Chapter 471: Mess Around In The Harem

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The Emperor immediately ordered a thorough investigation. This investigation was impressive. There were more than 10 warehouses in the manor. The weapons found were enough for 10,000 elite soldiers!

The Emperor’s face turned red with anger. “Prime Minister Yan, what else do you have to say?”

Prime Minister Yan knew that he had been framed, but just as Han Qing had said, even if the imperial guards who came to search the village each carried one, it was impossible for them to smuggle so many weapons in without being noticed.

He couldn’t defend himself now. For now, he could only find someone to take the blame as soon as possible. Speaking of which, that manor was given to him by Noble Consort Ji…

Just as he was about to speak, Prime Minister Yan heard the hateful commander of the imperial guards, Han Qing, say, “Oh, right, there’s one more thing.”

The Emperor pressed his temples. “Speak.”

Han Qing looked at Prime Minister Yan with a faint smile. “There’s an extremely beautiful lake filled with lotus flowers in the Yan Family’s manor. Because the fire in the manor last night was too big, in order to extinguish the fire, we took the lake water nearby to extinguish the fire. In the end, something strange happened when we scooped up the water.”

“We actually fished out some gold, silver, and jewelry from the lake.”

“After the fire was extinguished, the more curious guards went into the water and swam around. In the end, they realized that many treasures had sunk at the bottom of the lake, as well as…”

Han Qing presented a cloth bag. The Emperor looked at the shape and already had a guess.

When Eunuch De unwrapped the cloth on the outside and saw its true appearance, the officials immediately gasped—the jade seal!

The Emperor felt his head hurt even more.

“Prime Minister Yan, I’ve treated your Yan Family well.”

Prime Minister Yan knew that there was no room for negotiation today.

“Guards, lock Prime Minister Yan in the prison. No one is allowed to visit him.”

“Han Qing, I order you to quickly lead the imperial guards to seize all the weapons and jewelry hidden by the Yan Family and escort them back to the palace as evidence!”

“When the witnesses and evidence are complete, let the Ministry of Justice investigate this matter thoroughly!”

Before he was taken away, Prime Minister Yan looked back again. This glance stopped the Crown Prince from speaking, but the latter had already clenched his fists tightly.

The surviving member of the Han Family, Han Qing.

Indeed, he should have eliminated all of them back then!

When he looked up again, he happened to meet Han Qing’s unconcealed provocative gaze.

“Your Majesty is wise. I accept the order!”

Even though the Emperor explicitly ordered that no one was allowed to see the Empress, the Crown Prince still tried his best to sneak into the Phoenix Palace. However, what he did not know was that just five minutes ago, someone had already told the Empress everything that happened during the morning court assembly.

The more the Empress thought about it in the hall, the more she felt—

“The Emperor is planning to attack the Yan Family!”

“He wants to remove me and give the Empress’s position to Ji Yanran!”

The scene of Noble Consort Ji falling into the water was still vivid in her mind. She seemed to be able to see the Emperor’s cold and heartless expression when he looked at her and his face full of worry when he turned to Noble Consort Ji.

It was precisely because of this comparison that his annoyance towards her and his worry towards Noble Consort Ji became even more obvious. It was so obvious that the Empress couldn’t deceive herself even if she wanted to.

However, at this moment, there was someone who added fuel to the fire. The palace maids outside the door chattered non-stop, “Keeping private soldiers, storing weapons, and hiding the jade seal are all serious crimes that can be beheaded!”

“That’s not all. I heard that Commander Han has an old grudge with the Yan Family to begin with. Now, he’s even revealed all the past events. Oh, right, I heard that he has found many witnesses!”

“Do you still remember that Yan Lu from the past, Official Yan?”

“I heard that Official Yan wasn’t the one who coveted the repair of the dam at all, but our…”

The Empress’s face was already twisted.

“There’s more. Back then, in order to hide the fact that they were greedy, the Yan Family killed all 123 members of Commander Han’s family! That was an extermination!”

“That scary? Don’t talk nonsense about such a big matter!”

“Who’s spouting nonsense! Do you remember the Lei Family? They were the ones who did this. After that, the Yan Family silenced the Lei Family’s uncle and nephew. They thought that it would be seamless, but who knew that Commander Han was already prepared and hid them? I heard that he had already brought them to His Majesty!”

The Empress’s face was pale as she heard the palace maids say, “Aiya, from the looks of it, can our Mistress’s position still be maintained?”

“What position is there to protect? She might not even be able to keep her life!”

The Empress finally couldn’t help but kick open the door. “How dare you! How dare you gossip about your mistress! Drag them away and beat them to death!”

The palace maids who were gossiping begged for mercy, but the Empress still had her dignity in her palace. Soon, someone pulled them down as they cried.

“A group of ignorant fools. The Yan Family and I were just framed. With my father’s ability, he will soon find out who the mastermind is!”

She knew the manor the best. All the weapons, jade seals, gold, silver, and jewelry were nonexistent!

However, there were so many things. Even if Han Qing had extraordinary abilities, it was impossible for her to sneak them in.

The Empress paced back and forth, and it was unknown what thoughts were running through her mind. Not only did her expression gradually calm down, but she also took a deep breath and tidied up her clothes. “Follow me to find Noble Consort Ji.”

What she did not know was that not long after she left, the palace servant in charge of punishments started running around like a headless fly. Where were they? Where were the palace maids who were sent here to be flogged just now?

Speaking of which, they didn’t seem familiar. She didn’t seem to have heard of any newcomers entering the Phoenix Palace recently.

Moreover, they were so strange. They sounded like they were crying just now, but when they looked at their faces carefully, they were clearly smiling. There was not a single tear on their faces. Everyone’s expressions seemed to be engraved on their faces. Now that they thought about it, it was terrifying.

A chill ran down her back, making the palace maid rub her arms.

Those palace maids were eerie.

Her deputy also gritted her teeth. “Could it be the vengeful spirits in the palace…”

When the Crown Prince arrived, the Empress had already rushed in front of Noble Consort Ji.

The sun was just right today. Noble Consort Ji, who felt that she had gained weight after being fed by Xiaoxiao, felt that she needed to come out for a walk. Hence, she dismissed her servants and practiced the Five Animal Play that Xiaoxiao had taught her in the courtyard. It was said that it could strengthen her body.

There was indeed a feeling of freedom after practicing, but her movements were not elegant, so she did not want others to see her.

Usually, no one would disturb her, but halfway through today, she heard a familiar voice.

“Ji Yanran, you’re good!”

She turned around and saw a raised hand.

Noble Consort Ji dodged to the side and glared at the person at the same time. “What are you trying to do, Your Majesty?”

At this moment, she was drenched in sweat, but her face was rosy. Hence, not only did she not look embarrassed, but she also looked even more charming. This made the Empress even more jealous.

“Ji Yanran, how dare you mess around in the harem just because you’re pretty!” “Tell me! Whose bastard is the child in your stomach?”

Noble Consort Ji was stunned. What… was in her stomach?

Was the Empress crazy?

In the Empress’s eyes, Noble Consort Ji’s confusion turned into guilt.

The Empress sneered and approached. “I was wondering why you were so kind as to give such a huge manor to me and the Crown Prince. It turns out…”

She then looked at Noble Consort Ji’s lower abdomen, which was no longer as thin as before. “So you’re paving the way for your bastard..”