Novel Full Chapter 877 - 26: The Truth Behind the Former Empress’s Death (3)
Chapter 877: Chapter 26: The Truth Behind the Former Empress’s Death (3)
"Prince Dai probably guessed." Prince Jing thought for a moment and said, "If they had evidence, they would have already presented it to Father."
"Why would they make such a guess?" Back then, she pretended to be deeply affectionate sisters with Xie Wan; everyone thought they were good sisters and it was impossible for anyone to suspect that Xie Wan was killed by her.
"They have no evidence, so they fabricated this rumor to bring Mother down." Although not many ministers believed the rumor, if this continued, more people would start to believe it. Even if they didn’t believe it, they would suspect. "Since the rumor can’t be stopped, let’s create a new one to replace it."
Empress Xie asked, looking perplexed, "A new rumor? What kind of rumor?"
"Compared to you, Noble Princess Consort Rong hated Xie Wan even more." Prince Jing smiled sinisterly, "We will slightly alter the rumor, saying it was Noble Princess Consort Rong who killed Xie Wan and then framed you."
Upon hearing this, Empress Xie’s eyes lit up, and her expression became excited: "You’re right, compared to me, that vile woman Rong hated Xie Wan more; after all, she always felt that Xie Wan stole her rightful position as the principal wife, took her empress title."
"Prince Dai wants to use this rumor to bring us down, so we’ll beat them at their own game."
Empress Xie was full of joy: "Good, good, this is truly wonderful!"
Prince Jing was still uneasy about the matter from back then and asked once again: "Mother, are you sure there’s no evidence left from that incident?"
"I’m sure." Empress Xie said with confidence, "You may not trust me, but you should trust your grandmother." She might leave traces in her actions, but my mother absolutely wouldn’t leave a single clue.
Given Empress Xie’s affirmative answer, Prince Jing felt relieved: "Then I’m at ease." If there were any evidence left, they would be finished.
Prince Jing spoke a little more with Empress Xie before leaving and then went to the Imperial Study to see the Emperor.
In the Imperial Study, Prince Jing pleaded for justice on behalf of Empress Xie.
Sun Kui, standing aside, was impressed at Prince Jing’s genuine tears and marveled at his acting skills.
Seeing Prince Jing cry like a child, the Emperor gently comforted him with a few soft words, telling him he only believed in evidence, not rumors.
Upon hearing the Emperor’s reassurance, Prince Jing left the Imperial Study with peace of mind. On his way out of the palace, he continued crying over Empress Xie being falsely accused. Now, everyone in the palace knew Prince Jing was filial and saddened by Empress Xie’s defamation.
That afternoon, new rumors spread in the capital saying the late Empress was actually killed by Noble Princess Consort Rong. The complicated enmities between the late Empress and Noble Princess Consort Rong were being discussed with much fervor in the city. It was said that after the late Empress’s death, Noble Princess Consort Rong thought she could become Empress, but unexpectedly, the Empress’s younger sister snatched the empress title from her. This incident made Noble Princess Consort Rong detest the Empress deeply. So, the previous rumor about the Empress killing the late Empress was spread by Noble Princess Consort Rong.
Citizens in the capital didn’t expect this development. Compared to the rumor about the late Empress being killed by her own sister, people were more inclined to believe Noble Princess Consort Rong killed the late Empress.
Soon, the tale of Noble Princess Consort Rong killing the late Empress and framing the Empress spread throughout the city.
At first, Prince Dai and his allies were gloating and secretly fueling the earlier rumor, hoping to seize the opportunity to overthrow the Empress. They originally planned to stir up more trouble in the coming days to intensify the rumor, but before they knew it, the fire was burning fiercely against Noble Princess Consort Rong and could not be contained.
Noble Princess Consort Rong was so anxious upon hearing this rumor that she promptly went to the Emperor to plead her case.
The Emperor comforted her for quite some time before finally sending her away.
Sun Kui noticed the Emperor’s expression of headaches and asked with concern, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
"This commotion is giving me a headache." The Emperor was most annoyed by women’s weeping. Noble Princess Consort Rong had been crying non-stop, making the Emperor’s frustration rise. "She cries, makes a fuss, and threatens; even if she isn’t tired of it, I am." Noble Princess Consort Rong loved playing the crying, fussing, and threatening game.
Sun Kui found it difficult to respond.
"Old Seven really is something." The Emperor found Prince Jing’s move surprising, "Sun Kui, which do you think everyone believes?"
"I’ve heard the people now more strongly believe that Noble Princess Consort Rong hated the late Empress and caused her death."
"I remember in the last few days the people believed the Empress killed the late Empress; unexpectedly, within a single day, they now believe Noble Princess Consort Rong killed the late Empress." The Emperor chuckled softly, "The people really are fickle."
Sun Kui did not speak.
"I was expecting the Empress and Old Seven to craftily handle this rumor, but Old Seven immediately countered with the same strategy." The Emperor remarked with a meaningful smile, "Old Seven does delight me."
Sun Kui thought: Prince Jing really knows how to turn the tide; truly remarkable.
The Emperor asked, "How do you think Old Two will deal with Old Seven’s move?"
Sun Kui: "I do not know." The best way for Prince Dai to counter Prince Jing’s move would be to find evidence that the Empress killed the late Empress back then. However, Prince Dai will never find it.
"That little rascal, Ten, is playing Old Two and Old Seven against each other." Zhao Yao did not run back to the capital due to Pan’s suicide and disappointed the Emperor. Now, Zhao Yao is secretly letting Prince Dai and Prince Jing fight desperately, a situation which satisfies the Emperor.
The Emperor’s words first made Sun Kui slightly stunned; then, he recovered and said in shock: "Your Majesty, was the rumor about the late Empress being killed by the Empress orchestrated by Prince Han?" He thought it was Prince Dai and his allies who started it.
"Otherwise why?"
Sun Kui was shocked, "How could Prince Han possibly know..." How could he know that the late Empress was killed by the Empress?
"He suspected it many years ago and has been secretly searching for evidence." The Emperor laughed softly, "Had it not been for Pan’s suicide, this little rascal would’ve continued hiding and holding onto this matter until the critical moment."
Sun Kui: "!!!" Prince Han suspected it years ago?!
On the surface, the late Empress’s death showed no anomalies, and nobody could see through it. How did Prince Han see there was something unusual about the late Empress’s death?
"This brat made Old Two and Old Seven fight, leaving them no time to trouble Xiao Xiao and him, thus ruining my plans." The Emperor had long known the true cause of the late Empress’s death.