The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 424

Chapter 424: 214 Public Face-slapping (Second Update)

Consort Shu never expected this outcome. Didn’t Gu Jinyu claim the invention as her own? How could a four-year-old child know how to make it?

Noble Consort Zhuang enjoyed the turmoil: “Consort Shu, could Xiaowu have possibly stolen someone else’s skills and claimed the credit as his own?”

Consort Shu suddenly felt guilty, her face turning red: “What are you talking about, Noble Consort? How could Xiaowu do such a thing?”

Noble Consort Zhuang chuckled: “Then could it be that they stole the skill from Xiaowu?”

Empress Xiao admonished seriously: “Noble Consort, watch your words. I just overheard that the child said his family has known how to do it for a long time.”

Consort Shu steeled herself and declared: “Xiaowu has also known how to do it for a long time!”

Noble Consort Zhuang countered: “But that’s not what you said earlier. Didn’t you state that Xiaowu only came up with this yesterday?”

“I…” Consort Shu did indeed mention earlier that the fifth prince had only discussed this method with her last night.

Noble Consort Zhuang continued: “Could it be that Xiaowu mentioned it to Xiaoqi, who then taught the child, and the child falsely claimed that his family taught him?”

Empress Xiao spoke seriously: “Last night, after Xiaoqi returned from Guozijian, he stayed in my palace. His Majesty was also present before sending Xiaoqi off to the East Palace. Please enlighten us, Noble Consort, how could Xiaoqi have met with Xiaowu? And why would Xiaowu tell Xiaoqi about it?”

Considering the two’s age difference and their normally distant relationship, it was highly unlikely that the fifth prince would have discussed this matter with Qin Chuyu.

Qin Chuyu was just a child after all, what could he understand?

Noble Consort Zhuang inclined heir head slightly: “I misspoke.”

Noble Consort Zhuang wasn’t really defending Consort Shu, and Empress Xiao understood this well.

The Emperor’s expression towards Consort Shu turned complicated.

Honestly speaking, the Emperor was extremely fond of Consort Shu. While new women came and went in his harem, Consort Shu had always been his favorite. The reason was simple – she was enticing, beautiful, good at pleasing him, and an unparalleled sweet talker.

However, today’s incident seemed to have crossed the Emperor’s line.

The Emperor was already irritated by Gu Jinyu’s false claim of credit but lacked evidence. He particularly despised those who took credit dishonestly!

Of course, fundamentally, the Emperor was a man who valued evidence.

The Emperor queried: “Do you have any evidence to prove when Xiaowu first made this kind of mortar?”

Consort Shu was at a loss for words.

The Emperor continued: “Surely he didn’t just conjure it up. You must have seen him do it before you believed, right?”

Consort Shu was left completely speechless.

The Emperor called for Eunuch Wei: “Go ask the child when his family first made this.”

“Yes!” Eunuch Wei shuffled away and returned not long after, reporting to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, he said that many of his neighbors’ walls were plastered with this kind of mortar, as early as last month.”

The Emperor gave Eunuch Wei a meaningful look. Eunuch Wei understood and sent a few palace guards off to Bishui Alley.

The Imperial Concubines had originally come to see the Emperor, but now they were watching the drama unfolding around Consort Shu.

Throughout her many years in the palace, Consort Shu had never been in such a difficult position.

Gu Jinyu, Gu Jinyu, you have truly landed me in a tight spot!

Not long after, the palace guards returned, and one of them reported to the Emperor: “Your Majesty, we indeed found the same kind of mortar.”

The evidence was irrefutable. The child’s family had made the mortar first.

The question now was, how did the fifth prince come to know about the mortar? Did he invent it himself, or… did he learn it from someone else?

Empress Xiao couldn’t help but speak up: “Consort Shu, why don’t you just tell the truth?”

Consort Shu was overwhelmed with regret. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn’t have fallen into Gu Jinyu’s trap and tried to claim this achievement. Now how was she going to get out of this mess?

If the fifth prince hadn’t gotten involved, it wouldn’t have been this bad, but he had.

Noble Consort Zhuang suggested casually with a faint smile: “Why don’t we call the fifth prince and ask him?”

“No!” She hadn’t had a chance to get her story straight with Xiaowu yet!

Wasn’t calling Xiaowu at this critical moment the same as admitting her wrongdoing on the spot?

And yet, as if in a cruel twist of fate—

“Huh? Father? Mother? What are you doing here?”

The fifth prince had returned to the palace, making a beeline towards them, “Mother, I heard you were looking for me urgently!”

Upon entering the pavilion and seeing Empress Xiao and the others, he greeted everyone with a bow.

“Mother, you look unwell.” The fifth prince looked curiously at Consort Shu. Everyone was sitting while only Consort Shu stood in the middle of the pavilion, looking like she was being interrogated. He frowned, “What happened?”