无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

“Well, I don’t understand the question Your Majesty just asked. Your Majesty must know that Concubine Yu is pregnant, right?”

“I… just found out as well.” The Emperor said, with a somewhat embarrassed look on his face.

“If you just found out, how would I, a Princess Consort, know anything about it? Unless I’m a god who can foresee Concubine Yu’s pregnancy and bring her something to make her miscarry?” Jiang Ning talked incessantly, “And another thing, there needs to be a motive for a crime. I have no grudge against Concubine Yu, so why would I harm her for no reason? Most importantly, am I really such a stupid person? Your Majesty ordered me to cook for Concubine Yu, and I just poisoned the food, so everyone in the world would suspect me?”

The Emperor was actually rendered speechless by her questions.

Well, that’s true.

No one could be that stupid.

The Emperor in his heart already believed Jiang Ning’s words by seventy or eighty percent, but an Emperor is still an Emperor and has to save face.

In other words, stubborn.

“Then tell me, what did you cook exactly that almost caused Concubine Yu to miscarry after eating?”

“Why not ask the palace maids around Concubine Yu?”

Chunxiao hurriedly said, “The Princess Consort sent shrimp, several cold dishes, a plate of gold-threaded rolls, and a bowl of soup.”

“Just these?”

“…Yes.”

“Bring the leftover plates to the Imperial Physician for examination.” The Emperor ordered.

“This…” Chunxiao showed a look of difficulty.

“What’s the matter?” The Emperor’s face darkened.

“Her Highness Concubine Yu likes the food sent by Princess Consort very much and said they were delicious. So… there’s not much left. The slaves have already ordered the plates and bowls to be washed.”

Jiang Ning laughed out loud.

No one can escape the law of delicious food.

The Emperor glared at her, “What are you laughing at? The matter hasn’t been clarified yet, and you’re not free from suspicion. Stop laughing!”

But seeing her smiling like a blooming spring flower, with a face so similar to Lin Zizi’s, the Emperor couldn’t get angry.

Jiang Ning said seriously, “Why not call the Imperial Physician and ask him? At least we need to know the cause of the illness first. Just because she ate a few bites of food, you can’t blame it on the cook. Otherwise, I will never dare to cook for anyone again. If any minor illnesses and disasters were to be blamed on me, I wouldn’t be able to bear it.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress looked at the Emperor in silence.

The Emperor immediately thought of Concubine Jin.

Concubine Jin’s greatest pleasure now was the various foods Jiang Ning would show her filial piety through. If she couldn’t eat them anymore, the Emperor was afraid he would never be able to set foot in the Splendid Palace again.

The Emperor was a little angry and ashamed, speaking in a low voice, “You little girl, are you threatening me?”

“All I want is a fair judgment. I can’t have all the blame put on my head.”

“I didn’t say I was going to convict you. Look at how panicked you are!”

“The one who’s panicked isn’t me.”

“Shut up, have you finished talking?”

The Emperor ordered a eunuch, “Call the Imperial Physician.”

The Imperial Physician came and knelt on the ground.

The Emperor asked, “Tell me, what is the situation with Concubine Yu’s illness?”

The Imperial Physician replied, “Your Majesty, Her Highness Concubine Yu is pregnant and ate some cold food, which caused her fetus to be disturbed.”

“What kind of cold food?” The Emperor looked at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning said, “I was just following Your Majesty’s order.”

“What did you say?”

“Your Majesty said that Her Highness Concubine Yu had summer heat and lost her appetite. Naturally, I made some cooling food. Did you expect me to make a heavy, hot dish like lamb stew for Her Highness Concubine Yu to eat?” Jiang Ning said, “Besides, I didn’t know she was pregnant. How could this be my fault?”