After being reborn, the empress only wanted to seduce the emperor and seize the empress's posit

Chapter 44 The Truth (Part 4)

Back in the main hall, Qingming, carrying a cloth bag, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we, your servants, and others have unearthed what appears to be poison under a tree in Zhongcui Palace. We request that the Imperial Physician examine it."

She respectfully presented the cloth package. The imperial physician hurriedly stepped forward, his hands trembling as he opened it. After carefully smelling and examining it, his expression changed, and he knelt down to report, "Your Majesty, this is indeed peach blossom powder. The eldest princess has been poisoned by this."

These words caused an uproar in the hall.

Xiao Jingheng stared intently at Consort Lu, his voice cold and hard as iron: "Consort Lu, what else do you have to say?"

Consort Lu's face was pale, her eyes flashing with madness and resentment. She roared, "Your Majesty, it wasn't me! It was Lu Jingning! She framed me! It must have been Qingming and Lu Jingning who conspired to frame me!"

"Your Majesty, this servant has also found a witness." Qingming's expression remained unchanged as she gestured for Yunlu to step forward.

Yunlu trembled slightly, but resolutely stepped out of the crowd, her gaze fixed on Consort Lu, her eyes filled with determination: "The First Princess was harmed by Consort Lu. She is unwilling to accept this and wants to frame Noble Lady Lu. This servant feels that doing so would be against her conscience, and this servant does not want to associate with her."

Upon seeing this, Consort Lu's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and she demanded in a hoarse voice, "You dare betray me! Do you and your family not want to live anymore?"

Yunlu staggered a few steps, almost falling, but managed to stand firm, tears glistening in her eyes: "This servant is unwilling to be coerced by you any longer, and is willing to die!"

Seeing that Yunlu had betrayed her and that Consort Lu herself was in dire straits, Jiao Hua could only shift the blame onto Yunlu, hoping to save her own life: "Your Majesty, it was Consort Lu, it was Consort Lu who coerced me, I dared not disobey!"

"You bunch of vile women, how dare you betray me!" Consort Lu went completely mad and screamed loudly.

Xiao Jingheng's gaze sharpened: "Consort Lu, do you plead guilty?"

Consort Lu's face was contorted, her eyes burning with a crazed flame: "So what if I want to kill the eldest princess and frame Lu Jingning! She took everything from me, and I want her dead!"

Lu Jingning stood to the side, a cold smile playing on his lips, deliberately provoking her with his words: "Consort Lu, as the Emperor's concubine, you are consumed by jealousy and have a heart of stone. You have truly disgraced the Lu family."

Upon hearing this, Consort Lu's rationality completely collapsed, and she pounced on Lu Jingning like a mad beast.

Her hands gripped Lu Jingning's neck tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh, her eyes wide open, filled with ferocity: "You bitch, die!"

Everyone around was startled. Xiao Jingheng hurriedly ran down from the dragon throne and kicked Consort Lu hard in the chest, sending her flying.

Consort Lu staggered a few steps like a kite with a broken string and fell heavily to the ground. The guards quickly stepped forward and pressed her firmly to the ground.

Xiao Jingheng's eyes were filled with worry and anxiety as he asked in a trembling voice, "Zhaozhao, how are you? Are you hurt?"

Lu Jingning's eyes instantly reddened. She lowered her head in grievance, her voice trembling with tears, "Your Majesty, why is it that I have always respected her since childhood, yet Consort Lu tries to kill me every time? What have I done wrong?"

As she spoke, her tears fell like pearls from a broken string, wetting her delicate clothes and making her look exceptionally pitiful.

Xiao Jingheng gently patted her shoulder, comforting her, "Don't worry, I will stand up for you."

Consort Liang looked at Xiao Jingheng with such a gentle expression; it seemed as if she was no longer in his eyes.

Then, Xiao Jingheng glanced coldly at Consort Lu and said directly, "Consort Lu, of the Lu clan, has plotted to harm the imperial heir, framed other concubines, is insatiably jealous, and has repeatedly refused to mend her ways. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon her a cup of poisoned wine to set the record straight."

Upon hearing this, Consort Lu's face turned deathly pale. Her legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for mercy, crying out, "Your Majesty, have mercy! Your Majesty, have mercy! I know I was wrong, please spare my life! I will never dare to do it again!"

Upon seeing this, Madam Lu was heartbroken. Forget everything else, she staggered to her feet and knelt beside Consort Lu with a thud, tears streaming down her face: "Your Majesty, it's all my fault! It has nothing to do with Consort Lu! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and spare Consort Lu's life! It was I who, not wanting to see Noble Lady Lu gain favor, instigated Consort Lu. I am willing to take the blame for Consort Lu!"

Her aged face was full of pleading as she gripped Xiao Jingheng's dragon robe tightly with both hands.

Upon seeing this, Lord Lu's face turned ashen. He immediately rose from his seat, bent his knees, and knelt before the Emperor.

He said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I really didn't know the inside story. I failed to educate my daughter properly. I did not discipline her properly. Please punish me, Your Majesty." His forehead hit the ground with a dull thud. In his words, Lord Lu was trying to exonerate himself, afraid of being implicated.

He then turned his attention to Lu Jingning, hoping she could save him.

Lu Jingning felt that Lord Lu still had some use, so he pleaded for him, saying, "Your Majesty, my father may really not know about this matter. Please be lenient with him."

Upon hearing this, Madam Lu's expression turned fierce. She suddenly looked up and glared at Lord Lu, her eyes filled with despair and anger.

Then, she swayed and crashed headfirst into a pillar beside her. With a loud bang, blood splattered everywhere, and the scene was horrifying.

"Mother!"

Consort Lu struggled to break free from the guards' restraints, staggered to Madam Lu's side, and knelt down with tears streaming down her face.

Madam Lu opened her eyes with difficulty, her breath weak as she said, "Shiwei, my daughter... only by living... can she have any hope..."

Consort Lu gripped Madam Lu's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face, choked with sobs, unable to speak: "I know, I know."

Madam Lu's gaze gradually became unfocused, and her hand slowly slipped down.

Consort Lu watched helplessly as she closed her eyes, blood slowly trickling from the corner of her mouth.

"Mother, Mother!" Consort Lu roared, but could only watch helplessly as Madam Lu's body gradually cooled down. She held Madam Lu in despair, her tears mixed with blood, dripping onto the cold ground.

Xiao Jingheng covered Lu Jingning's eyes, unwilling to let her see such a bloody scene.

He pondered for a moment, then finally sighed: "Consort Lu was instigated and made a grave mistake. She is demoted to commoner status and banished to the Cold Palace. The remaining palace maids can be dealt with by the Empress."

"Lord Lu has failed in his duties; he should go home and reflect on his actions."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the Empress said respectfully from the side.

Seeing that the Emperor was not angry with him, Lord Lu quickly kowtowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree and will certainly reflect on his actions upon returning home."

"Alright, take everyone away. This banquet has been ruined," Xiao Jingheng ordered with a look of annoyance.

Lu Shiwei held Madam Lu's body in his arms, his eyes bloodshot, tears streaming silently down his face.

The guards acted swiftly and took all the maids away, and the hall fell silent for a moment.

The moment Lu Shiwei was dragged away, she stared intently at Lu Jingning, her eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness.

Xiao Jingheng, looking utterly exhausted, turned to the imperial physician and asked, "Is the princess's poison easy to cure?"

"The princess's poisoning is not severe, Your Majesty, please rest assured," the imperial physician hurriedly stepped forward and said.

"Alright, that's enough for today. Everyone, you may all leave."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Jingheng left with Lu Jingning.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off."

(End of this chapter)