The Grand Princess of course recognized the old woman.
Years ago, when the Grand Princess was hiding in her private villa to conceive and give birth, she sent someone south to find two midwives to assist her, claiming to be Madam Zhu.
She had intended to silence them afterwards, ensuring everything remained secret. She hadn't expected her subordinates to be so incompetent that one would be left alive.
"Oh, Madam Zhu..." Li Man'er hummed lightly. "Princess Grand Princess is truly devoted to Zhu Zhen, even claiming to be Madam Zhu when she gave birth."
The Grand Princess tried to compose herself. "I don't know what you're talking about. Are you sure this person wasn't hired to frame me?"
The old woman immediately raised her hand and swore, "Your humble servant, Zhang Hongzao, swears that everything I say today is the absolute truth. If I utter a single falsehood, may I be cast into the deepest hell after death and eternally reincarnate as a beast."
Ancient people deeply valued oaths. They believed in deities, and even more so in reincarnation and the cycles of the three realms and six paths. Zhang Hongzao's oath was so severe, it was evident she was not lying.
At this point, the Grand Princess was already faltering. Her ability to remain seated was pure willpower. She knew that if she weren't the Grand Princess, she would have been apprehended long ago, with both witness and material evidence present, leaving her with little room for rebuttal.
"Your Majesty, the matter is now clear. The Grand Princess, for her own selfish desires and to conceal the absurd truth of bearing a child with an actor, has repeatedly harmed lives. This shows utter disregard for the law of the land. Your humble subject suggests that she be judged by the law and not be pardoned lightly." Li Man'er appeared to be complaining to Emperor Chenghua, but as she drew closer to the Grand Princess, she subtly brushed her skirt again. The medicinal powder hidden within the hem slowly dissipated into the air and was inhaled by those present.
At this moment, the Grand Princess, who was closest to Li Man'er, became the victim. Although the medicine was not harmful to the body, it was an hallucinogen that could force a person to reveal their deepest, most hidden secrets.
The Grand Princess's eyes turned crimson. Perhaps Li Man'er's words had provoked her, accelerating the drug's absorption. She suddenly stood up from her chair and shouted, "So what if I killed them? Li Man'er, your mother was merely the daughter of a merchant, as lowly as an ant. It was her good fortune that I bothered to kill her. What's wrong with me bearing a child with an actor? I am a princess of Da Zun, and while men may have multiple wives, women cannot?"
Eunuch Xia was furious. "How dare you speak such insolence before His Majesty!"
The Grand Princess angrily retorted, "Shut up, you dog eunuch." Enraged, she grabbed the plum blossom vase from the table and hurled it at Eunuch Xia.
Eunuch Xia stood beside Emperor Chenghua. The Grand Princess's aim was terrible; the vase flew directly towards the Emperor.
Eunuch Xia cried out in alarm, calling for protection, and shielded the Emperor with his own body.
The warm chamber immediately descended into chaos. The women present were terrified, unable to believe their eyes. Had the Grand Princess eaten bear's heart and leopard's gall to dare attack His Majesty?
Eunuch Xia had braced himself for impact, but then Qi Yihan raised his hand and deflected the vase, sending it crashing against the table leg with a loud bang, shattering into pieces.
The guards then rushed in.
Eunuch Xia immediately pointed at the Grand Princess and yelled, "Take her down!"
The Grand Princess's eyes were wild. "Who dares? I am a legitimate princess of Da Zun. I'll see who dares."
The usually mild-tempered Emperor Chenghua seemed to have been waiting for this moment. He said, "And what if you are a princess? Does that give you the right to break the law, disregard human life, and attempt to assassinate me?"
"I didn't!" The Grand Princess remained defiant, seemingly unafraid. "I was going to smash that dead eunuch."
At this point, further protest only worsened her situation. In Emperor Chenghua's eyes, she was already as good as dead.
Emperor Chenghua had lost patience. Eunuch Xia, who understood the Emperor's heart best, shrilly shouted, "Take her down."
Several guards surged forward and seized the Grand Princess.
"What are you doing? Let go of me! I want to see the Empress Dowager, I want to see the Empress Dowager!" the Grand Princess shrieked, her eyes bulging, her face contorted with a terrifying ferocity that nearly caused some of the more timid women to faint.
Li Man'er stepped forward and tapped the Grand Princess on the neck. The Grand Princess's eyes rolled back, her body went limp, and she lost consciousness.
"Issue an edict: The Grand Princess Qi Luo, having failed the imperial grace, is to be confined to the Grand Princess's mansion, with no one permitted to visit. This case is to be handed over to the Dali Temple and the Court of the Imperial Clan. No one is to offer protection. Duke Rong is fined for his lax household management, confined, and his stipend is forfeited for one year. He is not to leave his residence without imperial decree."
Everyone knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe. They knew in their hearts that the Grand Princess was finished. With the Court of the Imperial Clan involved, her status as a princess was likely to be revoked. Even if her life were spared, she would be demoted to the status of a commoner.
Emperor Chenghua continued, "Madam Cui, for conspiring to murder her husband and disregarding human life, is also to be handed over to the Dali Temple for trial and immediately imprisoned."
More guards came and escorted Madam Cui away. She remained expressionless throughout, offering no resistance.
Everyone looked at Li Man'er with complex expressions. This woman had brought down the Grand Princess and sent Madam Cui to prison; she was truly not to be trifled with.
Li Tian'er was so frightened she almost turned into a puddle of mud. All her thoughts had vanished; she wished she could go home and hide immediately. It was too terrifying.
As soon as Emperor Chenghua left, the ladies from the various households scurried home without delay, lest they be considered suspects in the case if they lingered.
Li Man'er also returned, though she left with Qi Yihan.
"I still need to go to the palace. The evidence against the Grand Princess is conclusive, and the case will be concluded soon. Your mother's grievance will soon be cleared. However, it is likely the Li family will lose their noble title."
Li Man'er replied, "I am prepared. Your Highness, please go. I await your good news."
Qi Yihan turned to leave, but paused, then looked back at her as if he had thought of something.
Li Man'er said, "The Grand Princess also fell victim to my hidden move. If she hadn't lost control and thrown things... her sentence might have been limited."
Qi Yihan said, "I understand. You go back to your manor. After this is settled, I will come to see you."
Only then did Li Man'er lower the carriage curtain and tap on the window.
Ziyan and Lüyī quickly bowed to Qi Yihan and followed the carriage back to the Princess's manor.
Soon, the deeds of the Grand Princess and Madam Cui spread, astonishing many. The atmosphere was tense, and everyone was cautious, fearing they might be implicated if Emperor Chenghua decided to settle accounts.
For a time, the court and the country were filled with apprehension, and countless people lay awake at night, unable to eat or sleep.