"Your Majesty, is this the confession letter left by Consort Wan? Does it state the truth of what happened yesterday?"
Her expression was agitated, as if she wanted to rush forward and see it herself. However, the Empress Dowager seemed to not hear her, focusing intently on the words on the paper. With every line she read, her brow furrowed tighter.
Seeing this, Consort Ning’s eyes flickered. She immediately resumed her tearful plea.
"I said Consort Yu was kind-hearted and would never do such a treasonous act. Now that the evidence is conclusive, can Your Majesty believe me?"
Her words were accompanied by a torrent of tears, and she believed her portrayal to be vivid and true. To her surprise, the Empress Dowager’s face turned exceedingly dark after hearing her words.
Her gaze, sharp and piercing, swept over Consort Ning, making her heart skip a beat.
"Your Maj—"
Before she could finish, her words were cut off. The Empress Dowager forcefully flung the blood-soaked letter onto her face, roaring, "Look at it yourself! See what is written on here!"
The force of the throw stunned Consort Ning. After a moment of daze, she bent down again.
The silk handkerchief lay flat on the ground. Without even picking it up, one could clearly see what was written on it.
As her gaze met the text, Consort Ning stiffened, her face immediately turning as pale as paper.
"This… this!"
The confession she had arranged was meant to accuse Ye Tinglan. How had it become a document accusing her of ordering the poisoning of Feng Yinwan!
Her eyes shot towards Ye Tinglan. A vein throbbed on her forehead. With a thud, she knelt down.
"Your Majesty, all palace matters are managed by Prince Mo. The prison is so heavily guarded that I can't even get in. How could I have ordered anyone to poison someone?"
"It must be him! He harmed Yu'er, and now he wants to harm me too. I am innocent!"
Although she didn't know how her scheme was exposed, as long as the woman was dead and she firmly denied it, the Empress Dowager couldn't convict her based on this letter alone.
Unexpectedly, Ye Tinglan seemed to see through her thoughts. His dark eyes glanced towards the door and he said directly,
"Bring him in."
As soon as he spoke, a commotion arose from outside. A man who looked like a guard was brought in. Consort Ning looked up, and as her gaze met his for a fleeting moment, she recoiled as if electrocuted.
Ye Tinglan glanced at her and said calmly,
"Grandmother, this man is one of the guards on duty in the prison last night. He has just confessed that he was ordered by Yao Xin of Zhonghua Palace to put poison in Consort Wan’s food. This is the tainted silver."
The silver was wrapped in a soft cloth, still carrying the scent of Zhonghua Palace's incense. Consort Ning, kneeling on the ground, was already ashen-faced.
The Empress Dowager glared at her and sternly ordered, "Go to Zhonghua Palace and bring that palace maid to me!"
In less than a breath, Yao Xin was brought in and forced to kneel before the Empress Dowager. She was a close attendant in Consort Ning’s palace. Without further interrogation, the matter was laid bare.
Knowing she couldn't escape, she secretly signaled to Consort Ning and spoke directly,
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this was all done by this servant alone. This servant could not bear to see Prince Si being framed, so I secretly did this. Consort Ning knew nothing!"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager was furious. "How dare you! You, a mere servant, could accomplish such a deed! Guards, slap her! Let's see if she still refuses to tell the truth!"
Yao Xin was held firmly in place. The guard’s hands were heavy. Soon, her mouth was swollen and red.
The sounds made Consort Ning's scalp tingle. Her eyes flickered, and in the next instant, a trace of black blood emerged from Yao Xin’s mouth.
Seeing this, Ye Tinglan’s eyes narrowed. He stepped forward and quickly pried open her jaw.
More dark blood gushed out, instantly soaking Yao Xin's collar. The Empress Dowager was horrified. Ye Tinglan withdrew his hand and said in a deep voice,
"She has committed suicide."