The stirring in his heart was but a fleeting moment; Jiang Yuan's eyes soon darkened.
Quan Fuhai, observing the emperor's expression, signaled the imperial guard. This time, the guard's long sword was pointed at the palace maid serving Consort Shu.
The maid's name was Xiao Xiang. After Mingcui's death, and with Diancui and other palace attendants expelled from the palace under various pretexts, Xiao Xiang was newly assigned to serve Consort Shu. To say 'serve' was an overstatement; her role was more about surveillance and control. After all, Consort Shu was a convicted criminal, only retaining her title for the sake of the eldest prince and unable to enjoy the privileges of her rank.
Being assigned to a disgraced consort doomed Xiao Xiang's prospects to gloom. Though resentful, she hadn't dared to mistreat Consort Shu—until Consort Ning approached her.
After pledging loyalty to Consort Ning, Xiao Xiang's task was to open the gates of Chengqian Palace whenever Her Ladyship required, allowing Consong Ning's people to enter and speak with Consort Shu. This originally didn't seem a grave crime, until Yangxue handed Xiao Xiang that pill and ordered her to feed it to Consort Shu.
Watching the sword that had already claimed several lives draw nearer, Xiao Xiang's terror grew.
She knew in her heart that even if she confessed her deeds, she wouldn't survive. Yet, she couldn't help hoping—perhaps her death would be slower? Not like those others who stopped breathing the instant the sword fell.
Xiao Xiang's eyes involuntarily searched the scene for Consort Ning. She wanted to scream that it was all Consort Ning's doing! That Consort Ning had coerced her!
Consort Ning saw Xiao Xiang's impending breakdown and could no longer maintain her facade of composure.
Xiao Xiang must not speak. A flash of ruthlessness crossed Consort Ning's eyes as her gaze fell upon Yangxue's face, and she subtly twisted a string of prayer beads on her wrist.
Yangxue was already weeping profusely. Seeing Consort Ning's gesture, her eyes filled with desperate plea, but she was met only with the harsh severity in Consort Ning's gaze.
Yangxue knew all too well what that gesture meant.
She and Suihe were born servants of the Yang family. Her parents, brothers, and sisters—all were under the Yang household's control. If Her Ladyship's schemes were exposed, her entire family would perish. But if she alone were sacrificed, her family might yet remain safe.
The imperial guard's sword was almost upon Xiao Xiang. Just as Xiao Xiang was about to cry out, Yangxue rose with an air of utter despair, appearing almost deranged.
"Ahhh! Don't kill me! I know nothing! Don't kill me!"
Yangxue wailed hysterically. As Quan Fuhai ordered men to seize her, Yangxue seemed to struggle but then suddenly lunged toward the guard's sword!
"Thud!"
The long sword pierced her heart, and Yangxue's cries ceased abruptly.
"Yangxue!" The composed Consort Ning lost her calm. She stood up, stumbling toward Yangxue's body. The guards moved to block her, but fearing they might actually harm her, they hesitated momentarily—just long enough for Consort Ning to reach Yangxue's corpse.
"Yangxue…" Suihe knelt beside the body, looking as if she wanted to touch it but didn't dare. "Your Ladyship, Yangxue, she… she…"
"Yangxue!" Consort Ning's face contorted in anguish, tears streaming down as if she had lost a beloved kin. She turned a furious gaze toward the Emperor. "Your Majesty, to find the culprit who harmed the Empress, you would not hesitate to kill so many innocent people? If the Empress knew of your methods, would her conscience not be tormented? You speak of seeking justice for Her Majesty, but where is the justice for these palace servants?"
Consort Ning's words sounded like the rash utterances of overwhelming grief, yet the huddled, terrified servants, upon hearing them, began to show expressions of resentment. They had done nothing wrong, yet here they were, facing the threat of death. The Empress's plight was pitiable, but were they, the innocent, not pitiable too?
Jiang Yuan narrowed his eyes. "Consort Ning, return to your place."
He glanced at Quan Fuhai, who immediately stepped forward to assist Consort Ning, only to be shoved away by her.
Consort Ning, who had always cultivated an image of a refined, aloof, and elegant literary talent, now stood with her robes stained with blood, adding a cold, unyielding aura like a plum blossom in a blizzard. Her hairpins askew and hair disheveled, she seemed to care for nothing but demanding justice for her maid.
"Your Majesty, I understand your wish to purge the palace, but is creating such slaughter truly for the best? If word spreads, how will the common people view the imperial family? How will they view you?"
Everyone understood the deeper implication in Consort Ning's words. The massacre of so many servants would undoubtedly cause an uproar in the capital. Once the cause and details spread, the dark secrets of the harem would become fodder for public gossip. Where then would the imperial family's dignity be? Its authority?
Should everyone be allowed to know the harem was such a den of intrigue and deceit?
"Does Your Majesty wish for the people of the realm to call you tyrannical and cruel?"
Consort Ning's question landed with heavy force. Suihe, kneeling on the ground, trembled uncontrollably. She knew Consort Ning was taking a desperate gamble, but if Her Ladyship truly enraged the Emperor, everything might be over before any secrets could even be uncovered!
"Tyrannical? Cruel?"
Jiang Yuan let out a low laugh. He realized today's events had truly shattered many of his previous perceptions. For the first time, he learned that Consort Ning possessed such audacity, daring to speak to him in this manner.
Consort Ning held firm under the pressure of Jiang Yuan's gaze, stating resolutely, "I was bestowed upon Your Majesty by the late Emperor as a secondary consort, personally enfeoffed by you as Consort Ning, and entered into the imperial jade records. I know my words are unpleasant to hear, but my heart is solely devoted to Your Majesty's welfare and the good name of the imperial house. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"
Jiang Yuan stood up. He walked over to stand before Consort Ning, looking down at her from his height. The Emperor's eyes were filled with anger—displeasure at anyone daring to defy his command, and irritation at the words Consort Ning had spoken.
"For my welfare? For the imperial house's good name? Consort Ning, who do you think you are?" Jiang Yuan used his jade pendant to lift Consort Ning's chin, his voice cool and laced with casual disdain.
"If I want them dead, they die."
"If I want you dead, you die."
"What are you, to presume to judge me?"
He was the Emperor, possessing the realm and holding supreme power. His merits and faults would be recorded by history and judged by posterity.
Consort Ning's pupils contracted. Jiang Yuan's words stripped away her dignity, leaving her feeling utterly exposed and wounded, especially before so many consorts and servants. It was undeniably a humiliation.
Though it was midsummer and she was clothed, Consort Ning felt a piercing, bone-deep cold.
Jiang Yuan commanded, "Quan Fuhai, slap her face."
Not only would he strip her of dignity, he would trample her self-respect underfoot.
The covert glances from all around made Consort Ning tremble. She didn't look back, but she could feel the mockery and pity in those gazes.
Quan Fuhai took a handkerchief from his sleeve and wrapped it around his hand. "Consort Ning, my apologies!"
Just as he raised his hand, a shout came from not far away: "Stop!"
Everyone looked over. The Empress Dowager had arrived.
The commotion was so great that news naturally reached the Cining Palace as well. It was just that the Empress Dowager, getting on in years, slept deeply, which was why she arrived somewhat later.
"Your greetings to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
"May Her Majesty the Empress Dowager enjoy fortune, longevity, and peace!"
Seeing the Empress Dowager arrive, the consorts collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps only Her Majesty could dissuade the Emperor.
The Empress Dowager had indeed come to advise the Emperor. She could understand his desire to cut the Gordian knot, but as the Empress Dowager, she also had to consider the entire rear palace. Palace maids and eunuchs were never ants to be crushed lightly; there were plenty of courts in history that had been deceived or even thrown into chaos by them. The relationships among the palace servants were intricate and complex. For the Emperor to execute so many eunuchs and maids at once might intimidate the majority of the remaining servants, but it was hard to guarantee that none would harbor resentment and secretly plot mischief.
The Empress Dowager absolutely would not allow any harm to come to the Emperor.
Naturally, she did not approve of the Emperor making such a grand spectacle for the sake of the Empress.
To the Empress Dowager, ten thousand Empresses were not as important as one Emperor.
The two moved to the theater study and spoke for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. When they returned, the anger on Jiang Yuan's face had dissipated.
Consort Ning was still kneeling, tears on her face shed for Yangxue.
The Empress Dowager then had Nanny Zhao go to help her up. "My child, why must you suffer so?" The Empress Dowager had also heard Consort Ning's earlier words. In all fairness, she rather agreed with them; this was also why she had always appreciated Consort Ning—she had a sense of the bigger picture and understood propriety.
Consort Ning, however, did not rise. She said slowly, "Today's matter is to investigate the true culprit who poisoned Her Majesty the Empress. Since His Majesty has ordered the detention of the servants from the Chengqian Palace, Yanxi Palace, and my own Yikun Palace, he naturally suspects Consort An and this humble consort as well."
"This consort should not interfere in this matter. But Yangxue and Suihe have served me since childhood; I treat them like my own younger sisters. Yangxue is already dead. No matter what, I cannot stand by and watch Suihe face danger as well. Your Majesty, this consort's innocence, this consort will prove it herself."
A wretched smile appeared on Consort Ning's face. Then she suddenly stood up and rushed towards the imperial guard holding the sword. Under the guard's horrified gaze, she grasped the blade and thrust it into herself.
"Ah!"
"Your Ladyship!"
"Consort Ning!!"
The scene instantly descended into chaos. Quan Fuhai shrieked, ordering the imperial physicians to save her.
Jiang Yuan had not expected Consort Ning to stake her life to prove her innocence. That resolute posture held no trace of pretense. He was somewhat shocked; today's Consort Ning had truly given him an immense shock. He even had the illusion that he was meeting her for the first time.
On the other side, Qi Daiyu was also startled by Consort Ning's sudden action, and her suspicion towards her wavered slightly.
Could it be that Consort Ning truly had nothing to do with this?
Because of Consort Ning's incident, the remaining palace servants, except for Suihe, were taken away. They would undergo interrogation but had temporarily escaped the threat of death.
Qi Daiyu exchanged a few brief words with Nie Zhiyu before they each returned to their palaces.
The horizon was already showing the first light of dawn. The palace paths today were unusually quiet. Yanhe and the others were still immersed in the earlier bloodshed and did not speak either.
Qi Daiyu felt a churning nausea in her stomach and walked somewhat numbly and mechanically.
Until she suddenly heard suppressed, heart-wrenching sobs.
Shiliu, who was supporting Qi Daiyu, involuntarily tightened her grip, saying fearfully, "Mistress, that sound..." Having just witnessed so many deaths, she couldn't help but think of something terrifying.
Qi Daiyu was also startled, but upon listening carefully, the crying didn't sound like an adult's; it seemed more like a child's, and somewhat familiar.
She had Little Li and the others search nearby. Finally, they found the source of the crying inside a water vat.
"The Eldest Prince?" Qi Daiyu was taken aback, seeing the Eldest Prince clad only in thin inner garments, curled up and weeping inside the vat.
Little Cheng hurriedly lifted the Eldest Prince out. Qi Daiyu crouched down and took the prince's icy hands. "Why is the Eldest Prince here all alone? Are you cold? Where are the servants attending you?" Even if everyone from Chengqian Palace had been taken away, the Emperor would surely have assigned people specifically to watch over the Eldest Prince.
The little chubby boy's eyes were swollen from crying. "Auntie Hui, my mother-concubine is dead! I don't have a mother-concubine anymore!"
A child's crying is always heartrending. Qi Daiyu felt a pang of sorrow. "Eldest Prince..."
"Auntie Hui, they say my mother-concubine was a bad person, that she did wrong and that's why she died. My tutor says those who do wrong should be punished. But I didn't want Mother-concubine to die! I haven't grown up yet, I haven't brought Mother-concubine to my princely estate. I didn't want Mother-concubine to die!"
The Eldest Prince cried until he was almost breathless. He couldn't comprehend the enmity between adults, nor did he understand what role his birth mother had played in the poisoning of the Empress Mother he respected most. He only knew that the mother-concubine who told him to eat less and urged him to strive hard was gone.
He would never see his mother-concubine again.
Qi Daiyu wanted to say some words to comfort the Eldest Prince, but facing the child's innocent, pure eyes, she found she couldn't say anything.
