Chapter 138: Not a Single Good One Among Them

Chapter 138: Not a Single Good One Among Them

Consort Hui's remark about Qing'er being from the Second Prince's side drew everyone's attention to her. Realizing her slip of the tongue, she awkwardly laughed and said, "I saw her once when the Second Prince sent her to deliver something to Noble Consort Liang."

The Empress hummed in acknowledgment, then said, "Call Noble Consort Liang over as well."

A young eunuch scurried off to carry out the order, and the Empress asked everyone to take their seats. At that moment, Princess Changping turned to Consort Hui and asked, "Consort Hui, dare you say this matter has nothing to do with you?"

Consort Hui looked genuinely shocked, "Princess, why would you say such a thing? What does this have to do with me? I hold no grudge against the Marquis of Yongning's household."

Princess Changping snorted, "It was you who advised me to reconcile with the Marquess of Yongning. That's why I went early to the palace banquet and engaged her in conversation. It was precisely because she was talking to me that she neglected her young maid, leading to this incident."

Consort Hui looked helplessly and speechlessly at the Empress, "Your Majesty, please judge this matter. Today, after I paid my respects to you, I encountered Princess Changping on my way back. She mentioned some misunderstandings with the Marquis of Yongning's household, so I advised her to clear up any misunderstandings, as we all live in the capital and frequently see each other."

Turning to Princess Changping, she continued, "I did say that to you, but Princess Changping, I didn't instruct you to go early to the palace banquet and engage the Marquess of Yongning in conversation!"

"You did say, 'It just so happens that the Marquess of Yongning will be there today,'" Princess Changping retorted angrily.

Consort Hui looked exasperated, as if Princess Changping was being unreasonable, "I did say that, but again, did I tell you to go early to the palace banquet and engage the Marquess of Yongning in conversation? Even if I did say that, Princess Changping, are you a three-year-old child? Do you do everything that's suggested to you?"

"You..." Princess Changping raised her finger toward Consort Hui but found herself at a loss for words. At the time, Consort Hui had indeed hinted that she should go to the palace banquet early and have a friendly chat with the Marquess of Yongning to put the matter to rest. But a hint was just a hint, and she never explicitly said it.

"Your Majesty the Empress," Consort Hui said with a look of grievance, "I only wished for Princess Changping to reconcile with the Marquis of Yongning's household. Who could have foreseen such an incident?"

The Empress hummed in response, "Don't take Princess Changping's words to heart; you know her temperament."

Princess Changping: "......" She felt an urge to smash something.

At this moment, Consort Hui turned to Tang Shuyi, "Lady Marquis of Yongning, I truly did not anticipate such an event. Had I known, I would never have said those words to Princess Changping."

Princess Changping: "......" She wanted to hurl a cup at her face.

"All the sweet words are yours, while others are to blame," a languid voice rang out, and the enchanting Consort Liang entered, surrounded by her entourage.

After perfunctorily greeting the Empress, she turned to Consort Hui, "Do you think the whole world is foolish, and only you are wise? Your little tricks are transparent to me, and surely Lady Marquis of Yongning understands them as well."

Consort Liang turned to Tang Shuyi, "Is that so, Lady Marquis of Yongning?"

Tang Shuyi looked up to meet her gaze and said, "What each noble lady in the palace is like, I, a mere outsider, naturally would not know. However, I have sworn upon my late husband's grave to raise our three children well and not let them suffer the slightest injustice."

The message was clear: I don't care about your disputes, but my daughter must not suffer unjustly.

Not receiving the response she wanted, Consort Liang stared at Tang Shuyi, who did not flinch, meeting her gaze squarely.

After a moment, Consort Liang chuckled and said, "Everyone in the capital knows of the grudges between Jingming and the Marquis of Yongning's household. But even if someone wanted to harm a member of the Marquis's family, they wouldn't use someone close to them."

"Alright, we will find out the truth by interrogating this palace maid," the Empress declared.

"Someone who's been bribed won't speak the truth," Consort Liang said sharply, looking at the fallen palace maid Qing'er, "Let the Ministry of Justice investigate. If they find out that this was Jingming's doing, I will have no objections."

"How can a matter that occurred in the harem be taken to the Ministry of Justice for trial? Let the Imperial Clan Court handle it," the Empress disagreed.

Consort Liang smiled at her, "Although this happened in the palace, the girl from the Marquis of Yongning's household is an outsider. Why can't the Ministry of Justice handle it?"

The head of the Imperial Clan Court was an appointee of the Empress, and whatever outcome they reached would naturally be what the Empress desired.

The Empress lowered her gaze, seemingly in contemplation. Then she looked at Tang Shuyi and asked, "Lady Marquis of Yongning, where do you think the trial should be held?"

Tang Shuyi inwardly sneered, 'Not a single good soul among them, and now they want to pass the buck to me.'

She raised her hand to adjust a strand of hair by Xiao Yuzhu's temple, drawing everyone's gaze to the little girl. The bruises around her neck were dark and purple, a sight that was profoundly disturbing.

"I am not versed in legal matters, whether the case is tried by the Court of Judicial Review or the Ministry of Punishments. I merely seek clarity on who wishes to take my Jade Pearl's life," she said.

The Empress glanced at her, then sighed and said, "Let the Ministry of Punishments handle it."

"Whom are you trying to shield, Your Majesty? Or are you the mastermind behind this?" Consort Liang's words were sharp, her voice commanding, silencing the room.

After a moment, the Empress sneered, "Consort Liang, this is not your place to run wild."

"So the Empress can falsely accuse others at will?" Consort Liang stood her ground.

"How can you know the outcome without a trial?" the Empress retorted.

Consort Liang replied, "Is the outcome not obvious?"

……

As the Empress and Consort Liang exchanged heated words, Tang Shuyi leaned over to whisper in Xiao Yuzhu's ear, "When the Emperor arrives, cry at the right moment, understand?"

Xiao Yuzhu didn't quite understand but knew it wasn't the time to ask questions, so she nodded earnestly.

Indeed, at the height of the Empress and Consort Liang's argument, a voice announced from outside, "The Emperor has arrived."

The room fell silent, and everyone rose to welcome him. Tang Shuyi, holding Xiao Yuzhu, knelt down. Hearing the command to rise, she helped Xiao Yuzhu up and they returned to their seats.

Tang Shuyi glanced upwards briefly, then quickly averted her gaze. She had always been curious about ancient emperors. Having seen one today, she thought him ordinary, just an old man in his fifties or sixties, neither particularly imposing nor majestic.

"Is this the young maiden from the Zi'an household?"

Xiao Huai is known by the courtesy name Zi'an.

The Emperor beckoned Xiao Yuzhu. Tang Shuyi gently nudged her and imperceptibly winked, urging her forward. Xiao Yuzhu pressed her lips together and approached the Emperor. Reaching him, she performed a respectful curtsy.

"Come closer, let Us have a look," said the Emperor.

Xiao Yuzhu moved nearer. The Emperor examined the scars on her neck and said, "The young maiden must be frightened."

Recalling Tang Shuyi's advice and indeed feeling aggrieved, Xiao Yuzhu's tears started to fall as soon as the Emperor finished speaking, streaming down her cheeks like a floodgate opened.

PS: The next chapter will be delayed. If you can't wait, please read it tomorrow.