder an imperial heir was proven, it wouldn't just be a matter of falling out of favor—it was a capital offense, one that could implicate her entire family.
Even if the Emperor remembered their past and didn't kill Ye Yun, he would have to either banish her to the Cold Palace or have her executed alone.
Although the Ye family, with Ye Zhe's military achievements, held influence now, the Wan family behind Wan Meiren wasn't just an ordinary household either.
"Please, Your Excellency, reconnect her jaw," Ye Yun calmly said, under the gaze of the crowd.
Yuan Jiu glanced at Ning Chen, and after receiving a nod, he gestured for someone to carry out the order.
Lingjiao's jaw, which had been dislocated, prevented her from swallowing her saliva, causing it to dribble everywhere, which was quite revolting.
Once her jaw was reconnected, her hands were untied, and she hurriedly wiped her face before kneeling to kowtow repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, please spare me, Empress, please spare me. I won't dare again. I was momentarily greedy and helped Ming Shunyi with this matter. I didn't know the object was poisonous! The person who gave it to me said nothing of the sort, and I was just following orders!"
Ye Yun lowered her eyes slightly and knelt down, looking directly at the palace maid.
"I ask you, you claim that I ordered you to do this. Do you have any evidence? For example, can you identify who gave you the object?"
Lingjiao shook her trembling body, shaking her head. "I never saw that person's face, so I cannot identify them."
"Then on what basis do you say it was I who ordered you?" Ye Yun quickly pressed further.
"That person told me—they claimed to be someone from Ming Shunyi's side," Lingjiao immediately replied. She thought for a moment and quickly added, "I met her three times, and every time she claimed to be from Ming Shunyi's!"
When the palace maid mentioned "three times," Yao Xiang seemed prepared, but the Empress panicked for a moment.
Chuyun had only gone twice—once to make the connection, and once to deliver the poison. Where did the third time come from?
Her hand trembled, knocking over the wine cup beside her, making a sound.
"What's wrong, Empress? Have you been sitting too long and feel uncomfortable?" The Empress Dowager's eyes caught the movement, and she immediately spoke up.
At her words, everyone's attention turned to the Empress.
For a moment, the Empress felt extremely embarrassed and flustered.
Cursing the meddling old woman in her heart, she tried her best to maintain composure on the surface.
"Mother-in-law, forgive my rudeness. It's just that hearing how the wrongdoer met with this palace maid three times enraged me at their audacity, and I lost my composure."
"It's good as long as you're not feeling anxious," the Empress Dowager said, her probing gaze sweeping over the Empress. "As long as you're not short of breath."
The Empress's face stiffened, and she lowered her head, saying nothing more.
But her odd behavior had already caught Ning Chen's attention.
Ye Yun continued the interrogation, asking the palace maid to recount the three meetings.
Lingjiao explained everything truthfully.
YOU ARE READING
The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 2)
Tiểu thuyết Lịch sửNote: This is a translated novel by me (Xiao Bai) Title: 贵妃她千娇百媚 Ye Yun was supposed to be the prince's concubine, but due to the sudden death of the late emperor, her entry into the palace was delayed for over a year. She entered the palace with th...
