The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law
Chapter 1170 - 1164: There Are Three

Chapter 1170: Chapter 1164: There Are Three

Old Madam Li stood beside the Empress, glanced over everyone, and then whispered to the Empress, "Let the Imperial Physicians check, whoever is not poisoned, has the biggest suspicion."

"Right, whoever isn’t poisoned is the suspect." The Empress, agitated and disordered, calmed down gradually after being reminded by Old Madam Li.

She sat back down on her chair, watching the women in the room coldly.

Except for Lin Qianqing and two others who had just been checked, all other women were lined up for the Imperial Physician to examine.

Lin Qianqing still maintained some coldness, but she looked somewhat surprised after hearing that everyone else was poisoned, then her gaze shifted to another person who remained calm.

"How could someone harm us so ruthlessly."

The women in the room were still whispering secretively; this matter concerned everyone. After all, a woman’s youth lasts only so many years, and after their prime, these women without strong backgrounds, having no children by their side, would just slowly wait for death alone in this residence. Hence, no one could remain calm.

"Silence..." Everyone was extremely anxious. Imperial Physician Li’s command silenced them, drawing everyone’s attention.

"What is it?" The Empress immediately stood up.

Standing before Imperial Physician Li was Consort Zhang.

Imperial Physician Li gave Consort Zhang a complex look, then turned to the Empress and said, "Empress, Consort Zhang shows no signs of being poisoned."

A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples; all eyes were now fixated on Consort Zhang.

Some were surprised, some resentful, and the Empress, naturally, was furiously uncontrollable.

Without caring about her image, she stepped down and slapped Consort Zhang across the face, furiously exclaiming: "You vile woman! After all the pains I have taken for you, it turned out you are the one harming Prince Jin to have no heirs."

Prince Jin’s face filled with disbelief.

Frankly, Prince Jin didn’t like Consort Zhang much initially, despite her beauty and literary grace, and although her fame among the ladies of Beijing was notable, Prince Jin, a bit illiterate and strongly male chauvinistic, couldn’t stand a woman who was constantly eloquent with poems and songs. Compared to her, he found his clueless cousin Lin Qianqing somewhat more endearing.

But she was smart, quickly grasping Prince Jin’s preferences, and catered to them.

The gentlewoman outside, the wanton inside that Prince Jin fancied.

So, enjoying the pleasure, Prince Jin was fond of her, even giving her the butler’s authority in Prince Jin Residence, but unexpected to him, she turned out to be the one harming his woman.

At that moment, he felt both disappointed and heartbroken.

Everyone thought Consort Zhang was finished and she should beg the Empress for mercy.

Yet, she stood up from the ground, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and saluted the Empress humbly but firmly: "Empress, several sisters have yet to be examined, perhaps let’s discuss after the examinations are complete."

Seeing her composure and the courage in her calmness, the Empress even felt a sense of guilt.

Indeed, she had been too anxious; there were still many women yet to be checked.

With a cold snort, she said, "Then let’s finish the inspections first."

These women were not only examined by one Imperial Physician but by several, ensuring accuracy after multiple confirmations.

So even with more than ten Imperial Physicians present, it took quite some time.

An hour later, three women knelt in the hall.

Consort Zhang still remained calm, looking justly fearless.

In contrast, the other two women were unsettled, trembling with fear.