Chapter 86

Hearing this, Qin Liuye's expression froze!

He glanced at Qin Yuan out of the corner of his eye, fearing that the Emperor would find out about the "problem" with his body.

Fortunately, the Emperor's gaze was now on Lin Jiaojiao, with five parts pity and three parts affection, and the other two parts being dissatisfaction with Qin Liuye's insults toward her.

Before Qin Yuan could scold Qin Liuye, he changed his face in an instant, switching to a fawning look toward Lin Jiaojiao: "Good girl, good female physician, please tell me, how do I treat this ailment of mine?"

"You say you want me to treat you, and I'll treat you?" Lin Jiaojiao was not very happy, "How did you curse me just now?"

"Grandmother, I was wrong, I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai," Qin Liuye begged, "Be kind, treat my illness! I will surely reward you with ten thousand taels of gold, ten thousand acres of land—"

Qin Liuye's 180-degree turn stunned everyone present, especially Qin Yuan and Imperial Yu Fei!

Lin Jiaojiao had the upper hand and began to pull at the core issue: "Then tell me first, what was your intention in bringing people to sneak into our Qingju Pavilion tonight?"

Qin Liuye secretly glanced at Qin Yuan, seeing the current Emperor looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

In fact, everyone knew Qin Liuye's behavior perfectly well.

But right now, Qin Liuye was more concerned that if Lin Jiaojiao was willing to cure his ailment, what did it matter if he was punished?

Anyway, once the ailment was cured, he could have as much fun as he wanted in the future!

Qin Liuye lowered his head and told the truth, "I—I heard from a palace maid in Ruyi Palace that day that a beauty had come to Qingju Pavilion, so I thought I'd come and take a look—"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yuan's face instantly turned dark and gloomy!

Imperial Yu Fei couldn't stand still, her expression dim, fearing Qin Yuan would blame her!

But Qin Liuye was not stupid; he could see Qin Yuan's gaze on Lin Jiaojiao clearly!

This woman with a child had caught the Emperor's eye!

It seemed his imperial brother was also a freak! Actually liking a woman with a child and a scar on her face!

His eyeballs rolled around, and he immediately landed on Qingdai, "I came for Miss Qingdai! Otherwise, you think I would like that woman with a scar on her face..."

Having said this, his brain reacted, and he immediately swallowed the rest of his words, focusing only on Qingdai!

Anyway, she was just an insignificant palace maid; it wouldn't hurt to pull her out as a shield!

Even if he asked for her, his imperial brother wouldn't say anything to him!

Who knew Lin Jiaojiao would stand in front of Qingdai, blocking his lecherous gaze, and snort coldly, pointing at his nose and scolding, "Do you think this is some brothel! You see a girl and want to commit lewd acts!"

"You are a royal prince, that's fine, but the imperial palace is the imperial palace; how can you, a prince, treat it like Zuihua Pavilion!"

"If so, wouldn't all the beauties in the inner palace become things in your pond!"

Having said this, Guo Shi immediately took up the thread, saying sharply, "Oh my, this matter—I really don't know who spread the rumor, actually making people think this place is Zuihua Pavilion!"

"You—!" Imperial Yu Fei's face turned pale, "You peasant woman! Stop spouting blood!"

After finishing, she turned to kneel toward Qin Yuan, looking like a victim, "Emperor, someone is slandering the inner palace here; I hope the Emperor will uphold justice and return our Ruyi Palace to innocence!"

The moment she knelt and lowered her head, the palace maid beside her seemed to understand and gave a look to another little palace maid.

Instantly, that little palace maid suddenly knelt out, "Emperor, it has nothing to do with Ruyi Palace, nothing to do with Imperial Yu Fei; it was this servant who was gossiping that day, which is why Qin Liuye heard it and took it for truth—"

"Yes, it was you!" Seeing someone jump out, Qin Liuye pointed firmly at the little palace maid, biting down and not letting go, "If it wasn't for you gossiping and me coincidentally hearing it, I wouldn't have come here!"

Seeing this, Qin Yuan issued an order: "Someone, drag her to the Punishment Department and slap her mouth two hundred times a day!"

Instantly, guards came up and dragged the little palace maid away, but as she was dragged away, she kept crying and begging for help: "Imperial Yu Fei, save me, Imperial Yu Fei, save me—"

Not until the little palace maid's crying faded into the depths of the palace did Imperial Yu Fei breathe a slight sigh of relief.

She performed a graceful salute to Qin Yuan, "Emperor, this concubine did not know about this little palace maid gossiping; if I had known, I would have punished her severely—"

"Enough." Qin Yuan waved his hand impatiently, "Fortunately, Miss Lin was not harmed; besides, this matter is not your fault."

After Lin Jiaojiao and Qingdai exchanged glances, they immediately understood: this was clearly a trap set by Imperial Yu Fei!

But why was the Emperor so blind as to believe Imperial Yu Fei?

However, Lin Jiaojiao's brain turned extremely fast; since the root of this matter was Imperial Yu Fei of Ruyi Palace, she couldn't confront her directly anymore!

If not now, when should she pit her against the royal clan?

She bowed gracefully to Imperial Yu Fei and apologized directly, "Imperial Yu Fei, it seems the root of the problem is all because a palace maid in Ruyi Palace was gossiping. It was my lack of judgment; I apologize to you here."

"If it weren't for you bringing Imperial Concubine Ning over to save the day, I really wouldn't be able to wash myself clean even if I jumped into the Yellow River!"

"I believe you have a clear mind and would definitely not do something like a thief calling for a thief!"

"I thank Imperial Yu Fei here!"

Imperial Yu Fei never expected that she would be "named" and thanked by Lin Jiaojiao!

At this moment, Qin Liuye was glaring at Imperial Yu Fei, looking as if he were angry at her for summoning people over and ruining his good deed!

This glare, full of hatred and hostility, made Imperial Yu Fei feel extremely uncomfortable!

Imperial Concubine Ning smiled slightly and said considerately, "Younger sister, no need to thank me; this is what we should do. Fortunately, we arrived in time, and you were smart enough that Miss Lin and the palace maid of Qingju Pavilion were not bullied."

Lin Jiaojiao bowed to Imperial Concubine Ning again, then turned to kneel toward the Emperor, and remonstrated righteously, "Emperor! I beg you to observe clearly and not indulge such people in causing chaos in the inner palace!"

Seeing this, Imperial Concubine Ning knelt down and requested, "I also beg the Emperor to uphold justice and return the inner palace to peace!"