Luhui was brought into the hall.
"Your servant pays respects to the Empress and to Consort Hui."
"Rise." The Empress's voice was gentle. "Why have you sought an audience with me instead of attending to Concubine Cao?"
Luhui did not rise. Instead, she knelt down on both knees and kowtowed. "Empress, your servant has a matter to report... concerning Concubine Mei..."
"Concubine Mei?" The Empress feigned ignorance. "Concubine Mei has been gone for months. If you knew something, why speak of it only now? Do you seek some favor from me by invoking your former mistress?"
The Empress's gaze was severe, clearly implying that Luhui would not be spared if that were the case.
Luhui trembled with fear and lifted her head to explain. "Empress, your servant wouldn't dare! It was Concubine Mei who forbade me to speak..."
"Concubine Mei forbade you?" Having played the stern role, the Empress now allowed Qi Daiyu to speak gently. "Luhui, what exactly is this matter?"
Luhui bit her lip. "Concubine Mei sent me to Concubine Cao's side to spy on her and to search for evidence."
"Spy on Concubine Cao?" Qi Daiyu exclaimed in surprise. "Why would Concubine Mei do that? I recall their relationship being quite good."
"That's not true!" Luhui said urgently. "It only appeared that way after my mistress miscarried, because Concubine Cao came to speak with her every day, offering comfort."
"To speak bluntly, my mistress always looked down on Concubine Cao. How could she truly befriend her?"
They had previously lived in the same palace. Though Concubine Cao tried in every way to please her, Concubine Mei would secretly mock her. Someone you've always despised, even if they treat you kindly when you fall from grace, won't inspire gratitude, only a sense of entitlement.
The Empress and Qi Daiyu exchanged a glance, knowing Luhui spoke the truth. That was exactly Concubine Mei's character.
Luhui was eager to reveal everything.
"After the miscarriage, Concubine Cao came daily to offer companionship and consolation. In her words, she consistently shifted all the blame onto Consort Wei. At first, my mistress listened and grew to hate Consort Wei intensely. But later, she gradually began to feel something was amiss."
At that time, fresh from her miscarriage, she was emotionally sensitive and fragile, wary of everyone. Every night, Concubine Mei would regret her carelessness that had cost her child. She replayed the days after learning of her pregnancy over and over, reflecting on her own flamboyance, impulsiveness, and shortsightedness...
Perhaps from replaying it too much, or perhaps the spirit of her lost child was watching over her, one night Concubine Mei suddenly felt something was off. The imperial physician said her miscarriage was caused by excessive nourishment leading to agitated blood and qi, but why was her blood and qi agitated?
Yes, her temper was poor, but as Concubine Mei thought carefully, during those several disputes with Zhaorong, Concubine Cao had always been present. With a few simple words, Concubine Cao would stir her dislike for Zhaorong, prompting her to use her higher rank to suppress her. And Zhaorong was not one to endure quietly either. Their verbal battles left neither party unscathed, naturally agitating her blood and qi.
Once a seed of doubt was planted, everything began to seem suspicious.
Though they shared a palace, she was more favored, so Concubine Cao had always yielded to her. But never had she been so fervently attentive, coming daily to offer guidance. Yet, pondering those consoling words, they all steered her towards hating Zhaorong.
For once, Concubine Mei's not-so-clever mind had a moment of clarity.
She soon discovered the secret communications between her maid, Zhi Zi, and Concubine Cao. At that point, what was left for Concubine Mei to misunderstand?
On the day of her miscarriage, Zhi Zi's seemingly loyal act of accusing Concubine Cao was actually a case of the thief crying "stop thief"!
However, she had suspicions but no proof.
So, Concubine Mei pretended to heed Concubine Cao's words, feigning intense hatred for Zhaorong. She learned of Zhaorong's movements and deliberately went to confront her, taking only Zhi Zi, and leaked the information to Concubine Cao.
Given Concubine Cao's professed "concern" for her, she would surely rush to witness the scene. This would leave Concubine Cao's residence less guarded, allowing Luhui to sneak in and investigate—given Concubine Cao's outwardly deferential attitude towards her, her people wouldn't dare stop Luhui.
Unfortunately, man's schemes are no match for heaven's plans. Or perhaps, Concubine Mei never anticipated the depth of Concubine Cao's venom—she actually instructed Zhi Zi to push Zhaorong into the water!
Hearing this, the Empress frowned. "You're saying Consort Wei was pushed into the water by that maid, Zhi Zi?"
Luhui's eyes reddened. "Yes! My mistress only took Zhi Zi, intending to pick a quarrel with Consort Wei, but never meant to truly harm her. Yet during the scuffle, Zhi Zi secretly gave Consort Wei a shove, causing her to fall into the water."
"Concubine Shu arrived very quickly and, without hearing the full story, condemned my mistress. The humiliation she inflicted... my mistress, in a moment of despair, chose to..."
With her own maid testifying against her and Consort Wei insisting on her guilt, Concubine Mei couldn't clear her name. Concubine Shu even directly ordered people to douse her with water, leaving her soaked in public. Unable to bear the shame, Concubine Mei chose to dash herself against a pillar.
The Empress frowned. "And what did you find that day?"
Luhui shook her head. "Empress, that day I went to Concubine Cao's quarters. She had indeed left upon hearing the news, but returned not long after. I suspect she heard about Consort Wei falling into the water on the way and wanted no part in it. Afraid of alerting her, I didn't enter, merely claiming I was delivering some food."
"But!" Her voice grew agitated. "During my time serving Concubine Cao, I have made a discovery!"
"Concubine Cao is wary of me and doesn't allow me to attend to her personally, only assigning me cleaning duties within her rooms. This, however, gave me an opportunity." She retrieved an object from her sleeve.
It was a sachet embroidered with green plum blossoms winding around a branch.
The Empress instinctively covered her nose with a handkerchief.
"This sachet was hidden separately by Concubine Cao beneath her jewelry box. I found it strange, and today, while she was away paying her respects, I secretly took it."
A sachet?
Zhuyi recalled something. "Your Majesty, do you remember? On the day Concubine Mei miscarried, Consort Ning asked Concubine Cao a question. She said, 'This morning when paying respects, you wore a sachet with green plum blossoms around a branch. Why have you changed to this one with pink butterflies among flowers?' You had people keep an eye on the Jingren Palace side at the time, but found nothing."
Her reminder jogged the Empress's memory.
Her voice turned grave. "Summon the imperial physician."
She wanted to see what was inside this sachet.
As Zhuyi went to fetch the physician, Qi Daiyu glanced at Shiliu, signaling her to take the sachet and wrap it in a handkerchief to prevent any harmful substance from affecting the Empress.
She then asked Luhui, "Since you discovered this sachet earlier, why did you only seek an audience today?"
Luhui lowered her head once more. "After my mistress passed, this servant thought long and hard. Given Concubine Cao's rank, how would she dare to harm the imperial heir, no matter how much she loathed my mistress? Someone must have secretly given the order. And that day, the place where Zhi Zi pushed Consort Wei into the water was so close to the 'Xuanhu Mirror' where Concubine Shu resides. Concubine Shu arrived and immediately pinned the blame on my mistress. This servant is certain the person behind Concubine Cao is Concubine Shu."
"Concubine Shu's favor in the palace is unmatched. How would this servant dare to speak the truth? I feared I wouldn't even make it out the gate of Jingren Palace. It wasn't until recently, when this servant heard about the matters concerning Concubine Shu's maternal family..."
Luhui had also been waiting, waiting for Concubine Shu's influence to wane so her words would carry weight.
And today, the moment news of the Emperor ordering a search of the Yuan family reached the rear palace, Luhui immediately rushed to Kunning Palace.
Qi Daiyu was speechless. In this palace, everyone truly had their own way of survival.
The imperial physician arrived swiftly. He cut open the sachet, held it under his nose for a long while, then pinched a bit and placed it on his tongue, his brow furrowed deeply.
After a long time, the physician finally spoke hesitantly, "Empress, might this humble official have a cup of tea?"
Zhuyi immediately presented one.
The physician took it, sprinkled the tea onto the sachet, then pinched another bit of the ash inside and tasted it again. His expression changed.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, if this humble official's judgment is not mistaken, this sachet likely contains 'Vain Blossom Powder'."
"'Vain Blossom Powder'?"
The physician explained, "'Vain Blossom Powder' is colorless and odorless. It has little effect on ordinary people, but pregnant women are prone to internal heat. After inhaling Vain Blossom Powder, they become even more irritable..."
Upon hearing this, Zhuyi and the others immediately opened the windows to air out the room.
The physician continued, "Generally, 'Vain Blossom Powder' is very difficult to detect. Only when it comes into contact with water does it leave a slight bitter taste. Furthermore, if it is sprinkled into water, it resembles a flower bud beginning to bloom."
He pinched a bit of the powder and sprinkled it into a cup to show them. Indeed, a faint, blooming flower shape appeared in the water.
Luhui exclaimed in shock, "No wonder my mistress was especially prone to anger those past few days! It must have been this thing causing trouble!"
Just as the Empress was about to speak, a palace maid entered to announce, "Empress, Concubine Cao requests an audience. She says a foolish maid from her palace disturbed Your Majesty and has come specially to apologize."
The Empress raised an eyebrow, looking at Luhui. "It seems she's discovered you took the sachet."
Luhui immediately knelt. "I beg the Empress to save this servant and bring justice for my mistress!"
The Empress had Zhuyi help Luhui up. "Concubine Mei was under this palace's protection. She suffered a grievous injustice, and this palace will naturally seek justice for her."
With that, a cold glint flashed in her eyes as she instructed Mei Yi, "Go, apprehend Concubine Cao and detain her in the side hall."
Regardless of why Concubine Cao had come at this moment, given the current situation, it was like walking right into a trap, saving the Empress the trouble of sending someone to summon her from Jingren Palace.
Good news came one after another. Lanyi, on her end, had also received news from outside the palace and leaned in to whisper a report to the Empress.
The Empress's eyes lit up. "Is it true?"
"It cannot be false."
The Empress said, "Then deliver the news to Lord Lin and Lord Wang." She couldn't help but smile. "So what if Fei Ming continues to help Yuan Hao? This palace refuses to believe the esteemed Chief of the Court of Judicial Review and the Left Vice Censor of the Censorate can tolerate such an insult."
Qi Daiyu was curious. "What insult?"
Lanyi glanced at the Empress, and receiving a nod, proceeded to relay the obtained information.
Qi Daiyu was greatly shocked. "Miss Lin and Miss Wang's marriage arrangements were the handiwork of the Yuan family? That's too... audacious!"
The Empress sneered coldly. "That's precisely why that Yuan Hao is so brazen, daring to secretly meddle in the marriage arrangements of the daughters of important court officials. What wouldn't he dare? The daughters of the Lin and Wang families were originally meant to participate in the imperial consort selection. Yuan Hao's actions constitute deceiving the sovereign! He has never held the Emperor in his eyes!"
Even if the people searching the Yuan family found nothing else, informing the Emperor of this matter alone would ensure the Emperor would never spare Yuan Hao.
For the Emperor, the crimes of corruption and bending the law for personal gain were far less severe than the crime of contempt for imperial authority.
The Yuan family was finished!
Not long after, Li Lu hurried in again. "Empress, there is a result regarding the Yuan family matter!"
Just as the Grand Princess's consort had said, the Yuan family had privately hoarded an immense amount of gold and silver. When they rushed to the Yuan residence, Old Lady Yuan was in Yuan Hao's study burning letters and account books and was captured on the spot.
"His Majesty is furious and has ordered the entire Yuan family to be taken to the Ministry of Justice prison!"
The Empress immediately stood up, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible excitement.
"To the Qianqing Palace!"
