Chapter 222: Exposed
“Crown Princess, if you admit at this time that there is no such matter, and that it’s just you being jealous of Sun Liangdi receiving the Crown Prince’s favor, then deliberately using schemes to frame me, so that the Crown Prince would disgust Sun Liangdi, perhaps His Majesty, for the sake of the Ling Family, will forgive you.”
Jiang Ruanxi looked at her still unaware of the impending disaster, a cold smile rising in her heart, “Heir Apparent’s Wife, why don’t you take another look, do you really not recognize the person on the ground?”
“Qi… Sir Qi…”
Lin Tingting hadn’t reacted yet when the eunuch’s high-pitched excited voice rang out, “Your Majesty, isn’t this Sir Qi from the Hanlin Academy?”
“I say, Sir Qi, how did you end up here?”
Qi Wu’s face flushed red, and he had bitterness in his heart that he couldn’t express.
But he still subconsciously looked toward Lin Tingting, and with just this one glance, Lin Tingting’s heart began to thump wildly.
Her whole body stiffened, as if struck by lightning.
Pleasant yet mixed with various flavors scenes immediately floated in her mind; she thought she could forget, but at this moment, it was crystal clear.
“Heir Apparent’s Wife, have you remembered something?” Jiang Ruanxi said teasingly, “Or do you really not recognize the person in front of you?”
Lin Tingting’s face tightened, but Jiang Ruanxi didn’t want to pay her any attention and turned to the person on the ground, “Sir Qi, what exactly is going on? Why don’t you tell His Majesty?”
He had just heard the previous words.
Looking at the disgust in Lin Tingting’s eyes, his heart was like being cut by a knife.
Emperor Qin also carried some impatience, “Sir Qi, why have you made yourself so disheveled? What exactly is going on?”
“In response to Your Majesty, everything the Crown Princess said is true; the child in the Heir Apparent’s Wife’s belly is mine.”
“No… not right, it’s the Heir Apparent’s Wife’s child, it’s mine.” Due to tension, Qi Wu was already so nervous that he was incoherent.
“No… don’t talk nonsense.” A sharp piercing voice rang out as Lin Tingting desperately denied.
She had never imagined that the person in the sack would be Qi Wu.
Emperor Qin frowned, “Sir Qi, do you know what you’re saying?”
Lin Tingting also instantly rallied her spirits; now His Majesty hadn’t believed it yet, and if at this critical juncture she could persuade Qi Wu to deny it, then she would still have a slim chance.
Thus, she forced herself to rally and said, “Sir Qi, have you thought it through clearly? Are you really sure you haven’t made a mistake?
I am the Heir Apparent’s Wife of Yongning Marquis Manor; for you to say this is undoubtedly smearing Yongning Marquis Manor. If it’s just mistaking the person, you only need to apologize to Yongning Marquis Manor now, and explain to His Majesty that you were speaking nonsense, then I, as the greater person, will forgive you for being momentarily confused.”
Coercing and tempting, she made the pros and cons of the relationship very clear.
If it were an ordinary person, they would certainly hear the implication and even begin to weigh it.
However, Jiang Ruanxi wouldn’t give her this chance and just smiled, “Sir Qi, the Heir Apparent’s Wife is right; these matters are of great importance, you must think thrice. The crime of deceiving His Majesty is not small; at that time, it won’t just be Sir Qi’s matter alone.”
As for threatening, who couldn’t do it?
Not only that, Jiang Ruanxi’s threat was clearly more forceful.
Lin Tingting’s face tightened; if Qi Wu spoke up, all her efforts would be in vain.
Qi Wu clearly understood the meaning in Jiang Ruanxi’s words and after thinking for a moment, directly spoke to Emperor Qin.
Even if Lin Tingting had given him many benefits, he could only turn a blind eye now.
“Your Majesty, everything this official says is true; I absolutely dare not deceive Your Majesty.”
Jiang Ruanxi smiled and directly mocked, “Oh dear, Heir Apparent’s Wife, the Empress asked me to learn from you and strive to get pregnant soon; is this your experience?”
Each word piercing, like slaps landing heavily on Lin Tingting’s face.
“This time, I’m afraid I can only disobey Mother Empress’s decree; the Heir Apparent’s Wife has the guts to cuckold the Heir Apparent, but I dare not.”
Lin Tingting was struck as if by thunder, Sun Tina was incredulous, while Marquis Yongning was so angry his eyes turned bloodshot and he directly knelt down, “Your Majesty, family misfortune.”
“Heir Apparent’s Wife of Yongning Marquis, is there such a matter?” Emperor Qin also felt it too shocking and still couldn’t believe it.
“Your Majesty, wronged!” Lin Tingting’s heart sank, her face gloomy, and finally she directly knelt down, “This subject wife has always been proper and rule-abiding; this Sir Qi merely came to propose marriage back then, and my family didn’t agree, so he harbors resentment. He is saying this deliberately, nothing more than not wanting this subject wife to have a good life; this subject wife is truly wronged, please Your Majesty discern clearly.”
Sun Tina breathed a sigh of relief; she had thought it was true.
After all, she was a woman too and couldn’t believe there was someone in this world so vicious as to do such a ruthless thing.
“Your Majesty, based solely on Sir Qi’s one-sided statement, it is indeed hard to explain this matter.”
After all, without concrete evidence for such a matter, it was indeed difficult.
“Your Majesty, what this official says is all fact; this official swears to heaven, if there is any falsehood, may this official die a bad death, struck by lightning.”
Scholars of Great Qin most believed in the divine.
Qi Wu swearing was undoubtedly betting his future prospects on his own purity.
Emperor Qin’s heart already wavered somewhat.
Lin Tingting gritted her teeth and also knelt down, “Your Majesty, what this subject wife says is also fact; this subject wife’s child is the Sun Family’s, if there is half a false word, may this subject wife also be struck by lightning and die a bad death.”
This was like a cornered dog jumping the wall; what poisonous oaths, vows, she dared to fabricate them all.
Jiang Ruanxi looked at Lin Tingting’s strenuous performance and felt deep contempt in her heart.
She turned and kindly said to Qi Wu, “Sir Qi, if someone is threatening you, don’t be afraid; His Majesty is here now, he will surely uphold justice for you.”
Jiang Ruanxi sneered inwardly.
She hadn’t expected that in just half a year, Lin Tingting’s eloquence had become so good.
But she was too naive, thinking a few words could reverse the situation.
“Father Emperor, I see there is no substantial evidence now; why not hand this matter over to Dali Temple to handle? The truth will come out clearly.”
Lin Tingting’s hand at her side tightened, panic flashing in her eyes.
If it were like this, wouldn’t everyone know?
Even if it proved the child was the Sun Family’s, she would likely become a laughingstock.
Qi Wu’s face also turned pale.
If this matter were known, his official career would be finished.
Qi Wu shouted loudly in a trembling voice, “Your Majesty, I have evidence.”
Qi Wu hurriedly knelt down and said it, while Lin Tingting’s eyes glared fixedly at him, as if trying to glare a hole in him.
Jiang Ruanxi smiled, “Sir Qi, you really have evidence?”
