Five years after her death, she awoke on the dragon bed.

Chapter 263 Punishment
Murong coldly looked at the trembling Consort Li without saying a word.

Ji Qing also held his breath. After a moment's thought, he understood the intricacies of the situation.

This Consort Li is most likely a scapegoat found by Consort Hui.

If Consort Hui succeeds in her plan and pleases His Majesty, he will most likely not pursue the matter. However, if she fails, Consort Hui has already found Consort Li to take the blame, so Consort Hui can escape unscathed and nothing will happen to her.

The premise is that His Majesty will not pursue the matter to the end.

In the deathly silence, Consort Li turned ashen-faced with fear and kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Even if you gave me the greatest courage, I would never dare to disrespect Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

At this moment, she realized that she was nothing more than a scapegoat found by Consort Hui.

If His Majesty believes Consort Hui's words, then isn't she doomed?

"Investigate this matter thoroughly!" Murong spoke up just as everyone was holding their breath in anticipation.

Liang Wanying clenched her fists, understanding that Murong intended to investigate thoroughly. If the investigation led back to her, would Murong punish her?

At that moment, she panicked a little.

Because she had long realized that only the late emperor would unconditionally indulge her, while Murong was cold-blooded and ruthless and would never pamper her.

A chill ran through her. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Murong felt unwell after taking the medicine, but he still stayed at the scene to supervise.

After a thorough investigation, no one could prove that Consort Li had administered the drug, nor could any witnesses or physical evidence be found. It remains an unsolved mystery, with no clear answer to who administered the drug.

Liang Wanying breathed a sigh of relief.

She personally added the medicine to the soup, so there would be no witnesses or physical evidence. Mo Lan and Yu Lan were both aware of the situation, but they would never betray her, so no one would have seen her add the medicine, and no one would have testified against her.

Even Murong couldn't do anything to her.

When Jiqing saw that his master's face was flushed, he knew that the effects of the medicine had not yet worn off.

He was worried that his master would lose control and just hoped that the matter would be resolved quickly. As for Consort Hui, who dared to drug His Majesty, he felt that she should not be let off easily.

Otherwise, if everyone were like Consort Hui, how could that be acceptable?
Unfortunately, there is no evidence to prove that Consort Hui administered the medicine, but the dishes were prepared by Consort Li. If anyone should be held responsible, it seems Consort Li is the most suitable person to take the blame.

Just as Ji Qing was lost in thought, he heard Murong give the order: "Since this happened in Quanfu Palace, the servants who serve Consort Hui must also be punished. Take down Mo Lan and Yu Lan and give them thirty strokes of the cane. The rest will have a year's salary deducted. As for Consort Hui, she has failed to manage her subordinates properly and will be confined to her quarters for one month."

Liang Wanying hadn't expected to be punished, especially since her closest companions, Mo Lan and Yu Lan, were targeted. She looked at Murong with a wronged expression: "Your Majesty, these dishes were clearly prepared by Consort Li..."

Murong Si then remembered Consort Li and said calmly, "Consort Li's dishes are quite delicious, so she deserves a reward."

Consort Li's eyes lit up upon hearing this, not expecting that not only would she not be punished, but she would also receive a reward.

Everyone present was shrewd and immediately understood that this was His Majesty's way of giving Consort Hui a warning.

Although His Majesty has no evidence to prove that Consort Hui administered the medicine, His Majesty knows the truth perfectly well.

Murong, not wanting to linger, looked at the silent Liang Wanying and calmly said, "Consort Hui, I haven't severely punished you this time, not because I'm not investigating, but because I'm giving everyone a chance. If there's a next time, I will not let you off lightly. You'd better watch yourself."

After saying that, he left Quanfu Palace without looking back.

Liang Wanying watched Murong's retreating figure, her eyes reddening.

His words were directed at her; they were a warning that if she did it again, it wouldn't be as simple as just being grounded.

Seeing her mistress's eyes redden, Mo Lan quickly comforted her, "Your Majesty, don't be sad. His Majesty knew it was Your Majesty's scheme, yet he didn't punish you severely, which proves that His Majesty cares for Your Majesty." This was drugging His Majesty, a serious crime, yet His Majesty only confined Your Majesty and let you go. This shows that His Majesty values ​​Your Majesty.

"His Majesty is not concerned about me, but rather that he has not severely punished me because there is no evidence."

As Liang Wanying was speaking, she suddenly walked up to Consort Li and slapped her hard across the face.

Consort Li never expected that Liang Wanying would lay a hand on her.

It was clearly Consort Hui who framed her and wanted her to be a scapegoat, so how could Consort Hui still beat her with such a righteous attitude?
"If it weren't for the problem with your cooking, why would His Majesty punish me?!"

Liang Wanying was determined to take her anger out on Consort Li, and coldly ordered, "Guards, slap her thirty times."

Mo Lan knew Liang Wanying was unhappy. The Empress had been punished with confinement, yet His Majesty had rewarded Consort Li—wasn't this a slap in the face to the Empress using Consort Li?

No wonder the Empress punished Consort Li.

Just then, someone entered, dragged out Mo Lan and Yu Lan, and subjected them to caning.

Seeing Mo Lan and Yu Lan crying out in pain as they were beaten, Liang Wan Ying clenched her fists and glared at Consort Li with venomous eyes: "Guards, give Consort Li a good slap!"

The old woman beside her obeyed the order, walked up to Consort Li, and slapped Consort Li hard across the face.

Consort Li was soon beaten black and blue.

After being slapped thirty times, Consort Li was forced to kneel on the ground by the nanny.

"No one may rise without my order! And, every half hour, slap him thirty times!" With that, Liang Wanying, unable to bear watching the punishment any longer, walked away.

Consort Li looked at Chunlan, the palace maid beside her. Chunlan understood and quietly left Quanfu Palace amidst the chaos.

As she stepped out of Quanfu Palace, she felt somewhat lost, unsure of who to turn to for help.

Consort Li was beaten so badly and is now forced to kneel. Judging from the current situation, it seems unlikely that Consort Hui will spare Consort Li anytime soon. How can this be allowed to continue?
She thought about it and decided that it might be better to approach Consort Ning, but Consort Ning's rank was lower than Consort Hui's...

Oh, right, you can go to the Empress.

Previously, because Consort Li was close to Consort Hui, she also became hostile to the Empress.

However, Consort Li has no past grudges with the Empress. If we ask the Empress for help, she might be able to get Consort Li out of Consort Hui's clutches.

If she didn't hurry, she feared that Consort Li would be disfigured by the old women of Quanfu Palace.

She rushed to Xianfu Palace, only to find that the Empress was taking a nap.

Chunlan was extremely anxious and knelt down in front of Jinshu: "Please ask Aunt Rong to convey that if Her Highness does not appear, Consort Li's face will likely be ruined by Consort Hui."

A woman's face is her life, what should we do?

Jinshu remembered that Lou Suyi had only fallen asleep recently, and she felt bad about waking her up now.

But seeing Chunlan's anxious look, she softened: "Wait a moment, I'll go and tell Her Majesty. As for whether Her Majesty will go to Quanfu Palace, I can't guarantee it."

Consort Li was originally Consort Hui's person, so it seems inappropriate for the Empress to interfere in this matter.

Chunlan nodded quickly, "Thank you, Auntie."

Jinshu entered the bedroom, woke Lou Suying, and explained the whole story.