"If it weren't for Her Highness the Noble Consort promising that as long as I was willing to offer my heart - blood to save the Fourth Prince, she would cover up the matter between me and Di'er, how would I have dared to take the risk of entering the palace?" Chen Jianzhi looked aggrieved, but his words completely changed Feng Jingxuan's complexion.
Noble Consort Zhao, for the sake of her own son, had helped someone else cuckold him!
Empress Chu immediately took the opportunity to strike: "Noble Consort Zhao helped you cover up your adultery? Hehe! How was she going to cover it up? And for how long? Was she planning to wait until Miss Bai gave birth to your child and let Xuan'er raise it?"
Feng Linche's face had already been ashen. Hearing this, he flew into a rage. He immediately stood up and slapped Noble Consort Zhao hard.
Noble Consort Zhao was caught completely off - guard. Not only was she knocked sideways, but because there was no one to support her, she rolled down the high steps.
"So it was you! It was you who were causing trouble behind the scenes! Yang'er got what he deserved. Who told him to do such a stupid thing? If the doctor couldn't save him, it was his fate! You, you bitch, actually believed the nonsense of a group of quacks and even tried to ruin Xuan'er's marriage and mess up the royal bloodline!"
Feng Linche had just passed the age of fifty. He was still in good health, so he hadn't reached the stage where most emperors in their later years would rely on quacks to refine pills for health. He had always looked down on those Taoist priests and Buddhist monks.
Some time ago, the Marquis of Gaochang's Mansion had a feud with Noble Consort Zhao because of Zheng Yan's funeral. They tried every means to slander those Taoist priests in front of Feng Linche and spread some remarks about "Taoist magic endangering the country" in Yongding City. This made Feng Linche deeply hate what was going on in the Nanxun Palace.
Now, Noble Consort Zhao had actually allowed Chen Jianzhi and Bai Di to have an affair in private for the so - called heart - blood matter and even tried to cover it up. If Princess Yunxi hadn't caused a scene today, and if Feng Jingxuan ascended the throne in the future, wouldn't that slut Bai Di become the empress?
The legitimate son she gave birth to might very likely be made the crown prince!
Who knew if the so - called crown prince born to a woman who had an affair with Chen Jianzhi was really Feng Jingxuan's blood?
The more Feng Linche thought about it, the angrier he got. Pointing at Noble Consort Zhao, his face was full of anger: "You bitch! You've really done a good job! A great job!"
"Your Majesty, I'm wronged..." Noble Consort Zhao was so frightened that she could hardly speak. She didn't care to check her injuries or tidy up her appearance. She scrambled up the steps in a hurry, trying to grab the corner of Feng Linche's robe.
She was wronged, really wronged!
But now, the jade hairpin on Ziyan, Cui Zhu's accusation against her, and even this Chen Jianzhi, whom she had never met before, were all pinning the blame on her.
She couldn't defend herself even if she had a hundred mouths.
Bai Sheng looked at the scene in disbelief. Suddenly, she turned her head and stared fixedly at Bai Zheng.
Bai Zheng sighed silently in her heart. This matter was only half related to her, but Bai Sheng obviously wouldn't believe it.
"So it was you!" On the other side, Princess Yunxi suddenly stood up, pointing at Noble Consort Zhao. Her eyes were filled with tears because of her extreme excitement. "First, you took advantage of the Seventh Princess's birthday banquet to summon Miss Bai San into the palace and framed her for stealing the imperial gifts, trying to harm her. Then, taking advantage of the large number of people, you summoned Young Master Chen Er into the palace and arranged for him to meet Miss Bai Er in the side hall of the Wenrui Palace to appease the young master so that he would be willing to offer his heart - blood for the Fourth Prince. In this case, even the matter between me and the Third Prince was your doing, wasn't it?"
Noble Consort Zhao trembled all over like a sieve. It was hard to tell whether she was angry or scared. Her lips quivered: "It wasn't me! I don't know anything. I didn't do it!"
Zhuo Lingxiao held the excited Princess Yunxi and replied sharply: "Didn't Her Highness the Noble Consort promise Young Master Chen Er that she would cover up their adultery? Her Highness is really thoughtful. After all, no matter how well you cover it up, there will always be a day when the truth comes out. So you simply took a drastic measure and carried the Third Prince into our princess's resting room, forcing the Third Prince to marry our princess so that Miss Bai and Young Master Chen could be together day and night..."
"I didn't do it!" Noble Consort Zhao was almost on the verge of collapse.
"Then why did both our princess and the Third Prince collapse after drinking the wine from your place? Our princess has always had a good capacity for alcohol. She only drank a few cups today. How could she lose consciousness?" Zhuo Lingxiao's voice was even louder. The angry momentum made Noble Consort Zhao unable to breathe.
Noble Consort Zhao couldn't find words to explain. She just cried to Feng Linche: "Your Majesty, you must believe me. I really didn't do it. I'm wronged!"
She couldn't figure out how things had turned out like this today!
It was clearly just a simple frame - up to make Bai Zheng never be able to turn over. How could so many people suddenly be involved? Feng Jingxuan, Bai Di, Princess Yunxi, none of them were easy to deal with.
As a result, the person who could never turn over now was herself.
Bai Sheng was so angry that her head was about to explode. She now completely understood that her attempt to frame Bai Zheng was like lifting a rock only to drop it on her own feet.
But Noble Consort Zhao was a very important part of her next plan. She had to save Noble Consort Zhao at all costs. Even though she knew that pleading now would only arouse Feng Linche's thunderous anger, she still had to plead to the end!
"Your Majesty, Aunt is innocent! You've been married to her for twenty years. You know her best. She has served you carefully for so many years. Even if she has no merits, she has put in a lot of effort! You know that, Your Majesty!" Bai Sheng shouted hoarsely.
Seeing the once - high - and - mighty Noble Consort Zhao kneeling on the ground, crying and pleading without any image, Feng Jingyi, who was always soft - hearted, couldn't help but plead: "Father, Her Highness the Noble Consort doesn't seem to be such a cruel person. There are many doubts in this matter. It should be investigated further..."
Noble Consort Zhao trembled in her throat and cried out: "Your Majesty, a day of husband - and - wife relationship means a hundred days of kindness. Even if you don't think about the years I've served you, at least think about Yang'er and Mingzhao, Your Majesty! Don't believe those bitches' words!"
Feng Linche looked at Noble Consort Zhao kneeling on the ground, pleading bitterly. Her words touched a chord in his heart.
After all, Noble Consort Zhao had been by his side for so many years. He still knew her character.
Seeing Noble Consort Zhao, who was usually well - maintained, with a swollen cheek, messy hair all over her body, and bruises on her hands from falling down the steps, he couldn't help but reach out his hand to help her up.
Just then, Empress Chu suddenly sighed softly: "Yes, Noble Consort Zhao has always been gentle - tempered. When I heard the maids talk about her, they would always praise her for being virtuous. If it weren't for Yang'er's serious illness, she wouldn't have changed her temperament so much..."