Chapter 372: Seven Dials (Four Updates)

As the words fell, they struck like a clap of thunder!

The Empress and the others were dumbstruck, their faces filled with shock.

Even Emperor Jiawen, who had remained composed throughout, could not help but stand up

"What did you say!? You saw Rong Zhen before!? Exactly when, and where!?"

Rong Jiu paused for a moment before saying

"As for those matters, it might be more appropriate to ask Her Majesty the Empress."

These words left everyone present utterly bewildered.

The Empress was lost in confusion

"Rong Jiu, what do you mean by that?!"

Rong Jiu spoke slowly

"What I mean by that, I believe Her Majesty knows full well. You clearly know where Rong Zhen is, so why, for some reason, did you pretend not to know, even going so far as to stage such a massive drama?"

The Empress was nearly driven dizzy by Rong Jiu's words.

Her exquisitely drawn willow eyebrows furrowed as she stared at Rong Jiu, finally realizing that this time, Rong Jiu had come specifically to oppose her!

Her voice instantly turned cold, carrying the habitual majesty of the inner palace.

"Rong Jiu, do you realize what you are saying? Ever since Rong Zhen went missing, this Palace has been unable to rest day or night, my heart filled with trepidation. Even to this day, I am still worrying for her. You speak without a shred of evidence; how can you say such things?!"

As she spoke, she turned to look at Emperor Jiawen, her anger laced with sorrow.

"Your Majesty is wise! This Servant truly does not know where Zhenzhen is now! Much less where the Third Prince's words are coming from!"

Emperor Jiawen stared at Rong Jiu with a cold, heavy gaze

"What exactly did you mean by what you just said?"

Rong Jiu's gaze swept over the Empress, and he said indifferently

"What this Son means is—from beginning to end, this has all been a deception self-directed and performed by the Empress! She is the one who hid Rong Zhen, and she intends to take this opportunity to frame Lord Chu Ning and his daughter!"

Rong Jiu's low, powerful voice echoed through the great hall, clear and piercing to every ear.

Chu Liuyue's heart stirred slightly, and she couldn't help but steal a glance at Rong Jiu.

She never expected that Rong Jiu would actually say such words.

"Presumptuous!"

After the initial shock, the Empress finally reacted. With nowhere to vent her mounting fury, she finally couldn't help but burst into a tirade.

"What nonsense are you spouting! Rong Jiu! Do you think this is some common place? Do you think to whom you are speaking? How dare you speak such blatant lies!"

As she spoke, she lunged toward Rong Jiu, raising her hand to deliver a harsh slap to his face!

"This Palace must personally teach you a lesson today!"

"Empress!"

A cold reprimand from Emperor Jiawen immediately froze the Empress in her tracks.

She snapped back to her senses, turning around in a panic, only to see Emperor Jiawen staring at her with eyes full of rage.

"As the Empress, what kind of behavior is this!"

Only then did the Empress truly realize—her recent actions had indeed lacked the dignity of an Empress.

Emperor Jiawen was utterly disappointed in her.

Rong Jiu had merely said two sentences, yet the Empress had been provoked into such a state.

Screaming and cursing, devoid of grace, and even attempting to strike someone directly in front of him!

How was this any different from a common shrew on the streets?!

She had completely thrown away the dignity of the Imperial Family!

Realizing Emperor Jiawen's anger, the Empress felt both fear and grievance in her heart.

"Your Majesty, this Servant knows her mistake! But this Servant did not do this intentionally! Listen to what Rong Jiu just said! Although I am not his biological mother, I am still his Imperial Mother, yet he slanders me so! This Servant—"

As the Empress spoke, two lines of clear tears fell from her eyes. One hand tightly gripped her handkerchief, pressing it against her chest as if she were in extreme heartache.

Hearing the words "biological mother," a flash of killing intent quickly crossed the depths of Rong Jiu's eyes.

It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned it, but since he did...

That wench, the Empress, actually had the face to say such words!

He lifted his robes and, with a loud *thud*, knelt on the ground!

"Every word this Son says is the truth! If there is even half a lie in what I have said, may I be struck by lightning and destroyed!"

This was a blood oath!

As soon as these words were uttered, even the Empress, who was busy weeping, could not help but pause for a moment.

Chu Liuyue narrowed her eyes and looked at Chu Ning inquiringly.

Chu Ning shook his head slightly, signaling that he also did not know what was happening.

Chu Liuyue withdrew her gaze and re-evaluated Rong Jiu.

It was truly strange...

Rong Jiu had never had much interaction with the father and daughter, so why was he constantly speaking up for them this time? He was even willing to stake his very life!

As a high-ranking Prince, the weight of his words was not light!

Sure enough, Emperor Jiawen's expression shifted.

If Rong Jiu dared to make such a vow... then what he said was very likely the truth!

"Empress, what exactly is going on!"

Emperor Jiawen had lost his patience and demanded an answer in a furious voice!

The Empress shuddered, and her tears flowed even more heavily.

"This Servant truly does not know..."

"Since Her Majesty the Empress refuses to admit it, then this Son shall remind you. I wonder if you still remember Seven-Corner Alley?"

Rong Jiu spoke indifferently.

The Empress suddenly froze, looking at Rong Jiu with extreme horror.

How could he know about that place!?

Emperor Jiawen said in a deep voice

"If I remember correctly, Seven-Corner Alley used to be a very bustling place in the Imperial Capital, but after a murder occurred, it was gradually abandoned."

"Imperial Father is wise. The current Seven-Corner Alley can almost be described as a desolate wasteland, extremely lonely. However, for some reason, that place is highly favored by Her Majesty the Empress. After this Son returned to the capital, because I had not much to do, I occasionally wandered through the city. Unintentionally, I saw Her Majesty the Empress near Seven-Corner Alley twice."

The Empress's heart sank heavily!

Emperor Jiawen glanced at the Empress

"Continue."

"The first time was a month and a half ago. At that time, I saw Her Majesty from a distance and thought I had seen wrong. After all, Seven-Corner Alley remains desolate, and normally no one goes there. But out of curiosity, I waited nearby. After half an hour, Her Majesty left. I followed closely behind, intending to see what was happening, only to be shocked to discover that within Seven-Corner Alley, there was actually an extremely powerful barrier!"

The Empress's face had turned deathly pale.

Rong Jin seemed to suddenly realize something, his pupils constricting!

"...Fearing I would be discovered, I left. A month later, about ten days ago, my curiosity became unbearable, and I went to Seven-Corner Alley again. Unexpectedly, I happened to see Her Majesty walking out of there again."

Hearing this, Chu Liuyue also looked toward the Empress, seeing her expression filled with desolation, as if her entire soul had departed.

"...Having encountered her twice in a row, I could not help but grow suspicious. But because I had no leads, I did not make a scene. However, by coincidence, just yesterday, I happened to run into Rong Zhen on the street and discovered that the final place she went to was Seven-Corner Alley."