Chapter 291 Truth

Chapter 291 The Truth

"I, the Heir, just want to ask, why did my mother hit Consort Li and the Tenth Princess? Since she hit you, why didn't you catch her on the spot, but waited until she left before sending people to capture her?"

Consort Li's heart trembled. She knew Xie Liuzheng was about to settle scores!

She had thought that even if Cai Guiti wasn't caught, it would be fine as long as she could get Emperor Jingyang to betroth Xie Liuzheng and Luo Qianxue, thus achieving her goal!

But who knew that a third party would appear halfway—Ji Yuntang and Xie Liuzheng would arrive at the palace to stop everything.

Fortunately, Cai Guiti still hadn't been found, so she could seize the initiative.

Thinking this, Consort Li's expression instantly dimmed. She lightly wiped the nonexistent tears from the corner of her eye with her handkerchief.

With this action, she deliberately revealed her hand wrapped in gauze, looking pitiful and delicate.

"Your Majesty, this is what happened. I heard that Madam Cai had recently acknowledged Princess Ye as her goddaughter. Considering that I am also Princess Ye's birth mother, with such a connection we became in-laws. So, I thought I would invite Madam Cai to Weiyang Palace for a gathering."

"Unexpectedly, after Madam Cai arrived, not only did she fail to bow and pay respects to me and Xue'er, but she also said Xue'er was as stupid as a pig, not even half as clever as Princess Ye. I, unable to bear it, exchanged a few heated words with Madam Cai."

"During the argument, Madam Cai also insulted me for being ugly and low-born, unworthy of sitting with her and drinking tea. That wasn't all—she even splashed scalding tea onto the back of my hand."

"Xue'er couldn't help but talk back to Madam Cai, only to be slapped across the face by her. After slapping, she ran away. By the time I came to my senses, Madam Cai was already gone."

"Just look, Xue'er's face still has five bright red fingerprint marks!"

Indeed, there were five fingerprint marks on Luo Qianxue's face. Ji Yuntang had noticed this when she arrived.

Although Luo Qianxue had put on makeup, it seemed she deliberately left that spot exposed so others could see the slap mark on her face.

Hearing Consort Li's words, Luo Qianxue also cried on cue.

"Your Majesty, even if Madam Cai doesn't like me, she shouldn't hit people. She hit not only my face but also the face of the royal family. Please, Your Majesty, seek justice for me."

Before Emperor Jingyang could speak, a cold voice rang out from outside the door.

"His Majesty is busy with state affairs. This Empress, as the head of the harem, should rightly handle matters that occur within it."

Everyone turned to look and saw the Empress entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation with Luo Qingge by her side.

Beside them stood Madam Cai, looking calm and composed.

The Empress walked to Consort Li, paused briefly, and cast a meaningful glance at her face.

"I heard that Consort Li and the Tenth Princess were bullied, so His Majesty had the imperial guards search the palace to capture Madam Cai?"

"What a coincidence. A maid from my Phoenix Palace went out to pick flowers and happened to encounter Madam Cai in the Imperial Garden. I have brought her here. If Consort Li and the Tenth Princess have grievances, please present evidence face to face."

Consort Li's heart skipped a beat. She turned to face Madam Cai's cold, indifferent expression. The coldness in her eyes seemed to mock her.

Consort Li immediately thrust out her hand wrapped in gauze.

"Madam Cai scalded my hand with tea and slapped Xue'er. The injuries on me and Xue'er are the evidence."

Madam Cai sneered, "Consort Li is truly skilled at shifting the blame."

"You obviously broke the teacup yourself and scalded your hand. What does that have to do with me?"

"Also, as for the slap mark on the Tenth Princess's face, I have no idea how it got there."

"All I know is that when I took my leave, the Tenth Princess held a knife to her own neck, threatening to force me to agree to let Zheng'er marry her."

"There was no slap mark on the Tenth Princess's face when I left."

Luo Qianxue immediately jumped up, "You're lying! Who else would dare to hit this princess in Weiyang Palace besides you?"

Even if she was stupid, she knew she had to stick to this story and not admit anything.

Otherwise, the Emperor and Empress would definitely punish her.

Ji Yuntang had been listening all along, and by now she had a rough idea of what had happened.

However, Luo Qianxue was stubbornly denying it, so they would need evidence.

Ji Yuntang walked over to Luo Qianxue and looked at the slap mark on her right cheek.

"Tenth Sister, you said my mother hit you. Then tell me, which hand did she use?"

"Her right hand!" Luo Qianxue answered without hesitation.

Typically, the right hand is stronger than the left and used more often.

Most people would use their right hand to slap, so that made sense.

But if Luo Qianxue said it was the right hand, there was a problem!

To prevent anyone from backing out, Ji Yuntang repeated the question.

"Tenth Sister, are you sure my mother used her right hand, not her left?"

Luo Qianxue thought she was just stalling and said impatiently, "This Princess is very sure. Madam Cai used her right hand to slap me!"

The next second, a sharp slap landed on Luo Qianxue's face.

It knocked her to the ground, and she landed on her bottom.

Luo Qianxue was stunned for two seconds before her eyes blazed with anger. She glared at Ji Yuntang, as if she wanted to jump up and strangle her.

"How dare you hit me? What gives you the right?"

The slap made her head buzz, and she felt her left cheek going numb.

Ji Yuntang had hit her even harder than Consort Li.

Ji Yuntang withdrew her hand and stepped forward to help Luo Qianxue up, but Luo Qianxue slapped away the outstretched hand.

"You bitch, don't touch me!"

Ji Yuntang wasn't angry. She withdrew her hand and said apologetically, "Tenth Sister, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

"As everyone knows, only through practice can we verify the truth. You said my mother used her right hand to hit you, and I just used my right hand to hit you. So why did my mother hit your right cheek, while I hit your left cheek?"

At this moment, Luo Qingge caught on. She thought the loophole was glaringly obvious.

Luo Qianxue was truly foolish.

Luo Qingge said, "If two people stand facing each other, and Madam Cai used her right hand to hit you, she would have hit your left cheek, not your right."

"Unless the slap mark on your face came from her left hand."

Luo Qianxue's heart trembled. She was nervous for a moment but quickly regained her composure.

She gritted her teeth and said, "This Princess just misremembered. She used her left hand to hit me. I misspoke in the heat of the moment."

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