PEASANT WOMAN'S DECREED LIFE AS A WIFE

Chapter 1197: Chapter 1194: Demotion

Disgusting the Emperor while causing him to grow weary of both of them had completely turned Ye Muyu’s impression of Noble Consort Qi to utter disdain.

It seemed that flattery was indeed a sword hidden in the belly, extremely harmful to others.

Empress Lin knelt down with a plop, “Emperor, your concubine stayed in the main hall the entire time Lord Chu entered the side hall and did not overstep in any way, please see the truth.”

Chu Heng remained silent at this point; he needed to avoid any interaction with Empress Lin, even coincidental ones were not permissible. A man’s heart is unpredictable, and the Emperor’s heart even more so. He knelt solemnly, his face devoid of any unnecessary expression.

Emperor Xuanming tapped his fingers on the desktop but said nothing. Both Empress Lin and Noble Consort Qi continued to kneel.

In the room, aside from Emperor Xuanming, everyone else was kneeling.

After a long while.

When Noble Consort Qi couldn’t take it anymore and thought about standing up by acting coquettishly.

Footsteps sounded from outside the door.

It was He Dequan, who rushed in and knelt down to report to Emperor Xuanming, “Emperor, your servant has dispatched people to find Lord Chu’s new belt, which had been partially burned, in the mud beside that well.”

As he spoke, he presented the piece of evidence.

“Your servant investigated Shuan Yun, who had stored a hundred taels of silver with Zheng Ming in the same room and had him send the silver out of the palace to give to his parents.”

“Zheng Ming, who was doing menial tasks in the Department of Respectful Service, got the news and tried to escape back to his room but was caught red-handed by your servant.”

“When your servant arrived, Zheng Ming was meeting with Xiao Dezi.”

“Your servant then captured both to interrogate them. Under torture, Zheng Ming confessed Xiao Dezi had instructed him to help Shuan Yun with sending the money, while making a profit for himself in the process.”

“After the interrogation of this information, Zheng Ming bit his tongue and committed suicide.”

The chill on Emperor Xuanming’s face became even more pronounced, “Oh? How did the interrogation go with the other individual?”

He Dequan wiped the sweat from his forehead, visibly nervous, “Replying to the Emperor, Xiao Dezi was tortured and disclosed that it was Nanny Yan, who serves Imperial Noble Consort, that had instructed him. Your servant has come to ask whether to arrest Nanny Yan for interrogation.”

Noble Consort Qi panicked; she had clearly ordered that if anyone was caught, they were to bite their tongue and commit suicide without divulging any information. Now why were they dragging her into this?

“Nonsense! How could someone from this palace’s service be involved? It must be that eunuch’s false accusation. Emperor, you must uphold justice for your concubine,” Noble Consort Qi cried sincerely this time, genuinely scared and anxious.

This had gone beyond her expectations. She had considered the possibility of failure before making plans, and therefore, she had handed these people over to her elder brother.

Only the dead can keep a secret.

But now, these people hadn’t died and had been caught instead.

Emperor Xuanming looked at her coldly, “In this palace, who has the privilege to avoid their mistakes?”

“Noble Consort, whether Nanny Yan is innocent or deserves her punishment will be clear after the Department of Respectful Service investigates.”

“Take her away.”

Having heard the Emperor’s unequivocal words, He Dequan was very clear that this time the Emperor was not showing favoritism to the Imperial Noble Consort. He was the Emperor’s man and naturally had to prioritize His Majesty’s wishes above all else.

Fifteen minutes later.

He Dequan stepped forward again to report, “Replying to the Emperor, I have pried open Nanny Yan’s mouth and obtained confessions from all the involved parties.”

As he spoke, he knelt and presented the interrogation records.

Emperor Xuanming took it and read slowly. After a few moments, he sneered several times before violently throwing the confession at the face of Noble Consort Qi, “My dear Noble Consort is indeed overwhelmingly powerful.”

“From this day forth, Lady Qi is demoted to Imperial Concubine Qi Zhao Yi, confined to Yichun Palace, and placed under house arrest for three months starting today. I hope you will speak and act with caution hereafter and copy the women’s ring a hundred times.”

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