Upon hearing this, Consort Xian immediately covered her mouth in shock, her face filled with disbelief.
“How could this be… how could this happen…”
The other consorts instantly looked at Consort Chen with deep disdain.
In the harem, it was often said that Consort Chen had the gentlest temperament and never competed for the emperor’s favor.
Now, however, it seemed that this was far from the truth.
Who would have thought that Consort Chen could be so vicious?
Shangguan Sui and Consort Chen watched the two women sing in harmony, feeling utterly speechless.
【Honestly, what terrible acting.】
【My mother has only regained Father’s favor for a few days, and they’re already so eager to frame her!】
Holding Shangguan Sui’s hand, Consort Chen maintained a calm expression. She was about to speak when a sharp cry suddenly interrupted:
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived—”
Hearing this, everyone immediately bowed in salute.
“This concubine greets Your Majesty.”
Shangguan Lin looked at the chaotic scene before him and frowned.
“What is going on here?”
Seeing that the emperor had arrived, Consort Xian eagerly stepped forward and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, during today’s flower-viewing, Consort Chen somehow pushed Concubine Ning.”
“I fear that Concubine Ning’s pregnancy may not be saved…”
Concubine Ning immediately squeezed out a few tears and looked at Shangguan Lin with a sorrowful expression. Her trembling lips made her appear exceptionally pitiful.
Just as Shangguan Lin began to feel a hint of sympathy, a childish and crisp voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
【You’ve got to be kidding me—Father wouldn’t actually believe such a low-level harem scheme, would he?!】
Shangguan Lin frowned slightly.
Low? What did that mean?
Although he didn’t fully understand the term, he clearly understood the reference to harem intrigue—something he detested the most.
Shangguan Lin cast a calm gaze at Concubine Ning, who was lying on the ground. The trace of sympathy he had felt earlier was now replaced entirely by impatience.
In a cold voice, he ordered, “What are you waiting for? Help Concubine Ning up at once and summon an imperial physician!”
Concubine Ning and Consort Xian were momentarily stunned.
Why had the emperor suddenly become so angry?
Could it be that he was angry with Consort Chen?
With this thought, both women felt reassured.
This time, Consort Chen was surely doomed!
Under the emperor’s orders, Concubine Ning was quickly carried into a nearby palace in the imperial garden. Everyone gathered by the bedside, waiting for the imperial physician’s diagnosis.
Clutching her handkerchief, Consort Xian began to weep beside Shangguan Lin.
“Your Majesty, please seek justice for Sister Ning! This is her first pregnancy, and for such a tragedy to occur is truly heartbreaking~”
“When this concubine arrived, I saw Sister Ning lying on the ground, with only Consort Chen and the Fifth Princess beside her…”
Shangguan Lin frowned. “You’re saying that at the time, only Consort Chen, Concubine Ning, and the Fifth Princess were present?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The truth could not be clearer…” Consort Xian replied, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, a dark glint flashing within them.
Everything had been meticulously planned.
Knowing that Consort Chen disliked bringing attendants with her, they waited until she was alone with Shangguan Sui while viewing the flowers. They then sent Concubine Ning to deliberately stage a fall, making it appear as though Consort Chen had pushed her.
After all, everyone in the harem knew that the Fifth Princess had been poisoned and currently could not speak. Even if Shangguan Sui had witnessed everything, she would be unable to testify on Consort Chen’s behalf.
With no one to serve as a witness, Consort Chen would surely be condemned for harming an imperial heir.
Upon hearing Consort Xian’s words, Shangguan Sui huffed angrily in her heart.
【Truth? What nonsense! The truth is that Concubine Ning deliberately staged the fall to frame my mother!】
【Her pregnancy was never viable to begin with! She simply wanted to use this opportunity to harm my mother!】
【And Consort Xian is in cahoots with her—they orchestrated this entire scheme together!】
Seeing that the emperor showed little reaction, Consort Xian discreetly signaled to the imperial physician.
Physician Wang immediately stepped forward and bowed.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Concubine Ning’s miscarriage was caused by an external impact, which led to the loss of the child…”
【You imperial physician are truly shameless, spouting such nonsense!】
【The real reason for the miscarriage was the abortifacient she drank before leaving. Can’t you even detect that?】
【Oh, I see—you’re Consort Xian’s man, working together to frame my mother!】
Shangguan Lin: …
Why did every consort seem so fond of bribing imperial physicians?
Consort Li had bribed Physician Zhang, and now Consort Xian had bribed Physician Wang.
Did each of them have their own personal physician?
The more Shangguan Sui thought about it, the angrier she became.
【Hmph! I thought my father was wise and mighty, but it seems he can still be blinded by such petty tricks!】
【A foolish ruler! A foolish ruler! He’s no longer my good daddy!】
Seemingly provoked by that accusation, Shangguan Lin’s gaze turned icy as it swept toward Physician Wang.
“Physician Wang, are you certain that Concubine Ning miscarried because of the fall?”
Terrified, Physician Wang immediately dropped to his knees.
“Your Majesty… I… I…”
Shangguan Lin pressed his lips together, the oppressive aura of imperial authority bearing down upon him.
“You should know that deceiving the emperor is a crime punishable by the extermination of one’s entire clan.”
Cold sweat beaded on Physician Wang’s forehead.
Could it be that the emperor already knew something? Otherwise, he would not have asked such a question.
If he continued to side with Consort Xian, there would likely be no good outcome for him.
With this realization, Physician Wang heavily kowtowed.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not intend to deceive you. Concubine Ning, she…”