TRBDM -Chapter 228 The Imperial Consort Confesses

“Humph.”

Zhao Jingyan flicked his sleeve and sank back into his seat, his face twisted with ferocity.

“Minister Jiang, begin the interrogation,” Zhao Lingchen said.

“Yes.”

Jiang Yuelin stepped forward.

“Chun Gui, you claimed that you were ordered by the Imperial Noble Consort to poison the Young Prince. Do you have evidence?”

“Yes.”

Chun Gui drew a handkerchief from her sleeve. “Back then, the Imperial Noble Consort wrapped the poison in this handkerchief and gave it to your humble servant.”

Jiang Yuelin took the handkerchief and displayed it for everyone to see.

In the upper left corner of the handkerchief was a family crest of the Gao household, embroidered in golden ice-silk threads.

“Everyone, you recognize the Gao family crest, right? And the embroidery—made of ice-silk gold—only the Imperial Noble Consort could afford to use such material in the entire harem.”

Ice-silk gold—the kind that made the Empress envious to her very core. She, the true head of the harem, could not afford it.

Because of this, the Imperial Noble Consort could not deny the accusation.

Jiang Yuelin turned to the Imperial Noble Consort. “Is that correct, Your Highness?”

The Imperial Noble Consort, flustered and furious, denied it vehemently: “No, no, she’s lying!”

Chun Gui spoke firmly: “Your humble servant is not lying. The handkerchief still bears traces of the poison. I dare to request that the coroner examine it to see whether it matches the poisoned cake the Young Prince once ate.”

The Imperial Noble Consort’s mouth dropped open. Her head, heavy with pearls and jewels, trembled all over.

The Empress, already anxious, immediately said: “Someone, summon the coroner at once!”

Soon, a servant ran off to fetch him.

Gao Yong and his cohort were caught off guard by Zhao Lingchen. He swallowed hard and said, “Your Highness, this is an old case that could be investigated another day. Today’s priority is the enthronement of the new Emperor.”

Zhao Lingchen raised an eyebrow: “But I believe this must be investigated now. The Eldest Prince was deposed from the position of Crown Prince because he had no heirs. Now there is someone accusing the Imperial Noble Consort of poisoning the Young Prince—and she is the mother of the Third Prince. If the Young Prince were still alive, it should have been the Eldest Prince ascending today. So why are we here choosing one candidate over another?”

“…”

Gao Yong was struck speechless.

Jiang Yuelin stood before Chun Gui, shielding her from Zhao Jingyan’s murderous gaze: “Prime Minister Gao, rest assured, the Ministry of Justice will conduct a thorough investigation. The Imperial Noble Consort will not be wronged.”

The two words “thorough investigation” were exactly what Gao Yong least wanted to hear.

If the investigation continued, the Imperial Noble Consort’s guilt in poisoning the Young Prince would be confirmed.

He glanced at the palace guards in the council hall. Though they appeared relaxed, they had effectively secured the Forbidden Army.

Three against one—the Forbidden Army was no match.

They had been careless.

The Princess had come well-prepared; the Third Prince’s faction was forced onto the defensive.

Although their situation was disadvantageous, they were not yet at a dead end.

If necessary, there was one last step: to stage a palace coup.

Besides the guards in the council hall, Gao Yong had stationed the rest of the Forbidden Army and palace guards at every gate in the palace, preventing outsiders from entering and forbidding anyone inside from sneaking out to call for reinforcements.

The total number of troops reached a thousand.

Zhao Lingchen had only brought thirty elite guards—not even worth fearing.

Having schemed everything in his mind, Gao Yong sat back, tacitly accepting Jiang Yuelin’s statement.

Soon, the coroner arrived.

He carefully picked up the handkerchief, sniffed it, examined it, and used a small brush to collect the dark residue of the poison.

After the burning of a single incense stick, the coroner reported: “Your Highness, the poison on the handkerchief is exactly the same as that in the Young Prince’s poisoned date cake.”

The hall erupted in astonishment.

The Noble Consort’s body went limp, collapsing into the arms of her personal maid.

Zhao Lingchen said, “Oh, so it seems that all the evidence—both witnesses and material proof—confirm that the Noble Consort instructed a maid to poison the Young Prince.”

Jiang Yuelin added, “Eldest Princess is correct. I can confirm that the Noble Consort is the mastermind behind the poisoning of the Young Prince.”

The Noble Consort denied it frantically: “It wasn’t me! That vile woman is slandering me. I don’t even know her, let alone let her poison the Young Prince!”

Her denial won no one’s approval.

Zhao Jingyan gripped the armrest so tightly that his back teeth were nearly crushed.

“Big Brother, they’ve teamed up to frame me. You have to stand up for me!” The Noble Consort pinned her hopes on Gao Yong.

Gao Yong looked at her, about to speak, but Zhao Lingchen interrupted: “Minister Gao, the emperor and commoner alike are equal before the law. With both witness and material evidence in place, what’s left to argue?”

Zhao Jingyan could no longer hold back and tried to stand to retort, but Gao Yong held him down.

“Eldest Princess is right. In this case, I have no objection to whatever disposition is decided.”

Zhao Jingyan was incredulous: “Uncle?”

Gao Yong shook his head at him, signaling him to remain silent.

The Noble Consort still clung to her fantasy of becoming Empress Dowager and refused to easily accept guilt: “Big Brother? I… I really didn’t do it!”

Gao Yong closed his eyes, refusing to look at her.

Zhao Lingchen casually clapped his hands: “Minister Gao shows great righteousness. Guards, escort the Noble Consort to the Cold Palace. Judgment will be issued on a later date.”

The Noble Consort’s face went pale with panic. She wanted to beg her brother for help, but from the earlier scene, it was clear that Gao Yong had abandoned her.

Soon, she calmed herself.

She should prioritize the greater situation and not jeopardize Zhao Jingyan’s succession.

“Princess Royal, this matter was entirely my doing. It has nothing to do with Jingyan.”

The Noble Consort took all the blame upon herself.

As long as Zhao Jingyan ascended the throne, her own fortunes would follow. There was no need to fight for pride or power right now.

“Everyone has heard it. The Noble Consort has confessed. She claims this matter is unrelated to the Third Prince. Do you believe her?”

“Yes.”

“Believe it.”

The ministers below echoed in agreement.

“Good. In that case, escort the Noble Consort to the Cold Palace.”

Her face was darker than coal. Pretending calm, she left the Council Hall.

The jingling of her pearls and ornaments, once melodious like a lark, now sounded like crows, so humiliating that she wished she could tear them all off.

Once the Noble Consort departed, the Council Hall fell silent.

The Empress stepped forward: “Thank you, Lingchen, for uncovering the true culprit for my son. Xuan’er, come here, and thank Lingchen.”

Zhao Jingxuan, battered by successive blows, walked like a soulless corpse, having not spoken a word the entire time.

He obediently followed the Empress’s instructions and bowed to Zhao Lingchen: “Thank you, Elder Sister.”

“No need for formalities. It’s what I should do.”

With the major matter resolved, the Empress did not wish to witness the new emperor’s ascension firsthand. She said her farewells to Zhao Lingchen: “Xuan’er and I will take our leave. Minister Jiang and Lingchen, thank you for your efforts regarding the sentencing.”

With that, she departed with Zhao Jingxuan.

The poisoning incident made the ministers glance at Gao Yong and Zhao Jingyan with hesitation. Though they had staunchly supported the Third Prince, learning that even a two-year-old child had not been spared sent chills down their spines.

They were part of the Third Prince’s faction, but they could never know when a boomerang might strike them in return.

Gao Yong stood and said, “Princess Royal, can we now proceed to select the new emperor?”

Zhao Lingchen raised a hand: “Of course. Minister Gao, do you still support the Third Prince?”

Her rhetorical question drew Gao Yong’s displeasure: “Naturally, Third Prince. And Princess Royal, do you still choose the Ninth Prince?”

Zhao Lingchen shrugged: “Of course, him.”