"This matter will stay in the inner court and the decision will be taken by us. I hope the Crown Prince will not intervene in this, because he also knows that his powers are limited to the outer palace and court," proclaimed Weng Wei.

Lei Wanxi entered, followed by the three chefs and several maidservants and servers who were appointed for the work. They all bowed before the Empress.

Lei Wanxi lifted his head and asked about the incident. Consort Ju Fen narrated the entire incident to him.

"You will be punished since you were also with the Crown Princess at that time. The servants will be punished too but the mistakes from your and Crown Princess's end were not expected," Weng Wei announced.

"Your majesty, Brother Wanxi was there for a short period of time. He has nothing to do with this. Kindly send him away," Ying Lili requested.

"Crown Princess, it has been only a month of your stay in the palace. We have all known how naughty Prince Wanxi is since childhood. He has done this once with Sister Wei, putting soil in the custard served to her. Sister Wei had gotten sick that time. We did not punish Prince Wanxi at that time, as he was a kid. So, he might have done the same thing today as well. And because you were irresponsible towards your duty, all this happened," Consort Ju Fen pronounced.

Jinlong stood up from her seat and requested the Empress not to punish him. "Sister, please sit in your seat. I will not be biased towards anyone," stated Weng Wei and turned to look at the chefs, maidservants, and servers who were panicking.

"Fifty-fifty floggings will be given as punishment to the chefs, maidservants, and servers because they were cumulatively associated in this incident," Weng Wei pronounced. They started pleading with the Empress, but she did not listen to them. Eunuch Yun called the soldiers to take them away.

Weng Wei now looked at Ying Lili and Lei Wanxi. "Since it was the responsibility of the Crown Princess, she should take the punishment as well. Prince Wanxi was present in the kitchen, so he will be punished too. I cannot be partial towards anyone, that's why sixty floggings to each of them," Weng Wei announced her decision. Xue Yu-Yan smiled upon hearing the decision of the Empress.

Jinlong got on her knees to plead with the Empress. "It is a severe punishment, your majesty. Please take back your order," Consort Jinlong pleaded.

"I am afraid, Sister Jinlong, but this is an unbiased justice for all the Princesses who have suffered the food poisoning," Weng Wei affirmed.

Four soldiers came forward to take the Crown Princess and Prince Lei Wanxi to the punishment grounds when Sheng Li stepped forward and glared at them. The soldiers did not dare to take further steps towards them.

"I think I shall escort the Crown Princess to the punishment grounds," Xue Yu-Yan pronounced and stood up from her seat. She came towards the Crown Princess when Sheng Li pushed her away. He shifted his gaze towards Weng Wei and said, "Don't make me kill this woman. I told you already that you cannot punish her means you cannot. Lei Wanxi has nothing to do with this, so let him go. I bear all your tortures but you cannot lay a finger on my woman."

Sheng Li was furious at seeing how the Empress was using her powers against Ying Lili.

"Brother Sheng, indeed, no one can lay a finger on the Crown Princess," voiced Jian Guozhi. They all looked towards the door. Jian Guozhi came forward, followed by a maidservant.

"Mother, the Crown Princess, and Brother Wanxi have nothing to do with this. The Crown Princess performed her duty well but then there is one person who's extremely jealous of her," stated Jian Guozhi and glanced at Xue Yu-Yan.

"What is the First Prince trying to say?" Weng Wei asked.

Jian Guozhi tilted his head, and the maidservant came forward. She lowered her head and got onto her knees. "Your majesty, I was the one who, on the orders of Princess Consort Xue, mixed a tiny portion of poisonous plant leaves," the maidservant accepted the crime in front of everyone. She started crying and apologized to the Empress.

Ying Lili, Sheng Li, and Lei Wanxi could not believe that Jian Guozhi saved them. Oppositely, Weng Wei and other Consorts were shocked to learn the truth.

Xue Yu-Yan shook her head and looked at Weng Wei. "Your majesty, she is lying. I did not do anything. Please believe me," Xue Yu-Yan affirmed.

"Xue, the one who is lying is you. You should be punished for not only endangering the lives of the Princesses but also defaming the name of the Crown Princess and dragging the Sixth Brother in all this," Jian Guozhi asserted and smirked.

Looking back towards the Empress, Jian Guozhi said, "Mother, punish the Princess Consort for creating a nuisance in the Palace. I know my mother can never be biased. The punishment should be severe because she tried accusing the nation's Crown Princess," Jian Guozhi pronounced.

Sheng Li agreed with Jian Guozhi and told the Empress to announce her decision. Lei Wanxi pretended to cry. "I did not know that my imperial mother would be so harsh towards me. I will tell our father how the Princess Consort tried framing me and Sister Lili," Lei Wanxi stated and went towards the Empress.

Weng Wei was looking at him with inquisitiveness when he got on his knees. "Imperial mother, forgive me for putting soil in your food. I was only 5 years old at that time. It might have hurt your taste buds that time. Mother, the accusations put on me and Sister Lili were severe! What if we have been flogged then the culprit would have slipped? I think the Imperial mother is getting old, that's why she decided everything in such a hurry that she forgot that her precious son can never do such a thing," Lei Wanxi said. He then smirked and said in a low voice, "Except with you."

Weng Wei glared at him when Lei Wanxi placed her hand on his head. "Mother, this lovely pat on my head shows how much you love this Sixth Prince. I request you to not only flog Princess Consort Xue but also tell her to clean the entire Royal Kitchen. I know death penalty will be severe for her but Crown Princess and I are so kind that we will be happy with this punishment only," Lei Wanxi pronounced and turned to look at Ying Lili. "Am I right, Crown Princess?" He asked her opinion.

"I agree with Brother Wanxi. Your majesty, please take back the orders of punishment for the chefs, maidservants, and the servers," Ying Lili requested.

"They are all lying, your majesty. They are framing me," Xue Yu-Yan tried to defend herself.

"Princess Consort Xue will be flogged sixty times and she will herself clean the entire kitchen," Weng Wei announced with a heavy heart. Eunuch Yun gestured to two soldiers who took away Xue Yu-Yan from there.

"Thank you, Imperial mother. You are a great mother," Lei Wanxi remarked. He stood up and came towards the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. Ying Lili looked at the First Prince who passed a tiny smile to her.

~~~~

Hello Dear Readers!

Thank you so much for continuously voting for me and supporting me. On 26th July, there will be 5 chapters Mass Release as I have completed the target of 1500 votes in a week. Thanks to all of you, my ranking is increasing. I really want to win this contest and I will keep working hard, just keep supporting me through votes, comments.

One more thing, I have reduced the privilege prices for the next month. I felt this month privilege was costly so I have set the highest tier(4th tier) price to 199 coins which is 399 coins this month while 3rd tier I set to 99 coins which is 199 coins this month. The 1st and 2nd will be same as now. Since privilege buyers unlocked the first level so, you guys will get 5% rebate next month on the coins.

HAPPY READING