After a master of metaphysics severed ties with his family, the whole family was filled with regret!

Chapter 41 Substituting one thing for another
Consort Jiang was stunned when she heard the charge from the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, I did not drug Consort Chen. I am innocent. I beg Your Majesty to investigate the truth and clear my name!"

How could Consort Jiang possibly admit to something she didn't do?
Moreover, giving other concubines contraceptives is a serious crime! At worst, she could be sentenced to death! At the very least, she'd be banished to the Cold Palace! That would ruin her life!

"Very well, since you want the truth, then I will give you the truth. Guards, search Consort Jiang's palace immediately! I and she will wait here!"

The Empress Dowager slammed her fist on the table in a rage, then ordered a search of Luoheng Palace.

When Consort Jiang heard the Empress Dowager's words, panic appeared in her eyes. It wasn't that she felt guilty, but rather that she was afraid someone was deliberately framing her, and that if she did, she wouldn't be able to explain herself no matter how hard she tried.

Luo Chujiu understood the worry in Consort Jiang's eyes, so she suggested that she go with the Empress Dowager's people.

"Your Majesty, shall I go with your people? It would serve as a witness. What do you think?"

The Empress Dowager looked Luo Chujiu up and down, and felt that the matter was already settled. Even if Luo Chujiu went with her, it would not change the outcome.

"Alright, then you will represent Consort Jiang and go and see for yourself how the stolen goods were found!"

Seeing that the Empress Dowager seemed certain that she would find something in Luoheng Palace, Luo Chu felt it was even more necessary for her to go with her.

Upon hearing Luo Chujiu's words, Consort Jiang could only place her hopes on her, hoping that she could help her.

Luo Chujiu stepped forward, gently took Consort Jiang's hand, and comforted her:

"Don't worry, Consort Jiang, I will keep a close eye on things and will absolutely not give anyone the opportunity to deliberately harm you."

This time, Luo Chujiu did not call Consort Jiang "Cousin Kuikui" but directly called her Consort Jiang. Consort Jiang immediately understood her meaning, nodded, and looked forward to her return.

Watching Luo Chujiu and the Empress Dowager's people leave together, Consort Jiang suddenly felt much more at ease and patiently waited for their return.

Luo Chujiu returned to Luoheng Palace with the people in charge of the search from the Empress Dowager's side. The palace servants of Luoheng Palace were a little worried when they saw that only Luo Chujiu had returned, and that she had brought a fierce-looking old woman with her.

Before the palace servants could ask Luo Chujiu anything, the old woman went straight to Consort Jiang's bedroom and began searching.

Luo Chujiu stared intently at the old woman. She went straight to under the bed, pulled out a small box, opened it, and found contraceptive medicine inside.

"Look! This is the contraceptive medicine that Consort Jiang secretly kept! Let's see what excuse she has this time!"

The action was swift and the target was clear, so fast that Luo Chujiu couldn't react in time. Moreover, with so many people watching, it was, in a sense, "conclusive evidence."

but--

This remains to be discussed.

Luo Chujiu then returned to the Empress Dowager's palace.

When Consort Jiang saw Luo Chujiu, her eyes were full of hope, but when she saw her serious expression, she knew that something bad was about to happen.

"Your Majesty, this was found under Consort Jiang's bed in her bedroom! Please take a look!"

The nanny handed the medicine packet to the Empress Dowager, whose eyes lit up with excitement upon seeing it:
"Fine, Jiang, what do you have to say in your defense! We've already found stolen goods in your room, what do you have to say now!"

The Empress Dowager stated definitively that it was Consort Jiang who was responsible. Consort Jiang's eyes were red, and she didn't know what had happened.

"Your Majesty, I didn't hide anything under my bed. Someone must have put it there beforehand to frame me. I really don't know anything!"

Consort Jiang was terrified. The Empress Dowager already disliked her, and now she had found this thing in her room. Now, she couldn't clear her name even if she jumped into the pond!
"Do you think I'm a fool? Perfect, the Imperial Preceptor's junior sister also witnessed all of this. Ask her if she saw anyone deliberately stuffing things under your bed?" The Empress Dowager sneered, her eyes full of mockery, thinking that Consort Jiang was just putting up a stubborn resistance and was doing nothing of value.

Seeing the Empress Dowager turn her gaze to her, Luo Chujiu suddenly had an idea. Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, she put her hands behind her back, then secretly drew a talisman on her palm with her fingers, and then looked at the Empress Dowager again:

"Although this medicine was found under Consort Jiang's bed, I still have a question: how did the Empress Dowager know that this medicine was a contraceptive and not some other kind of medicine? I am well-versed in pharmacology; may I take a look at this packet of medicine?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager raised the corners of her lips in disdain. "Granny, give her a good look at the medicine."

"Yes."

The nanny took the medicine packet from the Empress Dowager and handed it to Luo Chujiu.

When the medicine packet was placed in Luo Chujiu's palm, a faint light appeared underneath it, but no one noticed it.

Luo Chujiu opened the medicine packet, smelled it, and then frowned.

"So, is this medicine a contraceptive or not?"

Seeing Luo Chujiu's expression, the Empress Dowager felt reassured.

"Your Majesty, this is not a contraceptive, but a tonic for women to nourish their yin."

Upon hearing Luo Chujiu's words, the Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with disbelief!

"That's impossible!" the old woman exclaimed, not believing what Luo Chujiu was saying.

"If the Empress Dowager does not believe me, she may summon the imperial physicians to ask them whether I am lying or not."

Luo Chujiu's confident demeanor aroused the Empress Dowager's suspicion, and she exchanged a glance with the nanny.

"You're in cahoots with Consort Jiang! Your words are not to be trusted! Guards, take Consort Jiang away! She'll be awaiting her fate!"

The Empress Dowager wanted to settle the matter quickly, so she didn't want the imperial physicians to come and check if the medicine packet was a contraceptive. As long as she herself determined it was a contraceptive, that was enough!
"Wait a minute——"

Xiao Jinglin's voice came from here, and then everyone looked up and saw Xiao Jinglin stride in.

"His Majesty."

Consort Jiang looked at Xiao Jinglin with a pitiful expression, which made Xiao Jinglin feel heartbroken.

"Why is Your Majesty in such a hurry to convict Consort Jiang? It's perfect timing. I've brought the imperial physician with me. Let him examine what's in this medicine packet."

When Luo Chujiu and the nanny returned to Luoheng Palace, Luo Chujiu had someone tell Xiao Jinglin about the matter.

To save Consort Jiang, they could only rely on Xiao Jinglin. Luo Chujiu knew she didn't have the ability to fight against imperial power in the palace, so she had to call for outside help.

When the Empress Dowager saw Xiao Jinglin arrive, she couldn't help but frown.

"Your Majesty cannot continue to favor Lady Jiang like this. You might not even know if she harms you one day!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Consort Jiang is kind-hearted, innocent and lovely, and would never harm me. However, I believe that someone is deliberately trying to frame Consort Jiang. Physician Mo, come and examine this medicine packet to see what is inside."

(End of this chapter)