Despite Wei Xueming's timely change of story, Concubine Yu gave a cold laugh, seemingly not believing her words. She merely cast a disdainful glance at Song Yulin, who was kneeling on the ground with a bleeding head, and suddenly said sharply:
"According to what Consort Shu said, is it you who damaged the emperor's imperial gift?!"
Concubine Yu deliberately ignored the accusation against Yun Xi in Wei Xueming's words and directly turned the spearhead towards Song Yulin.
The intimidating majesty made Song Yulin suddenly panic. Pointing at Yun Xi, she quickly defended herself:
"Your Highness the Concubine, you've wronged me! It was all Yun Xi who deliberately framed me. Consort Shu can testify. I'm innocent!"
Song Yulin originally came to the palace to help Wei Xueming frame Yun Xi. At this moment, failing in her act of abetting the evil, she herself became the fish on the chopping board, which she never expected!
Thinking of the situation just now, in order to completely get rid of her guilt, Song Yulin wracked her brains and continued to argue:
"It was Yun Xi who pushed me, which made me lose my balance and knock down the antique shelf!"
In this way, she could shift all the blame onto Yun Xi, and it couldn't be said that she had deliberately knocked down the antique shelf!
"Ridiculous nonsense!"
As soon as Song Yulin finished speaking, Yun Xi coldly shouted. Bowing respectfully to Concubine Yu, she held up the white jade bottle in her hand and said:
"Your Highness, you can see clearly. How could I push her with both hands while holding the white jade bottle? If what she said is true, why were only Consort Shu and she injured while I remained unscathed?!"
Yun Xi's words were reasonable and well - founded, which made Song Yulin turn livid with anger. Gnashing her teeth, she angrily scolded:
"That's because you ran fast!"
However, in the face of Song Yulin's accusation, Yun Xi gave her a 'Are you stupid?' look and coldly said:
"Seeing you rushing up to beat someone, of course I had to run fast! Should I just wait to be beaten?!"
Pausing for a moment, Yun Xi continued:
"So it was you who beat someone and also you who damaged the things. Do you think I, the victim, should bear the blame for your mistakes?"
Song Yulin was rendered speechless by Yun Xi's words and was already in a complete panic.
Thinking of the great crime of implicating nine generations, Song Yulin quickly shook her head desperately at Concubine Yu:
"No, Your Highness the Concubine, it's not like that!"
Seeing Concubine Yu's cold expression, Song Yulin crawled on her knees to Wei Xueming's side, clutching the hem of Wei Xueming's dress with both hands and pleading bitterly:
"Consort Shu, please say a few words for me. You know the truth is not like this. Please tell everyone quickly!"
Wasn't Wei Xueming always eager to get Yun Xi killed? Now the opportunity was right in front of her. Why did she suddenly fall silent?
She was just an innocent by - stander. Wei Xueming couldn't just leave her to die!
Song Yulin pinned her last glimmer of hope on Wei Xueming. However, with Concubine Yu present, Wei Xueming knew that things couldn't proceed smoothly as she had originally planned.
She was even less likely to get herself into trouble because of Song Yulin!
Thinking of this, Wei Xueming kicked Song Yulin away and coldly scolded:
"At this moment, you still dare to argue? Who told you to be so stupid and unable to resist Yun Xi's provocation? You deliberately walked into someone else's trap!"
Then, worried that Song Yulin would expose her plan, Wei Xueming threatened:
"If you confess your guilt earlier, this consort can plead with the emperor to show mercy on you. Otherwise, you won't be able to escape the great crime of implicating nine generations!"
Wei Xueming's words were both a threat and a consolation. Although Song Yulin hated Wei Xueming for betraying her, she couldn't help but consider her words and was momentarily hesitant.
Yun Xi looked at Song Yulin, who was in panic and deep thought, with a sarcastic expression on her face, but there was not a trace of sympathy in her heart.
I won't attack others unless they attack me first. If Song Yulin hadn't abetted the evil, how could she have ended up in this situation?!
Seeing that Wei Xueming was obviously trying to deceive Song Yulin, Yun Xi slowly said from the side:
"Damaging the emperor's imperial gift is, in any case, a serious crime. Even if the emperor shows mercy and spares the punishment of implicating nine generations, the person who damaged it will surely be severely punished! Even if they don't lose their life, they will wish they were dead!"
Seeing Song Yulin's terrified eyes, Yun Xi said cruelly:
"Otherwise, where would the emperor's majesty be?"
She knew that a selfish person like Song Yulin, who had been abandoned by her family, probably cared more about herself than the lives of her relatives!
"Yongning is right," Concubine Yu coldly echoed from the side.
"If we let you off this time, won't everyone take advantage of the emperor's kindness and keep overstepping their bounds in the future?!"
Concubine Yu's words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Song Yulin hard in the heart. Her body swayed, and she looked completely defeated.
Yun Xi sighed slightly at this moment:
"Some people just never learn. They've been used countless times but still can't learn from their mistakes. Those who are used to reaping benefits won't care about your life or death!"
Yun Xi's ambiguous words immediately woke Song Yulin up. She immediately glared at Wei Xueming with blood - red eyes:
"It's all your fault! You've ruined me! It's all your fault!"
After saying that, Song Yulin got up and rushed towards Wei Xueming. Amidst Wei Xueming's screams, she pinned the other woman to the ground. Her fists rained down on Wei Xueming's head, and her long fingernails frantically scratched at Wei Xueming's face...
When the palace servants saw this, they were about to step forward to pull Song Yulin away. However, a look from Concubine Yu made all the palace servants dare not move.
Just Juan'er alone couldn't pull away Song Yulin, who was almost mad with hatred!
Evil people will surely be punished by other evil people. So sometimes, even if our kindness needs to be assertive, we don't necessarily have to get our hands dirty.
When Song Yulin was finally pulled away, Wei Xueming was on the verge of death.
At this time, Song Yulin still hadn't vented her hatred. Kneeling in front of Concubine Yu, she wailed:
"Your Highness the Concubine, please judge fairly. It was Consort Shu who deliberately framed Yun Xi. She also said that the emperor had betrothed the fifth princess of the Kekqin tribe to Prince Xian, hoping to arouse Yun Xi's dissatisfaction with the emperor. She planned to get Yun Xi killed on the pretext of damaging the emperor's imperial gift! From beginning to end, I was just being used by her!"
After listening to Song Yulin's words, Concubine Yu sneered but said nothing. At this time, Zhaoyi Zi stepped forward and said:
"When did the emperor ever say that he would betroth our fifth princess of the Kekqin tribe to Prince Xian? Has Your Highness the Concubine ever heard of this?"
Zhaoyi Zi, whose name was Ziyuan, was a beauty presented to the emperor by the Kekqin tribe last year. Because she was deeply favored by the emperor, she was conferred the title of Zhaoyi.
The reason why she didn't arouse Concubine Yu's jealousy was that Zhaoyi Zi had injured her body when she was young, and the imperial doctor had diagnosed that she couldn't bear children. Moreover, Zhaoyi Zi and Concubine Yu had been on good terms in the past, so their relationship was naturally harmonious.
After hearing Zhaoyi Zi's words, Concubine Yu glanced at Wei Xueming, who was being helped up by the palace servants, and the bloodstains on her face. Concubine Yu sneered and curled her lips:
"If the emperor really made such a betrothal, why didn't I know about it? This Consort Wei, relying on the emperor's favor, not only framed the royal family but also falsely passed on the emperor's edict. Keeping such a rebellious woman in our harem is simply an insult to the majesty of our royal family!"
Saying this, Concubine Yu gave a solemn order to the palace servants in the hall:
"Before I report this to the emperor, lock Consort Wei up. Don't let her see anyone!"
This "anyone" naturally included the imperial doctor!
As a result, Wei Xueming tried to outwit others but ended up harming herself. She was locked up by Concubine Yu on various charges. Song Yulin was also locked up, but she temporarily saved her life and was used by Concubine Yu as a witness against Wei Xueming in the future.