Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1306: Demoted to a commoner and banished to the cold palace

Concubine Zhuang seemed to have heard a huge joke, and was extremely angry at this shameless accusation.

She looked at Concubine Chun in disbelief, and said bitterly, "Concubine Chun, how long are you going to keep slandering me?"

"Although Yun'er was not raised by me, I treat her as my own. How could I joke about her life?"

"You are just trying to muddy the waters and exonerate yourself by accusing others of this."

Concubine Chun had been forced into a desperate situation and blurted out, "Treating her like her own daughter? Ha!"

"The eldest princess isn't your biological daughter, why are you pretending to be such a loving mother?!"

"You just want to use her to consolidate your favor and then use her to get rid of the concubines!"

These words were extremely sharp and instantly tore through Concubine Zhuang's disguise.

Concubine Zhuang pointed at Concubine Chun, her lips trembling with anger. After a long while, she sobbed, "Your Majesty, please listen..."

"Noble Lady Chun failed to poison Yun'er, and now she's trying to sow discord between us mother and daughter in this vicious way, turning the tables and blaming us!"

"Your Highness... Your Highness really..."

She seemed so grief-stricken that she could not speak, and only shed silent tears, and this look was more powerful than any accusation.

Concubine Chun watched Concubine Zhuang's performance and the emperor's increasingly cold eyes, and her heart was filled with despair.

She understood that despite all her calculations, she had underestimated Concubine Zhuang's viciousness and meticulousness, and fell step by step into the deadly trap she had carefully prepared...

All the excuses seem pale and powerless at this moment.

Concubine Chun could only bang her head heavily on the floor tiles, making a dull sound, and her voice was filled with endless despair: "Your Majesty, every word I said is true!"

"It is the Imperial Concubine who is framing me! Your Majesty, please trust me! Your Majesty, please see clearly!"

However, Chun Guiren's cries and pleas seemed so hollow and ridiculous in the face of Su Quanye's confession, Zhuang Guifei's grief and indignation, and those ironclad evidences...

Nangong Xuanyu looked down at this increasingly ugly farce, his eyes cold and without any warmth.

The Jura Powder was found in Concubine Chun's bedroom, and the eldest princess had been poisoned upon returning from her Shuixi Pavilion. The evidence was overwhelming, with the perpetrator apprehended red-handed.

For this crime, it would not be excessive to execute the entire family.

But... as Concubine Chun said, a helpless woman from the Western Regions murdered the eldest princess just to avenge Concubine Zhuang? The price she paid was too high.

If it was indeed some power in the Western Regions, using Concubine Chun to stir up trouble, or if someone in the imperial court wanted to use this to stir up trouble...

Killing Concubine Chun at this moment would undoubtedly cut off the most important clue.

Moreover, this woman was a hidden chess piece he used to test and even control the King of Jin. It would be a pity to just waste her like this.

However, the royal heir was poisoned, which is a horrific act. If he is not severely punished, where is the dignity of the royal family and where are the rules of the harem?

Wouldn’t everyone be able to follow suit in the future?

In an instant, countless considerations had gone through the emperor's mind.

He spoke slowly, his voice cold and majestic, deciding Concubine Chun's fate: "Concubine Chun possesses a deadly poison and is suspected of plotting to murder the heir to the throne. Her crime is unforgivable!"

Hearing this, Concubine Chun's heart sank to the bottom of the valley and her face turned as pale as paper.

A hint of pleasure flashed in Concubine Zhuang's eyes, but she did not show it.

The emperor paused for a moment before continuing, "But considering that you have just lost the prince and are mentally disturbed, I am afraid that you may have made a mistake. Therefore, I will show some mercy."

"From now on, your noble status will be abolished, you will be demoted to a commoner, and banished to the cold palace!"

This verdict not only severely punished the murderer and preserved the royal family's reputation and law, but unexpectedly spared Baharguli's life.

A hint of disbelief flashed in Concubine Zhuang's eyes.

To murder the royal heir is to be dealt with so lightly?

Your Majesty only banished Baharguli to the cold palace and spared this woman's life?

But Concubine Zhuang had always been known for her compassion, generosity, and generosity. Even though she was convulsed and extremely unwilling, she would never dare to speak out and demand that the emperor execute Baharguli immediately.

This is completely contrary to the personality she carefully maintains and will arouse suspicion.

She could only quickly control her emotions, revealing a complex expression of both heartache and a hint of reluctance. She addressed the convicted Baharguli with a deep and compassionate voice, "Your Majesty is merciful and will spare your life. You...you will take care of yourself."

"The cold palace is a harsh place. I hope you can truly repent and turn over a new leaf. Don't let down the grace of heaven again."

These words, made by the victim, exhorted the perpetrator to do good, undoubtedly highlighting the image of generosity and kindness.

Baharguli knelt on the ground, her body shaking uncontrollably.

Anger, resentment, injustice, and a hint of relief at surviving the disaster...all kinds of complicated emotions were madly intertwined in her heart.

The cold palace...a place that is not much better than death!

But Baharguli knew that this was the best result she could achieve given the emperor's suspicious weighing of pros and cons.

At least, my life was saved.

As long as you are alive, you still have a chance!

Baharguli raised her tearful face, her eyes swept across Concubine Zhuang's hypocritical appearance, and finally fixed on Nangong Xuanyu's cold face.

Her voice was filled with immense grievance and a hint of stubbornness that refused to yield as she spoke word for word, "Thank you, Your Majesty... for sparing my life!"

"But I...I am innocent!"

"I believe that the truth will come to light one day, clearing the injustice I have suffered today!"

Baharguli did not become hysterical. Instead, she held back her tears and reiterated her innocence in an almost stubborn tone.

Then she bowed her head deeply and no longer looked at anyone.

The guards stepped forward and lifted Baharguli up without any courtesy.

She didn't struggle at all and let them drag her out.

Before Baharguli's figure completely disappeared, Concubine Zhuang suddenly turned around, faced Nangong Xuanyu, and bowed deeply again with a humble and remorseful attitude.

"His Majesty……"

Her voice was choked with sobs, filled with endless self-blame and fear: "The root cause of today's disaster is all my fault."

"If I hadn't been negligent in managing my subordinates and failed to supervise them, causing Baharguli to lose the prince and harbor resentment, she...she wouldn't have been so jealous and resentful that she would have extended her murderous hand to the innocent Yun'er, nearly killing her..."

"I have failed your Majesty's trust and have failed Yun'er. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Concubine Zhuang's words were heartfelt and heart-wrenching, and she took all the blame on herself.

It seems that she is taking the blame and apologizing, but in fact, every word she says is quietly confirming Baharguli's motives and crimes.

It perfectly explains why Baharguli would risk the world's condemnation to commit such an evil act, and also completely clears herself from suspicion.

Shen Zhinian stood quietly by and took in all of Concubine Zhuang's flawless performance of retreating to advance.