I, the primordial ancestor, started out as a useless cult and a useless saint.

Chapter 104

At this point, Xiao Yanzi hurriedly grabbed Ziwei's hand, her eyes filled with pleading: "Quickly tell the Emperor that it's all a misunderstanding. Ziwei, we're sworn sisters, we promised to share both good times and bad. Please plead for me, I really don't want to die!"

However, faced with Xiao Yanzi's pleading, Ziwei felt an inexplicable surge of pleasure. These past few days, Rong Momo's brainwashing had been gnawing at her heart like a venomous snake, deepening her resentment towards Xiao Yanzi. Now that the truth was out, Ziwei not only didn't want to lend a helping hand, but instead wanted to crush the person who had taken everything from her.

A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips, her eyes full of mockery: "Little Swallow, you've always been fearless, always saying you'd rather die than lose your head, so why are you scared now? Hmph, how ridiculous."

"You said good sisters share happiness and hardship, but I am clearly the Emperor's biological daughter. In the end, you enjoyed all the happiness and wealth, while I was reduced to a lowly bondservant. Is there anyone in the world who treats their good sister like this?"

Ziwei's words were like sharp blades, piercing Xiaoyanzi's heart. She grinned, her cold laughter unending, as if she wanted to unleash all her resentment: "Heaven's sins may be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins are unforgivable. Your current predicament is retribution for your insatiable greed and desires. You want me to plead for you? No way!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yanzi was filled with rage, but she knew that she was powerless to change anything at this moment. She could only pretend to be hurt and look at Ziwei with heartache: "How could you say such a thing to me? Are you still the dignified, elegant, gentle and kind Ziwei I know?" Her eyes were filled with disappointment and incomprehension, as if she were looking at a stranger.

Little Swallow's relentless pursuit, like the last fallen leaf in autumn, carried endless sorrow and resentment, slowly and heavily landing on Ziwei's heart. Her eyes reddened, like two deep lakes about to overflow with tears of grief. Her voice trembled, each word seemingly squeezed out from the depths of her heart: "How could someone so beautiful say such cruel things? This isn't you, Ziwei!" Those eyes, once sparkling with lively light, were now filled with incomprehension and pain, as if she were looking at a complete stranger.

Yongqi stood to the side, his heart feeling as if it were being repeatedly cut by an invisible blade, the pain almost unbearable. He gazed at the scene before him, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions. The confrontation between Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi filled him with an unprecedented sense of powerlessness and sorrow. He pointed a finger gently at Ziwei, his tone laced with reproach and helplessness, and said to Xiaoyanzi, "Xiaoyanzi, she's your sister! Can you really bear to watch her die? She risked her life to enter the hunting grounds, almost getting shot by my arrow. Everything she did was for you. This isn't what she wanted either. Why can't you think more about her?" Yongqi's words were tinged with a deep sigh, as if a final elegy to this complex and tangled web of emotions.

Upon hearing this, Ziwei's lips curled into a bitter smile, a smile concealing immense bitterness and sorrow. The desolation on her face deepened, like frost settling in winter, chilling to the bone. "One is my dearest friend, the other my own brother, and you both accuse me, the victim. It's like drinking cold water on a freezing winter's day; every drop chills to the bone. Justice is clear; aren't you afraid of retribution? If I were truly cold-blooded and heartless, I would have exposed your disguise long ago. Why wait until today, when the Emperor questions me?" Ziwei's voice was filled with sarcasm and despair, her fingers gripping the hem of her dress tightly, as if it were her only solace.

She turned abruptly, pointing at Yongqi, her tone full of sarcasm and heartache: "You say everything Xiaoyanzi did was for me? When she first took my name, knowing I was in mourning, she still paraded around the palace in bright red and green clothes, making people laugh at Xia Yuhe for giving birth to an unfilial daughter. And why did she cause trouble everywhere, and after being punished by the Emperor, use my mother as a shield, feigning pitifulness to gain sympathy, claiming to be a motherless child?" Ziwei's words were like sharp arrows, piercing Yongqi, leaving him speechless for a moment.

Yongqi opened his mouth, but could only stammer, "I—" His eyes were filled with guilt and helplessness, as if Ziwei's words had struck the softest part of his heart.

Ziwei's anger erupted like a volcano, becoming uncontrollable. She shouted, "Speechless now? My dearest friend, my own brother, and Erkang, Ertai, Consort Ling, and others—you all schemed against me! What did I do wrong to deserve this?" Tears streamed down her face like broken beads, each drop carrying endless grievances and rage.

Seeing this, Erkang was secretly anxious. He knew that things had escalated beyond repair, and if Emperor Qianlong questioned them, none of them would escape blame. To escape this predicament, he could only place his hopes on Ziwei, the real princess. After all, royal blood was like a get-out-of-jail-free card, offering them a glimmer of hope.

So, Erkang began to publicly recount his days spent with Ziwei, vividly describing every detail of their time together, watching the snow and the moon. He believed that Qianlong would suspect they had become intimate. In this unliberated era, intimacy between men and women meant loss of chastity, and Ziwei, to preserve her reputation, had no choice but to marry Erkang.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianlong's face instantly turned ashen, as dark as the bottom of a pot, his eyes blazing with fury. He could not accept the behavior of an unmarried woman having an affair with another man, and he couldn't understand how Xia Yuhe had raised her daughter. Previously, Xiao Yanzi would always use her deceased mother as an excuse to escape punishment whenever she got into trouble, but now, Xia Yuhe's "credit card" had been completely maxed out.

Emperor Qianlong's rage erupted like a volcano, venting his fury on Ziwei and Erkang, without reflecting on his own mistakes whatsoever. Although Ziwei was unaware of Erkang's sinister intentions, her intuition told her that his words were untrustworthy. She sarcastically remarked, "True sincerity isn't something you can just talk about! You and Xiaoyanzi are in cahoots, plotting against me. Do you really think I'm a fool? Don't think I don't know; your purpose is nothing more than to exploit my royal bloodline to change the status of the Fu family."

Li Qingge's conversation with Rong Mama before her departure was like a beacon, illuminating the fog in Ziwei's heart. When Rong Mama was brainwashing Ziwei, she also mentioned the schemes of Consort Ling and the Fu family, which intensified Ziwei's anger. She finally understood that Erkang's good intentions were also feigned. Now, hearing his words filled her with nothing but hatred and disgust, and she ruthlessly exposed his lies.

Erkang was speechless, stunned by Ziwei's words, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. He had never imagined that Ziwei, whom he had always regarded as a weak woman, could so keenly see through his thoughts. He opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but found himself speechless.

A sly glint flashed in Ziwei's eyes. She sneered, "Did I say something wrong? I was foolish before to believe your lies. Now I understand. Don't try to deceive me with sweet words anymore. Deceiving the emperor is a capital offense, and none of you will escape today." Her voice was filled with determination and resolve, as if she had already prepared for the worst.

Erkang, Ertai, and the others were stunned by Ziwei's words. They had never imagined that this woman from another family could see through the power struggles and intrigues of the imperial court. Qianlong was even more enraged upon hearing this. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "You ignorant and foolish servants! How dare you scheme against my bloodline! Do you really think that just because of Consort Ling's favor, I won't dare to kill you?"

Erkang trembled with fear and quickly kowtowed, begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, I truly had no intention of plotting against Ziwei. My feelings for Ziwei are genuine." His voice was filled with fear and sincerity, but Qianlong remained unmoved.

Ertai chimed in, "Your Majesty, it's not that we knew but didn't report it. It's just that Your Majesty had already accepted Princess Huanzhu. If we revealed the truth, wouldn't that have cost Xiaoyanzi her innocent life? Besides, Xiaoyanzi's appearance brought Your Majesty a lot of joy. Your Majesty once said that she was your source of happiness. We really couldn't bear to disappoint you, so we kept it a secret." His words were full of helplessness and bitterness, trying to find a reasonable explanation for their actions.

Erkang further explained, "Your Majesty, let's be frank. If we truly harbored ill intentions and plotted against you, why didn't we kill Ziwei after Your Majesty had already accepted Princess Huanzhu? If Ziwei were dead, the truth would be buried forever. Our actions were not to deceive Your Majesty, but out of respect and love for you, and we couldn't bear to harm you." His words were earnest, attempting to move Qianlong's heart.

Yongqi chimed in, looking at Qianlong with eyes full of admiration, his voice brimming with deep affection and determination: "Yes, Father, if we truly intended to conceal this, we would have killed Ziwei, this precious princess, long ago. Father, you may not trust Xiaoyanzi, Erkang, and Ertai, but surely you trust your son? I grew up by your side since childhood, receiving your personal education and upbringing. How could I be the kind of person who plots to deceive the Emperor and rebels against his authority?" His words were filled with reverence and trust for Qianlong, attempting to move him with his own identity and emotions.

These words, a combination of gentle persuasion and firm pressure, were both reasonable and stirred the father-son bond. Upon hearing them, Qianlong's heart softened. Looking at Yongqi's familiar face, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up within him. Yes, Yongqi was the child he had personally raised—talented in both literature and martial arts, honest and kind—how could he be a treacherous person?

However, Qianlong's anger had not completely subsided. He knew the seriousness of the matter, which concerned not only the face of the imperial family but also the stability of imperial power. He had to find a suitable solution that could both uphold the dignity of the imperial family and quell the storm. So, after a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "This matter is of great importance, and I need time to consider it carefully. You may all leave now. I will make a decision after I have ascertained the truth."

One of Emperor Qianlong's major flaws was his extraordinary obsession with saving face, as smooth as a mirror, intolerant of even the slightest imperfection. His son, Yongqi, was well aware of this trait, and thus skillfully exploited this weakness, like a master musician gently plucking the strings of his heart.

Seeing that Qianlong's expression had softened slightly, Yongqi continued gently, like a spring breeze, "Father, although Xiaoyanzi deceived you in some ways, her feelings for you are absolutely genuine. Think back to these past few days; the joy she brought you is beyond compare."

Little Swallow, this usually somewhat roguish but exceptionally clever girl, now had a glint in her eye and quickly replied, "Yes, Father Emperor, I truly didn't mean to deceive you. It was all a twist of fate that made me this princess. So many times, I wanted to tell the truth, but when I saw your loving eyes, my heart softened. How I long to have a father like you!"

Seeing this, Erkang quickly joined the emotional outpouring: "Your Majesty, this matter of the real and fake princesses is actually a beautiful misunderstanding. We know it's a crime of deceiving the emperor, but we can't extricate ourselves from it. It's only because we love you so much that we've been trying to find a way to satisfy both Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi, so that it's been delayed until now!"

Not to be outdone, Ertai eagerly added, "Your Majesty, although Xiao Yanzi is not a real princess, her feelings for you are absolutely genuine. Please forgive her for this deception, for the sake of her sincerity."

Everyone knelt down, their words filled with the deep affection and earnestness of a romance novel, as if a meticulously choreographed play were slowly unfolding in the hall.

Emperor Qianlong's mind was already as volatile as duckweed, and now he was even more shocked by this bewitching brainwashing, almost losing himself in it.

Fulongan, Granny Tian, ​​Li Yu, and the others were all dumbfounded, as if they had witnessed the most incredible spectacle in the world. They were speechless, yet secretly admired these people's eloquence and brainwashing abilities, which were truly rare.

Just as Qianlong's heart began to soften, and he wanted to downplay the matter, a majestic and cold female voice suddenly rang out outside the palace, like a thunderclap piercing the sky, shaking everyone's hearts.

"What a group of eloquent people! With such talent, it's a waste that they're not performing in operas!"

As the voice faded, Li Qingge, dressed in a crimson dragon robe, slowly entered the main hall, supported by Rong Mama. A half-smile played on her lips, as if she were quite interested in this spectacle.

Emperor Qianlong was greatly surprised and exclaimed, "Queen Jin... Queen of the Great Yan Dynasty, you... how did you get here?"

Upon seeing the arrival of the Great Yan Emperor, Yongqi, Erkang, and the others were all startled and quickly bowed in respect. Although Fulongan hated Li Qingge to the core, he could only bow his head and submit to imperial power and military might.

Li Qingge glanced around at everyone, a charming smile playing on her lips: "If I didn't come to enjoy this grand spectacle of the real and fake princesses, wouldn't I be letting down all your hard work?"

Emperor Qianlong frowned, clearly surprised by Li Qingge's sudden appearance. Rong Momo, seeing Li Qingge's preemptive strike, secretly admired her foresight. It turned out that Li Qingge had been corresponding with the Empress and knew the secret of the fake princess was about to be exposed. With the evidence the Empress possessed, proving the matter wouldn't be difficult, but considering Qianlong's susceptibility to manipulation, they worried that the main characters' persuasive abilities would soften his heart, and therefore decided to have Li Qingge handle it personally.

Xiao Yanzi and the others secretly groaned when they saw Li Qingge suppress Qianlong's imposing aura upon her arrival and even target them. Li Qingge's gaze shifted, first turning to Erkang, her voice cold and authoritative: "The heinous crime of deceiving the emperor by substituting one thing for another and confusing the royal bloodline has been presented by you as loyalty and love for the emperor. If everyone uses the name of 'love' to deceive and conceal things, wouldn't the country descend into chaos?"

Li Qingge knew Qianlong's weaknesses well, so her words struck at the heart of the matter, elevating it to the level of national interest. Sure enough, Qianlong's face immediately turned ashen, so dark it seemed about to crack. Xiao Yanzi and the others were terrified, their faces pale. They hadn't expected the Queen of Great Yan's words to shatter their defenses so easily.

Emperor Qianlong's face was cold and stern as he said indifferently, "The Queen of Great Yan is right. If everyone were like you, the country would cease to be a country. To confuse the royal bloodline is a crime punishable by death, and cannot be easily let off with a few words. If we treat you lightly today, you will surely become even more outrageous and lawless in the future. I absolutely cannot tolerate your distortion of the truth."

Li Qingge thought to herself that this was precisely why the main characters felt Qianlong was easy to talk to; no matter how much trouble they caused, their benevolent and wise father would forgive them. However, this indulgence would only make them more reckless. Li Qingge's sympathy for Qianlong lasted only three seconds before her heart hardened again at the thought of his troubles.

She said solemnly, "A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. A prince is subject to the same law as a commoner, and no one can violate this rule. Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, am I right?" Her words, though seemingly casual, carried a heavy pressure that Qianlong could not evade.

Emperor Qianlong's expression changed slightly, and he nodded, saying, "The Queen is right. A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. A mistake is a mistake, and those who break the law must bear legal responsibility." He knew Li Qingge's intentions and understood the seriousness of the matter. If not handled properly, it would not only affect the Qing Dynasty's stability but also cause changes to the previously agreed-upon peaceful abdication agreement.

Thinking of this, Qianlong felt a terrible headache coming on. These damned fellows had truly ruined his life. Severely punish them! They must be punished to the bitter end!

Li Qingge turned the tables with just a few words, and Yongqi trembled with rage. He glared at Li Qingge, wanting to retort, but Qianlong slapped him hard across the face. "Shut up, you unfilial son!" Qianlong roared, appearing in front of Yongqi in a flash. This slap not only interrupted Yongqi's words but also extinguished his resentment and anger.

"ah!!!"

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a gasp shattered the tranquility. Yongqi covered his face with his hands, his astonished expression frozen in time, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at Emperor Qianlong. This was the first time in his life he had been slapped, and the one who had struck him was none other than his own father, the Emperor.

Yongqi was filled with endless doubt and humiliation. He had never imagined that his words would nearly push the Aisin Gioro imperial family into the abyss of destruction. Li Qingge, a woman who harbored resentment for being neglected and abandoned, had an extremely cold affection for the Aisin Gioro family. If it weren't for the ties to the Empress and their bloodline, the iron cavalry of the Great Yan would have already trampled the capital and made them prisoners. Qianlong understood this perfectly, which was why he considered abdicating the throne, turning enemies into friends, and continuing the family line. However, his worthless son, Yongqi, dared to spout nonsense in front of Li Qingge, claiming that this was a matter of the imperial family and that outsiders had no right to interfere. If Li Qingge was considered an outsider, she would have no reason to show mercy to the Qing imperial family. The thought that all his previous efforts might be in vain made Qianlong want to strangle his rebellious son immediately.

After being beaten, Yongqi was filled with resentment. He did not notice that Qianlong's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and his thunderous rage made the entire Hall of Mental Cultivation tremble.

"You disloyal and unfilial son, you deceive the emperor and plot against him, and even now you dare to speak sweet words and spout nonsense in front of me. If I had known you would become like this, I should have given Consort Yu a sterilization drug back then, so that you would never come into this world." Qianlong's words pierced Yongqi's heart like a knife.

Back when Empress Xiaoxian passed away, the eldest prince Yonghuang and the third prince Yongzhang were scolded by Emperor Qianlong for being "disloyal and unfilial" because they hadn't cried enough. Emperors always ruled the country with filial piety in mind, so how could an unfilial prince inherit the throne? These words completely shattered Yongqi's dream of becoming emperor.

Yongqi was struck dumb, and hurriedly crawled to his knees before Qianlong, clutching the emperor's robes and weeping bitterly: "Father, I'm innocent! You are my sovereign and father, how could I dare to be disloyal and unfilial?"

Li Qingge sneered from the side: "If you were truly filial, you wouldn't have deceived an elderly father who is over fifty. If such behavior can be called filial piety, then it's truly a lie to deceive people about filial piety."

"Queen of Great Yan, you..." Yongqi was so angry that he couldn't speak, feeling a burning rage in his heart.

"What's wrong with me? Did I say something wrong? You disregarded your own sister's life and death for a wild girl of unknown origin, and even colluded with outsiders to make her a slave. Your love is truly great." Li Qingge's words were full of sarcasm and disdain.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yanzi shrank back in fear. She had once been a fearless woman, but ever since her trip to the Great Yan and the torment she suffered at the hands of the hardened criminals, her heart had been filled with terror. The thought of the jailers' cruelty and the howling wolves in the middle of the night nearly drove her to the brink of collapse. If the jailers were so terrifying, what about the Queen of Great Yan? Her methods must be even more horrifying.

"Your Majesty, we...we didn't do anything to offend you! Why are you forcing us like this? It's all a misunderstanding. By some twist of fate, I became Princess Huanzhu. These people in the palace hold high positions and great power. What can I do?" Xiao Yanzi said weakly, her voice filled with helplessness and fear.

Ziwei sneered from the side: "Innocent? If you really didn't want to be a princess, then why do you keep causing trouble every day? Making everyone in the palace mistakenly believe that my mother doesn't know how to raise children? If you really didn't intend to take my place, then when you barged into Kunning Palace and insulted the Empress as an old witch, and the Empress wanted to enforce family discipline, why did you say that you were the Emperor's personally appointed Princess Huanzhu, and therefore you were not bound by rules and no one could discipline you?"

Xiao Yanzi was speechless, feeling a sudden panic in her heart. She had indeed once swaggered around as Princess Huanzhu, enjoying royal honors, but she had never imagined she would be in this predicament today.

Li Qingge picked up the thread, adding insult to injury: "That's right. Although I didn't stay in the Qing Palace for long, I often heard you flaunting your power and influence under the name of Princess Huanzhu, wanting the whole world to know how successful and glamorous you were. You enjoyed the royal honors and were still happy with them, showing no remorse. Now you're pretending to be innocent, it's truly disgusting."

Xiao Yanzi blushed with embarrassment, feeling utterly ashamed. Coming from humble origins, she only knew how to be reckless and impulsive; how could she possibly be a match for Li Qingge and Ziwei? Seeing that she was about to fall into a desperate situation, she began to betray her friends, the first of whom was Consort Ling.

"I'm innocent, Father! It was all Consort Ling's doing. She said I was the real princess, and the Fu family threatened me to keep it a secret or I'd die. How could I, a common girl, know the stakes? I was coaxed and intimidated into taking Ziwei's place. I'm truly innocent! I beg Father to investigate, and I beg Her Majesty the Queen to do the right thing!" Xiao Yanzi cried out, kowtowing repeatedly, as if this would clear her name.

When Erkang saw that Xiaoyanzi was framing Consort Ling and his family, he became furious and roared, "Xiaoyanzi, how dare you...!"

"Shut up!" Qianlong interrupted him, angrily rebuking, "The Queen and I haven't even spoken yet, what right do you, a mere bondservant, have to interrupt? Li Yu, go and summon Consort Ling."

Li Yu turned to head towards Yanxi Palace when she suddenly heard a shrill voice: "What real princess, fake princess? Heavens, how could such a thing happen?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Lamei helping Consort Ling in. Consort Ling looked very flustered, clearly having already learned about the situation inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

At this moment, Consort Ling was in utter confusion. The eunuch she had bribed, who was in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, rushed to Yanxi Palace to report the news upon learning that Xiao Yanzi and the others had been summoned for questioning. Upon hearing this, Consort Ling nearly fainted. Xiao Yanzi was actually a fake princess? This sudden turn of events caught her completely off guard.

However, Consort Ling had navigated the treacherous waters of the palace for twenty years, weathering countless storms and maintaining her composure through years of wits and battles with the Empress. Knowing there was no way to avoid this matter, she went directly to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. After all, she was already pregnant, and for the sake of the imperial heir, the Emperor could not punish her.

"Consort Ling, you've come at the right time. Xiao Yanzi said you threatened her, saying you wouldn't let her tell the truth or you'd take her life. Is that true?" Qianlong asked sternly, his face extremely grim. He stared intently into Consort Ling's eyes, trying to detect any panic or unease within them.

Consort Ling's heart tightened, but on the surface she pretended to be calm and replied, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! How could I dare to deceive you? I have no idea about the real or fake princesses. I beg Your Majesty to investigate." As she spoke, she knelt down and clenched her hands tightly together, trying to hide her inner panic.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingge frowned slightly, a hint of impatience flashing in her eyes. She then rolled her eyes, seemingly speechless at the farce. She stood to the side, her graceful figure swaying gently in the breeze, a stark contrast to the turmoil in the palace.

Rong Momo, the usually taciturn and aloof old nanny, suddenly spoke, her voice soft yet clear: "Your Majesty, please forgive my boldness. Do you still remember that time I accompanied the Empress to Shufangzhai to visit Princess Huanzhu, who was unconscious after being shot by an arrow? That scene is still vivid in my mind, as if it happened yesterday. At that time, in front of Your Majesty and many palace maids and eunuchs, Consort Ling praised Xiao Yanzi's appearance endlessly, saying that she looked exactly like Your Majesty, especially her eyes and eyebrows, which were almost like a direct copy of Your Majesty's. The intimacy of being born of the same mother was undeniable. It was because of these words, along with those so-called tokens, that Your Majesty was convinced that Xiao Yanzi was indeed your lost pearl. Your Majesty, do you still remember those days?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianlong's expression shifted slightly. He nodded, a hint of recollection flashing in his eyes. "Yes, yes. Initially, it was indeed Consort Ling who said Xiao Yanzi looked like me, and coupled with the keepsake I left for Yuhe, this misunderstanding arose." A trace of helplessness lingered in his tone. Mistaking a princess was undoubtedly a loss of face for a ruler. Qianlong himself felt embarrassed and was unwilling to easily admit his mistake.

At this moment, Rong Momo coughed lightly, and Qianlong, as if finding a way out, hurriedly shifted the blame onto Consort Ling. He muttered to himself: This woman misled me. How could I be a foolish emperor? I was just temporarily blinded.

Seeing Qianlong's eagerness to shirk responsibility, Li Qingge's lips twitched involuntarily, and she was speechless. She thought to herself, "This emperor really knows how to make excuses. He clearly misjudged the situation, but he's pushing all the blame onto others."

Consort Ling was stunned, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She never imagined that her casual remark would become the Emperor's pretext for blaming her. She cursed inwardly: This is utterly shameless! The Emperor himself saw the token and made wild guesses; I merely mentioned it casually, how did he end up blaming me?

Seeing that Consort Ling did not refute him, Emperor Qianlong became even more convinced of his judgment. He continued, "Besides saying that Xiao Yanzi looks like me, it was also you and the Fu family who conspired to get Ziwei and Jin Suo into becoming bondservant maids. You still claim to be innocent? Do you think I'm a fool? Consort Ling, how dare you!"

Hearing Qianlong's angry rebuke, Consort Ling broke out in a cold sweat. She quickly regulated her breathing, trying to calm herself. Her mind raced, searching for an excuse to escape. Finally, she spoke up, "Your Majesty, I am truly innocent. When I first saw Xia Yuhe's keepsake, I realized Xiao Yanzi might be your child. As for Ziwei and Jin Suo entering the palace, I simply couldn't refuse Xiao Yanzi's repeated pleas. Xiao Yanzi said they were both alone and destitute, and I thought saving a life was more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda; I feared they would starve to death outside, so I made that arrangement. I truly didn't know Ziwei was Your Majesty's child; I meant no harm!"

Consort Ling's words were earnest, tinged with grievance and helplessness. She knew in her heart that at this point, it would be difficult to remain unscathed. Since that was the case, she might as well go with the flow and say that she, like Emperor Qianlong, had been deceived by the girl Xiao Yanzi.

Li Qingge observed coldly from the sidelines, inwardly marveling at Consort Ling's cunning and adaptability. She thought to herself, "This Consort Ling is truly a formidable character. The Empress couldn't defeat her not because of bad luck, but because she was simply less skilled."

Just then, Xiao Yanzi suddenly flew into a rage, pointing her finger at Consort Ling and shouting, "How could you not know? Erkang's mother is your cousin, and she's already told you. You have no children, and seeing that Yongqi is infatuated with me, you wanted to win over this most likely heir to the throne—the hidden crown prince—which is why you agreed to help me. Now that your secret has been exposed, you still think you can get away unscathed? Don't even think about it!"

Xiao Yanzi's words carried a hint of anger and resolve. Perhaps it was the protagonist's halo at work, but the usually carefree and somewhat scatterbrained Xiao Yanzi suddenly became incredibly shrewd in this critical moment. She recalled how Consort Ling had always tried so hard to please Yongqi, and instantly understood the implications. She thought to herself, since she couldn't escape this fate, then no one else involved should escape either. The more people implicated, the less likely the Emperor would be to punish them severely, and the better her life would be.

As Xiao Yanzi made her accusations, the atmosphere in the palace suddenly became tense. Qianlong's face was terribly gloomy; he stared wide-eyed at Consort Ling, as if trying to see right through her. Consort Ling, on the other hand, was pale, her lips trembling slightly, clearly frightened by Xiao Yanzi's accusations.

How will this farce end? Will Consort Ling be able to defuse the crisis with her eloquence, or will Emperor Qianlong punish her severely in a fit of rage? Everything is full of unknowns and uncertainties. Li Qingge stands aside, observing the changing tides of the palace with a cold eye, secretly pondering her own stance and choices.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianlong's face turned ashen, like the sky before a storm. His anger surged like a raging wave, and he roared, "The palace rules are strict, like an impregnable fortress. Young concubines are strictly forbidden from having any dealings with adult princes. How dare you get involved with Yongqi? Are you hoping that Consort Yu will die soon so that you can use Xiaoyanzi to make Yongqi recognize you as his mother, and then try to be made Empress Dowager by him in the future?" His voice echoed in the magnificent yet cold palace, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

Upon hearing this, Consort Ling was stunned, as if struck by lightning. She remained speechless for a long time, her heart churning like a turbulent sea, filled with unease. Her face, usually radiating a gentle smile, was now as pale as a winter snowflake, her eyes flashing with disbelief. She thought to herself, what she longed for was the supreme position of Empress Dowager, to rise in status through her son and enjoy endless wealth and glory. But this position could only be held securely and peacefully by the bestowal of her own son.

She courted Xiao Yanzi for two reasons: firstly, to gain some benefits by leveraging Xiao Yanzi's favor with the emperor; and secondly, to eliminate Yongqi—Qianlong's most beloved son and the future heir to the throne—so that she could pave a smooth path for her own son's ascension. She thought her plan was foolproof, but she never expected Qianlong to expose it so bluntly.

Startled, Consort Ling burst into tears, her tears falling like broken pearls onto her delicate yet helpless face. "Injustice! I'm innocent! How dare I dream of being the Empress Dowager? Since ancient times, the eldest son of the legitimate wife has been chosen. Your Majesty has a legitimate son, Yongqi. How could a son born of a concubine, Yongqi, possibly become the emperor? How could I dare to have such presumptuous thoughts? This little swallow is about to die, so she's making baseless accusations. Your Majesty, please don't listen to her lies, don't be blinded by slander, and don't wrongly accuse your beloved concubine who has been with you for over ten years!" Her voice was choked with sobs, yet it still retained a gentle beauty tinged with sorrow, attempting to move Qianlong's heart.

Upon hearing this, Qianlong's anger subsided slightly, replaced by a hint of wavering. He had indeed considered passing the throne to a child born to the Empress, whether it was the Twelfth Prince or the Fifth Prince. What Consort Ling said wasn't without merit. He frowned, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, seemingly searching for the truth.

Just then, Ziwei suddenly spoke coldly, her voice as piercing and chilling as a winter wind. "Your Majesty, it is a blessing for the country to have an older monarch. Although the Twelfth Prince is born of the principal wife, he is still young. How can he compare to the older and more accomplished Fifth Prince Yongqi? Since Consort Ling already knows that Xiaoyanzi is an imposter and sees that the Fifth Prince likes her, she is desperately trying to curry favor with her. I think she is definitely up to no good." Her eyes were sharp as knives, piercing Consort Ling as if she wanted to see right through her.

Ziwei was seething with hatred for Xiaoyanzi and Consort Ling, and wanted to take this opportunity to drag as many people as possible down with her to vent her anger. Xiaoyanzi also wanted to share the blame, so she and Ziwei reached a consensus to fixate on Consort Ling and the other involved parties. Their voices rose and fell, like the chirping of cicadas in summer, making everyone feel irritated.

For a moment, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was as noisy as a marketplace, a cacophony of voices that resembled a farce. Li Qingge and Rong Mama sat to the side, watching the scene with amusement. A playful smile played on Li Qingge's lips, her clear, watery eyes gleaming with mischief. She whispered to Rong Mama, "The drama in this palace is far more entertaining than any opera troupe outside the palace." Rong Mama smiled and nodded, the two exchanging a knowing smile, as if watching a free show.

Emperor Qianlong had a terrible headache and was filled with helplessness. He roared, "Enough! Shut up, all of you! You are all criminals who have deceived the emperor!" His voice was as deafening as thunder, and the entire palace seemed to tremble.

The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell silent, save for the rapid breathing and heartbeats of the crowd. Qianlong's gaze swept over them like a sharp sword, as if trying to see through their thoughts.

Just as Emperor Qianlong was about to pronounce the verdict, Consort Ling suddenly cried out in pain and terror. Then Lamei exclaimed, "Oh no! Her Majesty has been frightened and is likely to miscarry!" Her voice was sharp and piercing, like lightning slicing through the night sky.