“Chapter 0048: The End”

"Chapter 0048: The End"

"Summoned by the Empress, 'Take these two negligent servants out and punish them with fifty strikes each. After the punishment, send them away; they need not serve any longer.'"

"The two maids were terrified, too frightened even to plead for mercy."

"Fifty strikes could cripple, if not kill..."

"But no one would plead on their behalf. As lowly maids, they had no choice but to endure."

"Yun Xiaoyi was finally able to see visitors. The Empress, though reluctant, had no choice but to enter."

"As soon as she entered, Yun Xiaoyi cried out, 'Your Majesty, someone harmed me, someone plotted against me!'"

"'Explain yourself clearly,' the Empress frowned."

"'Yes, I slipped, I really did slip. There must have been something slippery under my foot, something very slick,' Yun Xiaoyi said through her tears."

"Lan Fei frowned, 'The steps and your shoes were both checked. There were no traces. It's certain you slipped, but there was nothing on the ground.'"

"'No, no, I felt it. There must have been something slippery. It's impossible there was nothing!'"

"Despite her firm belief, evidence showed otherwise. The Empress and Lan Fei were already running out of patience."

"'Alright, you should rest now. I'll have someone investigate further. The servants attending you have been taken away. Relax, you're still young. There will be other chances to have children,' the Empress said as she rose to leave."

"Lan Fei followed closely behind, 'I will have someone look into it too. For now, rest and take care of your health.'"

"Yun Xiaoyi, crying, pleaded, 'Empress, Consort Lan, there really was something. Please investigate thoroughly. I was wronged!'"

"Those outside heard her cries."

"The Empress, upon exiting, felt compelled to address the issue, so she sat down: 'Investigate thoroughly again. Since she insists, you must not overlook anything.'"

"Everyone agreed. Ruyi, with her team, conducted another search and returned shaking their heads: 'Empress, there's still nothing, truly nothing. We even checked the belongings of those maids, but found nothing.'"

"The Empress frowned, 'Then it must have been Yun Xiaoyi's carelessness.'"

"Lan Fei nodded in agreement."

"Guifei turned to Guifei and De Fei, 'What do you think?'"

"'The Empress is wise, surely there's no mistake,' Guifei remarked."

"'Yes, it must have been Yun Xiaoyi's carelessness. When people slip, don't they usually feel a sudden slide? It's unlikely there was anything there,' Jin De Fei added."

"The Empress nodded, 'Alright, then there's no need for further investigation. Accidents happen. Ensure she's well cared for. Since her servants are no longer available, I will inform the Internal Affairs Department to send a few more. Let's go, everyone disperse. Lan Fei, please oversee this matter.'"

"'Yes, Your Majesty,' Lan Fei stood up, ready to escort the Empress."

"Everyone bid farewell to Lan Fei and dispersed."

"Yun Li, with a smile, suggested, 'It's quite cold today. How about we warm up with some hot tea at Jing Xiaoyi's?'"

"'I'll happily welcome you,' Jing Xiaoyi responded."

"Nearby, Zhang Baolin, also smiling, chimed in, 'I'd like a cup of that tea too, sisters.'"

"'Then let's all have tea together,' Jing Xiaoyi said."

"Soon, the group arrived at Cuiwei Palace."

"Meng Baolin lived there, so naturally, she joined in. Everyone went to Jing Xiaoyi's place, whose tea-making skills were indeed quite good."

"She personally poured tea for everyone."

"Meng Baolin shook her head, 'Today's incident was really something. Yun Xiaoyi was too careless.'"

"Zhang Baolin speculated, 'I've been pondering, she kept insisting there was something, but if there really was, shouldn't there be some trace? It's more likely she was mistaken. It's not like it snowed.'"

"Yun Li lamented, 'It's such a pity, nearly three months along and then this. Look at Wu Baolin, her pregnancy seems stable now.'"

"'Indeed, what a shame,' Jing Xiaoyi agreed, shaking her head. 'In the harem, one must be cautious at all times.'"

"Everyone felt a shared sense of sorrow and decided not to discuss it further."

"After finishing their tea, Yun Li prepared to leave and coincidentally, could walk with Zhang Baolin."

"The two chatted casually on the way. Zhang Baolin, ever gentle and amiable, said, 'Honestly, I’d rather not know if someone harmed her. Knowing it was just her carelessness is better; anyone can be careless. But if someone actually harmed her, and did so cleverly, it's terrifying. It keeps you up at night.'"

"'True, but it's likely just her own carelessness. His Majesty hasn't visited yet, and if he learns about this, he'll probably be upset,' Yun Li commented."

"'You're right, sister,' sighed Zhang Baolin."

"Previously, she was a younger sister, but since the other’s promotion, she had to address her as 'sister.'"

"At the fork in the road, they bid each other farewell, 'Take care on your way, you have a longer walk. I'm almost there,' said Yun Li."

"'Alright, sister, you too,' Zhang Baolin responded warmly with a smile."

"Yun Li, holding Zhi Fu's hand, gave a soft click of her tongue."

"'What’s wrong with Xiaoyi?' Zhi Fu asked in a low voice."

"Yun Li just smiled and said nothing."

"Walking further, Yun Li pondered, 'Zhang Baolin is hard to read. Remember when she and Liu Yuniang instigated me? Do you think she couldn’t see through it, or did she think I couldn’t? Is she genuinely mild, or just pretending? If it's an act, she's doing it well.'"

"Zhi Fu replied, 'I can't tell either, but no matter what, if you feel uneasy, it's best to keep your distance from her.'"

"'You're right. What do you think about today's incident?' Yun Li asked further."

"'As for this matter, I couldn't discern anything either, and nothing conclusive came from the investigation. I had a look myself, and truly, there was nothing. The Empress's people wouldn't cover up anything. Yet, it's strange. Could Yun Xiaoyi really have been that careless?'"

"Yun Li nodded, arriving at her destination."

"Inside, a brazier burned, filling the room with warmth."

"She sat down and asked someone to remove her head ornaments."

"'It is curious. Yun Xiaoyi is just a low-ranking consort. The harem won’t always have just these two children; someone will give birth eventually. Look at Wu Baolin, her child seems stable now. So, if Yun Xiaoyi was indeed harmed, who would it be? Who wouldn’t want her child?'"

"'Even though she’s been promoted and has a child, her favor isn’t much more than Jing Xiaoyi or mine. Maybe similar to mine? Regardless, among the newcomers, who could harm her? Especially since it happened in Consort Lan’s palace.'"

"'It seems unlikely. Even Jing Xiaoyi, with her prestigious background, wouldn’t dare to act recklessly in the palace,' Zhi Fu commented."

"'Yes, then who else? I can only think that Yun Xiaoyi’s child, if born, might be taken by Consort Lan. But it's hard to say. Maybe we're thinking too negatively. Could it just be an accident?' pondered Yun Li."

"'As you said, whatever it is, it doesn’t involve us. It's just a pity for Yun Xiaoyi.' A miscarriage like this... it'll be harder for her to conceive again."

"If it's concluded as a careless slip leading to miscarriage, it almost ruins her chances of regaining favor."

"A small negligence, but how can one deserving of another chance if they can’t even protect a potential heir?"

"With so many in the harem, and the Emperor not lacking choices."

"Yun Li nodded, understanding clearly that Yun Xiaoyi’s favor might well be over."