The Prince Wants to Assassinate Me Every Day
Chapter 75 - 66: A Tooth for a Tooth, The Tragic End of the Crown Princess Consort (6000 words)_3

Chapter 75: Chapter 66: A Tooth for a Tooth, The Tragic End of the Crown Princess Consort (6000 words)_3

"This concubine remembers that the Crown Princess Consort slapped this concubine twenty-six times." Compared to Gao Jingyi’s panic, Ye Qichi was much more calm and composed, "If I remember correctly, it should have been that palace maid who slapped your daughter-in-law’s mouth."

Ye Qichi pointed to a palace maid beside Gao Jingyi.

The palace maid was trembling with fear, hastily kneeling on the ground, daring not to speak.

"At that time, I saw that the palace maid’s hand was swollen from the slapping." Ye Qichi deliberately said.

"Show me your hand!" Xiao Zhanping commanded the palace maid.

The palace maid extended her hand with trepidation.

Comparing both hands, one was clearly much more swollen and red.

"Is this what you call a minor punishment?!" Xiao Zhanping asked Gao Jingyi.

Gao Jingyi was so frightened that she was about to faint.

She truly did not know how to defend herself and could only seek help from Qingyuan.

Yu Qingyuan directly avoided Gao Jingyi’s gaze.

"Guards, drag this palace maid down and chop off the hand that slapped the Princess Consort!" Xiao Zhanping ordered.

The palace maid’s body went limp with fright.

But she also knew that she could not beg for mercy, for begging could very well cost her life.

At this moment, she could only let the guard drag her away.

"Crown Princess Consort! Was it you who instigated Nanny Wu to frame the Princess consort?!" Xiao Zhanping asked bluntly.

"Your daughter-in-law did not do it. Your daughter-in-law only slapped the Princess Consort’s mouth last night. Your daughter-in-law did not instruct Nanny Wu to frame the Princess Consort, I truly did not!" Gao Jingyi was so scared that her voice trembled, and she spoke with a sob.

"If not you, then who?!" Xiao Zhanping asked.

Gao Jingyi bit her lip tightly.

She naturally knew it was the Empress’s doing.

But how could she dare to say it out loud? If she did, the Empress would immediately have her killed.

She knew all too well how cruel and ruthless the Empress could be.

"Answer me!" Xiao Zhanping commanded with authority.

Gao Jingyi shivered with fear, "This concubine does not know..."

"Gao Jingyi." The Empress suddenly spoke up, "After all these years of teaching you, to think that you would go behind my back and carry out such deeds with Nanny Wu!"

"Mother..." Gao Jingyi looked at Yu Qingyuan in disbelief.

What is she talking about?!

"You shut your mouth!" Yu Qingyuan seemed furious, "I have guided you so attentively, yet you have left me utterly disappointed."

"Your daughter-in-law did not..." Gao Jingyi attempted to rebuke.

"Enough!" Yu Qingyuan declared, "At the last palace banquet, because the Princess Consort gained the Emperor’s favor, you have been harboring resentment and jealousy. I have advised you many times, telling you that as the Crown Princess Consort you must be generous, you must be broad-minded. I thought you had taken my words to heart, but it turns out you have only been paying lip service. Now you dare to abuse your power in private matters; you bring shame upon me!"

While Yu Qingyuan seemed to be sternly scolding Gao Jingyi for not living up to expectations, in fact, she was skillfully pinning the blame for having Nanny Wu frame Ye Qichi on Gao Jingyi.

"Mother, your daughter-in-law did not, did not..."

"Your Majesty!" Yu Qingyuan kneeled before Xiao Zhanping, "Today’s events are all because of this concubine. Whether it was Nanny Liu, Nanny Wu, or the Crown Princess Consort, they are all my people. I am gravely at fault, I ask Your Majesty to repunish me and do so severely."

Yu Qingyuan suddenly doing so left Xiao Zhanping somewhat uncertain decision.

Yu Qingyuan was indeed clever.

She knew he was unlikely to punish her severely, especially since it was not her "main fault."

At a moment when Xiao Zhanping felt somewhat at a loss,

Ye Qichi spoke up, "It’s not the Empress Dowager’s fault; if the Empress Dowager bears the responsibility, it will only make her attendants more audacious. The true way to learn their lesson and not dare to do it again is to have the involved parties punished. I think that the reason why people around the Empress Dowager are losing their restraint is because the Empress Dowager is too lenient and compassionate."

Yu Qingyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This was her intention.

To seem to take on all the punishment but in reality just to have someone plead for her.

I must say, Ye Qichi’s words were very much to her liking.

She flattered her on the one hand, and on the other hand, she kept her from being punished.

Yu Qingyuan glanced at Ye Qichi.

This woman was indeed very clever.

At a time when Yu Qingyuan almost wanted to have her killed, she actively made overtures of goodwill to her.

"The Princess Consort is right!" Xiao Zhanping was clearly pleased.

Ye Qichi kept bringing him pleasant surprises.

He spoke, "The Empress is too lenient and compassionate, which only emboldens the servants. The audacity of Nanny Liu, Nanny Wu, and even the Crown Princess Consort results from your indulgence! This time, I will not allow you, Empress, to cover for them any longer!"