Chapter 7 — I Only Waited for Father, Yet the Court Called Me a Temptress

Concubine Y Quy's face completely changed. The Emperor looked at her, for the first time a cold light appeared in his eyes. Imperial Concubine Y immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty Minh Giam. I just casually exclaimed that in Uncle Vuong's position, there was a strange woman sitting there. I have absolutely never ordered anyone to hurt anyone."

Parents laughed coldly.

"Just a casual exclamation, someone beat the Princess on your behalf, and even falsified the palace records. Your Highness's mouth is truly more effective than a decree."

Just as Thuy Vuong was about to speak, he was forced back by a look from the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother held me in her arms, her voice not loud.

"Investigate."

He looked at the Emperor.

"Investigate all the palace staff around the Noble Consort, investigate who spread the word today, investigate to see who hid An Ninh's entry into the palace, investigate to see who intentionally left her name out of the list in front of the palace gate."

The Emperor bowed.

"I obey."

Concubine Y slightly staggered. The eunuch in charge of the banquet was already weak and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, spare your life! Miss Lan Dinh in your palace said that the Little Princess doesn't like to meet outsiders. The list doesn't need to be complete, just write that there is one person accompanying the Regent next to you. I don't dare to ask too much."

When Lan Dinh was escorted to the main hall, his face was as white as paper. Before the punishment could be applied, she confessed.

"The noble lady only wanted Lady Khuong to have a chance to show her face in front of the royal family. She didn't expect her to attack someone. The lady never told her to cut the jade token, and she never told her to fake the palace token."

This testimony, however, kept the Noble Concubine's will. But it also confirms her tolerance of her subordinates. The Emperor gently closed his eyes.

"Your noble concubine has lost her virtue, is confined to Truong Xuan Palace, and revoked her right to assist in managing the six palaces."

Concubine Y suddenly raised her head. The Queen Mother coldly said:

"Aren't you quick to say thank you?"

Imperial Concubine Y gritted her teeth and bowed her head in ceremony.

"My concubine... thank you."

Before the words were finished, another alarm sounded outside the main hall.

"Your Majesty! The original message from Zongzheng Temple has been delivered!"

The golden chest was carried into the main hall by four servants. Under the light, the seal had turned an old yellow color. The golden chest was opened. Khanh Tong Chinh Tu held up the original copy of the message with both hands. Each yellowed silk page was opened, the cinnabar mark still as clear as ever.

"According to the decree of the First Emperor, the daughter of Regent King Tham Nghien Tu, Tham Tri Hanh, was ordained as Princess An Ninh, enjoying a hamlet of three hundred households. Her mother, Ky Van Duong, sacrificed herself to save her life, and was posthumously appointed as Lady Ninh Quoc. Because her daughter's body was weak and had many illnesses, she was specially raised at the Royal Palace. If it wasn't for the royal court, she wouldn't need to be summoned to the palace."

Khanh Tong Chinh Tu has just finished reading it. In the entire main hall, no one dared to breathe loudly. The mother's name was read out by someone else. The corners of his father's eyes were also red. The Queen Mother gently stroked my hair.

"That year, Van Duong, in order to save the Immortal Emperor and Ai's family, blocked a knife from a mountain bandit. At that time, An Ninh was only six years old, trapped under an overturned carriage, holding his mother's body, crying and screaming in pain."

The sound of soft inhalation echoed in the main hall. The Queen Mother looked towards the group of noble ladies.

"You guys laugh at her pretending to be naive. But do you know where her illness comes from?"

The Ly family's golden child burst into tears.

"The goddess is guilty. The goddess... doesn't know."

The Queen Mother smiled coldly.

"I don't know... can you laugh?"

No one dared to answer. Parents suddenly spoke up.

"Just now, who said she wanted to crawl into my king's bed?"

The great hall was as quiet as death. Khuong Nhuoc Phu was dragged outside to be punished by the cane. But... She wasn't the only one who said those words. In the rows of noble ladies, there were two ladies with pale faces. One person is the royal family of the Ly family, Ly So Anh. The remaining person is the district lord of Thuy Vuong palace, Tieu Lenh Nghi. Tieu Lenh Nghi bit his lips tightly, but for a long time still refused to come out and kneel to admit his guilt. Thuy Vuong was impatient.

"Leng Nghi, don't apologize to the Princess yet!"

Tieu Lenh Nghi's tears fell.

"I... I just laughed along, but I didn't hit her."

Her father looked straight at her.

"What did you say?"

Tieu Lenh Nghi's face turned red.

"I... I said she sat in the position of Uncle Vuong, but her origin is unclear."

"What else?"

She didn't speak. However, Ta Van Chu received a cup of wine from the hand of a palace maid standing next to him.