Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 516 Don’t Be Ungrateful

"If what the servant boy said is all true, then Madam Lin bears the guilt of nearly ten human lives, her crime punishable by death. What are your thoughts on this, Beloved Minister Zhen?" freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

The Li Family of six, three poisoned patrons at the eatery, and Madam Lin’s cousin, make exactly ten people.

Hearing this, Zhen Huailin quickly knelt on the ground.

"The laws of Great Yan are strict and clear, if Madam Lin truly has taken lives, this humble official will not shield her!"

Jun Yuyan nodded and stood up.

"Beloved Minister Zhen, rise. I will send someone to investigate this matter thoroughly. How to deal with it shall be in full accordance with the law. However, concerning today’s matter, you know, I know, let not a third person know of it."

"This humble official will keep tight-lipped and not reveal a word!"

Zhen Huailin did not rise but instead sought forgiveness:

"This humble official failed to detect the crimes of the one beside me and even disturbed Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

"Whether Madam Lin is guilty or not still requires evidence, but Beloved Minister Zhen, your indecisiveness, this point, I hope you will learn from this lesson."

"This humble official will surely bear it in mind!"

Jun Yuyan waved his hand, letting Zhen Huailin stand and withdraw.

Once the other person had gone downstairs, he went to the room next door and reached out to hold Murong Jiu’s hand, speaking warmly, "Did the Empress hear all that? Are you satisfied?"

Murong Jiu pinched his fingers, chiding, "Your Majesty, your words make it sound as though I am always focused on gossip."

Jun Yuyan chuckled, pleading guilty, "It’s my fault, in truth, it’s I who enjoy gossip, not my Empress."

There were guards and Hidden Guards outside, yet he was sticky with affection, prompting Murong Jiu to flush red and push him towards the door.

"Your Majesty had better hurry to the army camp, the sky is already bright."

As Jun Yuyan walked out, he suddenly turned around, hugged her briefly, and sniffed her neck before contentedly separating from her.

He headed for the military camp outside the suburbs while Murong Jiu, under cover, entered the palace, changed her clothes, and then went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

Wang Yingluo had arrived early and immediately looked at Murong Jiu’s neck as soon as she saw her.

Unfortunately, Murong Jiu was dressed even more conservatively than the day before; nothing could be seen on her neck.

Wang Yingluo narrowed her eyes, thinking that Murong Jiu’s behavior was like that of a guilty thief. The weather was getting warmer, even Empress Dowager Qi dressed a bit more coolly, yet Murong Jiu, on the contrary, covered up even more tightly.

The more she did this, the more suspicious she seemed.

Wang Yingluo had already been eight parts certain, and now she was utterly convinced of an issue between Murong Jiu and her fellow disciple Miao Wuxie.

In this palace, besides the Imperial Physician and guards, there are no other intact males.

But neither of these can move freely around the palace; they can only meet someone if summoned.

And Murong Jiu always summoned Miao Wuxie, often staying for almost an hour, and with the Emperor not in the palace, there could be no other men. So if not Miao Wuxie, who else could have left those strawberry marks on Murong Jiu’s neck?

Wang Yingluo was now utterly certain, her expression revealing a hint of smugness.

Empress Dowager Qi saw that Murong Jiu arrived late and scolded her a few sentences.

"Yesterday, a centipede thicker than an arm appeared in my Cining Palace, Empress. I know your fellow disciple Miao Wuxie comes from Xiangxi and can summon poisonous creatures. Whether this matter involves you and your fellow disciple, I will not pursue, but if there is a next time, I will not let it go so easily," said the Empress Dowager.

This left Murong Jiu with no room for defense because even if she claimed that the poisonous creature was unrelated to Miao Wuxie, the Empress Dowager would assert that she had failed to manage the harem strictly, thus letting in the poisonous creature.

Wang Yingluo saw Murong Jiu lower her head and felt even more triumphant in her heart.

What she didn’t know was that Murong Jiu had no intention of explaining anything. The poisonous creature was merely to distract from Fu Rong. In fact, there was no centipede at all; it was all the result of the palace maid’s good acting.

But soon, Wang Yingluo could no longer rejoice.

After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, her tone shifted, and she said:

"Now that the harem is empty, even my Cining Palace feels desolate. We’re not even talking about providing His Majesty with offspring to expand the lineage. Bringing in fresh blood will liven up the palace and prevent it from being so dreary. What do you think, Empress?"

The previous mention of the centipede was just a prelude. Empress Dowager Qi knew that Murong Jiu would not let a centipede bite her; the most it would do was scare Wang Yingluo. She didn’t need to speak initially, as it seemed like she was making a decision for Wang Yingluo, but then she thought that since the Empress had made a mistake, wasn’t it the perfect time to propose selecting new consorts?

Moreover, Empress Dowager Qi had recently been favoring Murong Jiu, even creating opportunities for her to be alone with the Emperor. Murong Jiu should be grateful and wouldn’t reject her suggestion.

Besides, the Emperor had amnesia and had fallen for a village girl. If Murong Jiu was smart, she should quickly hold an Imperial Selection to fill the harem, thus diverting some of the favoritism from the village girl and achieving a balance in the harem.

Wang Yingluo looked anxiously at Murong Jiu, her brow furrowed tightly.

She certainly was not happy about selecting consorts, for Jun Yuyan could only belong to her alone.

She knew in her heart that even if consorts were chosen, Jun Yuyan definitely would not touch those women.

But the women in the palace would be envious, and if one of them resorted to drugs and became pregnant with a prince, her position would be threatened.

She didn’t want to engage in constant palace intrigue. She only wanted to be crowned the favorite of Capital City, to become a legendary Empress like Empress Murong, with a monogamous relationship with Jun Yuyan.

Just thinking of all the despicable women that would fill the palace in the future, Wang Yingluo grew extremely irritated.

As for the future, no one could be certain. Historically, Jun Yuyan and Empress Murong were affectionate for many years, but that was when Jun Yuyan had no other consorts. Once this precedent was set, men would psychologically persuade themselves that as the ruler of a nation, all the birds in the world belonged to him; whether he slept with one or a hundred, it was all the same. Perhaps the palace would end up with even more women than the late emperor had.

As a hypnotist, she understood these men’s psychological processes all too well.

This precedent, thus, absolutely could not be set.

Murong Jiu wouldn’t agree! She couldn’t even tolerate one person, let alone other women!

Wang Yingluo waited for Murong Jiu’s response, clenching her fists secretly, her palms sweaty with nervousness.

She couldn’t speak up because she lacked the status and would become even more detested by the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Qi hoped that the Emperor would spread his seed, ensuring a house full of progeny. If she tried to stop it, she could forget about Empress Dowager Qi favoring her ever again.

At that moment, Murong Jiu slowly raised her head, yet her gaze was fixed on her.

Wang Yingluo’s heart skipped a beat as she heard Murong Jiu say, "Mother, as you are well aware of my current situation, the matter of selecting consorts may not be something I have a say in. We must listen to Miss Wang’s wishes."

Consort Dowager Qi scoffed, glancing at Wang Yingluo, "Wang Yingluo, do you have any objections? As a common girl, you owe your position today to the Emperor’s grace. But if you don’t appreciate what you have, I believe your days in the palace won’t be easy. Isn’t that right, Wang Yingluo?"