The composure of Concubine Shu made Concubine Cao's heart sink.
Only now did she realize that Concubine Shu had never explicitly stated in front of her that she wanted to harm Concubine Mei. The formula for the "Xu Hua San" had also been delivered to her by that little palace maid. In other words, Concubine Shu had planned from the very beginning that even if Concubine Cao turned against her, Concubine Shu could still clear herself of suspicion.
After all, just as Concubine Shu had just said, if she truly ordered someone to harm Concubine Mei, she would definitely have her most trusted Ming Cui or Diancui handle it. How could she possibly use a cleaning maid?
It was precisely because she, Concubine Cao, had been too clever for her own good, keeping that sachet, thinking she could use it to control Concubine Shu in the future.
As a result, not only had she exposed herself, but now Concubine Shu was trying to turn the tables and accuse her of false accusation!
Concubine Cao slumped weakly to her knees on the floor. Her mind was in complete chaos, unable to think of any way to save herself.
Until she heard a voice.
"Concubine Shu, may I ask where that palace maid is now?"
Concubine Cao couldn't help but look up at the speaker—it was Consort Hui.
Qi Daiyu said calmly, "Since Concubine Cao mentioned this person, she should be brought here for questioning regardless."
Concubine Shu's expression faltered. She looked at Diancui behind her. "Diancui, where is that maid? Go and bring her here."
Diancui did not move, keeping her head lowered. "Your Highness, you've forgotten. Xing'er contracted consumption half a year ago and passed away."
Concubine Shu put on a shocked expression. "What?"
Then she said regretfully, "How could she be gone just like that?" She looked innocently at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, your subject did not know... You are aware that your subject is accustomed to using Diancui and the others daily and rarely uses other people. There are many eunuchs and maids in the Chenggian Palace whose names your subject doesn't even remember."
Her words were reasonable, yet they made Qi Daiyu's heart turn cold.
Concubine Mei had her miscarriage in April, and that maid named Xing'er died in May. Considering Suo'er's experience, Qi Daiyu refused to believe Concubine Shu had no hand in this.
In Concubine Shu's eyes, a life was so cheap. Someone who had worked diligently for her couldn't even keep their life in the end.
Thinking of this, Qi Daiyu felt a rare surge of emotion. Looking at Concubine Shu's beautiful face, she found it repulsive for the first time.
With Xing'er gone, Concubine Cao's testimony was useless. Regarding the "Xu Hua San" incident, she would have to bear the blame alone.
A hint of imperceptible satisfaction flashed in Concubine Shu's eyes, but the next moment, she heard Qi Daiyu say, "Then, Concubine Shu, do you remember a maid named Suo'er from Concubine Mei's palace?"
"Who is that?" Concubine Shu didn't remember the name at all.
However, Ming Cui and Diancui behind her trembled slightly.
Qi Daiyu glanced at the Empress. Seeing her nod, she knew Suo'er had already been brought into the palace.
She then said with a smile, "It's alright if you don't remember. The Ming Cui behind you should."
She looked at Ming Cui. "Ming Cui, on the day Concubine Mei miscarried, you slipped out for a while. When you returned to the Jingren Palace, you came with Consort An. At that time, Consort An said she had encountered the suspicious Suo'er on the way and brought her back to the Jingren Palace. Therefore, you must have seen Suo'er too, right?"
Ming Cui's heart pounded with fear. She couldn't help but look up at Qi Daiyu. With so many people that day and everyone's attention on Concubine Mei, she thought no one had seen her leave. How did Consort Hui know...
"This servant..." Ming Cui's voice was dry from excessive shock. "This servant has some impression."
"Just some impression? Sister Ming Cui, I remember you very clearly." A voice came from the palace door. Quan Fuhai led Suo'er inside.
Seeing Suo'er, Ming Cui was greatly alarmed and couldn't help but step back. "You! You! How can you..."
Concubine Shu had just remembered who Suo'er was. Knowing full well that Suo'er had long been dealt with, she hadn't been panicked. But now, seeing someone who should be dead standing alive before her, with undisguised hatred in her eyes, Concubine Shu was also greatly startled, falling back into Diancui's arms.
The expressions of the three were too unusual. Jiang Yuan already believed half of what Qi Daiyu had said. After Quan Ruhai approached and whispered in his ear confirming that Qi Daiyu's words were true, that belief turned to eighty percent.
"Concubine Shu, you and your maid, what is this expression? It's just a palace maid, why so alarmed?" The Empress spoke up at the right moment.
Concubine Shu quickly regained her composure. "Your subject was indiscreet. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Her dagger-like gaze shot towards Diancui: Didn't you say it was handled cleanly? How is this person standing here perfectly fine?
Concubine Shu's heart instantly sank to the bottom.
She never imagined that Suo'er, who should have died, would "come back to life." She couldn't be sure if Suo'er had left behind any evidence.
Jiang Yuan stared at Concubine Shu but pointed at Suo'er. "You speak. What did Concubine Shu make you do?"
Suo'er knelt and kowtowed. When she raised her head again, her face was covered in tears.
"Your Majesty, this servant wronged Concubine Mei. This servant was momentarily blinded, accepted benefits from Concubine Shu, and sprinkled oleander powder inside Concubine Mei's pillow."
Upon hearing this, both the Empress and Qi Daiyu were shocked. This was something they didn't know. They only knew Concubine Shu had made Suo'er do something, but not the details.
The Empress reacted swiftly. "Concubine Mei's belongings should have all been disposed of."
Concubine Shu's heart relaxed slightly. That pillow had long been destroyed by Consort An.
Suo'er gave a bitter smile. "Even if it wasn't disposed of, it couldn't be found. That pillow was taken out of the palace by this servant and handed to Ming Cui on the very day Concubine Mei miscarried."
Ming Cui immediately said, "You're lying! When did I ever take that wretched pillow?"
Suo'er looked at her with hatred. "Before we encountered Consort An. You told me to give the pillow to you. You hid it by the western wall of the Yonghe Palace. You knew Consort Wei, who lived in the western side hall of the Yonghe Palace, had already been summoned to the Jingren Palace for questioning and wasn't in her palace, so it was less likely to be noticed. After everyone had dispersed, you went to retrieve the pillow."
Ming Cui: "You certainly know how to spin a tale." In fact, the truth was similar to what Suo'er said, except for one discrepancy. It wasn't Ming Cui who retrieved the pillow; it was someone sent by Consort An. Suo'er hadn't noticed that when they encountered Consort An that day, there were four people behind her, but when they headed to the Jingren Palace, only three remained. The missing one had gone to retrieve the pillow.
Knowing that Ming Cui would not easily admit to it, Suo'er no longer looked at her, but instead spoke directly to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, at that time, Ming Cui gave this servant many valuables. Most of them I took out of the palace, but unfortunately, when Concubine Shu's people were chasing me to kill me, they searched and took everything clean to avoid leaving evidence. However, Concubine Shu probably never expected that this servant could 'come back to life,' so she is unaware that this servant kept a small portion hidden."
Concubine Shu's heart, which had just relaxed, tightened once more.
Suo'er continued: "Among them was a gemstone ring. Ming Cui gave it to me specifically to show her regard, and I treasured it dearly. Afraid that the palace maid I shared a room with would discover it, I buried it under the big poplar tree in the corner of the rear courtyard of the Jingren Palace. After Concubine Mei's miscarriage, I was caned and later expelled from the palace, so I had no chance to retrieve it. It should still be under that poplar tree."
"That gemstone ring was worn by Ming Cui. Ming Cui often runs errands for Concubine Shu, so many palace servants know her and should recognize that ring. Your Majesty need only send someone to inquire to know."
Ming Cui's face turned pale.
Jiang Yuan sent someone to search. Not long after, a palace servant entered the hall holding a gemstone ring and presented it to the Emperor.
The ring was still stained with soil, but Jiang Yuan picked it up without the slightest hesitation, turned it over in his hand a few times, then raised his arm and threw it out. It accurately struck Ming Cui's forehead, immediately reddening the spot.
"Concubine Shu, what do you have to say for yourself now?"
His tone was utterly ordinary, yet everyone knew the Emperor was angry.
Ming Cui immediately kowtowed: "Your Majesty, this servant admits her wrongdoing! This matter is entirely this servant's fault! It has nothing to do with Concubine Shu. I acted on my own initiative in all these matters; Concubine Shu knew nothing about them. Please punish this servant alone."
Jiang Yuan, furious, laughed coldly: "Are you saying that you, a mere palace maid, single-handedly plotted to harm an imperial heir?"
Ming Cui trembled. "This servant's judgment was clouded, leading me to commit such a treasonous act. Your Majesty knows Concubine Shu's temperament. Upon hearing Concubine Mei was pregnant, my mistress felt somewhat jealous and couldn't sleep well at night. This servant couldn't bear to see it. I was also worried that if Concubine Mei gave birth to a prince, it might threaten the Crown Prince's position in the future. That's why I took the wrong path and did this terrible thing."
"This servant has served the mistress since childhood; I am a house-born servant of the Yuan family. People in the family estate believe my words represent the mistress's intentions. Ordering the pursuit and killing of 'Suo'er' was a command I sent back to the estate without my mistress's knowledge."
"Your Majesty, you may kill or slice me, and this servant will harbor no resentment. But I beg you, please do not blame the mistress. She truly knew nothing of this."
As Ming Cui spoke, Concubine Shu's expression shifted from initial panic to gradual composure, and finally to a look of shock mixed with a hint of anger.
"Ming Cui, how could you..."
Their coordination was seamless. One had to admit, their acting was quite superb.
Everyone present understood that this matter could not possibly have been orchestrated by Ming Cui alone. But if Ming Cui insisted on taking all the blame, there would be no way to hold Concubine Shu accountable.
The Empress said sternly, "Ming Cui, you just said yourself that you are a house-born servant of the Yuan family. Do you think that by taking all the blame for Concubine Shu, you can ensure the safety of your family? Have you forgotten that today His Majesty just ordered a search of the Yuan family estate? All members of the Yuan family are now in the Ministry of Justice's prison."
The implied meaning was clear: protecting Concubine Shu now held no benefit for you.
Ming Cui shuddered all over, clenched her teeth tightly, but still said, "Empress, Concubine Shu truly knew nothing of this."
She still refused to admit it. The Empress frowned.
Qi Daiyu silently looked towards Jiang Yuan.
In truth, the matter was already quite clear at this point. The final disposition, however, depended on the Emperor's will. If the Emperor wished to protect Concubine Shu, he could simply follow Ming Cui's excuse. If the Emperor had grown tired of Concubine Shu, nothing Ming Cui said would matter.
So, what would the Emperor do?
Then they heard Jiang Yuan speak: "Quan Fuhai, convey my decree. Concubine Cao is granted permission to take her own life. All palace servants of Jingren Palace, including Luhui and Suo'er; and all palace servants of Chengqian Palace, except for the wet nurses attending the Crown Prince, are all granted permission to take their own life."
"Concubine Shu failed to manage her subordinates strictly, allowing her palace maid to plot against the imperial fetus and commit the grave crime of deceiving the sovereign. However, in consideration of her merit in bearing the Crown Prince, her consort seal is to be confiscated. All her privileges and treatment are to be reduced to those of a Concubine. She is to be confined within the Chengqian Palace, forbidden from leaving without summons."
In other words, from then on, Concubine Shu would only retain the empty title of Consort, but in reality receive the treatment of a Concubine, and she could only stay within the Chengqian Palace.
Jiang Yuan still held some affection for Concubine Shu, not making the punishment absolute, or perhaps he was simply preserving some dignity for the Crown Prince.
As for Concubine Cao, who had neither affection nor a child, there was only one path left: death.
