Qi Daiyu had originally been at Kunning Palace discussing matters related to "Lotus Blossom Face" with the Empress when news of trouble in Jingren Palace reached them. The Empress then dismissed her to return.
On her way back to Yanqing Residence, Qi Daiyu pondered—what could have happened in Jingren Palace? The palace housed only Concubine Mei and Consort Cao, and since Concubine Mei was pregnant, she was the most likely to encounter misfortune.
The thought made Qi Daiyu's heart race. Once back in Yanqing Residence, she dismissed her attendants and curled up on the couch, watching a palace intrigue drama to calm her nerves. But before she could finish an episode, a palace maid from the Empress arrived, summoning her to Jingren Palace.
Immediately sensing trouble—the drama’s plot of schemes and false accusations still fresh in her mind—Qi Daiyu used the excuse of changing clothes to instruct Putao: "Search every corner of Yanqing Residence, inside and out, to see if anything suspicious has appeared."
Logically, there shouldn’t be anything amiss. Most of her private, incriminating items were stored in the "phone’s" recycle bin. The only unusual things in her residence were the skincare and cosmetics in her study, but even those had been inspected by the Emperor and Empress. Moreover, she had only gifted finished products to the Empress and Qin Saizhu. Apart from Shiliu, Putao, and a few others, no one else could enter her study, and outsiders likely had no idea what it even looked like.
What worried Qi Daiyu more was whether something had been planted in the courtyard or outside Yanqing Residence.
"Also, inspect your own quarters. I’m not doubting you, but I fear someone might have tampered with things when you weren’t paying attention." The servants’ rooms were naturally less guarded than the main residence.
Putao nodded solemnly. "Understood. I’ll have everyone search each other’s rooms thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned."
The matter was grave. If Concubine Mei’s misfortune had indeed implicated their mistress, no one in Yanqing Residence could afford to make a mistake. A flicker of ruthlessness crossed Putao’s face—if there was a traitor among them, she would root them out without mercy.
Qi Daiyu left with Shiliu and Xiao Li. At the entrance of Jingren Palace, she ran into Zhaorong, whose expression was a mix of delight and unease—delight, likely at the thought of her detested Concubine Mei suffering, and unease at being summoned.
After a hurried exchange of greetings, the two entered the hall.
Qi Daiyu scanned the room and saw the Empress, Concubine Shu, Consort Ning, and Consort Cao present, but none of the other concubines. It seemed the Empress had contained the news, keeping others in the dark.
Concubine Mei’s maid, Luhui, knelt on the floor, her eyes red-rimmed. From the inner chamber came the murmurs of imperial physicians and medical attendants discussing something. The scene only confirmed Qi Daiyu’s suspicions—Concubine Mei’s child was likely lost.
She had initially wondered why the Emperor wasn’t present, but then remembered today was the imperial examination’s final stage. The Emperor was likely still occupied in court. Qi Daiyu couldn’t help but pity Concubine Mei—how helpless she must feel, with the one person who could protect her absent.
"Empress, why have you summoned us? Has something happened to Concubine Mei?" Zhaorong ventured cautiously, her gaze darting toward the inner chamber.
The Empress’s voice was heavy. "Concubine Mei… has suffered a miscarriage."
Zhaorong’s eyes widened. A miscarriage? Before she could even think "karma," the Empress continued, "Concubine Mei’s maid has accused the two of you of holding past grudges against her and, out of jealousy over her pregnancy, conspiring to cause her miscarriage. Do you have anything to say?"
So it really was aimed at her. Qi Daiyu’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt a surge of exasperation. She had been so careful—avoiding any private contact with Concubine Mei since her pregnancy was announced, even refraining from speaking to her in public whenever possible. Yet now that something had happened to Concubine Mei, she was still implicated?
What an unjust accusation!
Zhaorong reacted more vehemently. "Me? Harm Concubine Mei’s child? Impossible!" She glared at the maid named Zhi Zi. "Just because I argued with Concubine Mei a few days ago?"
Zhaorong’s imposing demeanor made Zhi Zi shrink back. "The concubine publicly humiliated you. It’s not impossible that you harbored resentment and plotted revenge!"
Zhaorong rolled her eyes. "If I wanted revenge, why wait? If she slapped me, I’d slap her back right then and there—wouldn’t that be more satisfying?"
Though she often acted on impulse, Zhaorong was still a product of the Princess’s household. She knew the palace rules well. That day, when Concubine Mei had slapped her in public, hadn’t she been furious? Of course she had—she’d wanted to claw Concubine Mei’s face off. But she also knew that if she retaliated, she’d be the one punished. So she had swallowed her anger, planning to seek the Empress Dowager’s support instead.
Who knew the Empress Dowager would ignore her?
Zhi Zi stammered, "Perhaps you were being cautious, plotting in secret…"
This was pure nonsense. Concubine Shu interjected, "This maid accuses Consort Hui and Consort Wei based on past conflicts with Concubine Mei. But if we’re judging by the depth and duration of grudges, Consort Hui’s suspicion should outweigh Consort Wei’s, no?"
She turned a smiling gaze toward Qi Daiyu.
In Concubine Shu’s memory, Consort Hui had been a timid, fragile woman—beautiful but unremarkable, and for some reason, particularly disliked by the Emperor. Later, she’d even suffered an injury, fading into obscurity in the palace.
Yet this woman, whom she’d assumed would remain a nonentity forever, had somehow regained her health and grown more radiant by the day. Lately, Concubine Shu had even noticed that Consort Hui’s skin seemed smoother than her own.
Concubine Shu prided herself on her beauty and viewed other beauties with wariness. During the New Year’s banquet, the Emperor’s unusual attention toward Qi Daiyu had lodged in her mind. If not for the fact that she had ultimately outshone Qi Daiyu—with the entire capital praising Concubine Shu as the empire’s peerless beauty—she would have long since targeted Qi Daiyu. Even so, her resentment lingered.
Then, after Qin Saizhu and Qi Daiyu returned from the imperial retreat, whispers spread through the capital—rumors of a "Consort Hui" in the palace, as ethereal as a moon goddess, as delicate as a lotus on water. Some even spoke of the "Two Jewels of the Palace," placing Concubine Shu and Qi Daiyu on equal footing.
Though such talk was scarce, it still stung Concubine Shu. How could Qi Daiyu compare to her?
Her displeasure festered, and now, with an opportunity before her, she directed her barbs at Qi Daiyu.
Based on her past impression of Consort Hui, Concubine Shu expected her to tremble, weep, and weakly deny the accusations. But to her surprise, Qi Daiyu remained composed.
Her frame was still delicate, her complexion pale with tension, but her gaze was steady and clear.
Qi Daiyu did not deny her past grievances with Concubine Mei but instead retorted, "If we're speaking of old grudges, doesn’t Your Ladyship also have a motive? Even during my illness, I heard of your conflicts with Concubine Mei. If we’re to compare who harbored deeper resentment, as someone bedridden, I doubt Concubine Mei even spared me a second glance. I certainly wouldn’t rank first."
Concubine Shu raised an eyebrow. "Are you implying that I bear the greatest suspicion?"
Qi Daiyu replied, "This concubine merely speaks the facts. Since my recovery, I’ve had little contact with Concubine Mei. The one time we quarreled, it was resolved under the Empress’s mediation. After Concubine Mei became pregnant, I never interacted with her alone. Aside from the two vases I gifted on the day she was granted the title 'Concubine Mei,' I sent nothing else. How, then, could I have harmed her? I neither had the opportunity nor the means."
"Empress, everything I’ve given and every interaction I’ve had is documented in the palace records. My disputes with Concubine Mei were nothing more than petty quarrels—hardly enough to warrant murder. If her miscarriage was no accident, then the culprit must be someone who stood to gain from preventing her child’s birth. The one with the most to gain is the most likely suspect."
With these words, Qi Daiyu not only cleared herself of suspicion but also redirected attention to those who had the strongest motive: those who would lose the most if Concubine Mei bore a child.
And in the palace, who stood to lose the most?
Naturally… those who already had children.
Only three women in the palace had children: the Empress, Concubine Shu, and Consort An. Concubine Mei was aligned with the Empress, who already had the Eldest Prince. Whether Concubine Mei bore a prince or princess, it would only strengthen the Empress’s faction. She had no reason to harm Concubine Mei.
Similarly, Consort An had given birth to the Second Princess. Concubine Mei’s child, regardless of gender, posed no threat to her.
But Concubine Shu, mother of the Eldest Prince, had the most to lose. If Concubine Mei bore a son, her child would no longer be the only prince in the palace.
Unbeknownst to Qi Daiyu, her strategy of deflecting suspicion onto others struck a chord. The others began to see the logic in her words, and their gazes toward Concubine Shu grew uneasy.
Zhaorong seized the moment to add, "If Consort Hui is innocent, then this concubine is even less likely to be involved. I’ve only just entered the palace and barely know my way around. How could I possibly orchestrate such a scheme? If someone acted, it must be someone with power and influence."
She glanced furtively at Concubine Shu. Their alliance was fragile, and when push came to shove, each would save themselves.
Concubine Shu laughed coldly. "I’m surprised Consort Hui has grown such a silver tongue. Empress, didn’t you say we must rely on evidence? Then let us send someone to—"
Before she could finish, Consort An arrived.
"Empress, forgive my intrusion. After escorting the Eldest Prince back to Chengqian Palace, I encountered this suspicious maid on my way to Yanxi Palace." She pointed to the restrained maid behind her. "My attendant, Puying, recognized her as Suo'er, one of Concubine Mei’s personal maids. Given the incident at Jingren Palace, it seemed odd for her to be wandering alone, so I brought her here."
Consort An’s lips twitched stiffly as she glanced at Concubine Shu.
Unnoticed by most, Ming Cui, one of Concubine Shu’s maids, quietly slipped from Consort An’s retinue to stand behind her mistress.
Qi Daiyu sensed something amiss but couldn’t pinpoint what.
The Empress frowned at Li Lu. "Were you unaware that Jingren Palace was missing a maid?"
Li Lu wiped sweat from his brow. "With the chaos after Concubine Mei’s incident, the palace staff were coming and going. I only detained some for questioning…" They still needed hands to tend to Concubine Mei—how could they arrest everyone at once?
"Suo'er claimed she was fetching hot water from the kitchens, so I let her go."
The Empress turned to Suo'er. "Why did you sneak out of Jingren Palace? What were you planning?"
Suo'er collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
The Empress’s expression darkened. "Li Lu, take her away until she’s willing to talk."
Though she didn’t specify what would happen, it was clear the punishment would be severe.
Suo'er panicked, breaking free from the eunuchs dragging her away. She kowtowed frantically. "Empress, I’ll confess! I was just scared—I didn’t harm my mistress, I swear!"
Consort An scoffed. "If you’re innocent, why flee?"
Tears blurred Suo'er’s vision. "Because… because my mistress started bleeding days ago!"
The Empress stiffened. "What did you say?"
"Impossible!" Luhui interjected. "I knew nothing of this—you’re lying!"
Suo'er hunched her shoulders. "Sister Luhui, you truly didn’t know. Our mistress forbade me from telling you. A few days ago, after arguing with Consort Wei, she returned and I noticed the bleeding while helping her change. It was slight, and I begged to call the imperial physician, but she refused! She said no one could know, or they’d assume she couldn’t carry the child."
"She insisted it was just from overexertion and would heal with rest. The physician had assured her she was healthy, so she saw no need for alarm. I obeyed her orders and kept silent. Sister Luhui, think—hasn’t she only allowed me to attend to her these past few days?"
Luhui froze, realizing Suo'er spoke the truth.
Suo'er kowtowed again. "Empress, when my mistress collapsed today, I feared my earlier silence would be discovered. In my panic, I fled. Spare me, please!"
"This is outrageous!" The Empress slammed her hand on the table. She couldn’t fathom Concubine Mei’s stupidity—how could she hide such a critical condition?
Just then, the imperial physician and Zhuyi entered.
The imperial physician reported, "Your Majesty, Concubine Mei's bleeding has been stopped, and she is out of danger..." He paused, "Moreover, this humble servant noticed that Concubine Mei's pulse is weak. The signs of her depleted qi and blood are not recent, and they differ from her pulse reading during the last examination. Her body must have been unwell for some time, but the daily consumption of donkey-hide gelatin and angelica soup masked the symptoms, preventing any severe discomfort. May this servant ask Concubine Mei's maids if she has experienced any signs of bleeding recently?"
The hall fell silent. The physician's words aligned perfectly with what Suo'er had just said.
Zhuyi added, "Your Majesty, this servant and the medical maids have thoroughly searched Concubine Mei's chambers and found nothing amiss. Her recent diet, tea, and daily provisions were no different from usual, except for a few citrons gifted by Consort Zhuang a few days ago. However, Consort Zhuang distributed those citrons to every palace, and the ones sent to Jingren Palace were tested on the spot by Luhui—they were harmless and did not clash with Concubine Mei's diet. As for other palaces, there has been no interaction with Jingren Palace."
Palace servants typically worked in pairs, and even those who worked alone were observed by others. Thus, their daily activities, whereabouts, and interactions could mostly be accounted for. While this system couldn't completely prevent secret dealings, it ensured that most movements were transparent.
As for Concubine Mei's attendants, their testimonies matched. This meant that, at least on the surface, neither Concubine Shu's Chengqian Palace nor Qi Daiyu's Yanqing Residence had made contact with Concubine Mei's people, nor was there any evidence of bribery.
"After questioning Concubine Mei's attendants, this servant searched their quarters but found nothing suspicious. The only person who interacted closely with Concubine Mei was Consort Cao."
Consort Cao, her eyes reddened, said, "If it would ease Concubine Mei's mind, Your Majesty may also inspect this concubine's quarters and servants."
Her willingness made it awkward for the Empress to actually proceed. Searching a concubine's residence was a severe humiliation, and Consort Cao's openness only made it harder for the Empress to order such an action.
As for Concubine Shu and Consort Hui's residences, searching them was out of the question—there was only Zhi Zi's testimony and no concrete evidence. Moreover, conducting searches at every incident would only spread panic throughout the palace.
The testimonies from Concubine Mei's servants and the physician, along with the lack of incriminating evidence, all pointed to the fact that no one around Concubine Mei had been bribed, nor had she received anything harmful to her pregnancy.
Concubine Mei's miscarriage was not caused by foul play but by her own uncontrolled temper and reckless behavior.
The Empress felt a headache coming on.
For a moment, silence filled the hall. Even Luhui knelt there in a daze—was her mistress's miscarriage truly her own fault? How would the Emperor react when he learned the truth?
After all, it was Concubine Mei's own actions that had led to the loss of the imperial heir.
Only Zhi Zi refused to accept this. "Even so, if Consort Wei hadn't provoked my mistress that day, she wouldn't have been angered into bleeding! My mistress knew she was wrong for slapping Consort Wei and dared not summon a physician openly, lest others accuse her of arrogance. This servant only wishes to ask Consort Wei—knowing my mistress was with child, couldn't she have endured a little instead of provoking a pregnant woman?"
Zhi Zi's strategy was to drag someone down with them—Concubine Mei shouldn't suffer this loss alone. At least this way, when Concubine Mei awoke, she would have some consolation.
The Empress gave Zhi Zi a thoughtful glance. So Concubine Mei had someone clever by her side.
She immediately declared, "This matter will be reported to His Majesty. Consort Wei, though you did not intend harm, Concubine Mei's miscarriage is still linked to you. For the sake of the imperial heir, as a warning to others, you are hereby confined for three months and must copy scriptures a hundred times to be placed before the Buddha, praying for the lost child."
Zhaorong opened her mouth, indignation burning in her chest, but seeing the Empress's expression, she swallowed her anger. How unlucky—first a slap from Concubine Mei, now three months of confinement. But then again, Concubine Mei's suffering was far worse, so she felt slightly better.
"And you," the Empress pointed at Suo'er. "Concealing Concubine Mei's condition is unforgivable. Twenty lashes, then expulsion from the palace—never to return."
Suo'er, grateful to keep her life, kowtowed repeatedly. "Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty! Thank you!"
The Empress pressed her temples. "Enough. Everyone is dismissed."
What a farce.
The crowd bowed and filed out.
Concubine Shu led Consort An at the front, still fuming over nearly being implicated. "How dare such filth try to stain this consort's hands!"
Consort Hui frowned, walking briskly as if eager to leave.
Consort Cao's eyes remained red. Consort Ning walked beside her and handed her a handkerchief.
Consort Cao accepted it with thanks. "Concubine Mei was so pitiful... Every time she spoke to this concubine, her words were filled with anticipation for the child."
Consort Ning's expression remained indifferent, but she suddenly remarked, "This consort recalls that you wore a green plum blossom sachet this morning. Why have you changed to this pink butterfly one?"
Sachets were usually worn for some time before being replaced.
Consort Cao's breath hitched. "Your memory is excellent, Consort Ning. This concubine did wear a different sachet this morning, but Concubine Mei accidentally spilled tea on it. This concubine changed it upon returning. Both sachets were sent by the Imperial Household Department—every palace received them. The morning sachet contained pear fragrance, light and suited for spring. With summer approaching, this concubine switched to this one with elsholtzia and forsythia."
"I see." Consort Ning seemed to ask casually before turning away.
Only when she was gone did Consort Cao exhale in relief. She hadn't lied—the morning sachet had indeed been "accidentally" splashed by Concubine Mei.
Meanwhile, Consort An followed Concubine Shu back to Chengqian Palace.
Once inside, Concubine Shu's anger vanished, replaced by a relaxed smile.
After tea was served, she dismissed all but Consort An, Diancui, Ming Cui, and Puying.
Concubine Shu took a sip. "Why did you intervene? If you hadn't brought Suo'er, the Empress's people might have already arrested someone in Changchun Palace."
She had been so close to framing Qi Daiyu.
Consort An remained expressionless. "The spy in Changchun Palace wasn't reliable. Using them would have been a stretch—not enough to implicate Consort Hui, only exposing our hand too soon. Thankfully, Ming Cui found me. By bringing Suo'er to Jingren Palace, we ended this cleanly."
Ming Cui was quick-witted. Seeing that Consort Hui had dragged Consort Shu into the matter, she quietly slipped away to seek out Consort An.
Consort Shu frowned and pursed her lips. "Fine. If we can't crush her this time, there will be other opportunities in the future."
But Consort An said, "Judging by Consort Hui's response today, she's no fool. I’m afraid that planted spy of ours is useless now."
Consort Shu was displeased. "So all my efforts were for nothing?"
Consort An sighed inwardly. She had always thought planting someone in Changchun Palace was unnecessary. Initially, they hadn’t taken Yanqing Residence seriously and hadn’t placed anyone there. Now, the people there were united, leaving no chance to infiltrate. The only option was to bribe a low-ranking eunuch from another part of Changchun Palace.
She had opposed Consort Shu’s plan from the start, but Consort Shu was determined to deal with Consort Hui, so she had no choice but to go along.
If Ming Cui hadn’t come to her today, Consort Shu would have likely urged the Empress to search Yanqing Residence, hoping to frame Consort Hui through that eunuch. But Consort Shu failed to consider—how credible would the words of a mere sweeping eunuch from Changchun Palace, who had never even met Consort Hui, be?
It would only raise suspicions that Chengqian Palace had planted spies in Changchun Palace.
Consort Shu was quick to anger but also quick to forget. Soon, her mood lifted as she thought of something else.
"What about Concubine Cao? Any issues there?"
Consort An replied, "She knows full well what will happen if she doesn’t clean up her mess properly."
The "Xu Hua Powder" was Concubine Cao’s own concoction, the sachet was her own, and the provoking words directed at Concubine Mei were hers alone. If discovered, the blame would fall solely on her—no connection to them.
"Xu Hua Powder is truly a marvelous thing," Consort Shu chuckled. The powder was scentless and tasteless, harmless to ordinary people. But pregnant women, already prone to agitation, would grow even more irritable after inhaling it, their blood boiling with rage, making it easier to miscarry.
All Concubine Cao had to do was occasionally whisper a few words to Concubine Mei, stoking her already volatile temper, and then "accidentally" dampen the sachet containing Xu Hua Powder to speed up its dispersal, ensuring Concubine Mei absorbed more of it.
Concubine Mei would only blame her own anger, never suspecting Concubine Cao’s deliberate provocations.
The formula for Xu Hua Powder had been provided by Consort Shu, but it was relayed through a minor palace maid. Concubine Cao had no proof linking it back to her.
Consort Shu asked again, "What about Suo'er? Has she been dealt with?"
Suo'er was their second plan, one even Concubine Cao knew nothing about. Suo'er had long been bribed to secretly sprinkle oleander powder into Concubine Mei’s pillow. The amount was minuscule, taking effect slowly over time. Between the oleander and the rage induced by Xu Hua Powder, Concubine Mei had indeed begun bleeding after her argument with Zhaorong.
Today, Suo'er’s panicked escape wasn’t out of fear—it was to dispose of the pillow in the chaos.
When the Empress ordered a search of Concubine Mei’s quarters, one place would remain untouched—the bed where Concubine Mei still lay.
"The pillow has been taken care of," Consort An said. "As for Suo'er, even banishing her from the palace isn’t enough. But matters outside the palace are beyond my control."
Consort Shu waved a hand dismissively. "I’ll have someone handle the outside affairs."
Consort An’s eyes flickered. She could have dealt with Suo'er herself, but she wouldn’t dirty her hands. Such foul work was better left to the Yuan family.
"Honestly, I never expected Concubine Mei would hide her bleeding and keep drinking those potent tonics. How foolish. At this rate, even if we did nothing, she might not have carried the child to term." It was pure coincidence that Suo'er had been on duty the day Concubine Mei started bleeding. Concubine Mei had ordered her to keep quiet, and Suo'er had played along.
Consort An disagreed with Consort Shu’s assessment.
Their schemes had undeniably hastened Concubine Mei’s miscarriage. Concubine Mei might be foolish, but the Empress was meticulous. She would have eventually noticed and intervened, possibly saving the pregnancy.
"Speaking of which, should we do anything about Consort Wei?" Consort An asked.
Zhaorong—the second target in their one-stone-two-birds plan.
Zhaorong had pledged allegiance to Consort Shu but remained defiant. Consort Shu couldn’t tolerate such disloyalty, so Consort An devised this plan to make Zhaorong the scapegoat. First, they allowed her to provoke Concubine Mei, igniting her fury. Then, during today’s morning greetings, they deliberately spoke up for Zhaorong, forcing the Empress to punish Concubine Mei, further destabilizing her.
Now that Concubine Mei had miscarried, Zhaorong, as the one who argued with her, would inevitably face repercussions.
This would crush Zhaorong’s spirit. Consort Shu would be pleased, and Consort An would prove herself far more valuable than Zhaorong.
"Why bother with her?" Consort Shu snapped reflexively.
Consort An sighed. "Don’t forget—you only wanted to humble her. Consort Wei is still useful. There’s no need to be so wary just because she’s pretty."
Her bluntness earned a glare from Consort Shu.
Clever as she was, her words were often grating.
"As if I’d feel threatened by her." Still, she heeded Consort An’s advice. "Show her some kindness. Make it clear that relying on me is her only path in this palace."
Concubine Mei, now out of danger, lay unconscious. The Empress left Mei Yi to watch over her and returned to Kunning Palace to sort through the day’s events before reporting to the Emperor.
With the imperial heir involved, the Emperor’s judgment was required.
Exhausted, the Empress rubbed her temples as Zhuyi massaged her head and Ju Yi poured tea. "Your Majesty, do you truly believe this incident has nothing to do with…?" She gestured toward Chengqian Palace.
Qi Daiyu’s words had left an impression. With Concubine Mei’s miscarriage, the greatest beneficiary was Consort Shu.
The Empress shared these suspicions but lacked proof.
Suddenly, she asked, "Has Concubine Cao had any contact with Chengqian Palace recently?" Something felt off.
Zhuyi thought for a moment. "Concubine Cao is often seen with Concubine Mei, but she’s never visited Chengqian Palace alone. Though, private meetings are hard to track in such a vast palace."
"Ah," Zhuyi recalled, "today, as the consorts left Jingren Palace, I overheard Consort Ning asking about Concubine Cao’s sachet." She repeated their exchange.
The Empress narrowed her eyes. "...A sachet. Zhuyi, have someone keep watch on Jingren Palace." If Concubine Cao was indeed colluding with Consort Shu, the truth would surface eventually.
Zhuyi bowed. "As you command."
At Yanqing Residence, Qi Daiyu had just returned when she noticed Qin Saizhu was also there.
Qin Saizhu said, "I heard you were summoned to Jingren Palace and suspected something had happened, so I came to check." Seeing that Qi Daiyu was unharmed, she sighed in relief. "What... exactly happened over there?"
By now, most of the imperial concubines had caught wind of the news, though none were entirely certain of the details.
Qi Daiyu gave a brief account.
Qin Saizhu fell silent for a long moment. "...That poor child." Whether it was due to Concubine Mei’s own carelessness or something else, the child was innocent.
After a pause, Qin Saizhu continued, "I just didn’t expect you to be dragged into it. Actually, the reason I came is because I remembered something—when Consort Ye and I visited you the other day, I thought I saw someone lingering outside Yanqing Residence..." She described the figure she had seen.
"At the time, neither Consort Ye nor I paid it much mind. But just now, hearing what you said about Concubine Shu’s words—how she seemed intent on searching your residence—it made me wonder. She wouldn’t target you without reason, nor propose such a measure unless she was confident. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but it’s better to be safe. If you have time, you might want to thoroughly screen the people in your palace."
Qin Saizhu offered the advice kindly, unaware that Qi Daiyu had already tasked Putao with handling the matter.
Qi Daiyu nodded gratefully. "I understand." The information was quite valuable to her.
"Alright, you must be exhausted. I won’t keep you any longer—get some rest." Without lingering, Qin Saizhu took her leave.
Qi Daiyu was indeed weary, but her mind remained restless, a sense of unease gnawing at her. She couldn’t fathom why Concubine Shu had suddenly set her sights on her. She had never offended Concubine Shu before. Was this an attempt to smear her reputation, or was she being framed?
The former would simply mean hostility, but the latter… that would mean she was being set up as a scapegoat. And that was far more dangerous.
If she couldn’t figure it out, she would just have to retrace events. When she had arrived at Jingren Palace earlier, she had activated the "phone’s" recording function—everything that transpired had been captured.
Qi Daiyu thought to herself, At the time, I was too caught up in the moment to notice anything beyond my own predicament. But now, with an omniscient perspective, even if I have to analyze everyone’s microexpressions one by one, I should be able to uncover something.
After reviewing the recording several times, she did find a clue.
Concubine Shu’s maid, Ming Cui, had slipped out unnoticed while Qi Daiyu was speaking. When she returned, she was accompanied by Consort An.
Why would Ming Cui suddenly seek out Consort An?
What purpose did bringing Consort An serve?
Qi Daiyu’s gaze fixed on Consort An’s stiff expression in the recording. Suddenly, her eyes brightened.
The most useful thing Consort An had brought with her… was Suo'er.
