Chapter 540: Zongzheng Wuxie, It's Your Turn!

The woman hadn't even had time to beg for mercy when a guard beside the Chu Emperor stepped forward and drew a knife.

The woman's elderly father and mother immediately rushed out, crying and begging for mercy.

"Your Majesty, please spare her."

"Your Majesty, it is the old minister's fault for not raising his daughter properly. If punishment is needed, punish the old minister!"

"Yuan Mother— sob sob— His Majesty, please spare her; she is still young, how could she marry after her mouth is cut off…"

The Chu Emperor's expression did not change; he simply propped his head and coldly sneered, "Noisy."

"Since you are so reluctant to let go, accompany her in the punishment together; isn't that sharing both joy and suffering?"

The wails rose in succession.

The mouths of the three family members were cut off together and then tossed to the black dog nearby.

Que'er could not bear to watch.

Li Qingluo also averted her gaze.

Even though she had seen many Seventh Princesses since childhood, at this moment her face showed sorrow.

The granny beside her whispered, "This Wei Elder seems to have been frequently entering His Highness the Crown Prince's residence lately…"

Zongzheng Xingyao glanced at Li Qingluo.

Seeing her timid and merciful demeanor, he whispered to the granny, "Do not speak nonsense!"

After what just happened, how could any family still dare to lose composure?

Even though everyone was terrified to death inside, they all pretended to be cheerful outwardly.

The Chu Emperor was not lustful.

Thus, only a few girls thumping their legs were by his side; no beauties were in his embrace.

Li Qingluo quietly knelt beside the Seventh Princess, sipping a small cup of wine now and then, while silently waiting inside.

The Chu Emperor seemed cruel and heartless, yet he had just punished the Fourth Prince and now was about to execute the Crown Prince's men on the spot.

Clearly, the Empress's complexion was no longer as rosy as before.

The Crown Prince felt as if he were sitting on a bed of needles.

Li Qingluo took in everything, thinking to herself: "No rush; soon something new will make you mother and son happy again."

As she was thinking, a line of guards hurried over.

Holding a black case in his hands, he knelt before the Chu Emperor and loudly reported, "Your Majesty, I just passed the Eastern Palace when an old granny ran out holding this box, claiming to report that His Highness the Crown Prince used the Witchcraft Technique to try to take lives."

"Please, Your Majesty, have a look."

Witchcraft Technique?

In the entire Great Chu Empire, this has long been a prohibited yet never publicly exposed secret!

Who would have thought the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace also harbored this?

And now they intend to expose the Crown Prince publicly?

Everyone couldn't help but stretch their necks in curiosity.

The Crown Prince still wore a bewildered expression; when the Empress looked anxiously, he merely shook his head silently.

The Chu Emperor, upon hearing this, darkened his face and sat upright at once.

He flung open the black box, revealing a figurine inside pierced all over with needles.

After the Chu Emperor read the figurine's birth chart, his complexion changed drastically.

"Come, men!"

"Seize the Crown Prince for me!"

The Chu Emperor, enraged, smashed the figurine onto the Crown Prince's head.

"What more can you argue!"

"I have already appointed you Crown Prince; what dissatisfaction remains?"

"Is it because you think I have lived too long, still not yielding the throne, so you hurried to use this Witchcraft Technique to curse my lifespan?"

"Beast!"

"Today I will first slaughter you—"

The Chu Emperor drew a sword beside him, ready to thrust at the terrified Crown Prince.

The Empress lunged forward and grabbed the sword.

"His Majesty—"

"Our imperial son must be innocent!"

"He has been kind since childhood, unwilling to even crush an ant, always respectful and filial to Your Majesty; how could he commit such a heinous crime?"

"Your Majesty, someone must be framing the imperial son!"

"Please spare him from the sword, at least give the imperial son a chance to prove his innocence!"

The Empress, terrified, wept continuously, shrieking hoarsely.

Even though both hands had been cut and bled profusely, they still clutched tightly, unwilling to let go.

Seeing her like that, the Chu Emperor thought of his own Empress.

He naturally felt no affection for the Empress.

It was only because she was his principal wife.

And his own Empress had also been a wronged principal wife.

Thus, he gave her a bit more patience and dignity.

At this moment, watching the terrified Crown Prince and the panicked Empress, the Chu Emperor finally forced his emotions down and calmed.

"Investigate!"

Soon, that granny was captured on the Snow‑Stepping Platform.

Seeing the Crown Prince, the granny hadn't even spoken when the Empress rushed forward.

"How could it be you?"

"Granny Huang, you are the Crown Prince's wet nurse——the Crown Prince has always treated you like family, yet you dare to betray him!"

"Who is it? Who exactly is behind framing the Crown Prince?"

The Empress shouted hoarsely, wishing she could go over and strangle the granny herself.

Granny Huang explained nothing.

She let out a single mournful wail: "Your Highness, it is this servant who has failed you——"

Having said that, she rushed at the nearby stone and slammed into it hard.

Blood flowed over her entire old face; by the time the Crown Prince cried while lifting her, she was already dead.

She could only stammer: "Someone has taken……my whole family's lives……"

"Today I must……definitely……frame Your Highness……"

"This servant is……no longer human……"

"It is this servant who has let you down……"

"Your Highness, you have never done……"

"This servant knows……"

Having said that, Granny Huang stared wide‑eyed and breathed her last.

This incident happened too suddenly and violently; everyone who saw it was stunned.

The Crown Prince choked out a sob: "It is my inadequacy, my failure to protect you, nurse——"

Emperor Chu flew into a rage.

"Continue the investigation!"

Soon, everyone in the Crown Prince's palace was brought over.

Everyone testified that they had never seen this box.

Even the Crown Princess swore on her nine clans that she had absolutely never seen this thing.

Finally, the clues increasingly pointed to the Fourth Prince's residence.

The Empress said: "Your Majesty, haven't you seen it yet? Someone is trying to frame the Crown Prince today, and also wants me to lose my only son!"

"He and his mother have always been suppressing the Crown Prince strongly."

Emperor Chu naturally understood.

After pondering for a long while, he solemnly ordered: "Someone, bring Consort Ning here."

Consort Ning is the mother of the Fourth Prince.

She is also the consort who has received the most favor in the palace.

Emperor Chu's days in the inner palace are not many.

Each month, aside from visiting the Empress's palace for his duties, this Consort Ning occupies the most of Emperor Chu's time in the inner palace.

She and her family all enjoy the ensuing glory.

The Fourth Prince also rose in status due to his mother's favor, and many people increasingly flocked to him.

Even at today's Empress's birthday banquet, Consort Ning pleaded indisposition, and Emperor Chu personally agreed she need not attend forcibly.

Upon investigation, it was found that Zong Zheng Wuxie, for his own selfish reasons, caused the entire Witch Moon Sect to be slaughtered, because he wished to present the rumored immortality‑granting treasure to this Consort Ning.

But now, the good days of Consort Ning and the Fourth Prince are coming to an end.

After exchanging a distant glance, Jin Ning and Li Qingluo raised their cups and drank them dry.

Since arriving in South Peace, Li Qingluo has ostensibly been running a tavern, but secretly she has never stopped having Kill One and his men continuously scout every move of the Fourth Prince's residence.

Even now, Kill Six has infiltrated the Fourth Prince's residence through disguise.

As for Granny Huang's betrayal, it was due to Jin Ning's poisonous insects.

Granny Huang had done many shameful things following the Empress, so she deserved her death.

By now, the plot has been in the works for several months.

Zong Zheng Wuxie, it's your turn now!