The Emperor sneered, "I’ve investigated everything that needed investigation."

"You and Commander Zhu originally lived close to each other, as neighbors, already had feelings for each other. Later, your parents decided to send you to my mansion."

"If I had known you had someone in your heart, you should have told me then, and I would have fulfilled your wish."

"But since you became a concubine of mine, you should not be involved with a former lover, where does that leave me?"

"How can the Eldest Prince and Fourth Prince face people?"

Consort Rong cried even louder, "Your Majesty, your Majesty, I truly do not know what you are talking about?"

At this moment, Aunt Xue, who was kneeling on the ground, was thinking quickly.

If this matter is confirmed, not only will Consort Rong die, but all the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace probably won’t survive.

She is Consort Rong’s confidant and the Chief Aunt, given this, it might be better...

Aunt Xue suddenly threw herself at the Emperor’s feet, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Your Majesty misunderstood the Consort, it is, it is me who had an affair with Commander Zhu!"

The Emperor squinted his eyes, "Oh, you want to die for your master?"

Aunt Xue kowtowed on the ground, "Your Majesty, allow me to speak."

"One must take responsibility for one’s actions; it was my mistake, how could I let the Consort take it for me?"

Aunt Xue clearly explained, "When I worked at Rong Mansion, I lived on the same street as Zhu Zuyu."

"Once, I was bullied when I went out, fortunately, Zuyu stood up for me and saved me, and from then on, my heart was set on Zhu Zuyu."

"However, he was an official at that time, and I was just a maid, knowing I didn’t match him."

"He promised me, saying he would send someone to propose marriage later. But I never saw a matchmaker from his family."

"My parents also said to redeem me and let me marry."

"I only had him in my heart, so I refused to leave the mansion and marry. Later, my lady was sent to Prince Kang Mansion, and I followed."

"Since then, I have never seen him again."

"This time at the traveling palace, who would have thought to encounter him, and thus, the old feelings rekindled."

The Emperor listened to Aunt Xue’s words, almost without flaw.

Aunt Xue even knew Commander Zhu’s name and where he lived clearly.

Of course, she has followed Consort Rong for a long time and is her confidant. If Consort Rong had an affair with Commander Zhu, it wouldn’t be strange for her to know these things.

The key is, her words perfectly match what Ruru said.

The Emperor was momentarily unsure, could he really have wronged Consort Rong?

He signaled to Eunuch Yu, "Ask her about the Zhu Family, how many people there are, and some things about them."

Eunuch Yu pulled out that stack of papers presented by Eunuch Quan to the Emperor and asked several questions.

Aunt Xue answered fluently.

The Emperor was increasingly unsure.

At this moment, Aunt Xue kneeled and swore, "Everything I said is true. If there’s any falsehood, may my parents not die peacefully."

Her mother had long died, and her father sided with her stepmother, otherwise he wouldn’t have sold her.

So, this oath was sincere.

The Emperor raised his eyebrows, this oath seemed genuine enough.

No one would curse their own parents.

His expression softened slightly, he glanced at Consort Rong, who was crying pitifully, looking extremely miserable.

The Emperor turned to Aunt Xue, "I will consider your affair with Commander Zhu as true."

"I only ask you, why did you instruct Commander Zhu to assassinate the Second Prince?"