By now, Qin Yining understood that even if she argued, it would be futile. All those who knew how to read the situation would only “perceive the sovereign’s intent” and wouldn’t care about the truth at all.
A smile appeared at the corner of Qin Yining’s lips. Originally still breaking out in cold sweat from fear, she now became completely calm.
She had done nothing wrong and could face her conscience without shame. If she truly lost her life today, it would be beyond help. From the day she married Pang Xiao, she had already made a choice for her future. Even if she perished, though she would have regrets, she would have no remorse.
Seeing that Qin Yining was wisely remaining silent, Li Qitian found that all the rebuttals he had prepared had no use. A breath stuck in his chest, neither rising nor falling, inexplicably stifling.
She was truly like Pang Zhixi—very difficult to deal with!
“Who would have thought the Qin family could do such a thing.” Finally, a clever titled lady spoke up, preventing Li Qitian’s words from falling flat.
Immediately, others reacted and began condemning Qin Yining’s “numerous crimes” in accordance with the sovereign’s intent. Qin Yining watched coldly. Among those condemning her were several marquis wives and heir apparent wives who had been polite to her when they met. Though the men weren’t as directly gossipy as the women, they all shook their heads and sighed. Even those who had called Pang Xiao brother didn’t stand up to say a word.
Such was the coldness of human nature and the fickleness of relationships.
Li Qitian said, “Since that’s the case, I shall…”
“Reporting to His Majesty, this subject has something to say.”
Just as Li Qitian was about to issue his decree to punish Qin Yining, the Empress suddenly rose and bowed, interrupting Li Qitian’s words.
The Empress Dowager, who had been counting jade prayer beads like a Maitreya Buddha, immediately stopped and glared fiercely at the Empress.
Having his words interrupted displeased Li Qitian greatly. Since ascending the throne as Emperor, it had been years since anyone had interrupted him mid-sentence.
But with so many outsiders present, Li Qitian couldn’t lose his temper and could only say, “What does the Empress have to say?”
The Empress’s palms broke out in sweat. Li Qitian was her husband, supposedly the person closest to her with whom she would spend her life, yet now in his presence, she had to think three times before daring to speak a single sentence. Interrupting Li Qitian’s words in public like this was a first for the Empress.
She nervously swallowed and bowed, “Your Majesty, this subject feels there are suspicious aspects to this matter. Saying the Qin family plotted to harm the imperial heir—there’s no evidence, and this subject doesn’t believe…”
“Silence!” Li Qitian’s face turned ashen. He slammed his palm on the table, making the tea bowls ring. “You are Hao Ge’er’s mother, yet you speak for the murderer! Insufficient evidence? She was caught red-handed—what more evidence do you want!”
The Empress was scolded until her face turned pale, nervously wringing her sleeves.
Consort Yu knowingly stood up, her beautiful face on the verge of tears, saying timidly, “Your Majesty speaks truly. This subject witnessed her poisoning that day. If this subject hadn’t bumped into her midway and made her drop the poisoned bird’s nest, who knows what would have happened to the First Prince!”
Consort Yun also said, “Yes, though the Empress is kind and gentle, she must know the right occasion. Your Majesty acts for justice—would Your Majesty, honored as the Son of Heaven, falsely accuse a mere woman like the Qin family?”
“Exactly.” Princess Tana could only hate that her Great Zhou speech failed her at crucial moments, unable to interject properly, only managing to add this one sentence.
Li Qitian’s face was dark as water as he said gravely, “The Empress is soft-hearted—I know this. But being soft-hearted toward criminals who plot to harm the imperial heir is truly inappropriate.”
The Empress bit her teeth, already having thoughts of retreating, but this matter clearly hadn’t been investigated at all—there were obviously suspicious aspects. She didn’t want to wrongly accuse someone or let the real culprit escape justice, but since His Majesty insisted on this, an arm couldn’t twist a thigh…
“This subject thanks the Empress for speaking in defense.” Qin Yining knee-walked and turned to bow deeply to the Empress.
The Empress shook her head, guilt flashing in her eyes. She shook her head and stepped back two paces, not daring to say more.
Only then did Li Qitian breathe a sigh of relief. He had made up his mind and was about to speak when suddenly a familiar palace attendant came running in from outside. Looking carefully, he should be one serving in Chengqian Palace.
“Reporting to Your Majesty.” The small palace attendant bowed and leaned close to Li Qitian’s ear to whisper for a while.
Li Qitian’s expression didn’t change at all, but those who understood him well would notice his expression was gradually becoming wooden.
This was Li Qitian’s manifestation of suppressing his anger.
The small palace attendant withdrew after reporting.
Li Qitian pressed his lips together, looking at Qin Yining expressionlessly, as if wanting to carve off a piece of flesh with his gaze.
The Empress Dowager, Consort Yun, and others were puzzled.
The nobles and titled ladies also looked at each other in confusion.
No one knew what had happened. Everyone waited for His Majesty’s command that would separate the beautiful Prince Consort Zhongshun’s wife’s head from her body. But His Majesty was reluctant to speak.
Suffocating silence spread through the hall. Almost no one dared breathe heavily.
Qin Yining still knelt in place, peacefully waiting for Li Qitian’s disposition. But as time passed and Li Qitian remained silent, like a statue, it caused various speculations to arise in Qin Yining’s heart.
Something must have happened.
After a full two incense stick’s time, Li Qitian slowly spoke, “Qin family, regarding the assassination attempt on the imperial heir, what explanation do you have?”
At these words, everyone was astonished beyond measure, and the Empress Dowager was so shocked she was dumbfounded.
No one could have imagined that Li Qitian, who originally hadn’t even investigated and was determined to kill Qin Yining, would suddenly change his view and actually give Qin Yining a chance to explain!
Li Helan, who had been silent all along, finally couldn’t suppress her temper. She anxiously rose and bowed, “Imperial Brother, the Qin family’s plot to harm the imperial heir is an indisputable fact. Though Imperial Brother is merciful, you shouldn’t indulge the guilty and let them escape justice.”
Li Qitian shook his head at Li Helan and waved for her to withdraw.
Li Helan frowned deeply, her face full of anger, anxiously saying, “Imperial Brother, you cannot…”
“Withdraw.” Li Qitian’s voice was gentle, but his imposing manner frightened Li Helan into a cold sweat.
Seeing that Li Qitian was truly angry and had no intention of changing his mind, the Empress Dowager gave Li Helan a fierce meaningful look.
Li Helan didn’t know where she had gone wrong, tears of grievance spinning in her eyes. Just now, Imperial Brother clearly wasn’t like this—how had he suddenly changed?
Qin Yining then bowed and said, “Your Majesty, this subject indeed has something to say.”
“Speak.”
“Yes.” Qin Yining bowed and carefully recounted the events of that day, including how the bird’s nest was made in the Empress Dowager’s small kitchen, the Empress Dowager’s difficulties toward her, and how Consort Yu had suddenly appeared when she was delivering the bird’s nest and inexplicably blamed her.
“This matter has many suspicious points. The bird’s nest came from Cian Palace’s small kitchen and passed through palace servants’ hands. So many people handled it—it should be thoroughly investigated.
“When this subject was delivering the bird’s nest, Consort Yu emerged from roadside bushes precisely when this subject was passing by. That road was a secluded path with no good scenery around—it was just a small road between Kunning Palace and Cian Palace. Consort Yu wasn’t coming from the Empress’s palace to Cian Palace that day, so the probability of a head-on collision wasn’t high. Of course, Consort Yu could say it was coincidental. But coincidentally emerging from bushes to bump into this subject—that’s absolutely suspicious.
“Furthermore, this subject humbly requests Your Majesty to thoroughly examine the poisoned bird’s nest and the poisoned pug from that day. Even in civilian matters, there are coroners to examine bodies. No one can be certain that pug was definitely poisoned to death—perhaps there was no poison in the bird’s nest at all.”
Qin Yining’s detailed explanation finally gave those present an understanding of what had happened that day, no longer completely in the dark.
This matter indeed had many suspicious points.
But most suspicious was that His Majesty hadn’t investigated at all, just detaining the person for some days before directly determining guilt.
What this represented, everyone understood without saying.
Li Qitian’s face was dark and gloomy. By bringing up this matter, Qin Yining’s earlier attitude might very well become fodder for people’s private discussions.
This cunning troublemaker was just as difficult to deal with as Pang Zhixi!
Li Qitian’s face was rigid, and just as he was about to speak, footsteps came from outside, followed by a small palace attendant entering to announce.
“Your Majesty, the two maidservants beside Prince Consort Zhongshun’s wife say they have important evidence to report.”
Hearing this, Li Qitian said in a deep voice, “Summon them.”
The palace attendant outside immediately announced loudly.
Qin Yining’s expression grew grave.
But the Empress Dowager’s eyes widened.
How had she forgotten this! That day, Consort Shun had come to tell her that the two maidservants beside Qin Yining had disappeared. She had even sent people to search privately, but when they weren’t found, she hadn’t cared and gradually let the matter drop.
Who would have thought they would appear at this moment!
“Emperor.” The Empress Dowager said quickly and urgently, “These two maidservants cannot be trusted. That day they followed the Qin family to deliver the bird’s nest, but when the guards arrived, these two had already disappeared—only the Qin family was caught. This dowager has been secretly searching for these two all this time without success. Now they suddenly appear today—Your Majesty, beware they harbor ill intentions!”
The Empress said, “Empress Dowager, please calm your anger. Those two maidservants have no ill intentions. They have been by this palace’s side all along.”
“What!” The Empress Dowager was greatly shocked, angrily glaring at the Empress. “Are you mad! How dare you harbor two fugitives!”
The Empress felt she was about to be killed by Li Qitian and the Empress Dowager’s displeased gazes. But seeing the Empress Dowager jump about in public like this, she wasn’t afraid at all.
“Empress Dowager, please calm your anger. These two maidservants are not fugitives, nor is the Qin family a fugitive. This subject harboring them is not concealing criminals. Even if they had truly committed crimes, since Your Majesty hasn’t spoken, who has the qualification to determine their guilt? Moreover, Your Majesty hasn’t yet spoken.”
The Empress Dowager was so angry her face turned red, becoming extremely uneasy.
Li Qitian held back his breath and said gravely, “Bring them in. I want to see what they have to say.”
Qin Yining was now very grateful. She never could have imagined that it would be the Empress who helped hide Bingtang and Ji Yun.
Shortly after, palace attendants led in two women wearing light green palace maid clothing.
Bingtang and Ji Yun knelt beside Qin Yining and respectfully bowed to Li Qitian, “This servant pays respects to Your Majesty and all the masters.”