Chapter 529: Chapter 529: Thought You Were Simple and Honest, But You Turned Out to Be Even More Malicious Chapter 529: Chapter 529: Thought You Were Simple and Honest, But You Turned Out to Be Even More Malicious “Speak! Who instructed you to do this?”

The Empress Dowager, her face stern and commanding, stared down at the trembling little eunuch kneeling on the ground.

The little eunuch raised his head, but his eyes dared not wander, and he quickly lowered his head again, his body shaking even more violently.

Next to Murong Jiu, Hong Yi suddenly spoke up:
“Miss Wang and Eunuch Li seem very pale.”

This statement made everyone’s eyes fall on the two of them.

Wang Yingluo tried her best to appear composed. She looked at Jun Yuyan, saw him frowning, and hurriedly spoke before the little eunuch could:
“Brother Yan, Her Majesty the Empress is clearly staging this herself. Unable to gain your favor, she deliberately contrived this play to draw you closer to her. She might even lead this little eunuch to claim that I bribed him to poison her! That way, she could dispose of me quickly!”

Her eyes reddened, and she sniffled, her face full of sorrow and grievance.

How could she not feel aggrieved?

Being with the man she loved, appearing in another woman’s bed.

And she was still being directly confronted and even framed by this woman.

The more aggrieved she felt, the more Jun Yuyan would pity her, the more guilty he would feel towards her, would he not?

Unfortunately, she didn’t have the ability to read minds and didn’t know that at this moment, both Jun Yuyan and Murong Jiu were just treating her as a joke, watching her perform with indifference on their faces.

Jun Yuyan even critiqued in his mind, disdaining Wang Yingluo’s poor acting skills, her thoughts visible at the bottom of her eyes. To anyone not blinded by lard, it was clear to see the calculations in her gaze.

It was no surprise, really, as Wang Yingluo had never immersed herself in the intricate dealings of the inner palace for many years, so naturally, she lacked skilled acting prowess.

Moreover, in Wang Yingluo’s mind, she was full of confidence in her hypnotic skills, not realizing that Jun Yuyan had long detected the problem and never truly regarded her as his beloved.

Love is the hardest to replace, a fact that Wang Yingluo failed to understand.

Despite many thoughts flashing through his mind, Jun Yuyan’s face showed a contemplative expression, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, as if pondering who was right and who was wrong.

At that moment, Murong Jiu spoke coldly, “Miss Wang means to suggest that this palace deliberately led you here to catch adultery?”

The Empress Dowager also pondered, as the Empress had no need to ruin her own reputation and raise suspicions about her and Miao the Divine Healer’s relationship.

And Wang Yingluo, confidently claiming certainty, actually seemed the more suspicious.

Today, regardless of who was right or wrong, Wang Yingluo must be punished to learn the rules of the palace. If every day was as disorderly as this, she would be a constant headache in the future.

“This servant did not mean that…”

Wang Yingluo said this with her mouth, but her attitude showed her suspicion of the matter.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager shouted angrily, “How audacious of you, girl! Without a shred of evidence, based merely on speculation, you dare accuse the Empress, while neither I nor the Emperor have said anything. What right do you have to speak thus!”

“And you, little eunuch!” She pointed at the little eunuch on the ground with her armor-clad finger:
“Name your mastermind behind the scenes. Dare to lie, and not only will I have your entire family executed, but I will also make your life worse than death!”

The little eunuch, like a quail about to freeze to death, trembled, his face pale. Hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, he suddenly raised his head and pointed at Eunuch Li:
“It was Eunuch Li’s godson! He gave this servant five hundred taels silver notes to poison the Empress’s food! Empress Dowager, please spare my life! This servant was confused for a moment, but I only needed the silver taels to save my seriously ill mother back home!”

The little eunuch was crying with snot and tears, but he did not deserve sympathy.

No matter how tough conditions are at home, one should not extinguish one’s conscience.

Everyone looked towards Eunuch Li.

In his panic, Eunuch Li knelt on the ground, refusing to admit any wrongdoing and even claimed that the little eunuch was framing him.

Soon, one of Eunuch Li’s godsons was brought over. The man was a tough nut to crack and did not betray Eunuch Li.

Thus, the godson was dragged out and subjected to forced confession.

Wang Yingluo could hear the other’s agonizing screams, indicating how severe the torture was.

Wang Yingluo’s palms were sweaty; only at this moment did she truly realize that one wrong step led to another in this cannibalistic feudal society. Once she was caught, she could likely be beaten to death mercilessly.

“Brother Yan, Yingluo really was led by the nose. Yingluo knows nothing. Eunuch Li must be innocent. He’s old and planning to retire from the palace in a couple of years. How could he possibly commit such an act!”

Wang Yingluo said to Jun Yuyan, defending Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li was now her person, and without conclusive evidence, she naturally couldn’t just abandon Eunuch Li.

Moreover, once Eunuch Li was implicated, she would be involved.

Jun Yuyan, with a headache, waved his hand, “Everyone leave first. Let me get dressed.”

Only then did Wang Yingluo remember that he had just casually draped a garment over himself when he sat up and had not fully dressed yet. Her gaze swept over, and she could even see the nail marks on his shoulder.

They were left by Murong Jiu.

Wang Yingluo clenched her nails into her palm, uncontrollably thinking that Jun Yuyan had remained in Murong Jiu’s bed not because he adored Murong Jiu’s scent, but simply because of the headache.

Yes, that must be the reason.

Jun Yuyan would definitely hate Murong Jiu for this. He loathed women with deep scheming the most.

Murong Jiu had manipulated him, but what of it, even if she had briefly won his favor? Jun Yuyan surely would never set foot in Kunning Palace again!

Then, Eunuch Li’s godson, battered to his last breath, finally engulfed by fear before death, implicated Eunuch Li, confessing that the drugs were supplied by Eunuch Li.

The Empress Dowager was furiously angered and immediately ordered a search of Wang Yingluo’s palace.

Wang Yingluo’s fists clenched tightly again.

Murong Jiu, witnessing this scene, spoke up, “Miss Wang, both Eunuch Li and you are suspects. Since you both keep crying innocence, you shouldn’t mind being searched, right?”

“No!”

Wang Yingluo shouted loudly, stepping back.

She instinctively wanted to seek Jun Yuyan’s protection, but Jun Yuyan was currently closing the door to change his clothes; she had nowhere to hide.

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, “Someone, search Wang Yingluo first!”

Wang Yingluo hastily dodged, shouting loudly, “Brother Yan, come save me! Brother Yan, they want to kill me!”

The Empress Dowager, unable to contain her anger,
said, “Who is trying to kill you? This is a guilty conscience showing. I suspect you have drugs on you! You must have instructed the eunuch to poison the Empress’s food, and led me here intentionally to catch an adulterer. However, you didn’t expect the Emperor to suddenly visit Kunning Palace. If the Emperor hadn’t come today, the Empress would really have been framed by you! You, a woman from the countryside, I thought you lacked schemes and were naive! However, you turned out to be more vicious than any of the court ladies I’ve met before!”