Li Yuyu fired questions one after another, each one striking directly at the vulnerabilities of Princess Consort De and Noble Lady Ying, leaving them no time to think.
Beauty Qing clenched her sleeve buttons tightly at this moment, her lips slowly pursed.
So... is this another defeat?
Realizing that Li Yuyu was not caught in the act, Beauty Qing first felt regret and then breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that she had made extra arrangements, ensuring the matter had nothing to do with her from beginning to end.
"Li Yuyu!" Yan Xiu angrily stood up from his chair.
The little concubine dared to speak anything out loud! Was she not afraid of ruining her reputation if it spread?
Li Yuyu suddenly knelt heavily on the ground with a ’thud,’ and when she looked up, her willow leaf eyes, usually hiding a smile, were now brimming with tears: "Emperor, I’m wronged."
Yan Xiu pressed his lips tightly together, feeling a fire pent up in his chest.
He quickly took a few steps to Li Yuyu’s side, wanting to help her up from the ground.
He was worried that her knees might be hurt from that heavy kneeling.
Yet Li Yuyu refused to rise. Her gaze passed over Yan Xiu, looking toward the Empress Dowager seated in the main seat, holding back tears, she hoarsely said: "Empress Dowager, I’m wronged, I beg the Empress Dowager to stand up for me."
After speaking, she bowed heavily in the direction of the Empress Dowager.
Yan Xiu slowly withdrew his hand, standing beside Li Yuyu, lowering his gaze to look at her.
His phoenix eyes were deep and dark, leaving no one able to guess his thoughts.
But he knew what Li Yuyu was thinking.
She wanted to vent for Feng Yin, she wanted those who harmed Feng Yin to reap what they had sown, to receive severe punishment.
In that case, why not fulfill her wishes?
As Yan Xiu withdrew his gaze, his peripheral vision swept past Noble Lady Ying’s face.
The chill made Noble Lady Ying’s heart tremble, and suddenly the numbing of her legs after kneeling for so long didn’t seem so bad.
The Empress Dowager just regained her senses. She hadn’t expected Li Yuyu to be like this upon rising. After hearing the general conversation, she ostensibly guessed what the matter was about, looking at Princess Consort De who was kneeling, pale-faced and silent due to Li Yuyu’s rebuke, felt extremely disappointed.
"Princess Consort De, do you have anything to say?"
Princess Consort De, after bowing, raised her body with a bitter smile, speaking frankly:
"What else can I say? Indeed, I wanted to catch someone in the act, but people at Luaxin Pavilion were united, not giving me such an opportunity. I acknowledge I do not match Lady Li’s caliber and admit defeat."
The Empress Dowager frowned and sighed in disappointment.
She had given Princess Consort De an opportunity, but hadn’t expected her to still fail to understand the current situation.
She regretted more and more following the advice from her maternal family, sending the child into the palace, who was being used as a pawn yet remained unaware for a long time.
But, after all, she was her niece...
The Empress Dowager’s heart ached, and she had resolved on the outcome: "Noble Lady Ying, do you have anything to say?"
Noble Lady Ying was startled when called out: "Replying to the Empress Dowager, I heard this from Lan Ye. As the matter is significant, I dared not decide alone, hence I sought Princess Consort De."
"Who is Lan Ye?" The Empress Dowager frowned slightly.
Lan Ye, beside Noble Lady Jing, instantly turned pale, trembling as she emerged from the crowd, kneeling down and said softly: "I am Lan Ye, a palace maid of Yunmo Pavilion serving Noble Lady Jing."
Noble Lady Jing?
How did this matter also involve Noble Lady Jing?
The Empress Dowager’s brows furrowed deeper, searching for Noble Lady Jing among the crowd.
She remembered Noble Lady Jing was the daughter of Vice Minister Guo from the Ministry of Revenue, gentle and quiet, unlike someone who would stir trouble.
"Indeed, I spoke of the matter to the noble lady privately inside with Noble Lady Jing, not knowing that Noble Lady Ying would overhear..."