To everyone's surprise, Plum suddenly became extremely respectful to Wei Dongling. She did her tasks with the utmost dedication, fearing that she might not take good care of the princess. Moreover, worried that Princess Five might find her voice too loud, she even lowered her tone when speaking.
Wei Dongling was overjoyed after receiving the jewelry. She took out a small portion of it to reward everyone, showing her consideration for their hard work despite the recent scare. At the same time, she asked Plum to allocate some silver for the proper burial of the deceased maids and eunuchs.
For more than ten days, Wei Dongling stayed in bed, eating and sleeping. Gradually, her body was recovering. After dismissing the maids, Yu Zixi stayed by her side day and night, and they embraced each other every night.
Prince Ten, Murong Yunqian, was behaving himself during his confinement. In this special period, everyone was watching him closely, so he didn't dare to act recklessly.
Finally, Wei Dongling could walk with the support of others. Ruan Niang took advantage of the abundant medicinal herbs in the Imperial Hospital and boiled a large jar of powerful scar - removing ointment for her. She even said with a smile that good medicinal materials would be wasted if not used, and considering Wei Dongling's frequency of getting injured, she would surely need it sooner or later.
Wei Dongling looked at her pitifully and complained, "Ruan Niang, can't you wish me something good?"
Ruan Niang chuckled, "I've almost removed the old scars behind Jingzhe's ears. Don't worry. I can also treat all your injuries, big and small, leaving no scars!"
Wei Dongling was speechless.
The emperor came to visit Wei Dongling every now and then. Seeing that her injuries were recovering well, he kept his promise and ordered the Inner Court Department to interrogate about the fire in Jingyang Palace on a chosen day.
So, when a young eunuch from the Inner Court Department came to invite her, Wei Dongling, supported by Ruan Niang, got into the sedan chair and headed straight for the Taiji Hall.
Murong Yunqian arrived earlier than her. He was sitting upright on a chair. When he saw Wei Dongling enter, he nodded slightly. Wei Dongling responded with a gentle smile.
Ruan Niang couldn't help but admire Wei Dongling from the bottom of her heart. When did this little girl, who used to be so intolerant of evil, start being able to smile calmly when seeing her enemy, even though she hated him deeply in her heart?
After sitting for a while, the emperor came. Everyone bowed to him, and soon they got straight to the point.
The imperial guards escorted Queen Zhao from the Ten - Thousand Buddha Pagoda. Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Xue was also brought out.
After the mourning ceremony for Prince Four, Mrs. Xue had visibly become haggard and thin. Wei Dongling could hardly recognize her.
Mrs. Xue was shocked when she saw Wei Dongling's pale face and poor mental state.
Soon, the chief eunuch of the Inner Court Department asked Mrs. Xue to step forward and state the specific details she knew about the fire in Jingyang Palace.
Mrs. Xue stepped forward and accused Queen Zhao of deliberately setting the fire and killing many innocent people.
Queen Zhao flatly denied it, insisting that Mrs. Xue was framing her and that she had never done such a heinous thing.
Mrs. Xue had no evidence, and she was both anxious and angry. It wasn't until Wei Dongling ordered someone to bring Granny Gao from the Ministry of Justice's prison to the Taiji Hall.
Granny Gao, in prison clothes, stepped forward and respectfully kowtowed to the emperor, admitting her mistake. She testified that it was indeed Queen Zhao who had deliberately set the fire in Jingyang Palace.
Queen Zhao never expected that Granny Gao would betray her at the last moment and confess everything about the incident in Jingyang Palace.
She stared at Granny Gao in shock and roared, "Granny Gao, do you know what nonsense you're talking about?"
Granny Gao bowed to Queen Zhao. There was a look of pity in her eyes as she sighed, "Your Majesty the Queen, please take care of yourself. Please don't create more killings in the future!"
Queen Zhao was furious and wanted to deny it again, but the chief eunuch of the Inner Court Department stopped her in time.
Wei Dongling stepped forward and asked coldly, "Granny Gao, was it you who killed Aunt Minfang in Yaoguang Pavilion?"
Granny Gao replied, "No."
Wei Dongling asked loudly, "Who killed Minfang? Was it Murong Yunqian?"
Everyone was shocked. Granny Gao had been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's prison mainly because she was suspected of harming Minfang and attempting to murder Princess Five. But now, in front of everyone, Princess Five was questioning Granny Gao whether it was Prince Ten who had killed Minfang.
Could it be that Granny Gao had taken the blame for Prince Ten back then?
The emperor's face gradually darkened. He wanted to protect Murong Yunqian, but his daughter seemed to think that Queen Zhao's confession was not enough. She even wanted Prince Ten to confess and be punished!
Was his daughter, Murong Wanlin, really so ignorant?
Granny Gao glanced at Murong Yunqian sitting on one side, lowered her head, and sighed, "I'm afraid I don't know, Your Highness Princess Five."
Wei Dongling said in a deep voice, "Granny Gao, think carefully!"
The threat in her words was obvious. How could Granny Gao not understand? But she couldn't do it! Li Yue was indeed her biological daughter, but in Granny Gao's heart, Prince Ten, Murong Yunqian, was just like her own flesh and blood. How could she ignore Murong Yunqian's safety just because she was being threatened?
Granny Gao knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I really don't know, Your Highness Princess Five!"
Wei Dongling was secretly angry. She gritted her teeth and snorted, "Even if you don't know, I know it clearly! I saw with my own eyes that my younger brother, Murong Yunqian, twisted Aunt Minfang's neck..."
"Enough," the emperor interrupted Wei Dongling in time. Wei Dongling looked up and saw the emperor staring at her with a displeased face. He asked in a deep voice, "Last time you claimed that Minfang was killed by Granny Gao. Now, why do you say it was your younger brother who killed her?"
Wei Dongling was secretly shocked. The emperor's rewards were real, and his determination to protect Murong Yunqian was also real! It seemed absolutely impossible for her to get rid of Queen Zhao and her son through this opportunity.
Wei Dongling sighed helplessly and said, "I just want the truth to come to light!"
The emperor frowned and shouted, "Have I not supported you when you wanted to seek justice for your mother? Now, you have no tolerance at all. Are you still going to scheme against and harm your own siblings?"
Seeing the emperor so angry, Wei Dongling trembled as she knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I know my mistake, Father."
Seeing Wei Dongling's pale face and her timely admission of mistake, the emperor couldn't bear to blame her too much. He turned to the eunuch of the Inner Court Department and ordered, "Zhao is immoral, jealous, and has repeatedly harmed the innocent without any sign of repentance. Depose her as the queen and confine her to the Cold Palace. She shall never step out of the Cold Palace for the rest of her life! Posthumously confer the title of Noble Consort Deru on Concubine Chen. Order the relevant department to choose a day for the ceremony."
"Yes!"
After giving the order, the emperor got up and left with Eunuch Cao.
The deposed Queen Zhao and Mrs. Xue were successively taken back to the Cold Palace. Granny Gao was taken back to the Ministry of Justice's prison.
Murong Yunqian looked at Wei Dongling with a venomous look in his eyes. When he saw her turn to look at him, he showed a sinister smile on his face.
Supported by Ruan Niang, Wei Dongling limped back.
As soon as she returned to Yaoguang Pavilion in the sedan chair, an eunuch came to convey the emperor's oral order. Princess Wanlin was to be confined to her residence for a month because of her mood swings due to illness and her unjust anger towards her brother. She was also punished to copy the "Book of Etiquette and Filial Piety" sixty times.