Disguised as a man, she became the biggest villain in the book.

Chapter 270 Exposed

The atmosphere in the court grew increasingly tense. The officials standing behind Zheng Luoqi had solemn expressions, clearly indicating that they were on his side.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

A guard hurried into the hall, as if he had something urgent to report.

Upon entering the hall, he knelt on one knee and proclaimed in a loud voice, "Your Excellencies, the Emperor has awakened! He and the Empress are on their way!"

His voice echoed in the empty hall, causing a slight commotion. The crowd exchanged glances, their faces showing surprise and anticipation.

No sooner had the guard finished speaking than a series of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall. Immediately afterward, a eunuch dressed in magnificent robes strode in.

The eunuch walked to the center of the hall, stopped, and then shouted in his distinctively shrill voice, "His Majesty has arrived!"

Not long after, Xue Huaiyu, supported by his attendants, slowly walked in. His face was slightly pale, but his eyes revealed a sharp glint. He walked step by step to the dragon throne and sat down steadily.

Beside Xue Huaiyu, Chen Xianlin followed closely in. Chen Xianlin was dressed in a gorgeous phoenix robe, with a dignified demeanor and a beautiful face.

"See you, Your Majesty, long live my Emperor!"

"Long live the Empress!"

Everyone bowed and kowtowed.

Xue Huaiyu waved his hand, his voice low and deep, "Rise!"

Everyone expressed their gratitude.

Xue Huaiyu looked around and finally his gaze fell on Zheng Luoqi. He remained silent.

Zheng Luoqi's expression remained calm and unchanged. He glanced at Xue Huaiyu indifferently and then said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

"Yes, I understand what you want to say, my dear minister. I had the imperial physician write the prescription, intending not to worry you too much. I just didn't expect you to investigate the whereabouts of the medicinal materials in the Imperial Pharmacy!" Xue Huaiyu nodded slightly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Your Majesty, you have been late in attending court, so this humble subject has taken it upon myself to act..."

"You don't need to explain!" Xue Huaiyu waved his hand, interrupting Zheng Luoqi. "Now that I've woken up, I won't pursue this matter any further."

Zheng Luoqi was taken aback, anticipating that the Chen family would probably pull this stunt.

Zheng Luoqi raised her head expressionlessly, looking at Xue Huaiyu on the stage with eyes full of disdain for the person in front of her.

Zheng Luoqi pondered to himself, now certain that the person on stage was definitely not the real Xue Huaiyu.

Because he knew Xue Huaiyu too well. From his words and actions to the subtle changes in his expression, the real Xue Huaiyu was full of ambition and calculation, and his whole person seemed hypocritical from the inside out.

The Xue Huaiyu before me seemed less hypocritical and more reserved.

Zheng Luoqi deliberately raised his voice and said, "Your Majesty, what should be done about the matter of the flood in Xuzhou that I reported in my memorial before?"

Xue Huaiyu on the stage was clearly not expected that Zheng Luoqi would suddenly raise this question. His expression changed slightly, and he hesitated for a moment before answering, "I have my own considerations on this matter."

When Chen Tongyu, who was sitting in the audience, heard Zheng Luoqi mention the floods in Xuzhou, he frowned and thought to himself: Xuzhou is flooded? How come I didn't receive any news about it?

Chen Tongyu suddenly realized that Zheng Luoqi was deliberately testing Xue Huaiyu on stage, and judging from Xue Huaiyu's reaction, he had obviously been seen through.

Chen Tongyu inwardly cried out in alarm. He knew that if this imposter's identity were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Lord Zheng, when did Xuzhou experience flooding?" Chen Tongyu's heart tightened, and he immediately reminded the person on the stage.

As soon as Chen Tongyu finished speaking, Zheng Luoqi chimed in with a grin:

"Oh~ Your Majesty seems to have misremembered. I don't recall mentioning the flood in Xuzhou in the memorial!"

Because Xuzhou didn't experience any flooding, Zheng Luoqi didn't say the last sentence aloud.

At this moment, Zheng Luoqi's eyes were full of mockery, as if she had gotten a satisfactory answer after testing the waters.

Xue Huaiyu, sitting on the dragon throne, had already realized that Zheng Luoqi had just been testing him.

His eyes were fixed on Zheng Luoqi, not daring to relax for a moment, for fear that Zheng Luoqi's next words would throw out a question that would easily expose his identity.

Xue Huaiyu tried to keep his voice steady, then chuckled twice and said, "Hehe, Minister Zheng, I have been feeling a little unwell these days, and my mind has been somewhat hazy."

"So this memorial hasn't been reviewed for quite some time now; I must have misremembered!"

Beside him, Chen Xianlin had a layer of fine sweat on her forehead, and her heart was beating faster. She gestured to Xue Huaiyu to change the subject.

After receiving Chen Xianlin's hint, Xue Huaiyu adjusted his posture slightly, cleared his throat, and deliberately made his voice sound more authoritative before saying, "Minister Zheng, do you know your crime?"

Upon seeing this, Zheng Luoqi smiled faintly and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and would be grateful for Your Majesty's guidance."

Xue Huaiyu was about to punish Zheng Luoqi directly when he suddenly heard Chen Xianlin cough slightly.

Xue Huaiyu immediately understood, thought for a moment, and then changed his tone, speaking with a hint of anger:

"You, the dignified Censor-in-Chief, dare to impeach Her Majesty the Empress with only a prescription and unfounded suspicions!"

"What are you trying to do? Rebel?"

Upon hearing this, the assembled officials all knelt down and cried out, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Chen Xianlin sat next to him, watching the officials kneeling in submission below, and was quite satisfied, unconsciously curling the corners of her lips into a smile.

When Chen Xianlin received the news that Zheng Luoqi had joined forces with other ministers to impeach her, she panicked for a moment, but then she thought about it again and felt that this was a good opportunity.

If she continues to sit idly by and wait for her fate, she may truly face certain death.

Chen Xianlin knew very well that this move was too risky, and if she was not careful, Zheng Luoqi would see through it.

But since things had come to this point, she had no other choice but to hope that this move could temporarily stabilize the situation and perhaps even take the opportunity to remove Zheng Luoqi from his official post!

After all, Zheng Luoqi has always been a troublemaker. If the older generation can't handle him, how could she not handle the younger one?

If Zheng Luoqi continues her investigation like this, she and the Chen family will probably be completely finished.

"Lord Zheng, I have heard that you suspect me of plotting against the Emperor, and even of intending to rebel!"

"Do you know that you have slandered me without any evidence? This is a capital offense!" Chen Xianlin's questioning voice echoed in the hall.

Her gaze was piercing as she stared directly at Zheng Luoqi. "You think you can convict me based on just a prescription? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"

Chen Tongyu, who was sitting in the audience, saw all of this. He never expected that Chen Xianlin and Shan Yan would act so presumptuously and take such a dangerous step.

This trick is far too easy to see through; it's practically playing with fire and getting burned.

Zheng Luoqi did not reply to Chen Xianlin. He knew that Chen Xianlin had come to confront him.

Zheng Luoqi didn't intend to give her the chance to confront him.

Just as everyone was waiting for Zheng Luoqi's answer, Zheng Luoqi quickly pulled out a silver needle and flew it towards Xue Huaiyu on the stage without hesitation!

This silver needle is an essential item for Zheng Luoqi when she goes out to attend various dinner parties.

She usually uses this silver needle to test for poison or as a weapon. Of course, she can also use it to pick locks!

Zheng Luoqi has already investigated this mountain dam; it belongs to a martial arts expert, a master of disguise, and his martial arts skills are not low either.

At this moment, with the mountain dam right in front of them, it was the best time to take action. They had the physical evidence, and the fake Xue Huaiyu in front of them was the best witness.

When Xue Huaiyu saw Zheng Luoqi make a move, he instinctively dodged to the side. The silver needle grazed Xue Huaiyu's cheek with lightning speed and then stuck straight into the dragon throne behind him.

The silver needle pierced the fake skin on Xue Huaiyu's face. Because the fake skin was pierced, the real skin underneath was also not spared and was also cut with a thin, long gash.

In an instant, blood seeped from the wound and slowly flowed down Xue Huaiyu's cheek.