Chapter 189:

“I’m fine. My allergy has gone. However, we must identify the person with ill intentions. Otherwise, people might say I fabricated this incident to frame other concubines.”

There was a hint of displeasure in her tone.

Everyone understood these words were directed at Consort Hui and turned their gazes toward her.

By now, she had moved to the other side, indicating she had already been cleared of suspicion.

After hearing her words, Emperor Jing’s expression turned cold: “You’re talking about the Empress. Even if they lacked proper decorum, it wouldn’t be excessive to have them executed. Why would there be a need for framing? Anyone who dares to speak like this must be extremely foolish.”

Emperor Jing glanced downward.

Seeing Fu Jinyao’s grim expression, he knew immediately that she must have spoken those words.

He looked at everyone present and said slowly and clearly: “Since Yue’er is the Empress, she need not hold back in anything she does. I grant her full authority to manage the affairs of the inner palace. No one has the right to question her. If anyone fails to observe proper decorum and even shows disrespect toward the Empress, this palace is clearly not suitable for them to remain in.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s trust,” Layue expressed her gratitude.

Emperor Jing reached out and gently stroked her hair in front of everyone: “You are my first wife. Naturally, you are different from them.”

He suddenly paused in his movements and turned to look at Imperial Physician Lin, giving instructions: “Conduct a thorough examination of their hair as well.”

Upon hearing this, the person who committed the crime felt a jolt of alarm. However, she soon regained some composure, confident that nothing would be found.

Layue had never expected Emperor Jing to say such words—calling her his first wife, his original bride.

Strangely, she felt her heart race.

It seemed as if she had been waiting for this sentence for a very long time.

She bit her lip and looked at Emperor Jing, her delicate face filled with emotion.

If a woman loves a man, he might feel flattered but not necessarily reciprocate. However, if a man loves a woman and continuously treats her with utmost kindness, the woman will inevitably be moved.

How could she not be moved, when she was naturally a woman easily touched by emotions?

Unexpectedly, Emperor Jing recalled this saying.

He pulled Layue into his arms and looked at everyone present.

His display of affection made the women present want to tear their handkerchiefs in frustration, but what could they do? At this moment, they might not even be able to protect themselves.

The examination proceeded slowly but meticulously, with each person needing to be checked only once.

Not only the consorts themselves, but also the palace maids accompanying them were thoroughly inspected.

As the majority of the consorts had already been examined without finding the culprit, many people were puzzled and couldn’t understand what was happening.

At this point, no one suspected the Empress of fabricating the incident.

The Emperor’s strong support for the Empress herself spoke volumes.

As everyone was anxiously pondering, Cuiwen stepped forward and reported to the Emperor and Empress: “Your Majesties, I discovered traces of rare flower powder on this maid’s hair.”

The Emperor looked in that direction.

It was Qiqiao, the senior maid accompanying Consort An.

Qiqiao was pulled out, and the examination of others continued. Indeed, only her hair contained the pollen.

Upon seeing this, Consort An immediately realized that she and her maid had fallen into someone else’s trap and quickly knelt down together.

“Your Majesty, please see clearly. Your servant and my maid are innocent! Someone must have framed us, framed us!”

The Emperor’s face remained cold: “Since you claim to be framed, then tell me who framed you.”

Consort An couldn’t answer, but she kept pleading to Layue: “Your Majesty the Empress, please see clearly! You know my character. I would never do such a thing!”

Fu Jinyao coldly snorted nearby: “Earlier, who was so confrontational? Who was that?”

This remark further condemned Consort An.

Consort An ignored Fu Jinyao and kept looking at Shen Layue: “Your Majesty the Empress, please see clearly!”

Shen Layue glanced at the Emperor and saw that he showed no reaction, understanding that he was waiting for her opinion.

She smiled slightly.

Then she spoke: “Since you claim to be wrongfully accused, you must provide evidence. Why does your maid have this substance in her hair?”

At this point, Qiqiao was already terrified, fully aware of the consequences of being caught.

Hearing the Empress’s question, she immediately prostrated herself and kowtowed: “I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it at all. Even if I had the courage of ten thousand men, I wouldn’t dare commit such an act. My hair, my hair—” Qiqiao desperately racked her brain and suddenly turned her gaze toward Li Yanran.

“Your Majesty the Empress, it was Shuang’er, it was Concubine Li, Concubine Li Yanran!”

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gazes toward Li Yanran, who immediately knelt down with a “thud.” Her senior maid, Shuang’er, also knelt beside her.

“I have no idea what’s going on. This matter has nothing to do with me!”

Shen Layue looked at Qiqiao: “Since you claim it’s Concubine Li, what’s your reasoning?”

Qiqiao glared fiercely at Shuang’er: “Shuang’er and I have had a good relationship since she entered the palace. She is sweet-tongued and often gives me small gifts. A few days ago, she gave me a new bottle of hair oil, which I used for the first time today. I never expected her to harbor such malicious intentions. It was her, it must have been her.”

Meanwhile, Shuang’er kept pleading her innocence, claiming she had given gifts but definitely did not add any rare flower powder.

The situation became chaotic, with accusations flying in all directions, except for Concubine Li, who merely wept pitifully, appearing extremely wronged.

“Enough!” Shen Layue had seen enough of their “farce.”

With a stern expression, she spoke: “Since Qiqiao claims the issue lies with the hair oil, Jin Xin, take people to retrieve and examine this item. Qiqiao, you claim innocence, but Shuang’er also claims innocence. At present, we can investigate your claim, but not hers. I have always had great confidence in the interrogation methods of the Ministry of Justice. I wonder, are you willing to go there? If you can endure it, I will believe in your innocence.”

In fact, deep in her heart, Layue believed in Consort An and Qiqiao’s innocence.

Back when they all lived in Chaolu Palace, Layue had studied Qiqiao’s character, knowing her to be someone without deep scheming.

Her sharpness was all on the surface.

It was unlikely for her to devise such a plot, given her personality.

Moreover, Consort An had no reason to do this.

Since losing her child, she had not been particularly eager to compete for the Emperor’s favor. In contrast, Concubine Li was the truly suspicious one.

Upon hearing the mention of the Ministry of Justice, Qiqiao swayed slightly. She knew all too well about their methods. However, looking at her mistress and then at the other pair kneeling in a corner, she steeled her heart: “I am willing.”

Beside her, Shuang’er’s face relaxed slightly upon hearing this, but not enough to escape Layue’s notice.

Layue smiled slightly and turned to Shuang’er: “If Qiqiao, the main suspect, is willing, I suppose Shuang’er won’t refuse either?”

With that, she fixed her gaze directly on Shuang’er.

Shuang’er was stunned, not expecting herself to be included as well.

She began to kowtow violently.

“I am innocent! Qiqiao is deliberately framing me, deliberately!”

Concubine Li naturally understood that if Shuang’er were also sent to the Ministry of Justice, many things would spiral out of control.

“Your Majesty the Empress, please see clearly. My maid and I have no involvement whatsoever. It’s all Qiqiao’s deliberate framing! There is no trace of the rare flower on Shuang’er. If Shuang’er is also sent to the Ministry of Justice, it might be difficult to convince the public. Your Majesty the Empress, please see clearly!”

Seeing that Shen Layue remained unmoved, she hardened her heart: “They are deliberately trying to frame me. If my maid, who has been by my side for many years, must endure such humiliation, I would rather die by dashing against this pillar!”

With that, she rushed toward a nearby pillar.

Guo’er was quick to react, stepping in just as she was about to collide.

Li Yanran crashed into Guo’er, feeling momentarily dizzy but otherwise unharmed.

In this situation, with neither the Emperor nor the Empress speaking, no one else dared to say anything, fearing they might provoke the Emperor’s wrath.

Seeing her actions, Layue understood even more clearly and became even more suspicious of her.

She glanced at the Emperor and found him looking at her.

She gave him a radiant smile.

This smile unexpectedly eased the Emperor’s previously irritated mood.

He spoke leisurely: “Concubine Li’s disrespectful behavior in the court warrants demotion to the rank of Attendant. I would like to ask Attendant Li, how did cooperating with the investigation become such a humiliating ordeal? As for this Shuang’er, I find her even more suspicious than Qiqiao. Since she wishes to prove her innocence, send her to the Ministry of Justice as well. Both Attendant Li and Consort An are to be confined to their quarters. Neither of you is allowed to leave until this matter is thoroughly investigated. You two have caused enough trouble today. Since you enjoy creating chaos so much, I will make this clear: whoever is found responsible for this incident, regardless of who it is, will be given a white silk rope.”

To any discerning observer, the situation was now quite clear.

Both the Emperor and the Empress clearly favored Consort An and her maid. Naturally, this was the impression everyone had formed from observing the entire situation.

It was evident from Qiqiao’s willingness to enter the Ministry of Justice while Li’s side kept evading responsibility that they were more likely the culprits.

Li Yanran had never imagined that her calculated move to feign submission would not only fail but also cause the Emperor to grow weary of her. Thinking about Shuang’er being sent to the Ministry of Justice, she felt overwhelmed with despair.

Past examples had made it clear to everyone that under the harsh interrogation methods of the Ministry of Justice, no matter how loyal one might be, their resolve would eventually crumble.

She swayed unsteadily, her face pale, completely collapsing where she knelt.

In contrast, Consort An appeared somewhat stronger.

She firmly believed that Shen Layue was no fool and would know in her heart who truly intended to harm her. She felt pity for Qiqiao, who would likely suffer.

The Emperor looked at everyone present. His words were not spoken quickly, but they chilled everyone to the bone: “I brought you into the palace not for your beauty, but for your virtuous character. I expected you to assist the Empress in managing the inner palace, not to display your despicable and murderous schemes. I wonder if your fathers and brothers know that the gentle and delicate flowers they cherished since childhood are actually repulsive man-eating plants. There are some things that must not be done in this palace. The Empress and the Princes are my inviolable taboos. If you enjoy causing trouble, I shall send you underground to continue your antics with Consort De and Consort Qi!”