"What did you say?"
Originally, the Emperor felt that his previous order was a bit impulsive due to the earnest pleas of the two elders.
Even if he hated Chu Qianli to the bone, he couldn't have her beaten to death in front of two adults who held military power.
He had been truly furious just now!
But he hadn't expected them to plead so fervently.
Not only did Chu Qianli not repent, but she even dared to provoke him publicly!
The Emperor's suppressed anger flared up again.
"Chu Qianli, how dare you..."
"Qianli!"
"Xiao Qi!"
"One, this subject is not guilty of stealing Yu Linglong's prescription. This matter is a false accusation by Yu Linglong against this subject."
"Two, this subject did not break out of prison tonight. Someone arranged it behind the scenes to put this subject to death!"
"The man in black who took this subject out was not to save this subject. On the contrary, they intended to kill this subject and then frame the Duke's mansion."
"The Fourteenth Prince can testify to this matter!"
Feng Jinrui stepped forward, met the Emperor's gaze, and said calmly, "This subject can testify that those men in black were not here to save the Xuan King's Consort, but to assassinate her."
Assassinate!
That was hardly an escape from prison!
To put it bluntly, it was a reflection of the insufficient security of their royal prison.
And further, it was a failure of protection!
After all, prisoners also needed protection; it was the jailer's responsibility!
The Empress Dowager naturally trusted Feng Jinrui.
However, she didn't understand why he was involved in this matter.
"Rui'er, then why did you return with her?"
"Your Imperial Brother wished to see the Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law. This subject originally intended to ask Father Emperor to spare the Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law, but unexpectedly, Father Emperor was not present."
"This subject went to the prison to visit the Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law, and happened to stumble upon this matter, and even rescued the Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law."
Feng Jinrui's gaze returned to the Emperor's face.
He said, "Father Emperor, this matter is indeed not the Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law's fault. This subject is willing to guarantee it with his own head!"
The Emperor's expression darkened.
The Empress Dowager looked helpless.
This foolish child understood nothing of human relations or courtly strategies.
He understood nothing, yet his honesty forced the Emperor to "believe" him immediately.
Could it be that the Emperor no longer cared about his own son's head?
Chu Qianli also felt like laughing.
This Fourteenth Prince was truly endearingly straightforward!
However, it seemed that the charge of her "escaping prison" could not stand.
The Emperor pursed his lips, then looked at Chu Qianli, his expression still displeased.
"Even if Chu Qianli did not escape prison, her theft of Yu Linglong's prescription..."
"Yu Linglong cannot cure the Xuan King," Chu Qianli interrupted him.
Everyone in the room gasped, not daring to breathe too deeply.
The Duke and the Marquis of Dingbei's hearts sank, filled with anxiety.
Did this dead girl fear the Emperor's further wrath with such a tone?
The Emperor was truly angered again.
Never before had a young girl dared to be so presumptuous in front of him!
Did she not understand the rules!
The Empress Dowager was also shocked.
She had long heard that this seventh young lady was uneducated and unruly.
But she had not expected her to be so foolish as to be so presumptuous even in front of royalty!
Was she truly not afraid of death?
"Witch..." Feng Jinrui tried to remind her softly.
Chu Qianli, however, was unfazed and continued to face the Emperor with a calm expression.
"Yu Linglong cannot cure the Xuan King, because that prescription was personally conceived by this subject. Yu Linglong falsely accused this subject and wanted to gain fame through deceit!"
"She doesn't even know what medicine this subject used, yet she dares to claim credit! If she can cure the Xuan King, this subject will gladly give her her own head!"