The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 339 The Grand Wedding (3)

Emperor Jing stroked the dragon-patterned jade belt with his fingertips, his gaze sweeping over the trembling body of the palace maid, and then glancing at the Empress Dowager's slightly stiff profile. He already understood in his heart—in the end, the Empress Dowager could no longer restrain herself.

Jing Fengyao immediately clasped his hands and nodded, "Grandmother is right, but the matter happened suddenly. Let me investigate."

The Empress Dowager was somewhat displeased, "Since there are witnesses and physical evidence, what else is there to say? Of course, we should detain them first!"

“Grandmother.” Jing Anle said.

"Now is an auspicious time. If we delay, it may affect the foundation of the country. It would be better to complete the ceremony first and then conduct the investigation."

The Empress Dowager, already harboring resentment, naturally refused. She said sternly, "Since this is the foundation of the nation, how can we act rashly? How can our royal family tolerate a daughter-in-law with a blemish?"

A murderous glint flashed in Jing Anle's eyes as he thought to himself: This Empress Dowager is indeed living too comfortably.

Jing Fengyao's face also darkened, his eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze swept over the kneeling palace maid like a sharp blade. His voice was not loud, but it carried a penetrating pressure, "You say you are Mingyue's dowry maid, do you know her childhood name? What kind of flower color does she dislike the most?"

The palace maid froze, her eyes darting around in a panic, stammering and unable to speak.

Although Chu Mingyue's face was still covered by a bridal veil, her expression had finally softened. Now that the eldest prince had stepped in, he was sure the matter could be resolved.

Because her childhood name was known only to her closest relatives, and she disliked the color lotus root, it was impossible for this palace maid not to know it if she was truly a dowry maid.

Jing Fengyao snorted coldly and turned to Emperor Jing, "Father, this person's words are contradictory, and the jade pendant is crudely made. It is obvious that he was instructed by someone to deliberately frame her. How can I allow others to slander my concubine like this?"

Emperor Jing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the Empress Dowager with a deep look before turning to Prime Minister Chu. "Prime Minister, rest assured, I will definitely investigate the truth and clear Mingyue's name."

He already knew perfectly well that the person behind this palace maid was nothing more than trying to sow discord between Jing Fengyao and Chu Mingyue, and even to shake his trust in Jing Fengyao. And the only person capable of setting up such a scheme on the day of the wedding was the Empress Dowager.

Jing Anle walked slowly to the palace maid, her tone somewhat nonchalant, "Since you say you are Consort Chu's dowry maid, then let me ask you, what kind of orchid is that pot of ink orchid that always sits on Consort Chu's boudoir windowsill? What is the first thing she does every morning?"

The palace maid trembled violently, her eyes darting around in panic. Her lips trembled for a long time before she finally managed to squeeze out, "It's...it's just an ordinary orchid. I get up early...I get up early to do my hair..."

"Heh." Jing Anle chuckled softly.

"Sister Mingyue's Cymbidium orchid is a 'Snow-capped Cymbidium orchid' presented as tribute from the Western Regions. There is only one of its kind in the entire Prime Minister's mansion. Every morning, she must first go to her study to practice calligraphy before paying her respects to the Old Madam. You can't even answer these most basic questions, yet you dare to lie and claim to be her dowry maid?"

"Yes...this servant made a mistake, it is indeed Snow-capped Ink Orchid," the palace maid quickly replied.

Now, Jing Anle's smile became even more contemptuous, and she said sternly, "You audacious servant, you still dare to argue? There are no orchids in Consort Chu's room at all!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd was in an uproar, and the palace maid's expression changed drastically. She couldn't even keep her knees steady and fell to the ground.

Prime Minister Chu was so angry that his face turned red. He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this woman is clearly being instructed by someone to maliciously slander my daughter!"

The Empress Dowager's expression changed slightly. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Jing Anle suddenly bend down, grab the palace maid's wrist, and lift it high—her palms were covered with scars of varying depths.

"Grandmother, please look." Jing Anle's voice suddenly rose, deliberately wanting everyone to hear. As the Empress Dowager of the country, her grandson's wedding had gone wrong, and instead of trying to let it go, she wanted everyone to know. How ruthless!

"This woman has frostbite scars on her hands, and there is a smell of ointment between her fingers. She is obviously a low-ranking palace maid who has been working in the Cold Palace or the Laundry Bureau for a long time and has been exposed to the cold all year round."

"Her words just now were inconsistent and illogical; they were nothing but the ramblings of a madwoman, a deliberate attempt to frame someone!"

All eyes turned to the palace maid's hands, which were indeed red from the cold and had dark purple scars. How could she possibly be a close attendant to a noble lady?

Actually, Jing Anle had observed this while the palace maids were talking, and since things were urgent, she made up an excuse on the spot.

A cold glint flashed in Emperor Jing's eyes as he said in a deep voice, "She really is a madwoman! How dare she spout nonsense and slander the Crown Princess at a royal ceremony! Guards, drag her away and throw her into the Imperial Prison!"

Logically, this palace servant should have been executed, but Emperor Jing did so out of consideration for Jing Fengyao's wedding.

"No! I'm not crazy! I'm not crazy! It's...it's..." The palace maid was being dragged along when she suddenly screamed. Before she could finish speaking, she was stopped by the people around the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager's face turned pale, and she trembled all over, but she could only force herself to remain calm and said to Emperor Jing, "Your Majesty is wise. Such a madwoman should indeed be dealt with severely to avoid sullying the festive atmosphere of the palace."

She was seething with hatred, but dared not say another word—any further explanation would only bring trouble upon herself.

Jing Anle released her hand, turned to look at Chu Mingyue, and saw that although her face was still covered by the bridal veil, her shoulders and back were trembling slightly, indicating that she had been frightened. She then curtsied to Emperor Jing and said, "Father, Consort Chu has been unjustly slandered and has been frightened. The Prime Minister's family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, and Consort Chu is even more virtuous and prudent. Why don't you grant her some favors, so as to appease her and the Prime Minister's hearts?"

Emperor Jing nodded, turned his gaze to Chu Mingyue, and softened his tone considerably, “Anle is absolutely right. Chu Mingyue has been unjustly humiliated, and I cannot bear it. Therefore, I will reward you with one hundred taels of gold and ten strings of pearls.”

Qin Zhihua stood aside, feeling no jealousy, but rather a sense of relief. Although she hadn't had much contact with Chu Mingyue, she knew that Chu Mingyue was always noble and would never act in such a way.

Jing Fengyao looked at Jing Anle, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. The two siblings exchanged a tacit glance, everything understood without words.

The Empress Dowager watched this scene, her nails almost digging into her palms, but she could only force a smile. "Your Majesty is wise. This way of handling things not only demonstrates the magnanimity of the royal family, but also appeases the Prime Minister's residence. It couldn't be better."

Emperor Jing waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "The wedding will continue."

The music began again, more solemn than before. In the flickering candlelight, Qin Zhihua and Chu Mingyue walked step by step on the red carpet toward Jing Fengyao...