Chapter 1280: Chapter 1278: The Truth Revealed
If he were truly defeated by a woman from the harem.
How disgraceful that would be; wouldn’t it be a great shame if it spread?
So...
Zhao Junyao got up and slowly moved forward, gently lifting Luo Manman’s chin with his hand.
"Everything you did was in vain!"
"I wasn’t poisoned, nor did I ever favor you, and I have no hidden ailment!"
"Everything you saw was entirely fake!"
He slowly stood up and admired the kaleidoscope of colors changing on Luo Manman’s face.
Watching as that familiar, beautiful, yet not young face gradually filled with fear.
He suddenly laughed.
"How is it? Isn’t it surprising?"
Luo Manman began to shiver all over, her lips turning purple.
If the Emperor hadn’t been poisoned.
So that means the Emperor knew all along about her every move? Was she poisoning him right under the Emperor’s nose?
Sss!
Luo Manman drew a sharp breath.
If that’s true, what chance does she have to live?
Her gaze fell on the Empress, who was leisurely eating porridge beside her, gradually filled with infinite hatred.
’No wonder she took the Emperor away, yet the Empress had no reaction!’
’No wonder she provoked him repeatedly, yet the Empress turned a blind eye!’
’Turns out she knew everything long ago, watching me like a monkey!’
’And I was like a clown desperately performing a farce!’
A tremendous sense of humiliation surged in her heart, and Luo Manman bit her lip relentlessly to avoid breaking down.
"Emperor!" she trembled as she spoke.
"I am innocent! I... dare not resist!"
Zhao Junyao smiled indifferently.
"Oh!"
"So that’s how it is!"
He sat back in his seat, took a sip of tea, and chuckled.
"Since... you claim to be innocent! Then tell me all of their crimes!"
"Someone, summon the Steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Dali Temple, the Minister of Justice, and the Imperial Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate to see me!"
Li Shengan responded from outside the door.
Xia Ruqing also put down the porridge bowl and tidied up her dress, preparing to retreat behind the screen.
Even the palace maids outside the door withdrew in batches, replaced by the duty eunuchs.
Everyone was moving, except for her; she dared not move.
It wasn’t that she didn’t dare, but that she couldn’t move at all.
She was completely panicked.
"Emperor... why must I meet them?"
Zhao Junyao poured himself another cup of tea, and said calmly.
"Without meeting them, how can I convict you?"
"Without meeting them, how can I expose their crimes?"
He cast a cold glance at Luo Manman, his gaze bitterly cold.
"Before they arrive, let me advise you!"
"If you want to live well, then tell me the truth!"
"If you dare conceal even a single word, I will annihilate nine generations of your family!"
Luo Manman shivered violently upon hearing this.
"Yes!"
"I promise to speak without reserve!"
Zhao Junyao nodded with satisfaction.
"That’s better!"
He toyed with the tea cup in his hand, slightly narrowing his eyes.
The corners of his eyes and brows were filled with joy.
It’s about to conclude, and he felt as if he could soar from the delight.
The years of entanglement were finally coming to an end, and this feeling seemed unreal.
...
The Steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs belonged to the Royal Clan.
While Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, and the Metropolitan Censorate were external officials.
Not even Zhao Junyao nor any emperor in the history of the Great Chu Dynasty.
Would ever reveal the background of their harem to external officials.
Unless... it involved important royal matters.
Luo Manman obviously did not know the intricacies of it.
In her mind, there was only one phrase: speak truthfully and stay alive!
She was utterly terrified.
She had no idea what kind of impact or consequences each word she said would have.
She now recognized just one master, and that was the Emperor!
The officials quickly arrived.
Zhao Junyao ordered the gathering to be moved to the Imperial Study Room.
Those meant to sit sat, those meant to kneel knelt, those meant to avoid avoided.
A small court was thus set up temporarily.
...
The officials from Dali Temple, the Metropolitan Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice were responsible for the primary trial.
Zhao Junyao listened, Luo Manman was interrogated, and all others avoided.
Although being listened to by the Emperor added some pressure.
But their professionalism was top-notch, none of them were inexperienced.
Once they got into the groove, it didn’t take half a Shi Chen to extract every word from Luo Manman’s mouth.
Then... all three were terrified.
Meeting each other’s gaze, they knelt down uniformly.
"Emperor! This..."
The culprits were the Empress Dowager and Shih Wanxin?
Shih Wanxin was no big deal, as she was now a commoner, insignificant.
But the Empress Dowager...
For heaven’s sake, she was the Emperor’s biological mother; even if given a hundred and twenty guts, they wouldn’t dare apprehend the Empress Dowager!
Zhao Junyao lifted his hand indifferently.
"It’s alright!"
"Since the case has reached this point, with witnesses and evidence, I need not say more, except... I need to resolve another case today!"
The three lifted their heads.
"Emperor, dare we ask which case?"
Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Over thirty years ago, the death of the late emperor’s favored concubine, Lady Tian!"
The three officials looked at each other, full of questions internally.
What is going on?
Why is the Emperor suddenly interested in the late emperor’s concubine?
It sounds very strange!
However... they had no courage to question these matters, each of them knelt respectfully, listening to the imperial will.
Zhao Junyao sipped his tea, composed himself, and continued.
"Additionally, there are two other cases, first concerning Zhao Junqi’s lineage, second, the death of Empress Dowager Zhen!"
"Ah?"
The three officials were even more astonished, the emperor seems peculiar today with these... decades-old cold cases?!
Something’s not right!
Wasn’t Prince Yan’s family deceased already?
Why is the Emperor investigating this now?
Questions remained questions, but they must investigate what’s asked.
Deliberating briefly, the three finally spoke.
"Emperor, how does the Emperor wish to investigate this case?"
"Good question!"
Zhao Junyao stood up.
"Since the case is to be reopened, we should invite all involved parties"
"Li Shengan, now go invite the Empress Dowager!"
"Empress Dowager Zhen is not around, so invite my sixth brother!"
"Yes!"
...
After two quarters, people finally arrived.
The Empress Dowager was invited to the top seat, full of impatience upon taking her seat.
Uncertain of the Emperor’s intentions, but seeing this layout, he must not have good intentions, it’s wise to be cautious.
"Emperor!"
"The Empress Dowager is unwell, unsure why you forcibly brought the Empress Dowager here, what are your intentions?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Junyao chuckled softly.
"Troubling the Empress Dowager is my fault, but there are matters requiring confirmation from the Empress Dowager! Please pardon me!"
The Empress Dowager squinted, and settled justifiably in the top seat without saying more.
Zhao Junyao, however, coldly laughed inwardly.
’In front of the officials, she dares to ask this!’
’If she were any kind of mother, considering her son a bit, she wouldn’t possibly do such a thing!’
’But I was so foolish before, treating her as a real mother and being deeply saddened, yet... she’s not!’
’She doesn’t deserve to make me sad!’
