Chapter 538: Chapter 538 Yangzhou Thin Horse

Lady Guoyue was terrified by Zhan Lan’s words, if Zhan Lan exposed the matter, how could she face the world in the future!

The common people already had many speculations about Emperor Xuanwu and Lady Guoyue, and now upon hearing that the Empress knew the inner secrets, they all perked up their ears to listen.

Zhan Lan stated word by word: “The palace records state that Emperor Xuanwu never gave the Death Exemption Token to anyone.”

Lady Guoyue’s heart was in turmoil; she hadn’t expected the palace records to actually have such matters noted.

Zhan Lan continued, “However, there is a record stating: Emperor Xuanwu once favored a slim horse from Yangzhou, a woman named Zhang Ningying… granted the title Lady Guoyue.”

Lady Guoyue’s face changed greatly, Zhan Lan actually publicly spoke of the scandal between her and Emperor Xuanwu.

This matter had already passed many years ago, it was from before Emperor Xuanwu embarked on the path of cultivation.

Since Emperor Xuanwu started cultivating, he never came to find her again.

She had already changed her name and surname, no one knew she had once been a slim horse from Yangzhou, how did Zhan Lan find out?

How terrifying is this woman!

The common people were shocked, like fish in a pond when bait was thrown, they all swarmed up, whispering to each other.

“So, Emperor Xuanwu favored Lady Guoyue, her true identity is a disreputable slim horse from Yangzhou, unable to be brought into the palace, thus kept outside, and titled Lady Guoyue!”

“Heavens, my eyes are opened now. In his youth, Emperor Xuanwu was so indulgent, not only did he have an illegitimate child Si Jun with Jiangnan’s famous prostitute Su Xiaoxiao, but also kept a slim horse from Yangzhou outside the palace!”

“So it seems Emperor Xuanwu is too disappointing, just now the Empress said what merits the late emperor had, honestly, we can’t think of any!”

“Yes, if we must say merits, it’s that he made Nanjin decline day by day, achieving today’s Dayu!”

The voices of the people’s discussions were not loud, but some reached Zhao Xin’s ears.

He sighed, never thought Emperor Xuanwu even kept a slim horse from Yangzhou, it was simply a disgrace to the Imperial Family!

Lady Guoyue holding the Death Exemption Token felt increasingly uneasy, besides Emperor Xuanwu keeping her outside the palace, she was also afraid Zhan Lan would pursue how she obtained the Death Exemption Token.

Xu Chun glanced at Lady Guoyue, no wonder his godmother was so alluring and captivating, turns out this woman had once been a slim horse from Yangzhou.

His heart faltered, the Empress just said Emperor Xuanwu had never bestowed a Death Exemption Token to anyone, what did that mean?

Could it be that the Death Exemption Token in Lady Guoyue’s hand is a fake!

Thinking of this, he couldn’t stop trembling all over, was he doomed?

The next moment, Zhan Lan stared at the Death Exemption Token in Lady Guoyue’s hand and said, “Lady Guoyue, should I reveal the origin of your Death Exemption Token?”

Hearing this, Lady Guoyue felt as if struck by lightning, her vision darkened, and she fainted on the spot.

“Wake her up!” Zhan Lan commanded.

Several eunuchs stepped forward and slapped Lady Guoyue’s face until she finally awoke.

Zhan Lan looked at Little Anzi, Little Anzi had come to Fengqi Palace in the afternoon, Little Anzi was indeed perceptive, understanding the master’s intention, she truly wanted to give Lady Guoyue’s foul mouth a good slap!

“Empress, have mercy!” Lady Guoyue, with a swollen face and missing a tooth, pleaded incoherently, “I was wrong, I will confess everything.”

She wiped away her tears, no longer retaining her former arrogant demeanor, she knelt on the ground respectfully speaking, “Report to the Empress, back then the late emperor favored me… oh no, favored this humble servant, sometimes he would spend the night with this humble servant, one night the late emperor gifted this Death Exemption Token to this humble servant when he was pleased, but the late emperor was drunk that day, seemingly not remembering this matter!”

Lady Guoyue had humbled herself to the extreme, pleasing Zhan Lan, only now realizing Zhan Lan’s terrifying nature.

Zhan Lan could gradually pierce through one’s psychological defense, making people dare not act rashly.

Watching Lady Guoyue’s excellent acting, she narrated as if it were the truth.

Zhan Lan suddenly realized, saying, “The palace records note, the late emperor once lost the Death Exemption Token, and secretly searched but never found it, so you stole it!”

The people were shocked once again, Lady Guoyue had such audacity, she had taken a stolen Death Exemption Token to flaunt and deceive!

Upon hearing Zhan Lan’s words, Lady Guoyue moved her knees on the ground, continuously begging before Zhan Lan, “No, it’s not like that, it was given to me by the late emperor!”

“Could the palace records be false!” Zhan Lan pushed away Lady Guoyue who was clutching her hem.

Lady Guoyue collapsed on the ground, changing her statement, “I didn’t steal it, the late emperor placed it in my residence!”

Zhan Lan’s words left her unable to refute, yet she hadn’t fully told the truth. Back then, she seized the opportunity when Emperor Xuanwu was drunk and secretly hid the Death Exemption Token.

That day, the two of them had privately visited many places, upon awakening Emperor Xuanwu couldn’t recall exactly where he lost the Death Exemption Token.

Originally, regarding the matter of the Death Exemption Token, she thought she executed it so perfectly that no one would know, unexpectedly, Zhan Lan knew all the inside details.

However, the incident of Emperor Xuanwu losing the Death Exemption Token was a major event, back then Emperor Xuanwu, young and impulsive, lingering with her through the night, plus he had just ascended the throne, Emperor Xuanwu also feared the old ministers knowing about it, she suddenly remembered Emperor Xuanwu had told her: this matter was not recorded in the records!

How did the Empress know?

The more Lady Guoyue thought, the more it seemed wrong, she thought of a possibility, instantly her hair stood on end.

Zhan Lan was bluffing her!

She suddenly raised her eyes to see Zhan Lan looking down at her, that gaze seemingly already in control of everything.

In fact, Zhan Lan knew a lot of palace secrets from the previous life, but she only knew Lady Guoyue was the slim horse kept outside the palace by Emperor Xuanwu.

Regarding the Death Exemption Token, it was entirely her understanding of Emperor Xuanwu that led her to judge.

Firstly, with Emperor Xuanwu’s suspicious and paranoid nature, he wouldn’t easily give the Death Exemption Token to anyone, for it would shatter his imperial dignity when he wanted to kill.

Secondly, Emperor Xuanwu deeply valued his reputation, he deliberately concealed Si Jun’s identity to avoid the scandal of Jiangnan’s famous prostitute Su Xiaoxiao bearing his child being known.

With such a love for his reputation and concern for his legacy, how could Emperor Xuanwu possibly give such an important Death Exemption Token to a slim horse from Yangzhou!

Absolutely impossible!

Moreover, Lady Guoyue dared to take out the Death Exemption Token only after Emperor Xuanwu’s death, clearly showing that Emperor Xuanwu was unaware of her stealing the Death Exemption Token!

Zhan Lan’s gaze gradually darkened, Lady Guoyue, Xu Family, dared to insult Li Sui’s family, she would not easily forgive!