In my past life, I was buried alive! Reborn, I'll overturn the capital.

Chapter 80 Clumsy Methods

In Kunning Palace.

The Empress looked at the situation with a headache.

Sure enough, nothing good ever came of Consort Jing's appearance. She caused trouble as soon as she came out, and this matter also involved Jiang Qingyue.

"Tell me, what happened?"

"Your Majesty, please, Your Majesty the Empress, do justice for me! Consort Jing insists that I smashed her cat, but I did nothing at all. Just because I was there, does that mean I did it?"

Jiang Qingyue looked indignant, filled with resentment at being slandered.

"Consort Jing is nothing but a beast, you..."

“Your Majesty, it is not. I have been in the Cold Palace for many years. If it were not for its company, I would have not been able to endure it. Its status is different.”

"Your Highness, I have already said that I did not touch it. I don't know where that stone came from. Why won't you believe me?"

“I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false? Besides, your sister Jiang Chuchu also saw it.” Consort Jing mentioned Jiang Chuchu at the right time.

The Empress frowned, feeling a bad premonition. She instinctively didn't want to call Jiang Chuchu over, but if she didn't, Consort Jing might cause trouble for His Majesty, leading to endless problems.

She had no choice but to call Jiang Chuchu over.

"Tell me, did you personally witness Jiang Qingyue harming Consort Jing's cat?" The Empress asked Jiang Chuchu directly, her intuition telling her that Jiang Chuchu must have been involved in this matter.

"Your Majesty, I...I...I am here to apologize to Consort Jing on behalf of my sister!"

After saying that, Jiang Chuchu knelt down in front of Consort Jing with a "thump" and sincerely admitted her mistake.

This attitude, seemingly not a response to the Empress's words, undoubtedly indicates that Jiang Qingyue was the one who did it.

"Jiang Chuchu, I didn't do anything, why should you apologize for me?" Jiang Qingyue didn't buy it at all. To an uninformed person, it seemed as if Jiang Qingyue was so arrogant and domineering, which highlighted Jiang Chuchu's kindness and purity.

"Sister, I didn't want to say this either, but you should admit your mistake." Jiang Chuchu looked innocent.

Jiang Qingyue sneered, "You're saying you saw me throw it away with your own eyes?"

Jiang Chuchu nodded.

"Where am I standing? Where did the stone hit the cat?" Jiang Qingyue asked again.

"You stand to the side and behind the pavilion."

"May Your Majesty the Empress come and join us at the scene?" Jiang Qingyue suddenly asked a question that surprised everyone.

Jiang Chuchu's eyes widened in surprise, not understanding what Jiang Qingyue was trying to do. Did she really have a way to solve this?

No, this is impossible!

Jiang Chuchu couldn't believe it.

"There's no need for this!" The Queen felt it was unnecessary to make such a fuss over a mere beast.

“This is not superfluous. Your Majesty, if this matter is not properly resolved and my innocence cannot be cleared, it will be a stain on my reputation, and people will keep bringing it up. This is not a good thing for Your Majesty or for the Crown Prince.”

Jiang Qingyue invoked the dignity of the royal family, showering the Empress with such high praise that even if she didn't want to go, she would have no choice but to attend.

"Alright, let's go take a look then."

The group headed to the pavilion in the Imperial Garden where the incident had occurred. Jiang Chuchu initially wanted to refuse, but since the Empress and Consort Jing had both agreed, refusing again would be tantamount to admitting she had something to hide. Therefore, she had no choice but to go despite her reluctance.

After arriving at the designated spot, Jiang Qingyue asked Jiang Chuchu again, "Could you please point out where I'm standing again?"

Jiang Chuchu didn't understand what Jiang Qingyue wanted to do, but with the Empress and Consort Jing present, she could only point.

Jiang Qingyue stood at the spot designated by Jiang Chuchu and asked again, "You saw me standing here and picking up a stone to hit Consort Jing's cat, right?"

“That’s right.” Jiang Chuchu said confidently, so she didn’t notice that the Empress and Consort Jing’s expressions were somewhat subtle at that moment.

"Your Majesty, I have finished asking. I presume Your Majesty is of exceptional wisdom and has already made your judgment!"

Even at this moment, Jiang Qingyue did not forget to flatter the Empress.

The Empress nodded and looked at Jiang Chuchu, which made Jiang Chuchu feel a sense of panic. Especially when she heard the Empress's next words, Jiang Chuchu almost knelt down.

"Jiang Chuchu, do you know your crime!"

Jiang Chuchu, who had just stood up, knelt down again with a "thump." "Your Majesty, I do not know what crime I have committed!"

"What crime have you committed?" The Empress looked down at Jiang Chuchu with an air of authority that truly exuded the majesty of an empress. "Take a closer look at the place you're pointing to."

Jiang Chuchu looked suspiciously at where Jiang Qingyue was standing, still not understanding what the Empress meant.

Jiang Qingyue and Consort Jing exchanged a glance and shook their heads, both agreeing that Jiang Chuchu really didn't have much of a brain.

Seeing that no one was speaking, Jiang Chuchu felt extremely uneasy and had no idea what to do.

She didn't understand what had happened or why they were reacting this way.

Left with no other choice, Jiang Chuchu could only continue to examine the surroundings beneath Jiang Qingyue's feet.

Upon closer inspection, Jiang Chuchu's heart skipped a beat; the ground...

Seeing Jiang Chuchu's reaction, the Empress knew that she had finally realized something. "Tell me, why did you lie?"

"No, Your Majesty, I am not lying, it's true!" Now, Jiang Chuchu could only insist on this.

"You didn't lie? Then tell me, where did these smooth bluestone slabs come from? Still saying you didn't lie?"

The Empress exuded an overwhelming aura, so powerful that Jiang Chuchu trembled, unable to lift her head, and her voice became shaky.

"No, Your Majesty, I really saw it. Maybe someone dropped it, or maybe it was a stone that was kicked over, anyway..."

"Jiang Chuchu!" Jiang Qingyue interrupted Jiang Chuchu's explanation, "Since that's the case, then tell me again, where did my pebble hit the cat?"

Jiang Qingyue wasn't about to let Jiang Chuchu off the hook, and continued to press her for answers.

“I…” This time Jiang Chuchu dared not answer easily, and was afraid that she would fall into Jiang Qingyue’s trap if she answered wrongly. “I…I didn’t notice, it was too…too far away.”

"So where did you see it from?" What good is it that Jiang Chuchu has become clever? The ending is already predetermined. Jiang Qingyue calmly watched Jiang Chuchu, wanting to see how she would answer.

Jiang Chuchu still didn't dare to answer casually. However, if she didn't answer, it would prove that she was lying. If she did answer, she was afraid that Jiang Qingyue would set a trap for her. She was caught in a dilemma.

"What? Didn't you see it?" Jiang Qingyue pressed closer, giving Jiang Chuchu no chance to breathe.

"Here!" Jiang Chuchu had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue answering.

"Alright." Jiang Qingyue turned around. "Please, Your Majesty, move to this side."

After saying that, Jiang Qingyue led the Empress to the place Jiang Chuchu pointed out, "Your Majesty, please take a look!"