lcionline Chapter 409 Shen Li's Reliance
Chapter 409 Shen Li's Reliance
Once inside Fengxiang Palace, Shen Li had no more reservations. While bowing, she glanced at the Empress and said, "Your Majesty, I have seen these palace maids who have been plotting rebellion. I have brought them here for Your Majesty to deal with."
Empress Ning knew she had guessed correctly, so she raised her hand and said, "This is a very important matter, let's go inside and talk."
So the palace maids were escorted into the palace by the eunuchs, and the palace gates were closed at the same time.
Shen Li stood beside them.
The Empress looked at Shen Li, indicating that there were no outsiders present.
"Let them tell Her Majesty themselves."
The workers, peasants, and soldiers felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and the moment the cloth was removed from their mouths, they started talking all at once.
"Your Majesty, we are innocent! We have never uttered a single word of treason!"
"Your Majesty... it was Lord Shen who framed us... Your Majesty, please don't be fooled by him."
The way the group was so eager to defend themselves didn't seem like they were lying. The Empress noticed this but ignored them, instead looking at Shen Li.
"Then tell me what you all said?" Shen Li said calmly.
The palace maids were about to speak, but then fell silent.
What did they say?
They spread rumors about the Fourteenth Prince and Shen Yue. Who is this Fourteenth Prince? He is the Empress's only son.
Saying this in front of the Empress, what's the difference between that and treason?
They finally understood why Shen Li dared to make baseless accusations; it was all calculated.
"Speak!" Empress Ning had also noticed something amiss, and her voice was extremely authoritative.
"Your Majesty, please forgive us. What we said was just something we heard from others. They said that when the Fourteenth Prince went to the Duke's mansion, he had an ambiguous relationship with... Miss Shen..."
A palace maid gritted her teeth and said, but immediately added, "But it is by no means a treasonous statement. Lord Shen is deceiving you into believing that you are unaware of the situation."
Empress Ning's gaze had darkened.
Shen Li simply watched the others defend themselves, without offering any explanation for herself.
Empress Ning could tell from Shen Li's expression that this was the truth. She had heard that her son was acquainted with the second young lady of the Shen family, but she did not expect the rumors to have reached this point.
Although the matter is a good thing, rumors are unpleasant to hear and could potentially be detrimental to the prince.
“Your Majesty, please be wise! Lord Shen has falsely accused us of treason; his intentions are despicable!” A palace maid, seeing that the Empress did not question Shen Li, continued, unwilling to give up.
"Your Majesty, may I ask you a question?" Shen Li completely ignored them.
"Please sit down, Shen Qing. There's no need for such formalities in the palace." Empress Ning offered him a seat. "Ask whatever you wish. These people are also your responsibility."
The palace maids looked at each other, as if all the bones in their bodies had been pulled out, and they instantly went limp.
They now fully understood why Shen Li dared to spout nonsense.
They have something to rely on.
"Tell me, where did you hear this? Are there many people in the palace who know about it?" Shen Li sat down without any ceremony, and for the first time, she looked at the group of people directly.
An eager palace maid immediately said, "Your Excellency, the whole palace is talking about it. We only heard it secondhand. Please spare us, Lord Shen."
"Yes, Lord Shen, we heard it from people in Consort Zheng's palace."
"We will never dare to do it again, Lord Shen, please have mercy!"
Shen Li narrowed her eyes slightly. Consort Zheng, Prince Yi.
As expected, it was them who were behind this. They wanted to ruin Shen Yue with public opinion and then use the opportunity to impeach the Shen family for having colluded with Li Che, making Emperor Cheng believe that the Shen family had participated in the struggle for the throne.
What seemed like just a few words were actually a direct attack on the Shen family and Li Che.
This is what Shen Li thought, and this is what she said to the Empress.
Empress Ning initially thought it was a good thing, but upon hearing this, her expression turned serious. She slammed her hand on the table and said, "These people are spreading rumors. Drag them to the main street and have them beaten to death. Let all the palace servants go and see."
The palace maids turned pale instantly. They tried to beg for mercy, but the eunuchs had already gagged them and dragged them out.
They never expected that just saying a few idle words would cost them their lives, nor did they expect that Shen Li, an outsider, would have such terrifying methods.
Peony and Rain Butterfly exchanged a glance and swallowed hard.
The young lady is usually very kind to them.
However, these people deserved it. They knew that a woman's reputation was the most precious thing, yet they still dared to defile it. They were truly despicable.