Chapter 92 Uncovering the Truth

“It is a small matter to frame two princesses from outside the palace, but it is a big matter to plot against the prince. Your Highness, I will have to trouble you to do this.”

Xiao Yanzi's plan was to have Consort Ling pretend to have been successfully poisoned, and then have Emperor Qianlong imprison her and Ziwei in the Imperial Clan Court. At that time, someone should go to the Imperial Clan Court to "visit" them.

"Your Majesty, Yongqi, you don't need to worry. Xiaoyanzi is not the same as before. She will be fine!"

Xia Ziwei chimed in, "Yes, Xiao Yanzi and I are capable of protecting ourselves. Besides, if we make proper arrangements, we can catch the mastermind if someone comes!"

After much hesitation, Emperor Qianlong and Yongqi finally agreed to Xiaoyanzi and the others' suggestion. Yongqi immediately spread the news and had Xiaoyanzi and Xia Ziwei locked up in the Imperial Clan Court.

Two days ago, the eunuchs and maids in the palace were all in an uproar. They were unwilling to believe that Xiao Yanzi would harm Consort Ling, and they all wanted to plead for Xiao Yanzi and the others. But they were of low status, so what could they do for them?

During the two nights they spent at the Imperial Clan Court, Xiao Yanzi and Xia Ziwei didn't see anyone come to the Imperial Clan Court. Xia Ziwei looked at Xiao Yanzi in confusion, "Xiao Yanzi, no one has come for two days. Could you have guessed wrong?"

Xiao Yanzi patted Xia Ziwei on the shoulder and comforted her, "Don't worry, they usually say things don't happen more than three times. Let's see if anyone comes on the third day."

"You mean they'll come tomorrow night?"

Little Swallow nodded. "If there really is a mastermind behind this, they will definitely take action tomorrow night!"

"Yongqi, if my prediction is correct, someone will definitely appear at the Imperial Clan Court tomorrow!" The speaker was none other than Xiao Jian, Xiao Yanzi's older brother.

The group of meddlesome individuals gathered inside the scholar's residence, discussing their next move. Yongqi frowned deeply. "Tomorrow is the deadline. If someone comes, we'll take them down in one fell swoop. If no one comes, I'll bring Xiaoyanzi and the others out no matter what!"

He could only endure a place like the Imperial Clan Court for three days at most. Although he had already instructed them not to mistreat them, he was still terrified, fearing that there might be some secret decree to kill Xiao Yanzi and the others!

Finally, on the third night, Little Swallow and her friends were able to witness the appearance of the man in black.

"You've finally arrived." Little Swallow sneered. "If you hadn't come soon, I wouldn't have been able to wait any longer."

Did you know we were coming?

"Brother, why waste words with her? Just kill them."

Little Swallow clapped her hands. "The last person who tried to kill me has already met the King of Hell. How about I send a few of you down with me today?"

Xia Ziwei smiled slightly and said, "Little Swallow, don't forget, we still need to find out who's behind this first."

“No need. They’re dressed in all black, and judging from their words, they’re clearly well-prepared. If they kill us, their mission is complete; if they fail, they’ll swallow poison and commit suicide!”

Those who wanted to kill them were shocked to hear Xiao Yanzi reveal their entire plan. "Even though you guessed it all, this day next year will be your death day!"

A fight broke out in the prison, and the soldiers from the Imperial Clan Court arrived in time. Soon, the men in black fell to the ground, not because they were poisoned, but because Xiao Yanzi had given them medicine.

"Princess, what should we do with them?"

"Get the poison out of their mouths first, then hang them up with ropes and tie them up tightly."

As soon as Xiao Yanzi finished speaking, someone immediately did as she said. "Xiao Yanzi, are you going to interrogate them now?"

"Of course, there are instruments of torture here, making it the best place to interrogate them. Although it's not as good as the ones I have, it'll do."

After the soldiers had hung up and tied up all the surviving men in black, Xiao Yanzi sat in a chair and said, "Let's splash them with water to wake them up."

Just then, Yongqi and the others arrived. "Little Swallow, are you planning to interrogate her right away?"

"Yes, since His Majesty has entrusted this matter to me, I naturally have to find out the truth as soon as possible, so that His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the ladies of the palace can be at ease sooner."

"By the way, bro, remember to keep the news under wraps, don't let it get out so quickly!"

"Don't worry, I thought of that a long time ago."

After Xiao Yanzi finished interrogating the people, the group went to the scholar's residence to rest. The next morning, they all went to the palace to report the situation to Emperor Qianlong.

"Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince and his entourage are already waiting outside."

"Let them in immediately." Emperor Qianlong was very eager to know who was plotting against them.

"Your Majesty, I have found out who is plotting this," Xiao Yanzi said first after the others had paid their respects. "However, the mastermind behind it all is no longer alive."

"What?" Emperor Qianlong doubted his ears. "What do you mean by saying the mastermind behind this is long gone?"

"This was done by Consort Shujia's men. Although she passed away more than a year ago, her subordinates are still harboring resentment over what happened back then, so they have been trying to kill me. At the same time, they also want to pave the way for Consort Shujia's son..."

"But it's still undetermined whether Consort Ling gave birth to a son or a daughter, so how could they..."

"Your Majesty, don't you know what the people in the palace are thinking? It's better to be safe than sorry. Besides implicating Consort Ling's child, they might also drag Yongqi, who has always protected me, down with them..."

Without Xiao Yanzi needing to say anything more, Qianlong understood. "How despicable! I never imagined that her death could bring so much trouble!"

"Your Majesty, it's not just Consort Ling's matter this time, but also Consort Shu's tenth prince..."

Upon hearing this, Qianlong's anger flared even more. "What did you say? Yongyue was also killed by her people?"

“Yes! They don’t like to mess with the princes who have already grown up, but those princes who have just been born are a thorn in their side, especially since they can use these little princes to deal with the princes who have already grown up…”

Emperor Qianlong was so angry that he wanted to immediately strip Consort Shujia of her title. "Like master, like servant. She almost killed you back then, and now..."

Xiao Yanzi advised, "Your Majesty, the death of the Tenth Prince and the current events are all the fault of her subordinates. I hope Your Majesty will not implicate the deceased Imperial Noble Consort..."

If this matter gets out, it will damage the royal family's reputation, doing more harm than good. "I urge Your Majesty to reconsider and punish those involved, without implicating others!"

Emperor Qianlong angrily said, "If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they will grow back in the spring breeze. If you soften your heart now, I'm afraid that in the future, more people will want to avenge their master and their relatives and friends, and you will have endless troubles!"

This is why punishments like executing three or nine generations of a family exist. While it's good to have a culprit and a creditor, how many of those who survived would accept the court's actions? Countless people felt their relatives and friends were innocent, and that the court was indiscriminately killing innocent people…