Wanyue was hastily led into the grand hall by Liang Jiugong, her delicate face betraying no surprise, as if she already understood the situation.
As Wanyue entered, countless eyes turned toward her. Though her heart remained calm, her steps faltered slightly, and a trace of unease flickered across her expression. She knelt, first paying respects to the masters above her, then murmured in a low voice, "It is true."
Silence once again fell over Cining Palace. A tense atmosphere thickened, engulfing Consort Hui, who stood frozen in shock.
"March twenty-seventh? The Imperial Hospital has records?"
How could this be?
"Anyone could have taken that ointment. Who’s to say you and your mistress aren’t conspiring to deceive me? What if someone in Yongshou Palace was injured, or if Noble Consort Liang herself was hurt?" Consort Hui, consumed by fury, forced herself to remain composed. Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke, "Yin Si is just a child, too young to understand. He could easily be manipulated. Now, black can be called white, and white can be called black… If you insist on framing me, what can I do?"
She spoke with unwavering conviction, praying that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor would see her innocence.
She knew nothing of the bruises—she had been clearly set up!
Her righteous demeanor made it difficult to judge her guilt, and even the furious Empress Dowager felt a flicker of doubt.
Wanyue had served the Noble Consort long before entering the palace, a senior maid who had weathered many storms.
Remembering the Noble Consort’s instructions before her departure, Wanyue kowtowed again and addressed Consort Hui calmly, "Your Highness, even if I had the audacity of the heavens, I would never dare to falsely accuse you. Because the Eighth Prince is so young, the Noble Consort specifically instructed me to fetch a mild ointment for delicate skin. Tell me, how could an adult use such a thing?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Noble Consort Liang wiped her reddened eyes and softly added, "If Your Highness doubts me, search the chest at the foot of my bed! Half the ointment remains. Let the imperial physicians examine it—truth will be revealed."
The Crown Prince, holding Yin Si’s hand, felt a surge of anger.
Only half the ointment left…
How dare those wretched servants!
Kangxi spoke coolly, "Summon the records from the Imperial Hospital and the physician on duty. Also, retrieve the ointment from Noble Consort Liang’s chambers."
No one dared delay. With a glance from Liang Jiugong, the attending eunuchs scurried out of the hall as if fleeing ghosts.
Soon, the panting physician arrived, and the records and ointment were presented before the Emperor.
After catching his breath, the physician carefully opened the jar, sniffed its contents, then dipped a finger in and examined it. After a long pause, he reported, "Your Majesties, this ointment has solidified—it must be at least six months old. It is mild in nature, specifically formulated for treating injuries in young children, as their delicate skin cannot tolerate harsher remedies…"
At these words, Consort Hui’s vision darkened. Her nails dug into her palms as she realized her fate was sealed.
How?
Had Yin Si truly been injured?
Why hadn’t the nursemaid reported it?!
She nearly choked on her rage, her gaze sharp enough to flay the bound servants alive. Traitors!
While Consort Hui was ignorant, the head nursemaid trembled violently.
Like a bolt from the blue, she suddenly remembered the events around March twenty-seventh—the end of the third month.
That day, the Eldest Prince had carried the Eighth Prince, proudly telling Consort Hui how he had surpassed the Crown Prince in archery… Then, the Eighth Prince had knocked his waist against a table corner, crying for nearly half an hour!
That night, she had checked his back—only a faint bruise, barely visible under lamplight. It hadn’t seemed serious enough for medicine, so she dismissed it.
For the next three days, she had only wiped his hands and feet, neglecting a full bath…
Had the injury worsened the next day?
…
The nursemaid stopped protesting her innocence.
What could she do? Tell the truth to the Emperor, exonerate herself, and admit the Eldest Prince’s negligence had caused this?
No. Impossible.
If she alone died, so be it. But if she implicated the Eldest Prince, Consort Hui would never spare her family outside the palace.
Her face drained of color. The words "Eldest Prince" lodged in her throat, unspoken.
"This servant is guilty," she collapsed, murmuring, "I confess… I should not have been so negligent. I should not have."
…
With witnesses, evidence, and the nursemaid’s confession, even the Empress Dowager could no longer doubt.
If Noble Consort Liang and the Noble Consort had conspired against Consort Hui, why wait seven or eight months to expose it?
How could they have predicted Yin Si’s disappearance today?
Too many coincidences ceased to be coincidental.
The ointment could not be faked, nor could the Imperial Hospital’s records. The Empress Dowager’s face darkened, her prayer beads stilling. Weariness lined her aged features as she sighed, "Consort Hui, you have been foolish."
A missing prince was grave enough—who could have imagined Yin Si had suffered such abuse? Even if Noble Consort Liang came from humble origins and Yin Si had been raised by Consort Hui since birth, he was still imperial blood. How dare servants mistreat him!
As a foster mother, to be so neglectful, to fail in disciplining her household—how could she deserve to be called "Mother" by the child?
Kangxi had remained silent for a long time, his phoenix eyes stormy even before Wanyue’s testimony.
Now, he gazed deeply at Consort Hui and sighed, "What a devoted mother you are. Your care for Yinti is beyond question; you dote on Moyaqi with every thought. But Yin Si? Because he lives in Yanxi Palace, you wash your hands of him, allowing servants to abuse him?"
Though he did not raise his voice, his disappointment was palpable. Consort Hui’s heart seized with terror.
If only the Emperor still valued her merits, if only she could keep Yin Si…
She drew a deep breath, struggling to maintain her usual dignity. With a bitter smile, she said, "Your Majesty, this is all my fault! Lately, palace affairs have overwhelmed me. Preparing for the Fifth Princess’s full moon celebration exhausted me, and in my fatigue, I neglected the Eighth Prince. I never imagined the servants would dare…"
Her voice trembled with remorse as she bowed deeply. "Punish me as you see fit."
Yunxiu adjusted her azure nail guard and smiled faintly. Consort Hui was skilled at deflecting blame—but skill did not guarantee success. What if it backfired?
Kangxi’s expression darkened further, his disappointment deepening. The Empress Dowager exhaled heavily and spoke first.
"If palace duties consume you, then you have no time to care for Yin Si. Emperor, let this old one decide—allow Noble Consort Liang to raise her son temporarily. The two shall move out of Yanxi Palace and reside in the side hall of Cining Palace. What say you?"
The two instances of the word "temporary" almost explicitly indicated that Noble Consort Liang was being reserved for a future promotion to the rank of consort.
Even if it was irregular at present, no one would dare oppose the oral decree personally issued by the Grand Empress Dowager. The only one who wished to object, Consort Hui, dared not speak up and could only swallow her bitterness with a pale face.
Hearing this, Yunxiu was momentarily taken aback.
That the Eighth Prince was returned to his birth mother was within her expectations. But moving to a side hall of Cining Palace… while it was a good arrangement for the Eighth Prince, it might not be so for Noble Consort Liang.
The Grand Empress Dowager resided in Cining Palace, and if the Emperor wished to summon Noble Consort Liang for his favor, he would first have to pass the Grand Empress Dowager’s scrutiny—this was effectively cutting off her chances of receiving imperial favor.
She raised her brows slightly and glanced at Noble Consort Liang.
Those misty almond eyes were filled with contentment and delight, without a trace of unwillingness. After observing her for a long while, Yunxiu suddenly understood—no wonder the Imperial Noble Consort had sought her out. It was because of her temperament.
Like Consort Cheng, her heart was entirely devoted to her son, but while Consort Cheng was more resolute, Noble Consort Liang was gentler.
In the dream, Noble Consort Liang—later Consort Liang, Mrs. Wei—had been an invisible figure in the palace before the Eighth Prince rose to prominence. Later, when the "Virtuous Prince" wielded immense power, the Emperor bestowed honors upon his birth mother, promoting her first to consort and then to noble consort. Yet Yunxiu had never heard of Mrs. Wei behaving arrogantly.
Noble Consort Liang was beautiful, but after the birth of the Eighth Prince, the Emperor’s favor toward her waned. Even after she was promoted to noble consort, he rarely visited her.
Setting aside her status, part of the reason was the fading of her youth. But now, Noble Consort Liang was still in the bloom of her beauty…
At this thought, Yunxiu withdrew her gaze and turned toward Kangxi, watching with leisurely amusement.
...
Much time had passed since that vivid dream. Yunxiu had gradually grown indifferent to the Emperor’s favor, able to suppress the discomfort in her heart and no longer treating it as a matter of importance.
As for the usual jealousies and occasional fits of pique—how much was genuine and how much was pretense, she knew best.
Would the Emperor feel regret at being unable to see Noble Consort Liang?
—Yet Kangxi’s expression remained impassive, showing not the slightest ripple of emotion.
As if sensing Yunxiu’s gaze, the Emperor turned slightly and met her eyes. The anger in his gaze faded somewhat, and after a moment, a faint smile appeared.
His expression seemed to say he had been waiting for her to look his way, and now that she had, he was satisfied. Then he turned away and resumed his stern demeanor.
Yunxiu: "..."
The Grand Empress Dowager spoke again, seeking confirmation. Kangxi gave an almost imperceptible nod and said, "Issue the decree. It shall be done as the Grand Empress Dowager commands."
"Take those insolent servants away and throw them into the Punishment Bureau." As he spoke, he cast a cold glance at Consort Hui, who stood pale and unsteady. "Consort Hui, née Nala, has failed in discipline and upbringing. She is to forfeit half a year’s stipend as a warning. Furthermore, the Tenth Prince’s full moon ceremony approaches… You should also reorganize palace affairs and hand them over to the Imperial Noble Consort, especially critical matters like the imperial kitchens, so as not to be caught unprepared. Do you not agree?"
Reading the faint mockery in the Emperor’s words and considering the nature of the punishment, Consort Hui felt a bitter surge rise to her head.
Losing her stipend was nothing—merely a blow to her pride. But handing over palace affairs to the Imperial Noble Consort… this was a disguised stripping of her authority!
The Emperor had ultimately grown dissatisfied with her.
Consort Hui burned with fury at the thought of falling into the Imperial Noble Consort’s scheme today, losing Yin Si as an ally, and having to relinquish power to her in the future. Resentment and hatred churned in her heart.
And then there was Consort Yi, that immovable obstacle. Even though she had tied Mrs. Guoluoluo to the same boat, Consort Hui felt no joy in it.
Joy followed by sorrow—how absurd!
She forced a smile. "Your Majesty is absolutely right. This consort… accepts the punishment."
After returning to the palace, Yunxiu enjoyed her midday meal in high spirits and prepared to visit Yongshou Palace to share the morning’s amusing events with the Imperial Noble Consort. Just then, Liang Jiugong hurried in to pay his respects.
"Chief Steward Liang." Seeing him alone without attendants and not appearing to deliver rewards, Yunxiu asked, "What is it?"
"His Majesty was reviewing memorials when he suddenly sent this servant rushing to Yikun Palace," Liang Jiugong said in a hushed voice, his expression complicated. "This servant has an oral decree to convey…"
At this, Yunxiu straightened her expression, while Nanny Dong and the others held their breaths and bowed their heads respectfully.
"The Emperor says—"
Liang Jiugong cleared his throat, then suppressed a wince as he recited: "In my view, Mrs. Wei is far inferior to you."
