Chapter 526: Chapter 526: Let’s See How You Argue Your Way Out of This! Chapter 526: Chapter 526: Let’s See How You Argue Your Way Out of This! Empress Dowager Qi, immersed in the harem for decades, how could she not know what Wang Yingluo was implying with her insinuations?

Yet, the matter was of great significance, pertaining to the dignity of the Imperial Family. Although she did not believe in her heart that the Empress would do anything shameless, at this moment, her face still darkened as she followed Wang Yingluo with brisk steps toward the Empress’s bedroom.

As they walked, she said to Wang Yingluo in a deep voice,
“You have the audacity to barge into the Empress’s palace. If the Empress is unharmed, I shall certainly punish you today, and even the Emperor’s pleas will be in vain!”

Wang Yingluo inwardly cursed this old thing for looking down on her status, thinking that the day would come when she would regret it. She sneered coldly in her heart; after today, Murong Jiu would have no chance of turning things around. Let the Empress Dowager dream of punishing her!

Ambivalent in her heart, she nevertheless replied obediently,
“If the commoner is wrong, then even if Her Majesty the Empress Dowager doesn’t punish me, the commoner should take the punishment herself!”

As they spoke, they had already reached the outside of the Empress’s bedchamber.

Two palace maids, whom Wang Yingluo recognized, typically followed quietly behind the Empress. They seemed to fade into the background, but Fu Rong had said that these palace maids knew martial arts; she had personally witnessed them beat an irreverent eunuch until he was searching for his teeth on the ground. Perhaps they were trained fighters personally selected by the Emperor to be given to the Empress.

Wang Yingluo was envious of this, resenting that the Emperor had not assigned her a few trained fighters.

But then she thought, even Su Kai, who now controlled the Brocade-clad Guards and would become a great named General in the future, could be easily commanded by her, and her heart swelled with pride once again.

Now, facing those two unremarkable-looking palace maids who knew martial arts, Wang Yingluo spoke coldly, “Can’t you see that the Empress Dowager has arrived? Open the gate quickly!”

The two maids, however, stood firm like door gods, their voices emotionless as they spoke, “The master has ordered that no one is to enter.”

Wang Yingluo shouted angrily, “How dare you! In the palace, whose word carries more weight, the Empress’s or the Empress Dowager’s? Think carefully! By obstructing us now, you are committing a capital offense!”

The two maids remained unmoved.

Seeing this, even the Empress Dowager grew angry. The more they resisted, the more it proved that Wang Yingluo had brought her here with sufficient evidence. Behind this door, there had to be people and deeds that should not see the light of day.

She had trusted the Empress so much, even pitied her, yet she never expected that the Empress would…

“Someone come! Break this door open for me!”

A flood of eunuchs and palace maids surged forward from behind, forcibly dragging the two palace maids away. Wang Yingluo seized the opportunity and kicked the door in!

As soon as the door swung open, a deep, intoxicating fragrance wafted out, nearly overwhelming the senses.

Wang Yingluo was all too familiar with this scent; she had smelled it many times on the Empress and even read in unofficial histories that Murong Jiu was born with an Exotic Fragrance, able to dance with butterflies. Though such histories were not to be taken seriously, she suspected that Murong Jiu’s body fragrance was some sort of self-made “perfume.”

Such a strong fragrance now only strengthened her suspicions that Murong Jiu was engaged in disgraceful acts!

Not to mention, the noise of breaking in startled a woman inside, who let out a cry that was quickly suppressed, as if she had covered her own mouth. Anyone familiar with the Empress’s voice could tell–it was Murong Jiu’s!

The expression on the Empress Dowager’s face could only be described as thunderous at this point.

Wang Yingluo’s lips curled into a discreet smile. It seemed she didn’t even need to say or guide anything; the Empress Dowager herself stepped forward, about to catch the culprits in the act.

The bed curtains were tightly closed, yet they appeared so light that a single gust of wind could reveal the truth behind them.

The Empress Dowager’s reaching hand hesitated for a moment before withdrawing.

She took several deep breaths and said sternly to the inside, “Empress, I am giving you one last opportunity to preserve your dignity. Come out on your own.”

Wang Yingluo bit her lip, not understanding why the Empress Dowager would show mercy to Murong Jiu.

Weren’t there conflicts between the two? The Empress Dowager should be eager to see the Empress lose face.

Is it for the Crown Prince and the Princess? Or does she truly wish to save face for Murong Jiu?

Could someone like Murong Jiu, a failure, actually earn the respect of the Empress Dowager?

Despite the resentment in her heart, she refrained from speaking out of turn.

Just by drawing aside the bed curtain, even if the man and woman inside were fully dressed, it would already be too late.

Why would she hurry for those few minutes then?

The air was so still one could hear a pin drop.

From inside came the sound of hurried breathing, followed by the rustling noise similar to that of clothing being put on.

Wang Yingluo’s eyes and brows were cold; according to her desire, she should rush in and pin down the adulterous couple!

Not like the Empress Dowager, who even gave them time to dress.

But she deliberately lagged behind the Empress Dowager, and by not pulling open the bed curtain when the Empress Dowager spoke, she had already lost the initiative. At this moment, it was not a good time to do anything; otherwise, she would appear too eager for quick success.

Soon, a pair of snow-white hands pulled aside the bed curtain. To Wang Yingluo, they looked extremely pale. Then, her gaze fell upon Murong Jiu’s face.

The complexion on the other’s face was not pale at all, but rather ruddy and lustrous, as if it had been thoroughly nourished, exuding a stunning charm.

Inappropriately, Wang Yingluo thought, if the Emperor were here to catch the adulterers himself, would he be swayed by Murong Jiu’s beauty?

No, she shouldn’t be thinking about such impossibilities.

Jun Yuyan would not appear here, nor would he be moved by a shameless woman.

Murong Jiu quickly closed the bed curtain again. A layer of another curtain was spread over the phoenix bed inside, and underneath was a pair of men’s black boots. The shadow of a man’s figure could also be vaguely seen lying behind the curtain.

At such a moment, to still be lying there, Wang Yingluo didn’t know what to say about this man.

She narrowed her eyes, thinking that perhaps, to protect her lover, Murong Jiu knocked out Miao the Divine Healer after hearing the commotion and took all the blame upon herself?

Or was it that Murong Jiu feared Miao the Divine Healer wouldn’t protect her, but instead would turn against her, so she incapacitated him and laid all the guilt upon him?

At this moment, Wang Yingluo felt more like watching a play unfold.

She turned her head to share a glance with Eunuch Li, and the look in both their eyes was less tense, hinting at a feeling of having the situation well in hand.

The adulterers had been successfully caught. The Empress was doomed without a doubt. No matter how Murong Jiu tried to escape the blame, as the Empress of the nation, her actions had tarnished the Imperial Family, and how could they spare her life?

Even the Crown Prince and the Princess would lose face, and after tonight, these two offspring would probably be as good as cast away to the Cold Palace.

Just think, seeing these children would remind one of their mother, akin to a promiscuous woman; it’s likely even the Empress Dowager wouldn’t want to raise them personally.

Better to have new heirs instead.

With this in mind, Wang Yingluo’s lips curled up unabashedly, looking at Murong Jiu to see how she would attempt to defend herself.

However, to her surprise, Murong Jiu, with her head lowered, did not utter a word, not attempting to defend herself.