Chapter 72: The Winter Snake Calamity, Part 5

Chapter 72: The Winter Snake Calamity, Part 5

The hall was so silent that Xiao Changzai's heavy breathing from nervousness sounded particularly jarring.

Song Zhao watched her panic-stricken demeanor quietly, thinking she did appear genuinely unaware.

However, in this palace where everyone is acting, even ironclad evidence laid out in front of her won't help her play the role of an innocent 'Dou E.'

Xiao Chang's ploy, however, was too hastily arranged and full of loopholes.

Having taken such an action, she should have at least been prepared for the possibility of exposure,

And have thought of some plausible excuses in advance, rather than just keeping silent and claiming innocence when accused.

In this palace, isn't the first thing anyone accused of wrongdoing says is to claim their innocence?

But who listens?

Most of the masters present had already concluded in their minds that Xiao Chang was guilty,

Consort Ying indignantly accused, "How could you be so malicious? Putting Snakeglow grass in everyone's sachet? Did you want us all to be bitten by snakes for your satisfaction?"

Consort Yun also said, "I knew it. How could two snakes appear out of nowhere in the dead of winter? You must have planned this all along. Could it be that after your beauty was ruined, your heart turned dark too?"

Consort Yao couldn't help but chime in, "Even after you disfigured your face, none of us mocked or ridiculed you, everyone still spoke kindly to you. How could you commit such a deranged act..."

Accusations and curses flooded towards Xiao Chang from all directions.

Sobbing, she defended herself, "I didn’t know where the snakes came from, I truly didn't do it! Please, Empress, discern the truth!"

"Wretch!"

While Xiao Chang was speaking, Consort Chen suddenly erupted in anger,

Forgetting her dignified status as a consort, she lifted her foot and kicked Xiao Chang on the shoulder, knocking her to the ground,

"Do you think I don’t know what you're plotting? You secretly believed that it was I who tampered with the Phoenix-headed Pipa, causing your disfigurement, and now you seek revenge!"

Consort Chen towered over Xiao Chang, her voice venomous,

"What is your status, and what is mine? Do you think you are worthy of my scheming by destroying the Empress Dowager’s cherished relic? Shameless creature!"

She was about to kick Xiao Chang again,

When Yingxiang stepped forward to stop her, advising, "Your Highness, don’t get angry with her and hurt yourself. I just remembered, before you fell in the Mei Garden, Xiao Chang was right beside you. Perhaps... she deliberately tripped you."

Seeing the suspicion against her deepen, with even the motive for her actions fabricated,

Xiao Chang broke out in cold sweat and scrambled up from the ground, kowtowing frantically to Consort Chen,

"I didn’t do it! At that time..."

She suddenly raised her head, pointing at several people, "At that time, Liu Chang, Song Chang, and perhaps even the maid Qingyue were beside me. Everyone was panicked; it could have been any of them who accidentally tripped Your Highness in the chaos!"

"Xiao Chang, you can't make baseless accusations!"

Hardly had Xiao Chang finished speaking when Liu Chang immediately rushed to explain:

"Who, while busy fleeing for their life, doesn't keep their eyes on the path beneath their feet? Who would randomly extend their foot under Consort Chen's feet without reason?"

Song Zhao remained silent on this, but Xiao Fuzi spoke up for her,

"Then it's even less likely to have been my mistress. If my mistress had harbored such malicious intent, why would she have risked her life afterwards to save Consort Chen?"

Consort Shu also turned to Qingyue and asked, "Did you trip Consort Chen?"

Qingyue, somewhat embarrassed, replied, "I should have been following and attending to you, Your Highness, but I was walking slowly due to a certain ailment..."

Consort Chen gave her a disdainful look, "What, do you have calluses on your feet? You neglect your own mistress and instead wander around me."

Qingyue helplessly lifted her trouser leg to reveal her palace shoes,

The shoes were very small, not at all appearing to fit the feet of an adult woman.

"I am of Yue ethnicity, and Yue women traditionally practice foot-binding. Although my feet were unbound when I was sold to serve Consort Shu at the age of eight, my feet are deformed, making them especially small. I cannot take big steps when walking, how could I possibly trip Consort Chen?"

Consort Shu added, "Qingyue has been slow since she followed me from my mother’s home. It’s not her fault."

Now, things were clear,

At the time Consort Chen was tripped, everyone had evidence to prove it wasn't them.

Although Liu Chang’s alibi was weak, she had previously shown goodwill towards Consort Chen and had assisted her both openly and secretly, so Consort Chen naturally wouldn’t suspect her.

This further intensified the suspicion on Xiao Chang.

Consort Chen snorted disdainfully and sternly commanded:

"Guards! Take this wretched woman to the Ministry of Punishment for severe interrogation. Let's see if she remains defiant under torture!"

"Wait," the Empress said sternly. "The matter is not yet concluded. Xiao Changzai is still the Emperor's cousin. We can't deal with her carelessly. If she is sent to the Ministry of Punishment and endures torture only to prove her innocence, wouldn't that dishearten others?"

The Imperial Consort Chen sneered sarcastically, "The Empress really knows how to play her cards. So, what do you suggest we do? Let her off the hook, hoping she won't cause harm next time?"

"Imperial Consort Chen, don't overstep your bounds," the Empress reprimanded, then turned to Xiao Changzai, calmly asking, "The biggest suspicion lies in the sachets you distributed. Why did you decide to give everyone sachets?"

Xiao Changzai explained, "These sachets were made at the request of Consort Shu. She said I had been remiss in not paying my respects to the Empress for so long, and suggested I make these sachets for everyone. Firstly, to pray for peace and safety, and secondly, so others wouldn't hold grudges against me..."

Consort Shu calmly stated, "I did ask you to make sachets, but I never instructed you to include snake glow grass in them."

"In that case, Xiao Changzai, why did you add snake glow grass?" the Empress asked, gently stroking the soup doll that Shuang Ruoxin had returned, adding, "Snake glow grass can calm the mind, but it's certainly not a common ingredient in sachets."

Xiao Changzai defended herself, "I have no knowledge of medicinal herbs. I merely ordered the imperial pharmacy to send some dried flowers and herbs known for their calming properties..."

Upon hearing this, the Empress glanced at Jiang Deshun, who immediately sent for the staff from the imperial pharmacy.

However, when the pharmacy apprentice arrived, he further implicated Xiao Changzai in wrongdoing.

"Replying to Your Highness the Empress, indeed it was my responsibility to prepare the medicine for Xiao Changzai that day. However, the snake glow grass was..."

He said, glancing towards Yinzhi, who was kneeling beside Xiao Changzai, and added, "It was Yinzhi, Xiao Changzai's attendant, who specifically asked for it."

Xiao Changzai suddenly turned her gaze towards Yinzhi, her pupils trembling, overwhelmed with shock.

Yinzhi, on the other hand, admitted to the accusation, her voice trembling as she spoke:

"I only knew it was good for calming the mind. I had no idea that it would attract snakes and insects..."

At this moment, Yinzhi's explanation seemed utterly feeble.

A boundless sense of despair filled the air, like surging waves relentlessly engulfing Xiao Changzai,

Threatening to crush and obliterate her.

Perhaps due to extreme nervousness and fear, Xiao Changzai intended to explain but suddenly felt nauseous and couldn't help but vomit on the spot...

Seeing her in this state, the Empress realized she wouldn't get any more answers, and thus declared:

"In that case, I have no choice but to detain you for now until the Emperor finishes his state affairs and decides your fate."

"Someone, take Xiao Changzai to the dungeon and ensure she is well-guarded."