Hidden genius: Black belly snake

The physician observed the wolf cub for a while and then cleared his throat to conclude the diagnosis.

"Your majesty." He bowed. "This pup indeed has been poisoned."

Old elf Nueve then cast a glance at Tang Yue and shook his head disappointedly.

Tang Yue's heartbeat quickened. She already had an inkling as to what was about to come.

And just as she feared, Nueve continued.

"This poison is specific to the serpentine spirit beast clan, a modified variation."

And this single statement from the physician sealed Tang Yue's fate as the culprit without any further doubts.

Loud gasps sounded and everyone looked at Tang Yue with their eyes widened.

Just how dumb can someone be to play a cheap trick like this in front of the Empress?

"YOU!!!" Isabella stiffened. "I didn't believe it completely before! You actually did this?"

"Why are you silent? Now, what do you have to say for yourself? Why did you go as far as to harm an innocent cub?"

Pulling back Isabella, Charlotte asked with a pained expression. "Sister, you really went too far this time. Why did you have to behave like this?"

"Such a nasty woman." Someone else commented.

"Such a cruel-hearted person shouldn't be allowed to remain in his majesty's harem."

"She deserves at least 1000 lashes with the iron whip."

"That would be going lenient. Not even a full lunar cycle has passed yet since she arrived and she has already revealed her true colors."

"These beasts should be banished from the elven lands altogether. This is their true mentality."

With solid evidence in front of them, the group of women started piling up on Tang Yue left and right, going so far as to even implicating the entire serpentine clan.

"Silence." Freya finally spoke, before things turned more chaotic.

She looked at Tang Yue, with unveiled disgust and contempt in her gaze. "Do you admit to your crime?" She asked.

Tang Yue wanted to say many things, but it wouldn't be in her best interests to do so.

She looked at Charlotte, and then at the Empress and calmly mumbled. "Forgive me, your highness. But I cannot accept these charges. I did not do anything wrong."

Hmph. Charlotte rolled her eyes.

She did not like the fact that the snake still showed no signs of fear and panic.

She wanted her to get down on her knees and cry and beg for mercy.

"Everything has been completely exposed and cleanly laid out in front of you! You still dare to deny?!" Isabella shouted in anger.

The audacity of this damned beast!

The Empress, as well, was not pleased with Tang Yue's blithe attitude.

She withdrew her stern gaze from the snake and asked the royal physician. "Are you able to treat the poison?"

"Yes, your majesty." Nueve nodded seriously. "But considering the age of the cub, it's a bit tricky."

"It will take about 10 days to completely remove the poison from the cub's body."

"Ah?! 10 days?! The poor thing will suffer a lot!" Isabella shuddered.

"I beseech you, your majesty. This vile snake also has to suffer in the same manner. Please bring her to justice."

"Mmm. I agree." The Empress nodded. She was also appalled by such a venomous unsightly act.

"Guards, take her to the dungeons." Freya clapped her hands.

"Tang Yue will be imprisoned for ten days, and punished with 1000 lashes daily using the sturdy iron whip."

"You will also be stripped of your consort status and exiled from the elven lands," Freya ordered.

It was not that she was trying to be harsh, but she can't possibly condone a vile act like this, that too something which was done just for the sake of some publicity.

These sort of dirty schemes should be nipped in the bud and punished severely so that others wouldn't dare to do such preposterous deeds in the future.

Isabella nodded and bowed humbly to thank the Empress. She was very satisfied with this punishment!

Standing next to her, Charlotte as well, happily bowed.

Not to mention, she was also very satisfied with this outcome and she didn't even have to get her hands dirty!

Sweet lovelorn Isabella had taken care of almost everything on her own.

But little did Isabella know that Charlotte's plan was far from over.

Later on, Charlotte intended to slowly reveal who the real culprit was and put the entire blame on Isabella herself, thereby striking two birds with one stone.

Then she could perfectly play the role of an aggrieved sister, demanding justice for her friend Tang Yue and exile Isabella as well in the process.

Though the Crown Prince's harem had a total of twenty-two women, there were only a dozen that were truly threatening to her.

As the General's daughter, Charlotte outranked the others easily and was not in the least concerned about them.

It was not as if she was going to share her husband with anyone else.

When she eventually comes back to her queen consort position, the others will probably function as mere lackeys to her.

They will remain consorts for namesake only, while she will be the true Empress.

Charlotte beamed in satisfaction from a job well done and looked towards the snake who was being dragged away with a smug smile.

"Ha ha ha! Don't worry, my dearest ex-sister. These ten days, I will accompany you plenty!"

"I will be there to console you 24-7 and I will be there every day to witness your 1000 lashes!"

"Maybe even hand them out to you myself! Ha Ha Ha."

"I will even escort you personally all the way to the Eldorian boundaries, kicking you out completely, once and for all."

Charlotte chuckled and muttered under her breath for no one to hear.

However, her merry eyes slightly froze as she gazed at the silently disappearing snake.

She rubbed her eyes and looked again.

Were her eyes playing tricks on her? Why did it look like that damned snake was smiling?