coobybook Chapter 109 Innocent Suffering
Chapter 109 Innocent Suffering
Su Yi quickly avoided her wound, hugged her tightly, and comforted her: "Sister believes in you, don't be afraid, Her Royal Highness the Princess will uphold justice for you and will not let you suffer an unjust accusation."
The eldest princess was directly named and had to intervene: "What is going on?"
Su Rao trembled as she recounted her experience: "I... was told by a monk that something happened to my sister, so I hurried here. I was led to this remote courtyard, and then two women appeared, brutally twisted my arm, and imprisoned me here... Perhaps I accidentally angered someone, and that's why I suffered such revenge."
The eldest princess's expression became more solemn, and her eyes unconsciously fell on Huo Chengjun, full of scrutiny.
Huo Chengjun suddenly came to her senses and explained anxiously: "Your Highness, it's not like that. She must be making up a lie. She was caught in the act and now she is pretending to be a victim!"
"A private affair? Miss Huo, how can you be so reckless? You should know how important a woman's reputation is. If this matter gets out, how should I deal with it..."
Su Rao was filled with grief and anger, and even wanted to crash into the pillar next to her. Fortunately, Su Yi reacted quickly and stopped her in time, thus avoiding a tragedy.
Su Yi hugged Su Rao tightly and pleaded with the princess: "Your Highness, you must seek justice for our Rao'er! The Queen and Prince Yi love her so much. If something happens to her, how can I face the Queen and Prince Yi again?"
The eldest princess's expression became stern, and Huo Chengjun's usually well-behaved image seemed particularly ironic at this moment.
She felt somewhat fed up with Huo Chengjun's rudeness and sophistry.
The princess's eyes were as cold as ice, and her tone was stern: "Prince Yi's concubine was obviously framed and imprisoned here. How could there be talk of a private relationship? Miss Huo, please don't speak nonsense."
Huo Chengjun wanted to argue, but was interrupted by the princess: "No need to say more, I just want to know who killed Prince Yi's concubine!"
"Your Highness, those two servants just now said without any basis that Rao'er had an affair with a monk." Su Yi quickly added.
The eldest princess frowned and gave an order: "Bring those two girls here!"
At the same time, Su Yi seized the opportunity to plead, "Your Highness, you see that Rao'er's hand injury is unbearable. Please be merciful and call the imperial physician to treat her to avoid any future problems."
Upon hearing this, the princess nodded immediately and signaled her attendants to handle it quickly.
Soon, the two maids were brought tremblingly before the eldest princess, their faces filled with fear and anxiety.
"Tell me, who instructed you to frame Prince Yi's concubine? If you confess the truth, perhaps you can get a lighter sentence." The eldest princess' voice was as cold as ice.
The two maids looked at each other, a trace of panic flashed in their eyes, and then they lowered their heads and said in a trembling voice: "Your Highness, we are not making false accusations. We are talking about what we saw with our own eyes. She did have an intimate relationship with the monk..."
"Your Highness, I remember it clearly. It was them. They hurt my hand." Su Rao quickly interrupted, with a bit of grievance and weakness in her voice. She raised the injured hand.
"No... I didn't! I saw it with my own eyes. She was very intimate with the monk. It was definitely not ordinary..." One of the maids wanted to argue, but her voice was as thin as a mosquito.
"Since you are unwilling to confess, I will have to resort to extraordinary measures." The eldest princess' words left no room for doubt. She then turned to the old nanny beside her, an elderly woman with sharp eyes. The eldest princess trusted her very much.
"Remember, this is the imperial palace, no blood is allowed. Make them speak, but don't harm their lives." The princess warned in a cold tone.
The old nanny accepted the order, a hint of cruelty flashed in her eyes, and she replied in a low voice: "Don't worry, Princess, I know what to do."
The punishments used in the palace were numerous and sophisticated, capable of causing people excruciating pain without leaving any obvious scars.
A moment later, the two maids' faces were distorted with pain and they were sweating profusely.
"I...I did wrongly accuse someone. I was...I was instructed by someone..." Finally, one of the maids couldn't bear it anymore and blurted out the truth in a halting manner. Her eyes flickered as she secretly looked at Huo Chengjun.
Huo Chengjun's face turned ashen in an instant, his eyes burning with rage, and he wished he could immediately step forward and seal the maid's mouth forever.
This traitor actually dared to turn against us at the critical moment!
Although Su Rao's hand was still painful, she felt a little comforted after hearing this confession.
If Huo Chengjun could be punished for this, the injuries he suffered would not be in vain.
However, just when everyone thought that the truth was about to be revealed, a gorgeously dressed woman suddenly walked up to Huo Chengjun, fell to her knees with a plop, and said in a resolute voice: "I am guilty, please punish me, Princess!"
The princess's eyes fell on the kneeling woman, her brows knitted tightly, and she asked in confusion: "Princess Rui, what do you mean? What fault do you have to bear?"
"Yes...it was me. I ordered my servants to deliberately frame Prince Yi's concubine." Princess Rui's voice was low and firm, as if she was ready to bear all the consequences.
Su Rao secretly guessed in her heart that Princess Rui's move was obviously to take the blame for Huo Chengjun.
Why would a princess be willing to sacrifice herself and take the blame for a little maid?
It turned out that although this King Rui was a prince, he was not taken seriously because of his humble origin and had no power or influence.
Princess Rui was favored instead of Huo Chengjun this time, perhaps because Prince Rui was unwilling to be an incompetent and idle prince, and was eager to take the opportunity to turn things around and regain power.
Princess Rui was perhaps simply tired of her difficult life and hoped, through this sacrifice, to secure a more stable future for herself and her family.
"Why did you want to harm Prince Yi's concubine?" The eldest princess frowned.
"I...I am jealous."
Princess Rui gritted her teeth and spoke her mind with difficulty, "Your Highness and Prince Yi's Concubine only met once, but he never forgot her. Your Highness and I have been together since childhood, and this torment is really unbearable..."
The women around echoed her words, full of sympathy and understanding: "To be honest, Prince Yi's concubine is indeed very beautiful. Which man wouldn't be moved when he sees her?"
"The same goes for Prince Rui. After years of loving marriage, he was actually bewitched by such a charming woman. Princess Rui is really pitiful."
The ladies' discussions came like a tide, directing all their accusations at the innocent Su Rao.
Su Rao glanced around coldly, memorizing the faces of these people one by one, and secretly swore in her heart that she would return today's humiliation tenfold one day.
"Your Highness, it is really unfair that Rao'er has been innocently implicated and still has to endure criticism!" Su Yi said angrily, his injustice almost overflowing.
"Princess Rui is the princess consort and my elder, so I have no right to interfere. I will report this matter to the queen, and she will make the decision."