Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 173: Failed to Steal the Chicken, Lost the Rice
Qi Yun’s eyes reflected a deeper unusual color. This couple was even more complicated than he had imagined; one showed weakness to pledge allegiance to him, while the other showed strength as if wanting to use him as a shield or even kill using borrowed hands? 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Hmph, would I let you kill using borrowed hands so easily?
"Chen Zhong!"
"At your service, Your Majesty!"
"Investigate!"
The Chief Eunuch Chen Zhong was taken aback, then immediately responded.
"Seal off the Imperial Garden and conduct a thorough search!"
"Your Majesty, I’m afraid it’s inappropriate. If it’s just the palace concubines, that would be one thing, but there are quite a few ministers’ female family members here. Maybe... I should handle it?"
Consort Xue smiled gracefully as she stepped forward, curtsying with a very appropriate gesture, indicating her willingness to take on the task.
Qi Yun was already seated on a gold-threaded lounging chair, casually twirling two Yin Yang Pearls in his hand: "Since the Imperial Concubine suggested it, I shall permit it!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Consort Xue curtsied again, a malicious gleam of success flashing in her eyes.
Soon after, several stout women stepped forward, using their bodies to block the crowd’s view, as another began the body search. But before that, the women conducting the search searched themselves to prevent any hidden items.
Once ready, the palace concubines and ministers’ female family members were searched one by one, soon reaching Long Yue.
Long Yue saw the calculating gleam in Consort Xue’s eyes and sneered inwardly.
She extended her arms, allowing them to search her. Moments later, the woman conducting the search looked at her with suspicion and reported back, "Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine, nothing!"
Consort Xue’s eyes turned cold as she stared at a palace maid beside her, who shook her head in panic to indicate that she had done as instructed.
"It shouldn’t be, it should have been found..."
Just as Consort Xue was speaking, a cry suddenly came from the side, "Ah—it’s not me, it’s not me, I really didn’t do it!"
Consort Xue found the voice familiar, her expression changing as she turned to look—it was Li Ji!
She looked at the packet of medicinal powder found on Li Ji, disbelief on her face, her legs giving way as she almost fell. The close palace maid hurried to support her, preventing a faux pas in front of the court.
This... this is impossible?
Consort Xue shivered slightly, feeling a chill from head to toe. The medicinal powder clearly placed on Pang Longyue, how did it end up on Li Ji?
Heavens, this must be bewitching!
The dolt Li Ji even cried out; aren’t you revealing your own guilt?
Fool!
"No, it wasn’t me, truly it wasn’t. Your Majesty, this concubine did not poison anyone, I’ve been framed..."
Li Ji desperately shouted and explained, but the Emperor on the other side gave no directive, continually twirling the Yin Yang Pearls.
"Lady Li, it’s only a packet of something found, how can you claim to be wronged, denying poisoning? Do you know there’s poison in this powder?"
Long Yue asked with a smile, and suddenly, Li Ji went stiff.
She realized her previous shouting was a self-admission!
A packet of unknown powder without identifying what’s in it—if it’s later discovered to be poison, she could deny it, claim entrapment. But now she’s directly saying she didn’t poison anyone, doesn’t that expose she knew it contained poison?
Since you know, you must be the one who poisoned!
Li Ji’s heart sank into despair, but she didn’t want to give up, crying bitterly, "Your Majesty, I’ve been wronged, framed, Your Majesty, you must believe me..."
Qi Yun looked at her coldly, irritated, and waved his hand: "Take her away, interrogate!"
Li Ji’s eyes widened, watching the eunuchs rush forward to take her, she screamed, "Your Majesty, I didn’t do it, I’m truly wronged, Your Majesty, it’s..."
"Bang!"
"Wretch!"
Consort Xue, swift in reaction, rushed forward and slapped Li Ji fiercely just as she was about to implicate her, the force turning Li Ji’s head to one side.
This strike was so strong her ears buzzed with ringing.
"Your Majesty, it seems the palace is indeed not clean. From this point, I’ll ensure a thorough investigation at Feixue Palace. I won’t allow any assassins to sneak in!"
Consort Xue managed to turn the situation around, taking the lifeline Long Yue offered and shifting the blame for the poison to a non-existent assassin. Li Ji wanted to shout, but upon hearing this, she understood the implication and remained silent.
If the issue was related to assassins, she could extricate herself. The next step was to see what the Imperial Concubine would do, so under no circumstances could she betray her now!
While they plotted their scheme, Long Yue refused to let Consort Xue off easily. This woman tried to harm her and now others, harboring such malice. Without a lesson, she would only grown more reckless.
Long Yue stepped back, further and further...
"Crash!"
"Oh dear, sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean it, I’ll replace this wine pot... huh, why does this wine pot look different?"
Seizing the moment when everyone’s attention was on Li Ji, Long Yue knocked over the Mandarin Duck Pot beside her, the wine pot crashing to the ground, shattering.
However, before it hit the ground, Long Yue subtly cushioned it, ensuring the pot didn’t shatter excessively, allowing a glimpse of its interior structure.
The crisp sound immediately drew everyone’s attention, even Qi Yun looked over.
Seeing the inner workings revealed from the shattered pot, Qi Yun’s expression turned icy cold!
It was a Yin Yang Pot!
As an Emperor, well-versed and informed, he quickly surmised the farce that had unfolded that day.
He couldn’t help but sneer, "Consort Xue! Care to explain to me what this is all about, hmm?"
Consort Xue was dumbfounded by the spectacle, then shivered as a icy chill seized her entire being. She saw the slaughterous coldness in the Emperor’s eyes, and collapsed to her knees: "Your Majesty, I know nothing..."
"Hmph! You organized this banquet, and the items were of your arrangement. Now such incriminating evidence appears, and you claim ignorance? Do you think I’m a three-year-old who can be easily fooled? Insolence, audacity! Someone, confine Consort Xue for three months; she shall not step out of Feixue Palace during this time!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty have mercy, I did nothing, I know nothing..."
Consort Xue paled, crawling forward to grab Qi Yun’s leg, wailing pitifully.
Yet, Qi Yun dispassionately kicked her away, declaring, "Defy this, and you’ll be sent to Cold Palace!"
After finishing, without giving Consort Xue another look, he departed with a flurry of his robe.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty—I’m innocent—"
In this moment, Consort Xue, her hair disheveled, her hairpins scattered, even the makeup on her face ruined, looked terribly pitiable. She struggled to reach out, trying to grasp the hem of the Dragon Robe, but missed.
Long Yue watched Consort Xue’s miserable state, hiding in the shadows, smirking coldly.
Tsk tsk, what a failed attempt, harming herself instead!
Trying to harm her, only to end up harming herself!
