Consort Rong forced an awkward laugh.

Yuan Ruan covered her face:

【Consort Rong is truly as strong as a bull! Luckily, Big Brother dodged in time, or he would’ve been incapacitated on the spot. System, quickly check what kind of poison this is and how to neutralize it!]

The emperor and Consort Rong instantly tensed.

Just identifying the poison would reduce the threat significantly.

System: [It’s Mongolian sweat medicine mixed with an aphrodisiac. It was added by Lady Liu during her recent visit, with Lady Wu assisting her.】

The emperor pinched the bridge of his nose, finally understanding the dizziness and heat he was experiencing.

Yuan Ruan let out a sigh of relief:

[At least it won’t kill him. Strange, though-why would Lady Liu add Mongolian sweat medicine and an aphrodisiac to Consort Rong’s water jug? Did she find out Big Brother would visit and want to intercept him?】

System: [No. Her goal was to humiliate Consort Rong, Wu Yue, or you. This way, she could claim Consort Rong was unfit to care for children and propose that another consort take over.】

The emperor and Consort Rong:…

Yuan Ruan was dumbfounded, hugging her small body tightly:

[I’ve only been in the palace a few days, and I’m already part of a palace intrigue! How remarkable.】

Hearing that Yuan Ruan was also a target of the poisoning enraged the emperor even further.

“Guards!” The emperor’s voice was calm, but it carried a dangerous edge. “Bring everyone who visited Consort Rong’s palace today.”

The chief eunuch froze. “Everyone? Even the concubines?”

The emperor cast him a cold glance.

The eunuch dared not hesitate and immediately scurried off.

Soon, Lady Liu, Lady Wu, and all the maids and attendants who had served them were dragged to Zhaoyang Palace. Covered in snow and mud, they screamed and wailed as they were brought in.

Other palace consorts, curious about the commotion, peeked out but quickly withdrew when they saw the emperor’s chief eunuch leading the way. None dared utter a word.

Lady Liu and Lady Wu were thrown heavily onto the stone-paved ground, their knees striking the floor with an audible thud. Crying out in pain, they struggled to kneel and began kowtowing repeatedly to the emperor seated above.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, we are innocent!” they cried.

Hearing their voices, Consort Rong grew even angrier. In the bitter cold, she ordered all the warming braziers in the front courtyard to be removed, making the area even more frigid.

The emperor asked coldly, “Who instructed you to come here?”

Lady Liu and Lady Wu continued kowtowing and shouting, “We don’t know! Your Majesty, we know nothing!”

At that moment, Yuan Ruan’s inner voice echoed again:

[So it was Consort Liu Zhaoyi’s idea. No wonder- only consorts ranked or higher can raise children.)

Yuan Ruan covered her face:

[Oh, woe is me, a woman too popular for her own good!】

The emperor: …

Consort Rong: …

Their anger was somewhat diffused by Yuan Ruan’s self-deprecating and humorous thoughts.

System: [Hah! Yuan Ruan, Consort Liu Zhaoyi’s real goal isn’t to raise you! She wants Consort Rong to lose everything before her eyes.】

Yuan Ruan: 【What kind of grudge is this?】

System: [It’s revenge. Consort Liu discovered that Consort Rong allegedly harmed her child three years ago.】

The emperor’s expression darkened, clearly unsurprised by this information.

Consort Rong, however, was utterly confused. After her confusion came indignation.

When had she ever harmed Consort Liu’s child? She didn’t even know when Consort Liu had been pregnant!

Consort Rong clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the urge to ask questions lest she interrupt the divine revelations. She forced herself to listen and find out the truth.

Yuan Ruan: [Ah, so it’s revenge. Cause and effect-it’s not surprising.】

System: 【Not exactly. Host, here’s the real story: Consort Liu Zhaoyi’s child was actually killed by her own sister, Lady Liu Meiren. Liu Meiren was jealous that Liu Zhaoyi gained favor early and even gave birth to the Seventh Prince.

Liu Meiren didn’t dare to harm the child directly, so she lured the Seventh Prince to a small pond using snacks. After he fell in, she ran away. Lady Wu, who shared the same side hall with her, found the Seventh Prince in the pond and jumped in to save him but couldn’t rescue him in time.

Lady Wu panicked. When she saw Consort Rong passing through the imperial garden, she secretly conspired with Liu Meiren, claiming that she had seen Consort Rong playing with the Seventh Prince. In the blink of an eye, the prince fell into the water, and by the time she jumped in to save him, he was already lifeless.

When Liu Meiren heard this, she immediately agreed. Together, they went to Consort Liu Zhaoyi and told her this version of events. Liu Zhaoyi ran to the emperor in tears, but without evidence, the case was left unresolved. From then on, Liu Zhaoyi harbored a grudge against Consort Rong.】

The emperor: !!!

So that’s how the Seventh Prince died.

No wonder no evidence could be found back then.

Consort Rong was furious.

Her family wasn’t large, but her brother’s prowess in court was unmatched, and his sharp tongue could silence the ministers of Great Xia. No consort dared slight her, fearing repercussions for their families.

She had worked hard to rise through the ranks by pleasing the emperor, portraying a bold yet pure image. Not only had she never harmed anyone, but she often helped others.

It finally made sense why she had suddenly fallen out of favor-because of these two fools spreading baseless accusations!

Even without evidence, the emperor’s initial impression would have been soured, rendering all her efforts over the years meaningless.

The more Consort Rong thought about it, the angrier she became. She whipped out a lash and struck Lady Wu and Lady Liu repeatedly.

Lady Liu: !!!

Lady Wu: !!!

Covering her face, Lady Liu cried out in anger and grievance, “How dare you hit me? What are you doing?”

“I’m hitting you!” Lady Rong glared back fiercely.

She wanted to shout the truth but realized only she could hear Yuan Ruan’s thoughts. Speaking out would make her seem insane.

Instead, she changed tactics. “You wretched woman! How dare you poison His Majesty! A mere whipping is lenient -you should be drawn and quartered!”

Hearing this, Lady Liu and Lady Wu, who had been defiant moments earlier, immediately panicked.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, we are innocent!” Lady Liu cried, kneeling before the emperor and begging for mercy. “Your Majesty, Consort Rong must have heard this nonsense from somewhere…”

Consort Rong cut her off angrily: “Still denying it? Since you’re at death’s door, let me tell you something. During my investigation, I discovered that you, Lady Liu, were the one who pushed the Seventh Prince into the pond!”

Lady Liu shuddered. “Wh-what? You’re lying!”

“I have both witnesses and evidence,” Consort Rong sneered. “Let’s see how Consort Liu Zhaoyi deals with you-or perhaps she won’t get the chance, as you’ll be executed for attempting to harm His Majesty. Your family might even be implicated.”

Lady Wu suddenly exclaimed, “So it was you! Yes, that day in the imperial garden, you were there. But then you threatened me, saying that if I didn’t listen to you, you’d tell your sister it was my fault for failing to save the prince.

You wretched woman!”

Lady Wu leapt up and tackled Lady Liu, pummeling her.

The two rolled into a scuffle.

Consort Rong felt a bit more at ease watching them fight.

The emperor, veins throbbing, barked, “Enough!”

At his command, the chief eunuch and palace attendants rushed forward to separate the brawling women. Some nervously pleaded with Consort Rong to stop as well.

The emperor frowned. “Incompetent, immoral, and malicious-send them, along with Consort Liu Zhaoyi, to the Office of the Imperial Clan for investigation. Punish them according to their crimes.”

He glanced at Yuan Ruan’s bright eyes in his arms and paused before adding, “Let this serve as a warning. Anyone who interferes with the Young National Preceptor will be executed.”

The chief eunuch shuddered and hastily replied, “Understood.”

The emperor felt increasingly drowsy and overheated. Clearly, traces of the drug from the tea lingered in his system.

He beckoned Yuan Ruan and said, “Ah Ruan, you are the Great Xia’s most important National Preceptor. In ten days, I will gather 100,000 citizens at Jiujun Mountain to prepare a grand altar for you.”

Yuan Ruan was already stunned by this announcement. The emperor’s next words left her completely frozen.

“At that time, Ah Ruan will open the altar and perform the rites, proclaiming your role to the world.”

Yuan Ruan: !!!

What?! Me?! Performing rites in front of 100,000 people?!