Chapter 153:

Shen Layue observed their affected expressions with a cold snort.

They’ve healed from their wounds but forgotten the pain, huh? If they hadn’t experienced Consort An’s misfortune themselves, they still wouldn’t care at all, right?

She turned her face stern: “Jinxin, expel them all from this palace. I don’t understand—without any evidence, they come here to interrogate me. Without rules, there can be no order. Are the rules really that a low-ranking consort can question a higher-ranking one? It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Seeing how unyielding Shen Layue was, Consort Hui’s expression changed too.

“I’d like to see who dares to expel me.”

“Consort Fu has arrived!” Fu Jinyan had heard about the situation and hurried over.

“Greetings to Noble Consort Shen and Consort Hui.”

“Rise.” Though Shen Layue spoke, her tone was not pleasant. Witnessing this tense atmosphere, Fu Jinyan felt heavy-hearted.

She knew it must be her elder sister causing trouble again.

“Sister, when I heard something happened here, I thought I’d come to check. I heard the incident happened outside Qing’an Palace. Why have you come to bother Noble Consort Shen?”

Worried her words might be too vague, Fu Jinyan spoke rather directly, emphasizing particularly on “outside Qing’an Palace.”

Fu Jinyan snorted coldly and refused to be persuaded: “Since when has a mere consort gained the right to meddle in such matters?”

Fu Jinyan wasn’t surprised by the rebuke.

She tugged at Fu Jinmo’s sleeve: “It’s my fault for overstepping, but in the palace, one should have both the person and evidence before making accusations. Sister, please don’t act rashly and fall into someone else’s trap.”

While speaking, she glanced meaningfully at Li Yanran, clearly aware that Li was no simple character.

“Yunlan, strike her mouth! Who allowed you to speak so recklessly here?”

At this command, not only Li Yanran but even Shen Layue was taken aback.

Fu Jinyan, however, remained calm: “Sister…”

Her tone implied much.

“Yunlan—”

Reluctantly, Yunlan approached the third young lady.

“What are you doing?”

A deep voice suddenly rang out.

It was Emperor Jing.

Actually, it wasn’t surprising. The emperor visited Qing’an Palace almost daily; even if he didn’t summon Noble Consort Shen for the night, he would still come to see the children.

Before long, Fu Jinmo had finished recounting the incident in detail.

Shen Layue watched her coldly.

After she finished speaking, Layue smiled and asked: “Consort Hui, between you and I, who holds the higher rank?”

Fu Jinmo bit her lip, feeling humiliated, and gazed tearfully at the emperor.

After a long pause, realizing the emperor had no intention of speaking up for her, she angrily yet still responded: “Of course it’s Noble Consort who holds the higher rank, but since I was entrusted with managing palace affairs, I naturally must seek justice for Lady Yanran.”

Layue didn’t argue further but continued: “Then may I ask, Consort Hui, do you have any evidence—witnesses or physical proof—that can link Dan’er’s death to me?”

Consort Hui angrily replied: “The body was found at the back gate of Qing’an Palace.”

“I said, evidence,” Layue reminded with a smile.

At this, she had no reply. Yet confident in the emperor’s affection, she tearfully turned to him: “Your Majesty, please judge fairly. The body was discovered at the rear gate of Qing’an Palace, and Lady Yanran clearly saw a suspicious figure near the palace last night. I was merely carrying out my duty. I toil daily over palace affairs without receiving even a word of praise. I only wish to ease the Empress Dowager’s burdens, but now I’m being blamed instead?”

She snorted coldly.

“Without any proof, you raise a huge fuss and intrude upon a noble consort’s quarters. You’re just an ordinary consort, yet so bold. If the body had been found near Xuanning Hall, would you dare accuse the emperor himself? Without a shred of evidence, you still dare act so self-righteously. I never knew how Fu Xiang could raise you to be so insufferably arrogant, not even worthy of a single hair from your elder sister.”

The emperor was exceptionally skilled at cutting deep into one’s heart. After such words, Fu Jinmo’s face had turned deathly pale, but he didn’t stop.

“If you feel overwhelmed, then perhaps it’s better to return all palace affairs to Noble Consort Shen. After all, you’re merely a consort.” The emperor didn’t even look at Fu Jinmo, instead fixing his gaze on Shen Layue.

Fu Jinmo had intended only to let the emperor understand her plight, never expecting to lose her authority over palace affairs. She staggered back a few steps.

Layue spoke leisurely: “Please, Your Majesty, reconsider. Otherwise, if someone else ends up dead outside Qing’an Palace in the future, everyone will blame me for wielding too much power.”

The emperor looked at her delicate face and smiled.

“Nonsense. You’re the current Noble Consort, the highest among the four consorts. These affairs naturally belong to you. Consort Hui has held the interim role too long. Since she feels she can’t handle it, returning the authority is only appropriate.” The emperor spoke casually, yet his words carried heavy implications.

The word “return” alone made clear her previously illegitimate position.

Looking at the gathered women, the emperor continued more lightly: “Why is Consort Fu here, anyway?”

Fu Jinyan curtsied slightly and replied: “Your Majesty, upon hearing my sister was here, I thought I’d come to check.”

The emperor didn’t mention Yunlan’s raised hand moments ago, and Fu Jinyan wisely said nothing either.

“This is Qing’an Palace, not the imperial garden. I didn’t realize you all treated it as such.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Jinyan quickly knelt to apologize. Seeing her sister Fu Jinmo still looking smug, she sighed inwardly. With such poor judgment, even her utmost effort wouldn’t help.

She tugged at Consort Hui’s sleeve, but the latter remained unmoved.

Though the gesture was subtle, the emperor still noticed.

He looked at the Fu sisters with a half-smile.

Li Yanran, realizing the situation had gone beyond expectations, quickly knelt down with appropriate timing.

Seeing this, the emperor grew even more displeased. Compared to the Fu sisters, he disliked Li Yanran even more.

“Li Guiren, since you noticed someone suspicious, why didn’t you call the guards to catch them on the spot? According to your account, it was near Qing’an Palace. Surely the eunuchs guarding the palace wouldn’t have stood by idly. Instead, you sent a maid, which doesn’t make sense at all, does it?”

Li Yanran had already prepared her response.

With a pitiful expression, she said: “At that time, we were still some distance from Qing’an Palace. I thought it best not to alert the suspicious figure and also considered that if we were mistaken, we could pretend nothing happened.”

“Li Guiren, you sure trust your maid. Since you noticed something suspicious, you sent just one fragile girl instead. If you had called for help last night, perhaps Dan’er wouldn’t have died,” Shen Layue coldly mocked.

Though she knew the emperor would handle the matter, Layue still offered her subtle sarcasm.

She couldn’t rely on the emperor for every issue. If one day he no longer protected her, she’d once again become an easy target. It was better to take advantage of her current favor and establish a strong presence. Even if she lost favor later, others would still hesitate to provoke her.

Li Yanran bit her lip and knelt there, secretly furious. She had been the victim, yet now seemed to have ulterior motives.

Watching Layue sternly reprimanding others, the emperor smiled slightly.

“If you indeed saw someone suspicious and recognized them, Li Guiren, please describe their features.”

Li Yanran hadn’t clearly seen the suspicious figure’s face last night, but based on the clothing and figure, she was certain it was a palace maid.

“I didn’t see the face clearly, but I’m sure it was a palace maid.”

“Since Consort Hui believes the person died at Qing’an Palace’s back gate and thus links it to me, I’d better not investigate myself to avoid suspicion. After all, some people in the palace only believe what benefits them, not what doesn’t. Your Majesty, I request you assign someone suitable to thoroughly investigate this matter. Not necessarily to clear my name, but at least to silence those who stir up trouble unnecessarily.”

The emperor hadn’t expected his little Yue’er to become so sharp-tongued, but he found it amusing.

With a mere thought, he smiled.

“Since Noble Consort feels so wronged, we certainly can’t let this slide. How about this? Let Consort Fu handle the investigation. I believe few in the palace can be fairer and more appropriate than her.”

The emperor didn’t even consider the other consorts still holding the rank of Imperial Concubine. Assigning Fu Jinyan to the task was itself a subtle slap to Fu Jinmo.

Layue now clearly saw how formidable Emperor Jing was. He was truly skilled at delivering humiliating blows. Once favored, but now, without any lingering affection, he wouldn’t hesitate to discard someone.

On second thought, perhaps there had never been any genuine affection. Maybe they were all just tools for his pleasure.

“Your Majesty’s humble servant obeys.” Although Fu Jinyan knew accepting this task would be difficult, she couldn’t refuse.

Once everything settled, everyone departed.

With no one else around, Layue naturally dropped her icy demeanor and cheerfully asked the emperor: “Would Your Majesty like some dessert?”

The emperor shook his head: “Later, I’ll have them return the palace affairs to you. Although it might be troublesome, you can’t keep avoiding responsibilities entirely.”

Layue pulled his hand and sat down, pouting: “Now that I handle nothing, there are still so many troubles. If I took on more, there would be even more problems. Your Majesty is making me uncomfortable!”

This was somewhat bold, but considering palace affairs, it was better to stay uninvolved. After all, appearing power-hungry wasn’t good, especially with her young children.

When the children grew older, handling such matters would be more appropriate.

“You always think too much, yet you never admit it. If you feel overwhelmed, you have many trustworthy subordinates. Delegate tasks to them. Some matters are simply different in your hands versus others’. You’re the Noble Consort; no one in the harem holds a higher rank than you. There’s no need to worry too much about everything.”

These words were indeed reasonable.