Chapter 112 Fall Into Disgrace (Part One)

The Empress frowned. Early this morning, Xiu Xin had been sent to Prince Shun Qing's Mansion and hadn't returned by the time the Empress had left for Qinzheng Hall. How could Xiu Xin be here?

Lord Zheng entered and stopped in the center of the hall. "Your Majesty, I have interrogated the guard at the west gate. He said that the name Xiu Xin wasn't recorded in the register, but he could recognize Xiu Xin, and she used the name Ya Yun when she left the Imperial City early this morning."

The Empress was taken aback. Her eyes opened wide when she felt that something must have gone wrong. But she didn't know what was going on at the moment.

Emperor Ning turned to her with contempt, "You said Xiu Xin was at Qiwu Palace, didn't you? Why did she leave the Imperial City?"

The Empress clenched an embroidered handkerchief in her hand and gnashed her teeth in anger. "Damn! How dare she cheat me? Her roommate told me early this morning that she had to take a day off as she was afraid that she would communicate her disease to me. I agreed as she has always served me wholeheartedly, but I didn't expect that she would lie to me!"

Emperor Ning said coldly, "Really? I heard that some people were killed by the toxic jadeite peach-shaped carving you sent to Prince Shun Qing's Mansion today. Why did you poison the peach-shaped carving? Did you want to murder Lady Shun Qing?"

The Empress explained lowering her head, "I'm on good terms with Lady Shun Qing. Why would I murder her? Moreover, Lady Gao is my sister. I have to develop good relations with Lady Shun Qing for her sake. Why would I murder her? Shang took the peach-shaped carving there. Someone must have replaced the original one."

Yun Shang knew she was the someone the Empress was referring to. She felt wronged and tears welled in her eyes. "Your Majesty, What do you mean? Do you think I poisoned the peach-shaped carving?"

The Empress answered coldly, "No, but your maid might be involved. Why not ask her about the truth?"

Emperor Ning interrupted her with a snort of contempt, "Li Yiran! You are my wife, so I don't want to embarrass you, but you are persistent in doing wrong and trying to slander Shang. You should know what you have done. If you don't, I will tell you.

Guards, take Lady G

y today, but she knelt here. What had happened?

Xiu Xin broke out in a cold sweat and kowtowed before Emperor Ning. "I stayed at Qiwu Palace the whole morning."

"You are lying! You went to Prince Shun Qing's Mansion!" Lady Gao retorted before Emperor Ning could say anything. As she had identified the murderer, she would be considered an accomplice at most and could save Rui'er.

Xiu Xin nervously bit her lip, realizing that Lady Gao had revealed everything. Yun Shang said, "Xiu Xin, Lady Gao has told us everything. Save your breath."

Xiu Xin became more scared. It had been an unusual day. She planned to go to Prince Shun Qing's Mansion to see how things were going, but somehow, she had felt drowsy and had fallen asleep. It was late when she woke up. By then, she heard that Prince Shun Qing and his wife were no longer at their mansion. She wanted to inquire more, but she was afraid that the plan would be exposed if she was away for too long, so she rushed back to the Imperial City. Unexpectedly, she was arrested as soon as she entered the city gate.

"Why not admit what you did? You did it as Her Majesty ordered, right?" Seeing that Xiu Xin was hesitating, Yun Shang knew she would be difficult to deal with. If she knew the ins and outs, she would be suspicious. If she said something she shouldn't say, all of Yun Shang's effort would be in vain, so Yun Shang goaded her into action. She had always been loyal to the Empress, so she would rather admit to all the guilt than implicate the Empress.