Luo Yun'e narrowed her eyes, "Whether Your Majesty believes me is my business. Your trespassing into the imperial palace is an unforgivable offense. Guards, seize this little brat for me!"
The palace maids instantly surrounded the little dumpling.
"Wait!" Su Yunmo took out a jade pendant from her embrace and dangled it before everyone. "This was given by His Majesty. Surely Empress Dowager recognizes it?"
Mother Qin examined the jade pendant from the side, then her eyes widened in astonishment. "Empress Dowager, this is indeed His Majesty's item."
When did His Majesty give this jade pendant to this girl?
This jade pendant was His Majesty's personal belonging. With this, Su Yunmo could enter the palace whenever she pleased.
Luo Yun'e felt a surge of anger and slapped Qin Momo. "Useless! Who says this is His Majesty's item? I've never seen it!"
Since things had escalated to this point, Liu Lanxue was destined to die!
How could she let this girl succeed!
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Luo Yun'e sternly ordered, "Guards, heed my command and apprehend this girl! Escort Consort Liang and the others back to their rooms!"
The palace maids exchanged glances, hesitant to step forward.
Luo Yun'e heavily slapped the sedan chair. "Did you not hear what I said? If you don't act now, I'll have you all expelled from the palace!"
The palace maids responded with a 'yes' and all lunged towards the little dumpling.
The little dumpling let out a cold laugh and retrieved the jade pendant.
She had long anticipated that Luo Yun'e would silence witnesses.
It was just that Luo Yun'e, despite all her calculations, had overlooked one person.
"Oh, what a grand scene! Why so much smoke? Empress Dowager, are you roasting meat? How about adding me to the feast?" Ye Ningyuan entered from outside.
Behind her were the guards from Prince Yu's manor.
Ying Xiao led the way, and upon entering the courtyard with the guards, they surrounded the palace maids.
Luo Yun'e's eyes widened in shock. "This is rebellion! Prince Yu's guards dare to trespass into the palace. Who gave you such authority!"
Ye Ningyuan walked in with her arms crossed. "Empress Dowager, why the rush? I brought them into the palace."
As a county princess, she had the ability to bring people into the palace.
She walked to Su Yunmo's side and raised an eyebrow at the little dumpling. "How was it, Momo? Did I arrive in time?"
Su Yunmo patted the dirt off herself. "Passable."
Ye Ningyuan winked. "You owe me a big favor this time."
Su Yunmo smiled back. "Remember to have Ye Jingyu repay it."
Seeing the two of them conversing as if no one else were present, Luo Yun'e became even more enraged. "Ye Ningyuan! This is the imperial palace, not your Prince Yunyi's manor. Who gave you the audacity to bring an outsider into the inner palace!"
Don't think that just because your father is Prince Yunyi, you can be lawless. The affairs of the harem are not for a little girl like you to meddle in!
"What if I say that I gave her the audacity?" a majestic voice echoed.
Everyone in the courtyard jolted.
Emperor Ye Yao entered from outside the courtyard, with Ye Jingcheng following closely behind, his expression darkening as he surveyed the scene.
All the palace maids knelt to pay their respects.
Luo Yun'e's face gradually turned pale, and she almost stumbled from her sedan chair, falling. "Your Majesty?"
What was going on? Hadn't His Majesty left the capital? Why had he returned so suddenly?
"The Empress is truly majestic," Emperor Ye Yao said, casting a cold glance at her, and quickly walked to Liu Lanxue's side.
Liu Lanxue was still unconscious.
Emperor Ye Yao called her name twice, but there was no response.
Luo Yun'e panicked. "Your Majesty, this is a misunderstanding. Your humble consort did not..."
"Silence!" Emperor Ye Yao roared, raising his voice. "Guards, summon the imperial physician! Quickly summon the imperial physician!"
The palace maids immediately retreated, and Eunuch Jiao hurried to call for the imperial physician.
Emperor Ye Yao picked up Liu Lanxue in his arms, turned, and left the cold palace. As he passed Luo Yun'e, he didn't even glance at her.
Luo Yun'e felt a chill run from her head to her toes, her legs giving out as she knelt on the ground.
"Your Highness, are you alright? Your Highness!" Mother Qin quickly stepped forward to help her.
Luo Yun'e's face was deathly pale, her pupils trembling. "What is going on? What exactly is happening? His Majesty shouldn't have returned at this time, it's impossible!"
It's over. His Majesty saw everything. It's all over now!
Su Yunmo clasped her hands behind her back and walked over with a smile, circling Luo Yun'e once. "Empress Dowager, are you very surprised? Are you trying to figure it out?"
She glanced at Ye Jingcheng not far away and curved her lips playfully. "I think Prince Lian should understand very well, shouldn't he?"
Ye Jingcheng took a deep breath and stared intently at her. "You did this, didn't you."
Su Yunmo tilted her head and smiled charmingly. "Princess Lian is carrying a royal heir. If she suffered a shock and affected her pregnancy, it is naturally a major event. His Majesty returning to the capital for this shows he values you. You should be happy."
Luo Yun'e looked up at Ye Jingcheng. "Princess Lian's pregnancy was affected?"
When did this happen?
Ye Ningyuan crossed her arms and kindly explained, "This morning, for some reason, Princess suddenly went to Prince Lian's manor and caused a scene, which caused Princess Lian to suffer a shock and affect her pregnancy."
"The people at Prince Lian's manor were afraid of trouble, so they rushed to inform Prince Lian. And it so happened that His Majesty learned of this matter."
Ye Ningyuan clicked her tongue and said playfully, "Perhaps even the ancestors were worried about Princess Lian's pregnancy, which is why His Majesty found out."
...Not!
If Ye Jingyu hadn't been involved in this, she wouldn't have believed it even if she were beaten to death!
A young eunuch entered from outside. "Empress Dowager, Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence."
Ye Jingcheng glared hatefully at Su Yunmo and stormed off.
Luo Yun'e also gritted her teeth, her gaze towards Su Yunmo almost dripping with venom.
Mother Qin helped her up, and leaning on her, Luo Yun'e turned and walked out.
Ye Ningyuan snapped her fingers. "Let's go, Momo. There's a good show to watch next."
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes. "Indeed, we should go and see."
Liu Lanxue was carried to Emperor Ye Yao's sleeping quarters. The imperial physician had already examined her and determined that she had inhaled a large amount of soporific smoke.
In reality, the amount of soporific smoke was not much. If Emperor Ye Yao had arrived any later, the drug would not have been detected.
Now, however, both witnesses and evidence were present.
Emperor Ye Yao sat by the bed, tenderly wiping the cold sweat from Liu Lanxue's forehead.
She had fallen into the lake yesterday and had just recovered from a serious illness. To suffer such a misfortune again today, how could he not be worried?
Eunuch Chang entered from outside the door. "Your Majesty, the Empress and the Prince have arrived."
A sharp glint flashed in Emperor Ye Yao's eyes. "Let the Empress enter alone. Prince Lian will wait outside. Kneel and wait!"
Eunuch Chang glanced at the unconscious person on the bed, sighed inwardly, and said 'yes' before retreating.
A moment later, Luo Yun'e entered.
She had removed her hairpins and was wearing plain clothes. As soon as she entered, she knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, your humble consort is guilty."
She proclaimed her guilt loudly, but her clenched fists showed her inner defiance.
Emperor Ye Yao swept his gaze over her tense body, his face grim. "Does the Empress still remember what I told you back then?"