Chapter 528: Chapter 528: Since When Did You Get a Say? Chapter 528: Chapter 528: Since When Did You Get a Say? “Poison? Miss Wang, what nonsense are you talking about? His Majesty’s visit was so sudden; I had no prior knowledge. How could I have poisoned His Majesty?”

Murong Jiu’s tranquil voice rose leisurely, refuting Wang Yingluo’s accusation.

Wang Yingluo clenched her fists. She did not know why Jun Yuyan had come to Kunning Palace, but Murong Jiu definitely knew about Jun Yuyan’s itinerary and might have even lured him here on purpose. Otherwise, how could she have turned the tables so dramatically and put on such a grand show?

Her heart itched with hatred, and she inwardly cursed Murong Jiu for her deep schemes, which had toyed her in circles and even led Jun Yuyan to become intimate with Murong Jiu, turning uncooked rice into a cooked meal.

If Murong Jiu got pregnant again this time, she feared she might spurt several liters of blood from frustration!

She was so angry that she was shaking all over, and the more she thought about it, the more unwilling she became.

“Her Majesty the Empress, if His Majesty wasn’t the victim of a plot, why would he suffer such a headache? You might deceive yourself, but deceiving His Majesty is a crime of deceiving the sovereign. Even if you are the Empress, His Majesty will not tolerate you plotting against Him!”

“How dare you!”

The Empress Dowager said coldly, “Wang Yingluo, since when do you have the right to speak here? Extending your hand into Kunning Palace is sheer audacity and ignorance of your place!”

The Empress Dowager was already displeased at being used by Wang Yingluo as a pawn, but fortunately, it was only a false alarm–the Empress had not committed adultery; instead, she had been fulfilling her marital duties with the Emperor.

Even if the Empress had used some means, that was a matter between husband and wife, and the Empress Dowager did not intend to intervene in everything.

Moreover, she still cared about the Crown Prince and the Princess. If Murong Jiu could gain some favor and secure her position securely, it would not threaten the status of the Crown Prince and Princess, which would be a good thing.

There’s a significant difference between a legitimate son and a concubine-born son.

Not only do smaller families value it, but the Imperial Family places even greater importance on it.

A clear distinction between the legitimate and illegitimate children is essential to avoid a struggle for succession that could jeopardize the stability of the empire.

The Empress Dowager even felt that a woman like Wang Yingluo, whose thoughts were not pure, would likely give birth to a child with many tricks, leading to crooked behaviour.

Seeing the coldness and disgust in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, Wang Yingluo’s heart sank.

She had tried so hard to please the Empress Dowager but received no recognition in return, and now she was met only with disgust and cold treatment, constantly reminded to know her place.

Her feelings towards the Empress Dowager grew increasingly resentful.

Unsatisfied with just scolding her, the Empress Dowager then said coldly, “Wang Yingluo has committed a crime of disrespect and failed to recognize the stature of the Imperial Family. She shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the rod!”

What!

One hundred strokes could cost her life!

It was said that a palace maid named Chun Tao beside the Empress didn’t even reach one hundred strokes before she was beaten to death!

The Empress harbored personal resentment against her, and if she bribed the executioner to hit harder and use their inner strength, it might take less than thirty strokes for her to die a miserable death on the spot.

“Brother Yan!”

Wang Yingluo’s gaze turned toward Jun Yuyan; he was her only hope now.

Jun Yuyan still looked very much in pain, his face stern and his mood apparently not good. He said coldly:
“Mother, I came to Kunning Palace to check on Zhijin and Zhiyu, because I heard they fell down in the evening and I was somewhat concerned. After that, I drank some bamboo shoot soup in the Empress’s palace and lost consciousness. This matter is of great importance; I will not allow such things to happen in the palace. I ask mother to thoroughly investigate this.”

The Empress Dowager frowned and looked at the Empress, “Was it you who administered the drug?”

Murong Jiu replied calmly, “I, too, am a victim. If His Majesty hadn’t come unexpectedly today, even if I truly invited Senior Brother Miao to come, I could not clear myself even if I jumped into the Yellow River.”

Wang Yingluo immediately said, “Her Majesty the Empress clearly did it on purpose to scheme against Brother Yan! You used the two children, let them get hurt, and exploited Brother Yan’s love for the children to lure him to your door!”

Murong Jiu looked towards Wang Yingluo, her gaze slightly cold, “Miss Wang, you previously swore that the man on my phoenix bed was Senior Brother Miao. Is it because everything is within your calculations? Otherwise, how could you have happened to bring over the Empress Dowager just at this time?”

The Empress Dowager’s gaze was also very sharp as it shot towards Wang Yingluo.

She feared nothing more than these women with minds like venomous snakes, and she grew increasingly worried about such women influencing the next generation of the Imperial Family.

Even Jun Yuyan furrowed his brow.

Wang Yingluo felt slightly panicked, but she said loudly:
“That, that’s because the other day I noticed marks of love on your neck. The Emperor was not in the palace at that time, but Miao the Divine Healer was in Kunning Palace for half a Shichen. Of course, I suspected Her Majesty the Empress was unfaithful to Your Majesty!”

The Empress Dowager turned her gaze towards Murong Jiu.

However, Murong Jiu was neither humble nor arrogant, her expression did not show the slightest panic, instead she chuckled lightly.

“How laughable. ‘Where there’s a will to condemn, excuses will be found.’ There has never been such a mark on my body as Miss Wang has mentioned. If you don’t believe it, you can have a nanny come and check.”

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and immediately a nanny came forward, slightly pulling apart Murong Jiu’s collar. Everyone saw only fresh marks, causing blushing and embarrassment, but no other old marks were visible.

Wang Yingluo’s face turned dark. She suspected the old marks had been covered by the new ones. Seeing these marks, some were bite marks, some were pinch marks, one could imagine how intense things had been between Murong Jiu and Jun Yuyan before they arrived!

She subconsciously looked towards Jun Yuyan, but saw that he was also looking at Murong Jiu, his gaze carrying a hint of emotion and desire that was not easily noticeable!

She felt an alarm go off in her heart, no good, could it be that Jun Yuyan, after sleeping with Murong Jiu for a night, had remembered something? Or could it be that Jun Yuyan had fallen in love with Murong Jiu again, fallen for her body?

“Brother Yan!”

She shouted loudly.

Jun Yuyan seemed to return to his senses, looking at her.

“Brother Yan, didn’t you notice the marks on the Empress before?”

Jun Yuyan shook his head, “I didn’t see them. Let it go, Yingluo. Let’s not talk about this anymore.”

“But someone really did drug you!” She was unwilling to help Murong Jiu adorn herself as a bride for nothing, deepening their intimacy.

Murong Jiu also said, “Miss Wang is right, indeed someone had put medicine in that bamboo shoot soup. Before losing control, I had already sent someone to the Imperial Kitchen to catch the person.”

As her voice fell, Chang Chonghai’s robust voice appeared outside the hall.

“Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress, I have caught a person who acted suspiciously!”

“Hong Yi, bring the person in.”

Soon after, Hong Yi kicked a little eunuch in, forcing him to kneel on the ground.

Upon seeing the appearance of that little eunuch, Wang Yingluo’s face instantly turned pale, and she glanced towards Eunuch Li.

Didn’t he say he would have his godson quietly kill that little eunuch? Why was he caught?

Eunuch Li’s complexion was even uglier than hers.

The little eunuch kneeled and begged for mercy, “Your Majesty spare my life, Your Majesty spare my life! I was ordered by someone to poison Her Majesty the Empress’s food!”