Chapter 541: This favored consort, how much does she resemble the mother consort?

"Consort Ning has arrived——"

Consort Ning still did not know what had happened.

She came slowly, full of dignified splendor, her head adorned with pearls and jeweled ornaments.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty, and to the Empress."

"I have been indisposed these past two days, so I was unable to come in time today to wish the Empress a happy birthday."

"I hope the Empress will forgive me."

Although Consort Ning said these words, her actions were not particularly humble.

She merely performed a perfunctory courtesy, then gazed amorously at Emperor Chu.

Yet none of the guests in the hall dared to pay their respects to Consort Ning at this moment.

Consort Ning turned her head in confusion.

She did not know why the atmosphere was so solemn.

Only then did she notice that the Empress's hands were bleeding, and the Crown Prince held in his arms a wet nurse whose face was covered in blood!

Consort Ning jumped in fright: "Your Majesty, Empress, what—what has happened?"

However, at this moment, it was not only Consort Ning who was startled.

When Li Qingluo saw her turn her face, she secretly felt a jolt of shock!

Her appearance actually bore a resemblance to her mother consort!

Li Qingluo looked toward Emperor Chu, and a wave of nausea welled up in her heart that she could hardly suppress.

He had actually found a woman who resembled his own legitimate younger sister, and had even favored her for many years!

If A Shi were to see……

As Li Qingluo was thinking this, she turned her head and already saw a familiar figure standing motionless in the dark corner, staring in the same direction at Consort Ning.

She unconsciously licked her lips.

Then she heard Emperor Chu angrily shout: "Kneel!"

She said this while glaring at Consort Ning.

Consort Ning's legs went weak, and she immediately fell flat on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I do not know what fault I have committed."

"I still do not know what has happened here……"

Emperor Chu had someone bring forward a figurine stuffed with fine needles to Consort Ning's face.

Seeing the figurine's attire and birth characters, Consort Ning trembled all over in fright.

Her face filled with horror: "Your Majesty, this—this figurine——?"

"Who wishes to harm you?"

"I will certainly take his life!"

Emperor Chu: "It is your good son, Zongzheng Wuxie!"

"Will you kill him or not!?"

Saying this, he threw a dagger at Consort Ning's face.

Consort Ning let out a startled cry, her whole body going limp as she collapsed to the ground.

"No——! It's absolutely impossible."

"This is absolutely impossible, Your Majesty!"

"Wuxie holds you in such reverence; you are his father, after all. How could he possibly wish to harm you?"

"There must be some misunderstanding; surely someone is trying to harm him——"

"Crown Prince, is it you lot!?"

"Empress, it's you——"

The Empress is the most dignified consort in the harem.

Consort Ning, meanwhile, is the most favored consort in the harem.

She has always observed her proper place, being gentle, obedient, and virtuous.

Even though these years the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince have been locked in a bitter struggle, she has mostly kept herself secluded in her own palace, rarely venturing out, let alone actively provoking the Empress.

Because she knows Emperor Chu dislikes her being ostentatious.

Thus, at most she occasionally shows slight disrespect toward the Empress in her words and deeds.

As for the rest, she has never done any of that!

Now, for the sake of her son, she has taken the initiative to attack and question the Empress and the Crown Prince.

The Empress let out a series of cold laughs.

"Consort Ning, you've pretended so well all these years."

"Look at you, you've raised a son who is like a venomous snake!"

"The Emperor dotes so much on you mother and son, yet you have done such a thing! How dare you act but not own up to it?"

Consort Ning: "How can I own up to something I haven't done?"

"Empress, make your words clear——"

Consort Ning rose to lunge forward, but the guards behind her pressed her to the ground.

"Enough!"

Emperor Chu stared at Consort Ning with icy eyes, rose, walked up to her, and seized her well‑maintained face that still showed no sign of fading beauty.

Over these years, because of this face, he has always been pleasant toward her, able to endure even the most anger‑inducing matters.

He often, longing for her, would hold this face to his chest as if lovesick to the point of illness, just to ease his longing.

Now, staring at this face, he still cannot be ruthless.

But just thinking that Zong Zheng Wu Xie actually did such a thing, the Chu Emperor gritted his teeth in hatred: "Consort Ning, have I been too lenient these years, overly indulging you and your son, to the point that you no longer even know who you are?"

"On one hand, they want to kill me."

"On the other hand, they splash the filth of wanting to kill me onto the Crown Prince's head! You really are killing two birds with one stone!"

"If I hadn't tonight first punished the Fourth Prince, ordering him to roll back to the Prince's mansion, what other show was he planning to put on for me?"

"To let the Crown Prince be unable to defend himself with a hundred mouths, to let his guilt be established, to let me mistakenly kill the heir apparent in a grand show—is that it?!"

"Consort Ning, you say, how can you face me?!"

The Chu Emperor spoke while raising his hand high, paused only a moment, then swung down a heavy slap.

Consort Ning let out a miserable cry and fell to the ground.

Lifting her head again, blood at the corner of her mouth, her face was full of fear and grievance.

"Your Majesty, I really know nothing..."

These years, she has been like a caged goldfinch raised in the palace.

She wanted to be an obedient consort of the Chu Emperor.

Stay quiet, cause no trouble.

Otherwise, she would lose favor.

She had seen too many consorts who played tricks and were easily executed by the Chu Emperor.

Therefore, Consort Ning never taught Zong Zheng Wu Xie these matters……

She truly knows nothing.

The Chu Emperor stared deeply at her, his eyes full of pain: "Take Consort Ning away; without my permission, she is not to set foot outside the sleeping palace even a single step!"

Consort Ning's face turned deathly pale as she shouted: "No, Your Majesty, this isn't true—Your Majesty!!"

Chu Emperor: "Seize him—go grab the Fourth Prince!"

"Lock him in the Heavenly Prison; I, will personally interrogate him!"

"Ask this good son of mine, whether he truly is so eager as to already want his father emperor's life!"

Chen Yi of the Imperial Forest Army stepped forward personally to receive the order: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Chen Yi led the people away, the wine pool and meat forest below also became a noisy chaos.

In such a situation, who can still stay seated?

Having personally witnessed such a grand show, each family now harbors different thoughts.

The Crown Prince's faction one moment feels like falling into an abyss, the next moment soaring rapidly to the heavens.

At this moment, their hearts are overjoyed; they never expected the chance to topple the Fourth Prince to come so quickly.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince's faction is the complete opposite.

They are uneasy sitting or standing, wishing they could leave right away to quickly discuss countermeasures.

However, the Chu Emperor remained silent, and no one dared to move.

The Chu Emperor sat coldly on the high platform, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone seated below.

Suddenly, his eyes fell upon Marquis Wei Wu.

"Seize Marquis Wei Wu!"

At the sound of the command, shadow-like guards appeared instantly, pressing Marquis Wei Wu heavily onto the table.

Marquis Wei Wu shouted in panic: "Your Majesty, I do not know what wrong I have done; why do you treat me thus?"

Chu Emperor: "Is the Fourth Prince's consort not your eldest daughter?"

"If the Fourth Prince harbors a heart of rebellion and murder against me, taking you, Marquis Wei Wu, into custody is not unjust."

Just now, when the Fourth Prince was confirmed to have done this, the Wei Wu family did not come out to plead.

The Chu Emperor had long noticed them, whispering among themselves, yet taking no action.

They put on a good show.

This time, the Chu Emperor intends to give Zong Zheng Wu Xie a harsh lesson, so he will start by striking at Marquis Wei Wu!

The eldest son sitting beside Marquis Wei Wu, seeing this, suddenly shouted sternly: "Foolish ruler!"

"Give me your life——"