The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law
Chapter 1171 - 1165: Who Poisoned?

Chapter 1171: Chapter 1165: Who Poisoned?

The Empress stared intently at the three young women before her, all at the age of bloom, each as beautiful as a flower, yet who would have thought they harbored such venomous intent, actually wishing to render her childless.

Of course, she herself had once been their age, fully aware of the blood and storms hidden within these harem walls, and naturally, she understood why they did what they did.

She fixed her gaze on the female to the far left and asked, "What’s your name?"

The girl looked rather young, around the age of thirteen or fourteen, and was in fact extremely beautiful.

But she had never before witnessed such a grand spectacle and was so frightened that her lips turned purplish and she trembled without being able to utter a word.

After a brief lapse, King Jin spoke up for her.

"Mother, it surely isn’t her. She entered the residence merely ten days ago. Imperial Physician Cui had mentioned it before; the deep poisoning would only manifest later on. Since she has not been in the residence long, perhaps she hasn’t been poisoned, or the poisoning isn’t severe, which is why there are no symptoms."

Fury swelled within the Empress. Seeing that her son even dared to bring such dubious women into his fold only fueled her anger.

No wonder she didn’t recall seeing such a young one; this petty aura, clearly not from a respectable birth.

"Where is she from?"

"She is... a gift from a friend of mine," he said.

"Who?" the Empress pressed relentlessly, seizing this opportunity to purge the undesirable elements from her son’s side.

"It’s... my cousin from the Ducal Residence, Jin Wei!" Today, the Empress seemed off, and King Jin dared not further provoke her.

"Hmph, this Jin Wei is becoming more and more outrageous. Nurse Li, have him summoned to the palace to meet me another day."

Nurse Li affirmed with an "Understood."

Only then did the Empress turn her attention back to the three kneeling individuals. Since King Jin had spoken for her, the young maiden was ruled out.

She was escorted to stand aside.

These questionable women needed to be dealt with, but not at the present moment.

The Empress glared fiercely at her and continued to interrogate the remaining two women.

Consort Zhang had just been questioned; the Zhang Family had a good relationship with the Ducal Residence, and several aunts and young ladies in her family were from the daughters of the Zhang Family.

Daughters from the Ducal Residence had also married into the Zhang Family; hence, the Empress truly hoped that the culprit wasn’t Consort Zhang from the bottom of her heart.

If it really was her, then don’t blame the Empress for turning ruthless.

Let alone the Zhang Family, even the Ducal Residence, if they dared to cause her to be without offspring, she would never let them off lightly.

"What about you, Madam Zuo, the daughter of Zuo Honglin?"

She was someone whom the Empress had personally selected and recognized.

Her father Zuo Honglin held a fourth-rank official position, having some worth, which was why she had originally chosen this woman.

"I... I don’t know, but I didn’t poison anyone!" Madam Zuo, already terrified with a drained face, cried out for justice loudly.

"I have no idea why I wasn’t poisoned, but the poison was certainly not administered by me."

"Did I say you were the one who administered the poison?" The Empress’s eyes bulged, making her appear even more menacing.

"Why are you so keen on confessing? Could it be that you have a guilty conscience?"

Madam Zuo, scared out of her wits, shook her head continuously, "No... it’s not me, I usually don’t go out, and I don’t associate with the other sisters; I simply don’t have the opportunity to poison anyone!"

At this moment, Lin Qianqing stepped forward to speak on her behalf.

"Mother, Madam Zuo is unassuming, and she indeed does not venture out. Administering poison to so many is beyond her means."

"Oh? And how do you know it wasn’t her? Tell me, why hasn’t she been poisoned?" the Empress asked Lin Qianqing sarcastically.