Chapter 164 The Great Drama of "Empresses in the Palace" - Blood Test for Kinship!
Emperor Ren, annoyed by the noise, rubbed his temples and looked at Consort Qing with a hint of warning.
"Enough! You quiet down too! One must learn to be tolerant in all things!"
As soon as these words came out, Consort Qing immediately fell silent.
She remembered what she had done back then; Emperor Ren was reprimanding her.
The Twenty-Fifth Prince had been killed by Consort Qing, but Emperor Ren ultimately did not kill her; instead, he gave her more favor because of Zhao Ying.
The saying 'the mother is honored by her son' was fully demonstrated at this moment.
If not for Zhao Jing being useful now, how could Consort Shu have such confidence?
Emperor Ren sighed and looked at Consort Shu: "Minister Shen and the Princess's wedding, which was going so well, was disrupted by you. Shouldn't there be some compensation?"
Consort Shu breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that this hurdle was passed, and quickly said.
"Yes, this concubine is willing to compensate."
She had failed in this matter, but things in the Inner Palace were easy to settle.
However, Shen Yulou would definitely need to be appeased.
So Consort Shu had to bleed a bit, taking some valuables from her private treasury to compensate Shen Yulou.
Consort Shu's heart was filled with immense hatred. How did Shen Yulou manage to survive?
Even Shadowless Xiao would miss?
In terms of ranking, Li Hui was behind him; unless the top person on the fengyun ranking made a move, how could he miss?
"Good, summon Shen Yulou."
When Shen Yulou entered the hall, Emperor Ren asked: "Minister Shen, what happened at the wedding banquet yesterday?"
Shen Yulou shook his head: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the weather was fair, the guests were all happy, and nothing out of the ordinary occurred."
Emperor Ren nodded in satisfaction, looking at him approvingly, then glanced at the two women in the hall who were bickering out of jealousy.
"Look at all of you! This is a good official who can share the Emperor's burdens! Now look at yourselves, all day long you only know how to cause trouble for me!"
Emperor Ren said to Consort Shu: "Yesterday you forgot to send a congratulatory gift to Minister Shen, so make it up today. I remember you have a pair of glazed lamps offered as tribute from the Western Regions, right? Award them to Minister Shen."
Consort Shu's heart ached terribly; those were her most valuable possessions, but she could only respond with a smile.
"Yes, this concubine forgot."
Consort Shu told the Palace Maid, "Go now and fetch the glazed lamps for Lord Shen."
Shen Yulou bowed with a cheerful smile: "Many thanks for Your Ladyship's bestowal."
Just then, a eunuch outside the hall announced: "Her Majesty the Empress arrives—"
A cold smile played on Shen Yulou's lips.
The main act has begun!
Emperor Ren was stunned for a moment. Why had the Empress come?
The Empress, dressed in formal attire, her face like frost, walked in majestically with several high-ranking concubines behind her. Her aura was like that of an empress on an inspection tour.
Emperor Ren wondered: "Empress, you are..."
The Empress didn't even look at the others, walking directly to the center of the hall, she bowed to Emperor Ren, her voice cold as a blade.
"Your Majesty, this concubine wishes to accuse Consort Shu of illicit relations with another man, defiling the Imperial Harem!"
Boom!
The entire Hall of Mental Cultivation instantly erupted.
Shen Yulou's heart was blooming with joy.
Holy cow, a live-action 'Empresses in the Palace'!
This is much more exciting than watching it on a phone!
Look at our Empress's demeanor, her lines—she's not just an Empress, she's a Best Actress!
Emperor Ren and Consort Shu's expressions changed drastically in an instant.
Consort Shu immediately jumped up, pointing at the Empress and screaming: "You... you are slandering me!"
Emperor Ren also frowned deeply, saying in a low voice: "Empress! This matter is no small thing; without evidence, you cannot speak carelessly!"
"This concubine naturally has evidence!"
The Empress swept a cold glance at Consort Shu.
"The assassin who attacked yesterday is the famous Shadowless General, Shadowless Xiao, from the martial arts world.
This person is from the same hometown as Consort Shu!
And Zhao Jing is not His Majesty's royal offspring at all, but the bastard child born of the two of them!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Consort Shu completely panicked, pointing at the Empress and shouting hysterically.
"I don't know any Shadowless Xiao! How dare you frame me!"
Emperor Ren's face was so dark it could drip water: "Empress, today you accuse Consort Shu based solely on the claim of being from the same hometown? Do you have any substantial evidence? Do not listen to rumors and jump to conclusions."
"Your Majesty," the Empress said without changing her expression, "This matter has passed many years. No matter what this concubine says, Consort Shu can refute it. To prove innocence is as easy as turning over one's hand."
The Empress paused, then said word by word: "This concubine respectfully requests Your Majesty for a blood-drop paternity test!"
Everyone was stunned.
Seeing the Empress so confident, could it be true?
Consort Shu, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief. She and Shadowless Xiao indeed had a private affair, but they had lost contact after she entered the palace.
She knew better than anyone whose son Zhao Jing was!
Blood-drop paternity test? Good!
This will clear my name!
Consort Shu said: "Your Majesty, this concubine also requests a blood-drop paternity test to clear my name!"
"But if this concubine is innocent, I beg Your Majesty to give me justice!"
Consort Shu couldn't understand why the Empress had suddenly attacked her.
Having this accusation thrown at her was truly unbearable.
If she didn't retaliate fiercely against the Empress, how could she swallow this indignity?
Emperor Ren said with a dark expression.
"Don't worry, if the Empress has slandered you, I will certainly punish her severely!"
The Empress had dropped such a huge bomb; if it were false, she would face Emperor Ren's wrath!
Consort Qing, beside her, was utterly bewildered.
Today, she had sought an explanation from Consort Shu, and it seemed the Emperor was about to downplay the matter.
Suddenly, the Empress appeared, coming with great momentum, intending to put her to death.
Consort Qing couldn't help but glance at Shen Yulou, who was looking down, seemingly unconcerned.
Consort Qing absolutely did not believe that this matter had nothing to do with him.
At this point, Emperor Ren had no choice but to agree to the blood-drop paternity test.
If he didn't uncover the truth, he wouldn't be able to rest easy.
The Empress ordered someone to bring a bowl of clear water and summoned Zhao Jing into the hall.
Zhao Jing's face turned pale upon learning the reason, but he also didn't believe he was a bastard, as he bore some resemblance to his imperial father.
Under everyone's gaze, Emperor Ren and Zhao Jing each pricked their fingertips and dripped a drop of blood into the bowl.
However, a moment later.
The two drops of blood in the water remained distinct, not merging at all!
"Bastard!" Emperor Ren roared, his eyes bloodshot!
Consort Shu and Zhao Jing instantly collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen.
"Impossible! Your Majesty! This method of blood-drop paternity test is completely inaccurate! She's playing tricks!" Consort Shu frantically kowtowed.
Zhao Jing was the Emperor's son; she knew this better than anyone.
Why didn't their blood merge?
The Empress sneered: "If Consort Shu is unconvinced, she can have other princes try, and then the truth will be known."
Emperor Ren was determined to get to the bottom of it today. He ordered someone to change the bowl of water, and Zhao Ying happened to be there.
This time, when Emperor Ren and Zhao Ying's blood dropped into the bowl, the two drops quickly merged, indistinguishable from each other.
The evidence was undeniable!
"Bitch!"
Emperor Ren's beard trembled with rage. He kicked Consort Shu to the ground and slapped her.
Consort Shu lay slumped on the ground, dazed from the blow.
"I've been wronged, this concubine has been wronged!