Several eunuchs around them rushed forward. Soon, they came back out, and with them dragging a man and a woman out of the flower garden. Everyone was so shocked, it looked as if their eyes popped out of their sockets.
That woman was Imperial Concubine Jing?!
In her present state, Imperial Concubine Jing had already changed into a new set of clothes. However, her overcoat was messy, her hair was in shambles; her face was flushed as tears overflowed from her eyes. She looked as if she could not tolerate the humiliation of being caught having an affair.
The man beside her seemed to be a palace guard. His coat was nowhere to be seen as he bowed his head in silence.
The empress almost fainted, clutching her chest for a long time without speaking.
Everyone present was stunned. Only Imperial Concubine Jing fell on her knees as she knelt on the ground, wailing and sobbing, “Your Majesty, please save me! I was just passing by here, but I was dragged into the forest by this despicable scum. I was almost… almost…” She repeatedly kowtowed, “I beg Your Majesty to ensure justice is served!”
After some time, the empress finally regained her composure as she began to question her, “Why are you alone? Where is the maidservant that escorted you?”
As she sobbed, Imperial Concubine Jing replied, “She was knocked out by this scum.”
Hearing this, the palace guard who had been keeping his head down suddenly raised his head and looked at her. As soon as he raised his head, everyone present could take a good look at his face. Unexpectedly, this man did not look like an unruly ruffian at all. In fact, he was quite handsome. The guard’s expression was perplexing. He only looked at her once, then he lowered his head again.
With such candid expressions, it was difficult to picture this man as the offender in this situation.
Suspicions arose in the hearts of those present. Only Imperial Concubine Jing continued to cry as she kowtowed, “I beg Your Majesty to ensure justice is served!”
The empress stayed silent and did not speak. After all, the gravity of the matter was far too severe. Imperial Concubine Jing knew in her heart that even if they believed her words today, she would no longer have a foothold in this harem. It would also be even more impossible for Emperor Lin to trust or favor her.
Such a heinous trap she had fallen into. All this… This was originally what she had arranged for Xiao Lan!
She swung her head back to look at the palace guard. Her eyes were filled with resentment, “It’s you! This scumbag is deliberately framing me!”
At this moment, she knew that her plans had been revealed and had instead backfired on her spectacularly.
The palace guard was supposed to be waiting in the bamboo forest, but somehow he appeared in the flower garden instead. Xiao Lan, who was supposed to be led away by one of her pawns, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she herself became a part of the performance that she had arranged by herself.
How could this be?!
How did this happen?!
Who was it, who spoiled my plans?
Imperial Concubine Jing was in a mess, crying and cursing while punching and kicking the palace guard beside her. But he just kept his head lowered and stayed silent.
Suddenly, Imperial Concubine Jing saw a small figure standing upright in the crowd.
Obscured beneath the lanterns, the little girl looked lovely and adorable. As if she had noticed her gaze, the little girl looked back at her.
Faintly, the little girl smiled back at her.
It was clearly a simple smile from an obedient little girl, but Imperial Concubine Jing broke into a cold sweat as she became frightened by the little girl’s smile. She could not utter any words of rebuttal as they were stuck in her throat.
How, how is this possible?