Xiao Li shuddered seeing the look in Ji Cheng's

eyes. She was expecting to see the warmth in his eyes or at least the hatred or coldness towards Zhao Ming, but why was he giving her a death glare?

She unconsciously hides behind Wen Xu for support.

Zhao Ming scoffed seeing Xiao Li hiding behind Wen Xu cowardly and wanted to pull her out by her hair and wanted to give her a big tight slap.

It would have been so satisfying if she could do that.

Sigh.

" Sister you don't have your memories that's why you are denying but you were quite close to him. And when His Majesty found out about this he tried to protect you from the wrath of ministers and the public and put all the blame on that poor bodyguard. He was killed in front of everyone for the rebel. I know you attempted to take your life out of guilt. It must have been painful to see your loved ones leaving this world, but Sister as an Empress you should take care of your reputation."

" Your every action represents the royal palace since you're the Empress. How can an Empress make a cuckold of the Emperor?" Xiao Li's voice became slower and slower under Ji Cheng's sharp glare.

However, she didn't stop speaking and said everything she wanted while holding onto Wen Xu tightly.

Zhao Ming was dumbfounded when she heard this.

He killed someone to save her? Though she has read in the harem rule book that all women should mind their behaviour and if they do anything immoral and inappropriate, then they will be punished accordingly.

And the cheating on the Emperor was the most grave crime according to which they will have to receive the capital punishment."

They will be sent to a cold palace for a few years and then they will be given the poison which they have to drink themselves.

Zhao Ming's mouth opened in shock as she was worried about her future. That would be too cruel.

But killing someone else to save her is not a good idea either. What about that bodyguard who died without any reason? He became a scapegoat for Zhao Ming in that sense.

Though Zhao Ming was innocent as she was sure about it, it must be so painful for her to see someone dying because of her.

Ji Cheng turned to look into her eyes and the look in her eyes made him clench his fists. He couldn't bear to see the guilt in her eyes.

" Who said that the bodyguard was innocent? Who said that the bodyguard was killed as a scapegoat to save Zhao Ming? Xiao Li, do you really think that I am so stupid and cruel to kill someone without any reason? "

Ji Cheng looked at Xiao Li and asked in a deep voice.

Wen Xu frowned when she heard his words.

" Ji Cheng, what are you trying to say? Everyone in the palace knows that you accused that man for rebellion just to protect this bitch from getting the punishment. If you had not blamed that bodyguard, she might have been killed by now. How can you try to justify your act in front of us? Do you think that we are stupid?" Wen Xu shouted over her lungs .

Zhao Ming pursed her lips as she tried to understand Ji Cheng's words.

" Mother, I am the Emperor of Ji Dynasty. Even if I was trying to save Zhao Ming, I cannot kill anyone unreasonably. I am not as cruel as you. I don't abuse my power like you. " Ji Cheng said with a straight face.

Wen Xu's face fell when she heard Ji Cheng's words. How can he say something like this?

She has struggled so much after Ji Cheng's father died and tried her best so that Ji Cheng could get the throne.

Yet he is blaming her now?

Zhao Ming who was listening to.Ji Cheng's words carefully looked up and asked , " Then do you mean that the bodyguard was planning to rebel?"

Ji Cheng's expressions turned gentle when he looked at her.

He nodded and said, " Yes. At that time when I heard from Mother and Xiao Li that the bodyguard was trying to get close to you and was even visiting your chamber, I felt that something was not right. Because I know your character very well."

" Zhao Ming , there are some things that a person can understand without saying. I never said anything but I trusted you wholeheartedly."

" I tried to search the background of that bodyguard and found out that something was off about him. There was very little information about him and there was no information regarding his family."

" Even though he came into the palace with you in marriage,? however I found out that he met you only a few months ago from our marriage."

" Moreover, there were no details about his family and parents. Something was strange about him

"

" When I dug deeper about him, I found out that he had connections with prince Ji Zhelan. But I couldn't get any evidence about him so I could not hold him responsible. "

" Not only that, Feng Ju also found some suspicious items, maps and other things hiding behind his bed which were hinting that he was planning a treachery against the Emperor. "

" The charge about upsurging the rebellion was not false. It was indeed true. He was trying to get close to Zhao Ming deliberately to get the information. And there was nothing immoral like you said between them." Ji Cheng looked at Xiao Li and said in annoyance.

Zhao Ming was dumbfounded hearing all the unknown information. She has only seen these kinds of conspiracies in dramas before but now hearing it first hand, she started to feel dizzy.

She suddenly got scared thinking what if she got assassinated staying in this world?

...

Wen Xu was shocked hearing Ji Cheng's words.

" What? What you're saying is true?"

" Is it really Ji Zhelan? He really tried to upsurge a rebellion? How can he do something outrageous?" Wen Xu was in disbelief when she heard this.

Ji Zhelan is the son of Ji Cheng's father from a concubine. He was not even the son of any other consort since Wen Xu didn't allow him to have other consorts.

After Ji Cheng's father died, Wen Xu threw all the concubines of Ji Cheng's father out of the palace because she didn't want any competition for? the crown.

She wanted only Ji Cheng to take this throne.

She can never imagine that Ji Zhelan could try to incite a rebellion against Ji Cheng.

##

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