Chapter 23

After the emperor left Luhua Palace, Kang Yuyi remained leaning on the soft couch of golden nanmu wood, lost in thought for a long time.

She felt guilty because the aphrodisiac incident might not have had anything to do with her mother, Zhou and she had misunderstood her for many years.

She was also heartbroken that Jingyi had deceived and humiliated her to save her incompetent brother, betraying their sisterhood of more than ten years.

The window next to the soft couch was open slightly, and the moonlight slowly shone into the hall, casting a shimmering light on Kang Yuyi’s ivory satin gown, making her look even more enveloped in a fog of sadness.

Zisu saw her master so depressed and quickly stepped forward, saying, “Your Highness, the wet nurse just put the crown prince to sleep in the side room after feeding him.”

Kang Yuyi came back to her senses and asked, “Have the accommodations for the wet nurse and the mamas been arranged?”

Zisu hurriedly replied, “Yes, Your Highness, they are all settled in the side hall with the crown prince.”

When Zisu had boldly suggested that Kang Yuyi visit the crown prince, she had been fearful after saying it.

Previously, another palace maid of Luhua Palace had been expelled by the consort for mentioning the crown prince while flattering her.

Unexpectedly, the consort did not blame or punish her, and from then on, she visited the crown prince at Renshou Palace daily.

For this, Zisu was privately rewarded by the Empress Dowager.

“It’s so late, His Majesty won’t come over tonight will he?” Kang Yuyi looked outside and casually remarked upon seeing the bright moon.

Zisu however smiled and said, “Your Highness, over the years, no matter how late it gets, His Majesty always comes to Luhua Palace to keep you company. Tonight will be no different.”

Kang Yuyi’s eyes widened in disbelief at the news.

Although the emperor had indeed come to rest late these past few days, she was surprised to hear from Zisu that this had been the case for many years.

At the same time, the Jin Yiwei’s Beizhen Fu Division rarely welcomed the arrival of the emperor.

To prevent Liao Jingyi from going mad or harming herself during the interrogation, the guards had tightly bound her hands and feet with ropes specially used by the Jin Yiwei.

Liao Jingyi was immobilized and secretly resolved to deny everything, no matter what.

Back then, she had purposely taken Kang Yuyi on a quiet, deserted path and no one would have passed by the abandoned courtyard at the northwest corner of the royal residence.

If the emperor knew about it now, it could only be because Kang Yuyi had told him.

But she had no proof.

The emperor strode into the interrogation room, his gaze coldly sweeping over the bound Liao Jingyi as if she were already dead.

Since the emperor ascended the throne five years ago, this was Liao Jingyi’s first time facing him.

The emperor wore dark brown woven gold dragon-patterned regular clothes, with a jade crown binding his hair. He was tall, strong, and his face was cold and stern, exuding an air of authority.

He waved his hand to clear the room, dismissing everyone so he could interrogate her alone.

“Greetings, Your Majesty, long live the emperor!” Liao Jingyi’s voice trembled with flattery. If her hands and feet hadn’t been bound, she would have knelt down in a grand salute.

The emperor coldly rebuked, “Cut the crap. I ask you in March of the 31st year of Yongfeng who instructed you to lure the noble consort into taking the aphrodisiac?”

“Please, Your Majesty! I have not done anything that is unfavorable to Your Highness! I didn’t lure her into taking the aphrodisiac!”

The emperor’s gaze was as fierce as a falcon: “Think carefully before you speak. In March of the 31st year of Yongfeng, what exactly did you do?”

“Deceiving the emperor is a grave offense. Are you sure you and your family can bear it?” the emperor added coldly.

Liao Jingyi shook her head frantically and burst into tears, “Your Majesty, I swear I am innocent! I didn’t do it!”

“In the 31st year of Yongfeng, the noble consort was already your concubine. I wouldn’t dare extend my hand into the East Courtyard! Please Your Majesty, believe me!”

Seeing her desperation, the emperor had no choice but to call in the Commander of the Jinyiwei and several prison guards. He raised his hand signaling them to start the torture.

Liao Jingyi was caught off guard and whipped several times, causing tears and snot to flow down her face.

After being whipped dozens of times, Liao Jingyi was sweating all over, screaming as if her heart and lungs were being torn apart.

The whip was covered with barbs, tearing her clothes and exposing bloody, torn flesh.

Before this, Liao Jingyi had never imagined she would be truly tortured.

But thinking of the disaster that could befall her family if she confessed, Liao Jingyi gritted her teeth and endured nearly a hundred lashes.

Seeing her still refusing to confess, the emperor instructed the Commander of the Jinyiwei to use the branding iron.

The guards took the branding iron and pressed it into the burning brazier. Once it was red-hot, they lifted it and approached the barely dressed Liao Jingyi.

Her body had already been whipped to the point that there was hardly any flesh left. If she were branded, her entire body would be ruined.

Without hesitation, the guard pressed the red-hot branding iron onto Liao Jingyi’s back. A sizzling sound filled the room, and the stench of burning flesh permeated the air.

Liao Jingyi’s pain was so intense that her hair stood on end, and her tears and snot flowed uncontrollably.

The guard placed the branding iron back into the fire, preparing for another round.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty! Forgive me! I confess! I confess!” Liao Jingyi sobbed and screamed frantically.

The emperor raised his hand, signaling the guard to stop and telling everyone else to leave.

“On March 29th of the 31st year of Yongfeng, whose orders did you follow, and what did you do to Her Highness?” The emperor’s gaze was stern and grim.

In excruciating pain from her wounds, Liao Jingyi stammered, “It was your cousin! Your cousin! It has nothing to do with me! He forced me! It’s all him!”

The emperor’s heart sank, his deep eyes narrowing slightly, “The cousin you’re talking about is Cui Mulin?”

Liao Jingyi nodded frantically, “Yes! It was him! He forced me!”

The emperor pressed on, “How did he force you? What did you do?”

Shaking from the sharp pain, Liao Jingyi said, “He forced me to trick Yuyi into taking an aphrodisiac called Jade Lady Pill and locked her in a room waiting for him! I didn’t want to! I didn’t mean to hurt Yuyi! He made me do it!”

Even now, Liao Jingyi refused to admit that the root cause of the incident was actually her good-for-nothing, gambling brother.

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