After giving her contraceptives, she went mad, criticizing the prince for turning white-haired overn

Shen Ning nodded slowly, her posture respectful: "This humble woman would not dare to deceive Your Majesty."

"If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may invite Princess Chaoyang to come and question me. Whether what I have said is true or false will be known immediately upon questioning."

Seeing that she looked calm and her gaze was firm, not like she was faking it, Consort Liu felt her heart grow colder.

Why would Shen Rou give me a fake South Sea pearl that has been poisoned for no reason?

Since giving birth to Prince Chen, her health has deteriorated day by day.

If one were to wear this South Sea pearl today, one would likely perish within six months.

"Whether it is your South Sea Pearl or not, I will summon Rou'er and ask her."

The Shen family's residence, Lanyue Courtyard.

The candlelight flickered softly inside the room.

Shen Rou was taking a nap on a soft couch when her maid Xiangling gently pushed open the door and handed her a scroll of painting.

"Miss, the item has been delivered."

Shen Rou opened her eyes and her gaze fell on the rolled-up painting.

"Has it been accepted over there?"

Xiangling nodded: "I'll accept it."

"They sent this painting through a messenger, saying it was a barter exchange with the girl, a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Shen Rou smiled slightly, rose from the couch, and slowly unfurled the scroll.

She examined it closely and smiled, "It's an authentic work by Mr. Wen."

"Xiangling, put it away carefully."

"Yes, Miss."

"Now, it's worth it to exchange my second sister's future for the Empress Dowager's smile," Shen Rou said casually.

A hint of mockery flashed in her eyes: "I just wonder how she will conduct herself at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet tomorrow."

Xiangling chimed in, "Back then, Prince Ming lost an eye while saving the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager has always favored him."

"The second daughter looks just like Ye, the most beautiful woman in Yanjing back then. If Prince Ming really asks for her hand in marriage, the Empress Dowager will probably be happy to see it happen."

Shen Rou sneered: "For Ning'er, tomorrow's birthday banquet is a dead end; she can't escape it."

She lazily raised her hand: "Help me up, it's time to rest."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of hurried footsteps came from the outer courtyard.

Immediately following was the announcement from the nanny.

"Young Miss, a message has come from the palace requesting your immediate entry. The Imperial Concubine wishes to see you."

Shen Rou frowned slightly, then a smile appeared on her face.

"Could it be that the Imperial Concubine wants to avenge me and has specially summoned me to the palace so that Shen Ning will bow her head and admit her mistake?"

Xiangling smiled and said, "Second Miss has been talking back to you quite a bit these past few days, she deserves to be taught a good lesson by Her Majesty."

"The reason we invited you to the palace now is probably so that you can witness the Second Miss being punished, and that you can vent your anger."

Shen Rou adjusted her sleeves, her posture elegant: "Then let's go to the palace."

After she had redone her makeup, she followed the nanny into Changqiu Palace.

As soon as they stepped into the hall, they saw Consort Liu sitting coldly in a chair, while Shen Ning knelt beside her.

Shen Rou's eyes reddened, and she stepped forward and immediately knelt down.

Her voice choked with emotion:

"Your Highness, although I have cared for Ning'er since she was a child, she is now stubborn and often argues with me, but she is still my own sister..."

"Please forgive Ning'er, Your Majesty, and do not punish her. If you must punish someone, punish Rou'er instead."

His sincere and earnest expression almost moved people to tears.

Shen Ning knelt to the side and sneered.

"My elder sister is so thoughtful."

Consort Liu said coldly, "I didn't call you in to hear you crying and sobbing."

Shen Rou's expression froze, and she then noticed that the owner of the Treasure Pavilion was sitting below Consort Liu.

On the other side stood Zhang, the Imperial Physician.

The atmosphere inside the hall was very solemn.

"Judge Zhang, you speak," Consort Liu said coldly.

Judge Zhang bowed in agreement, then turned to look at Shen Rou:

"Miss Shen, may I ask where you obtained this pearl?"

Shen Rou bit her lip lightly, seemingly puzzled: "Judge Zhang, this is a South Sea pearl, not an ordinary pearl."

"Is there... anything wrong with it?"

"Tell me honestly, where did this bead come from?" Consort Liu's voice grew increasingly deep.

Shen Rou lowered her body, her voice trembling: "It was...it was a merchant from Southeast Asia whom I met by chance, and he bought it for a large sum of money."

"When Rou'er learned that Her Majesty liked South Sea pearls, she wanted to present them to Her Majesty for her enjoyment."

Imperial Physician Zhang shook his head and sighed: "Your Highness, in my humble opinion, this poison must have been contracted later."

"Poison?" Shen Rou suddenly looked up, momentarily flustered.

"How could South Sea pearls be poisonous? Absolutely impossible!"

She glanced at Shen Ning, then quickly looked away.

Shen Ning sneered, "Elder sister may not know, but this poison can gradually cloud one's mind, damage a woman's uterus, and cause infertility if worn for a long time."

"Moreover, the master at the Treasure Pavilion has already examined it and determined that it is not a South Sea pearl, but just an ordinary pearl that resembles a South Sea pearl."

Shen Rou trembled and kowtowed repeatedly to Consort Liu.

"Your Majesty, please understand! Rou'er has never intended to harm you."

"I was unaware that this pearl was poisonous; please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

She suddenly pointed at Shen Ning, tears streaming down her face: "It was her...it must be Ning'er! She secretly switched the beads!"

"Ning'er, why did you hurt me like this? Is this your way of retaliating because I disciplined you?"

Shen Ning sneered: "Why would elder sister need to frame me?"

"My South Sea pearl is right here; it's a unique, one-of-a-kind pearl. Why would I need to exchange it?"

"Moreover, the South Seas only presented five priceless South Sea pearls as tribute last year."

"Given my elder sister's monthly allowance and savings, it's a bit suspicious that she could so easily buy South Sea pearls from Southeast Asian merchants."

She looked up at Consort Liu and said, "This South Sea pearl of mine was a gift from Princess Chaoyang. The Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion has just examined it and confirmed that it is genuine."

"If my elder sister refuses to tell the truth, I'm afraid it will disappoint Her Majesty."

Shen Rou knelt on the spot, her face pale. She looked at Shen Ning's calm and composed appearance, her fingertips digging into her palm.

"Shen Rou, why don't you tell the truth?" Consort Liu's gaze was icy, devoid of its previous gentleness.

She had just sent a maid to Princess Chaoyang's residence, and the South Sea pearl in Shen Ning's hand was indeed a gift from Princess Chaoyang.

Moreover, they are genuine South Sea pearls.

Shen Rou panicked for a moment; everything was in chaos, and nothing was under her control.

Consort Liu said coldly, "It seems I overestimated you."

"I treated you with all my heart, yet you tried to fool me with a fake and even delivered a deadly poison into my hands."

"Shen Rou, who do you take me for, to be deceived and toyed with like this?"

With tears streaming down her face, Shen Rou staggered to Consort Liu's feet and grabbed the hem of Consort Liu's skirt.

"Your Highness, please listen to Rou'er's explanation, it's not like that..."

However, before he could finish speaking, Consort Liu kicked him away.

"I was wrong to trust you."

"You have chilled my heart."

"Your Majesty, Rou'er never intended to harm you. Please believe Rou'er," Shen Rou pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

Just then, the owner of the Treasure Pavilion, who was sitting in a chair to the side, spoke up.

"I remember that yesterday a maid came to our pavilion and specifically asked to buy a replica South Sea pearl, saying that she wanted to give it as a gift."

"If I remember correctly, that maid... seems to be Xiangling, who serves Miss Shen."

The hall fell silent instantly.

Shen Rou collapsed to her knees, unable to utter another word.