Chapter 196: Chapter 139: Biting Back After Being Framed by Shen Ruoxi

Shen Ruoxi pondered to herself, the Emperor’s summons must be related to this matter with Cheng Caiyun.

However, Shen Ruoxi was somewhat puzzled.

Logically, if she implicates herself, her schemes against herself would be exposed. Is Cheng Caiyun foolish?

But Cheng Caiyun has always acted erratically, never playing by the rules, her actions cannot be judged by ordinary thinking.

In that case, Shen Ruoxi was curious to see how she would bring about her own doom.

After washing up, Shen Ruoxi ate a little something, then changed into appropriate attire to enter the palace.

Given the sensitivity of the matter, the Emperor decided to handle it in his Imperial Study Room.

When she stepped inside, she found that there were indeed many people present.

Jun Moling, who had slept in her bed all night, was there, and Cheng Caiyun along with her adulterer Can Hu were kneeling on the ground.

Naturally, the Eldest Princess and the Marchioness Fu were also present, along with a young man she didn’t know, presumably Cheng Caiyun’s husband, Fu Chao.

This early morning, everyone had gathered.

Shen Ruoxi respectfully greeted the Emperor and the Eldest Princess, then exchanged greetings with the others.

“Marquis Shen, take a seat,” the Emperor said with a furrowed brow. Clearly, his cousin’s scandal was causing him a headache.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” After expressing her gratitude, Shen Ruoxi sat down calmly, sneaking a glance at Jun Moling. Seeing his expressionless face, not even looking at her, Shen Ruoxi couldn’t help but clench her teeth.

The sweet words from last night seemed hollow now, faced with his aunt and cousin, he probably found it hard to be ruthless.

However, Shen Ruoxi had a clear conscience, and naturally had nothing to fear, waiting quietly for the Emperor’s words.

“Marquis Shen, I heard from the servants of the Southern City Mansion that Prince Lan visited you last night when some unusual things happened. Where did you go at the time?”

Cheng Caiyun seemed to truly intend to drag everyone down with her.

However, she had no evidence for what she did, she couldn’t pin it on herself.

Shen Ruoxi calmly replied, “Your Majesty, a maid named Hong came to me, saying her mother was ill. As a healer, I felt obligated to treat her mother, so I followed her.

But as we reached the backyard, she suddenly said she had a stomach ache and needed to relieve herself. I waited for her, but she never returned, so I had no choice but to leave.”

“You lie!” Cheng Caiyun, kneeling on the ground, couldn’t remain still and shouted loudly.

Shen Ruoxi merely smiled faintly, “County Princess Cheng, bring that maid named Hong here for confrontation, let’s see if I’m lying.”

Cheng Caiyun’s face suddenly changed, becoming extremely unsightly.

Hong had perished, initially thinking those in the room were Lan Jue and Shen Ruoxi, but it turned out to be her own County Princess and the guard Can Hu.

Hong was dumbfounded, knowing full well that if this matter were exposed, she would be doomed.

Moreover, her parents were still in the Eldest Princess’s mansion. If the Emperor personally questioned, she knew she didn’t have the courage to withstand it, so on that cold night, she chose to end her life.

“She conspired with you to frame me, County Princess. Now that everything is exposed, she knew she couldn’t escape death and committed suicide,” Cheng Caiyun angrily and falsely accused.

Shen Ruoxi merely smiled faintly, with a nonchalant demeanor carrying a hint of mockery, “Such an important witness just died like that, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was to silence her.

Your Majesty can investigate Hong thoroughly, I don’t even know her, how could I have plotted against the County Princess?”

“You bribed Hong to frame me, County Princess, I do have witnesses,” Cheng Caiyun stared at Shen Ruoxi, her eyes filled with fury.

Shen Ruoxi’s expression remained unchanged, calm and composed, “Since she’s dead, of course, County Princess Cheng can say whatever she wants, turning black into white.”

“Shen Ruoxi, don’t try to deny, this is all your conspiracy, today I must seek justice for myself!” Cheng Caiyun was almost gritting her teeth, as if she wanted to tear Shen Ruoxi apart.

Shen Ruoxi remained nonchalant, “County Princess Cheng, why don’t you tell us why would I act this way at my cousin’s wedding?”

“Because of your unclear relationship with Lan Jue, you didn’t want him to marry Miss Lin. And at my mother’s birthday banquet, you took offense and held a grudge, so you plotted against me,” Cheng Caiyun’s voice was almost a roar, as if it would break through the roof of the Imperial Study Room.

At that moment, a crisp sound of breaking was heard, it turned out a porcelain cup was crushed by Jun Moling.

Immediately, Qi Lin exclaimed, “Prince, your hand?”

The porcelain cup in Jun Moling’s hand was shattered into pieces, sharp shards piercing his fingers, blood pouring out, instantly dyeing his palm red.

Jun Moling merely glanced at the blood on his hand, his face still expressionless, as if the injury wasn’t his own.

He casually picked up a brocade handkerchief, wiped off the blood, and coldly said, “I’m fine, clean it up, continue.”

Qi Lin quickly cleaned up the broken porcelain pieces, but the atmosphere in the Imperial Study Room suddenly froze, as if it could freeze people.

In her heart, Shen Ruoxi thought why are you so agitated?

She instinctively wanted to step forward to bandage his wound but ultimately held back, thinking a bit of a lesson was warranted, who told him to be so impulsive, thinking his hand was made of iron?

The Emperor also felt somewhat oppressed by the stifling atmosphere, he composed himself and asked lightly, “Marquis Shen, how do you respond to County Princess Cheng’s accusations?”

Shen Ruoxi naturally replied, “Your Majesty, even if I had private dealings with Hong, even if I bribed her, who brings a guard to a banquet?

I must ask County Princess Cheng, why did you bring your guard to the Southern City Mansion to attend Prince Lan’s wedding?”

Cheng Caiyun was stumped, then gritted her teeth and retorted, “Better safe than sorry, I brought my guard to protect myself and the guests.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Ruoxi merely smiled faintly, “County Princess Cheng is truly eloquent. By the way, Marchioness Fu, did you hear any rumors when you went there?”

Marchioness Fu slightly bowed, her expression indifferent, “To report to Your Majesty, Marquis Shen speaks the truth.

As we arrived, we heard rumors about Prince Lan’s disappearance, and some said those in the room seemed to be them.”

Marchioness Fu spoke ambiguously, but everyone present understood the implication.

Jun Moling sat in his seat, his fingers throbbing with anger, yet this pain was far less than the anger in his heart, how outrageous! Still attempting to frame Ruoxi!

“Since you say I plotted against County Princess Cheng, why would I throw dirt on myself? In fact, this matter is easily clarified.

Who was in charge of the backyard of the Southern Mansion? If no one helped, how did the bed and table appear suddenly?

Most crucially, there was seduction medicine in the oil lamp, such medicine isn’t something ordinary people possess.

Where did it come from? Who handled it? These shouldn’t be hard to investigate.”

Hearing this, Cheng Caiyun’s heart skipped a beat, how did this damn Shen Ruoxi know everything?

Her mind raced, as if she thought of something, her face turned cold, and she sternly said, “Marquis Shen, I finally caught your mistake!

Since you didn’t enter the room, how did you know there was a bed and table inside? How did you know there was an oil lamp?

And even knew it had seduction medicine inside? You’re confessing through your own slip, now quickly confess the truth!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep