Reborn Divine Doctor: The Abandoned Girl's Legend
Chapter 192 - 62 Oh no, this is a serious crime punishable by beheading

Chapter 192: Chapter 62 Oh no, this is a serious crime punishable by beheading

Affected by the Ghost Speaker curse, within two hours, one would "speak truthfully," saying out loud whatever came to mind.

Lady Hong Yuying was completely unable to control her own speech right now.

This second needle, although seemingly less potent than the first "Seven-step Fall," is in fact sometimes more fearsome than any weapon. Words can be truly dreadful.

"What on earth is going on here!" Just as Hong Yuying and Nangong Qinglin were making an unbearable scene, Noble Princess Consort Luo, Crown Prince, and Hong Yulang, among others, rushed over.

Noble Princess Consort Luo and Hong Yulang, Ye Lingyue had already met during the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet and in the Hongwu Hall.

At the time of the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, men and women were seated separately, so this was Ye Lingyue’s first encounter with Crown Prince Xia Houhong. Accompanying Noble Princess Consort Luo was a man in a dark yellow robe, and he was none other than Crown Prince Xia Houhong.

Compared with the Sixth Prince Xiahou Qi, Xia Houhong’s appearance was somewhat inferior; he bore a resemblance to Noble Princess Consort Luo, with slightly conniving almond eyes, thin lips, and more sclera than iris.

Even being effeminate, Feng Xun was far more pleasant to look at than him.

Such facial features of Crown Prince Hong, according to physiognomy, were typically indicative of callousness and disloyalty.

No wonder even as a child, he knew to harm Xiahou Qi. This Crown Prince was truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing, requiring utmost caution.

However, on the surface, it was not evident that the Crown Prince had such unsavory hobbies.

While silently ridiculing him in her heart, Ye Lingyue’s expression was full of respect as she saluted Noble Princess Consort Luo and Crown Prince one by one.

This was also the first time Crown Prince Xiahou Qi had seen Ye Lingyue, but due to Hong Yulang’s prior exaggeration, the Crown Prince’s impression of Ye Lingyue had already been set as a "crass and rude" and "arrogantly spoiled by favor" countrywoman.

Yet today, upon seeing her, he found that the newly appointed Princess Ye differed greatly from the rumors, with her clear eyes and pretty face, being at the charming age of young adulthood, and quite lovely in appearance.

"Why are you here in the imperial garden? You were not invited to today’s flower festival," Noble Princess Consort Luo glanced critically at Ye Lingyue.

That day, the mysterious death of Qiao Yun had left Noble Princess Consort Luo with an unresolved issue, and upon seeing Ye Lingyue, she felt even more aversion.

"Reporting to Noble Princess Consort, I have the Empress Dowager’s Palace Entry Token, and I did not come for the flower festival. Just a moment ago, it was only because Lady Hong and Lady Nangong stopped me that I..." Noble Princess Consort Luo’s words were clearly laced with contempt, but Ye Lingyue calmly produced the Token and narrated the events as they unfolded.

Hearing this, Noble Princess Consort Luo glared at Hong Yuying and Nangong Qinglin with a look of disappointment.

In fact, Noble Princess Consort Luo had previously regarded both ladies quite favorably, never expecting that before the flower festival even started, they would cause such a blunder.

"It’s just a small tumble into the water, and nobody got hurt. Surely Second Miss Lan wouldn’t mind, would she?" commented Noble Princess Consort Luo lightly.

"I have no issue with it, but there’s a problem with the flower I was holding, which fell into the lake. The reason I entered the palace today was to deliver a flower." Ye Lingyue utilized her Primordial Power, and her clothes quickly dried.

It was only after she mentioned this that everyone recalled seeing her holding a pot of flowers when she entered the imperial garden.

While speaking, Ye Lingyue pretended to be frantic and looked around the lakeside anxiously.

"It’s just a pot of flowers, what’s so significant about that? There are thousands upon thousands of flowers in the imperial garden, what would it matter if one less pot was there," Noble Princess Consort Luo said dismissively.

"If it were an ordinary flower, it wouldn’t matter. But that pot of flowers I had, was entrusted to me by Empress Dowager for care. I entered the palace today specifically to deliver that flower, and now it’s gone. If the Empress Dowager inquires about the blame... Ah, Feng Xue, tell me, what punishment is due for ruining the Empress Dowager’s favorite peony flower?"

Ye Lingyue’s face was filled with gloom as she feigned concern to ask Feng Xue.

"Oh dear, if an item bestowed by imperial favor were to be damaged, that would be a serious offense. At the lightest, one could be exiled to the army, and at worst, beheaded," Feng Xue was being incredibly sly, immediately chiming in with Ye Lingyue.

The two women echoed each other’s words, causing Lady Nangong Qinglin and Hong Yuying to intermittently pale, which was quite a sight to behold.

Even the expression of Noble Princess Consort Luo changed.

How could things have suddenly involved the Empress Dowager?

When the matter implicated the Empress Dowager, Noble Princess Consort Luo had no choice but to report it upwards. Nangong Qinglin and Hong Yuying, who were implicated, as well as An Minxia and Feng Xue as witnesses, were all brought to the Empress Dowager’s Bai Feng Palace.

"Hong Yuying was unaware that the peony flower in Ye Lingyue’s hand was your Ladyship’s gift. This is all Nangong Qinglin’s fault; she’s the one who pushed me into the lake," Hong Yuying began to plead for mercy as soon as she saw the Empress Dowager.

"Empress Dowager, you must discern the truth, I didn’t push them. Moreover, it was Hong Yuying who told me to go up and push Ye Lingyue," Nangong Qinglin retorted without showing weakness.

"Silence!" the Empress Dowager shouted in anger, frightening both Hong Yuying and Nangong Qinglin into silence.

Both were useless as mud walls, and here they were, still accusing each other at such a time.

"It’s just a peony, Empress Dowager, please do not be angry. There are many peonies in my palace, I will send some to you later," Noble Princess Consort Luo tried to speak in a peacemaking tone.

"Noble Princess Consort Luo, I’ve heard that when a palace maid in your courtyard broke a teacup, you punished her with twenty caning. My most cherished peony is gone, and you think you can appease me with a mere peony," the Empress Dowager was furiously indignant, with her brows turned upside down, long losing her usual kind-hearted appearance.

Noble Princess Consort Luo was at a loss for words.

Only Ye Lingyue knew that the peony held an extraordinary significance for the Empress Dowager.

For the Empress Dowager, that peony represented the Sixth Prince.

Without the peony, it was an ill omen, which meant the Sixth Prince was gone too.

Noble Princess Consort Luo had never seen the Empress Dowager that enraged before and didn’t dare to hastily plead for mercy.

"Empress Dowager..." Crown Prince Hong wanted to say something but was pulled down to kneel by Noble Princess Consort Luo.

"Hong Yuying and Nangong Qinglin, both of you are daughters of prominent nobles in the court. Invited into the palace by the Noble Princess Consort to admire the flowers, you should have carefully watched your conduct. Instead, you took the opportunity to argue and lost your composure, even causing Commandery Princess Lan to fall into the water. Especially you, Nangong Qinglin, the Empress Dowager ordered you to be confined for three months, yet you dared to go out privately. What punishment do you two deserve?" The Empress Dowager was furious, scolding Hong Yuying and Nangong Qinglin mercilessly.

"Empress Dowager, spare our lives." Both women, terrified, kneeled on the ground, kowtowing desperately until their foreheads were broken.

Both women were accustomed to acting rashly and arrogantly, having been spoiled in their respective Marquis Mansions, and had never suffered such a humiliation.

"Empress Dowager, Yuying was also momentarily confused and made a mistake, please show mercy. Once we return, father will surely keep her under strict supervision," Hong Yulang immediately pleaded on her behalf upon seeing this.

The Empress Dowager did not speak, evidently still fuming.

However, Hong Yulang’s words did remind the Empress Dowager at that moment.

Hong Yuying and Nangong Qinglin, one being the daughter of the Hong Residence, the other the daughter of General Jin Jian, both their families were prominent nobles in the court.

If they were to be severely punished, it was feared that from that point on, there would be a rift between the Hong Residence and General Mansion.

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