"Because this palace servant was born mute."
The moment these words were spoken, the entire Imperial Study fell silent as a chicken!
Feng Gu's head buzzed. The greater his astonishment, the wider his eyes widened.
If this palace servant was truly born mute, then how did she spread those rumors about the Fourth Prince's parentage? Thinking of Princess Wen Hui's confident demeanor just now, Feng Gu almost dared not to think further.
So…
Princess Wen Hui was lying all along?
Emperor Xiaochang's face darkened, showing clear signs of an impending storm.
In fact, when the Wei family saw him earlier, they had already stated that the palace servant was mute. However, out of caution, he had summoned Ji Zizhao to investigate thoroughly. He never expected her to actually be mute.
Since this palace servant was mute, it was impossible for her to fabricate rumors!
Empress Zhong watched the Emperor's darkened, glowing old face with immense satisfaction. Both Wen Hui and the Fourth Prince were not the Emperor's biological children. But because Wen Hui was an orphan of a military family, the Emperor doted on her immensely, even sending his own biological daughter for a political marriage just to keep Wen Hui.
In the past, Wen Hui's hands were not clean, though it was only minor mischief. Even if the Emperor knew, he chose to be lenient. Her Fourth Prince, on the other hand, had never done anything outrageous, yet he had been feared and suppressed by the Emperor for so many years.
What wrong had her Fourth Prince done?
The only wrong her Fourth Prince had committed was being born in Xirong!
But who could decide where they were born?
Now, Wen Hui's wickedness was openly exposed before the Emperor. Empress Zhong naturally intended to savor this moment. Her own child, her own consequence.
Emperor Xiaochang, of course, would not accept this. He immediately ordered, "Go and bring Wen Hui here!"
This time, whether Wen Hui was genuinely unconscious or faking it, she would have to crawl over.
Compared to the swift arrival of Ji Zizhao and the Empress, Wen Hui's arrival was significantly delayed. Nearly half an hour passed before footsteps were heard outside the Imperial Study.
As soon as Wen Hui entered, she knelt before the Emperor, her face appearing weak. "This humble subject is unwell and arrived late. I beg my Father Emperor's forgiveness."
Emperor Xiaochang looked coldly at Wen Hui, too annoyed to speak.
Wen Hui seemed oblivious to the Emperor's coldness. She glanced at the palace servant beside her, her pupils trembling. Then, she lunged forward, crying, "It's my fault, all my fault. After I calmed down, I remembered that I never heard you personally admit anything. It was all hearsay from other palace servants in my chambers. I was so enraged at the time that I mistakenly believed you had said it yourself…"
The palace servant clearly looked fearful facing Wen Hui, but Wen Hui ignored it, pulling the servant and continuing, "I thought you kept mentioning Fourth Brother because you truly wanted justice for me… but when I thought about it carefully, since you've been serving me, you've never spoken a word. How could you have done such a thing? Who is so heartless as to try and frame you like this? Tell me, I will surely implore Father Emperor and Mother Empress to bring you justice!"
In the Imperial Study, Wen Hui wept profusely, while others listened, their hearts shaken.
Empress Zhong did not expect Wen Hui to suddenly change her tune. She suspected Wen Hui must have obtained some information from others in the Imperial Palace beforehand. It was normal for a master not to know their servants, especially since Wen Hui had returned to the palace halfway, it was understandable that she might not know that the palace servant serving her was mute.
Now, Wen Hui's words could not entirely absolve her of suspicion, but it would not be easy to punish her.
Further considering Wen Hui's words, Empress Zhong broke out in a cold sweat.
Wen Hui had failed to frame a palace servant and now intended to make all the palace servants in her chambers scapegoats?
Empress Zhong tightened her grip on the armrest beside her, her heart filled with fierceness.
Although Wen Hui was ruthless, she had overlooked one detail…
That little eunuch who found the jade pendant!
Just as Empress Zhong was about to speak, Ji Zizhao shook her head at the Empress.
Empress Zhong: "..."
Why wouldn't she let her speak?
Ji Zizhao knew that the Empress wanted to use the palace servant who found the jade pendant as a breakthrough. But since Wen Hui had inquired beforehand, that palace servant had likely already slipped away quietly. Even if the Empress ordered a pursuit now, it might be too late.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, it's all my fault. I know I listened to things I shouldn't have, but I never imagined the palace servants in my chambers would be so bold as to deceive even me…" Wen Hui, kneeling, crawled towards Ji Zizhao. Her humble appearance truly made one reluctant to punish her, but a cold glint flickered in her eyes that others could not see.
Only she and the palace servant who found the jade pendant knew the inside story. As long as she got the person out of the palace beforehand, no matter how they investigated later, they would find nothing.
As for the other palace servants in her chambers…
They were just ignorant servants. Even if they were beaten to death, they would know nothing. But in the eyes of others, it would appear as those palace servants refusing to confess.
Ji Zizhao could naturally see through Wen Hui's petty calculations. However, she showed no anger. Instead, she curled her lips into a smile. Suzhou Novel Network
Did she really think that because the Empress couldn't catch up, no one else could?
Too naive.
Wen Hui's expression changed slightly as she looked at Ji Zizhao's smiling lips. But before she could think further, she heard a report from outside the Imperial Study, "Reporting to His Majesty, Consort Xi wishes to see His Majesty on an urgent matter, it is, it is about Princess Wen Hui…"
Wen Hui, who was sobbing while hugging the palace servant, froze upon hearing this.
Emperor Xiaochang glanced at Wen Hui, then said, "Let them in."
Soon, Consort Xi entered, followed by several palace servants trailing behind her. As Consort Xi stood before the desk, a disheveled figure was also thrown before the Emperor.
This person was the one who claimed to have found the Eighth Prince's jade pendant in Wen Hui's chambers earlier!
Wen Hui's face changed drastically. She looked at Consort Xi in disbelief.
Consort Xi, however, had no time to attend to Wen Hui. She said to the Emperor, "It's quite a coincidence, Your Majesty. While I was strolling in the palace earlier, I saw this palace servant stealthily trying to head towards the palace gate. I became suspicious and stopped the person. Unexpectedly, this person was full of lies. I had to use some methods of coercion, and to my surprise, I heard some astonishing matters."
"Speak!" Emperor Xiaochang glared at the palace servant.
Terrified under the Emperor's gaze, the palace servant dared not conceal anything. She immediately pointed at Wen Hui and said, "Reporting to His Majesty, everything was arranged by Princess Wen Hui! It was Princess Wen Hui who told me to throw the jade pendant in the side room beforehand, and then instructed me to definitely take out the jade pendant when there were many people around, saying that I found it in the side room…"