In the Qianqing Palace, Jiang Yuan, who was rumored to be in a fit of rage, appeared calm.
He was reading dispatches from the frontier. The Northern Li Kingdom was making frequent moves, often conducting probes. Over the past two years, the old emperor of Northern Li had been gravely ill, and several princes were locked in a bloody struggle for succession. The old emperor had declared that whoever could seize a city from the Zhao Kingdom would inherit the throne.
This statement was utterly laughable. The Zhao border was guarded by Jiang Wuze with two hundred thousand troops. Even if Northern Li wanted to start a war, they would have to weigh the consequences carefully.
Seizing a city from Zhao was as difficult as ascending to heaven, but creating disturbances was not hard. And if they could win a victory, it would add significant weight to their standing before the Northern Li emperor. In his letter, Jiang Wuze speculated that by the end of the year or next spring, those Northern Li princes would likely take action.
This letter served two purposes: to report on his duties and to request provisions.
If war was imminent, supplies must be prepared in abundance.
Jiang Yuan picked up his brush, wrote a few lines of instructions, and tossed it to Quan Fuhai.
"The gold, silver, and treasures seized from the Yuan family are to be directly exchanged for provisions and transported to the frontier."
Ill-gotten gains used to reward the frontier troops—perfect.
A chill ran down Quan Fuhai's spine, and he suddenly understood something.
His Majesty's move against the Yuan family was premeditated!
Otherwise, he wouldn't have already made arrangements for the Yuan family's wealth!
Quan Fuhai suddenly wondered: Did the Emperor truly become suspicious of Lord Yuan because of the Xin County disaster? Or had His Majesty long intended to deal with Lord Yuan, merely using the Xin County incident as a pretext?
If it was the latter... then likely, even without the Xin County affair, the Emperor would have found another reason.
The heart of an emperor is inscrutable. Even Quan Fuhai dared not dwell on it too deeply.
Jiang Yuan leisurely sipped his tea and asked, "What is the situation over at Chengqian Palace?"
Quan Fuhai's back bent even lower than usual, his voice tinged with increased reverence. "Consort Shu... has smashed many things. News of the Yuan family's downfall has spread. Consort Shu is currently on her way to the Qianqing Palace, carrying the First Prince."
Jiang Yuan remained silent.
Quan Fuhai felt somewhat uneasy. "Your Majesty, the Yuan family is, after all, Consort Shu's maternal family, and the First Prince's maternal relatives..."
"The First Prince is the eldest son," Jiang Yuan interjected suddenly.
Quan Fuhai: "Indeed." Precisely because the First Prince is the eldest son, if he were to have maternal relatives convicted of a major crime in the future, how would the First Prince position himself?
"A few days ago, Chief Physician Xia informed Us that the Empress is carrying a male child."
Quan Fuhai's heart shuddered.
After a long pause, he said, "This servant understands. This servant will have someone intercept Consort Shu immediately. Coincidentally, the Empress Dowager mentioned a few days ago that she felt lonely. Perhaps the First Prince could be taken to Cining Palace to accompany Her Majesty for a few days?"
Jiang Yuan gave him an approving glance. "Mm."
Quan Fuhai: "As you command."
He sighed inwardly. Consort Shu's tactic of using the First Prince to plead for mercy would likely be ineffective. With the Empress bearing the legitimate heir, the First Prince's status as the 'eldest' son became less advantageous, even problematic.
In dealing with the Yuan family, the Emperor might well have been paving the way for the future legitimate heir born to the Empress.
He could only hope Consort Shu would realize this soon and cease making trouble. Given the Emperor's fondness for her, he likely wouldn't implicate Consort Shu because of the Yuan family's affairs.
Just as Quan Fuhai was about to turn and leave, a young eunuch announced, "The Empress and Noble Lady Hui seek an audience."
Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Let them in."
Unexpectedly, it wasn't just those two. Concubine Cao and a royal physician also entered.
"Empress, what is the meaning of this?" Jiang Yuan sensed something was amiss.
"Your Majesty, your subject has a matter to report. It is of great importance. I beg Your Majesty to dismiss the attendants," the Empress said, performing a formal salute.
"Sit down first." Jiang Yuan motioned for the Empress to be seated with a lift of his chin and had a seat brought for Qi Daiyu. Only then did he dismiss the other eunuchs and maids in the hall, leaving only Quan Fuhai.
After the others had left, the Empress signaled to Mei Yi, who relayed everything they had uncovered.
The more Jiang Yuan listened, the darker his expression became.
Especially upon hearing about the matters concerning the daughters of the Lin and Wang families, he slammed down the teacup in his hand.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Along with the Empress and Qi Daiyu, everyone in the hall knelt.
Jiang Yuan did not bid them rise. He fixed his gaze on the Empress and asked, "Are you suggesting that all of this was orchestrated by the Yuan family?"
The Empress replied calmly, "The selection of consorts is ultimately a matter of the inner court. How would an outer court official like Yuan Hao know of it? He must have secretly received information from Consort Shu. As for the matter concerning Concubine Mei, that is even more the work of women within the palace and cannot be wholly attributed to Yuan Hao."
The Yuan family's fate was already sealed. Her target was Consort Shu!
"Concubine Cao, speak for yourself about what you did."
She wanted Concubine Cao to reveal the mastermind behind Concubine Mei's miscarriage.
Concubine Cao's face was ashen.
Aloe... Who would have thought that the foolish Concubine Mei had a moment of cleverness before her death, planting Aloe by her side. After returning to Jingren Palace from the morning greetings, she soon discovered the sachet was missing. Upon inquiry, only Aloe was absent.
When she learned Aloe had gone to the Kunning Palace, Concubine Cao still held a sliver of hope. The sachet had been there for so long; perhaps the "False Flower Powder" inside could no longer be identified. But when she arrived at Kunning Palace and was seized by the Empress's people, Concubine Cao knew she was exposed.
"Your subject... has nothing to say."
What was there to say?
The evidence was laid out. No matter how she tried to argue, the evidence wouldn't disappear. Moreover, judging by the Emperor's demeanor, he likely had no desire to hear her excuses. This feeling made Concubine Cao's heart sink further into despair.
From the moment she entered the palace, she had been like a ghost, invisible. Even now, the Emperor still paid no heed to her actions.
If she had known it would come to this, she would have destroyed that sachet immediately. It was all her own greed...
Closing her eyes, Concubine Cao said, "The 'False Flower Powder'... was given to your subject by Consort Shu."
At this point, Consort Shu had to be summoned.
While waiting for Consort Shu, Jiang Yuan turned his gaze to Qi Daiyu. "That palace maid, she is at your family home?"
His gaze held none of its usual warmth, vastly different from his past demeanor. She had never seen the Emperor look so terrifying and couldn't help but feel apprehensive, carefully choosing her words.
"My father accidentally encountered Suo'er while she was being pursued. After rescuing her and observing her clothing, which resembled that of a palace maid, he dared not conceal the matter and wrote to inform me. Upon inquiring about her appearance and features, I confirmed it was Suo'er, who should have been expelled from the palace. As the matter was highly suspicious, I dared not act rashly and only privately reported it to Her Majesty the Empress."
The Empress also added, "That Suo'er—I clearly ordered her to be caned and expelled from the palace. How could she end up being pursued? She was already connected to Concubine Mei's miscarriage. I feared there were deeper implications, so I instructed Noble Lady Hui to first secure Suo'er."
Jiang Yuan pressed Qi Daiyu further, "An accidental encounter? Where was it?"
"Ten li outside Zhouhu Village in the capital's outskirts is where my family's old home is. It so happened that my grandmother dreamed of my late grandfather, and to ease her mind, my father went back to sweep grandfather's grave. In his letter, he said Suo'er stumbled out of the woods, covered in blood, and nearly frightened him to death. She collapsed before she even reached him. Later, according to Suo'er herself, those people thought she was dead. She forced herself to hold on to one last breath and ran into the woods."
Ten li outside Zhouhu Village was indeed a wooded area.
Since she was coming to see the Emperor, naturally their testimonies were aligned. Qi Daiyu would not gamble with the lives of her entire family. Even Suo'er had been thoroughly coached by Mrs. Wan.
Jiang Yuan turned his head to look at Quan Fuhai, the meaning clear: go and investigate.
Quan Fuhai quietly withdrew.
Only then did Jiang Yuan go to help the Empress up. The Empress said, "Your Majesty, I have already sent someone to bring Suo'er into the palace."
"Hmm."
Not long after, Consort Shu was brought in.
When she entered, her face still held a trace of bewilderment.
Upon hearing that the Emperor had sent people to search the Yuan family residence, she immediately wanted to seek an audience with him but was stopped by Ming Cui and others. Diancui hurriedly went to find Consort An, but unfortunately, the Second Princess had coincidentally developed a fever, and Consort An could not get away. They had barely managed to persuade Consort Shu to stay put when news that the entire Yuan family had been taken to the Ministry of Justice prison reached the palace. Consort Shu could sit still no longer.
Carrying the Crown Prince, she headed for the Qianqing Palace, only to be intercepted halfway by men sent by the Emperor, who forcibly took the Crown Prince to the Cining Palace.
Consort Shu was distraught. She couldn't understand how so much could have happened in just a few short months?
And just as she returned to the Chengqian Palace, the Emperor sent for her again.
Consort Shu's eyes lit up immediately. Could the Emperor be changing his mind?
She rushed to the Qianqing Palace, but seeing the people inside, her intuition told her something was wrong.
"Your servant pays her respects to Your Majesty, to the Empress." The ever-proud Consort Shu performed the ritual with uncharacteristic correctness for the first time.
Her expression was bitter. "What matter does Your Majesty summon me for? Surely it is not to have all these people watch the disgrace of my maternal family?"
Her gaze, full of resentment, fixed on Jiang Yuan. Her brows were slightly furrowed, carrying a faint melancholy and sorrow, yet she seemed to be putting on a brave face. Only the slight redness at the corners of her eyes betrayed her fragility.
Seeing such a beauty in such a state, even Qi Daiyu watching from the side felt a pang of pity, let alone the Emperor?
Jiang Yuan's tone softened slightly. "I ask you, does the matter of Concubine Mei's miscarriage have anything to do with you?"
Concubine Mei? It had been so long since she heard that name, Consort Shu couldn't recall it for a moment. When she did remember, she instinctively glanced at Concubine Cao kneeling to the side.
Then she let out a light, disdainful "pfft." "Your Majesty, my father has done wrong. Now that the Yuan family is weakened, is every dirty, foul thing to be pinned on me?"
"As everyone knows, Concubine Mei miscarried because she over-indulged in tonics and became enraged during a dispute with Consort Wei. What does that have to do with me?"
Consort Shu pressed her lips together. "Moreover, Concubine Mei died by her own hand, showing great disrespect to Your Majesty. Why investigate those past affairs now?"
The Empress said, "Consort Shu, the crucial point of this matter is someone plotting against the imperial heir. Do not try to confuse the issue."
Consort Shu: "Then who plotted against the imperial heir?"
The Empress: "Concubine Cao has already confessed that it was you who instructed her to carry a sachet containing 'Xuhua Powder,' causing Concubine Mei's agitation."
Consort Shu looked at Concubine Cao, her eyes narrowing. "Concubine Cao, you must speak with reason. When did I ever instruct you to harm Concubine Mei? What 'Xuhua Powder'? I've never even heard of it!"
Concubine Cao hadn't expected Consort Shu to deny it outright and said anxiously, "Consort Shu, my rank is merely that of a concubine. How could I possibly obtain a rare thing like 'Xuhua Powder'? The recipe for 'Xuhua Powder' was clearly given to me by a maid from your palace!"
"Oh? Which maid?"
Concubine Cao was stunned. "...I don't know her name, but I am certain she is from your palace!"
Concubine Cao gave a detailed description of the maid's appearance.
Consort Shu frowned, as if trying to remember. "...There is indeed someone matching your description in my palace. However, she is merely the lowest-ranking cleaning maid in the Chengqian Palace. Concubine Cao, are you suggesting that if I wanted to harm Concubine Mei, I would entrust such an important matter to the lowest-ranking maid?"
Consort Shu gave a cold laugh and turned to face the Emperor. "Your Majesty, I rather think this is a case of someone trying to frame me!"
