Chapter 272

Chapter 0272: The Cruelty of the Harem

"Do you have anything else to say?" the Empress angrily asked.

"I refuse to accept this; I have done nothing wrong," Consort Lan Xian struggled to think of a defense but could not admit guilt.

"Xu Shi, after so many years in a high position, do you still remember who you are?" He Jinli, who had been silent for a while, asked.

Consort Lan Xian was startled, Xu Shi?

This address was truly unfamiliar to her. The Emperor had never called her that.

"Your Majesty... I am innocent, please see the truth, Your Majesty. Someone must be framing me," Consort Lan Xian looked at the Empress and then at Yun Li: "It's the Empress, it's Consort Qiong Zhao Yi, it's you..."

"Ah, isn't that so? The Empress is the Empress, the mother of the Crown Prince. And me, currently favored. The Empress and the Crown Prince block the Third Prince's path, and I, yours. Isn't it to harm you?" Yun Li sneered.

"I'm curious, with so many people here, why does Consort Lan Xian only accuse the Empress and Consort Qiong Zhao Yi?" Consort Mei Shu asked.

Everyone exchanged glances, covering their mouths.

Perhaps Consort Qiong Zhao Yi was right.

"Your Majesty!" Consort Lan Xian couldn't focus on them: "Your Majesty, please see clearly, I am wronged. I have been wronged."

"Sister, are you truly innocent?" Consort Jin De suddenly said.

"What do you mean?" Consort Lan Xian looked over.

"Sister should know best. Over these years, have you truly been innocent? Can you truly withstand His Majesty's scrutiny?" Consort Jin De looked into her eyes.

In that moment, Consort Lan Xian was stopped in her tracks.

Not to mention, during Consort Jin De's second pregnancy, it was she...

On this matter, she felt guilty.

She dared not meet Consort Jin De's eyes.

Initially just suspicious, Consort Jin De became certain of her guilt based on her reaction.

Back then, she managed to distance herself from the Empress by feigning a miscarriage, suspecting even the Emperor might have believed it was the Empress's doing, but Consort Jin De knew otherwise.

And who else could have orchestrated such an act at that time?

He Jinli looked at Consort Lan Xian: "Considering your long service since the Eastern Palace, I shall not punish you severely."

"Xu Shi lacks virtue and does not deserve to hold the title of Consort. From today, her title is revoked, demoted to Beauty. Move out of Zui Yun Palace."

"Your Majesty, I am wronged, please see the truth, I am wronged," Consort Lan Xian, now Beauty Xu, cried.

Oh, she was already Beauty Xu.

"You should know why I do not investigate further. If you wish to live, stay quietly," He Jinli said indifferently.

"Your Majesty..." Beauty Xu called out mournfully.

He Jinli stood up: "The rest shall proceed as per the rules."

Turning to leave, he added: "Zheng Baolin has been wronged, promote her to Xiao Yi."

"We respectfully see off Your Majesty," the Empress led the farewell.

After He Jinli left, Beauty Xu looked around: "You all really know how to scheme!"

"If you harbored no malice, how could anyone harm you? His Majesty, considering your years of service, spared you from the Cold Palace, which is already merciful. You should know your place and keep quiet," the Empress coldly sneered.

"Ha! I know my place? Empress, what have you done, how much have you done, thinking no one in this harem knows?" She stood up, glancing at Yun Li.

Yet said nothing more.

But then looked at the Empress again: "Just wait, today is not the end."

The Empress waved her hand: "Escort Beauty Xu back to pack her belongings, then move her to Yilan Pavilion."

Yilan Pavilion sounds nice, but it's unfortunately remote.

Beauty Xu scoffed and turned to leave.

Now fully aware she had fallen into a trap, she ceased to struggle, understanding her disadvantage and lack of evidence made everything else moot. She thought there might still be a chance.

However, soon after, the people from Zui Yun Palace were sent to the Internal Penal Bureau.

This greatly alarmed Beauty Xu: "Who dares! His Majesty demoted me, but when was it said I'd be sent to the Internal Penal Bureau?"

"Oh, Beauty doesn't know? This is at the Empress's behest," Yu Haisheng chuckled. "Beauty Xu, your mistake means we must investigate thoroughly. We need to see what else has been done over the years."

"How dare you, I demand to see His Majesty!"

"Beauty, you should change how you address yourself; as a fifth-rank Beauty, you can't call yourself 'this palace' anymore," Yu Haisheng laughed.

---

Upon returning, Zhi Fu expressed concern: "Your Highness, won't she impulsively expose you?"

"Even if she does, Yun Xiao Yi and Zheng Baolin will deny it. Neither the Empress nor Consort Jin De will let her off," Yun Li sighed. "Her downfall is just the beginning. They won't let her continue peacefully as a Beauty. This is just the start; more and more evidence will be stacked against her. True or false, she won't escape."

"Yes, but Your Highness... you're also not pleased, are you?" Zhi Fu said.

"Zhi Fu, although I consider myself somewhat intelligent, I don't enjoy these endless struggles. I find them tedious, but as the Ninth Prince grows, I have no choice but to engage. Xu Shi is just the beginning; she was actually the furthest from the Crown Prince's position. Doesn't she know that herself?"

"The chaos of blooming flowers aims to dazzle; she's merely been led astray by power."

"Yes, Your Highness, you're right. It's just unfortunate that the harem has always been like this. Those who don't fight end up faring poorly too, didn't Consort Xuan?" Zhi Fu said.

Yun Li smiled: "So what joy is there in winning?"

"Your Highness, there won't be any slip-ups with this matter, right? I've been thinking it over, and it seems there couldn't be," Zhi Fu added.

"Hmm, the biggest concern is Yun Xiao Yi. But if she doesn't want to die, she'll stick to her story. Zheng Baolin won't turn; her fake pregnancy is her biggest vulnerability," Yun Li said.

"This whole affair was orchestrated by Yun Xiao Yi using Beauty Xu as a pawn. Feng Yun knew nothing. However, the young eunuch did see Feng Yun. As long as he doesn't wish to die, he will also stick to his story. Moreover, Yun Xiao Yi used Feng Yun's name to pass the items to the young eunuch. Both of them are unclear about each other's involvement. Even under severe torture, they wouldn't be able to reveal much," Yun Li said.

"That's good. I doubt Beauty Xu was behind Yun Xiao Yi's miscarriage back then. At that time, she wanted a child herself. If Yun Xiao Yi had given birth, being close to the source, she could have been accused of harming the child's birth mother. It's likely that the person who harmed Yun Xiao Yi back then was worried about Beauty Xu having a child," Zhuyu said.

"It's futile now that she has brought it up. This matter will likely be confirmed," Yun Li said.

"If it's confirmed, she might even be sent to the Cold Palace..." Zhuyu said.

"If everything is confirmed, she will die," Yun Li stated calmly. "You should know, she still has a biological daughter. At this point, the Empress cannot tolerate her. What if she rises again? Everything that could be done has been done by this palace. The rest is up to the Empress and Consort Jin De."

Yun Li smiled slightly: "The death of Xu Shi would be a good thing for the Empress."

"This is the harem; unless you refrain from harming others, you can protect yourself."

"Otherwise, don't complain when others retaliate harshly."

Yun Li: "Don't reach out; if you can't kill me, I'll chop you down."